Worcester Academy Hilltopper Spring 2016

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OSKEE WEEKEND ABOVE & BEYOND CHECKING IN

Writing AT THE HEART OF THE WORCESTER ACADEMY EXPERIENCE

spring 2016

VOLUME XXIV / ISSUE 2

CONTENTS

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U.S. national champion rower Hugh McAdam ’04

SPRING 2016

contents

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writing, learning to communicate ideas still at the heart of the WA experience

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Jovann Vega ’19 making a mark at WA

BY JODY P. MCNAMARA

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Find a page with a Layar call to action (pages 8, 13, 14 or 22)

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a perfect fit for Alex Henriques ’21

Use Layar to scan the page by tapping device screen (Hint: make sure entire page is viewable for scanning)

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Watch for a photo gallery to open or for a video to play

board of visitors

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Enjoy!

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HEAD OF SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWS ON THE HILLTOP THE MIDDLE VARSITY CLUB FROM THE ARCHIVES GIVING NEWS CHECKING IN PASSINGS

the

HILLTOPPER

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

officers & members

spring 2016

VOLUME XXIV / ISSUE 2

Head of School

Ronald M. Cino P’21, ’22

Hilltopper Editor

Neil R. Isakson P’15, ’19

Associate Editor

Barbara Strogoff P’97, ’03

Graphic Design

President Henry Dormitzer III ’88 First Vice President Susan Weagly Jacobs, J.D. P’03 Second Vice President Sarah (Sullivan) Pulsifer ’91

Secretary Brian A. O’Connell, Esq. ’67

Treasurer Jonathan S. Stuart ’86

Benny Sato Ambush ’69 Dr. Lauren S. Baker P’15,’18 William Breidenbach ’69 Patricia Z. Eppinger P’16,’20 R. Victor Fields ’71 Matthew Finkle ’87

David P. Forsberg ’65 J. Michael Grenon ’88 Thomas Heiser P’09,’11,’15 Arthur Kentros ’74 Jamie E. Lavin ’02 Dana R. Levenson ’75 Charles J. O’Connor III ’73 Andrew B. O’Donnell, Esq. ’73 Jacqueline Peterson James J. Pietro ’81 J.P. Ricciardi P’15,’17 Hervey S. Ross ’46 Robert Scumaci P’15,’18 David V. Shamoian ’70 Edwin B. Shaw ’61 Luke M. Vaillancourt ’01

Photography Ursula Arello

David Barron

Greg Cappello

Barbara Gould

Tom Kates Photography

Neil Isakson Tom Kates Photography George Lucozzi/ASA Photographic

Anette Macintire

Marcia Mallett

Nancy Osborn P’13

Peter Smith

Worcester Academy exists to instill in its students the desire to learn throughout life, to engage passionately with the world around them, and to be honorable persons of strong and resourceful character.

CORE VALUES

We are a community—curious, thoughtful, generous, and thriving in our diversity. We embrace each of our core values as essential to the mission of Worcester Academy and as testimony of our beliefs and commitments.

HONOR | RESPECT | COMMUNITY | PERSONAL GROWTH | CHALLENGE 2 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

2016 CASE silver award winner for General Excellence, Independent School Magazines

Videography Neil Isakson

OskeeVision Advancement Office Marillyn G. Earley, Director of Advancement

Ursula A. Arello ’85, P’21, Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship

Frank R. Callahan ’71, Director of Planned Giving

Greg Cappello, Director of Alumni Relations

Alicia Figueiredo, Coordinator, Campaign Operations and Event Planning

Neil R. Isakson, Director of External Communications

Anette Macintire, Annual Fund Coordinator

Marcia Mallett P’21, Director of Marketing

Dexter P. Morse, Head Emeritus/Advisor to the Capital Campaign

Erica Driscoll Ribeiro P’20, Director of Annual Giving

Donald E. “Dee” Rowe ’47, Special Assistant to the Head of School

Kim Stone, Director of Donor Development

Barbara Strogoff, Gift Coordinator/Editor

MISSION

Good Design LLC

2015 CASE bronze award winner for Best Designed Magazine

Featured Writer

Jody McNamara P’09,’12, a marketing and communications consultant, is a longtime feature writer and former director of parent relations at Worcester Academy. Jody, who organized and chaired two consecutive auctions for WA, lives on Cape Cod.

Contributing Writers

Caroline Reich P’06,’08 is a former development staffer for Worcester Academy. She and her husband, Joel Reich, are benefactors of the Summer Scholars Program, which serves children living in the WA neighborhood.

The Hilltopper is published twice yearly by Worcester Academy.

Reader comment, as well as information of interest, is always welcome.

Please write to Neil R. Isakson, director of external communications, at Worcester Academy, 81 Providence St., Worcester, MA 01604 USA, or email neil.isakson@worcesteracademy.org.

ON THE COVER Victoria Endow ’16, an AP English Literature student and member of the Board of Monitors at Worcester Academy.

(Tom Kates Photography)

FPO

from the head of school

I am a decent writer, but I am not “a writer” in the way that I once dreamed I might be while sitting at my family’s electric typewriter in our Brooklyn basement. My older daughter, inspired by Harry Potter and tales of Eragon, already has surpassed my accomplishments as a writer. She is already receiving mentoring and incorporating critique into her work as a sixth grader at Worcester Academy and plans to self-publish on Amazon in the near future with the help of one of our cousins, her editor. Who knows where this will lead and what stories she will tell later in her life.

I love hearing stories from alumni about their time at WA. Sometimes they share with pride stories of mischief they never would have told an adult while enrolled. Sometimes they speak with great gratitude and love about the ways in which specific classes or conversations with influential teachers, mentors, coaches or dorm parents have helped shape their lives. Sometimes they offer reflections regarding the key skills that they developed at school and how they have employed them with great success in school, work and life.

Often the stories in this latter category are accompanied by discussions about advantages WA graduates enjoy relative to their peers in different settings. The most common themes that emerge involve critical thinking, personal responsibility and writing. We actually received similar feedback through a recent survey of young alumni, who named writing skill as the primary advantage that they enjoyed in college. This is particularly gratifying to hear.

We live in an era when creative personal expression is highly

valued and communication can be shared globally in a matter of seconds. Given this context, I continue to feel that there is no more important skill than learning how to express ideas clearly and persuasively in writing.

While writing across the curriculum is something that’s in our DNA here at Worcester Academy (see this Hilltopper issue’s cover feature, Learning To Communicate Ideas At The Heart Of The WA Experience), the way we teach has been transformed in recent years to encompass Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity, as well as Communication. More often than not, the how of teaching English and communications has become a blending of disciplines and a fusing of traditional methods with cutting-edge technology and digital platforms. Consider that, today, even a 140-character Twitter post has a place in the pantheon of contemporary writing.

By the time you are done reading this Hilltopper, I hope you feel the same sense of excitement I do about how and what students are learning at WA. We hope to “instill in [our] students the desire to learn throughout life,” and I think that as adults we can all learn from our students’ experiences. Maybe there is still hope for me as a writer. I better get working on it.

Ron Cino

“There is no more important skill than learning how to express ideas clearly and persuasively in writing.”

Worcester Academy

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Writing,

learning to communicate ideas still at the heart of the WA experience IN-DEPTH CRITIQUE, PEER EDITING INFUSE NEW ENERGY INTO CURRICULUM

by Jody P. McNamara

It seems that every rotation of the planet brings a new invention, a new cure, a new technology. We see and hear it in the news, and its evidence is ever-present in our daily lives.

How many of you, right now reading this Hilltopper issue, graduated from high school with a cell phone?

The challenge to adjust and adapt is palpable in the message we hear from schools everywhere, but how many schools are truly embracing these sweeping societal changes and adapting to the needs of their students?

What are colleges looking for?

What are employers looking for?

WHAT’S A PREPARATORY SCHOOL TO DO? Worcester Academy is no stranger to switching gears. Adaptation, after all, is the name-of-the-game where longevity is concerned. But with 182 years under our belt, we’ve learned a thing or two about where to remain consistent and where to make those changes that will make that big difference in our students’ futures.

Alums tell us every day that the greatest gift of a Worcester Academy education is the ability to write and to communicate effectively. The written and spoken word are inviolable and are, in fact, the keys to success in anyone’s future. But in a world of change, how do we keep our grads competitive and, as always, at the top of their freshman writing seminars?

Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity: These are the four Cs of contemporary teaching and they’re happening in every classroom, every day at Worcester Academy.

Dr. Cynthia Sabik, Worcester Academy’s Dean of Faculty, tells us that to succeed in a 21st century world, students need to be open to new approaches, willing to share their ideas, and able to look at new problems in different ways. The four Cs ensure that.

“It’s about In-Depth Critique,”

says Dr. Sabik. “It’s an approach that prepares our students for their lives beyond Worcester Academy by employing formalized discussion and collaborative workshops (aka, “workshopping”). It’s not that the material has changed; it’s simply that the traditional disciplines of literature, science, history, etc., can be studied in a wonderfully collaborative approach.”

What exactly is In-Depth Critique and how do we weave the four Cs into an already stellar curriculum? Read on…

THE WORKSHOPS PROCESS Walk into any English classroom on the Hilltop these days and you’ll see the change and feel the energy. No longer are our students sitting quietly and listening to their instructor deliver a lecture. Every Worcester Academy student is part of the process, learning to assess, evaluate and collaborate.

“It starts with seminar methodology and the Socratic Seminar (taking its name from the Greek philosopher who created it),” Cindy continues. “It sounds daunting, but it’s basically a discussion of material where our students are asked to listen closely to the comments of their peers as well as their instructors. They think critically about the

conversation, and then articulate their own thoughts and their responses to the thoughts of others. The shift, in terms of the educational activity, is that the learning is coming from not just the instructor, but from the entire group.

Once our students have embraced the free and open sharing of ideas, it’s not such a great leap to the free and open sharing of their written work. That’s where the workshop format comes in.”

“We’ve really embraced the workshop process, and we see nothing but positive results,” says Dana Huff, English Department chair. “I struggled for years to teach peer editing and it never worked. The kids were reticent to offend each other and, honestly, reserved about offering their opinions. They’d end up just fixing each other’s grammar and calling it a day. Now that we’ve incorporated workshop into the classroom equation and begun editing drafts as a group, the kids see that real value of the revision process. We remind them all the time that all professional writers have editors, don’t they? This is simply part of the writing process. We also put the students in charge of their time,” Dana continues. “When you ask the question ‘what do you want help with?’ you get answers! The ‘I’m not sure it’s well organized’ and the ‘I could have better word Worcester Academy

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English Department Chair Dana Huff

world where the professional workplace is increasingly collaborative,” Dana concludes. “I mean, think about it: Every professional writer is subject to the editing process. Every scientific endeavor is subject to peer review.

Every work project is evaluated by others as it progresses. Exposing our

on Science Department member Dr. Kevin Crowthers to discuss genetics. Here’s an idea for a discussion and paper: Does our understanding of Shakespeare’s text change with a modern understanding of biology and psychology? Great question! Wouldn’t you want to be part of that conversation?

W

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hen I started classes at Princeton, I found that I had a major advantage over most of my classmates in the area of academic writing. I owe this advantage to my history and English teachers at WA, who constantly pushed me to think critically, to embrace complexity, and to convey my thoughts with precision. Academically, nothing has been of greater benefit to me in my time at Princeton than the writing skills I brought from WA.” —Matt Kelly ’12, Princeton University ’16

choices’ give the rest of the group focus and allow for real improvement.”

Jack Haringa, English Faculty member and faculty advisor for the peer-editing group, agrees. “We’ve moved from peer editing being always a struggle to peer editing being just ‘a thing you do here at WA.’ That’s a major shift. I think that by acculturating our students to this sharing, we’re creating better writers with an even better grasp of the various linguistic skills they have at their disposal. I do writing workshops where the kids have only a partial draft. I can walk around and give individual feedback while, at the same time, the kids are working in groups of 3 or 4 sharing, giving commentary, tracking changes in Word, and working in Google Docs. As I move around the room, I will arrive at a certain table and realize that I only have to make one or two more comments because my students have already contributed wonderful things.

That’s a good feeling.”

“We’re sending these kids into a 6 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

students to collaboration early and often acclimates them all to the environments they’ll encounter moving forward to university and beyond.”

Collaboration The writing and collaboration doesn’t simply end when students walk out of their English class. WA teachers are weaving their collaboration all over the Hilltop.

When English instructor Katie Kinkel created poetry chapbooks (small, papercovered booklets, usually printed on a single sheet folded into books) with her creative writing students, she originally planned on asking each student to illustrate their biographical poems themselves. In a true example of collaboration, Kinkel reached out to the school’s Art department. The English students will commission the illustration work to Art students (thereby adding the historical note of patronage in the Arts!).

When David Baillie covers Macbeth in his English Honors class, he calls

IT’S MULTI-DISCIPLINARY Worried that all of this change is only happening in the English Department? Think again! Every department sees the importance of excellent communications skills.

History Classes “You may have all the answers,” says Kirk Upton, WA History and Economics instructor. “Heck, you may hold the answer to world peace in your mind, but if you aren’t able to articulate it effectively, that secret is going to remain just that: A Secret. This is why writing has always been an integral part of my World History classes.

Now that we’ve introduced Writer’s Workshop, I see my students’ writing—and their eagerness to approach their writing—improving steadily.

“We use workshop as an entry point.

Before we even delve into the first essay topic, we actually workshopped some essays from previous years. Standing at the front of the room with markers in hand,

my students pick over old essays. Is there a thesis? Is it effective? Then they write their own essays and we work on a few of those. Every student is up at the board, talking, marking, giving suggestions.

Then we take a 5-minute break during which I ask, ‘Is there something you want to change about your essay?’ The kids take this sharing and then apply it to their own essays. This significantly shifts the conversation from ‘What does Mr. Upton want,’ to ‘what is good writing.’ They can all read! They have opinions!”

“We carve out a lot of time to work on writing. Content in a history class is important, to be sure, but whether you remember the dates of the Neolithic revolution isn’t going to matter if you don’t understand how to articulate its importance. You can always look up the facts, but the ability to analyze content is so much more important. Writing is the lynchpin. In order to write effectively you have to know your content, make decisions about what to include and exclude, recognize connections, and then be able to explain those connections. You can have it all in your head, but if you can’t express it, that’s a problem. Critical thinking, persuasive communication— these are the skills that carry you.”

Upton’s expertise extends to Economics, which he teaches as an Upper School elective. Writing, he tells us, is an imperative in this discipline as well.

“The first essay that I ask my Economics students to write is an economic analysis of their top three college choices (also called the ‘Thank-You Mom and Dad Essay’). We workshop these essays looking for a well-defined thesis, specific economic data and terminology, and the use of readability tools embedded in the word processing programs.

I also teach my Economics students to use APA formatting, rather than MLA formatting. This is what is expected of professionals in the field of Economics, so they might as well learn that now.”

WA writes Communicating in the Sciences Derek Segesdy, Worcester Academy Science Department chair is emphatic.

“You can be a scientist and collect all the right data, but if you don’t have the skills to relay that data in a written format—whether it’s a report or an article or a story—you have no way to be effective as a scientist. It’s critically important that we develop in our students the skills to effectively convey their ideas—and they need to know how to convey those ideas in more than one way.

“If you think about a science class 10 years ago, it was all formal lab reports— and all lab reports have a very specific structure. We’re certainly still teaching that because it’s very important to describe what you’ve done in a scientific manner and it’s certainly still how scientific journals operate. But not all scientists report their work in a scientific journal. Probably the majority of material that people read comes in the format of an article in a publication like Popular Science or something in a newspaper or on a scientific website. We want all of our students to feel comfortable writing in both of these two styles.

“As an example, one of my classes begins the year by writing a one-page paper that describes a model of the Milky Way Galaxy made out of salt. One grain of salt represents one star and the kids write a paper, which is in the style of a magazine article, describing what the salt model should look like. They can bring images into it and must build analogies as to size. It’s an unexpected assignment and really a lot of fun to both give them writing experience and bring them into the world of scientific writing.

“We scaffold the skills and the writing from freshman to senior year so that our students are fully ready to handle a 20-page research paper before they leave Worcester Academy.”

And handle it they must! Barbara Gould’s Anatomy students know that

Adiscovered lexandra Dean Hinrichs ’03 passion for French, history at WA ALUMNA PUBLISHES CHILDREN’S BOOK, ‘THÉRÈSE MAKES A TAPESTRY’

by Jody P. McNamara

Discover your passion and then make your mark. This is our hope for all Hilltoppers. Those who are still scurrying from Walker to Kingsley, though, sometimes struggle with the relevance of their daily studies. To those of you still in your “discovery phase” who worry about where you’ll find your passion and how you’ll make your mark, we offer you this: Alexandra “Alex” Dean Hinrichs ’03.

With two small boys and her first children’s book recently published by Getty Publications, Alex is one busy person.

We caught up with her during an afternoon naptime, though, to trace her path from WA’s gates to her current place in the world as a researcher, historian, author, and mom.

After graduating from Colgate University with bachelor’s degrees in History and French, Alex went on to pursue two master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin, Madison: one in Library and Information Studies and the other in History, focusing on The History of Childhood. While in Madison, Alex learned that the very popular American Girl was headquartered just down the road in Middleton, Wisconsin. With two appropriate master’s degrees underway, Alex landed a part time job as a researcher for the American Girl book series. Never one to run from lots of work, Alex took another part time position as a children’s research librarian. “As you can see,” Alex corroborates, “My roles were very much in children’s literature.”

A move to Bangor, Maine (with her second child on the way!) embedded Alex even more firmly in the realm of children’s literature with two more part time jobs: one at The Briar Patch, Bangor’s noted children’s bookstore, and the other with online children’s book reviewer Zoobean.

Around this time, Getty Publications began looking for an author to pen a children’s book that would be a companion piece to the Getty Museum’s French Tapestry exhibit, which opened in December. (Visit http://www.getty. edu/art/exhibitions/french_tapestries/ for a look at this intricate and amazing art form!) Contacting American Girl for suggestions, The Getty explained what they were looking for: The author would need to understand the historical period, be versed in children’s literature and, oh by the way, must speak French—the language of much of the research material. American Girl thought Alex was the obvious choice, and, the rest, as they say, is History.

“Thérèse Makes A Tapestry,” written

by Alex S.D. Hinrichs and illustrated by award-winning artist Renee Graef, is now available.

“I know the humanities sometimes get a bad rap,” Alex laughs, “But I feel that I have put every little ounce of my degrees to work. It really is a testimony to the ‘do what you love’ philosophy. It’s also speaks to the relevance of my time at WA.” How so, you ask?

“I am not exaggerating! I have thought about my Worcester Academy teachers so much during the researching and writing of this book. There are four who certainly influenced me in particular:

“Susan (Keaney) Carlson and Lilith Anderson were my French teachers. I have always loved French but I was a very shy French speaker in high school.

Mrs. Anderson just kept encouraging me. After my mom took me to Paris as a sophomore at WA, I remember Mrs. Anderson taking the time to notice and comment on my increased confidence.

Then, as a senior, I went again to Paris on one of Ms. Carlson’s trips, making me even more comfortable with the language and the culture.

“Dan Dagenais changed my outlook on history completely. He made it come alive for me in a way that it hadn’t before. I even adopted his passion for FDR!” Alex exclaims. “I wrote my undergrad thesis on FDR. I would never have come to my love of history without Mr. Dagenais.

“And, of course,” Alex completes, “I can’t forget Diana Canterbury. Ms. Canterbury kept my creative side alive and kept the story-telling part of my brain in motion.”

Looking for your passion?

Wondering how you’ll make your mark? Take it from Alex: What you’re exposed to at Worcester Academy is a good place to start.

Worcester Academy

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scan this page to view to Paige Keeler’s poetry slam

Student Poem straight lines

by Fiona Price ’19

Impressionism in art is all about expressing feeling and emotion. One of the founders of the movement was Edgar Degas, a French impressionist artist known for painting ballerinas.

Although Degas preferred being called a realist rather than an impressionist, he seemed to perceive real life in an impressionist style, with vague brushstrokes and dabs of color. I wish to someday see the world in brushstrokes, and to see the feeling behind everything instead of simply seeing what is in front of me. I wish that someday my realism becomes my impressionism.

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, but really the emotion behind it cannot be described in words. I have always felt a connection to art, perhaps because I was born on Degas’ birthday.

Or perhaps it is because my grandmother is an artist, and her paintings on the walls are imprinted in my mind by now. I have taken art classes at the Worcester Art Museum since I was five, and still take classes there every summer. When I was younger, we had to recreate a painting, and I chose one of Degas’ dancers. I have always loved the way the strokes expressed movement; there were none of the straight lines characteristic of more traditional

paintings. In 1874, however, the motto was “Realism is better.” Everything was exact and precise. Impressionism changed that. As I grew older, my lines were also less straight. I became more involved in my communities, and tried things outside of my comfort zone such as meeting all the ninth graders, joining clubs, and especially running on cross country. While I have and always will have a realistic side to me, the other part of me is a dreamer. I refuse to just be called a realist, the opposite of Degas. Yes, I usually like everything to be precise and exact, but each year I learn why straight lines aren’t always better. In my life, I want more brushstrokes, more abstraction; I want to try new things. The impressionists were always underestimated, but now Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas are some of the most famous artists in history.

When people look at me, they see a small, little stick figure girl: completely composed of straight lines. I am more than a stick figure though. While I can’t create a masterpiece, I always try my hardest. Straight lines represent nothing, no feeling or emotion. They don’t exist in real life. I try to use brushstrokes, because straight lines are realistic, but they aren’t real.

view more student poems at www.worcesteracademy.org/poems 8 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

writing is a giant part of her curriculum.

“It’s terribly important that our kids learn to communicate in many different venues,” Barbara tells us. “After all,” she laughs, “whatever it is you think you’re going to do with the rest of your life while you’re in high school isn’t necessarily where you end up.”

Working primarily with seniors, Barbara takes the opportunity to assign a major research paper and walks her students through the intermediate steps of creating a large piece of writing, making the giant task more manageable.

“In my Anatomy class, I link what we’re studying with what happens when something goes wrong in the body—disease and disability. These are perfect segues for students to identify topics that resonate with them for whatever reason. They decide on their topic and then they must link their subject matter to what we’ve covered in class.

Obviously, writing in science is different from the writing they’ve experienced in History or English. There’s logistical information, a lack of personal pronouns (always a struggle!) and differences in how items are cited. It’s critical that my students have an opportunity to discover these differences.”

Jealous yet? Hilltoppers are being prepared for real world challenges every day.

“That’s the goal,” Segesdy laughs.

“Prepare them and make them feel confident that they can tackle the challenges that they’re going to encounter when they leave Worcester Academy. That’s what we’re all about.”

Communicating in Mathematics—Math?? Really??

“Worcester Academy is a school with a very strong writing tradition,” acknowledges Ted Theodosopoulos, Mathematics Department chair, “so it’s only natural to look for links within the science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum where we can exploit and advance that strong writing tradition.”

Seriously? How can you write in a Math class?

“We absolutely do,” laughs Theodosopoulos. “Writing across the curriculum is essential to our students’ studies and we want to promote this in an interdisciplinary way. I’ll give you a great example: “My Algebra 2 students begin the year with a segment on the ‘Language of Algebra.’ This is an important theme that I try to incorporate into my teaching.

WA writes We’ll use linguistic techniques to analyze algebraic expressions. In other words, we’ll look at an algebraic equation in the same way that we’ve learned to analyze a sentence (subject/verb/object, etc.). To culminate this section, we have a project that experiments with using Algebra as a means of communication. Scientists have long speculated that if we were ever to encounter an alien race that Mathematics, as the universal language, would be a possible mode of communication. We talk about this and even read excerpts from Carl Sagan’s novel Contact.

Within groups, students must then develop a way to use algebra to communicate with aliens! The project culminates in a presentation where I play the role of the ‘alien’ and send out a message.

My students then interpret the message in algebraic terms and send a message back to me. In the end, each group writes a joint paper, describing their scheme and why it made sense to them.”

Sound challenging?

“It is challenging,” says Ted, “but they love it. I ask the class for comments after this exercise and their responses are lovely. It’s imperative in this day and age to challenge our students creatively,” Ted continues. “In order for our teaching to be genuine, there are a number of ways that writing is critical to the mission of the math department. My own experience has included not only teaching at the secondary school level, but also teaching in a university and working for corporations, primarily in the finance industry. In those corporate roles, I was a technical expert, but in order to really make a difference, I needed to learn to effectively communicate my findings both in written form and in oral form.

Today’s Math students are usually not taught that their communications skills are going to be integral to their success in business. I can tell you from experience that it is essential and finding a way to communicate this message is critical.”

“My medium term goal is to start a Math Journal here at Worcester Academy.

I’d love to see us create something that would be a counterpart to The Lance on the humanities side. Having said that,” Ted continues, “I don’t like that math is seen as separate from the humanities.

After all, Math has been done by humans for millennia. It must reflect some part of our nature. Worcester Academy is a very cool place. We are making Math a more organic part of the curriculum.”

IT’S TECHNICALLY ASTUTE And what about technology? We all know that most writing takes place with some sort of word processor these days, but what about all those other forms of communication that the insurgence of technology has brought to us?

of their choice. I have only two rules.

One: Before posting the blog online, they must have their work read by at least one other person. And, Two: They are free to choose any topic that will not violate anything in Worcester Academy’s student handbook. Interestingly, many of my students are now opting to have their work previewed by many different people because they don’t want their mistakes up on the Internet!

“I’m so proud of them!” Lisa exclaims.

“This exercise helps them all in so many ways. First and foremost, we’re creating responsible digital citizens because the project allows them to create some-

listening.” Lisa is emphatic. “This work matters. We want our Middlers to be passionate readers and writers so that when they advance to Upper School, they’ll be ready for the next step.”

thing outside of the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram world that they normally see. Secondly, as Middlers, they tend to think that no one hears what they have to say. This project proves to them that, with a topic that they are invested in, lots of people are interested. One of my students wrote a piece about golf. In only one week, more than 55 people in six different countries viewed that blog, and he received six positive comments from complete strangers.

It’s a wonderful thing to watch someone at this age realize that people are

assignment gives them not only experience in an ever-growing technology, but also allows them to think about time and place. I ask that the videos not exceed five minutes and be about a topic that is part of their own personal story. Think about your own digital habits,” Dana explains. “If someone sends you a link to a video that’s longer than 5 minutes, your inclination is to think ‘I don’t have 10 minutes right now!’ The kids need to be aware of who their audience is and how to interest them in the right way.

Video essays are a great tool for that.”

Personal Essay Videos And let’s not forget the screen! Dana Huff’s Grade 11 English class produces personal essay videos that marry visual imagery with voice-over.

“It works on so many levels,” Dana tells us. “As eleventh graders, my students need to begin thinking about their own personal story. After all, they’ll be writing college essays soon. This

Grade 8 Blogging “You’ll be surprised to know that some of our youngest students work with some of our latest technologies,” Cindy Sabik tells us. And she’s absolutely right. Just ask Lisa Iaccarino, Middle School Dean of Students and English instructor, what she’s up to with her Grade 8 students.

“Editing is a foreign concept to middlers as they enter our program,” Lisa explains. “In order to engage them in the process, our program is very much based on choice. We also workshop the writing with our eighth graders.

Not only is it important for them to be prepared for what they’ll encounter in Upper School, it’s also absolutely imperative for them to have a public audience. If they’re only writing for their teacher on a topic that they don’t much care about, all of the personal investment goes right out the window.

“Combining these concepts of personal choice and an audience, I’ve had our eighth graders producing blogs for a few years now. This year, they’re writing their own individual blogs on the topics

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IT’S PROFESSIONALLY CHARGED Hand-in-hand with all of this creative inquiry is exposure to real world application. That’s why Worcester Academy faculty members break down the campus walls and ignite their students’ interest with exposure to how professionals actually work their communication skills.

Pros on Campus Hilltoppers don’t have to go far, though, to find that “pro” perspective. As Steve Huff

Alex Hinrichs ’03

a matter of fact, it’s tough to make it through Worcester Academy’s Upper School these days without exposure to a professional writer.

Take David Baillie, for example: Worcester Academy English faculty member and author of the just-released postmodernist novel, What We Salvage (ChiZine Publications, 2015).

David treated his students and the entire community to a rare treat when he opted to have his book launch event right here on campus.

Jack Haringa ’86 has been sending

our very best students off to universities after enduring his rigorous AP English classes—but that’s just his day job! Jack is also the co-editor of Dead Reckonings, a review magazine for the horror genre, and his own work has appeared in The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror.

Katie Kinkel teaches our children by day, but can also be considered the Hilltop’s resident poet. Her MFA from the University of Iowa—considered by many to be our nation’s top creative writing program—puts her among the most illustrious in that field.

Creative Writing Group And what if your student wants to try her hand at a novel, a work of nonfiction, a short story? There’s a venue for professional help right here on campus.

Every Wednesday evening, a creative writing group of 12 to 15 writers meets here on campus. Are you a teacher? A student? It makes no difference to this group. All are treated as equals.

“Everyone comes to the group with his or her own piece of writing,” Charley Mull, WA English faculty member, tells us.

“We workshop the pieces and generate

Ira Stoll ’90

WA Literary Festival

a learning experience like no other

by Jordyn Cooper ’19

The wise words of several published writers, some of them alumni, fell on eager ears during Worcester Academy’s Literary Festival, a new event designed to extend the English Department’s written studies into a world of creative work.

The October festival offered a chance for Upper School English classes to hear from active writers about their experiences in the field, and to gather information from quite a few diverse sources.

The writers’ backgrounds were varied, making for an intriguing discussion; their areas of expertise included fiction, nonfiction, horror, journalism, short story, poetry, blogging, and much more. Now, despite the different disciplines of these writers, they were all able to debate the topics at hand, which included the basic themes of the writing process and the general writing business. Each writer brought his or her own understandings to the table to allow students to take away much 10 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

information that could be useful to them.

Much of the time was spent discussing the writing process, from beginning to end. Many of the writers agreed that one of the most difficult parts of the process was getting over the fear of starting and to “just sit down and write.” Also acknowledged was the power of the “sloppy copy” (writing without initially worrying about perfection) and how useful a tool it was for overcoming that pesky fear of beginning. Brett Savory, a publisher, stressed the importance of getting ideas on paper before judging the quality, and knowing that editing can happen later on.

The editing process, which can be arduous, is “where most of the work gets done,” said Dana Huff, Worcester Academy’s English Department Chair.

Mrs. Huff said that this is the stage where any draft is ripped apart for an ultimate goal of improvement. All of the participating writers found this to be true

in each of their very separate genres.

Since the common stages in the writing process generally apply to every branch of writing, the authors, having a common ground were then able to discuss their individual lifestyles and how those ways of life pertain to their writing careers.

Jack Haringa ’86 is an Upper School English teacher at Worcester Academy and writes short horror fiction outside of the school day. David Baillie, also an Upper School WA English teacher, recently published his first novel, What We Salvage. Each of them felt that his students benefitted from the event. Mr. Baillie, reflecting on the day, said, “I thought it was a great experience both for the intellectual topics but also for students to actually see the process.”

Mr. Haringa mentioned that he was very excited that his students had gotten to “see how the literary business works and to understand what writing for a living really means.”

The students did indeed respond well.

Many of them commented that what they had learned most about was the writing process, and how everything from writing to publishing is not as simple as it looks. Even so, several student writers left feeling very inspired.

It is important for young writers and readers to have access to the dedicated people who write the material that is viewed. It is often true that the creators of these texts seem very far away or lived a very long time ago, but when an opportunity arises, such as the literary festival, to have even a few authors present in the room, it can make for a learning experience like no other.

See facing page for a list of visiting writers.

Jordyn Cooper ’19 has attended WA since Grade 6. Now in Upper School, Jordyn loves writing and wants to explore a career in journalism.

WA writes

Student Essay

discussion. You are not a teacher in this environment. Student work is respected at same level as a teacher’s. Everyone in the group is simply ‘a writer.’”

“Tell me about it!” chimes in David Baillie. “I ended up with a major rewrite to my first novel based on input from a student in this writing group. When my editor fully agreed with this student’s assessment, it was back to the drawing board for me!”

Literary Festival And what we don’t already have inhouse, our faculty is sure to bring in for a visit. Oct. 16, 2015 saw a Literary Festival on the Hilltop where over a dozen professional writers from various genres came to campus for a day of literary inquiry.

Visiting writers have included: >> David Baillie: WA faculty member, author of the novel What We Salvage >> Theodora Goss: author of a poetry collection (Poems for Ophelia), a short fiction collection (In the Forest of Forgetting), and a novel (Blossom and Thorn); nominated for the Mythopoesis Prize; professor of writing at Boston University and instructor at the Stonecoast (Maine) MFA program >> Jack M. Haringa ’86: WA faculty member, author of literary criticism (Dead Reckonings) and short fiction; work has appeared in Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror >> Alexandra Dean Hinrichs ’03: blogger, former content developer for American Girl, app curator for Zoobean, and author of Therese Makes a Tapestry >> Steven Huff: journalist, freelance non-fiction writer for national magazines and their online components, weekend editor for maxim.com

excelling in English

by Isabel Polletta ’16

>> Bracken MacLeod: former philosophy professor, criminal attorney, and author of two novels, Mountain Home and White Knight >> James A. Moore: author of 30 novels (most recently the Seven Forges fantasy series), many short stories, and supplements to Wizards of the Coast games such as Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: Apocalypse >> Dwight Ritter ’59: author of two novels, Growin’ Up White and Emerson the Magnificent! >> Brett Savory: co-publisher and editor at CZP, former editor for HarperCollins Canada, author of two novels (The Distance Traveled and In and Down) and over 50 short stories >> Ira Stoll ’90: editor of FutureofCapitalism.com and author of two works of historical non-fiction, JFK, Conservative and Samuel Adams

Coming from middle school, I perceived myself to be at the height of my literary ability. Upon arriving to Worcester Academy as a freshman, I realized that was not the case. I was surrounded by peers whose literary capabilities surpassed mine, and I realized that my nonchalant approach to English writing wouldn’t be enough to get me an “A.” I faded into the background, letting other students make the “radical” conclusions about sex and/or death. I continued to be this way until sophomore year, when my Dystopian World essay captured the attention of Mr. Baillie. He called me out after class, asking me where the discrepancy was between my essay and my in-class participation. I then realized I could no longer hide, no longer sit idly and succeed.

The next two years flew by in a blur, I raised my hand, made radical (and correct) statements about the literature, setting a balance between my writing capability and my classroom participation, blazing a path for senior year AP English.

When junior year arrived, I was

determined to throw behind my casual approach to literature and focus on the minute details that would improve my writing. A yearlong game of cat-andmouse ensued, finding a more fitting word for this sentence, changing the punctuation in that line. In my attempt to revise my writing, I became more aware of my peers doing the same. By the end of junior year, my classmates and I had created our own revision system, comfortable sharing our ideas or essays with each other, and welcoming constructive criticism.

By the time senior year arrived, my reserved demeanor had vanished, and I looked forward to Mr. Haringa’s literary critiques. Outside of a classroom setting, you will never produce a final product on the first try. You will conceptualize, revise, and be subject to literary criticism. A network of students and teachers have helped me shape my writing style, and will continue to do so as I enter college.

Worcester Academy gave me the motivation to overcome my inertia and harbor a desire to excel in English, both as a student, and as an individual.

view more student essays at www.worcesteracademy.org/studentessays

We’re Keeping it Real “Contemporary English language arts means writing for multiple audiences, for multiple purposes, in multiple genres, using contemporary technologies,” Cindy Sabik sums up. “We must make it real for our students because, in no time at all, they’ll be operating in a very real world.

In many ways, they’re already there.”

Ted Theodosopoulos agrees. “It’s the

actual questions that are going on in our world that the kids are interested in. Take the climate talks in Paris, is it about the Math of CO2 diffusion? Or is it about the Economics of coal extraction?

Or is it about the various governmental structures of nations across the globe?

It’s all of that! Teenagers want to see the real world. They want to be involved in

real questioning. They don’t want to be babied any more. And we owe it to them to meet those expectations. In a few years, they will be the decision makers.

They better appreciate the nuances and the challenges now, while they’re in this safe environment. We have to trust them.

It’s going to be their world soon, so we may as well.”

Worcester Academy

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Alumni News we’d love know someone who is to see you! Achieving the Honorable?

Write us a letter or go online today to nominate outstanding members of the Worcester Academy community for the following awards.

Want to reconnect with classmates, faculty, and other friends?

The Worcester Academy Hall of Fame, established in 1976,

Visit us during one of our upcoming alumni events! The schedule below includes many fun opportunities to share memories and rejuvenate fond friendships.

For additional details, updates, or to register, go to worcesteracademy.org/register.

recognizes individuals who through their many years of service and devotion to the Academy have had an important impact on the school and society. The Hall of Fame members include alumni, former faculty members, heads of school, coaches, faculty wives, trustees, benefactors and friends of the Academy. The Hall of Fame also includes alumni whose work has influenced the lives of people everywhere.

April 28

VARSITY CLUB DINNER

May 6–7

REUNION WEEKEND

May 7

ALUMNI (MENS) SOCCER GAME

The Tien Student Impact Award was

June 5

ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME

June 6

ROWE SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC

June 12

ALUMNAE (WOMENS) SOCCER GAME

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© Oleg Golovnev/Shutterstock.com

To host an event or to suggest an event location, or for more information, call Director of Alumni Relations Greg Cappello at 508-459-6933, or email greg.cappello@worcesteracademy.org.

created in appreciation for the experience that Michael Tien ’68 had at Worcester Academy.

The head of school chooses the honoree(s) from among current employees, based upon nominations received from students, parents, parents of alumni, or young alumni (from the 15 most recent graduating classes).

The Distinguished Alumna/us Award,

established in 2002, recognizes the accomplishments of an alumna/us who has demonstrated the Academy’s mission through excellence in his or her chosen field.

The Young Alumna/us Recognition Award,

established in 2003, is given to an alumna/us who graduated from the Academy in the past 20 years and has demonstrated success in his or her chosen field or has contributed significantly to his or her community.

The Cole Porter Class of 1909 Arts Recognition Award

has been established to honor members of the Worcester Academy community—parents, alumni, faculty members, or other members of the community—who have made significant and lasting contributions to the visual or performing arts during their professional or personal lives. Recipients are recognized for embodying the passion for artistic pursuits that exemplifies Worcester Academy’s visual and performing arts programs.

The Worcester Academy Varsity Club Award is presented

annually to one of the Academy’s former athletes who has distinguished herself/himself in the field of athletics, as well as in her or his professional career.

Submit your nominations to Greg Cappello, director of alumni relations by calling 508-459-6933, by emailing him at greg.cappello@worcesteracademy.org, by writing him at 81 Providence Street, Worcester, MA 01604, or by visiting us online at http://www.worcesteracademy.org/Page/Recognition-Awards

alumni news

oskee weekend 2015 Worcester Academy’s annual Oskee Weekend, held this year on Oct. 2 and 3, had something for everyone—students, families, alumni, and friends! The Weekend, one of the most anticipated happenings of the year, featured a WA Cultural Heritage Dinner, football under the lights with tailgating (Worcester Academy vs Suffield Academy on WA’s Morse Field), the dedication of a newly created Alumni Hall of Honor, a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Daniels Gymnasium, and many other athletic events, happenings, and offerings. What a great tradition, and what a memorable affair it was this year!

scan this page for more photos from the cultural heritage dinner Worcester Academy

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oskee weekend Alumni Hall of Honor Dedication Prior to the Oskee Weekend football game, the new “Alumni Hall of Honor” was dedicated in the room connecting Walker Hall and the Megaron. The Hall includes displays honoring those alumni and friends who have been recognized by the Academy over the years as members of the Hall of Fame, and as recipients of the Varsity Club Award, the Cole Porter Arts Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Young Alumnus Award. What a sense of history and admiration one has walking through this space! W

scan this page for more photos from the hall of honor dedication

100th Anniversary of Daniels Gymnasium A ceremony was held to mark this year’s 100th anniversary of Daniels Gymnasium. The Gym, named in honor of F. Harold Daniels and the Daniels Foundation and family for their generous support of the Academy over the years, has served as a central part of the life of Worcester Academy students for a century.

Representing the Daniels family and foundation at the ceremony was Meridith Daniels Wesby, who attended along with her husband, Joseph. W

14 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

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s

alumni news

If your class year ends in a “6” or a “1,” plan to attend Reunion Weekend on May 6–7, 2016!

s Worcester Academy

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HILLTOP

Jovann Vega ’19

SEEKING TO MAKE HIS MARK AT WA; PARENTS SET EXAMPLE

by Caroline G. Reich

Jovann Vega ’19 had heard about Worcester Academy growing up. His father and an uncle had dreamed of attending, but life interfered. Jovann’s father, Cesar Vega, was having discipline and academic issues in high school, and he and Jovann’s mother, Jo-Serena Rodrigues, became teenage parents when Jovann was born. Cesar dropped out of school to provide for his infant son. Thinking the military was a way to support the family, Cesar got his GED and attended Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), along with Jo-Serena, in order to get the credits he needed. However, several teachers and mentors at QCC saw great potential in Cesar and Jo-Serena and steered them toward a different path. For Jo-Serena, that entailed a degree from QCC and a B.A. in business administration from Worcester State University in 2007. She was the first in her family to receive a college degree, later working in marketing at Central Massachusetts YWCA before becoming a marketing consultant and graphic designer for online businesses. For his part, Cesar also received a QCC degree, as well as a B.A. from Clark University and a law degree from Suffolk Law School. Cesar served for several years as an assistant district attorney in Worcester and recently became assistant city solicitor for the city of Worcester.

“From as early as I can remember, my parents have been role models for me,” says Jovann, proudly. “They were teen 16 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

parents, but they were both determined to make a better life for me and for our family,” he says. He has kept these values in mind since arriving at WA. Entering the Academy as an eighth grader from St. Stephen School in Worcester, Jovann found the transition to be significant. “WA is much larger than St. Stephen’s, but the Middle School still has that smaller school feel to it. I got my own locker for the first time, which was good because this was the first time I had moved between

“FROM AS EARLY AS I CAN REMEMBER, MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN ROLE MODELS FOR ME. THEY WERE TEEN PARENTS, BUT THEY WERE BOTH DETERMINED TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR ME AND FOR OUR FAMILY.” buildings for classes.” The biggest challenge academically for Jovann was not only dealing with more challenging work but also dealing with the flow of work. “I’d wait until the night before the home-work was due and then rush to get it done. Now, with the help of teachers and advisors, I’ve learned to pace it out—which has really brought my grades up.” Jovann especially likes his biology class, which is surprising, he quips, because it is the course he struggles most in. “The class makes me think in different ways about the world around me,” he says.

Jovann in the Worcester City Council chamber with City Manager Ed Augustus.

Jovann has also found WA to be a remarkably welcoming place. “At the first dance in the fall of my first year, I remember looking around and thinking that everyone knows everyone and that everyone has friends—that was a really good feeling,” he says.

Like his mother and father, Jovann is a young person with big plans and lofty goals. Jovann loves basketball and plays on the WA freshman team. He’d like

to make the WA varsity team and play in college, or maybe attend a military academy. Also on his to-do list: make the Headmaster’s List and run for a student leadership role. He is a member of the City of Worcester Youth Council, which plans and coordinates community outreach projects. With strong role models at home and a supportive and challenging school community, Jovann is ready to make his mark!

on the hilltop

WA creating real world opportunities FOR AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP

by Neil Isakson

Worcester Academy’s donation of a property on adjacent Aetna Street has made possible the groundbreaking for a new Habitat for Humanity home. Held in December, the groundbreaking brought together city officials, Academy administrators, Habitat for Humanity MetroWest /Greater Worcester officials, and members of WA’s own student-led Habitat for Humanity Club.

Located at 21 Aetna Street, the project site sits directly across from Rader Hall— WA’s Middle School—and will house two families in a duplex environment once completed in 2017.

“It’s a real-world opportunity for students and for the entire WA community to make a difference in people’s lives,” Head of School Ron Cino stated. “The project will provide homes to families who otherwise would not be able to afford them.

That is a real learning opportunity.”

Worcester Academy donated the land to Habitat early last year a short time after the school acquired the property.

The project was further advanced when WA student Arpan Bose ’16 donated money he had been awarded as the Bernon Junior Service Award recipient at Worcester Academy. That award, which recognizes a student’s commitment to community service, came with $10,000: $2,500 for the student and $7,500 for the charity of his choosing.

In this case, Arpan selected Habitat for Humanity MetroWest /Greater Worcester to receive the funds.

Habitat, together with the city of Worcester, the Stoddard Charitable Trust, and the Fletcher Foundation, has since fully funded the project.

In turning over the property, Worcester Academy officials and students were excited to play a part in having a positive impact on the neighborhood and in changing the lives of the families who live there. The Academy, along with Habitat for Humanity, has been committed to addressing shortages in quality affordable housing. The two have had a longstanding relationship following an Academy-led multi-year initiative to build a home on Perry Avenue (completed in 2006).

Since that time, Worcester Academy students have raised money for Habitat, assisted in building other Worcester homes, and have taken an annual service trip to build and renovate homes across the country each March.

Community service is an important part of a Worcester Academy education. The Academy’s Bernon Family Community Service Program, for example, helped fund student participation at the Perry Avenue project and continues to do so today.

Most recently, 50 students received Gold, Silver, and Bronze President’s Volunteer Service Awards from Barack Obama for having completed 100 or more volunteer hours of service. The awards recognize the contributions that Worcester Academy students are making in the city of Worcester and in surrounding communities. They further spotlight the Academy’s role as a leader in the community, working with local stakeholders as a good neighbor.

On hand were Guy Webb, executive director of Home Builders & Remodelers Association, Central Massachusetts; Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus; Habitat Executive Director Tim Firment; Habitat Board President Bryan Clancy; WA’s Ron Cino; and Oak Hill’s Mullen Sawyer.

Worcester Academy

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WORCESTER ACADEMY NAMES LIBRARY TO HONOR

legacy of Mildred H. McEvoy MILDRED H. MCEVOY FOUNDATION AMONG THE ACADEMY’S MOST LOYAL BENEFACTORS

Worcester Academy has named its library the Mildred H. McEvoy Library in honor of Mildred Harrington McEvoy, a parent at the Academy in the 1950s. The naming recognizes the warm presence of Mildred on campus when her son, George ’56, attended Worcester Academy, as well as the longtime loyal support of the Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation.

18 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

A plaque unveiling was held in McEvoy Library (located in Rader Hall) in October, with members of the Academy Board of Trustees, the Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation, and the McEvoy family on hand for the occasion.

“We were privileged to call Mildred McEvoy a friend of Worcester Academy,” Head of School Ron Cino said. “Her

generosity and commitment to education have benefitted generations of students, both here at WA and across the Greater Worcester area, and beyond.”

George McEvoy thanked Worcester Academy for naming the library in honor of his mother and recounted how he had developed lifelong friendships at the school—with students and faculty

alike—including a friendship with classmate Paul Rossley ’56, who attended the naming ceremony. Those experiences, coupled with the high quality of academics at WA, reinforced his mother’s already-strong resolve to support educational efforts, Mr. McEvoy said.

The Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation, among the Academy’s most generous supporters over the years, was established in the 1960s to support educational, cultural, and civic organizations and programs. While Mildred passed away in 1968, her spirit lives on through the philanthropy of the Foundation.

In the past 35 years, the McEvoy Foundation has committed more than $1.1 million to Academy fundraising efforts, supporting everything from capital campaigns to scholarship funds. Additionally, The McEvoy Maine Scholarship, honoring the family’s ties to Boothbay, has regularly enabled a talented student from Maine to attend the Academy—supporting outstanding students who have become WA donors themselves. Since 1980, the Foundation has provided more than $400,000 in scholarship support.

While still a hub of activity where

on the hilltop WORCESTER ACADEMY

performance center now open students visit on a regular basis for study and research, the Mildred H. McEvoy Library is quite different than when George McEvoy attended. In addition to a robust and growing collection of traditional books and reference materials, the McEvoy Library includes a new MakerSpace on the main level (where students can be creative with robotics, electronics, 3D printers and 3D pens, computer programming, and art and design); whiteboard tabletops for collaborative student research projects; an audio visual suite with a green screen room; a Lego wall; and an expanding collection of electronic books and references. The Library is also home to The Hub Café, an afterschool program featuring open-mic events, poetry slams, readings, and other performances. In addition, book groups meet there regularly, and many programs and academic events take place in the two-story facility throughout the year.

WA Trustee Andrew O’Donnell ’73 was president of the Worcester Academy Board in the late-1990s when it began exploring the idea of building a new library.

“We got a substantial gift from the McEvoy Foundation, and it gave us the confidence to move ahead with the Rader Hall/library project,” Mr. O’Donnell said.

“It was just the boost that we needed, and we knew from that moment on that we were going to be able to do it.”

The ribbon-cutting for Rader Hall and the library took place in September 2001.

Also speaking at the event were Mr. Rossley and WA’s Headmaster Emeritus Dexter Morse, during whose tenure the library was built.

Worcester Academy held a ribbon-cutting in January to officially open its newly constructed Performance Center at South Campus. The Performance Center, located on Marion Avenue next to Morse Field, is a new state-of-the-art, flexible, 120-seat facility created on the footprint of the old generator building located on the site of the former St. Vincent Hospital. The academy purchased the remainder of the old hospital property in June. The Performance Center now includes a box office, dressing rooms, a green room, gallery space, and an open-air patio. The green room has been named for Stewart Lassner ’70, while the foyer has been named the Cole Porter Class of 1909 Lobby. An opening celebration is being planned with a performance by Jessica Phillips ’89. Look for details in the spring.

Worcester Academy

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leadership

IS FOCUS OF 2015 BOARD OF VISITORS The Worcester Academy Board of Visitors (BoV) held its annual meeting Oct. 23, learning about leadership opportunities for WA students and the role they play in student development. Members were also encouraged to exercise the highest level of leadership in their personal and professional lives.

BoV attendees took inspiration from a presentation by WA graduate and bestselling author Michael Neill ’84. Michael, in addition to being a noted author, is a transformative coach, radio host, and motivational speaker. He is the son of former longtime Worcester Academy chemistry teacher Dr. Sonia Glazer and brother of WA alumna Anita Sadun ’80.

In his BoV presentation, Michael discussed the core principles that allow individuals to access creative power and leadership skills, as

described in his bestselling book, “The Inside Out Revolution” (visit his website at supercoach.com). Michael also held a customized morning program for student leaders and kindly gifted a copy of his book to all attendees.

At an afternoon seminar on leadership, guests and WA student leaders gathered for workshop sessions to discuss their personal experience with leadership. Guests and students shared what they felt were their best qualities for positively engaging with and leading others. Participants reconvened at the end of the day to share their findings.

The impactful words of the day were later collected and shared in a “wordle” as a graphic representation of the leadership qualities emphasized throughout the day. The day concluded with a gathering for guests at Abercrombie House.

2015 BOARD OF VISITORS MEMBERS * New Member

Katherine Abbott Jacqueline Abodeely ’93 Andrew Abu P’14 Pamela Adams P’15 Henri Ainai ’87 Jillian Alfeo ’01 Adrienne Anderson ’10* Patricia Jo Baggett* Dr. Sarah Bechta P’16* Alan Betten ’69 AnnMarie Bird P’20* Craig Blais Paul Blanchard ’69 Michael Blum P’18,’20 Dorene Blythe ’84 Elizabeth Butterworth ’07* June Carroll P’16,’18* 20 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

Mo Cassara ’93 Harriette Chandler, Ph.D., P’81 Paul Chervin, M.D. ’59 James Ciociolo ’04* James Coghlin ’86 P’18 Sarah Collins ’06* Joseph Cox Jennifer Davis Carey Rose Dawkins * Timothy Delehaunty ’86 Carlos Delhumeau ’82 Paul Dell’Aquila ’92* Cole DiRoberto ’11* Daniel Donahue Michael Donoghue ’71 Robert Dorfman ’69 Courtney Duffy ’08*

Andrew Duncan ’81 Shane Early ’99 Luke Eddy ’10 Charles Evangelakos ’80 Daniela Faas, Ph.D. ’00 Alan Feingold ’65, P’94 Matthew Fisher ’00 Irving Freeman David Frem ’88* Matthew Friedman P’18,’20* Miriam Friedman P’18,’20* Richard Fryburg ’73 Richard Fucillo ’81 Molly Garrison ’96 Elizabeth Gaudet P’15,’19 Gerald Gaudette ’84, P’14,’15,’18 Valerie Giovino-Barry P’15,’18*

Jennifer Glowik ’01* Lisa Goldsberry Juan Gomez* Lawrence Gordon ’72, P’11 Chelsea Graves ’09 Humberto Guglielmina ’79 William Haddad ’92 Patrick Horan ’09 Stephen Horan ’81 Joshua Horowitz ’77 Lindsey John ’09* Dr. David Jordan Samuel Kaplan ’03 Jennifer Cleary Kelley ’80 Robert Kennedy William Keville Jr. ’77, P’08 Tae-Hyun Kim ’92

Kathleen King ’02* Kwanchanok Kongisiri ’91 George Koveos ’01 Patrick Lane ’83 Stewart Lassner ’70 Stacie Lavine P’16,’18* Harrison Levitsky ’05* Cheong-Ki Li ’00 William Littleton ’73, P’06 Kenneth Lomax P’21 (2),’22 Jeffrey Lonstein ’74 Jeffrey Lubin ’82 Erin Lundgren P’19,’20* Marcello Mallegni ’05* Michael Malloy James Mayo ’48* John McArthur P’15*

on the hilltop

Kim McCabe* Dave McMahon Lt. Col. Thomas Meyer USAF ’85 Edward Moffitt ’80, P’18 Michael Moore Jennifer Morrison-Dominguez ’88 Moira Moynihan-Manoog P’19 James Mullholland P’15* Adam Najberg ’86 Sharon Ng Yui Ling ’92 Dina Nichols P’13,’15* James O’Day ’73 Thomas Ouellette ’75* Polawat Ouilapan ’85 Sean Padgett P’13,’15’20* Tarathip Panja ’85 Philip Parnes ’72

Kevin Peltier P’13,’14 Danna Peterson P’15* Joseph Petty Sherri Pitcher Karyn Polito Irene Polito P’15,’16,’20 Susan Puryear P’19,’21* Jennifer Quinn ’87 Christine Quistberg P’16* Richard Rader Sr. ’51, P’74,’77 Matthew Ramon ’02 Peter Rawinski ’08 Caroline Reich P’06,’08 Joel Reich P’06,’08 P. Michael Reidy ’66 John Resnick ’93 Mary Lou Retelle

Edward Reynolds ’03 Richard Reynolds ’03 Cynthia Risku ’80 Stephan Rodolakis ’80* Robert Rosenthal ’60 Stuart Rosenwald P’11 Dee Rowe ’47, GP’12,’17,’19* Robert Roy ’77 John Sadlier P’14,’16,’20 Kenneth Sadowsky ’80 Jonathan Salter ’04 William Sargeant, M.D.’62 Page Sargisson ’93 Yohei Sato ’92 E. Michael Scanlon P’07 Jack Sharry ’63 Edward Sherr ’84

Margie Smetana Jonathan Starr ’94 Jennifer Stuart P’18* Laurie Student P’18* Mark Susser ’67 Thun Thamrongnawassawat ’94 Michael Topalian ’80 Wai Keung Tsang ’96 Jessica Tybursky ’03 Wayne Ushman P’16,’20 Robert Valentine ’05 Tucker Van Aken ’08* Charles Vassallo ’77 Amy Vogel Waters William Wallace Victoria Waterman Pamela Waxlax P’16

Barry Weisman ’62 Robert Weissman ’58 Meridith Daniels Wesby Frederick Williams Alex Zequeira Tina Zlody* Kelly Zuraitis ’08

guests

Lauren Baker P’15,’18, Trustee Emma Carter-LaMarche ’15, Class Leader Dr. Sonia Glazer P’80,’84 Kristen Halus ’99, Class Leader Michael Neill ’84 Worcester Academy

21

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cultural heritage dinner Worcester Academy held its second Cultural Heritage Dinner in Daniels Gymnasium in October.

The entire WA community came together for the dinner, which celebrates the Academy’s diverse community with food and entertainment from around the globe. Those attending also placed pushpins into a world map to show their places of origin. What a smorgasbord and what a good time it was getting to know one another.

scan this page for more photos from the cultural heritage dinner 22 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

the

middle:

news from Worcester Academy’s Middle School

for new middler Alex Henriques ’21, WA was perfect fit at first sight

by Caroline G. Reich

more questions to help them think through to the answers,” he explains.

Alex loves the way his classmates are encouraged to ask “Why?” and then

perfect fit, his advisors feel the same about him. Middle School Director Michael Mallet admires how Alex has jumped into the WA community since

“I visited WA first and I immediately knew this was the place for me. I didn’t even look anywhere else.”

Alex Henriques ’21 had a short list of schools in his search for a new school home for seventh grade. He and his parents were looking for more challenge and extracurricular opportunities, and an engaging academic community. “I visited WA first and I immediately knew

this was the place for me. I didn’t even look anywhere else,” says Alex. He remembers attending Mrs. Plickert’s science class and thinking “this is exactly what I am looking for. Students were asking questions and the teacher was not just giving answers—she was asking

how teachers guide them to answers in creative ways.

As a new seventh grader this fall, Alex was a tad nervous on his first day, but the jitters melted away when he found how friendly his new classmates were—and how awesome the lunches were! At his old school, there was no choice, and at WA “there are about 15 choices of things to eat every day,” Alex says, with a smile.

Alex and his parents were looking for more academic challenge and they haven’t been disappointed with the curriculum at the Academy’s Middle School.

“There is a lot more work here, but there is also much more emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal responsibility,” he says. His math teacher, Peter Smith, has gotten him to love math instead of just going through the motions, and his French teacher, Wendy Perkins, had her students each create iMovies about themselves in French, which they will exchange with students in Martinique. In the process, the students learned iMovie technology.

If Alex believes the fit at WA is his

day one, taking advantage of academic programs, sports and extracurricular offerings, and forming friendships.

“My parents have always taught me to be myself and WA is a place where that is very easy. It’s OK to be smart here, or to be a really good athlete or a really talented artist. You don’t have to hide your talents here,” he says. Alex had a blast playing Middler flag football in the fall and is now on the Middler basketball team. He plans to play lacrosse in the spring. Once Alex hits the Upper School, he hopes to make his mark on the golf program, continue playing basketball and expand his community service work.

“I tell people who are considering WA how great the teachers are and I tell them how the campus makes you feel like you’re at college and that you are given a lot of freedom and responsibility. WA allows you to develop into your own independent self by trying new things and taking advantage of dedicated teachers and being around smart students.”

Sounds like the WA Admission Office will want to sign him up as an Ambassador, too!

Worcester Academy

23

the middle

experts among us!

Eliza Hale

why I love teaching in the middle school

by Eliza Hale

The following is a reflection by Eliza Hale on a course she has previously taught.

I really love teaching middle school-age kids—they change so fast and furiously over the three years I know them. I feel especially privileged to be the drama teacher for this age group—to witness them learning to stand up as themselves (or someone else!), to express themselves, to think spontaneously and creatively, and to act out!

And what an exciting time to be doing this work at Worcester Academy! The current shift in WA’s teaching methodology to Project-Based Learning (PBL) has me ruminating about what and whom I teach. I’ve been looking at what students do in my classes to see where I am already on track with the practices of PBL, where I need to heighten my awareness of what I’m doing, and where I need to build a new curriculum 24 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

that promotes the underlying concepts of PBL: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication.

Fortunately, “best practices” in the arts and middle school education have given me a head start. I already have some good frameworks in place for PBL, curriculum that reaches out and grabs kids and says: “Hey, this problem needs a solution!”

As an example, one unit I have taught is a project called “Short Plays on TrueTo-Life Topics.” The kids love it. They are given a problem and artistic license to solve it: create a play about things that might happen in your own lives. It’s not fantasy or reality television; rather, it is based on the authentic experiences students live with every day.

We begin this project after a few weeks of exercises and games to form an artistic team, the ensemble. In addition, we engage in activities to explore the who/ what/where/when/why of telling stories

on stage—character, plot, setting, motivation. The class divides into small group ensembles, and we are ready to embark!

The process is improvisational—there is no written script. But, by the time the play is performed, there is general agreement about the dialogue and action that will ensue. Each of the groups uses the online collaboration tool GoogleDocs as it gets to work. They brainstorm about possible topics: family, school, camp, friends, a road trip, etc. They develop a scene outline identifying characters and conflicts. They cast roles. Everybody must be in every scene, even if it means portraying the family pet! And then they are ready to put a scene “on its feet” by fleshing out the idea in rehearsal before sharing it with the classroom audience.

Feedback sessions follow with questions and suggestions from other kids and me. “Why did your character exit stage left?” “How can you re-stage that moment so that the audience can share your character’s reaction?” “Do you want the audience to laugh at your character or with your character?” “Will you be using stage cubes or chairs to make your sofa?” Notes are recorded in Google Docs. Rehearsals and feedback continue.

Adjustments are made. Finally, we are running the plays—3 or 4 scenes each of hilarity or high drama. Titles have been selected, scene shifts choreographed, bows rehearsed. It’s showtime!

There is nothing more powerful than witnessing the original work of students as they present it to an audience. The stakes are high, the commitment is complete, and the outcomes (expected and unexpected!) are thrilling for all present.

Drama Teacher Worcester Academy Middle School Eliza Hale, co-chair of the Department of Visual & Performing Arts at Worcester Academy and a member of the theater community, teaches drama and directs plays with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the Worcester Academy Middle School. A graduate of Harvard College, she also earned an M. Ed. in Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, at Trinity Rep Conservatory in Providence, and at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She previously worked with the Forum Theatre, a small professional theatre company in Worcester, as administrative staff, actor, and production staff. She was a co-recipient of the Telegram and Gazette Visions 2000 Cultural Enrichment Award, and a recipient of the Unitarian Universalist Beacon Award, and the New England Theatre Conference’s Regional Theatre Award.

After the final “curtain down” is called, it’s time for the mandatory post-mortem where students reflect on the process and make their thinking visible by sharing their unique perspectives.

Like I said—kids love these types of projects!

I love these types of projects! I love how kids take them to heart and make them their own, and I love how they grow as creative spirits, critical thinkers, collaborators, and communicators.

WA ATHLETICS

scoreboard fall 2015

win

loss

tie

Varsity Football

5

3

0

Junior Varsity Football

1

4

1

Hugh McAdam ’04

Varsity Boys Soccer

10

5

4

Junior Varsity Boys Soccer

6

3

2

Varsity Girls Soccer (league finalists)

14

4

3

Junior Varsity Girls Soccer

7

6

1

Varsity Field Hockey (league quarter-finalists)

13

5

0

Worcester Academy alumnus Hugh McAdam ’04 (second from left) and his U.S. Rowing teammates finished fifth in the final day of racing at the World Championships in Aiguebelette, France, in September.

Hugh, a U.S. National Champion rower, was one of a four-man crew racing in mens lightweight quad.

Varsity Volleyball

8

9

0

Junior Varsity Volleyball

12

6

0

Varsity Boys Cross-Country

14

4

0

Varsity Girls Cross-Country Country

8

5

0

U.S. national champion rower

team

Worcester Academy

25

varsity field hockey

nine seniors sign

letters of intent Nine members of Worcester Academy’s Class of 2016 were among those signing Letters of Intent today to attend colleges and universities with NCAA athletic programs. Included were:

has turnaround year The Worcester Academy Varsity Field Hockey Team made it to post-season play for the first time ever, competing in the quarterfinals and finishing a turnaround season for the team.

Normally league underdog, the Field Hockey Team finished the season with a 14–4 record—a far cry from its 2–15 record last year.

Eleven returning team members, including five seniors, joined ten new players to create a strong team and earn a place in the New England Tournament. Worcester was bumped out by Governors Academy in the quarterfinals, scoring one goal and defending many in return.

Congratulation to the team on its success. The future is certainly bright for this program!

Heidi Munger ’15 qualifies for U.S. nationals skating Heidi Munger ’15 has qualified for the nationals for the first time, after winning the New Englands for the second year in a row and then finishing 4th in the Eastern Sectionals (Eastern 3d of the U.S.A.). She deferred admission to Wellesley College for a year to allow her to train full-time. Heidi and her family have expressed their appreciation to Worcester Academy, which allowed her to pursue her passion even as she completed her high school studies.

Breakfast • Lunch • Golf Carts • Prizes • Cocktail Reception & Dinner • Hole-in-One Prize • Not a golfer? Please join us for dinner.

The 18th annual

2016

June 6, 2016

Save the Date!

Join alumni and friends of Worcester Academy as they “tee it up with Dee” to benefit the Rowe Family Scholarship Fund on Monday, June 6, 2016, at Worcester Country Club. This special endowed scholarship fund was established in 1998 by Worcester Academy alumni, colleagues, and friends of the Rowe family as a lasting tribute to Academy alumnus Donald E. “Dee” Rowe ’47 and his family. This fund awards scholarships annually to students of outstanding character who, in addition to participation in athletics, exhibit strong leadership both at school and in the community.

Invitations will be mailed in April. For more information, call Greg Cappello at 508-459-6933, or email: greg.cappello@worcesteracademy.org 26 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

> Alex Brickman of Andover, MA, who will attend Siena College, where he will play baseball. > Jonathan Crimmin of Worcester, MA, who will attend Siena College and play baseball. > Brian Eddy of Worcester, MA, who will attend Indiana State University and play baseball. > Stephanie Hartman of Douglas, MA, who will attend Temple University and row crew. > Daniel Johnson of Lexington, KY, who will attend Bryant University and play basketball. > Seth Learned of Amherst, MA, who will attend Holy Cross College and play baseball. > Kevin Marfo of Bergenfield, NJ, who will attend George Washington University and play basketball. > Morgan McSweeney of Hudson, MA, who will attend Wake Forest University and play baseball. > Amir Miller of Cleveland, OH, who will attend Ohio University and play football. > Abigail O’Keefe of St. Louis, MO, who will attend Brown University and play basketball. > Jake Teuner of Clinton, CT, who will attend American International University and play football.

varsity club

Blackburn tournament champions The Varsity Boys and Girls Worcester Academy Basketball Teams came away victorious from the annual WA Blackburn Holiday Invitational Tournament in December.

The girls beat a tough Tilton team 60–42, while the boys beat Proctor 80–69. The tournament is named for longtime WA athletic director and coach Tom Blackburn, who was on hand this year as the teams accepted trophies for their efforts.

2006 championship Worcester Academy girls varsity basketball team

then and now!

The 2006 Championship Worcester Academy Girls Varsity Basketball Team celebrated the 10th anniversary of its undefeated season in December. Many of the team’s family members were on hand to share in the fun as the team was recognized in a ceremony at the academy’s Blackburn Invitational Tournament. The 2006 season included a Blackburn Tournament trophy as well as a NEPSAC Class A title. Members of the team are: Dearbhna Coen ’06, Camille (Trainor) Engelstad ’08, Chelsea Graves ’09, Catherine Harwood ’09, Katherine Littleton ’06, Alicia Marculitis ’07, Emily Martel ’06, Brittany Nyzio ’08, Andrew Parnell ’06, Rachel Rios ’08, Gisemi Rolle ’06, Laticia Rolle ’06, Rashonda Speed ’07 and Coach Sherry Levin.

Worcester Academy

27

from the archives PASSIONATE YANKEE IDEALISM GUIDED ABOLITIONIST AND STATESMAN ELI THAYER, CLASS OF 1840

Eli Thayer, Class of 1840

by Frank Callahan ’71

A little more than a decade after Worcester Academy’s founding, the trustees hired alumnus Eli Thayer as the fourth principal. Thayer went on to become one of the Academy’s greatest alumni, but his lofty ambitions and ideals nearly put the school out of existence. The school survived through shrewd management of the trustees, but the impact of Thayer’s activity changed the school’s mission profoundly.

Moreover, the relationship between Thayer and the leadership grew so poisonous that a bitter feud persisted for the rest of the 19th century.

Born in Mendon, MA, on June 11, 1819, Thayer was the scion of an old family, being a seventh generation descendant of John and Priscilla Alden, who had arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

He attended Worcester Academy (then called the Worcester County Manual Labor High School, which at the time was located on Main Street) for three years, graduating in 1840 and then going on to Brown University. Two years after college, Thayer was elected principal.

“It was said of Thayer,” according to historians, “in his years at Worcester Academy, he was invariably good tempered and patient with his pupils; condoning rather than condemning their shortcomings; helpful to those needing assistance; direct, simple and clear in his method of instruction. He governed by a quiet confidence rather than by a show of power, but the transgressor soon found that offenses could not be repeated with impunity.”

It was through his leadership that the 28 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

school under Thayer’s headship. Like virtually all of Thayer’s projects, Oread was a curious admixture of high idealism and canny Yankee opportunism. The school offered a far more substantial curriculum than most contemporary ‘female academies’ while it also provided Thayer with a decent income.”

Because Thayer’s energies were split between the two institutions, the scholarship of the n Street Mai on ted loca , pus WA’s first cam Worcester County Manual Labor High School declined; especially so when he left to oversee the women’s college full-time. The high school was nearing bankruptcy, so to survive,

school expanded facilities with construction of a brick dormitory, but Thayer was not satisfied with simply running a boys school. Because of his ideals, he formed a plan to educate women at the college level and he persuaded the Trustees to assist him in creating a women’s college modeled after Brown. He named it the Oread Institute and in 1848 it was among the first womens colleges in the country. To begin, Thayer purchased 10 acres on the other side of Main Street

overlooking the school on a barren eminence called Goat Hill, visible from great distances.

There, on the summit, with rock quarried from the property, he built the crenelated castle destined to become known as “Thayer’s Folly.”

“Thayer and his wife constructed a preposterous castle-type building for Oread Collegiate Institute, a women’s

The Oread Institute

the Trustees sold half of the acreage and used the proceeds to bolster the finances. At this point, campus was diminished to the point that it could no longer subsist as a farm. As a result, the Trustees petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature to enact a name change and in 1847, it was changed to The Worcester Academy by act of the Commonwealth. A few years later, after the Academy had moved to its second location near Worcester’s Lincoln Square, Thayer purchased the original campus a mile south of the Worcester town hall. He thereupon dismantled two of the buildings and rebuilt them as factory tenements in a nearby neighborhood. While at first successful, this acquisition led to problems in later years.

from the archives

Thayer left the Oread Institute in 1853 when he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Soon after taking office, the passage of the Kansas Nebraska Act spurred him to action. This Federal law fomented anger throughout the Northern states because it effectively replaced the Missouri Compromise, which for more than 30 years had prohibited the Western territories from becoming slave states.

In its stead, the Kansas Nebraska Act allowed the settlers to vote that their territory state be a slave state or a free state. This process became known as Popular Sovereignty.

Thayer formulated a plan to prevent Western territories from becoming slave states, and in so doing, became a national figure. The plan was first publicly disclosed at a meeting in Worcester City Hall on March 11, 1854. Thayer attended the free soil rally, and was the last speaker. It was here that he disclosed his idea of what became known as the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company.

Through an act of the Massachusetts Legislature, a corporation was formed that raised funds to send thousands of New Englanders to Kansas. The antislavery settlers helped secure the admission of Kansas as a free state. Thayer drew up the charter for the company, personally solicited incorporators, and secured passage of the bill in the Massachusetts Legislature where he was a representative. A major investor was Amos Adams Lawrence, the owner of the cotton mills along the Merrimac River, and so Lawrence, Kansas, was named in his honor. More financial

assistance resulted from a visit with the crusading newspaper editor Horace Greeley, who called the plan, “the plan of freedom” and ultimately through the meeting $7,000 was raised. After this point, the name was changed to the New England Emigrant Aid Society.

Thayer was elected to Congress in 1856 and while in Washington, founded an antislavery colony on the western border of the state of Virginia. Named Ceredo after the goddess Ceres, it soon became a financial success. In addition, as a Congressman he was instrumental in Oregon’s becoming a free state. After serving in Congress, Thayer became a special aid to Abraham Lincoln, continuing his antislavery efforts.

After the war, Thayer returned to Worcester where the ownership of the school’s original campus grew into a long, bitter feud with the Trustees. When he failed to make the payments, the trustees repossessed the property placing it under the management of Isaac Davis.

Thayer disputed their taking in a series of lawsuits that spanned many years. In fact, five years after Isaac Davis’ death in 1883, there was yet another lawsuit.

The Spy gave an account of the legal proceedings held in the Superior Court on Sept. 19, 1888, “Oread Institute et al. vs.

Worcester Academy et al.” was “a bill in equity, in which the plaintiffs allege that on June 1, 1854, Eli Thayer, who is one of the plaintiffs, being indebted to the trustees of the Worcester Academy in the sum of $45,823.71.” In 1892, the lawsuit appeared in the papers with a headline intimating how long it had dragged on,

Worcester Academy founder Isaac Davis

“Hearing before an auditor on old law suit–Oread Institute involved in a case against Worcester Academy.” The story ran, “There was a supplementary hearing yesterday, before George Swan as auditor, at the courthouse, on the old case of Eli Thayer vs. the Worcester Academy. The case has been heard several times.”

Thayer died on April 15, 1899, deeply disappointed that his antislavery and educational work were not widely known. The Oread Institute stayed in business but by the 1890s had declined in stature with regular turnover in ownership. Thayer had made the critical mistake of not incorporating the college. As the sole owner, it was known as a proprietary school, which typically goes out of business when the owner dies. The final years only prolonged the agony. In 1906, a Maryland man held the mortgage on Oread.

A newspaper article read: “The old Oread Institute property devoted for years to the higher education of women was sold at auction today for $26,000 to Joseph Fewls, of Philadelphia the holder of a mortgage of $50,000 on the property. The Oread Institute was founded in 1848 by the late Eli Thayer and continued as a female seminary until seven or eight years ago.”

Early in the next Century, the castle

crumbled to ruins and by the 1930s the city of Worcester demolished it. The old Oread Institute then became public space called Castle Park.

Years later, the Oread fostered a serendipitous connection to Worcester Academy and the Civil Rights movement. In 1881, Oread faculty members Sophia Packard and Harriet Giles left the Institute to found the Atlanta Baptist Women’s College. A year later, they appealed to John D. Rockefeller, the husband of one of their former students, Laura Spelman. After graduating from Oread, Laura had returned home to Cleveland to teach, but in 1864, she married Rockefeller, her former grammar school classmate. Laura’s parents had been active in the abolitionist movement.

Her father, Harry, was a member of the Ohio Legislature and her mother, Lucy, was an active worker in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Moreover, Lucy took a deep interest in the welfare of black girls in the south. When Packard and Giles approached Rockefeller, he agreed to make a large donation with the stipulation that the college be named for his wife’s parents. They acceded, so the name was changed to Spelman College. A few years later, John Hope, Worcester Academy Class of 1890, became the President of Atlanta University, the consortium of the Black colleges of which Spelman College is a member.

Frank Callahan ’71 is Worcester Academy’s Director of Planned Giving and a member of the American Antiquarian Society.

Worcester Academy

29

WA community raises $110k FOR ANNUAL FUND ON

Among the Giving Tuesday happenings on the Hilltop:

Suzy Ewings ’18

Dan Sullivan hoping to be “bailed” out of jail while students collect money on his behalf.

Worcester Academy raised a record $110,000 on Giving Tuesday, celebrated in December. The monies raised were the most collected since Worcester Academy began participating in Giving Tuesday three years ago.

Giving Tuesday, a nationwide day of fundraising and giving back, follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday— days that are driven by consumerism.

30 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

The purpose of the movement is to motivate people to give to others in ways that are unselfish.

“We deeply appreciate all those who made gifts to the Annual Fund on Giving Tuesday,” said Erica Ribeiro, director of annual giving. “In particular, we are grateful to two two lead donors—who asked to remain anonymous—for giving $10,000 each.”

According to Mrs. Ribeiro, the combined $20,000 was a challenge to others to make a gift or to increase their giving to WA on Giving Tuesday.

“Whatever the cause, making an impact in the world and in the lives of others is something we encourage every member of the WA community to do,” Mrs. Ribeiro said.

She noted that WA students, parents, faculty, and alumni were asked to support causes of their own choosing, a tradition that the WA community has taken to heart in recent years. The goal is to encourage people to make an impact in the world, in large or in small ways, a theme that is echoed in the community throughout the school year.

> A Giving Tuesday Assembly explaining the day and encouraging students to join the celebration > “Jail And Bail For A Cause.” WA “celebrity” staff members—Coach Dan Sullivan and Residential Life Director Jake Sumner—were “jailed” until they could be bailed by community donations. Funds raised went towards the Serendipity Fund for WA students with unmet needs > Sixth Graders used the day to launch a new group, Worcester Academy Community Helpers > The Middle School launched a Book Drive > The Grade 9 Holiday Food Drive was celebrated > A “Change For Change” drive during which time students and others dropped change into buckets around campus > Middle Schoolers posted notes showing what they are thankful for at Worcester Academy Mrs. Ribeiro praised Worcester Academy Sophomore Suzy Ewings who led the effort on the student side. “We couldn’t have done it without her,” she said.

A total of more than $110,000 combined was previously collected by Worcester Academy on the two previous Giving Tuesdays, also with assistance from challenge gifts by lead donors. Those funds were also credited to the Annual Fund.

giving news

Sharing

the joy of discovery

Worcester Academy Annual Fund

Through the innovations of dedicated teachers, we deliver on our mission to cultivate progressive, forward-thinking leaders with a global perspective.

It is the Academy’s Annual Fund that lifts us from good to great.

Help us by making your contribution to the Annual Fund today!

www.worcesteracademy.org/givenow

grandparents day 2015 Sunny skies and sunny smiles made Grandparents Day 2015 among the most memorable in recent years as more than 400 Worcester Academy grandparents and students participated in this cherished annual tradition. From lunch in the gym, to time in the classroom, to waiting in picture line for a photo memory, the Oct. 6 event ensured every grandparent felt appreciated and loved!

Worcester Academy

31

auction raises $120k+ FOR FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

by Neil R. Isakson

The Worcester Academy community raised $120,863 at its November gala and auction—Above & Beyond—held at the Historic Armory at 44 Salisbury Street in Worcester.

The Armory, bathed in purple and violet hues and framed by plush draperies, turned the one-time Massachusetts National Guard muster site into an elegant venue for dinner, dancing, and WA’s signature auction.

The Worcester Academy Singers greeted guests as they entered the 126-year-old castle-like Historic Armory where fun and philanthropy awaited.

Auction Co-Chairs

32 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

All told, the occasion, a semi-annual parent-run event, raised $120,000 for faculty professional development though silent and live auctions. Some of the funds will also be used for a “maker space” in the McEvoy library where innovating science, math and technology projects will be front and center. Dozens of alumni, parents, and other friends made the event possible by donating auction items that included vacation homes on Martha’s Vineyard, golf trips to Florida, a tour of California wineries, standing paddle boards, and dinners for dozens. Some of the most

giving news

popular offerings included an evening at the head of school’s home (it came with a guaranteed A+) and a student parking spot on campus, to name a few.

“Bidding on this auction item shows everyone just how much you love your kid!” joked Paul Zekos, auctioneer, holding up tickets to front row seats at Graduation. “Seriously, it does!”

According to the co-chairs of the event—June Carroll P ’16,’18, Stacie Lavine P’16,’18, Erin Lundgren P ’19, ’20— the auction truly went Above & Beyond in its support of faculty professional development.

“We raised a lot of money for something that directly benefits Worcester Academy students,” Mrs. Lavine said.

“WA faculty are second to none and this ensures that they will stay that way. We recognize everything they do for our children.”

Head of School Ron Cino and Dean of Faculty Dr. Cynthia Sabik thanked the co-chairs for their hard work and their commitment to Worcester Academy. The event could not have happened without them, and their efforts were greatly is appreciated.

Worcester Academy

33

in CLASS NOTES REIMAGINED! Enjoying the new format of Class Notes?

We hope so because we reimagined them with you in mind. Many of these entries come from Facebook, where you can connect with classmates to get the rest of the story!

1948

1949

1958

SUMNER PACKER ’49 and Sibyl, his

JOHN HAVEMEYER ’58 says he feels lucky to live in Skaneateles, NY, one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

wife of 58 years, live in Weston, FL, where Sumner still works at the Home Depot. His three children live nearby. His grandson is an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. One granddaughter is a lawyer in Chicago and the other granddaughter is employed by an IT consulting firm in Boca Raton. All is well!

1936 HORTON KENNEDY ’48 and Marillyn Earley, WA Director of Advancement, enjoyed dinner in London, England, where Horton has lived for many years.

1955 DAVID SAWIN ’55 is beginning his 5th year of residence at Worcester’s Briarwood retirement community. Sadly, he wrote that Lois, his wife “of a magical half-century together,” passed away one year ago. FRANK CALLAHAN ’71 recently toured David around WA’s campus. “Amazing, progressive changes!”

JOHN PEACOCK ’36 writes that while going through some WA memorabilia, he found a N.Y. Herald Tribune article about his classmate, JACK HASEY ’36.

According to John, “He (Jack) certainly was an outstanding leader of our class in showing concern and helping mankind. Made my 7½ years in the U.S. Marines (including a couple of years in the hospital) look puny. I›m not aware that Jack’s ‘freedom for all’ early efforts have been recognized.”

1947 ROGER WYE ’47 reports that he is celebrating nearly 20 years of “the good life” on Hilton Head Island, SC.

34 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

1957 RETIRED COLONEL EDMUND C. MORRISEY JR. ’48 was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Air National Guard’s NCO Academy Graduates Association at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center on the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard base in Tennessee. Col. Morrisey was the Training Center’s first commander back in 1968 and is the only colonel that the Air National Guard ever inducted into the Air Force Order of the Sword.

Ed received his commission in 1952 through ROTC at Trinity College and later served in Germany and Colorado.

He is now retired 31 years and is still an active presence at the institution he helped to create.

RICHARD BROOKS ’57 visited Worcester Academy with long-time friend PAUL NIEDERSTEIN ’93 from Germany.

See photo and more on page 37.

DON NICHOLSON ’57 is still working, dividing his time between business interests in Uzbekistan and Miami.

1959 WILLIAM “SKIP” WATSON TAYLOR JR. ’59 was recently elected as the Society of Mayflower Descendants’ Governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation. Skip is a descendant of at least two lines of the original passengers; Edwin Winslow and Thomas Rodgers. Now retired, Skip summers on Clarks Island Duxbury Bay, Plymouth with his wife, Paula, and their two children, Will and Jennifer, and their families. Skip tells us that the Island is where the First Nonsectarian Religious Service was held in the New World by 13 members of the Mayflower Adventure on Dec. 20, 1620. Skip’s family has owned the property continuously since 1690. There he remains involved in preparations for the 400th Anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims on Dec. 21, 2020. A celebration held annually on Dec. 21 in Plymouth is known as Forefathers Day. Skip affirms: “I stepped up to the challenge of my heredity and have tried to live up to the earliest fundementals established by the Mayflower Adventure. So, in some small way, I am Achieving the Honorable.”

1969

1980

1981

35th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

JESSE RITZ ’69 has a new job working for LaerRealty Partners. he lives in Holden, MA. The boys of ‘59, MANUEL DUBON ’59 and JEFF HALBREICH ’59, having a mini reunion some 56 years after the fact in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pictured, from left, are Linda Halbreich, Marilyn Dubon, Jeff and Manny.

1976

40th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

After graduating from Clark University, PAUL SAWIN ’59 worked in sales in the Worcester area until his retirement in 2005. He says he has been blessed with good health and that he often reflects on his time spent “on the hill.”

He is already looking forward to the 60th Reunion in 2019!

1960

1984

MORIS KUSHELEVITCH ’60 who lives in Israel wrote to us about getting older. He has a grandson he is thankful for, and says that is more than sufficient. “We are having a better time than ever,” he wrote.

1966

50th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

1977 An exhibition of CHARLES RADER’S ’77 black and white photography took place in a gallery in River Falls, WI, this summer. Previously his work was exhibited in several venues in and around the St. Paul area A professor of Geography and Mapping Sciences at U/Wis, River Falls, he is one of the organizers of the university’s programs in foreign travel and study and has led student groups for semester-long programs in Europe and China.

ED SHERR SR. ’84, Vice President at Carl P. Sherr and Company, met with WA’s seventh grade math class to provide some financial advice. The students were each given $1,000 of play money to invest in three companies and keep track of for gains and losses. Ed advised them, “Invest in what you know and like.”

With portfolios that include Apple, Nike, Facebook and Starbucks, it seems the students agreed with that strategy.

Worcester Academy

35

1985

1986

1989

30th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

ADAM NAJBERG ’86 wrote: Some personal news … After 25 years in journalism and 21 at Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal, it’s ‘exit, stage left…’ In his most-recent role at the Wall Street Journal, Adam oversaw digital growth for the paper’s English-language and local-language sites, blogs, translation services and videos in Asia. Adam began a Shenzhen-based senior communications role in September.

MIKE MALONE ’89 was named the 16th head coach in Denver Nuggets’ NBA franchise history on June 15, 2015.

TIM SCANLON ’86 stopped by campus in November to show his wife, Dr. Mary Scanlon, and sons Ryan, 12, and Patrick, 14, where he spent his PG year in preparation for Villanova University.

For the past 15 years, Tim and Mary have lived in Florida (currently in Coral Springs), where Tim is director of business development for Plantation General Hospital. They and some of their extended family were in the area to watch the BC-Notre Dame football game and the Patriots game against Buffalo. Originally from North Andover, MA, Tim stays in touch with several classmates and looks forward to attending his 30th reunion in May.

1988 CAITLIN MCCARTHY ’88, a teacher and writer who lives in Worcester, was named a Forty Over 40 honoree. Forty Over 40 is an annual list that celebrates women who are upending the perception that 40 is past your prime by reinventing, leaning in, and creating momentum that will be felt by those beyond their community and field.

36 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

behind the post DENIS GAINTY ’88 is an associate professor of history at Georgia State University. His current book project is on the history of bluegrass music in Japan. Hence, his presence with a Japanese banjo player at an Oklahoma bluegrass festival. Denis also has a recent piece on the subject in the Americana journal “This Land,” for those that are interested.

1990

checking in

1993 PAUL NIEDERSTEIN ’93 visited

1991

30th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

MELISSA ROITER ’91 is celebrating the one year anniversary of her shop, Yummy Mummy Bakery in Westborough, MA. The business specializes in homemade baked goods from brownies and cookies, and muffins and bars, to specialty cakes and corporate gifts. She would love to see local WA grads, so stop in and say hello!

1992

Worcester Academy from Germany with his long-time friend RICHARD BROOKS ’57 of Wellesley, MA. This was Paul’s first time back to campus since graduation. Richard, who knew Paul’s father, was instrumental in Paul’s attendance at Worcester Academy and brought him to campus for this visit. Paul is now married with five children. He lives in Düsseldorf, Germany and runs his family business, Siegener Verzinkerei Holding Gmblt.

get connected

Worcester Academy has a variety of social media channels to help you stay up to date with the latest news from the Hilltop. Whether you still live in the area and want to know about upcoming events, or you live overseas and want to see what is happening in our classrooms through videos, social media is our way of bringing the Hilltop to you.

Here are just a few ways that you can stay connected: Become a fan of the Worcester Academy Facebook Page. See posts about upcoming events and connect with the Worcester Academy Online Community.

Visit Worcester Academy on Flickr to see the latest photos from games, performances, and school life. www.flickr.com/photos/worcesteracademy Watch videos of students, faculty, alumni, and parents experiencing a real-world education. www.youtube.com/user/WorcesterAcademy Catch breaking news about events, lectures, and more when you follow @WorcesterAcdmy on Twitter.

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PAT DOWNEY ’93 was on campus this fall to speak with WA postgraduate students and to share his insights into the importance of having a vision, setting goals, and hard work.

After many successful years as a professional football player and coach, and as a businessman in the field of athletic performance, Pat has recently begun a new venture as a member of one of the largest medical device companies in the world – Intuitive Surgical Inc. Pat and his wife, Andrea (Livingston), have recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary and are the proud parents of three children: Jackson, Peyton and Colt. The Downeys reside in Marblehead, MA.

1994

1995

Sarah and PETER BABAIAN ’95 are proud parents of their second child, a son, James Richard Babaian. Jamie was born on Sept. 23, 2015. The Babaians live in Wilmette, IL.

1996

38 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

20th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

1998

checking in

RYO MOURI-SHIBAHARA ’96 was married to Akiko Hizawa at Hiye Shrine in Tokyo on May 30. His wedding reception was held in Tokyo and many of his WA alumni friends attended: GEORGE TSANG ’96 (who traveled from Hong Kong), AYAKA YAMADA-

INABA ’96, MASUMI YAMADA-SASANO ’96, MINORI FUKUDA ’96, TAKERU IKEBE ’98 and his wife, Wakako, and ERI HASUMOTO ’98. Ryo is looking forward to bringing his wife to WA for reunion in May!

1999

ITO TSUME ’99

1997 PHIL DESILETS ’97 lives in Georgetown, MA, with his wife and their two sons, ages 3 and 9. He is a self-employed carpenter and coaches Georgetown High School’s varsity baseball team.

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2000

2001

15th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

Brothers BEN ’01 and JOE ’05 KAPLAN are the new owners of Lakeside Bar and Grille on Route 9 in Shrewsbury, MA. Ben previously was general manager of Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Worcester. He and his wife have a 2-year-old daughter. Joe worked at Peppercorn’s Grille and Tavern Restaurant in Worcester and Prezo Grille & Bar in Milford. The Kaplan brothers said Lakeside Bar & Grill is a friendly place, and many customers compare to with the 1980s NBC hit sitcom, “Cheers,” centered on a Boston bar “where everybody knows your name.”

ALEX NICAS ’00 and Bianca Nicoletti were married at The Hill in Hudson, NY, on Aug. 29, 2015. Following a beautiful wedding ceremony, they honeymooned in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Alex is an associate at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, in New York, NY. Alex’s wife, Bianca, is an associate at Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, PLLC, also in New York. The couple met at St. John’s University School of Law.

40 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

In 2008, as creative director for Flynn, BOUHA KAZMI ’01 oversaw the music video division, working on a varied range of commissions including The Foo Fighters, Adele, Elbow, The Verve, The Maccabees, R÷yksopp, Starsailor, Dave Matthews Band, and Jay-Z. He later moved to Flynn’s TV commercials department, working for a wide spectrum of multi-national clients.

His directorial debut came as second unit director on Jay-Z’s “On To The Next One.” Bouha’s most recent music video, Tokyo, for Bristol-based band The Ramona Flowers, has been featured in many industry publications, and his short film, Flicker, was nominated for the Young Director Award at the Cannes Lions Festival in 2013.

2002

2003

checking in

JULIA POST QUAGLIERI ’03 and TIM QUAGLIERI ’00 welcomed their son, Patrick Timothy, on Aug. 23, 2015. The Quaglieri family lives in Shrewsbury, MA.

behind the post

2004

This past fall, JONATHAN BRICKMAN ’02 visited Nepal and trekked for 15 days to the Base Camp of Mount Everest through the Himalayan Mountains. He made it to Base Camp at 17,600 ft. on Oct. 5 and then climbed to 18,518 to the summit of Kala Patthar, a nearby mountain to Everest. “It was the most extraordinary experience of my life to make it to one of the most remote places and highest points on Earth for the adventure of a lifetime.”

JASON HOWARD ’03 recently moved to a new home in Shrewsbury, MA. His new neighbors are Dan Adams ‘04 and Jen Glowik ‘01, and he golfs weekly with James Ciociolo and Tim. Worcester Academy

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2005

2006

10th Reunion May 6–7, 2016

ERIN BARRY ’04 married Eric Mojica at the Wychmere Beach Club on Cape Cod in August. The Maid of Honor was LAUREN DAVID ’04, and AURELIA FULGINITI ’04 was a bridesmaid. The Hilltoppers who attended reported that the wedding was beautiful and that they all had a great time! From left are ED BARRY ’03 (brother of the bride),

RORY GLOWIK ’05, AURELIA FULGINITI ’04, LAUREN DAVID ’04, ERIN BARRYMOJICA ’04, ARIELLE PASTICK ’04, JEN GLOWIK ’01, JOHN GLOWIK ’04, and DAN ADAMS ’04.

2007

visited campus in October to do some research for his new job and catch up with old friends: “I am in my sixth year of working in public schools in Louisiana and my fourth year at Samuel J. Green Charter School in New Orleans. This year, I was promoted to assistant principal and am responsible for interventions, including blended learning, special education, social work, speech therapy, testing, gifted services, etc. and student council.”

JAMES SCOLA ’04 and his wife, Jessica Aiken Scola, announced the birth of their first child, Wesley James Scola, on April 9, 2015.

ALAN PANDIANI ’05 was recently appointed as UMass Athletics Associate Director of Athletics for Sales and Fan Experience, responsible for all revenue generation. Alan is thrilled to see many former Hilltoppers on the UMass Amherst athletic teams’ rosters.

42 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

JEFF ROTHSCHILD ’07

2009

checking in RACHEL GATES ’09 is currently in her second year at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She hopes to enter the field of wildlife conservation for big cats in Africa.

ALLYSON KRAUS ’09 is a doctoral candidate at Colorado State University, earning her degree in Applied Developmental Science. She is studying post-divorce parent-child relationships.

SAM MARTIN ’09 is attending law school at Stanford University.

BRITTANY NYZIO ’08 earned her

MYRON CLEMENCE ’07 and COURTNEY STEFANCYK ’07 were married on Aug. 8, 2015 at The Providence G in Providence, RI. WA alums in attendance from the Class of 2007 were BEN ALLEN,

JOE JUDGE, ALICIA MARCULITIS, KATHLEEN KASPER, RITA SHAPIRO, CORINNA ELLIS, STEPHANIE JOHN, and BRITTANY SCHOLD GASCO. Also attending were ROBERT CLEMENCE ’78, TARRAH CLEMENCE ’09, MASON CLEMENCE ’12, STEVE JOHN ’81, and LAUREN MARCULITIS ’08.

MBA in IT Management with a 4.0 GPA from Franklin Pierce University (‘15). She is currently working at Interactive Data Corporation as a data security specialist.

DUSTIN WEIGL ’09 is living in

ALLISON FORD ’09 is working in Boston at the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and living with WA classmate Katie Heiser in Brighton. Allie plans to go to graduate school next year.

Cambridge and working at an electronic medical record company in Kendall Square. He actively eats all of the spare snacks from conferences on his floor.

PETER WHITE ’09 is now the assistant golf course superintendant at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, MA.

2010

Myron and Courtney live in Houston.

2008 ERICA SCOLA ’08 and MIKE GENTILI ’08 were married in Florence, Italy on Nov. 12, 2015 at Chiesa di San Salvatore di Ognissanti. The reception was at Locanda le Boscarecce in Castelfiorentino, Tuscany. Thirty-five friends and family were able to join them in Italy, and many more joined them for a celebration at Worcester Academy on Nov. 28. WA Alumni in attendance included: In Italy, father of the bride JIM SCOLA ’76, brothers of the bride JAMES SCOLA ’04 and JEFF SCOLA ’06, and maid of honor LINDSAY SCOLA ’00.

And, in Worcester, GORDIE LOCKBAUM ’08, ROSS PARKER ’08, CARLO CERVINI

CAMILLE TRAINOR ’08 married Daniel Engelstad in Worcester in September. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Greece. Dan and Camille live in Bennington, VT.

’08, SARAH ADAMS ’08, CAYLA DIROBERTO ’08, ALEXA BRADY ’08, SYDNEY CUSHING ’10, CHRISTINA CERVINI ’10, MOLLY MUNROE ’10, TAYLOR CIAVARRA ’06, TERRENCE CIAVARRA ’08, and VINNY CIAVARRA ’10. Erica and Mike met at

Worcester Academy in the fall of 2007 when she was a senior and he was a post-graduate.

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2011

5th Reunion

May 6–7, 2016

ERIN REILLY ’11 graduated from Holy Cross in May, majoring in History with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies. Currently, she is doing a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Los Angeles. She works as a paralegal at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice.

2012

behind the post ROBERT LOCKE ’11: After graduating from Johns Hopkins in May, I had the opportunity to enjoy new, unique challenges in the Middle East and South Asia. In addition to travelling to Dubai and teaching English in a summer program at a boarding school in Jordan, I visited Pakistan, a country that is sadly but typically portrayed in a negative context. Much to my delight, I discovered a culturally rich and naturally beautiful country with incredible history, people and food. Whether coming across wild monkeys in the serene national park overlooking Islamabad, the capital city, walking along the Arabian Sea in Karachi, the country’s largest city, or exploring ancient Buddhist ruins near the border with Afghanistan, I could not be happier with my decision to visit and it gives me great pleasure to share my experiences with my fellow Hilltoppers.

44 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

The Class of 2012 is well represented in Division I college football. STEVEN DANIELS ’12 (Boston College) and CANAAN SEVERIN ’12 (University of Virginia) have recently been named to the ACC All-Conference Second Team by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

2013

Meanwhile, Canaan and JORDAN LUCAS ’12 (Penn State) were each elected captains by their respective teams and Jordan has recently accepted an invitation to play in the Reece’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, on Jan. 30.

LINDSAY PARK ’13, left, caught up with former WA teammates LAN CROFTON ’13, right, and LAUREN ABBENANTE ’14 after the Holy Cross (Lauren) and Bowdoin (Lan) womens hockey game in Worcester during Thanksgiving break.

2014

checking in

2015

TELL US WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU! To submit a class note, please send note and/or image to Greg Cappello at greg.cappello@worcesteracademy.org.

CHARLES CHIANG ’15 was a semifinalist in the 74th annual Science Talent Search sponsored by the Society for Science & the Public and the Intel Foundation. Charles was awarded $1,000 for himself, as well as $1,000 for his school, to be used “to support excellence in science, math, and/or engineering education at the recipient high school.” So WA also benefited from Charles’ success!

Some tips for sending us digital photos that will look fantastic in print: > set the photo size to 4 x 6 inches or larger, in 300 dpi > set your digital camera to the best photo setting > save files as JPG or TIF > identify everyone left to right in the photo and provide a caption

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passings 1933 VICTOR CRUZ, a lifelong resident of Chihuahua, Mexico, died on June 11, 2015, at the age of 101. He was a good friend of Cloyd Small, a former teacher at the Academy.

Worcester Academy is grateful to Miguel Marquez Villalobos ’83 (whose father, Miguel Marquez Prieto ’54, is a cousin of Mr. Cruz) for informing the school of Mr. Cruz’s passing.

1938 ROBERT J. BROWN of Wenham, MA, died March 7, 2015 after a brief illness. As a young man, he enjoyed swordfishing adventures and fishing trips to Labrador.

These trips, combined with his love of Beverly (MA) Harbor, instilled in him a lifelong love of the sea. He went to work at New England Telephone in 1940, but left the company from 1941 to 1946 to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, attaining the rank of Lieutenant.

After the war, Mr. Brown returned to New England Telephone, where he held many positions of increasing responsibility in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and also served at American Telephone and Telegraph in New York City. His favorite assignment occurred during the 1960 Presidential campaign when Mr. Brown was assigned to the staff of Henry Cabot Lodge to coordinate communications facilities for the Vice Presidential nominee’s staff and accompanying press. He retired from New England Telephone in 1981. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Polly Brown; two sons; a grandson; and a great-grandson.

1939 EDWIN “RUSS” MUNSON of West Boylston, MA, died on Feb. 23, 2015 after a short illness. After earning his Master’s in Engineering from Yale University, he worked for most of his career as an engineering sales representative at the ALCOA Aluminum Company. Mr. Munson served in the Army Air Corps during World War

46 the HILLTOPPER : spring 2016

II, when he was stationed in England, working as an aircraft mechanic. His joys in life were golf, martinis, and a good cigar. After his retirement, he also spent his time driving cancer patients to chemotherapy appointments. Mr. Munson was predeceased by his wife, Priscilla and by his twin sister, Frances Williams. He is survived by two daughters; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

humor and a calm presence. He is survived by a son and a daughter; four grandsons; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothee, in 2007; and by his brother, Richard Seaver, WA Class of 1940, in 2004.

1940

RICHARD BRADFORD WEBSTER of Dedham, MA,

JOHN D. ROSS, JR. of Suffield, CT, and formerly of West Dennis, MA, passed away on Dec. 2, 2014. A 1943 graduate of Brown University, where he captained the baseball team, Mr. Ross earned his J.D. at Boston University School of Law in 1948, and was admitted to the Massachusetts and Federal Bars in 1949. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Lieutenant. Mr. Ross was a former president of the Hampden County Bar Association, and a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the St. Thomas More Society. He was proud to have his children carry on the Ross & Ross law firm that he and his father had started. Affectionately known to many as “The Captain,” he loved cruising in his boat, the “Capajack,” on the Bass River on Cape Cod. He also enjoyed his time with friends at Marco Island, FL. Mr. Ross was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Patricia Cauley Ross. He is survived by a daughter and a son; and five grandchildren.

1943 HOWARD G. SEAVER SR. of Bedford, NH, passed away on Oct. 10, 2015. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Mr. Seaver graduated from Brown University in 1949 and married Dorothee Mayhew that same year. He was employed for 35 years with Amica Insurance, retiring in 1984. Mr. Seaver enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. with his wife in their 5th Wheel RV, and spending time sailing, canoeing, and skiing. He was a member of the American Legion and a generous supporter of causes benefitting veterans. Mr. Seaver was known as an honorable man with a great sense of

1944 formerly of East Sussex, England, UK, died on July 19, 2015 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathanne Harter Webster, of Dedham; four daughters; and ten grandchildren. His brother, Walter, WA Class of 1935, died in Normandy during World War II. During their freshman year at the Academy, Dick and his classmate Bob Wald wrote a humorous weekly column, “Barter Bulletin,” for The Vigornia. After earning his law degree at Harvard University, he spent several decades in the practice of law, as a partner with the firm of Cleary Gottlieb, in Belgium, London and Paris. Mr. Webster was known as a man of many talents, a true gentleman, a gracious host, a talented raconteur, and a formidable lawyer. He was also a devoted family man who was greatly loved.

1946 HARRY I. SPENCER JR. of Holden, MA, died on Sept.

23, 2015. His wife of 63 years, Violet, predeceased him in 2014. He is survived by two daughters and a son; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and a large extended family. A graduate of Clark University, Mr. Spencer was a Corporal in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in Europe with First Army Headquarters and was awarded five Bronze Stars for battles and campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe.

He was also involved in post-liberation activities at the Buchenwald concentration camp. Mr. Spencer was executive vice president, treasurer, and a director of the former Worcester County National Bank (which later became part of Bank of America). He was instrumental in the bank’s many mergers and acquisitions, and in the

passings construction of the twin tower bank building in downtown Worcester. He served at the bank for 40 years until his retirement in 1988. In his work, Mr. Spencer was respected for his honesty, dedication, good judgment, humility, and respect for people. Mr. Spencer enjoyed a variety of hobbies including home repairs, following the stock market, repairing electronics, and playing the piano and trumpet. During the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Mr. Spencer traveled to Europe to retrace his steps during the war.

1947 JAMES MANNING STOUGHTON of Ellington, CT, passed away on June 28, 2014 surrounded by his music and literature. He leaves his wife of 32 years, Patricia Wassey-Stoughton, as well as his two cats and a dog; his sister; a large extended family and many friends.

a member of the university faculty. They were married in 1953 and established their home in Belmont. After briefly working in the insurance industry, Mr. Rose joined Interstate Securities Corporation in Charlotte in 1956. He continued to work for Interstate Securities Corporation and its successor entities for the next 50 years, retiring in 2006. By that time, the organization had become Wachovia Securities. During his career with Interstate, Mr. Rose held a succession of senior management positions and served as a member of its board of directors. For much of his career, he managed Interstate’s syndicate department, organizing the firm’s participation in corporate and municipal securities underwritings, and managing its relationships with other investment banking institutions. Mr. Rose enjoyed his work immensely. He was active in church and civic affairs, serving as a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Belmont; and as a member of Belmont’s Zoning Board.

Mr. Rose’s other interests included gardening, cooking, photography, traveling, and golf. Mr. Rose is survived by a son; two daughters; and three grandsons.

1948 EDMUND JOSEPH SUMPTER SR. of Reston, VA died on Jan. 17, 2015. His wife, Jean, predeceased him. He is survived by a sister; eight children; 25 grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. Mr. Sumpter was in the engineering field and was retired from his position as Director of Strategic Communications at the Defense Information Systems Agency in Reston.

1949 ARTHUR MOSHER ROSE of Belmont, NC, died on May 24, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Myra, in 2011; and by his two brothers, Harrington Rose, WA Class of 1940, in 2009; and Emmett Rose, WA Class of 1948, in 2000. His early upbringing was in towns in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where his father established a succession of paper manufacturing businesses. Mr. Rose’s studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, at which time he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for four years. He then completed his secondary education at WA, and subsequently earned his B.A. from the University of New Hampshire in 1953. While at UNH, he met his future wife, Myra Stowe of Belmont, NC, then

1952 NORMAN RICHARD DION of Tucker, GA, passed away on Feb. 17, 2015. He worked for Sears in a management position. Mr. Dion was predeceased by his wife, Norma.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Jena Dion, of Tucker.

ALAN SEDER of Walnut Creek, CA, passed away on Oct. 16, 2015. He earned his B.S. in Business from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1954 and his M.B.A. from Boston University in 1956. The family moved from Princeton, NJ, to Walnut Creek in 1964, where Mr. Seder continued to work for Educational Testing Service as Executive Director of Programs and Services until his retirement in 1992. In 2012, he and his wife relocated to Rossmoor, a community for active seniors, where Mr. Seder enjoyed his involvement as a trustee for the Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation. Mr. Seder loved all athletic activities, as a participant, coach or spectator. He enjoyed running and participated in both the New York and San Francisco marathons. He and his wife were avid travelers and enjoyed seeing much of the world together. Mr. Seder is survived by his wife, Jan; their daughter and son; and five grandchildren.

former faculty REV. ARTHUR W. RUDMAN of Saco, ME, passed away on Sept. 30, 2015. A 1955 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of their undefeated 1954 football team, he worked as an engineer at Sikorsky Helicopter in Connecticut, until being called up for military service. He served four years in the Army, where he became a pilot. Mr. Rudman’s coaching career started in New Jersey where he was stationed while in flight school. After his military discharge, he worked at Worcester Academy, teaching mechanical drawing, coaching football, wrestling, and track, and was on the staff at the WA Sports Camp. From the 1960s through the ’80s, he taught and coached in schools in New York and in Maine. In 1981, he took over the Madison (Maine) Area Memorial High School football program. Under his leadership, the Madison Bulldogs quickly became a powerhouse, winning a state championship in 1982 and conference championships in 1983 and 1986. He retired from coaching after the 1986 season.

In 2012, Madison High School named their football facility “Rudman Field” in his honor. After retiring from coaching at the age of 57, he attended Bangor Theological Seminary, received his Master’s in Divinity, and pastored the First Congregational Church in North Anson, ME, for 17 years. Rev. Rudman was known as an inspirational leader and a man of integrity, as well as for his quick wit. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Nancy Rudman, of Saco; a sister; two sons and a daughter; ten grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

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passings

1961 GERALD A. CAPUTO of Concord, MA, passed away on Sept. 3, 2015. After attending the architecture program at Rhode Island School of Design, Mr. Caputo worked for his father’s construction company, J.L. Caputo Construction, and was involved in some of Massachusetts’ most significant projects, including the Charles River Locks. His true passion was for furniture making, and he built beautiful pieces for friends and family, who treasure them as his lasting legacy. Mr. Caputo is survived by his son, Christopher of Nashville, TN; and his sister, Miriam Talanian; and many nieces and nephews, all of Cape Cod.

MICHAEL A. KONISKY of Millbury, MA, passed away on Oct. 22, 2015. He leaves his former spouse, Linda Konisky, of Millbury; a son and a daughter; and two granddaughters. Mr. Konisky was born and raised in Millbury, where he spent a lot of time on the family property, roaming the woods and fields. He loved to hunt, fish, boat, and entertain anyone who would listen to his stories. After attending WA and graduating from Millbury Memorial High School, he later obtained a degree in engineering. Mr. Konisky worked for a few years for his father’s dairy business, Greenwood Dairy.

He later worked for Air Products & Chemicals, then the former Commonwealth Gas Co., where he became one of the top salesmen. Mr. Konisky also started his own business, Environmental Tank Disposal Inc., which he was still operating until recently. Mr. Konisky was known for his ability to fix just about anything, and, if he couldn’t fix it, he always knew who to call.

1962

1965

FRANCIS R. COADY JR. of Scituate, MA, passed

HAMLIN M. JENNINGS of Cambridge, MA, died on

Mrs. SEYMOUR F. ADAMS of Fulton, TX, called to inform WA that her husband died on Jan. 29, 2015.

away on Sept. 2, 2015. He attended Maine Maritime and UMass Boston, where he earned his B.A. with honors.

Truly a jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Coady worked in the restaurant, funeral, dry cleaning, and car hauling industries. Most recently, he was a social worker and active in the Democratic Party. Memorable employment for Mr. Coady was working for the 1980 and 2002 U.S. Winter Olympic Committees. He and his family attended several events, including the “The Miracle on Ice” game. Active in a wide variety of sports, Mr. Coady especially loved playing and coaching hockey, football, baseball, and softball. Skiing, sailing, fishing, and water skiing were also favorite pastimes. Watching his siblings, daughters, and grandchildren excel in sports made him proud. A voracious reader, Mr. Coady was well informed and also very entertaining. He is survived by seven daughters; 11 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; seven siblings, including Dennis Coady, WA Class of 1970; and a large extended family. His father, Francis, was a member of the Class of 1937.

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July 8, 2015. He graduated with a B.S. in Physics from Tufts University in 1969, and a Ph.D. in materials science from Brown University in 1975. Following a research fellowship at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, he began studying cementitious materials at Imperial College in London, where he was strongly influenced by Hal F.W. Taylor, considered the father of modern cement chemistry. Dr. Jennings joined Northwestern University as an associate professor in 1987, becoming a full professor in 1994 and serving as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2002 to 2006.

His growing scientific reputation was instrumental in the establishment at Northwestern of the Advanced Cement-Based Materials Research Center, with research aimed at expanding and improving the application of cement and concrete to meet society’s pressing future needs for housing, shelter, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Dr. Jennings joined the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub in 2010 as the inaugural executive director, leading a multi-disciplinary team to new frontiers of sciencebased engineering. Jennings’ most recent research efforts at MIT were aimed at developing sustainable cement-based materials to meet India’s need for housing and infrastructure. With his unique blend of science-inspired engineering, he proposed a new vision for cement-based materials in the 21st century—one that capitalizes on the availability of the raw materials and

recognizes the social impact of concrete on our living conditions, while minimizing the environmental footprint. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Jennings was a dedicated educator, an inspiring instructor, and a generous and encouraging mentor. He authored more than 200 scholarly papers. The Jennings Colloid Model closed the loop between molecular understanding and manufacturing of cement-based materials so that it is now possible to design cement-based materials with specific strength, fracture and durability properties. Dr. Jennings is survived by his wife, Glenys; his mother, Bojan; and his daughter, Ashley.

ALAN FULTON EWING of Union Center, NY, passed away on Sept. 17, 2015 after a brief illness. He is survived by Bonita, his wife of 44 years; two sons; and five grandchildren. Mr. Ewing spent many years of his professional career as the purchasing agent for the Union-Endicott Central School District and was dedicated to everything he did. Following his retirement, he served on the Maine Endwell School Board for 12 years, three of them as president. Mr. Ewing also served for 37 years on the Town of Union Zoning Board; and as president of the School District Health Insurance Consortium as well. He was an active member of The Friends of Spartan Football and enjoyed selling raffle tickets at home games. Mr. Ewing commented often that you never had to worry about what he was thinking because he would tell you, and that was what many who knew him appreciated about him. This past spring, on the occasion of his 50th Reunion at WA, Mr. Ewing wrote the following, “If it wasn’t for my experiences at WA, I would not be where I am today. As I think back, ‘Achieve the Honorable’ has always been part of my life’s journey. Some of my fondest memories are the experiences I had at WA.”

Real PEOPLE Real LEARNING Real WORLD Come see how we are

MAKING IT REAL

for students Grades 6–12 Explore us at www.WorcesterAcademy.org Or Call 508-459-5841

Accepting Applications for Fall 2016

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PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If this issue is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of his or her new mailing address.

Worcester Academy Performance Center Opens!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Mauritius, who became the first Upper School students to perform in our beautiful new Worcester Academy Performance Center at South Campus. See Page 19 to read about the Performance Center Ribbon-Cutting.