the
Patriot Germantown Academy
Winter 2016-2017
Compassionate in Spirit– Middle School students help others on their Day of Service.
Dr. Samuel Osbourn, Headmaster from 1915-48, led Germantown Academy during some of the roughest moments in United States history. It was during his tenure that the “alumni fund” (known now as the Annual Fund) and the overall school endowment were wisely started.
Society
SAMUEL E. OSBOURN Anonymous (2) Laura and Benjamin Archer* Steven Averbuch and Rachel Rivest Gordon Balle ’22 Milton Betelle ’36 Carol and Arnold Bierman Mildred S. Bird Robert F. Bole, Jr. ’57 Homer Bradley James A. Bricker ’66 Iris and Lawrence Brownstein William Buehler III ’44 Brian Burke 1760 James A. Burkhart George Christiansen ’65 and Barbara Christiansen
The Osbourn Society includes school community members who share Dr. Osbourn’s commitment to independent school values, and his vision for the future of Germantown Academy by making gifts through bequests and other estate plans. We proudly thank them for their legacy investments and gratefully recognize them by presenting their Honor Roll here today.
OsbOurn sOciety HOnOr rOll
Peter Cressman Peter Day ’33 Herbert Doerr, Jr. ’36 Wilhelmina R. Fancourt Leslie and Pedro Geraldino Jane and Robert Hamilton James Hanlon, Jr. ’26 Katharine V. Hendrickson R. Craig Henkels ’73 Robert Henkels ’23 Herman Hutchinson ’33 Robert Hutton ’44 Thomas Hyndman ’42 G. Chapin Jenkins, Jr. ’38 and Jeanne Jenkins Henry Johnson, Jr. ’42 Glenn L. Kelly ’54 Julie and David M. Lawson ’70* John R. Leopold ’60* James Loughridge ’44 Richard S. Lowe Helen Booth Macauley William Mackleer ’37
Edward Mahler II ’44 Donald Maize ’42 Robert Marshall, Jr. ’36 Susan Stratton McGinnis ’78 Thomas W. Morgan ’76 Hugh Moulton and Catherine Moulton 1760 Norman Mullock ’87 John Murray ’62 William Nicholson III ’29 Joe O'Hara Charles Pittman III ’47 and Claire Pittman William Platt ’39 Marjorie and W. James Price IV Carolyn and Robert Purdy John Rex ’63 George Riter ’76 Samuel Sagendorph ’35 and Carol Sagendorph Harold H. Saunders ’48 Stephanie and Michael Seidner John Sheble ’47
William Shellenberger ’42 Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr. ’28 Sharon and Peter Siegl Thomas Skirm ’27 Harriet Smith ’73 Steven Snyder ’56 Sara Solis-Cohen ’76 Frederick Stuart, Jr. ’61 and Karen Davis Anna and Solomon Sultanik Rhea Pincus Turteltaub ’78 Peter and Mary Anne Van Blarcom Michele and Bernard Vieille Thomas J. Vischer Jay Watson ’36 Daniel Weintraub ’82 and Beth Weintraub Alexander Wiener ’26 Wayne Yeager ’60 Sara S. Wolf 1760* *Denotes new members
GA’s athletic legacy dates back to before the origins of the Inter-Academic League in 1887. Your personal legacy can assure the continuation of our proud athletic tradition by earmarking your support of Patriot Athletics through your estate plans or living trust. To learn more, contact Martin Dean, Associate Director of Institutional Advancement at 267-405-7458 or mdean@germantownacademy.org.
WINTER 2016-17
Table of Contents Buzz from the Bell Tower
HEAD OF SCHOOL Rich Schellhas BOARD OF TRUSTEES Judi J. Goodman 1760, President Tynetta Alston Scott M. Badami Judy Chang Cody Brian DiDonato Thomas E. Durkin ’89 Alison Korman Feldman ’78 Judy A. Felgoise Lori Griswold 1760 Janet Haugen Annamarie Geppert Hellebusch ’84 Michael H. Jordan Bradley J. Korman ’83 John Korman ’76 Susan Stratton McGinnis ’78 Carl Rapp Lori Reiner Jeffrey T. Sultanik ’72 Catherine Thompson ’77 Andrew Towne Nancy A. Wolfson Kathy Wyszomierski 1760 Gina Zabinski CHARTER TRUSTEES Berton E. Korman 1760 John W. Rex ’63 EDITOR Carla Zighelboim Director of Communications & Marketing czighel@germantownacademy.org DESIGN Dina Katz Associate Director of Communications & Marketing FEATURED WRITERS Thomas McGlinchey, Adam McGrath, Heather Durkin, Melissa Fikioris, Rich Schellhas EDITORIAL STAFF Audrey Schnur, Martin Dean, Thomas McGlinchey, Adam McGrath, Heather Durkin, Melissa Fikioris, Kellianne Kaput, Jessica Holl, Christine Passaglia PHOTOGRAPHY Dina Katz, Thomas McGlinchey, Adam McGrath, Blaine Grisak COVER PHOTO Chris Horner (photographed with iphone)
Remembering Peter McVeigh
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Welcoming Rich Schellhas
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Reunion Weekend
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Alumni Notes
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CAMPUS LIFE–GA Cares
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Strategic Vision
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GA-PC Day
facebook.com/GermantownAcademy twitter.com/GA1759
linkedin.com/groups/ Germantown-Academy-82992
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Mark Your Calendars!
Get Social With Us!
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Mission: GA
Germantown Academy inspires students to be… • Independent in Thought • Confident in Expression • Compassionate in Spirit • Collaborative in Action • Honorable in Deed
Germantown Academy is an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian day school, PreK through 12th Grades, welcoming students, faculty and staff of diverse ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
@GermantownAcademy youtube.com/GA1759 The Patriot Magazine is produced twice a year by the Office of Institutional Advancement at Germantown Academy. The Patriot was printed by Paradigm Digital Color Graphics in Southampton PA. Reprinting of any material contained in this publication requires the written consent of Germantown Academy. Please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement with any corrections or omissions - Goodman House, 340 Morris Road, P.O. Box 287, Fort Washington, PA 19034. For more information about Germantown Academy, go online —
www.germantownacademy.net
Patriot
On the Cover GA Cares! The GA community has set a high the standard for service and social awareness. As part of a new Service Day in Middle School, groups from 7th and 8th Grade went out to volunteer at organizations such as Mercy Hospice in Philadelphia.
Germantown Academy
Winter 2016-2017
THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY/3
BUZZ FROM THE BELL TOWER
Dear Friends,
Imagine, if you will, a picture perfect November day filled with sunshine, blue skies, and scores of GA fans from across the decades cheering their hearts out in unison. Whatever images come to your mind might still pale in comparison to the glistening reality that was the 130th GA-PC Day celebration. Of course it never hurts to know we’ve won the overall day before even heading into the final game on the gridiron, but that nail-biter still kept us all on the edge of our seats literally until the very final second. My good friend and predecessor Jim Connor summed it up perfectly in a typical ‘Connoresque’ text right at game’s end: ‘Consider retiring now; it will never get better than this!’
Win or lose, GA-PC week is a wonderful time of the year. While I love the dizzying array of amazing student traditions, it’s really the opportunity to be reunited with GA alums, families, and retired friends, to know that people still come home to GA decades after they’ve graduated, that inspires me the most. The Class of 1990 returned home for their 25th Reunion and joined together to dedicate a new observation dock within the Preserve in honor of their teachers Becky Pizzino and Phil Rittenhouse. To have alumni support GA is a wonderful gift, and when you couple this generosity with the recognition of faculty who made a difference in their lives it is simply heartwarming.
I know there’s often a bittersweet feeling for recent alums who return to campus to stand on the regular sidelines instead of in the middle of the teeming mass of current students, but your teachers are always so delighted to see you again, to know you’re still connected to us and to each other, and to learn about your latest adventures and triumphs. Catching up with some members of the reunion class of 2011 whom I knew so well when they were students and who have developed into magnificent adults was one of my happiest moments of the week. Following those reminiscences with a visit to the Class of 1956 reunion, an especially connected group of Patriots with incredible stories from School House Lane who are just as invested now in the GA journey as they were then, was the perfect bookend to the week.
Hearing tales from Patriots who graduated from the Germantown campus or from the ‘old buildings’ here in Fort Washington reminds me that GA isn’t about location at all. Whether teaching on School House Lane, in a ‘learning cottage’ in Patriot Village, or around a brand new, custom-designed Harkness Table, GA faculty work their magic and instill our mission anywhere, anytime. That feeling of having shared time together with legendary teachers and compelling classmates is the glue that holds our Patriot community together. Learning about the ‘days of yore’ at the same time history is just being made magnifies my feeling of immense good fortune to serve as GA’s 45th Head of School.
(l to r) Brad Ingersoll ’86, P’22, ’26, Peter Heckler ’86, John Pokorny ’86, Maryanne Boettjer 1760, Robin Bissell ’86 and Michael Hahn ’86
Tony Garvan 1760, Megan McCloskey ’14 and Mimi McCloskey P’13, ’14, ’17
Ebony Rhodes ’15 and Schellhas
Be in touch; come visit! Best,
Rich Schellhas Head of School
4/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Fred Straub ’67, P’00 ’01, Ginny Hofmann 1760, Cliff Cutler ’67 and Bill Piszek ’77, P’15 ’18
PETER MCVEIGH
FOREVER A PATRIOT
Dear Friends,
There was no one more influential than Peter in shaping how so many of us grew up to care about more than ourselves. He taught us how to be selfless (while teenagers) and how to look at everyone with open eyes and a truly open heart. - Mat Szwajkos ’98
With a heart both full and broken I write to you today about the passing of our dearest friend, the one and only Peter McVeigh 1760. Surrounded by his family, Peter passed gently. True to form, he kept the most positive outlook, was filled with hope, and fought every second until his final hour.
What do you do when the best person you know dies? You cry, you smile at the thousands of jokes and happy memories, you cry again, and then you try to become the best person you can.You live his legacy. Peter has taught us all so many things, but his greatest lesson has always been about making a difference – however great, however small. When you meet someone new, you make them feel like you have always been and will be their friend. What a gift he had for doing that, whether he taught you or not, whether he worked with you every day or saw you only in passing now and then. Peter was your friend from the very first handshake, and he remained true forever. You call people on their birthdays. You acknowledge that which is special about them, even if
they themselves can’t quite see it. You raise them up and see them. You see the best side of them, always.
You find your voice, use it, and you act. You become an upstander, not a bystander. You fight for your beliefs, for that which is right in the world, and help others, those without a voice, to do the same.
You laugh at yourself, accept your flaws, and spend a lifetime helping others overcome theirs. How I marvel at a man so good, so remarkably, awesomely good, who led with such humility, with self-effacing love, and with laughter.
in every moment. You become the best spouse, parent, and Poppy Pete you can.
You give of yourself. You help those less fortunate however you are able. You embody selfless compassion and genuine empathy. And when you think you have nothing left to give, you give some more.
You never, ever stop learning. You seek out opinions different from yours, and you relish them, those who hold them,and embrace the challenge of intellectual We will never, ever forget you, Peter McVeigh. The world debate. You understand the gift of learning and know is less without you, but we are more for knowing you. the power of the union between heart and mind. Live his legacy. You cherish family. You prioritize your loved ones. You find joy in the simplest of pleasures. You are present Rich
He will always be remembered in my heart as someone who genuinely cared and devoted his life to giving back to the community. Whether it was a text after a football game or a phone call on my birthday, his endearing love for his students was second to none. McVeigh will be missed and never forgotten. -Jimmy McAfee ’16 To view Peter McVeigh’s memorial service please go to: http://www.germantownacademy.net/mcveigh
THE PETER MCVEIGH 1760 UPPER SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THE PETER MCVEIGH 1760 ANNUAL DAY OF SERVICE
The loss of a person so committed to others, who was in fact the one Several members of the community have made lead contributions who taught so many how to give of themselves, prompts a generous toward a goal of raising at least $100,000 to establish this special desire to give in his memory. memorial endowment. Peter McVeigh will then forever be associated by name to the program which he both initiated and grew so thoughtfully In working directly with the McVeigh Family, as a response to the during his tenure at GA. expressed interest by many to remember Peter in a permanent way, Germantown Academy proudly announces the effort to endow The More information regarding this effort will be forthcoming. In the Peter McVeigh 1760 Upper School Director of Community meantime, we invite those interested in contributing in Peter’s memory, Service and The Peter McVeigh 1760 Annual Day of Service. and assuring the continuation of his proud legacy, to contact Audrey Schnur, Director of Institutional Advancement, aschnur@germantownacademy.org Our goal is to create an endowment fund which would annually provide or (267) 405-7212. funding to further activities of the CSO program and establish a yearly “We are devastated about his loss and forever indebted to him.” day of service for the entire GA community to join together in celebration of Peter’s memory and his commitment to others. ~Linda Baron, P’01, ‘03
CAMPUS LIFE
GA cAres: expAndinG Our culture Of sOciAl AwAreness And service
“P
erhaps the most essential way we instill being ‘compassionate in spirit’ among GA students is through our emphasis on service learning in acts great and small, both on and off campus. At GA we believe in an ethos of leadership through service, and fundamental to being an effective leader (and human being) is the development of genuine empathy. At even the youngest of ages, we want students to put themselves in the shoes of others and to give their best selves to others in order to serve others and to ultimately become their best selves.” — Head of School Rich Schellhas Any discussion of caring at GA must begin with the Community Service Organization (CS0). Formalized by beloved Upper School teacher Peter McVeigh 1760 in 1986, CSO has taught two generations of GA students the importance of opening their eyes to the world and lending a hand to those in need. Making service efforts tangible is a critical aspect of translating social awareness from an abstract concept to something that is practiced on a daily basis. The more students can see the impact of their service, the more easily they stretch themselves to help others. When students reflected on service, they stated, “(service) should be local, personal, and teach you something about yourself.”
CSO has continued to be a pillar of compassion, and grown even stronger through efforts to unify service projects across divisions. One of the most impactful all-school CSO efforts is the Holiday Program, which brings the entire GA community together in late December to raise awareness for local non-profits and celebrate the season with music and readings. Each student is asked to contribute a gift, which are then distributed by CSO members to five charitable organizations that serve children in the Philadelphia region. This year, the community collected nearly 1,300 gifts. Student leadership is also crucial to developing a culture of service, as students demonstrate to their peers the benefits of volunteering.
“The first time I volunteered, I looked at the seniors, and thought, ‘I want
to do that, I want to be a leader.’ I think that’s how you get the younger
students to buy in.”
— Alex Kurtz ‘17
“This year, we’re using the Upper School House system to introduce community service to Lower School students,” said Upper School CSO Advisor Danielle Rock. “Each House is partnered with a grade in Lower School, and we’re using one of our assembly periods to work collaboratively on individual service projects. We think this will be a great way to set that example and get kids thinking about service at a young age.” Lower School students also teamed up with the Middle School for a special project in honor of Veterans Day. For two weeks in November, 342 American flags stood proudly in Connor Quad to recognize each GA student who served in World War I. School archivist Dr. Mark Rabuck ‘88 led the effort when he found a 1919 edition ofYe Primer (the school’s yearbook) that listed each of the veterans’ names and even what medals and accommodations they earned. This was the perfect project, during the 100th anniversary of the Great War, for students to connect to GA’s past and recognize the importance of those who serve today.
This year, the Middle School set the tone for the Thanksgiving Food Drive, leading the school-wide collection of more than 5,000 pounds of food. The food was then distributed to Our Lady of Hope Church in North Philadelphia and the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, proving that caring starts locally.
6/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
“CSO is a great way for students to learn about the world beyond the walls of GA,” All-School CSO Coordinator and Middle School CSO Advisor Anthony Commale said. “Our kids are learning a lot about circumstances of other people, including kids their age. I think it helps grow their emotional intelligence, empathy, and potential for leadership.”
CAMPUS LIFE
GA has developed several partnerships to show students the power of volunteering for organizations such as local shelters and at Face to Face Germantown, which is a multi-service organization that offers dining, health and hygiene, and other services. Middle School instituted a Service Day in September where groups of 7th and 8th Grade students provided companionship and assistance at places like Mercy Hospice and Whosoever Gospel Mission. Buddy Day, a partnership with Silver Springs Martin Luther School, which serves students experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges, brings students together on GA’s campus.
Rock added, “Last year we expanded the Buddy Day program to include visits around art, science, and other sports, which we will continue this year. The goal is to eventually have one per month.”
“For me, CSO is all about making someone’s day better.”
— Harry Hou ’21
GA’s unique New Community Project, which is in its fourth year in the Upper School, was recently introduced as a club in the Middle School and is quickly gaining steam. New Community Project students select a new non-profit organization each year and they conduct a comprehensive, professional assesment. This includes self-reflection, mindful listening and sharing, literary analysis, community education and engagement, product generation, and product fulfillment in order to provide solutions to the organization’s issues.This year the group is pleased to work with the Community Partnership School.
As GA continues to prioritize service to the community, we also emphasize taking care of our environment.
GA’s Nature Program, coordinated by Upper School Science teacher Sarah Kesten, stresses respect and care for the natural and man-made green spaces on campus, such as the Wissahickon Creek, The Preserve, and the Green Roof and Apiary. GA even has several vegetable gardens on campus that produce food used in the Dining Hall.
Each division has a Green Ambassadors group, where students and faculty maintain the grounds with weeding, planting, and cleanup, and act as tour guides on the public Preserve Day in the fall. The GA Environmental Awareness group (GAEA) in the Upper School focuses on earth-conscious initiatives like reusable water bottles and composting.
It’s no surprise that GA students have such a penchant for offering their time. GA parents and alumni have served as excellent role models when it comes to service. The Parents’ Committee has run the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service for more than a decade, and Alumni CSO events like helping at a Habitat House in Philadelphia or assisting at food banks in Washington, DC, Seattle and Chicago continue to draw graduates together for a good cause.
From the youngest student to alumni and everyone in between, taking care of the people and world around us is one of the most important lessons learned.
Upper School CSO leader Jess Sheridan ’17 was named the Ambler Rotary Student of the Month for December 2016, for her work coordinating major projects like the Make-A-Wish Tournament and Thanksgiving Food Drive. THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY/7
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CAMPUS LIFE
GA MOURNS THE LOSS OF
DAVID OBERKIRCHER 1760 Former President of the Board of Trustees David O. Oberkircher 1760 passed away on October 30, 2016. Oberkircher was a long-time Board member, and served as president for four years during a time of tremendous growth for the school. Under his leadership, Germantown Academy completed the largest fundraising campaign and capital improvement project since the school was built in FortWashington in 1960.
“What inspired me most about David was his genuine love of the school, and his genuine love of life,” stated former Head of School Jim Connor 1760. “No one I know, including myself, had read Judge O’Neill’s ‘Miracle of Fort Washington’ more often than he and, like the Judge, David always found joy in being at GA. Both were men of vision and action, a valued combination of talent and energy that compelled the Judge and David to answer the call to leadership that, a half a century apart and under the most difficult of economic circumstances, catapulted GA into new eras of growth and innovation. David left me, like GA, better for having known him. Goodness such as his will never perish from personal or institutional memory.” His work at GA extended beyond the formal leadership of the Trustees, as he was an active parent and volunteer, accompanying field trips, cheering teams at countless games, and applauding at plays. He could also be seen volunteering as a bartender, a hot dog server, and balloon blower – sometimes all at the same time!
NATIONAL MERIT RECOGNIZES 15 GA STUDENTS
Seven members of the GA Class of 2017 were named National Semifinalists and eight members were Commended Students in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The seven GA National Semifinalists are (l to r:) Theodore Wood '17, Daniel Smith '17, Sook-Hee Evans '17, Noelle Mlynarczyk '17, Braden Cody '17, Gavin Rees '17, and Austin Takei '17 The eight GA Commended Students are Mikayla Fassler '17, Abigail Goldstein '17, Caroline Hackley '17, Andrew Huang '17, James Parker '17, Alex Smith '17, Jackson Sternberg '17, and Ethan Zhao '17.
LOWER SCHOOL MAKER COTTAGE
Oberkircher, who was inducted into the honorary alumni Class of 1760 in 2010, was one of many GA alumni in his family, which includes his wife, past Parents’ Committee Chair Kathleen McGinnis Oberkircher ’76; daughters Katherine ’10 and Margaret ’12; son David ’13; brother-in-law Patrick McGinnis ’78, sister-inlaw and Trustee Susan Stratton McGinnis ’78, nephew Patrick McGinnis ’11 and niece Megan McGinnis ’13.
In business, Oberkircher was one of four founding partners of the Trion Group, which grew into one of the largest privately held employee benefits (an area in which he greatly helped transform GA) consultancies combined with an insurance brokerage in the United States.
The GARTERS (GA Retired Teachers Enjoying Retirement) helped dedicate the newly constructed Maker Cottage on the Lower School playground in memory of Sally Wolf 1760, who retired in 2012 after teaching at GA for 45 years. She passed away on February 19, 2016.
ALUMNI INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGY TO LOWER SCHOOL The Lower School welcomed GA alumni Josh Apter ’89 and Jon Goldberg ’89, the cofounders and inventors of The Padcaster, when they honored Phy Chauveau 1760, their fifth grade teacher, by donating 15 Padcaster packages to the division in her name.
Jon Goldberg ‘89 shows a student the multiple functions of a padcaster.
The Padcaster is a patented, rugged multifunctional iPad case that transforms the iPad into an all-in-one mobile production studio. It gives students and faculty the opportunity to shoot, edit and upload video on the fly.
8/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Apter and Goldberg spent most of the day on campus providing training for Lower School teachers and a handful of fourth and fifth grade students, who are a part of the Lower School Newsroom Club.The day culminated in an assembly where they presented their gift in honor of Chauveau. The Class of 1989 was Chauveau's first class at GA, and her love for and interest in making movies is what launched this whole project.
“Josh and Jon, we just cannot thank you enough for your extreme generosity,” said Lower School Art Coordinator Jess Killo at the assembly. “The Padcaster technology is so exciting and enriching for our community, but your philanthropy will live with these kids for the rest of their lives. Beyond the amazing gift of high quality video, you have modeled the innovative and compassionate spirit of GA alumni.”
CAMPUS LIFE
A perfect endinG tO A perfect seAsOn “It was just like a movie—our groundwork to help GA clinch the 2016 Penn- version of McFarland, USA or sylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association team title at Belmont Plateau. The Mighty Macs,” said Krouse. Four-time Inter-Ac League champion (the first “It feels amazing. They have worked to do so!) Goldstein blazed through Belmont’s trail in 19:18.10 to win her first PAISAA cross hard all year, and this more than country title. She was dramatically followed by teammates Gianna Murgia '20 (6th place), Issy surpassed my hopes and expectations Goldstein '20 (7th place), Jackie DeRusso '18 for today.” (8th place), and Kelsey O'Hara '18 (9th place). In total, the Patriots (31 points) won the meet by 48 points over second place Friends Central.
You can’t blame varsity girls’ cross country Head Coach Judy Krouse 1760 if she thought she was on the set of a major motion picture. After senior Abbe Goldstein ’17 won the race, FOUR Patriots finished in succession to take sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth place led the
“Even with more teams, we scored one point less than we did at Inter-Acs, which was just phenomenal,” said Krouse, whose team won the 2016 Inter-Ac title. “ The fact that our top five were in the top nine of the race was just mindboggling. Kelsey, in particular, had to sprint to beat the next girl in the home stretch, but dug
deep and did just that.”
Under Krouse’s leadership, the Patriots have won five Independent School Championships (1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2016) and 11 Inter-Ac Athletic League titles since girls’ cross country was accepted as an official league sport in 1991. After a perfect 7-0 season, and with plenty of talented underclassmen, the Patriots are primed to make another run at both trophies in 2017.
pAtriOts win A sHAre Of tHe inter-Ac title!
From his very first day as head coach of the GA football program in 2012, Matt Dence has had three goals for his team - win the day, win the Inter-Ac Athletic League, and beat Penn Charter. While Dence and the Patriots defeated Penn Charter in 2013 and 2014, they couldn’t quite figure out how to bring down perennial league powers like The Haverford School and Malvern Prep. Until now.With a talented crop of experienced juniors and seniors leading the way, including captains Kyle McCloskey ’17, Pat McGettigan ’17, Matt Gorman ’17, and Tanner Long ’18, the battle-tested Patriots were ready to take on the area’s best.
After losing to Father Judge, 35-14, the Patriots rattled off six-straight wins, including a marquee 18-12 victory over former state champion West Catholic, a 16-13 overtime victory against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, and a nail-biting 9-7 last-second win at Episcopal Academy.
The Patriots were finally taken down by Malvern Prep, but they rebounded quickly with a 21-14 victory over Haverford, a team that went undefeated in the league the last two seasons and a team they hadn’t bested since 2006.
"It's a great league win,” said Dence at the time. “Four-time defending champs. When you can knock off a team with the quality of players they have, it's a good feeling."
Tied for first place with Malvern Prep, all GA had to do was beat Penn Charter — no easy task to say the least. But this time, there would be no flea flicker or last minute miracle for PC. Instead, it was the boys in the red, black, and blue that celebrated, as kicker Vince Capone ’17 delivered the Patriots a share of the Inter-Ac League title for the first time since 2004 as he drilled a 22-yard field goal with just five seconds remaining to give GA a 17-14 lead before a raucous overflow crowd at Carey Stadium. Capone’s
kick came on the heels of a textbook drive engineered by McCloskey. (see full story on page 17)
“We had two check marks before, but on GAPC Day we checked all three,” said Dence. “That’s what this senior class has done.They have brought us to a point where we can check all three of our goals.We're Inter-Ac champions and you can't take that away from us.” For Dence, it is the first Inter-Ac title of his young career.
"It's just humbling," he said. "I just looked at the list: Jack Turner ('56), Bill Caum '(64), Pup Turner ('91); guys I wanted to be like. We have a good tradition here. I've been so very lucky to have unbelievable coaches by my side during my entire tenure. All who support our kids and serve as great role models for them. I am a very lucky guy to lead this group.”
Many student-athletes were honored for the 2016 season. For the full list of All-League honors, check out www.germantownacademy.net/athletics
CAMPUS LIFE
GA welcOMes ricH scHellHAs As HeAd Of scHOOl According to Rich Schellhas, October 18, 2016 will forever remain a highlight in his GA career. With 1,300 students, faculty and staff cozily gathered in the Big Gym, we celebrated simultaneously the start of his headship and the telling of the school’s story in a new way - A History of GA in 30 Objects (more below).
Later that same evening, Schellhas was welcomed during the annual Patriot Society of Donors Party. President of the Board of Trustees Judi Goodman 1760, P’99, ’02, ’03 and Chair of the Development Committee Brad Korman ’83, P’13, ’16, ’19 formally introduced Schellhas as the 45th Head of Germantown Academy. Schellhas shared, “I am sincerely honored to serve as GA’s Head of School. I promise you that, every day, I will do my best, work hard, strive to fulfill our school’s lofty mission, and ensure that our community focuses on what matters most, on creating a school where every individual can thrive to become his or her best self.” Schellhas also shared the history project with those gathered and thanked them and the extended community for their investment of time and philanthropic support.
Schellhas, Goodman and Korman
“Our school’s story is an amazing one, and I hope that we will always remember that, together, we are writing the next great chapter in our school’s history. I invite you to continue to partner with us as we craft this story. We need your intelligence, your energy, your spirit, and your support to ensure that our 126 acres of opportunity continue to afford our students with the very best possible education as they grow as scholars and as people.” — Rich Schellhas
(l to r) Claire Ragusa MacRae ’84, P’26, Josh Albert P’26 ’29, Catherine O’Malley P’23 ‘26, and Jamie Albert P’26 ‘29
(l to r) Meg Knysh P’18 and Amy Bell
(l to r) Ed Serrill P’95, ’98, Barbara Serrill ’68, P’95 ’98, John Walton 1760, P’75, ’80 and Jack Whittaker 1760, P’88, ’92
A History of GA in 30 Objects is a collaborative, school-wide endeavor to share GA’s history through the treasures found in the school’s own archives. Each group in the school, including students, parents, alumni, and trustees, ‘adopted’ one telling artifact which, when combined with the others in a booklet, provides a fascinating look into the school’s founding 257 years ago and who we are today. The book can be viewed online here: http://www.germantownacademy.net/30objects “I wanted to use the occasion of my new headship for us to reflect briefly on our remarkable journey, on how we became a school where sparks fly, students thrive, and adults give their all, every day, to create a culture worthy of our ancestors,” said Rich Schellhas.
10/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
tHe beArd cHAllenGe
In the fall of 2015, Germantown Academy was proud to announce the opening of The Beard Center for Innovation.The construction of the Beard Center was made possible due to the generosity of the late Midge Beard Price, who had been committed to the school over the years and to perpetuating the Beard Family name and legacy at the Germantown Academy. The Center offers students and faculty a hub for innovative teaching and learning initiatives which are centered on project-based learning and a collaborative creative problem solving process.
CAMPUS LIFE With the Center built and initially equipped, GA has made it a priority to establish a $1 million endowment to fund, in perpetuity, the Center’s ongoing annual operating expenses, equipment purchases, and assist with the salary of a permanent Director of the Beard Center for Innovation. The school is extremely fortunate to have received initial gifts of $440,000 toward the $1 million goal for Beard Center for Innovation Endowment Fund. “We are pleased to announce that GA has received a generous Challenge Gift to match new gifts for the Beard Center Endowment, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $150,000. To date, in response to this Challenge, GA already has received $76,250. We are extremely grateful to all of the donors who share our excitement about the Beard Center’s impact on student learning,” shared Audrey Schnur, Director of Institutional Advancement. “Students, for generations to come, will benefit from the Beard Center, so it is important that we take advantage of this wonderful match.” — Donor to the Beard Endowment
Gifts of $1,000 or more will be listed on a permanent plaque. To learn more about the Beard Center Endowment Fund, contact Audrey Schnur at 267-405-7212 or aschnur@ germantownacademy.org.
new ObservAtiOn dOck Opens in preserve
CSO DAY OF SERVICE SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017
Parents, students, alumni...join us for this community-wide CSO Day of Service honoring the legacy Peter McVeigh 1760! Come out and give back to your local community. FortWashington State Park Clean-up (Militia Hill site) 9am-12:30pm GA Buddy Day (GA Campus) 10:30-12noon Post-community service gathering at MaGerk’s Pub & Grill
PHILADELPHIA
NEW YORK CITY
Fountain House 5K (Riverside Park, 108th St. & Riverside) 8:30am-12noon Post-community service gathering at location to be determined. Visit www.germantownacademy.net/alumni/events for details and to sign up!
“The generous support of the Class of 1990 is a testament to their appreciation and vision for GA, in addition to the importance of outdoor education.” — Becky Pizzino 1760
The new observation dock located in The Preserve was created in honor of Upper School science teachers Becky Pizzino 1760 and Phil Rittenhouse 1760 thanks to the generosity of the Class of 1990 during its 25th reunion in 2015. The dock directly benefits the PreK-12 science curriculum at GA, as it was designed to be used by classes to make observations of the pond ecosystem.
“I am truly humbled and honored,” said Pizzino. “The dock has already been utilized as an observation station for children in the day care, as well as my AP Biology class, with many different animals being spotted including frogs, fish, turtles, along with several species of birds."
“I was honored and touched that my Class of 1990 took the time to remember their old Form Head,” said Rittenhouse. “I am proud of them and their accomplishments. When I changed my path in life to teach it was because of students like these. Thanks for letting me 'dock' at GA for all these years.”
THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY/11
ENGAGED STUDENTS
3RD GRADE LEARNS FROM ENGAGEMENT CIRCLES
When students in Marnie McDonald’s third grade classroom are asked what “engagement” means to them, many of them shout, “Happy!” Happy is what shows on their faces and in their body language when performing routine tasks as well as outside the box school work, as they work within their classroom theme of “We are Engaged!”
“The use of the ‘Engagement Circles’ helps us guide the how and why of the things we do,” said McDonald. “These kids are now the models of engaged students; they are curious about what is happening; they are the ones asking questions.” McDonald is quick to point out that being engaged is not about perfection. She and her colleagues want kids to not be afraid to take risks. It is important to encourage the “art of trying” by turning “I can’t” into “I will try” or “It’s not good enough yet.” Taking risks, both from the faculty and student perspectives, is well, risky. Sometimes new things just don’t work. In using the Engagement Circles, both parties have the ability to change it up; allowing students to give feedback of what they like and what doesn’t work, while faculty are listening and problem-solving with their students’ best interests at heart. The flow between teacher and students becomes seamless when engagement is at the center.
LOWER SCHOOL CHINESE
Never stop moving. That seems to be the theme of Bertina HsuMiller’s Mandarin curriculum for students in grades Kindergarten through 5th. Despite having students for a limited time during a packed Lower School rotation, the atmosphere in the classroom is so dynamic that the kids sometimes don’t recognize they are learning. And all of this is happening completely in Chinese!
“The students are completely linked to the material I am presenting because they are constantly being challenged by the curriculum, and I am constantly challenged to reconsider what is meaningful to the kids and what are appropriate levels for them,” said Hsu-Miller. “We are using ‘Organic World Language,’ which is new to me, but hits on all levels of the ‘Engagement Circles’ – specifically ‘Stimulate Intellect, Curiosity & Academic Risk Taking.’ For some kids, this type of engagement or teaching style really pushes them out of their comfort zones.”
It is important to Hsu-Miller that when students can't say something in Chinese, she doesn’t want them to use English. She stresses the use of body language and to use their creativity to get their language across, and she is happy when they will try it, even if it isn’t said. “The best part is seeing that their language skills are progressing,” said Hsu-Miller. “Everything that we do has an active component to it, from introductions to songs to learning about colors and numbers and body parts – everyone is always moving and it’s very repetitive so students are starting to understand the linguistics of this very difficult language.”
“The end goal is seeing the students walk out of
the room feeling unique, special and accomplished. I love to watch their confidence in the academic risks they are willing to take.”
4th GRADE STEAM PROGRAM
The Class of 2025 is currently piloting a program called “The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Studio Course.” This project was envisioned as student-driven learning through collaboration, dialogue, and guided inquiry. The design thinking process, with an emphasis on fostering creativity and empathy, is central to the program's initiative.The skills and concepts of STEAM topics are key as the students sketch, plan, and build prototypes to realize their ideas.
Lower School Science Department Coordinator Craig Newberger 1760 and Lower School Art Coordinator Jess Killo spearheaded “STEAM Studio” along with the fourth grade teachers Julia Blumenreich, David Nagel and Connie Williams. When their projects are finished, students will present their innovations to each other and to the GA community.
S T R AT E G I C
f
e
ENGAGED AND ENGAGING TEACHERS GA TEACHERS EMBRACE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Excellent teachers are also life-long learners. Deepening knowledge of content, staying abreast of best practices in pedagogy, keeping current with the rapid pace of technology, and remaining up-to-date with research on child development require a variety of opportunities to grow professionally. GA has always taken seriously the need to support graduate study, summer projects, conferences and workshops, as well as to bring speakers to campus who address important social and intellectual issues. The current GA Professional Development Program is rooted in a continuing commitment to these types of professional growth with an increased effort to tap the expertise of the current faculty by designing activities during which faculty share their passions, talents, and experience with each other. One way teachers are collaborating and growing is through EXCamps, an on-campus event that allows teachers to present on interesting topics and attend teacher-led workshops that are of most interest to them.
“The model is to have teachers use their expertise in one area to teach other teachers,” said Director of Professional Development Maggie McVeigh 1760.Topics run the gamut from art to research, technology to content area, personal passions to pedagogical philosophy.
“We hope for workshops that will appeal both to teachers of specific age groups or content areas as well as to a cross-divisional audience,” said McVeigh. “These in-house opportunities often morph into presentations suitable for larger local and national audiences of independent and public school teachers. The synergy of teachers teaching teachers is powerful, and, ultimately, directly impacts our students’ learning experiences.”
“One of the keys to being an extraordinary teacher is sharing your ideas and programs with the educational community and engaging with them in dialogue about your experiences,” said Head of School Rich Schellhas.
“Not only does giving a conference presentation provide GA teachers with a regional or national platform, but it also gives them an opportunity to network with similarly minded, cutting edge teachers with and from whom they can learn to add new tricks to their treasure chest of teaching tools.”
In fall 2016, 12 members of the GA faculty created, submitted and then presented on topics relevant to their classroom expertise at the Pennsylvania Association for Independent Schools (PAIS) annual conference. • “Reading Redesigned for the 21st Century,” given by Rebecca Burnett (Upper School English), David Baroody (Middle School English and history) & Lauren Vanin (5th Grade)
MIDDLE SCHOOL The first goal of our Strategic Vision, Exceptional Learning Through Engagement, is never far from the work the Middle School is doing this year. During a recent faculty in-service day, faculty gathered in small groups to discuss an engagement goal they set as part of an annual goal setting process. Each faculty member connected their engagement goal to one of the circles that define engaged and engaging teachers, and then shared their individual goal and why they are interested in that particular aspect of engagement. As part of this work, Middle School faculty will also observe the teaching of two of their colleagues that selected the same engagement circle during the school year.
“Intentionally thinking about our work with engagement as a faculty was meaningful and inspirational,” said Head of Middle School Jonas Jeswald. “We are going to do an engagement activity with the students as well. We will ask them to carefully look at the definition of engaged students and set a goal or reflect upon who they are as students as part of the student-led conference process for April. This is certainly something to look forward to!”
• “Exploring & Creating in the Math Classroom with Desmos,” given by Matt Notary (Middle School math)
• “Introducing Problem-Based Learning in Early Childhood,” given by RoseMarie Mirabile (PreK) & Sue Szczepkowski (Head of Lower School)
• “Leading from the Middle: Engaging & Empowering Middle School Students through Leadership,” given by Sara Goodwin (Middle School English), Kate Cassidy (Middle School Director of Student Life/Middle School Science), Jonas Jeswald (Head of Middle School) and Jay Wright (Middle School Health and Wellness Department Head)
V I S I O N IN ACTION
REUNION WEEKEND
During GA-PC Day and Reunion Weekend*, more than 250 alumni from classes ending in 1 or 6 gathered to celebrate the anniversary of their graduation from Germantown Academy. From the Friday night “Reunion Kickoff on Campus” to Saturday’s GA-PC Day followed by evening celebrations, Patriots across many generations enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and reminiscing about their student days at GA. *The Class of 1966 celebrated its 50th reunion last spring, while the Classes of 2006 & 2011 celebrated their reunions on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
2016 reuniOn cOMMittees
REUNION WEEKEND
THANK YOU to all of the reunion committees for their dedication and hard work in planning their class celebrations!
1951 John Dubbs Pete Meadowcroft
1956 Mike Carrozza Hap Gwyn Stan Stevenson 1961 Fred Stuart
1966 Jim Bricker John Behrend Floyd Lane David Pedrick Steve Rosenau
1971 Mark Conti Kellen Flannery Susan Gabrielson Wendy Westrum Weber Hacker Wilson 1976 Randy Alexander Bob Cannon Sally Solis-Cohen Gregg Epstein Gene Golson Beau Harrington Tony Lamm Gerry Rankin George Riter
Robin Bender Stevens Holly AndersonTiffany Frank Tornetta
1981 Mike DiFiglia Barb Zinman McLaughlin Linda Packer Nicholas Scott Olitsky Michael Paul Ann Robertson Ellen Stern Sternberg Blair Talmadge
1986 Julie Bierman
Kim Drake Jennifer Lawson Gobora Robynne Murray Graffam Terri Colton Grossman Katie Hopkins Kessell Mark Korman Will Newbold Andy Thatcher Dorothy Schade Walker
1991 Simi Kaplin Baer Jennifer Lockhart Kepner Jessica Pollock Simon Michael Turner Siobhan Nicholas Welsh
AtHletic HAll Of fAMe cereMOny
GA inducted 11 members of the community into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at GA. The inductees were also honored at halftime of the GA-PC football game.
Former history teacher, Director of CSO, and coach Peter McVeigh 1760 as well as former coach and current Philadelphia Phillies Chairman David Montgomery were also inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of a special recognition for coaching and contributions to the athletic program.
"It is always very special to be honored by the people that know you best!" said Director of Athletics Jim Fenerty 1760. "That is why the GA Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are so humbled and honored by their inclusion. It is a special time that remains with them for the rest of their lives." Visit www.germantownacademy.net/hof to see the inductees’ accomplishments and hear the speeches. Nominations are accepted at any time.
Coni Zingarelli Jacqueline Kaiser Zivitz
1996 Eve Brown Kate Connor Rebecca Jennings Stephanie Lueckel Hillary Berliner Weinstein Andrew Wimpenny
2001 Allison Bedrosian David Frankel Dara Tye Goldstein Eliza Kirk Hanson
Brendan Kelly Kristin Weber
2006 Alyssa Caracausa Joe Mirabile Shannon Patrick Matt Schafle Emily Solis-Cohen
2011 Bea Bast Tracy Duryea Alex Farris Hannah Hayes Mike Markovitz
CONGRATULATIONS!
Alicia Aemisegger Biggs '06 - Swimming Chris Henrich '07 - Wrestling Steve Hill - Wrestling Coach Judy Krouse 1760 - Girls Cross Country &Track Coach Rachel Magerman '09 - Field Hockey, Lacrosse Joe Matteo '04 - Baseball James “Jimmy” Morrison '74 (dec’d) - Football, Basketball, Baseball Sherri Retif - Girls Basketball Coach Tyler Stampone '05 - Football, Ice Hockey, Baseball
GA-PC DAY
tHe cOMpetitiOn cup cOMes HOMe!
The day was sunny, the stands were full and the cheering never stopped as the Patriots won seven out of 10 competitions to bring the 2016 GA-PC Competition Cup back home on November 12. Although the Cup was won before the football game began, the team didn’t want to disappoint and GA completed the day with a last-second victory in the 130th annual tilt.
GOlf
The week started out with Penn Charter winning the annual golf match, 5-3, at Meadowlands Country Club. For the Patriots, who finished eighth at the 2016 Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) Championship, Sam Horner ’17 and Teddy Davis ’18 won their matches while Ryan Booth ’18 and Drew Hoeppner ’18 split theirs.
bOys crOss cOuntry
On the cross country trail, the boys took nine of the top 10 spots en route to a 17-46 victory. MVP Owen Ritz ’17 won the annual race for the second straight year with a time of 17:26. A few weeks prior, the Patriots finished fourth at the league championship and fifth at the PAISAA Championship.
Girls crOss cOuntry
The GA girls’ cross country team finished its 2016 campaign with an exclamation point. After winning the league and state title, the Patriots followed up those two acts by dominating PC, 17-40, in a race that featured six GA runners taking top 10 spots, including Abbe Goldstein ’17, who won her fourth GA-PC Day race and was given the MVP award for the fourth consecutive year. Goldstein tied her course record of 18:45. The Patriots finished the season undefeated. (see full story on page 5)
Girls wAter pOlO
In the pool, the girls’ water polo team avenged an earlier loss to PC with a 9-6 victory to pick up an important point that went toward the Competition Cup contest.
Lilly Bolen ’17 and Alexa Naessens ’18 led GA on both offense and defense. Bolen tallied four goals while Naessens added three.While in goal, Naessens racked up nine saves, including several acrobatic stops. Bolen and Naessens were named co-MVPs following the match.
bOys wAter pOlO
Inspired by the girls’ performance, the GA boys’ water polo team played brilliantly and came through with a nail-biting 12-10 victory, giving the Patriots their first win on GA-PC Day since 2010. Finn Lillis ’18, who led the Patriots with four goals, was named the MVP of the match.
Girls tennis
The first of nine events on November 12 began with Penn Charter defeating girls’ tennis, 7-0. The Patriots played well, but the Quakers proved why they were the 2016 Inter-Ac League champs.
Girls sOccer
In the girls’ soccer game, the Patriots' offense exploded for five goals in an impressive 5-2 drubbing of the 2016 Inter-Ac League champs, much to the delight of the big home crowd at Carey Stadium and fans who tuned in from around the world to watch the live stream.
Kiley Kergides ’20 led GA's offense by converting on two free kicks. Brynn Skelly ’17 (Emily Williams ’17 assist), Jamie Hermance ’17 (Mackenzie Pluck ’18 assist), and Pluck also scored for the Patriots. Skelly was named MVP. 16/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
GA-PC DAY the scoreboard
Golf ..................................PC 5, GA 3 Girls Tennis ..........................PC 7, GA 0 Girls Cross Country ............GA 17, PC 40 Boys Cross Country..............GA 17, PC 46 Field Hockey ........................GA 8, PC 0
Girls Soccer ..........................GA 5, PC 2 Boys Soccer.......................... PC 2, GA 0 Boys Water Polo....................GA 12, PC 10 Girls Water Polo....................GA 9, PC 6 Football ................................GA 17, PC 14
field HOckey
The Patriots barely broke a sweat as they flattened PC, 8-0. The Patriots opened the scoring with goals from seniors Isabelle Jacobs ’17 and Natalie Kim ’17 (Maddi Ota ’20 assist) which were followed with six goals from sophomore Sammy Popper ’19, whose sixth goal of the game was also her 100th career goal in just two seasons for the Patriots! Assisting on two of Popper's goals were Kim and Catherine McFadden ’20.
Following the game, Popper, who was named The Intelligencer’s Field Hockey Player of the Year, Harrow/NFHCA Third Team All-America, and Harrow/NFHCA First Team Pennsylvania Region, was named the MVP.
bOys sOccer
In Head Coach Brendan Sullivan’s first GA-PC Day, the boys’ soccer team fell to PC, 2-0. Midfielder Joseph Battisto ’18 was named co-MVP of the game.
fOOtbAll
With the Competition Cup already secured entering the 130th GA-PC football game, the Patriots’ football team was focused on something much bigger—winning a share of the Inter-Ac League title for the first time since 2004. That goal became a reality as GA made big play after big play before an overflow crowd at Carey Stadium en route to a thrilling 17-14 victory.
After a scoreless first half, the Patriots got on the board when quarterback Kyle McCloskey ’17 barreled in from seven yards out with 3:34 left in the third quarter.
Both offenses broke through in the fourth quarter when PC’s Edward Saydee capped off a Quakers’ drive with a one-yard touchdown run to tie the game at seven with 9:39 to go in the fourth. The Patriots answered when McCloskey connected with wide receiver Mike Reilly ’17 in space for a 49-yard touchdown to put the Patriots up 14-7 with 5:48 remaining.
For a moment, it appeared GA would win the game by that score, but if GA-PC Day history has taught fans anything, it has been that it’s not over until it’s over. And that’s exactly the point when a near sack of PC quarterback Michael Hnatkowsky turned into a 68-yard catch-and-sprint broken play touchdown for Saydee, leveling the score at 14 all with 4:12 left on the clock. With five seconds remaining and the score knotted at 14, and thousands of fans watching in person or on their TVs or their computers, senior kicker Vince Capone ’17 clinched the win by drilling a 22-yard field goal.
Following the game, McCloskey, who scored two touchdowns, ran for 119 yards, and passed for 165 yards, received the Geis Trophy, the MVP award named in memory of Joseph Geis III, GA Class of 1948, who gave his life for our country. During the game, McCloskey broke former quarterback Hayes Nolte’s (Class of 2014) school record of 3,886 all-time passing yards, with 3,903 career yards.
THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY/17
ALUMNI NOTES
1960s
George Bihn ’63 happily shared that he and his wife, Gwen, are new grandparents with the arrival of Eva Luna Bihn-Ortiz. She was born on October 22, 2016 to alum Rick Bihn ’03 and his wife.
1970s
Composer Julia Wolfe ’77, whose throbbing, adrenaline-laced works are often joined with a historical or social narrative, was named a MacArthur Fellow. Wolfe won a 2015 Pulitzer Prize in music for her work Anthracite Fields, an ambitious oratorio that gave voice to Pennsylvania coal mining communities.
1980s
Carolyn Korman Jacobs ’80 has officially retired from chairing the Parents' Committee's annual cookie exchange after 10 years of organizing the event. She was honored at this year’s exchange as the founder of the most delicious event at GA!
Olympic medalist David Wharton ’87 was featured in an article on USASwimming.org on Nov. 17, 2016. He is currently the coach of a high school swim program in New Albany, Ohio, where he works full-time as the city’s Parks & Recreation Director.
Eric Mahler ’88 was named the president of the Advisory Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge. Mahler has been a member of the Board since 2008. He has served as chairman of the board’s Fund and Finance Committee and has been actively involved in the agency’s annual “Bowl For Kids’ Sake” fundraiser. His term as Advisory Board president will continue for two years. Mahler is the owner and managing partner the Mahler Law Firm LLC in Forty Fort, PA.
1990s
18/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Young adult author Elisa Ludwig ’92 released her latest book, Coin Heist, in 2015 and an adaption of her work made its debut as a Netflix original on January 6, 2017. Coin Heist is the fun and suspenseful tale of four prep school students who try to rob the United States Mint. Ludwig was chosen by Adaptive Studios to reimagine and rework a script entitled The Hole With the Mint and turn it into a young adult novel set in a Philadelphia prep school. After the novel was published, they brought in a new screenwriter to adapt it into a movie about four students who team up to rob the Philadelphia Mint. Producers are describing it in Hollywoodspeak as The Breakfast Club meets Ocean’s Eleven.
Patrick FitzGerald ’93 now leads Children Hospital of Philadelphia’s new Office of Entrepreneurship. The effort has led to the formation of three health technology companies: Haystack Informatics, which focuses on data security, Diagnostic Driving, which assesses driving safety, and Bainbridge Health, a drug safety software developer. FitzGerald told The Philadelphia Business Journal that they’ve already looked at 500 projects and ideas. Former NBA player Alvin Williams ’93 was named a Philadelphia 76ers player development coach in August 2016 where he serves under Sixers Head Coach and GA Parent of Alumni (’16) Brett Brown. Despite his new role with the Sixers, Williams continues assisting the GA boys' varsity basketball team during the winter.
Anita Franchetti ’95 was engaged to Steve Whibley on New Year’s Eve 2016! Anita, who is currently living in London, and Steve were traveling in Switzerland for the holiday.
Photographer Joseph Maida ’95 organized the symposium UNTITLED (Gender and Representation) at the School of Visual Art's Theater in New York City on October 1, 2016. The event included panels on queer histories and photography, gender outlaws, performance and gender, and transfeminism and featured leading artists, curators, and theorists in conversation throughout the day. Jeremy Kipp Walker ’96 was executive producer on the new movie, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, starring
in MeMOriAM Arthur Greenwood ’46 William P. Hansche, Jr. ’55 Peter McVeigh 1760 David O. Oberkircher 1760 Edward Mahler ‘44 Thomas F. Crane ‘47 Alarik A. Rosenlund ‘49 Robert F. Todd ‘48
Zach Galifinakis and Emma Roberts, and is now head of production at Netflix.
Diana Caramanico ’97 was a panelist on an espnW Campus Conversation on Nov. 11, 2016 at The Palestra where she presented to current female student-athletes about preparing personally and professionally for life after college and college athletics. Following the panel discussion, Caramanico (far right in photo above) co-led a break-out discussion entitled “I am Gritty.” Caramanico, a 2001 University of Pennsylvania alum, is a sports psychologist and owner of Corpus Mensque, an organization she founded in 2006 with a mission to ensure mental productivity and resilience training in addition to an athlete’s physical training. Ed Harris ’97, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, spent the summer on a media tour after the Montco Tourism Board launched a marketing campaign that was geared for fans of Pokémon Go. “As the tourism organization for Montgomery County, we wanted to make it easier for fans to navigate our region, discover our attractions, and catch Pokémon,” Harris told The Times Herald. Harris was also featured in The Philadelphia Business Journal and on Fox 29.
Tony Award nominee Jarrod Spector ’99, aka Mr. Jukebox Musical, premiered a brand new show, Jukebox Life, in November 2016 at Feinstein's/54 Below following his celebrated A Little Help From My Friends concert tour and cd. For six years, he played ‘Frankie Valli’ in Jersey Boys. For three years he played ‘Barry Mann’ in Beautiful:The Carole King Musical. The NewYork Times gave him a favorable review following his opening night.
September In 2016, Kristen Buckler ’00 completed YSC Tour de Pink, a three day bike ride from Bucks County to Cape May, NJ. The ride raised funds and awareness that young women can and do get breast cancer. She rode for fellow classmate, Jackie Roth Kern ’00, who was diagnosed in 2010 with breast cancer and found support at Young Survival Coalition (YSC). She reports that “It was special riding with alum Kim Whittaker Morris ’92 for the three days as well!
On July 16, 2016, John DiGirolamo ’00 & Jeri Banta were married in Center City at Top of the Tower. GA alumni in attendance included John's two brothers, Mike ’03 and Matt, Michael Buckler ’00, Seth Gershenson ’00, Brad Ruppel ’00, Michael Marron ’00, Andrew Miller ’00, Nate Meyers ’00, and Kristen Buckler ’00. Allison Bedrosian ’01 was engaged to William Gatter on June 25, 2016 in Somers Point, NJ. The
ALUMNI NOTES
couple is planning a wedding for October 2017 involving numerous GA alumni.
On Sept. 11, 2016, Lyndsay Chauveau Lev ’01 and her husband, Jonathan, along with big sister Mira, welcomed Susanna Leah to their family. They’re currently living in Boulder, Colorado.
Brian Mueller ’01, a selftaught app programmer, was featured on Apple's developer website where he touted his latest application, CARROT Weather, and how it has evolved for the Apple Watch platform. Mueller has successfully released five apps featuring CARROT, which have impressively been downloaded well over a million times collectively, including a to-do list app with a personality, an alarm clock that consumers will enjoy waking up to, a fitness app that gives users amusing feedback, a calorie counter app that is ready with witty oneliners, and most recently, CARROT Weather, the “eerily accurate weather app with hilariously twisted forecasts.”
David Goodchild ’02 graduated from the Yale School of Management in May 2016 earning his MBA in Strategy and Operations and is now working at Wayfair as a Senior Operations Analyst in Boston. He continues to freelance as a musician and serves as the Executive Director of the Callithumpian Consort, a professional ensemble performing contemporary music. Dr. Andrew Rittenhouse ’02 opened his own chiropractic practice, Rittenhouse Spine and Wellness Center, in Spring House.
Jon West ’02 and Ida Reese ’03 were married on May 29, 2016 at Prophecy Creek Park in Ambler. Ida, a graphic designer, designed everything from the invitations to the “just married” sign on her beloved 2001 VW Beetle. Former Governor Ed Rendell officiated. Bridesmaids were Kathryn Lloyd ’03, Rosemary Malfi ’03 and Whitney West Robson ’04. Groomsmen were brothers of
suzAnne dOnOvAn ’74 is livinG tHe GA MissiOn GA’s current Mission Statement was established in 2011, but many alumni have been living the tenets of this Mission since their own time at the Academy. Suzanne Donovan ’74 is one such example of being compassionate in spirit and honorable in deed in all that she does.
Although having just relocated to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Donovan spent the past 13 years in Savannah, Georgia where she made a living by being an advocate. When she first arrived, she put her degree in Journalism from University of California, Berkeley to work as a writer and editor at local newspaper, Savannah Morning News, covering news on criminal justice, military and local politics.While there, she realized that one of the main issues in Savannah was poverty. In 2007, Donovan became the Communications Director for the newly developed Step Up Savannah, an organization that brings businesses, government, social service providers and neighborhood leaders together to try to collectively reduce Savannah’s high poverty rate. Donovan was instrumental in developing the organization’s policy platform and getting the word out to city managers, neighborhood leaders and public assistance groups. In 2014, Donovan stepped into the Executive Director role. Of all the success markers, she is most proud of “having raised the conscious-
ness of the community about the issue of poverty. We made it part of the regular conversation.” Additionally, the list of services available has grown to include workforce development programs, low- or no-interest loan programs, financial literacy program and numerous initiatives in advocacy and education.
Donovan attended GA for 10th - 12th grades and credits those years as her “foundation in understanding my ability to think critically. My teachers at GA were like no others that I'd experienced while in public school. I couldn't hide in GA classes,” she recalled.
When asked what it was about her GA education that helped solidify that foundation, she replied, “Well, of course, Ms. [Jinny] Day! She was my guiding force – and disciplinarian – as well as my confidante.” Donovan also credits much to history teacher and advisor Mr. [Cheston] Newbold. “He taught me the value of debating, and helped me harness my energy and intellectual capacity,” she remembered.
“They (the faculty) took us seriously, and more importantly, took the work of
preparing us for the world as if it really mattered— and it did.”
Savannah Morning News reporter Jane Fishman recently wrote in an article about Donovan’s departure that “She’s a game changer, a seeker of justice, a freedom fighter. She gave everything she had with a level of commitment not often seen in our lifetime. She brought people together. She listened. She was strategic in thinking.”
THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY/19
ALUMNI NOTES
tHe pOwer Of 5
We are grateful to the Alumni listed below who have launched The Power of 5 Annual Fund program. Their participation in this 5-year giving option reinforces the importance of the consistent annual support of our Alumni community. By joining these alumni in making your own multi-year commitment, you will directly impact our students and our school.
Karen Hamilton Ammon ’85 Hillary Hickmott Baker ’79 Allison J. Bedrosian ’01 Christine Tenaglia Bishop ’81 Robin C. Bissell ’86 Christopher F. Brown ’84 Jacqueline A. F. Carlson ’99 Mark S. Conti ’71 Traci Dallas-Opdahl ’81 Kellye S. DeSantis ’04 Howard S. Edson ’79 Nicole Finelli ’05 E. Mark Fox ’71
Shana Duffine Genkin ’95 Eliza K. Hanson ’01 Annamarie Geppert Hellebusch ’84 Ian M. Hillman ’09 Taylor Houck ’09 Paul A. Hutter ’70 Brendan J. Kelly ’01 Laura Bender Koropey ’75 Stephanie N. Lueckel ’96 Michael A. Markovitz ’11 P. Gail Dickson Martin ’71 Justin R. Mauro ’11
C O N S I S T EN C Y
IN CELEBRATION OF YOUR CLASS
ANNUAL FUND COMMITMENT REUNION, MAKE YOUR
TODAY AND FULFILL IT OVER 5 YEARS.
YOU CAN SCHEDULE MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, OR ANNUAL CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD.
Susan Bowen McKay ’76 Patricia E. Moyer ’70 Scott H. Nicholas ’74 Audrey Swanstrom Osuna ’96 Barbara Pflaumer ’69 John M. Pokorny ’86 Gerald T. Rankin ’76 Zachary W. Risler ’04 Jack C. Rosenfeld ’76 Jessica T. Rotzell ’00
GA CAN RELY ON YOUR CONTINUED ANNUAL FUND SUPPORT UNTIL YOUR NEXT REUNION.
EFFICIENCY EXPENSES SAVED BY NOT SENDING SOLICITATIONS OVER THE YEARS WILL BE REDIRECTED TO STUDENT AND FACULTY NEEDS.
LAR IRED DOL NO REQU S T MAKE THERE IS IF G CH A AND E AMOUNT ACT!
A HUGE
IMP
Pamela New Saltzburg ’85 Andrew Seravalli ’06 Lisa E. Sherman ’75 Benjamin P. Siegl ’06 Frederick A. Stuart, Jr. ’61 Andrews H. Thatcher ’86 Elizabeth Williamson Turner ’74
If you are interested in making a Power of 5 pledge, please contact Kellianne Kaput, Director of Annual Giving, at 267-405-7314 or kelli.kaput@germantownacademy.org.
the bride and groom: Nolan Reese ’00 and Addison West ’07. Toasts were delivered by Kathryn and Rosemary as well as Andrew Barrer ’02. Known during her GA days for her artistic flare, Ida did not disappoint as she was escorted down the aisle in a green dress by her father, Merrill Reese. It was featured on the Philadelphia Magazine website in an article titled “Why I Wore a Green Wedding Dress.” Jon, an environmental scientist, performed a stirring rendition of “LA Woman” by The Doors, true to his GA roots of drumming and other musical endeavors.
Ivan Alber ’03 married Samantha Calderon in Miami Beach on August 6, 2016. The couple lives in Corona, California and both work in higher education. Ivan is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Keck Graduate Institute and Samantha is Associate Director of Annual Giving at the University of Redlands.
Constantina and Harry Mirabile ’04 are all smiles as they joyfully welcomed baby Joseph into their family on April 9, 2016.
Ashley Doriss ’04 and Erik Reeves are engaged and have set the date for September 30, 2017 in Cape May, New Jersey.
Jessica Limbacher ’05 is a staff attorney at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), a legal non-profit in Newark, NJ. She started at VLJ in April 2013 as one of two staff attorneys managing the Disaster Legal Response Program,
we wAnt yOu!
Join this inspiring and supportive community of GA women who want to connect with each other on professional and personal levels. Open to all women in the GA Community! Go to www.germantownacademy.net/ community/womens-networking-group for details.
which was designed to assist low-income clients with any legal issues related to Superstorm Sandy statewide. She continues to work on disaster legal issues and is also in charge of the Children's Representation Program, the Bankruptcy Program, and the Consumer Law Program.
According to a write-up in The NewYork Times, Alicia Aemisegger ’06 was married on April 30, 2016 to Patrick Matthew Biggs at the Downtown Club of Philadelphia. Both Alicia and Patrick work at Morgan Stanley in New York where she is an associate who works in sales and he is a founding partner in a wealth-management team at the firm called the RBK Group. The couple both graduated from Princeton, where they met on the varsity swim team. Mason Wartman ’06, owner of Rosa’s Fresh Pizza, was featured in a Citi Bank commercial on Twitter in fall of 2016.
Megan Cipolloni ’07 married Middle School teacher Andrew Dolan on July 1, 2016 at the historic John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove.
ALUMNI NOTES
Laura Goldstein ‘07 graduated in May 2016 from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and began her residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in June.
ing to a report from The Baltimore Sun. Coyle, a versatile outfielder that can play both second and third base as well as centerfield, was drafted in the third round by the Boston Red Sox in 2010. Since then he has spent time in both the Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim minor league systems.
John Negro ’09 married Sarah Nowicki on November 11, 2016 at the William Penn Inn. It was truly an off campus alumni event for the Class of 2009 - Joe Kiley, Alex Black, Jon Garbose and Chris Weber attended John, along with the groom's sisters, Natalie ‘08 and Olivia ‘19. The wedding party also attended GAPC Day -true Patriots!
2010s
Out of more than 300 submissions, Casey Patrick ’07 was one of only 24 selected to have her poetry featured alongside an artwork in buses and trains in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. The initiative is called the Impressions Project initiated by the Saint Paul Almanac, a “literary-centered arts organization.”
Will Bellamy ’10 is a cast member of the Irish Repertory Theatre’s revival of Finian’s Rainbow, which has been extended to play through January 29 at its newly renovated theatre in New York City. Sean Coyle ’10 signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Dec. 13, 2016 cord-
Artist Anna FlynnMeketon ’10 cowrote Pangaea: A Folk Opera with her castmates of The Hum’n’Bards. The post-apocalyptic folk opera made its world debut at the 2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Through energizing song and movement, Pangaea engages the audience to follow five folks endeavoring to connect again after the fall-out of having been disconnected and isolated by the refracturing of the continents. The show received terrific reviews by several theater-focused publications.
Austin Kevitch ’10 has one simple goal in life: to brighten the lives of folks around the world through his app, Brighten. The app allows users to send compliments to friends anonymously. “It feels good to make someone smile,” reads the app’s tagline. Kevitch, who was recently featured in The New York Times’ Dec. 20, 2016 edition, was inspired to build the app after a close friend passed away and his Facebook page was filled with positive memories. His company has grown to eight people and includes Alec Lorraine ’10, who handles operations and community support, and Tim Cannon ’10, who is leading Brighten’s campus representative program and product engagement.
CHECK IT OUT! UPCOMING EVENTS
APR7
Women’s Networking Group Meeting
APR8
Alumni CSO Outing in NYC–3rd Year Supporting the Fountain House 5K Riverside Park. Details for a Post-Event Gathering to come!
APR9
Film Now at Ambler Theater
APR12
MAY20
APR23
MAY23
APR24
JUN10
AM@GA. Admission Morning at GA Movie Night with Dwight – “American History X” Alumni Golf Outing
MAY19
Class of 1967 Day on Campus & Old Guard Dinner
GA Tennis Day Career Connections Dinner Alumni Lacrosse Game
Visit www.germantownacademy.net/alumni for details.
Chierra Williams ‘11 graduated from Baylor University on December 19, 2015 with a degree in Business Administration (BBA).
Kirby Begley ’12 is thrilled to be working as a nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CHOP. She graduated Cum Laude in August from Villanova’s College of Nursing and started in her new role the next month. “It’s exactly what I want to be doing at the place I dreamed of doing it, especially with the hopes of becoming a nurse anesthetist someday!” Kirby shared. Former girls' soccer star Cailin DiGiacomo ’12 was named the head girls' soccer coach at Germantown Friends School in the summer of 2016.
Nelson Glendinning ’12 is a graphic designer for Ashley Chloe Inc. Based in San Francisco Bay area, Ashley Chloe creates "fashion-forward wearables designed for the modern lifestyle.”
University of Richmond senior Ken Anderson ’13 was elected President of the Richmond College Student Government Association. Anderson, who worked in GA’s Archives in the past and completed a history book about GA for his Academy Scholars project, recently completed a University of Richmond Summer Fellowship where he researched his mother’s ancestors in the town of Richmond. Catherine Perlmutter ’13 set a number of Dickinson University field hockey records during her senior season. The neuroscience major/Spanish minor is now the program’s all-time leader in points with 127 (53 goals, 21 assists). Her career goals and assists were also new career records for Dickinson. She also set the record for most games started (72).
Jordan Sciascia ’13, a senior at Swarthmore College, wrote an article entitled “A Millennial’s Reintroduction To Hillary Rodham Clinton” that was published by The Huffington Post.
Trinity College junior Cliff David ’14 celebrated his New England Small College Athletic Conference football championship and perfect season with a win over Wesleyan on November 12, 2016.
THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY/21
ALUMNI NOTES
dAniel lipscHutz ’08 is fOllOwinG A new pAtH
If you had told Daniel Lipschutz ’08 in his senior year that eight years later he would be an artist selling a published coloring book of his own work, he would have laughed. In his senior year at GA, Lipschutz was a football team captain, prefect of Roberts House, and recipient of a 2008 McNeil Patriot Scholarship. He was preparing to launch his college career at the University of Pennsylvania where he’d play on the football team and work towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering. His path forward was clear and exactly as he wanted it.
Lipschutz was the featured speaker at GA’s Fall Senior Breakfast in October and told his fellow Patriots that he loved his life at that time and was excited for his future. His years at Penn were busy and successful playing football, helping found the university’s first prehealthcare fraternity, working as an undergraduate research assistant at a spine pain research lab, and completing his degree. Immediately after graduation, Lipschutz went to work with Stryker Orthopaedics as an associate project engineer.
Despite everything going exactly as planned, something was missing. The loss of a Penn football teammate had caused Lipschutz to view the “map” to life’s happiness differently and pursue deeper meaning. He wanted to forge a more creative and unique path for himself, and decided to explore himself and the world. He and his best friend took off on a cross-country road trip, which then went international.
Along the way, Lipschutz discovered a newfound passion for artmaking and encouraging creative expression in others. By the end of 2016, that self-exploration led Lipschutz to create a Philadelphiafocused coloring book full of his own illustrations. As detailed on his blog www.spreaDLove.me, he learned while traveling that:
1. Coloring is awesome and incredibly relaxing 2. Coloring lowers the barrier of entry for someone who isn’t an “artist” to do something creative 3. His own artwork had the ability to encourage people to be creative in their own way
After an overwhelmingly successful Kickstarter campaign, Lipschutz was able to self-publish the book and deliver nearly 200 copies to his funders. Since then, he’s been selling his book to visitor centers and stores all over the area. Moreover, he’s delivered 165 books and colored pencil sets to Counseling Services at the University of Pennsylvania to be used in student mindfulness and wellness programs.
Get your foursome together for the
AluMni GOlf OutinG Monday, April 24 Manufacturers’ Golf & country club
email one of the following organizers if you would like to play: James nam ’94 - nam2005@gmail.com bill piszek ’77 - bpiszek@aol.com will weihenmayer ’03 - will@rubgold.com Caroline Nawrocki ’14 was honored by Lafayette College for academic excellence at the annual All-College Honors Convocation. She was the recipient of the Rado Pribic Prize in Beginning Russian Language, given in recognition of a student who demonstrates excellence and promise in beginning Russian language studies. A Marquis scholar and a Digital Humanities Research Scholar, Nawrocki is majoring in International Affairs and minoring in Religious Studies. She is in her second year as the Design Director of The Lafayette (college newspaper), a DJ for WJRH (college radio station), a Digital Humanities Research Scholar, and a first-year peer mentor.
Liz Platonova ’14 worked in Washington, DC for the office of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for five months through the co-op program at Northeastern University. Platonova is currently a junior and a candidate for a double major in Economics and International Affairs. Simultaneously, Platonova began volunteering for the Hillary for America campaign’s finance and advance teams in Pennsylvania on the weekends, which turned into an internship until the election. Platonova is currently awaiting a background clearance to begin working for the State Department in Vienna at the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Sophomore forward Allie Carrigan ’15 finished her first season with the Yale University field hockey team third in points with 13 (six goals, one assist). Carrigan also plays goalie for the Yale lacrosse team alongside Cooper Hall ’14.
Olivia Gorman ’15, a sophomore on the Wesleyan women’s soccer team, was named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference Fall All-Academic Team.
Germantown Academy Day Camp & Summer Programs
Lipschutz is embracing this unplanned place in his life. When he returned to campus last fall, he stressed with the seniors the need to not expect perfection. “Don’t be afraid of failure,” he commented. “It can actually be your biggest inspiration for what will come next.”
June 19 – August 11, 2017
22/THE PATRIOT/GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
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