Summer 2013 Lamplighter

Christopher Dock Mennonite High School

Summer 2013

Live Greatness Grads challenged to do the hard work that change requires.

58th Annual Commencement

In This Issue...

51st Mennonite Schools Council’s Choral Festival Senior Presentations Honoring Larry Godshall

A publication of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School

Summer 2013 3 Commencement 2013

Commencement speaker Andrew Huth’s message to students: To live greatness is to do the hard work that change requires.

9 Senior Presentations

In the last assignment of their high school careers, seniors share memories of their Dock experience, and assess their growth since freshman year.

14 Interview with Larry Godshall

After 46 years, Larry is passing on the keys to the golf cart.

15 51st MSC Choral Festival

Dock had the rare opportunity this spring to host a 500-voice choir; one Dock singer described it as “one of the most majestic sounds I have ever heard.”

16 Campus Happenings

Academic and athletic award winners, and a look back at the significant events on campus during the last quarter of the year.

21 Alumni Notes

Learn who won Dock’s 2013 Alumni of the Year awards—and preview the attractions for Homecoming Weekend.

On the cover: Colombian-born Camilo Hurtado (right) was among the first group of students to live in Dock House, a new housing alternative primarily for international students. Dock Social Studies teacher Zach Bower served as the school’s primary liaison with Dock House, meeting a wide variety of needs for the students who called it home this school year.

Right: Walker Smith was one of 23 seniors to graduate with honors during Dock’s 58th annual commencement on June 8.

Lamplighter is a publication of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School www.dockhs.org info@dockhs.org Dr. Conrad J. Swartzentruber Principal Martin D. Wiens Assistant Principal Jeffrey A. Ambrose Director of Business Affairs

Igniting Passion Learning , Faith , and Christopher Dockfor Mennonite High School, in Life.

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partnership with the family and the church, seeks to develop the God-given abilities of students in preparation for responsible stewardship of life as members of God’s people in a global society. Dock serves youth and families of Franconia Mennonite Conference, Eastern District Conference and those who share Anabaptist values.

Board of Directors Warren L. Tyson, President Sharon L. Fransen, Vice President Ruth H. Yoder, Secretary P. Scott Heckler, Treasurer Henry B. Bergey, Beny Krisbianto, David G. Landis (’59), James M. Lapp, Katie Longacre, Rina Rampogu

Bronwyn L. Histand Director of Curriculum

Lamplighter is published by Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, 1000 Forty Foot Road, Lansdale, PA 19446. It is entered as third-class matter at the Lansdale Post Office.

Darwin R. Zehr Director of Technology

Jay Gordon, Editor Leinbach Design, Graphic Design

Susan D. Gingerich Director of Advancement

Commencement 2013

Commencement speaker Andrew Huth challenged graduates not just to dream of changing the world, but to do the hard work that change requires.

The Hard Work of Change E

ugene Cho, founder of One Day’s Wages, a grassroots movement dedicated to alleviating extreme global poverty, has said that the young people of today are in danger of becoming “the most overrated generation in history.”

Why would Cho make such a dramatic charge? According to Christopher Dock’s 2013 Commencement speaker, Andrew Huth, it is because this generation is “perhaps more enamored of the idea of wanting change, than the actual hard work that change requires.

“If we are to do the work of justice in this world,” Huth told graduates at Dock’s 58th annual commencement, “then we will need more than words, more than belief, more than a desire for change, more than a mere slogan.”

There are two things young people must do to avoid Cho’s dire forecast, and Huth illustrated each of them with stories from the early part of his career as a professional photographer.

“First, we need to be intimately involved in the messy business of loving others,” Huth said. In one of his first job interviews, a newspaper photo editor looked at Huth’s portfolio and gave him one of the sharpest critiques the photographer ever received; so harsh were the editor’s comments that Huth was getting ready to sell his photo gear on eBay. Instead, he found the courage to ask the editor what he didn’t like about his work. The editor said he felt that Huth was afraid of people. “All of your pictures are taken with a long telephoto lens,” the editor told him. “You’re far away from your subject in a lot of your pictures; you’re afraid to engage people.”

Huth realized the editor was right, and so for the next year and a half, he took photos of people with only a 24mm lens; to get a good picture of someone with a 24mm lens, you have to be really close to them—no more than an arm’s length away. “It forced me to engage people,” Huth said. “Because of my close proximity to my subjects, it was impossible for me to photograph them without engaging them in conversation.

From that day forward, I never photographed anyone without first spending time talking with them, eating with them, walking with them and, most importantly, continued on next page

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COMMENCEMENT 2013

Baccalaureate A time for reflection

listening to them. For perhaps the first time in my life, the people in front of my camera were not just my projects, they were my partners. Together we told a story worth telling.” While the editor’s critique was painful to hear, Huth says it changed him both as a photographer and, more importantly, as a human being.

The lesson for Dock grads? “If you want the good stuff in life as you move from this place, you can’t get that from a distance,” Huth said. “When we aspire to do the work of justice, the poor and the outcast must not become not our projects, but our partners. If we get close enough to those we want to affect, we will, in turn, be affected by them, and be changed ourselves. We need to get close enough that we can smell the foul odors of their struggles, the sweet fragrance of their deep joys. Their struggles and failures need to become our own. Our mutual survival and wellbeing and interests need to be tied so closely together that when they fall, we fall, and when they are lifted up into the light of grace, we are lifted up as well.”

Huth’s second piece of advice for graduates: Tell a more complete story, a deeper story. A little later in his career Huth interviewed with a photo editor at the Associated Press. And again, the editor offered a criticism of Huth’s work: “Your portfolio is filled with lots of good images,” he said, “but there’s no real story behind them.”

Makora Nyagwegwe: “I want to thank my parents for encouraging me to come to Dock and experience something different. That decision has blessed me and changed me forever.”

Jordan Kolb: “I’m now convinced that the most powerful thing we can do is to hear each others’ stories, and to recognize how much we’ve shared.”

“It was a pivotal moment of my career,” Huth said. “It was then I decided I wanted to be a documentary photographer rather than a photojournalist.

I had approached photography with the goal of getting that one great image. There’s nothing wrong with capturing one great picture, but as soon as I had a good one, I stopped taking pictures. More tragically, I stopped listening. I was more focused on the powerful and inspiring moment, and less so on the powerful and inspiring people whose story I was setting out to tell.

“One stunning image, although attractive, isn’t very good at telling a more deeply layered and complete story. The story of us, the story of justice, is messy and complex and multi-layered, so our engagement with each other needs to be the same. We need to keep seeing and looking and relating. We need to tell a complete narrative. We can’t just visit a place, we need to stay there for the long haul. We can’t just be satisfied in looking the part for a short duration, but for a lifetime.”

Transformation comes slowly, he added. “There is a distinction between doing good and being good. If we’re satisfied with merely doing good, then perhaps we will only do the work that love demands of us, the work of justice, for a season or two, or until we’re tired or worn out. But if we practice the transforming art of being good, where we not only pursue change but embody it for ourselves and allow ourselves to be fundamentally altered by it, then perhaps we can answer the call of love for an entire lifetime.”

Dreaming of greatness, of changing the world, is a dangerous thing, Huth said, because “it is close to the real thing—but not nearly close enough.”

“Don’t dream of greatness, but do and become greatness,” he said. “You can’t do that from the safety of your beds. We must be people who are fully awake and deeply rooted in the lives of those we seek to love.”

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Commencement speaker Andrew Huth is an editorial/documentary photographer located in Philadelphia. He is passionate about taking pictures, but more than that, he is passionate about people and their stories, and considers it a privilege to be able to explore those stories in his work.

Andrew and his wife, Heather, attend Ambler Mennonite Church.

COMMENCEMENT 2013

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COMMENCEMENT 2013

Class of 2013 Jun Bae University of Rochester International Relations Bailey Balmer Gordon College Accounting Gina Barboni Eastern Mennonite University Psychology Rachel Beiler Ursinus College Undecided

Matthew Beljan Utica College Business/English

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Jonathan Bishop Eastern Mennonite University Undecided Laura Campbell Delaware Valley College Zoo Science Jessica Chesloski Penn State University Political Science Da In (Diana) Choi Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Doctor of Pharmacy

Adrienne Derstine Mennonite Mission Network Art instructor - Albuquerque, NM Brianna Derstine Mennonite Mission Network

Richard DiLaurenzo Montgomery Co. Community College Business Heather Fretz Bloomsburg University Communication Studies Engerta Frroku Eastern Mennonite University Peacebuilding

Joanna Benner Messiah College Nursing

James Clements Lehigh University Computer Science/Business

Damaris Gehman Messiah College Engineering

Amy Bergey Southeastern University Human Services/Missional Ministries

Elizabeth Curtis Trinity International University Social Entrepreneurship/Masters in Leadership

Rachel Godshall Saints Bible Institute w/Bryant College Bible

Hannah Bergey Bucks Co. Community College Radiology

Madeline Delp Eastern University Anthropology

Lindsay Greger Warren Wilson College Undecided

Alexander Birch DeSales University Pre-Law

Tyler Denlinger Eastern Mennonite University Math/Science Education

Christopher Guntz Houghton College Business Management

COMMENCEMENT 2013

Amber Halteman Liberty University Special Education

Raymond Kauffman Bucks Co. Community College Undecided

Jillian Leatherman Geneva College Biology/Pre-Med

Kirsten Hanson Eastern Nazarene College Social Work

Dohee Kim Savannah College of Art & Design Illustration

Hwa (Hannah) Lee Temple University Nursing

Sarah Hart Eastern University Music Performance Jennifer Henderson Cairn University Secondary English Education Alexander Holnick Eastern University History Jared Hunsinger Messiah College Business Camilo Hurtado EMU or Pensacola Christian Environmental Sustainability/ International Development Ziwei (Leo) Jia University of Delaware Business Management Robert Johnson Messiah College Business Hunseok (Andrew) Kang Drexel University Biological Science

GaMin Kim Lyon University Restaurant Management Young Yoo Kim Drexel University Mechanical Engineering Jordan Kolb Eastern University Music Education Andrew Kratz Employment Modern Male Barbershop/ B&H Industries Christian Landis University of Pittsburgh Economics Jenna Landis Messiah College Early Childhood Education Whitney Landis Lycoming College Criminology/Spanish

Yoon Hwan (Ryan) Lee DeSales University Sports Management Alyssa Leister Cairn University Social Work Caroline Lynch Delaware Valley College Policy Studies/Agribusiness Ian Martin Employment Master’s Design Build Kayleigh McClanahan Albright College Sociology Katelyn McGoldrick Pace University Arts & Entertainment Mgmt Kaitlin Miller Eastern Mennonite University Nursing Taylor Mirarchi Eastern Mennonite University Nursing

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COMMENCEMENT 2013

Daniel Mulliniks Chestnut Hill College Sociology/Marketing

Zachary Rice Messiah College Psychology

Marissa Souder Cairn University Youth Ministry/TESOL

Anthony Murray University of Tampa Business Management

Angela Rittenhouse Employment Pampered Pets/Landis Markets

Paige Souder Eastern Mennonite University Kinesiology/Exercise Science

Shea Neal East Stroudsburg University Undecided

Makora Nyagwegwe Eastern Mennonite University Undecided

Daulton Rittenhouse Montgomery Co. Community College Undecided

Ryan Thomas Eastern Mennonite University International Business

Robert O’Brien U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Officer Azariah Parmer Cairn University Business Daniel Ramirez Zea Hesston College International Bus/Peace & Justice Dominique Rampogu Saint Joseph’s University Business Intelligence Shuang (Josh) Rao University of Arizona Economics Rehm Ricchetti Montgomery Co. Community College Undecided

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Franklin Rosenberger Messiah College Nursing Tyler Sadler Bucks Co. Community College Undecided Makarios Samir Montgomery Co. Community College Criminal Justice Taylor Schwoyer SUNY - Albany Human Biology/Pre-Med Joshua Shearer Full Sail University Game Design Evan Skapik University of Pittsburgh Engineering Walker Smith Eastern University Accounting/Finance

Kevin Treichel Eastern Mennonite University Undecided W. Graham Truscott Messiah College Biblical Studies Hannah Vezzetti Delaware Valley College Food Science/Education Michaela Wagner Montgomery Co. Community College Social Sciences/Psychology Employment - Harleysville Learning Center

Colton Young Employment Halteman Landscaping Baolin (Bill) Zhou SUNY - Albany Economics

Commencement photos by Lauren Pupillo (’00)

Senior Presentations

As their last high school assignment, seniors share the memories they will take with them about their Dock experience.

Goals achieved, lessons learned, relationships cherished.

Tyler Denlinger

This tiny [ACL] ligament changed my life—and with my injury came the biggest Tyler Denlinger decision of my life thus far. I had the option of getting surgery immediately, with a guarantee of being healthy for my first year of college athletics, or I could wait and get surgery after the track season, which I would be fully functional for. It was a choice of the present versus the future. I opted for the future. From where I am at right now, it’s hard for me to say it was definitely a good decision. As a competitor, I feel like I handed over my possible state medal to someone that I could have beaten. As a friend, I feel I missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime in not being able to train with my best friend. I am sorry it couldn’t work out, Jimmy.

Over the course of the next year my decision will either be affirmed or shot down. I have made my decision, however, and there is nothing left to do but move on.

Beth Curtis

One plus of [second] quarter was Faith Walk. I was intimidated at first; I remember shaking from nerves those first couple of days as we were randomly called on to share things. It took a brave soul to be the first testimony of the quarter, but when Colton stepped forward to share his story, it set the tone for the whole class. One by one, we each were given a class period to tell our story, and I’ve come to believe that there is something intensely healing and unifying about hearing others’ stories and telling our own. I came to stand in absolute awe of my classmates: for their bravery and strength, their honesty and compassion, their thoughtful and yet humorous way of seeing the world.

James Clements

I successfully made it through trials in the 800, but the finals were another story. I was in my desired spot for the first 600 meters, and then I was hit with a feeling I hadn’t had for nearly the whole season—my legs just locked up. I was passed and passed and finally finished in eleventh, far below my projected spot and not high enough to medal. I was devastated. I left the infield and walked off alone, when suddenly I felt a lanky arm swing over my shoulders. I looked up to Tyler’s empathetic face and began crying. He comforted me and helped me regain my composure before heading back up to our team. I can say without a doubt in my mind that I would not have accomplished what I did this season without Tyler. Not only has he comforted me, but he’s encouraged me, cheered for me, motivated me, and always been there for me, on and off the track. I can’t imagine how hard it has been for him to watch and encourage me all year while secretly knowing, (though he wouldn’t admit it) that if it wasn’t for his injury he’d be out there kicking my butt. Tyler, I admire you to no end. Thank you for being there for me and I pray I’ll see your long-legged gazelle stride at a meet next year.

Angie Rittenhouse

I would like to thank my parents for their never-ending support.

I remember at the beginning of every year, begging my parents to home-school me. Thinking back on it now, I’m glad they sent me here, because Dock has helped me grow and become a better person.

Tyler Sadler

James Clements

Attending Christopher Dock was the best decision I have ever made up to this point in my life. I have learned so many valuable life lessons.

Angie Rittenhouse When I first came to Dock, random people would come up to me and shake my hand or pat me on the back. I was caught off guard by the fact that people actually showed compassion for each other. So now I have adopted this life skill of being kind to people. Imagine that! This campus is truly magical, and I can’t even explain how blessed I am to

have attended this place.

Tyler Sadler

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SENIOR PRESENTATIONS

Rachel Godshall

Azariah Parmer

Sarah Hart

Drew Kratz Daniel Ramirez

Sarah Hart

In March, a group from Franconia Mennonite Church came to my church, New Eden Fellowship. Some of the girls went to Christopher Dock and I was interested to learn more about the school.

So I went on Dock’s website to learn more, and I talked to my parents about looking into it. I shadowed Adrienne Derstine for a day and at that point I was sure I was going to transfer for my senior year. I told my parents how much I enjoyed my day at Dock and my mom called the school so that I could meet with Mrs. Hunsberger and get everything ready for my senior year. When we met with her, she was very kind and opened the meeting with prayer—which was when my parents and I knew Dock was the perfect place for me.

school and I was like, ‘I am not going to some dumb religious school,’ because I’ve never even gone to church and I thought everyone would be a freak. But my parents made it clear that we were going to visit the campus. I visited Dock in June 2011; I couldn’t believe how open and beautiful the campus was. I left that day thinking I wouldn’t mind coming to this school….

Now this school year is ending and my Dock career is over. My life has been forever changed by this great place. I will be proud to call myself an alum of Christopher Dock.

I´ve made really good friendships living at the Dock House, which is the house for international students. People from China and Korea became part of my life, became my family, along with our house parents, David, Robin, Jason and Katherine Long. These people are amazing, and it is incredible how much they care about you; you feel like one of their own kids. These are people I am never going to forget; they are my second parents, my second family.

Junior year [at my old school] was not a happy time for me, but senior year was like a light in my life. I was able to lead worship in chapel, and I was enthusiastic about being part of Arts Day. A whole day dedicated to artistic talent! I was so excited that Dock made sure that the arts were noticed as well as sports. In the end the seniors came through and won!

Socially I was falling into a bad crowd of kids, getting in trouble and doing dumb things. My parents suggested that I look into a new school. I was excited to get away from all the problems in my school and it gave me something to look forward to. I went to my parents’ shop one day and they suggested Dock. I had no idea what it was. My mom said it was a Mennonite

Ray Kauffman

Daniel Ramirez

Ray Kauffman

Azariah Parmer

Rachel Godshall

Throughout my two years at Dock my grades have stayed high and I have grown academically. I have found that I enjoy writing and have a gift for it. And most importantly, I have grown closer to God. I have never felt Him as close as I do now.

Dock has done that for me. The supportive and caring teachers have pushed me and encouraged me to be faithful to my studies.

The community at Dock is incredible; I just hope that they can continue to be a closeknit bunch. Christopher Dock is a great school and I plan to use the lessons I’ve learned here to help me along through my life.

There was a class I heard about all through my four years at Dock, a class everyone recommended. This class was called Faith Walk, taught by Mr. Wiens. One thing we did was to give our personal testimony.

This made me realize that I wasn’t the only one battling the things that I was, and that people cared. After I gave my testimony I felt completely changed, not only because the people in the class knew what was going on in my life, but because they actually cared, and it just felt great. At that time in my life, Faith Walk was the class I absolutely looked forward to all day and never wanted to leave.

Rachel Beiler

Now, onward to senior year. I still have yet to fully process that I will be leaving this wonderful campus. I will miss it and my leaving will be bittersweet. I have the opportunity to explore a new campus at Ursinus College, but I will be leaving behind something that I have come to Rachel know and love so well. This was a year Beiler of greatness. I did not wear a cape to class but I did become more confident in myself. I decided to try to speak more in chapel. I started voicing my opinions in class and sharing more about myself.

I actually entered a piece of writing in Arts Day which, believe it or not, took a lot of deliberation. Writing is something I have always enjoyed—it calms me, like gardening or running calms some people—but I was always nervous to share my writing with other people. My surprise when I won left me in some sort of mental limbo. Like a dial-up computer, I froze for a bit with a blank look on my face before finally processing the fact that I had won. Success had occurred. I felt like Luke Skywalker after blowing up the Death Star. My brain threw a little fiesta in my mind with balloons, cake, bananas, and all.

Taylor Schwoyer

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Heather Fretz

Whitney Landis

Heather Fretz

Though my time on the tennis team was short freshman year, it gave me an initial taste of the community at Dock. I had heard about the community during my days at Penn View Christian School, but did not expect much. I figured people were just talking it up, but I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival. I felt welcome at practice from the first moment I walked on the court, and it quieted my nervous brain. From that moment I began feeling comfortable at Dock.

Maddie Delp

Drew Kratz

I started to think of an internship I could go into. Mrs. Grega brought to my attention a daycare center she knew of in Harleysville.

Two Dock alumni work there, and she thought it would be a great place for me because she knew I wanted to work with children. I contacted Harleysville Learning Center and found out that they would be able to use me as an assistant in the 2-yearold room. Right away I felt welcomed into this all-girl family. God has blessed me with seven beautiful 2-year-olds, and I am so thankful for this opportunity. Thank you to Keturah, Haley and the rest of the HLC family for welcoming me like you did. I feel like I have something that is my own. When I come to work all of my worries fly out the window and I feel like I can just relax and be myself, and enjoy all the happiness I get from each and every day there. I never had a place where I could do that, and I believe I was searching for this over the four years I have been here at Dock. HLC, you are my light at the end of the tunnel.

Taylor Schwoyer

Now, here comes the killer: English.

But strangely enough, this year something changed. It started in summer with the book I chose for summer reading. Something possessed me to choose the longest book with the smallest print. While some people chose a quick 200- to 300-page book, I decided on the 1,448-page Gone with the Wind. And surprisingly, I read it—and loved it. Mrs. Rauch’s American Lit class is the class that got me interested in reading again. I read the books thoroughly, and my work in class reflected my changed attitude. Rather than receiving 4/10’s I was getting, “Best essay in class”—and I was loving it. I took pride in my essays and my work.

Chorale was another one of my favorite classes. It was a time that I could escape the busy schedule and just sing. It is in the choir room that I feel at peace with everything, with God. The beautiful sound that is created in that room brings me serenity. I discovered where I connected the best with God.

Whitney Landis

Michaela Wagner

SENIOR PRESENTATIONS

Gerta Frroku

Much of what has happened in these past four years was through life-changing choices: I met Maddie by trying out for the tennis team; I met Jeffrey and Amber by having the job at Starbucks; and I found the perfect match in Lycoming by picking their mail out from a stack of a dozen other colleges. I didn’t have to do any of these things; I didn’t have to come to Christopher Dock, but by making the choices I did, I have been blessed in more ways that I ever would have imagined.

I am blessed by my friends who have been my foundation here at Dock. Not many people can say that they’ve kept the same close friends all through high school, and those friendships have kept me going in the right direction. I am blessed by Christopher Dock, and I am proud to have been able to call it home for my high school years.

Josh Shearer

At the end of my four years here, I realized something: You get out of Dock what you put into Dock. For most of my time here I came in with an attitude of “get in, get through the day, do your work, get out.” During Faith Walk, I began coming to school with a different attitude.

An attitude of, “I can’t wait to talk to others, Josh I want to get to know Shearer these people and spend time with them.” I put more into the community here at Dock, and I got more out of it. I go into chapels now with more of an attitude of wanting to understand them, and I want to learn more about God and understand him better. While I feel really sad to leave this place behind now, I know that to go through the future with success I have to have a positive attitude, so I can’t keep looking behind me. Life is always moving forward, so I have to do the same.

Maddie Delp

I looked forward to chapel throughout the year, particularly the sure-to-be-funny Thanksgiving and Christmas chapels. I also appreciated that birthdays were recognized; that set a completely different atmosphere than what I experienced at public school.

The singing and worship in school was a change, and I enjoyed it fully.

I found Mr. Bower’s World Cultures class interesting, especially the “tree” concept he outlined. He drew an image of a tree, with the roots, trunk and leaves representing key aspects of a person’s world view.

I appreciated how Mr. Bower integrated an applicable idea into the curriculum. This is what I was looking for in my education; an emphasis on life intelligence, not necessarily book intelligence.

This year, I had the extreme honor of receiving the Sam and Helen Lapp Peacemaking Award. Listening to other award chapels, I always thought it would be a blessing to attain that title; it is so moving how God brings life full circle. I nearly cried as I stood up to get the certificate, and still feel so honored to have been recognized as a peacemaker on Dock’s campus.

Gerta Frroku

I am truly blessed to have been surrounded by these wonderful people who came in my life just when I was having some of my worst moments. I ended up coming here, to America, to Christopher Dock, and I had no clue what it was going to be like. All I knew was this: Since I got the first e-mails from my wonderful host family, I felt like I found peace in my heart and I couldn’t believe how excited I was to come and live with them. When I left Albania, I didn’t cry. I was strong, and I was thinking powerfully about the goals I wanted to achieve.

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SENIOR PRESENTATIONS

Jillian Leatherman

Jessica Chesloski

Jillian Leatherman

Junior year I also ended up in Advanced Math with Mr. Yoder. For the first time in my life I knew what it was like to struggle in school; I could not get by with the minimal effort this time. Unfortunately I was unwilling to work hard and I ended up getting my first and only “C.” Thanks to Mr. Yoder’s patience and help I managed to finish with a passing grade, and hopefully I learned a life lesson as well. I’m sure I will encounter many more classes like that in college…I can only hope I will be ready to put in the work necessary to succeed.

Joanna Benner

When I say that Haiti changed my life, it is an understatement. There are really no words to describe it but I will do my best to try. In January 2011, I was exposed to a culture and lifestyle that I never knew existed. Everyone seemed to be filled with a passion for life that intrigued me. Every day I was touched both physically and emotionally by the beautiful children. My heart had found its place as I served these beautiful people the world calls “poor” but who seemed so rich in love to me. I have no doubt that God was preparing a longing in my heart for Haiti long before I could even find this country on a map; there is no other explanation for the instant love I felt for this place and these people.

Jessica Chesloski

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Joanna Benner

Academically, I took in everything Mrs. McTavish taught me like a sponge. My I-search paper, the biggest paper we were required to write that year, ended up becoming a reference paper for the future.

I took every comment seriously and used them all to perfect my paper. I earned a 99%, but all the effort I put in ended up helping me the most. Every research paper since, I never got anything less than an A. I owe this to [Mrs. McTavish].

One of the most unique opportunities Dock offers students is Senior Experience

week. With help from my mom and her connections, I was able to job shadow at the number one lobbying firm in Harrisburg.

I loved every minute of the experience, and it was a relief knowing that I will like what I am about to dive into in college.

I do not think I would end up at the same place if I had attended a different school, and to this I owe a thank you to all of my teachers. Their concern and patience is what ultimately provides the Dock experience.

Graham Truscott

One memorable part of freshman year was Mrs. Grega’s English Study Skills class.

Having dyslexia, I need some extra support in English. I was used to being in learning support classes, so I didn’t expect too much.

Boy was I wrong! English Study Skills was arguably the most important class, both socially and academically, that I took in my entire high school career.

Academically the class was perfect for me. Mrs. Grega was an amazing teacher who brought out the best in me. I was encouraged and inspired throughout the class to improve my writing. Before this class I never considered myself talented when it came to English. But this class made me realize something: I was far better at English, and in particular writing, than I had previously thought. Mrs. Grega helped me discover many hidden abilities, including a natural talent for writing poetry.

Alex Holnick

One of the most spiritual things I experienced in my high school career was the Touring Choir. I also got to enjoy one of the most majestic sounds I have ever heard—the entire chapel singing a hymn in four-part harmony during the MSC Choral Festival. To me it was one of the most majestic and beautiful sounds I have ever heard, and it brought me great joy not only to hear it, but also to be part of it.

I have enjoyed being in Touring Choir this past year, and having Mr. Derstine as my director. Like all students, the day before school started, I was dreading returning to school, but then I had a thought: Tomorrow is going to be a good day because I have choir first period, and it will put me in a good mood. I will miss this choir.

Taylor Mirarchi

Jennifer Henderson

I enjoyed English the most this year. We read books like A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner. These two books were extremely encouraging for me. They both ended with hopefulness and at that specific time in my life, they were exactly what I needed. Honors World Literature had to be my favorite English class. One activity I fondly remember was when Mrs. McTavish told us to start with the sentence “You ask what it is that I love…” and go from there.

Some of the things I wrote were: “I love the smell of the spring air blowing through my open window. I love rolling my windows down and blasting country music in the car. I love any hot beverage. I love salvation. I love the way every morning, without fail, my Daddy will kiss me Young Yoo goodbye and whisper, Kim ‘Love you honey.’”

Alex Holnick

I made some wise choices here at Dock, and one of those was getting involved in stage crew for the theater productions. In my freshman year I was in the play and stage crew, but I seemed to like stage crew better. So every year afterward I joined stage crew. I’m not a sporty person, but stage crew to me was like a sport, always running around making sure the stage was changed in a timely manner, people had the right costume or the proper props. Stage crew was the only sport that I excelled in.

I enjoyed every minute of it.

Young Yoo Kim

Since I was new to a Dock education, so many things were fascinating to me. One example was my first year in chorale. I never thought of myself as a musical person; I quit all my music lessons—piano, flute, and violin—after only a few years. However, singing was different from musical instruments. If I can become poetic for a moment here, singing is like using me as an instrument and playing musical notes that contain meaning and feelings in the form of words. Over the years, I found singing to be something I could be passionate about and truly enjoy with my heart.

Singing was a huge part of Dock life for me, and being in the Touring Choir and being able to visit local churches was just a great way to end my school experience.

Taylor Mirarchi Kevin Treichel

Jennifer Henderson

Gina Barboni

When we found Christopher Dock, I immediately thought that I wasn’t going to fit in. Even though I was extremely nervous about going on the tour, I went, and it changed my life. Everybody I met that day, faculty and students, were genuinely caring and went out of their way to welcome me.

I had never felt so comfortable at a school before. At the end of the day, I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that I had found a new home at this school.

Transferring to Dock was probably the best decision I have ever made, other than allowing God into my life. I have grown so much here academically, spiritually, and socially. From day one, I learned more about myself and others than I ever had.

The rest of my sophomore year consisted of meeting new people, making new friends, and eventually going to the Mennonite Youth Convention in Pittsburgh with Taylor.

Socially, I felt as if I was experiencing what it was like to be a “normal” teenager.

Ian Martin

The song Time by Pink Floyd is meaningful for me. One of the lines says, “You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.” This is true for the young people of today, myself included. We feel like we have all the time in the world and we do not have to worry because everything will turn out OK. The second verse says, “And then one day you find 10 years have got behind you.” This is how I have felt writing this senior speech.

I realized just how Ian fast these last Martin four years have gone by. My time here at Dock has been one of the best experiences of my life. I am thankful to my parents for letting me attend Dock for my senior year. My experience here has taught me many things, such as how to write proper essays and how to communicate in difference circumstances.

I have made some really great memories here and I am glad I came.

Kevin Treichel

While reflecting on that [green] bead, whose color stood for growth, I realize that I have indeed grown, these past four years.

Seeking a new challenge for my senior year, I decided to transfer to Dock, and I was not disappointed. Academically this has been a fulfilling year. I learned countless new things and gained new perspectives. I came from taking naps in the back of a classroom, to specifically going to sleep early the night before in order to be fully awake for class the next day. That is growth.

Today, I call myself a Christian. Christianity for me is something I feel, something that filters my sight and allows me to see the world with a whole different perspective.

I’m struggling to understand what it really means to have a relationship with God. That rational part of myself is still in the back of my mind, constantly making me doubt the very things I say and claim to believe.

I don’t know whether that’s good or bad, but regardless, I would say that is growth.

I went from sleeping freshman year to singing junior year. In just this year, I have gone from doing my own thing, to hanging out with friends at lunch, saying yes to public speaking requests and enjoying a phys ed class. I have gone to another country, and I even teach a weekly Bible class at my church. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I would say that is growth.

SENIOR PRESENTATIONS

Graham Truscott

Marissa Souder

Junior year came to a close with the Europe trip. I loved the senior class as well as my class, and I was beyond excited to get closer to all of them during the touring choir trip.

I found God in music, and the idea of perfect harmonies radiating through the twists and turns of massive cathedrals was exhilarating.

I marveled at the idea that I was actually going to be singing in Europe! Like, who does that?

I loved having Independent Photography this year. That class gave me a break from life, some much needed time to relax in the beauty of the world. I absolutely adore photography. Being able to capture a moment of time is being able to see the world through another lens. Lines, shapes, colors, and textures create the world we live in, and if I can capture one speck of beauty in order to touch someone else, then I have done a great thing for this world. I find God in photography.

See more Senior Presentation excerpts at dockhs.org

Thank you, friends and family—notice I don’t say teachers, because you are, as of right now, my friends and family—I would not be where I am without you.

Ricky DiLaurenzo

Dr. Bishop is one of my favorite teachers.

I truly believe Dock is lucky to have a teacher who, in my opinion, could easily be a tenured professor at a university. Out of all my classes in middle and high school, Dr. Bishop is the only teacher who has ever managed to keep me engaged for an entire class period, five days in a row—and he has done it many times. This particular class he was teaching world view, with an emphasis on personal narrative. The person’s narrative, or past experiences, shapes their perception of the world. Because my narrative was different than others, I had a different world view. It was then that I had an epiphany. Yes it has been rough, but through these mistakes I had gained valuable wisdom. Suddenly, I was actually grateful for the difficulties of the past year.

Marissa Souder

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D

The Dock community celebrates Larry Godshall’s 46 years of faithful service.

Scan the pages of the Schul Andenken over the years and you will find a variety of titles for Larry Godshall—custodian, maintenance supervisor, facilities manager, to name a few. But on June 30, Larry added a new title: retired.

After 46 years of maintaining Christopher Dock’s campus as one of the area’s most beautiful places, Larry is passing on the keys to the golf cart.

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ock students, faculty and staff gathered in chapel on May 29 to honor Larry and his wife, Linda, for their long and faithful service. Assistant Principal Martin Wiens interviewed Larry (see below), after which he received several gifts, including a personalized sweatshirt signed by each member of the class of 2013, and a Cabela’s gift card. Larry thanked everyone, wished the seniors success, and then uttered the words just about everyone wants to be able to say at some point in their Dock career: Classes begin in five minutes.

How did you come to Dock?

We were considering voluntary service when I saw a notice in the bulletin at church advertising for a custodian at Dock. I looked at Linda and said, ‘Maybe this is something for us.’ The rest, as they say, is history.

What are the biggest changes you have noticed over your 46 years?

The changing facilities and grounds.

This building was being built the year I graduated, and if you thought the old Clemens gym was small, you should have seen the gym we played in at Grebel Hall.

What are the biggest joys or satisfactions you have had during your time here at Dock?

One of my greatest satisfactions has been the joy and privilege of being part of something—Christian education—that is much more than just a job.

What’s the task you like the least?

That’s easy—cleaning the grease trap in the kitchen.

What gets you the most cranky?

Fixing things that get broken unnecessarily.

Fortunately, that doesn’t happen too often.

What will you miss most and least?

We will miss the people and the beautiful grounds here at Dock. It’s really been a neat thing for us to live here on this campus. What will I miss the least?

Probably cleaning the grease trap!

What are your plans for the future?

We are in the process of renovating the apartment that my wife grew up in, just a short distance from here. I’m also hoping to come back to do some volunteer work, maybe travel a bit, do some hunting and fishing.

What advice do you have for students going forward?

Be nice to Martin! My advice can be summarized in a conversation I had with two young men who are both graduates of Dock and are now involved in the business world. Both of these guys, in different lines of work, said essentially the same thing: If your goal is to become wealthy, to make a lot of money and consume it on yourself, it’s going to get old and lose its meaning.

You need to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, and don’t squander the opportunities that come your way.

I don’t believe I was aware at the time what a privilege it was to come to Christopher Dock, but I certainly appreciate now the time I was able to spend here as both a student and as an employee.

s t l s a o v i H t s k e c F o l D a r o h C C S M T

he sound of a chapel full of singers singing together in four-part harmony was “one of the most majestic sounds I have ever heard,” Dock senior and Touring Choir member Alex Holnick said in his senior speech (see page 12). “It brings me great joy not only to hear it, but also to know that I was a part of it.” And he was talking about the rehearsals.

Christopher Dock had the privilege of hosting the Mennonite Schools Council’s 51st Choral Music Festival April 12-14. The opportunity to hear more than 500 voices lifted in songs of praise was a joy for all who were able to attend the rehearsals Friday and Saturday, as well as the concert on Sunday at Souderton Area High School.

Dr. Philip Copeland, director of choral activities and associate professor of music at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, was guest conductor for the festival choir, while Dock alum Dr. Beverly Lapp (’87), chair of the music department at Goshen College, served as accompanist.

See more Choral Festival photos on the Dock web site.

Recordings of Sunday afternoon’s concert are available at Detweiler House for $10.

Photos by Lauren Pupillo (’00)

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Dock names 2013 award winners

Christopher Dock Award

Clayton Kratz Scholarship

Tyler Denlinger and Marissa Souder

Daniel Ramirez and Ryan Thomas

The Christopher Dock Award is presented to one senior boy and girl in recognition of all-around campus citizenship, leadership and scholarship during high school.

The Clayton Kratz Scholarship is sponsored by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA).

Citizenship Award

Daniel Reinford Scholarship

(l to r) Sarah Kratz (’16), Susie Moore (’15), Kayla Alderfer (’14) and Amy Bergey (’13)

Makora Nyagwegwe, Tyler Denlinger, and Taylor Mirarchi

This scholarship is named for the former Christopher Dock teacher and principal.

The Citizenship Awards are sponsored by R. Lee and Ruth Delp, and PA Rep. Robert Godshall.

Sam & Helen Lapp Peacemaking Award

Penn Suburban Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

Jillian Leatherman and Maddie Delp

Elizabeth Curtis and Azariah Parmer

The Sam & Helen Lapp Peacemaking Award is presented to students who make significant contributions to peace on campus.

Contributed by the Peacemaking Endowment Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation.

L. Travis Bechtel Memorial Scholarship James Clements

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Named for the ’91 Dock graduate and awarded for excellence in academics, athletics and business, this award is sponsored by business advisors Baum, Smith & Clemens, LLP.

This scholarship is sponsored by The Penn Suburban Chamber and awarded to students who intend to major in business.

Additional Scholarship Winners Walker Smith•Hatfield Women’s Civic Club Gerta Frroku•Harleysville Rotary Club Scholarship Jillian Leatherman•The Medical Staff at Abington Health/

Lansdale Hospital Scholarship

Club Award

Association of University Women (Lansdale branch)

Bucks County Foundation

Amy Bergey•John Fisher Citizen Scholar Award Young Yoo Kim & Marissa Souder•North Penn Rotary Evan Skapik, Jordan Kolb, & Amy Bergey•American Jillian Leatherman•The Neinken Fund of the

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

Subject Area Award Winners Michaela Wagner Dohee Kim Marissa Souder Tyler Denlinger Graham Truscott Rachel Beiler Andrew Kang Maddie Delp Amy Bergey Rachel Beiler James Clements Hannah Vezzetti Shea Neal Frank Rosenberger Damaris Gehman Andrew Kang

Career Work Study Charles Clemmer Art Paul R. Clemens Bible Paul R. Clemens Bible Technology Drama Mathematics Spanish Social Studies English Writers Family & Consumer Sciences Physical Education Physical Education Music Science

Athlete of the Year

sponsored by Harleysville Savings Bank sponsored by Class of 1961 sponsored by Moyer’s Chicks/Moyer Realty sponsored by Moyer’s Chicks/Moyer Realty sponsored by Jen-Tech Systems sponsored by Univest Corporation sponsored by Univest Corporation sponsored by Living Branches sponsored by S. Duane Kauffman sponsored by Gerald and Rhoda Benner sponsored by Gerald & Rhoda Benner sponsored by Rockford Realty sponsored by Rockford Realty sponsored by Rockford Realty sponsored by Harold & Ferne Alderfer in honor of Ben & Sue Kaneda

Subject Area Award Winners pictured above (l to r) Andrew Kang, Maddie Delp, Frank Rosenberger, Damaris Gehman, Tyler Denlinger, Shea Neal, James Clements, Amy Bergey, Rachel Beiler, Dohee Kim, Marissa Souder, Hannah Vezzetti, Michaela Wagner, and Graham Truscott.

Outstanding Athletic Achievement

James Clements and Shea Neal

Given to a junior or senior male and female and is selected on the basis of outstanding seasons in more than one sport. Boy’s winner James Clements (left, bowling, track & field). Girl’s winner Shea Neal (soccer, basketball, track & field).

Triangle Club & David J. Clemmer Memorial Award

Nominees for this award are recognized in the broader athletic community as outstanding athletes during their season(s), and for bringing highly valued team-oriented contributions leading to league, district or state championships. 2013 winners include (l to r) Tyler Denlinger (track & field), James Clements (track & field), Shea Neal (soccer), and Taylor Schwoyer (field hockey).

Senior Athlete Award

Tyler Denlinger (left; soccer, basketball, track & field)

was Christopher Dock’s honoree for the Montgomery County Triangle Club Award, which recognizes student-athletes for their accomplishments in athletics, academics, and in their communities.

Jared Hunsinger (bowling, volleyball) was named the 2013 recipient of the David J. Clemmer Memorial Award, which is based on outstanding performance during two or more seasons of at least one sport, as well as good sportsmanship and positive leadership.

This award is given to seniors who have lettered in two or more sports as both a junior and a senior. 2013 recipients (l to r): Graham Truscott (Cross Country, Track & Field); Tyler Denlinger (Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field); Jared Hunsinger (Bowling, Volleyball); Zach Rice (Soccer, Volleyball); Colton Young (Cross Country, Track & Field); Ryan Thomas (Soccer, Baseball); James Clements (Bowling, Track & Field); Jon Bishop (Soccer, Bowling, Track & Field); Makora Nyagwegwe (Cheerleading, Track & Field); Shea Neal (Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field). Not pictured: Christian Landis (Soccer, Track & Field); Amy Bergey (Cheerleading, Track & Field); Damaris Gehman (Soccer, Track & Field).

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CAMPUS HAPPENINGS Jared Hunsinger and Mr. King skippered one of the larger (and more seaworthy) boats.

All-School Social

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ock’s All-School Social in late May gives the school community an opportunity to enjoy the campus. After a morning of classes, the event began this year with a BBQ lunch, followed by a badminton tournament (won by seniors Colton Young and Frank Rosenberger, right), ping pong and a variety of other activities. The day ends with the traditional boat race on Groff Pond, when teams of Physics students build boats using nothing more than cardboard and duct tape, then race them across Groff Pond.

Mrs. Rauch “letters” in her favorite sport every year.

Seniors Frank Rosenberger (left) and Colton Young were masters of the badminton court this year.

Dock faculty and staff recognized

F

ourteen members of Dock’s faculty and staff were recognized for their service during the annual Faculty & Staff recognition luncheon on June 12. Recognized for 35 years of service were English teacher Dr. J. Eric Bishop and Athletic Director Tim Ehst. Administrative Assistant Elaine Gehman was recognized for 25 years of service, while Business Assistant Luann Miller and Custodian Paul Miller were recognized for 15 years of service. Recognized for

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10 years of service, and achieving his first sabbatical, was physical education teacher Matt Moyer; English teacher Kathy Moyer and Social Studies/Bible teacher Preston Bush were also recognized for 10 years of service. Recognized for five years of service were Social Studies teacher Zach Bower, Guidance Office assistant Karen Burkholder, Fitness Center Manager/Rental Coordinator Ryan Detweiler, Advancement Assistant Jay Gordon, Physical Education teacher Stephanie Rittenhouse, and Music teacher Kara Tann.

Larry Godshall was also recognized by the Dock community for his 46 years of service (see page 14).

Teachers and staff recognized for their service to Dock include (l to r) Ryan Detweiler, Zach Bower, Paul Miller, Tim Ehst, Karen Burkholder, Matt Moyer, Stephanie Rittenhouse, Elaine Gehman, Kara Tann, Dr. J. Eric Bishop, Luann Miller, Kathy Moyer, Jay Gordon, and Preston Bush.

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

Will you be a 1:1 Partner?

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n March, Dock announced the implementation of a 1:1 (one-to-one) technology plan for the fall of 2013. The 1:1 Task Force continues to prepare for this exciting endeavor, and Dock is seeking funding for this bold technology initiative that will provide every student with a 4th generation IPad. Parents, grandparents, local businesses, and community members are being invited to contribute to this project. Several families have already stepped up; for example, a ninth grade family has provided a challenge match of $5,000 against donations from other families with students in the Class of 2016. Parents of Class of 2016 students: Will you help reach the $5,000 goal? Are parents of students in other classes able to match that gift, or perhaps make a challenge match of your own?

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he Christopher Dock Touring Choir was once again part of a choral performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Dock singers were joined by choirs from all over the country (including a choir from Central Bucks West in Doylestown) for the May 26 concert.

Dock students Skype with sister school in China

A $500 gift provides one iPad with apps for a student. Employers can also invest in the program; their gift of $5,000 will support 10 students; a gift of $50,000 provides for a whole class. Please consider what you can give. Your donation will prepare students for success in college, career, and a technology-infused workplace.

Use the form below to submit your contribution, or make a donation online at dockhs.org, under the “Support Dock” tab.

Yes! I/We want to help fund Christopher Dock’s 1:1 technology program with a gift of:

____ $5,000 ____ $2,500 ____ $1,000 ____ $500 ____ Other $_______

____ My gift is enclosed. ____ I will send my gift by ____/2013. ____ I will make an online gift at www.dockhs.org by ____/2013.

__________________________________________ Name __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ City, State, Zip __________________________________________ Phone __________________________________________ Email Checks can be written and mailed to: Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, 1000 Forty Foot Road, Lansdale, PA 19446

C

hristopher Dock was contacted in April by the International Department of Hefei 168 High School in China to propose the start of an online seminar between schools. The goal was to create classroom-to-classroom interaction with real-time video exchange using a common curriculum. It was agreed that a Social Studies course could provide a helpful context for connecting Hefei 168 students to Christopher Dock students.

Mr. Zach Bower’s ninth-grade World Cultures I students had the opportunity to be the first to connect with Hefei 168 students. Hefei 168 and Christopher Dock are separated by 12 hours, so when first period meets at Dock at 7:50 a.m., it is 7:50 p.m. in Hefei. For three weeks, Dock students were able to connect via Skype with seven Hefei 168 students and their teacher, Melinda.

“Students on either end of the video stream, and literally at opposite ends of the world, have been able to engage and be a part of the lessons taught about population growth and economic globalization,” said Mr. Bower. Highlights of the Skype sessions seem to be the interactions that happen at the end of each lesson. Class rosters with pictures were exchanged to assist students in learning each other’s names. Noah Shreiner and Maxwell Howald made “first contact” on May 7 by being the first brave students willing to introduce themselves to the Hefei 168 students. They were received with applause, and it has become a tradition for all students to clap anytime someone new introduces themselves.

“Something interesting I have observed is how obviously similar our teenagers are to Chinese teenagers and how similar I am to their teachers,” said Mr. Bower.

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CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

Gatsby comes to Dock

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ock’s English curriculum requires that all sophomores read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, Posing with their Gatsby poster are (l to r) Tyler Ross, Bryanna Russo, which takes place Jordan Derstine, Emmanuela Lorisme, Terrell Willis, Hannah Nixon, in the 1920’s and Lauren Weidler, Mrs. Grega, and Maddie Hunsberger. chronicles the American dream of Jay Gatz, a wealthy man seeking love and social approval in a changing and unpredictable world. The new movie version of the novel debuted May 10 and has garnered much attention from critics and movie patrons. While visiting New York City in late April with her husband, Mrs. Grega noticed a 5th Avenue Brooks Brothers men’s clothing store window displaying their new GATSBY line of clothing as well as posters and photographs of the current Gatsby film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Mrs. Grega approached a salesperson and asked if there were any posters available for purchase since she was currently teaching The Great Gatsby and knew her students would enjoy the photos. The store did not have any available, but gave Mrs. Grega the corporate public relations contact to request the materials. A few phone calls and emails later, the 30” by 40” movie poster arrived at Dock. It was quickly framed and hung in Mrs. Grega’s room!

Dock Theater performs A Work in Progress

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ock Theater’s Spring drama this year was actually a series of dramas—short, one-act plays based on the theme, A Work in Progress. The plays not only showcased the diversity of the ensemble (five languages were represented in the cast of 30), but also of the global society we live in.

Didn’t get to see A Work in Progress? Want to see it again?

Videos of all five plays are posted on Dock’s YouTube channel.

Gerontology students visit Dock Woods

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n May 22, 10 students in Dr. Bishop’s Gerontology class took a short walk over to Dock Woods to meet and interview residents who had volunteered to participate in a class project. Students received a list of 50-plus interview questions and recorded their interviewee’s responses, identifying and writing about their most significant findings. “We had a wonderful time, and several students asked me if we could do it again,” Dr. Bishop reports. “I wish David Derstine were still alive so that I could thank him for his vision so long ago in suggesting that ‘right next to a high school’ would be an ideal location for a retirement community.”

Students Logan Hunsberger (top) and Tony Murray (bottom), interview Dock Woods residents for their Gerontology class.

Dock House celebrates a great first year The idea of having a boarding program for Christopher Dock’s international students became a reality last year when the Board of Trustees approved including Dock House as a part of the mission of the school. The housing facility, owned by Living Branches, is located at Reliance and Cowpath Roads on the property of Souderton Mennonite Homes. David and Robin Long (and their children Katherine and Jason) live in the upstairs apartment of the house and have been the first to serve as House Parents. Working in partnership with the school, the House Parents seek to provide a loving, caring, and safe “home away from home” for the students that live in the house.

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Dock House residents pose for their first “family portrait” (front row, l to r): Daniel Ramirez, Arthur Yin, Camilo Hurtado. (back row, l to r): Katherine Long, Bell Dong, Changlin Dai, Young Yoo Kim, Jason Long, David Long, Jimi Tang, Robin Long, Kimmy Jin, Emmanuela Lorisme, Alice Wang. Not pictured: Max Heo

ALUMNI NOTES

Fencing award for ’02 grad Samantha Hemmerle (’02) is a competitive fencer for the Circle d’Escrime School of Fencing in Sellersville, where she has been training and fencing for two years. At the Philadelphia Cup Championships in June, she took the gold medal in Women’s Foil and the bronze in Women’s Epee, and was named the 2013 Division Champion—a title she will hold for at least a year. Congratulations Samantha!

Erik Kratz gets his own bobblehead One of the signs you have truly arrived as an athlete is when your team creates a bobblehead with your likeness. Dock grad Erik Kratz (’98) received that honor this past season when his old team, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, had an Erik Kratz bobblehead promotion on May 21. Two of the faculty’s biggest Phillies fans, Ron Hertzler and Barb Brown, proudly show off the Erik bobblehead!

Dock’s 15th annual golf outing Merrill Landes (’60) watches intently as Dave Landis (’59) takes a swing at the putting contest during Dock’s 15th annual golf outing.

For more photos, go to dockhs.org.

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Alumni Notes

1958 Dale Delp, Harleysville, died June 18.

Paul and Katie (Geib) Sigmans, Souderton, welcomed Maddlyn Lee Sigmans on April 8.

Reta Halteman Finger, Harrisonburg, VA, co-authored a book, Creating a Scene in Corinth: A Simulation (Herald Press, 2013), with George McClain. She is returning to Pennsylvania to teach a class based on the book for Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Reta’s Corinthians class will run bi-weekly on Fridays from September 13 to December 20, at the Mennonite Conference Center in Harleysville. For more information, visit Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s site at www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary/courses/fall.

Kyle Yoder graduated from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens Ohio, on May 11 with a degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.).

He will begin his Family Medicine residency training this summer at Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.

1974 Clyde G. Kratz, pastor of Zion Mennonite Church, Broadway, VA, was appointed by the Conference Council of Virginia Mennonite Conference to a threeyear term as Executive Conference Minister, beginning September 1, 2013. Clyde was the overseer for several congregations in the Northern District since 2006.

He also serves as assistant chair of the Faith and Life Commission of VMC. Clyde has served previous pastoral roles at New Holland Mennonite Church (PA), Weavers Mennonite Church (VA), and Franconia Mennonite Church (PA). He and his wife Eunice (Kolb ‘74) live in Broadway, Va. 1989 Charlton Wolfgang graduated in June 2013 with a Ph.D. through the Educational Leadership and Learning Technologies program at Drexel University.

1992 Jana (Hostetter) Alderfer is the Community Life Coordinator at Frederick Living in Frederick, Pa., and works in conjunction with the Wellness Coordinator.

1998 Scott and Andrea Hackman, Souderton, welcomed Jaren Rae on June 23.

1999 Meredith (Frankenfield) and Chad Ehst welcomed Jesse Frankenfield Ehst on April 3.

2000 Greg and Blake Grimm, Wayne, PA, welcomed Charles Houston on May 16.

2005 Tahlia Booz married Colin Longacre (2003 NG) on May 4 at Canadensis, PA. They live in Telford.

2006 Carly Kispert married Chris Boyd on March 9 at Calvary Church, Souderton. They live in Chalfont.

2007 Greg Long married Charlene Snader on June 2 in Lancaster, PA. Lauren (Derstine) and Ryan Moyer, Philadelphia, welcomed Araminta Joy on April 26.

2008 Shelly Grasse married Roland Van Rohn on June 8 in Blooming Glen, PA. Becca Weaver and Simon Smucker were married in Franconia on May 25.

2009 Carla Cappa’s new single, Don’t Look Back, was released on her birthday, April 26. During Carla’s Senior Experience she produced a 10-track CD of original songs and was on her way to writing and performing her own music.

Her song, I’m Not won first place in pop/rock at the USA Songwriting Competition in 2009. In 2010 she was one of the top 10 finalists in Nashville for Bravo’s show, Platinum Hit. Her songwriting ranges from hooky pop love songs to the depths of redemption and loss. See more about Carla on Facebook at “Carla Cappa Music,” on YouTube and at her web site, www.carlacappa.net Ryan Nice and Amanda Derstine were married April 20 in Franconia.

William and Tara Lorah (Director of Foodservice, 2011-present) welcomed Eryk Eugene on March 20.

2001 Pete Derstine and Karalyn McGrorty were married in Philadelphia on June 22.

2002 Vincent “Jimmy” Calogero-Rutan, Lansdale, died April 7 of injuries sustained when he was hit while crossing the street.

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2003 Emily Benner married Jonas Blake on May 18, 2013, in Pennsburg, PA.

We want to hear from you.

Share your Alumni Notes (births, deaths, marriages, job changes, achievements, etc.).

Send to: Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, 1000 Forty Foot Road, Lansdale, PA 19440 or email them to advancementoffice@dockhs.org

Alumni Notes

Homecoming Weekend October 18-19, 2013

Come back to campus at one of the most beautiful times of year to enjoy concerts, reunions, campus tours, soccer games, kids’ activities, alumni reception and more.

Friday, October 18 9:15 a.m. Chapel Alum of the Year speakers James L. Rosenberger (’64) & Sue Clemmer Steiner (’65) 7:00 p.m. Fall Concert and Alum of the Year Awards

Saturday, October 19 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Class Reunions

3:00-5:00 p.m. Children’s Activities

10:00 a.m. Founders Brunch

4:00-6:00 p.m. Homecoming Reception

12:30-3:00 p.m. Admissions Open House 1:00-4:00 p.m. Campus Tours

7:00 p.m. Girls Soccer 7:00 p.m. Walking Roots Band Concert

The

Walking Roots Honor this year’s awardees during Dock’s Fall Concert on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m. with a “meet and greet” reception to follow.

Band

Outstanding Achievement AWARD

James L. Rosenberger (‘64) Linda Alderfer Martin (‘67)

Distinguished Service AWARD

Glenn Bauman (‘63) Sue Clemmer Steiner (‘65)

Saturday, October 19 at 7:00 pm Christopher Dock Mennonite High School

Young Alum AWARD

Jesse Gey (‘04) Sheldon C. Good (‘05)

Based in Harrisonburg, VA and made up primarily of Dock and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) grads, The Walking Roots take centuries-old hymn texts and put them to music that is accessible and appealing to everyone. Band Members (l to r): Mitchell Yoder, Kristina (Yoder) Landis (‘05), and Michael Yoder; (second row): Adam Schmid, Seth Crissman, Greg Yoder (‘05) and Jackson Maust. Not pictured: Lauren (Derstine) Yoder (’06).

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID LANSDALE, PA Permit 170

Igniting Passion for Learning, Faith, and Life.

1000 Forty Foot Road Lansdale, PA 19446 215-362-2675 www.dockhs.org

www.dockhs.org

Grounded Flexibility D uring my birth year, 1959, the microchip, pacemaker, computer modem, Etch A Sketch, Barbie Doll, and Royal Crown Cola were invented. These inventions still exist today, although most are substantially different than the original versions. Other inventions of that year did not survive the changing times.

In June we recognized Larry Godshall, retiring from 46 years of continuous service at Christopher Dock as our Maintenance Supervisor. Dr. J. Eric Bishop and Tim Ehst were honored for 35 years, and they continue teaching.

Henry Longacre was recognized for 22 years of service to the Dock community as a board member, deciding this year to step aside while encouraging others to join the board. At our final faculty and staff luncheon, we recognized a group of 14 people at various points of service at Dock.

How do people sustain themselves and remain effective for a long tenure in one school? Today people move frequently throughout their career. Dock, however, is blessed with a seasoned faculty, staff and board. This provides stability for an institution during a time when being transient is the norm.

From my observation, those who have served many years at Dock all share a heart for their work. They have a vision

“A school must be grounded in its mission, yet flexible enough to change with a fresh interpretation of the mission in light of the changing community…” for this place and how they can play a role each year, even when that role changes and adjusts for new situations.

They hear the stories of transformation from senior speeches and are inspired to continue. They understand the importance of the seeds they plant and allow colleagues to encourage them when planted seeds lie dormant.

Sustainability requires a focus on God as the source of strength. Those who persevere must take time to care for the soul and body to find life in the same work for many years.

An institution must be intentional about sustainability. Times and cultures shift around each school. Expectations and needs change. A school must be grounded in its mission, yet flexible enough to change with a fresh interpretation of the mission in light of the changing churches and community

around it. This ability to be flexibly grounded is essential to sustainability.

The school’s mission provides an anchor, connecting us to our roots and to God’s work for us at Dock. The seasoned faculty, staff, and board provide the flexibility to respond to the needs of youth today, preparing them for the world they will encounter upon graduation, rather than the world we knew as youth.

Our school community is blessed by the experience and stability of our faculty, staff, and board who have enhanced the work at Dock. Their vision and dedication to our mission has blessed its 4,668 graduates. Since 1954, Dock has remained grounded by our mission, yet responsive to the needs of its students each year. This grounded flexibility ensures that Dock is sustainable for the changes and opportunities that lie ahead.

— Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber, Principal