MKA Review, Fall 2015

MKA rev覺ew

LIVE A GREAT STORY FROM CURRENT STUDENTS TO ALUMNI, MKA IS AN IMPORTANT CHAPTER IN SOME REMARKABLE LIVES

THE MAGAZINE OF

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY FA L L 2 0 1 5

MKA rev覺ew

THE MAGAZINE OF

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY FALL 2015

F E ATURE

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Live a Great Story From current students to alumni, MKA is an important chapter in some remarkable lives.

DE PARTME NTS

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FROM THE H EA D MASTER

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AROUND M KA Campus, student and faculty news

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PA R E NT NEWS

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TRUSTE E N EWS

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ALUMNI NEWS

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A GE NE ROUS L I FE Stories of Giving

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CLASS NOTES

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MISSION MKA’s challenging, engaging and innovative academic program provides a vibrant and transformative education. Our faculty’s deep and genuine understanding of our students as individuals and as learners fosters their ethical development, intellectual growth and personal success. MKA’s diverse, collaborative and inclusive community inspires students to lead lives of noble character, purpose and distinction.

ON THE COVER Photo taken by Mary Kate Turner ’14 as part of her May Term project called “Urban Environment.” “Urban Environment” was a portfolio of images shot in New York City which featured the influences of city life on its inhabitants, showcasing how those who lived in New York altered their lives to adapt to living in the city while retaining their heritages.

Editors Gretchen Berra Kim Saunders Design Lilly Pereira Assistant Editors Debbie Allen Kori Durando Debbie Kozak Lois Montorio Photographers Doug Allen Gretchen Berra Michael Branscom Phil Cantor James Demaria Kori Durando David Hollander Debbie Kozak Kim Saunders William Stites Karen Schifferdecker

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Evidence of our mission is found in the KNOWLEDGE, VISION and INTEGRITY of our students and our alumni: K N OWLE DGE • Academic excellence • Intellectual independence • Love of learning VISION • Personal engagement with the world • Understanding of human complexity • A sense of humility and compassion I N TEGRI TY • Strength of character • Responsibility as a citizen and leader • An honorable and generous life

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FROM THE HEADMASTER

BY T HOM AS W. N AM MACK

A Worthy Mission “I believe that the definition of a great school is simple to state and demanding to execute: a great school has a worthy mission and does what it says.”

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In 2014–15, MKA completed a year-long and Board of Trustees led process, to review and revise the School’s mission statement.

The mission statement that appears in this issue of MKA Review now includes a preamble that speaks directly to the characteristics that drive the MKA program, the power of our teachers’ commitment to our students and the wellspring of energy, renewal and support that our community provides for those who teach and learn at MKA. The Mission Statement asserts that, “Evidence of our mission is found in the Knowledge, the Vision and the Integrity of our students and our alumni,” thereby stating what we know in our experience and in our hearts to be true: that the school is a powerful force in the lives of our graduates as well as our students.

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I believe that the definition of a great school is simple to state and demanding to execute: a great school has a worthy mission and does what it says. The goal for any effort at institutional improvement must be to increase the opportunity for every student to fully benefit from an MKA education.

When the commitment to do what is best for each student permeates a school’s culture, the right questions get asked, challenges are cast in their proper proportion and parents, alumni, students, faculty and administrators find themselves moving the school in the same direction.

In the coming year, MKA will undertake an ambitious and innovative strategic planning process in which every member of the community can choose to participate. On Saturday, September 26, over 70 trustees, employees, students, alumni and parents will participate in an exciting and interactive day identifying and discussing MKA’s strategic priorities for the next five to seven years.

Through the support of KPublic, an organization that provides a platform for digital collaboration, MKA will hold an extended online conversation (JAM) on Wednesday, November 18, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., open to all members of the community. The November 18th, JAM will be structured around the broad themes developed on September 26, and will be moderated by MKA faculty, trustees, students and alumni. The content of the JAM will play a crucial role in grounding MKA’s next strategic plan in the experience and insights of those who teach and learn at MKA, and those who have graduated from and support our school. ■

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M KA’s M ISSION STATEMENT

MKA’s challenging, engaging and innovative academic program provides a vibrant and transformative education.

Our faculty’s deep and genuine understanding of our students as individuals and as learners fosters their ethical development, intellectual growth and personal success. MKA’s diverse, collaborative and inclusive community inspires students to lead lives of noble character, purpose and distinction.

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SAVE NOVEMBER 18 for a globe-spanning, groundbreaking online conversation…

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE: THE MKA JAM A JAM is a moderated, online exchange that is part creative brainstorming, part active dialogue and part focus group. It will involve the whole MKA community in an exploration of strategic priorities. The JAM is open to all alumni, parents past and present, faculty and staff, and current juniors and seniors. Join in anytime from your laptop or mobile device on November 18th between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST. We’re using the MKA JAM to learn what you think as a key part of mapping our school’s future. Watch for more info in October. For now, mark your calendar and get ready to JAM with us!

A A ROUN D M KA

IN TH I S SECT IO N : Big News Campus News Student News Graduation Athletics Faculty News

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BIG News F U T U R E F O R WA R D U P D AT E S

MUENSTER FIELD

Jersey. Now a regulation size field with a

and provide our student-athletes and

Since May 1989 Muenster Field has been

synthetic turf surface, it can be used in all

spectators with facilities that reflect the

a mainstay of the MKA athletic program

weather and stand up to the constant use

outstanding quality of our programs.

— particularly field hockey and lacrosse.

that is demanded by our student-athletes

The vision of the Board of Trustees and

on all levels. The surface also provides the

lation of engraved pavers on the field

the generosity of Anne Muenster made

opportunity for field hockey and lacrosse

house promenade. Individuals, families

the original construction of Muenster one

to play “faster” and be more competi-

and teams rallied to purchase paving

of the premier natural grass venues in the

tive with our rivals, while the expanded

stones which are custom engraved with

state. As the years progressed, deteriorat-

size allows MKA to host state and prep

their own messages and memories. This

ing drainage, increased use and the grow-

tournament games—showcasing the

has quickly become a walk through MKA’s

ing needs of both athletes and spectators

facility to athletes and fans from all over

athletic history—as well as a permanent

made the facility inadequate to meet the

New Jersey.

cheering section for those who represent

requirements of our outstanding MKA

us on the field. Paver sales for the initial

athletic program—making renovation and

rest rooms, changing rooms for athletes,

installation provided over $125,000 of

construction a must.

storage areas and spectator zones that

gift support for the project, and sales will

get fans up close to the action are all

be opened up again each spring until the

new features that complete the upgrade

promenade is full. Go Cougars!

Today, Muenster Field is once again one of the top athletic venues in New

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The addition of a paved parking area,

A final new component is the instal-

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Muenster Field

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GIFT SU P PO RT TO DAT E Muenster Field $2,000,000 Penick Center $4,350,000 Academic Center $4,700,000 Academic Center

GIFT SU P PO RT GOAL

PENICK CENTER

NEW GIFT SUPPORT FOR ENDOWMENT $2,532,000

In 1973, Kimberley School Headmaster Richard Loveland asserted in his speech at

OVERALL VALUE OF MKA ENDOWMENT $21,000,000 (approximately)

the original dedication of the Penick Center that it would “provide a gathering place for students, teachers and parents to meet in face to face forum, to welcome gracefully

Penick Center

and proudly the best in artistic performances and intellectual leaders, to find that cord of

to sustainability through seeking LEED

whole community …”

Certification and providing facilities for

Today, as a result of the Penick Center renovation, those words have more depth

environmental education.

The new facility nearly doubles the

and richer meaning than ever. The campus

footprint of the original Avery Barras Library

now has a clear and inviting entrance

while adding an outdoor amphitheater and

and impressive lobby which serves as

a “green roof.” This last feature takes the

a gateway for students into the school

form of plantings, instrumentation and a

and creates an atmosphere dedicated

classroom on the new areas of the roof.

to learning and growth. The Auditorium

The green roof will be a showcase that can

is a state-of-the-art performance and

be shared with all students as well as the

enable us to fully deliver programs without

gathering space, the Dining Hall has the

broader community.

having to choose between the arts and

versatility to not only serve healthy meals

The impressive new glass edifice that

Brookside Campus

athletics, and a safer, more community

but to also provide a performance and all

will loom large over Lloyd Road is ready

oriented campus. This is the tomorrow of

important social space. The new Higgins

to become an iconic architectural image

Brookside—and it is right around the corner.

Common Room completes the project and

and a symbol of MKA’s commitment to

If you have questions or want to participate,

continues the commitment to versatility by

academic excellence.

please contact Geoff Branigan, Director of

providing room that can used for meetings,

Development at gbranigan@mka.org

class presentations and even a community

BROOKSIDE PROJECT

resource center during natural disasters

Long considered the “jewel in the crown” of

ENDOWMENT

such as Hurricane Sandy. The original

MKA, our Primary School Campus is home

Why is endowment so important? Quite

vision of those who built the Penick Center

to exceptional programs, faculty, staff and

simply, because a healthy endowment

has certainly been reinvigorated for the

students—now the facility needs to reflect

provides opportunities for a school to more

21st century.

that excellence and best deliver on the

fully deliver upon its mission and promise.

promise of Brookside. JCJ Architects have

Whether we’re talking about diversity,

begun their work helping to make the vision

accessibility, exceptional faculty or out-

Construction on our new Academic Center

for an expanded and renovated primary

standing and innovative programming—the

at the Upper School is underway and cur-

school come to life. Core elements of that

endowment provides a secure and reliable

rently on schedule to be completed during

vision include the expansion and renovation

source of funding to make certain we are

the Fall of 2015. The vision for this facility is

of both the Library and Gymnasium, the

to bring the traditional library, technology

addition of a dual use Cafeteria/Auditorium,

support and academic support for learners

an enhanced entranceway, expanded park-

in all areas into a single space—while also

ing and a reconfigured car line.

who we aspire to be.

At MKA, that translates into financial aid to enhance diversity, support for ethics and character programming and resources for global programs, service learning, the arts and athletics. And let’s not forget—the ability to attract and retain our worldclass faculty. Every dollar of gift support for endowment has an impact upon MKA every day, and forever.

ACADEMIC CENTER

providing a full size classroom, staging area,

Imagine: library facilities that better meet

school archive, quiet study space and small

the needs of all learners, a Cafeteria where

group seminar rooms fully outfitted with

students and faculty can come together

cutting-edge technology. Wrapped into the

in community each day, separate physical

entire project is MKA’s strong commitment

education and performance spaces that

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FAST FACTS

2015 SENIO R BRE AKFAST The last formal day of classes for seniors began with their senior breakfast hosted by the Alumni Relations Department. This years breakfast included:

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gift bags that were given out. Each gift bag had a traditional MKA laundry bag and a commemorative T- shirt with all the seniors’ portraits on them that the other students could sign.

Growing the Middle School Community Garden Boxes promote hands-on learning At the Middle School, a garden has sprouted outside of the 5th grade science room. Last fall, the 5th grade students assembled sustainable cedar wood boxes during advisory in order to get ready to have a garden. In early March, they started several plants by seed in the classroom in recycled K-cups. In April, they planted fruits and vegetables including strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, basil and peppers.

The 5th graders took care of the plants by watering them daily using a rain barrel capturing runoff from the roof of the building. Students harvested lettuce, mint and basil for their own consumption and to be served in the Dining Hall for the community to enjoy. At the end of the school year, the 5th graders learned about food systems and agriculture in science class. As a cumulative project, students conducted research and made informative videos about one of the fruits

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or vegetables growing in the garden and shared what they learned with the class.

Being able to eat food they grew and share the herbs and lettuce with the school community through the Dining Hall made an authentic and meaningful connection to what they learned in the classroom.

Other Middle School teachers also incorporated the garden boxes into their classes. For example, Fangzhou Zhang’s seventh grade Chinese students wrote the Chinese characters on plant markers made by members of the Middle School Green Group. In the future, other world language teachers plan to contribute to the plant markers so that the plants will have their names written in English, Spanish, French, Latin and Chinese. We look forward to extending the experience and bounty of the community garden boxes next year.—By Laura Zimmerman, MS Science Teacher, MS Sustainability Coordinator

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senior student alumni relations ambassadors were recognized, seniors Kori Durando and Joe Sierotko.

76% of seniors participated in the Senior Dollar Drive (thank you!).

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MKA APP was introduced to help keep our new alumni connected.

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See photos of the seniorbreakfast at mka.org

MKA

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MKA B O O K SH EL F

THE BUZZ

“I cherish the chance to spend a few hours in my past. I hope that I said something that will help some of these students decide upon their career one day.”

Currently Reading

ADAM D. H AUSER ’86, MD, CHIL D AND ADOL ESCENT PSYCHIATR I ST

Whistling Vivaldi

CAREER DAY On Wednesday, March 4th, MKA alumni returned to campus to participate in Career Day, an annual event hosted by the Alumni Relations Department for members of the junior and senior classes. Alumni speakers represented a multitude of fields including, entertainment, sports management, finance, law, technology, medical, publishing, technology, philanthropy and public relations to name a few. A special thank you to our visiting alumni: Michael Braun ’01, Ryan Schinman ’89, Aaron Mandelbaum ’97, Jared Cook ’01, Matthew Metzger ’08, Mitch Decter ’94, Dr. Jordan Safirstein ’89, Dr. Pam D’Amato Davis ’93, Dr. Adam Hauser ’86, Claire Sterling ’90, Michael Stepansky ’96, Amanda Englander ’04 and John Saroff ’94.

Division Coach of the Year Congratulations to MKA’s Head Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Paul Edwards who was named the Waterman Division “Coach of the Year.”

Playing in one of the most competitive leagues and sustaining numerous tough losses to elite competition throughout the year, Coach Edwards and his team enjoyed a late season win over

DePaul Catholic in the NJSIAA Tournament. Many of MKA’s varsity coaches were quick to join Athletic Director Todd Smith in congratulating Edwards, the 2012 Star Ledger Coach of the Year, on his remarkable career and extraordinary successes: MKA Baseball Coach Ralph Pacifico noted, “Nobody deserves it more....

Edwards is both a class act and great coach!”

COUGAR PRIDE MKA’s Gay-Straight Alliance and the Student Athletic Council developed a “Safe Sports Space” initiative that makes the fields and courts a welcoming, inclusive and “safe” place for all. Additionally, MKA’s GSA made the Honor Roll for GLSEN’s Respect Awards for 2015! Truly incredible work by an outstanding group—we are so proud!

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By Claude Steele MKA faculty on all three campuses are reading Whistling Vivaldi, by Claude Steele. This might be a better book to highlight for alumni and parents, since it really goes to the heart of what MKA has been doing in terms of faculty development.

The faculty are all reading this particular book, because it’s an excellent introduction to the psychological concept of stereotype threat. Stereotype threat is a situational predicament in which people are or feel themselves to be at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their social group, and actually hurt themselves in the process of trying to counteract that stereotype. So, for example, female students get more anxious when in a math class, because of the stereotype that women aren’t as good at math, and consequently, do worse on a test because they are anxious. Looking at stereotype threat and how it works with regards to gender, race, socioeconomics, etc., Claude Steele gives a much more detailed explanation about how this psychological effect works and, more importantly for teachers, gives concrete ways in which to counteract stereotype threat. The book broadens the work that MKA has already been doing as a faculty with consultant Rosetta Lee and helps faculty in their journey towards understanding race and developing their own cultural competencies.

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Student Awards S E NI O R AWA R DS

Foreign Language Prize in French: Heather Milke

James D. Timmons Scholarship: Kristina Bylancik

COMMENCEMENT AWARDS

Foreign Language Prize in Latin: Benjamin Wallach

Bud Mekeel Memorial Scholarship: Isaiah Thompson

The Rudolph Deetjen Award for athletics and academic achievement: Payson Ruhl, Daniel Yanes

Foreign Language Prize in Spanish: Sarah Weiswasser

Scott M. Johnson Memorial Award: Carrigan Miller

History Prize: Joseph Sierotko

Al Staph Award: Ibrahim Abukwaik

The Ethel M. Spurr Award for cooperation, responsibility, service and citizenship: Heather Milke

William H. Miller Prize in Science: Nikita Israni

The Marjorie Winfield Easter Award for sportsmanship, self-discipline and behind-the-scenes service: Isabella Gerard The Robert Hemmeter Memorial Award for intellectual curiosity, love of books and sports and enthusiasm for living: Benjamin Wallach The Peter R. Greer Character Award for the habits of truthfulness, honesty, kindness and promotion of mutual trust and friendship: Joseph Sierotko

SCHOLAR AWARDS 12th Grade Avery Barras Distinguished Scholar (All A’s): Benjamin Rapsas, Daniel Yanes 12th Grade Mary K. Waring Scholars (A’s and A-’s): Emma Garcia-Miller Evin Henriquez-Groves Heather Milke Ross Musicant Kristof Peiffer Madison Rivlin Payson Ruhl Matthew Skolnick

DEPARTMENT PRIZES Barras Prize in English: Benjamin Wallach Foreign Language Prize in Chinese: Sam Cleverley

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Nazarian Prize for Mathematics: Benjamin Rapsas

FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS Visual Arts: Skye Volmar John Philip Sousa Band Award: Benjamin Rapsas Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Isaiah Thompson Strings Award: Victoria Kitirattragarn Vocal Award: Graham Glusman Communications: Heather Milke Dance Award: Theadora McRae

Everett Glenn Memorial Medal: Lisa Goldsman 12th Grade Community Service Award: Andrew Friedlander 12th Grade Klein Awards: Josh Chery, Erin Duca Head’s Awards: Joseph Amato Kevin Brown Drew Crichlow Kori Durando Evin Henriquez-Groves Madison Rivlin Presidential Gold Award for Community Service Hours: Robert Ladov, Ravi Melwani Presidential Silver Award for Community Service Hours: Griffin Kulick Presidential Bronze Award for Community Service Hours: Dillon Carroll Andrea Castro Celeste Fields Andrew Friedlander Sarah Pryor

SPECIAL AWARDS Downsbrough Science Scholarship: Megan Massey

UNDERCLASSMEN AWARDS

Margaret Jenkins Osborne Prize for Excellence in Science: Nicole Romola

The MacVicar Prize: Jack Besser Ana Lucia Espinosa Dice Rachel Sobel Sam Sobel

Marilyn Faden Award for Excellence in the Theatre Arts: Drama: Kristina Bylancik Musical Theatre: Trevor Jones, Julia Larsen Technical: Sam Wildstein, Matthew Yacavone John Rabuse History Award: Jillian Jones

The Frank Brogan Memorial Scholarship: Lauren Yagoda The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: Ana Lucia Espinosa Dice The John Rabke Memorial Award: Isaiah Kramer

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The Elizabeth O’Neil Feagley Creativity Award: Rachel Sobel Klein Awards Grade 11: Isabella Mendez Robert Strain Grade 10: Anna Wallace Angelo Weber Grade 9: Kerri McGuire Nicolas Espinosa Dice Faculty Scholar Awards Grade 11: Ana Lucia Espinosa Dice Julia Randall Rachel Sobel Sam Sobel Grade 10: John Gouwar Parker Richardson Jacob Sasfai Jacob Waldor Grade 9: Danielle Golden Jaclyn Kemly Ethan Kuhl Presidential Gold Award for Community Service Hours: Grade 11: Aisha Arain Hope Buchan Isaiah Kramer Shelly Tsirulik Presidential Silver Award for Community Service Hours Grade 10: Alexander Eiden Presidential Bronze Award for Community Service Hours: Grade 11: Rama Bikkina Maya Gujral Noreen Rizwan Kennedy Robinson Marc Roube Grade 10: David Carcoma Reilly Cirenza Alison Esterow Hallie Ryan Mary K Waring Scholars: Class of 2018: Nicolas Espinosa Dice Myles Farmer Sarah Fatkin Dominic Flocco Danielle Golden

Bruce Harvey Jaclyn Kemly Caitlin Koto Ethan Kuhl Zoe Kusnierz Rebecca Picciotto Victoria Riccelli Benjamin Ryan Shaurya Salwan Jessica Schildkraut Elizabeth Squires Benjamin Stuart Cecilia Taylor Alexandra Wade Evelyn Wallace Class of 2017: Sydney Abraham Quinn Meistrich Jacob Sasfai Gus Wallach Class of 2016: Jack Besser Morgan Booker Vikash Dodani Ana Lucia Espinosa Dice Sara Feraca Abby Gabriel William Hughes Audrey Lane Julia Randall Rachel Sobel Sam Sobel Avery Barras Distinguished Scholars: Class of 2018: Charlotte Jenkins Audrey Lipson Class of 2017: Katherine Alpert Jacob Waldor Class of 2016: Lauren Yagoda Faculty Scholars: Grade 9: Danielle Golden Jaclyn Kemly Ethan Kuhl Grade 10: John Gouwar Parker Richardson Jacob Sasfai Jacob Waldor Grade 11: Ana Lucia Espinosa Dice Julia Randall Rachel Sobel Samuel Sobel

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Cum Laude Society

2015 inductees are: Meredith Bagger Kristina Bylancik Lauren Charpentier Sam Cleverley Drew Crichlow Emma Garcia-Miller Evin Henriques-Groves Nikita Israni Megan Massey Heather Milke Alexander Pai Benjamin Rapsas Madison Rivlin Payson Ruhl Joseph Sierotko Matthew Skolnick Benjamin Wallace Sarah Weiswasser Matthew Yacavone Daniel Yanes William Zaubler

Congratulations to the 21 seniors from the MKA class of 2015 who were inducted into the Cum Laude Society at a formal ceremony held at the Upper School on Saturday, June 6. The Cum Laude Society, established in l906, is modeled on the Phi Beta Kappa Collegiate National Honor Society and recognizes the scholastic achievement of secondary school students. It is the highest academic honor bestowed on members of the graduating class.

William Wagner, a Cum Laude graduate from MKA’s class of 2006, and a Summa Cum Laude Graduate from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, was the keynote speaker. A policy advisor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations—Political Section, Will reflected on the fact that they are well prepared for college as MKA has taught them not only to write, but also to write well. He advised them to think about those experiences, subjects and issues that have inspired them at MKA and to explore them after they leave; to learn from their mistakes and to realize that they don’t need to settle for the conventional path; MKA has prepared them to follow their interests however unconventional they are.

SENIOR ACCOLADES Nikita Israni ’15 recently took first place at the highly prestigious Northern New Jersey Junior Science and Humanities (NNJJSH) Symposium at Rutgers University Busch Campus for her explanatory poster on her independent science research project “Investigation of the effectiveness of baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in decreasing inorganic fertilizer requirements for the plum purple radish Raphanus sativus.”

Kristof “Miki” Peiffer and Benjamin Rapsas were named as finalists in the 2015 national Merit Scholarship Competition. Benjamin Rapsas was then selected as the winner of the 2015 National Merit Scholarship.

Mady Thuyein earned national recognition in the 2015 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, receiving a prestigious National Silver Medal for Poetry, Gold Key Award for poetry, a Silver Key Award for her writing portfolio and two Silver Key Awards for dramatic scripts.

Nicole Romola, received Honorable Mention in poetry by the prestigious Scholastic Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

Payson Ruhl and Joe Sierotko received a second place award in the 9th Annual Chinese Cultural Project Contest.

The class of 2015 graduated 25 “Lifers” who gathered for a group photo at Headmaster Tom Nammack’s House for the Annual Lifer reception.

Front row: Izzy Gerard, Krissy Bylancik, Heather Milke, Caroline Friezo, Madison Rivlin, Emma Garcia-Miller and Monty Nelson. Second row: Alex Geyelin, Jack Ross, Joe Amato, Trevor Jones, Jazmin Shah-Dutta, Dylan Goldberg, Carrigan Miller, Aiden Newman and David Harbeck. Third row: Payson Ruhl, Thea McRea, Wesley Wade, Mike Miller, Alexander Pai, Drew Crichlow, Wyatt Noble, Dan Yanes and Vineet Champaneria

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Rachel Hegarty (Field Hockey/ Lacrosse) and Joe Amato (Baseball) were honored as the MKA recipients of the “2015 Essex County Scholar Athletes of the Year” at a dinner at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, NJ this past May. Rachel will continue her Field Hockey career this fall at Colgate University and Joe will continue his Baseball career at Georgetown University.

To see more athletic accolades see page 20.

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COLLEGE DESTINATIONS American University (3), Amherst College, Bard College, Boston College (2), Boston University, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Claremont McKenna College (3), Colgate University (2), College of Charleston, College of William and Mary, Columbia College Chicago, Columbia University (2), Cornell University (2), Drexel University, Duke University (2), Earlham College, Elon University (3), Emerson College (2), The George Washington University, Georgetown University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Gettysburg College, Haverford College, High Point University, Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Kenyon College (2), Lafayette College, The Lawrenceville School, Lehigh University (3), Macalester College, Michigan State University, Monmouth University, Muhlenberg College, New York University (2), Northeastern University (4), Northwestern University, Oberlin College, Pace University, Pennsylvania State University (2), Princeton University (2), Regents Business School, Rhode Island School of Design, Rutgers University, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Skidmore College (2), Southern Connecticut State University, Stevens Institute of Technology (2), Tulane University, University of British Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, University of Miami, University of Michigan (2), University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, University of Puget Sound, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, University of South Carolina (2), University of Virginia (2), Vanderbilt University, Villanova University (4), Wake Forest University, Washington and Lee University, Yale University (3)

FACULTY KIDS / 1 / Proud dad and Coordinator of Information Systems, John Bylancik rejoices in daughter Krissy’s graduation with wife Angela and son Mark ’10. / 2 / Middle School English, History and Math teacher, Alan Jones, celebrates the graduation of his son Trevor with wife Nadine and daughter Grace ’19. / 3 / Middle School English teacher Ruth Miller is all smiles at her daughter Emma’s graduation. / 4 / Assistant Head of the Middle School and tri-campus administrator of Curriculum and Professional Development, Karen Newman celebrates her son Aiden’s graduation with daughter Brynnae ’18 and husband Thomas. / 5 / Dominick Gerard, Upper School Dean of Student Life and Tri- Campus Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and Laura Gerard, proudly pose with their newly graduated daughter Isabella, son Liam ’17, and Brian Knowles.

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Congratulations Ibrahim Abukwaik Joseph Amato Meredith Bagger Melissa Baney Daniel Barrett Bradley Bergman Sarah Botwinick Elizabeth Bowman Kevin Brown Krissy Bylancik Andrea Castro Vineet Champaneira Lauren Charpentier Joshua Chery Sam Cleverley Charlotte Cook Caitlyn Coyle Drew Crichlow Christopher DeLara Malcolm Dixon Erin Duca Kori Durando Katherine Faustini Celeste Fields Madeline Fleming Andrew Friedlander Caroline Friezo Jared Gallimore Emma Garcia-Miller Isabella Gerard Alex Geyelin Christopher Giersz Graham Glusman Dylan Goldberg

Lisa Goldsman Declan Halbert David Harbeck Rachel Hegarty Evin Henriquez-Groves Morgan Hersh Casey Hunter Nikita Israni Jillian Jones Trevor Jones Karan Juvekar Morgan Katona Victoria Kitirattragarn Griffin Kulick Robert Ladov Maria Lambridis Blake Lapin Juliana Larsen Kayla Magee Megan Massey Theodora McRae Ravi Melwani Heather Milke Carrigan Miller Michael Miller Ross Musicant Matt Napoli Ryan Napoli Danny Nasti Brandon Neglio Monty Nelson Aiden Newman Wyatt Noble Gabi Notkin

Ike Osbun Alexander Pai Nicola Pease Miki Peiffer Jack Petrocelli Sarah Pryor Ben Rapsas Madison Rivlin Nicole Romola Jack Ross Payson Ruhl Delaney Russell Jessica Schmitz Jazmin Shah-Dutta Melissa Shelby Joe Sierotko Sophie Silberman Matt Skolnick Morgan Smith Ciara Stanley Nicole Szczech Isaiah Thompson Mady Thuyein Chloe Vizzone Skye Volmar Wesley Wade Benjamin Wallach Sarah Weiswasser Samuel Wildstein Robert Wong Matthew Yacavone Daniel Yanes William Zaubler

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See more photos of commencement at mka.org

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In their Own Words: Graduation As I look at all of you, I am flooded with many emotions as well as warm memories. How could the years have flown by so quickly? Third grade students, today is your day! We are here to honor each one of you individually and collectively for the distinct footprint that you will leave on the Primary School. You are a class that will always be remembered with fondness and accolades, and, I can assure you, one that we will follow closely in the years to come. Remember that the more you know, the more you have the opportunity to make a difference in the world!

GINGER KRIEGEL, Head of the Primary School

Today, think about what we can become.

Ask yourself, how will we change the world?

What is our purpose?

ALEX STETKEVYCH ’19

Many of us walked in to the Middle School as little kids, coming from a little world. And we got here and it was not such a little bubble any more.

There were so many more possibilities, so much to get used to, and it was amazing.

NICOLETA KRENTERAS ’19

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Experimenting—taking risks—having fun—and finding a purpose beyond grades—and honors classes recommendations. …I hope that you walk out of this building today proud of what you accomplished … who you are and proud to be part of this MKA community.

DR. RANDY KLEINMAN, Head of the Middle School

You are BOLD, you are BRAVE, you are everything you need to be, you are enough, and you have done a stellar job so far.

NICOLETA KRENTERAS ’19

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This afternoon we have comfortable temperatures and plenty of sunshine—a beautiful day for a beautiful class.

DR. DAVE FLOCCO, Head of the Upper School

The luck is up to us.

CARRIGAN MILLER ’15

Every person in this room is going to be exemplary, someone who will make an impact. And I can’t wait.

CARRIGAN MILLER ’15

In many ways, you have provided the warmth and the light at the Upper School during your time with us ... Yours will be a lasting legacy of kindness, compassion, flexibility, achievement and friendship for all classes to follow.

DR. DAVE FLOCCO, Head of the Upper School

You will be remembered for your dedication to your school, your devotion to each other, your commitment to your endeavors and your enthusiasm for life and all of its possibilities.

We had the constant support and care of our teachers, advisors, alumni, upperclassmen, underclassmen, family and friends … [they made] sure we blossomed into the capable, resilient individuals that we are now.

We thank these special people from the bottom of our hearts.

DR. DAVE FLOCCO, Head of the Upper School PAYSON RUHL ’15

And the lessons that MKA has taught, and even more importantly, the way they’ve taught them, make me confident that the men and women, no longer boys and girls, in this room are going to make a difference in this world, whether to one person or one million …

CARRIGAN MILLER ’15

The beginning of any journey or adventure requires thought and planning, but finishing strong, making a good ending is an even harder test. We are proud of the beginning, the middle and the end of your time at MKA and on behalf of all of the faculty and staff I can state that it has been a joy to make this journey with each of you and all of you.

TOM NAMMACK, Headmaster

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FOUNDERS’ CUP 2015 Congratulations to Department Chair of the Middle School Physical Education Department and the Middle School Coordinator of the Department of Athletics, Kenneth Smith who was named the recipient of the 2015 Founders’ Cup for Teaching Excellence. Presented annually by the Alumni Association, the Founders’ Cup is based on nominations from all MKA constituencies. The award honors a fulltime faculty member who exemplifies the highest levels of teaching and who contributes to the well-being of the MKA community, both in and out of school.

Smith, who received his B.S. from Gordon College, has taught at MKA since 1984. Ken holds an “A” license from the USA Soccer Federation and the Advanced Coaching Diploma from the USA Ice Hockey Association. He was a tri-captain for the ice hockey team at Gordon College and received the coach’s award in 1982. Ken continues to play soccer and hockey in an adult league. He is an avid water skier and lake trout fisherman.

Alumni Council president Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 presented the award at the end of year faculty meeting, adding her own personal reflections of having Coach Smith as her soccer coach for all four years of her Upper School experience. She went on to read quotes from students, alumni, parents and peers received on Smith’s behalf, among which were the following: Ken has been teaching and coaching at MKA for decades, and has been a positive influence on hundreds of young men and women at a critical stage in their lives. Nobody sets a better daily example of living a life of “character” and “ethics” than Ken, and I am very grateful that he was such a wonderful role model for our three children.

Coach Smith has always gone above and beyond the classroom and the soccer field. As a former student/ athlete of his, I learned life lessons from him, such as perseverance and determination.

Coach Smith always encouraged us to fight hard, to never give up no matter the score, and to always do so with integrity, your head held high, always representing yourself, your family and your school respectfully .... all life lessons.

I was a better student and athlete because of the person he portrayed, and the person he so instilled in all of us to be.

As a proud MKA alumnus, I often reflect on my time at the school, remembering friendships forged and lessons learned.

The majority of these terrific memories include Ken Smith.

Ken is a great mentor … when I think of educators who took me from the “beginning to end” at MKA, Ken Smith is the first and only person I can consider as an all-encompassing educator.

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Thank You’s and Welcomes MKA BIDS A FOND FAREWELL TO THREE REMARKABLE RETIREES: Administrative Assistant to the Head of Upper School, Ann Weintraub retires after a 27-year career at MKA. / It was bittersweet to watch Randy Svane conduct his 46th and final concert at MKA this year. MKA wishes him good luck and best wishes for the next chapter of his life. / Beth DeRose (Administrative Assistant to Admissions) MKA SAYS “FAREWELL AND THANK YOU” TO: Kathy Bahri (Administrative Assistant to Director of Curriculum and Professional Development), Jason Bink (Upper School Science), Jill Earle (Upper School Nurse), Susan FitzGibbon (Middle School 5th grade), Dr. Carrie Flyer (Upper School Science), Andrea Gershwin (Associate Director, College Counseling), Dustin Good (Middle School 5th Grade), Alex Gordon (Middle School Theater), Nathaniel Green (Upper School History), Regina Henry (Primary School Kindergarten), Debbie Kozak (Associate Director of Communications and Marketing), Tracy Kuser (Director of Global Programs), Reshan Richards (Director of Educational Technology), Colleen Ruplinger (Primary School 1st Grade), Sheila Sarma (Primary School 2nd grade), Meghan Schorr (Primary School 3rd grade) Jamie Seagraves (Upper School Foreign Language) and Dr. Jeanne Tsai (Upper School Science and World Language) AND WELCOMES: Meg Arcadia (Primary School 1st Grade) Cortland Bosc (Upper School, Director of Global Experience) Virginia Bartolone (Assistant to Director of Curriculum and Professional Development), Timothy Cook (Middle School, Language Arts) Kathryn Davison (Chief Financial Official), Kaura Doto (Academic Support Consultant), Brittany Estrella (Middle School 4th grade), Scott Geter (Middle School Science), Diane Giangreco (Middle School Fine and Perfroming Arts Technical Theater), Katherine Hazelton (Primary School 3rd grade), Emily Healy (Upper School History), Molly Herforth (MS Educational Technology Coordinator), Laini Homer (Admissions Associate), Chelsea Intrabartola (5th grade), Gretchen levers (Primary School Kindergarten), Peter Jensen (Upper School World Language) Breanna Jones ( Primary School 1st Grade) Deanna Lowe (Upper School Nurse), Katherine Lyon (Upper School Science), Kaitlin Maillet (Associate Director Alumni Relations), Erin McMenamin (Primary School 2nd grade), Kiersten Paine ( Middle School Assistant Librarian), Charles Postas, Jr. (Middle School Middle School Fine and Perfroming Arts Vocal Music), Rose- Ann Robinson ( Middle School Language Arts) Amy Shapiro (Senior Associate Director of College Counseling), Allison Shearin (Annual Giving Associate) Rebecca Thompson (Upper School Math), Emily Tompsett (Upper School Computer Science/Math), Dr. Valbona Zylo-Watkins ( Upper School World Language) AND CONGRATULATES OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES: Maria Gilmartin assumes the role of Upper School Chorale Director, and Ben Goodrich assumes the role of Director of Educational Technology

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MONJO HOUSE was the first home of Brookside and was purchased from Louis Monjo Jr. in 1925.

It was demolished in 1962 after the Brookside School moved into its current building close by.

STRONG HOUSE was located on Plymouth Street close to the Congregational Church. It was rented by Miss Kimberley Waring to house the Kimberley School for Girls in 1906. She bought it in 1909 and TKS existed in that spot until it moved to 201 Valley in 1950.

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Our House(s)

BRADLEY HOUSE was located on Lloyd Road and overlooked the football field. It was purchased

by Montclair Academy and torn down to make way for the current Upper School campus.

WALDEN HOUSE is the oldest house. MacVicar purchased it to house the Montclair Academy for Boys in 1888. It was named after the street it was located on—Walden Place—where the current Walden parking lot is.

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F I E L D DAY

FUN DAY Upper School students joined their respective houses and competed against one another in a fun-filled day where the objective was for each house to gain as many points as possible in an effort to claim the MKA House Cup.

Field Day at the Primary School was filled with good-spirited fun! Highlights of the day included running races against classmates, sprinting and splashing through the tandem inflated “Slip and Slide,” jumping for joy after succeeding in hitting the target to dunk a parent or teacher in the Dunk Tank, and, of course, the traditional “Tug-O’-War.”

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A RO U N D M KA

MA’s, TKS’s and MKA’s former faculty have helped many students live a great story.

Here’s a peek into WHERE

THEY ARE NOW…

People are weird…

J I M W I N D OL F FOR ME R FACULTY, ENG L I SH Who could have believed that the zany character that Jim Windolf was at Montclair Academy could ever or would ever become a serious and mature teacher of English at MKA? The English department, that’s who, especially Nate Fuller! Jim did come back to MKA as an English teacher (and coach), but the serious and mature aspects thankfully were only partially true, as Jim brought his characteristic zany flair and passionate enthusiasm for writing into his classroom to the enthrallment and betterment of all his students!—George Hrab Tell us a bit about yourself. When I was at MA, I spent a lot of time at the Academy News. For the last 24 years I’ve been doing pretty much the same things that I did back then. I worked at The New York Observer for nine happy years, first as a reporter, then as executive editor.

From there I went to Vanity Fair, where I was a senior editor and then a features writer. While continuing to write for Vanity Fair, I was the editor of a digital startup, Punch, which went out of business, and then the editor in chief of M magazine.

Now I’m the editor of the Men’s Style section at The New York Times. I’ve written a lot about media and entertainment over the years, including profiles of George Lucas, Jennifer Lawrence, Jon Hamm, Ben Stiller, Jeannette Walls, Jon Stewart, Rufus Wainwright, Robert Plant and George R. R. Martin. Along the way I’ve taught nonfiction writing at Wesleyan University and I’ve published short fiction in literary magazines and humor pieces in The New Yorker.

Years that you taught at MKA and the positions you held? I taught sophomore and junior English at MKA in the ’87–’88 school year, between my time at college and graduate school. Phil Allen was the upper school headmaster at the time, and he later hired me to teach English at Friends Seminary in Manhattan.

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What do you consider some of your greatest professional accomplishments to date? Finding a way to stay somewhat sane in a business that has been going through hard times.

Biggest lesson you’ve learned to date?

People are weird.

What are some of your favorite memories of MA? Singing with the Mastersingers, the Chorus, and the Band I was in (with John Fotiadis, Al Clarke, Dave Rento and Steven Hays); going to the printing plant after deadline nights at the school paper; doing sketches at morning meetings and school coffeehouses; joking around in the halls; and trying to keep up with the terrific English classes run by the teachers Nate Fuller, Bill Bullard, John Noble and Lynn Benediktsson. A not-so-favorite memory is the month or two I spent at MKA summer school after having failed French and Algebra.

“Prom was a huge success … It was a great end to four years of hard work where everyone had an amazing time!”

KORI DURANDO, EVENT CHAIR ’15

How did your time at MKA help you to ‘live a great story’? My favorite activities at MKA: Mastersingers, English classes, the paper, plays: all involved hard work, but there was a lot of joking around, too.

Maybe it taught me that fun is not necessarily the enemy of getting things done.

“Maybe it taught me that fun is not necessarily the enemy of getting things done.”

Any advice for the students currently at MKA? If you’re not the studious type, go big with the extracurricular activities.

And make sure you do enough homework so that you don’t actually fail a class: summer school is the worst, and C-minuses are within your grasp!

PROM 2015

MKA’s 2015 prom at the Crystal Plaza was a night to remember!

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ATHLETICS 2015 Team and Student-Athlete Honors and Awards

Congratulations to Joshua Chery ’15, Boys Basketball Captain the Recipient of the MKA “WINTER CAPTAIN’S AWARD.” The MKA Captain’s Award is given out each season to a team captain who has exhibited the leadership, a strong work ethic and is a role model for his or her team.

WINTER BOYS’ BASKETBALL Head Coach: Tony Jones (15th Year); Record: 13–13 Kevin Brown ’15 Capt.; MKA Co-Most Valuable Player Award; 2nd Team AllPrep B; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Joshua Chery ’15 Capt.; MKA Co-Most Valuable Player Award; MKA Winter Captain’s Prize Award ; Recipient; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team AllLiberty Division, SEC Jack Ross ’15 Capt.

Kelly Curran ’16 MKA Coaches Award; Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Head Coach: Jessica Bishop ’04 (3rd Year); Record: 16–10 Priya Kapoor ’16 Capt.

Isabella Mendez ’16 Capt.; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All-Independence Division, SEC Leah Murphy ’16 Capt.; Honorable Mention AllIndependence Division, SEC Erin Nicholson ’17 2nd Team All-Independence Division, SEC

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Kerri McGuire ’18 2nd Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All-Independence Division, SEC

Ike Osbun ’15 Asst. Capt.; Honorable Mention All-Northern Division, NJIHL

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

Devin Pepe ’16 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team AllNorthern Division, NJIHL

Meredith Bagger ’15 MKA Most Valuable Swimmer Award; 1st Place 200 Free Relay, ECT; 1st Team 200 Freestyle Relay, All-SEC

Joshua Pickett ’16 2nd Team All-Northern Division, NJIHL

Kayla Magee ’15 Capt.

Megan Massey ’15 Capt.

FENCING

BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Head Coach: Kerry Verrone (11th Year), Record: 3–6

Head Coach: Tom Fleming (16th Year)

Brandon Neglio ’15 Capt.; Honorable Mention Sabre, Tri-County Fencing League

Drew Crichlow ’15 Capt.

Suzanna Bator ’16 Capt.

Billy Hughes ’16 Capt.

Billy Massey ’17 MKA Coaches Award

Bobby Cottingham ’16 MKA Most Valuable Fencer Award; 1st Team Sabre, TriCounty Fencing League

GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Maya Gujral ’16 Capt.

Head Coach: Tom Fleming (16th Year)

Joshua Talbot ’17 MKA Most Valuable Fencer Award; 2nd Team Foil, TriCounty Fencing League

Madeleine Fleming ’15 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award Kathryn Correia ’16 Capt.

Jayson Thompson ’17 MKA Most Valuable Fencer Award; 1st Team Epee, TriCounty Fencing League

Evelyn Wallace ’18 MKA Dedication and Effort Award

ICE HOCKEY

BOYS’ SWIMMING

Head Coach: Dustin Good (4th Year); Record: 9–10–4; 2015 NJIHL McInnis Division Champions

Head Coach: Patrick Collins (7th Year); Record: 0–11

Bradley Bergman ’15 MKA Coaches Award Casey Hunter ’15 Asst. Capt.; MKA Unsung Hero Award; Honorable Mention All-Northern Division, NJIHL

Head Coach: Patrick Collins (7th Year); Record: 1–10

Daniel Barrett ’15 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Swimmer Award; Honorable Mention All-SEC Daniel Nasti ’15 Capt.

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Ross Musicant ’15 Capt.; Honorable Mention Infield All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award; Honorable Mention All-Prep B Robert Wong ’15 2nd Team Outfield All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B Alex Cappitelli ’16 Honorable Mention Infield All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All-Prep B

Morgan Smith ’15 Capt.; 1st Place 50 Free, ECT; 1st Place 500 Free, ECT; 1st Place 200 Free Relay, ECT; 1st Team 500 Freestyle, All-SEC; 1st Team 200 Freestyle Relay, All-SEC; 3rd Team 500 Free, All-State; Super Essex Conference Swimmer of the Year, Star Ledger

Conor Nolan ’16 1st Team Infield All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team AllPrep B

Anne Lemmer ’16 1st Place 200 Free Relay, ECT; 1st Team 200 Freestyle Relay, All-SEC; HM All-SEC

Morgan Katona ’15 Capt.; Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All-Prep B

Ana Lucia Espinosa-Dice ’16 1st Place 200 Free Relay, ECT; 1st Team 200 Freestyle Relay, All-SEC; 2nd Team 50 Freestyle, All-SEC Julia Malloy ’18 MKA Rookie of the Year Award

SPRING BASEBALL Head Coach: Ralph Pacifico (25th Year); Record: 14–16 Joseph Amato ’15 Capt.; 1st Team Catcher All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team All-Prep B Alex Geyelin ’15 Capt.

Trevor Jones ’15 Honorable Mention All-Prep B

SOFTBALL Head Coaches: Jessica Sarfati (5th Year); Record: 9-14

Sophie Silberman ’15 Capt.; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award; 1st Team All-Prep B Isabella Mendez ’16 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 3rd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger Emma Pacifico ’16 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B Jenna Donatiello ’17 Honorable Mention All-Prep B Kerri McGuire ’18 2nd Team All-Prep B Grace Turvey ’18 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC; Honorable Mention All-Prep B

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BOYS’ LACROSSE Head Coach: Paul Edwards (13th Year); 2015 NJILL Waterman Division Coach of the Year; Record: 9–10 Michael Miller ’15 Capt.; Yogi Berra Museum Best Teammate Award; MKA Unsung Hero Award Daniel Yanes ’15 Capt.; 2nd Team AllAmerican Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 2nd Team All-Waterman Division, NJILL; USILA Academic AllAmerican; Klank Memorial Award; Alumni Outstanding Teammate Award Ethan Fusco ’16 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC; Honorable Mention All-Prep B; Honorable Mention AllWaterman Division, NJILL Max Hall ’16 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team AllWaterman Division, NJILL; Honorable Mention All Non-Public, NJILCA; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 3rd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger; 2nd Team All-Junior Team, Star Ledger Joseph Strain ’16 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team AllWaterman Division, NJILL Robert Strain ’16 Capt.; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team AllWaterman Division, NJILL

Erik Zeug ’16 Capt.; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B; 2nd Team AllWaterman Division, NJILL Ryan Dancy ’18 MKA Most Promising Newcomer Award Nico Espinosa-Dice ’18 MKA Most Promising Newcomer Award

GIRLS’ LACROSSE Head Coach: Nate Green (2nd Year); Record: 10–10; 2015 SEC Liberty Division Champions Erin Duca ’15 Capt.; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All-Independent South Division, NJIGLL; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; Essex County Tournament “All-Tournament” Team Rachel Hegarty ’15 MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team All-Independent South Division, NJIGLL; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; Essex County Tournament “All-Tournament” Team Monty Nelson ’15 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All-Independent South Division, NJIGLL; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Amanda D’Alessandro ’16 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC Grace Halvey ’16 MKA Most Spirited Player Award

Congratulations to Dan Yanes ’15, Boys Lacrosse Captain and the recipient of the MKA “SPRING CAPTAIN’S AWARD.” The MKA Captain’s Award is given out each season to a team captain who has exhibited the leadership, a strong work ethic and is a role model for his or her team.

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Left: Congratulations to senior Ike Osbun who won the the Essex County Pole Vault Championships with a jump of 14' 0"— a foot clear of his nearest competitor! Below: Congratulations to William and Mary University (Swimming) bound Morgan Smith ’15, who was honored at The Pines Manor in Edison, NJ as MKA’s recipient of the NJSIAA “Scholar— Athlete of the Year.”

Samantha Pai ’16 Honorable Mention AllIndependent South Division, NJIGLL; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Shannon Raff ’16 2nd Team All-Independent South Division, NJIGLL; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Annie Wallace ’17 2nd Team All-Independent South Division, NJIGLL; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD Head Coach: Tom Fleming (16th Year); Record: 4–4 Madeleine Fleming ’15 Capt.; Honorable Mention 200m All-Independence Division, SEC Salem Belay ’16 1st Team 1600m AllIndependence Division, SEC; MKA Most Valuable Runner Award Kathryn Correia ’16 Capt.; Honorable Mention 800m All-Independence Division, SEC Caylie Privitere ’17 1st Team 3200m AllIndependence Division, SEC; MKA Most Improved Runner Award

Daniel Barrett ’15 1st Team 400m IH AllIndependence Division, SEC Drew Crichlow ’15 Capt.; 1st Team 800m AllIndependence Division, SEC Blake Lapin ’15 Capt.; 2nd Team 3200m AllIndependence Division, SEC Aiden Newman ’15 1st Team Discus AllIndependence Division, SEC; MKA Most Improved and Valuable Field Athlete Award Ike Osbun ’15 1st Team Pole Vault AllIndependence Division, SEC; 1st Team Pole Vault All NonPublic, Star Ledger; 3rd Team PV All-State, Star Ledger Billy Hughes ’16 Capt.

Maxwell Goldfarb ’17 2nd Team 1600m AllIndependence Division, SEC Billy Massey ’17 1st Team 1600m AllIndependence Division, SEC; MKA Most Improved Runner Award Nicholas Wilson ’18 Honorable Mention 800m AllIndependence Division, SEC

BOYS’ TENNIS BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD Head Coach: Tom Fleming (16th Year); Record: 4–3

Head Coach: Val Azzoli (10th Year); Record: 8–12

Vineet Champaneria ’15 Capt.; MKA Coach’s Award; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC Karan Juvekar ’15 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Alexander Pai ’15 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 2nd Team AllAmerican Division, SEC Jack Ross ’15 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 2nd Team AllAmerican Division, SEC

GOLF Head Coach: Jeff Beer (9th Year); Record: 7–6 Ryan Napoli ’15 Capt.

Jack Petrocelli ’15 MKA Most Improved Player Award Ryan Mucci ’16 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Ryan Polizzi ’16 MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 2nd

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I L L V EE A R R A A G G E T Y Y T T S OR MKA’s May Term is an important chapter in some fascinating lives 22

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AN I N TRO DUCTI O N

During the school year, B-1 is a regular, if cozy, science classroom at the Upper School. Long tables line its center, and the residue of lab work—test tubes, goggles, a small refrigerator—establishes its perimeter. Wandering through last April you might have observed a teacher talking with a student about titration or a student peering into a microscope.

If you went looking for this same scene in May, though, you would have found something totally different: dozens of post-it notes strewn across the white board, Ibrahim Abukwaik wielding a dry-erase marker, eight other students huddled over laptops and arguing about business plans and marketing ideas and programming languages. You would have seen, in other words, a science room transformed into a startup workspace, a group of MKA seniors transformed into a fully functioning startup enterprise.

Across town, and the globe, similar transformations were in progress as MKA seniors emerged from the chrysalis of the Upper School. If you went looking, you might have seen Caroline Friezo and Madison Rivlin cooking with Mama Lucia at the Montclair gem of a restaurant, Corso 98.

There, they were learning about the connection between food and community before heading to Italy and the World’s Fair to deepen their study. Or you might have seen Vineet Champanaria, pursuing one of his dreams, working with cars at MKA alum Ken Tilton’s Gearhart Chevrolet. You might have seen Juliana Larsen living the life of a comedian—writing, rehearsing and ultimately performing an original standup routine. You might have seen Matt Yacavone altering pixels in photographs to create glitch art that made the familiar strange and the strange familiar. You might

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have seen more than a dozen other MKA seniors becoming teachers and teaching assistants in MKA’s Primary and Middle School classrooms, and dozens more travelling to China or Europe to examine culture and art.

Why were they doing this?

Because they had completed their official coursework at the end of April and started MKA’s final rite of passage: May Term.

“[May Term is] best used to see the world as it is, to participate vigorously and joyfully in that world, and ultimately, to change that world for the better. ” May Term is a transitional learning experience for seniors, helping to prepare them for life beyond MKA. They choose a project—whether academic, creative, internshiporiented, community serviceoriented, travel-oriented or entrepreneurial—and then they pursue it during the month of May. When they are young, these students often have a chance to go to science class and watch an egg turn into a larva turn into a pupa turn into a butterfly. In an interesting twist of fate, a good decade

later, some of these students have a chance to go into a science room that has been repurposed for their new startup venture, transforming themselves in the process. But May Term isn’t simply a culmination or endpoint. It isn’t simply the “butterfly stage” of the MKA life cycle. Somehow, it’s also a reversal of that lifecycle—butterfly becoming pupa becoming larva becoming egg. Somehow, it’s also a return to essence and purest potential.

Because on it’s best days, when students have their hands in flour or soil or an engine or they walk into Google’s lobby, May Term is also like MKA’s kindergarten classroom experience, where students don’t think about limitations and categories and transcripts and standardized tests. Instead, they get down to the business of learning and life, unaware, for a change, that the two are separate. Come to think of it, on it’s best days, MKA’s May Term is also like the final writing project in MKA’s 3rd grade classroom, where the students become activists and write letters to community leaders in order to solve problems that they have seen with their own eyes, studied with their own minds and set out to fix with their own hearts. Or maybe it’s more like the 8th graders exploring democratic governments when they embark upon the final unit of their eighth grade history class called Project Citizen.

It’s best to think of May Term, then, as an echo of other formative MKA experiences. And like an echo, it’s a reminder of an original sound, in this case, the purpose of an MKA education. It’s best used to see the world as it is, to participate vigorously and joyfully in that world, and ultimately, to change that world for the better.

— Stephen J. Valentine, Assistant Head of the Upper School

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C HA PTE R 1 // P R I M A RY SC H O O L

E

Agents of Change

ight and nine year olds are the most passionate people I know. Their age places them in a tender place. They are old enough to understand injustice, yet unjaded enough to believe they can be agents of change. The desire to tap into this unique dichotomy brought about the new third grade social studies unit, called Agents of Change.

The unit began with an exploration of the components that make up the quality of life for members of a community. The students read books and articles, watched videos, and had class discussions about quality of life elements.

They collaboratively created mind-maps using the iPad app, Popplet, to collect and organize their thoughts about topics such as healthy food, green space, transportation, shelter, safe places to play and education.

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To lay more groundwork for the understanding of the elements that contribute to one’s quality of life, third graders attended presentations to learn about ways to promote positive change in their community. Local advocates from United Way, PAWS, A Lot to Grow, Bike&Walk Montclair, as well as MKA’s own science teacher and Sustainability Coordinator, Laura Zimmerman, spoke with the students on quality of life topics ranging from animal welfare, pedestrian safety, gardening, recycling, affordable rent, to quality childcare.

At the same time, during Reading Workshop, third graders began an all-grade read of Arlene the Rebel Queen, by Carol Liu. Arlene, the fictional protagonist, is inspired by historical activists, such as Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and Cesar Chavez to become an activist herself. She learns, and so did the third graders reading the book, that being an activist with passion can be frustrating and at the same time, extremely rewarding. Arlene’s story taught the students that

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advocating for a cause can really only promote change when it is done with dedication and respect.

Once each student chose a topic for their Take Action project, they began to do research in the Primary School Library. The students used books, articles, online resources and even primary sources, like interviews, to collect data that supported the reasons they were advocating for change. Some examples of Take Action topics were advocating for people in Montclair to switch from traditional energy sources to using solar panels, advocating for more public art in Montclair and advocating for QuickChek to stop selling cigarettes.

In order to experience a reallife Take Action project, the third grade traveled to the High Line in New York City. They learned that through the efforts of residents of the local neighborhood, an old and unused railway was transformed into beautiful public gardens and works of art. They recognized that the High Line is a perfect example of community revitalization.

To culminate the unit, each third grade activist wrote a persuasive letter to a member of the MKA or Montclair community based on their research. During Writing Workshop, the students received instruction about persuasive writing. All of the Take Action work done by the MKA third graders has prepared them to become active community members and responsible citizens.—Dana Rose, 3rd Grade Team Leader, Primary School Service Learning and Sustainability Coordinator

LI VE A GREAT STO RY

C HA PTE R 2 // M I D D L E SC H O O L

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is perhaps the most important piece. To begin with, the class must learn to work democratically, sift through dissension and how to move the project along. Students almost inevitably hit “walls” as they are moving through the process, and they figure out how to take a step back and reevaluate before taking a different route.

For instance, if a student’s job is to contact a state senator and introduce them to their proposed public policy, the senator’s office may give feedback on the flaws of the policy.

Consequently, the class may need to go back and alter their proposed plan. It is the hope of the eightgrade teachers, that the students leave eighth grade more equipped with the skills to participate in their communities, to work with their peers to accomplish a targeted goal and to understand their responsibilities as citizens.—Peter Gaynor, Middle School History Department Chair

“Students leave eighth grade more equipped with the skills to participate in their communities, to work with their peers to accomplish a targeted goal … ”

M AY T E R M P R O J E C T S Benjamin Wallach Academic Endeavor Classics Project Andrew Friedlander Community Service Relay for Life Griffin Kulick Community Service EMT and Fundraising Booster Carrigan Miller Community Service The Boys Project and Presby Iris Gardens Split

Project Citizen

n the fall of eighth-grade, students are introduced to the development of democratic governments in colonial America.

More specifically, the class examines the role of participatory citizenship as the colonies move closer towards independence in 18th century. Each eighth grader then delves into the founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. As the class moves into the spring, the class learns about the country expanding the rights of those who could participate in government and the movements of the 19th century leading up to the Civil War. These movements include the early feminist groups, the labor movement and abolitionists. This background of American history helps students contextualize their own roles as citizens and their responsibility to participate in government, be it local, state or federal. The final unit for the class is called Project Citizen. The class begins by researching specific issues that affect themselves or those in nearby communities. Then each class narrows their topics down to one, and they research and develop a public policy that addresses this issue. The class develops a plan on how to implement this public policy and puts together a comprehensive presentation for MKA faculty, administrators and fellow students. Some issues that have been addressed through Project Citizen have been marriage equality, veterans’ benefits, the role of standardized testing in schools, police and citizen relationships and driving standards to name just a few.

While the presentation brings finality to the project, the process

Matt Napoli Community Service Animal Shelter Drew Crichlow Creative Endeavor Paired with Karan Juvenkar and Alex Pai: Fundamental Analysis: Emerging Investors in Emerging Businesses.

Katherine Faustini Creative Endeavor Abstract Portraits Portfolio Caroline Friezo Creative Endeavor Paired with Madison Rivlin: Feeding the Planet: A Study of Italian Food Culture Lisa Goldsman Creative Endeavor Paired with Delaney Russell to make a magazine: Bridges: An Independent Magazine Karan Juvenkar Creative Endeavor Paired with Drew Crichlow and Alex Pai: Fundamental Analysis: Emerging Investors in Emerging Businesses.

Blake Lapin Creative Endeavor New Jersey Inspired Poetry Collection Ike Osbun Creative Endeavor Electric Dirtbike Conversion Alex Pai Creative Endeavor Paired with Drew Crichlow and Karan Juvenkar: Fundamental Analysis: Emerging Investors in Emerging Businesses.

Madison Rivlin Creative Endeavor Paired with Caroline Friezo: Feeding the Planet: A Study of Italian Food Culture List continues on pages 28, 30, 31, 34.

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C HA PTE R 3 // J I L L I A N J O N ES

Start up 101 Tell us a bit about yourself. I started off my journey at MKA in fifth grade, and have loved it ever since. While I enjoyed my time in the Middle School, I feel that I thrived during my time as an Upper School student. I have been able to explore my interests, both inside and outside the classroom, by double majoring in the languages and in the humanities. I have also been able to join the MKA community by participating and co-captaining the Cheerleading and Step teams.

Through my time at MKA, I have been able to discover new passions, such as my diversity work in the Student Diversity Leadership Committee and Shades of Color.

While my school activities are varied, I am hoping to take the skills I have learned and apply them to future endeavours.

Why did you choose your May Term project? Going into senior year, I already had May Term on my mind. Although I had a few prerequisites, I was still open to the myriad of options that the Academy offered me. But, after all the options were revealed, Startup 101 stood out to me because of my interests in technology and business. I felt that Startup 101 would be the perfect opportunity to start preparing me for what I might expect at Wharton this fall, while keeping me focused in a field I already had an interest.

Already knowing the advisor, Dr. Reshan Richards, through Student Technology Leadership Committee, I knew that he would create an excellent program where I would thrive and learn a lot.

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Can you describe the project for us? Startup 101 was a labor of love. Everyone came into the project with their own respective talents, and we were able to effectively collaborate in order to form a product and a plan to bring it to the market. There were five teams: marketing, research, business, operations and design. These teams, while separate, often overlapped and relied on each other to work through problems in a very efficient way. During the process of creating our product: BluTours, we went on site visits to technology business incubators, like TechStars, and major companies like Facebook and Google. While I primarily worked on the business and marketing, I was also learning a lot about the tech community as a whole, and what it took in order to be successful in the field.

What was the outcome? What were some of the successes and obstacles of the project?

Our goal for Startup 101 was to make a successful pitch to angel investors, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. This entailed having live demonstrations of our product, revealing our marketing plan and the most important, the financials behind making our product possible. After many hours of preparation, the whole Startup team felt that we had nailed our first (of hopefully many) investor pitch.

We felt that this presentation represented a culmination of all of the hard work and long hours of bringing BluTours to life.

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How do you think it will help you down the road? Startup 101 taught me, not only about the technology industry, but also many life skills. When going on our site visits to places like Google and Facebook, I learned how companies like these operate and interact with their users around the world. When the Startup team traveled to TechStars and AlleyNYC, we observed the dynamics of a startup environment and the collaboration and communication needed to successfully develop a nascent company. But most importantly, when we didn’t travel into the city, I learned how to identify problems that needed to be solved and tasks that needed to be completed. Unlike in the classroom, I did not have someone to tell me when tasks needed to be done or if I was right or wrong in the decisions that I made. I learned quickly that I needed to trust my instincts, but also admit when I am wrong and learn from my mistakes. The valuable lessons that I learned during my May Term will be applicable no matter where I decide to go and will allow me to effectively work with classmates and colleagues in the future.

What are your plans for the future? In the fall, I will attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to study Business Economics and Public Policy. Over the summer, I will intern at Explain Everything, a company focused on developing educational tools.

LI VE A GREAT STO RY

CHA PT ER 4 // CAROLINE FRIEZO & M A D I SO N R I V L I N

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aroline was a lifer at MKA, attending from Pre-K through 12th grade. She was an active member of the MKA community, playing varsity tennis, running the Health and Wellness Club, working as a photographer for both The Academy News and the Yearbook, and serving as a member of the Honor Council.

Madison was also a lifer at MKA and was also very involved. She served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Academy News, captain of the Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team, peer leader, president of Book Club and Book Mobile, and as Vice President of the student body.

Why did you choose your May Term project? This project (Feeding the Planet: A Study of Italian Food Culture) stemmed from our fundamental interest in learning about global health and sustainability. Caroline was very involved in health and wellness at MKA (she co-led the Health and Wellness club) and Madison has been studying environmental issues and their impacts on different cultures with a non-governmental organization in New York City (the Blacksmith Institute/ PureEarth: www.pureearth.org). In addition, we were both AP world language students and have always enjoyed immersing ourselves in and experiencing different cultures. Our interests come together in this year’s World Fair Expo Milano, which is taking place in Milan, Italy from the beginning of May until the end of October. Expo Milano is a global showcase where

representatives of more than 140 countries exchange ideas and share solutions on how to guarantee healthy and safe eating habits and sufficient food for everyone around the world. The Expo celebrates agri-food and gastronomic traditions while also emphasizing the importance of finding new ways to promote healthy lifestyles and environmental consciousness. The themes of this year’s World Fair are very similar to the themes emphasized in Italian cooking. Italian food is based on

the farm-to-table concept, which refers to a movement that stresses the importance of local food production and environmental awareness in order to ensure healthy eating. Our project was a great opportunity for us to learn more about Italian cooking and about the world while expanding our understanding of sustainable farming practices and healthy living.

Can you describe the project for us? For our May Term project, we participated in an in-depth study

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M AY T E R M P R O J E C T S Delaney Russell Creative Endeavor Paired with Lisa Golsdman to make a magazine: Bridges: An Independent Magazine Dan Yanes Creative Endeavor Exploring Technology with Technology Graham Glusman Creative Endeavor Wilderness First Responder and Orthopedic Shadowing David Harbeck Creative Endeavor Wilderness First Responder and Doctor Shadowing Trevor Jones Creative Endeavor Original album Victoria Kittirattragarn Creative Endeavor Pleain Air Painting and Fine Art Exploration Skye Volmer Creative Endeavor Paired with Lauren harpentier: “The world around us” art collaboration Lauren Charpentier Creative Endeavor Paired with Skye Volmer: “The world around us” art collaboration Juliana Larsen Creative Endeavor Exploring Comedy Ryan Napoli Creative Endeavor Investment Project Mady Thuyein Creative Endeavor Poetry Chapbook Matt Yacavone Creative Endeavor Glitch Art: An Exploration into the Space between Art and Technology Charlotte Cook Creative Endeavor Shakespeare for the MKA Stage Nicole Romola Creative Endeavor Scripting a Documentary Isaiah Thompson Creative Endeavor Jazz: Forging My Future Emma Garcia-Miller Creative Endeavor Seniors on 2015 List continues on pages 30, 31, 34.

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of Italian food culture in both the United States and in Italy. In order to prepare for our trip, we studied Italian cuisine, focusing on its history and the slow-food movement, which stresses healthy eating styles, fresh ingredients and a consciousness of where food comes from. The slowfood movement serves as an alternative to fast food by promoting traditional and regional cuisine produced by local businesses. By taking part in various cooking courses as well as a language and food history course, we gained a deeper understanding of Italian cuisine and culture and how it pertains to health and sustainability, themes that are central to the Expo Milano. For our cooking classes we went to the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC and Corso 98 (a local Montclair restaurant). For our Italian language studies we worked with Professor Ignozza at the Language Institute in West Caldwell. We covered topics centered around cuisine, such as food vocabulary and grammar structures necessary for basic conversation in marketplaces and in restaurants.

After three weeks of studying in the U.S, we traveled to Italy and the Expo Milano as our culminating experience. We spent one week in Italy (four days in Milan and three in Rome). While in Milan we spent two days at the Expo. The Expo had pavilions for over 140 countries. Each pavilion showcased each country’s newest technology and ideas to combat global health and sustainability issues. The most interesting part of attending Expo was that each country’s pavilion was run by people native to that country, so essentially there was one person from almost every part of the world in one place at the same time. While in Rome, we went on several food and market tours, getting a chance to talk to local artisan food makers and tasting traditional Roman delicacies. We kept an online blog and journal to chronicle our journey.

What was the outcome? What were some of the successes and obstacles of the project? The project was a great success in many respects. We now have mastered basic Italian conversation, and have a more in-depth understanding of Italian food culture. We can cook, (or at least we think so!) and have new

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found appreciation for the Slow Food Movement and sustainable agriculture.

We’ve “visited” almost 140 countries and got to see the different ways these countries are working to improve global health and protect the environment (vertical farming, aquaponics, hydroponics).

Most importantly our project allowed us to bond as friends in a new way and create amazing memories together that we will never forget. Our project was essentially obstacle free except for the few times we got lost walking in Italy, but that was part of the fun.

How do you think it will help you down the road? This project will help us tremendously in the future. Our newfound understanding of sustainability and worldwide health and environmental issues will prompt us to be more conscientious and make healthier and smarter decisions every day. Our understanding and new insights will give a competitive edge if we continue to study these issues in college and pursue careers in the health and environmental fields. Our basic understanding of Italian language and food culture will give us an advantage if we were to ever travel to Italy again, and navigating another country was a great experience and pushed us out of our comfort zones.

This is especially important because we both plan to study abroad in college.

What are your plans for the future?

Caroline will be attending Wake Forest this fall, where she plans to study Health and Exercise Science. The focus of the Health and Exercise Science major is promoting health and preventing disease through healthy living, with major emphasis on physical activity and nutrition. She is also interested in studying psychology as well as economics.

Madison will be attending Brown University next year, and is planning on concentrating in Hispanic, Caribbean and Latin American studies. She is also interested in political science and environmental science.

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Read Caroline and Madison’s blog mangiarepervivere.tumblr.com

LI VE A GREAT STO RY

C HA PTE R 5 // E M M A M I L L E R

Capturing Life Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a lifer; I’ve been at MKA since Pre-K. I’ve always loved stories of any medium, so my May Term was quite appropriate. One of my first words was “book,” and I’ve loved photography since I was nine.

class of 2015. Also, I learned so much from all of the people who participated—they were all very reflective and brought up many thought-provoking points. I hope others who looked at my project had a similar reaction.

I wound up with about twenty interviews and portraits. I would have loved to meet with even more students from different schools, but I think that the people I did meet with gave me such great responses that I didn’t actually need any more.

Why did you choose your May Term project? My project was the perfect blend of everything that I wanted out of May Term. It was a photojournalism venture, and I had the ability to really follow my own vision and create something interesting. It was a great opportunity because I had freedom to travel a bit and get to know people in a new way, whether they were people I’d known since Pre-K or complete strangers. I drove to Massachusetts for one weekend when I interviewed Deerfield students, and I stayed in that school’s dorms, which itself was a good opportunity. I got to learn more about other students my age and give them a chance to share their stories, which I think is quite fitting since our slogan is “making history.”

Can you describe the project for us? My project was a kind of reinvented senior portrait. I interviewed and took photos of seniors at three different high schools (one public, one private and one boarding). I asked them all the same few questions to try to collect a diverse record of who we as a class and what we have experienced.

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How do you think it will help you down the road? My May Term taught me that I love this type of self-directed project, so I feel more prepared now for future independent work, whether it’s something more artistic or an academic project. I now know what it feels like to have a clear vision and see it through successfully, and I’ll be better able to duplicate that down the line.

What was the outcome? What were some of the successes and obstacles of the project?

My final product consisted of two books and a few of my portraits hung at the May Term exhibition. I had one book with each individual interview next to that student’s portrait, and another that had all of the responses together anonymously. I think it effectively portrayed what it means to be an eighteen-year-old member of this

What are your plans for the future? I’m going to Kenyon College in the fall, where I will most likely major in English and maybe double major with something else, as well. I know that photography and the arts in general will always have a strong role in my life, both as a possible minor and as a passion. The same goes for journalism, whether in independent projects like this or a college newspaper. Hopefully I’ll continue to create projects like this, and I’m grateful for the opportunity that May Term gave me.

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CHA PTE R 6 // I K E OS B U N

M AY T E R M P R O J E C T S Isabella Gerard Creative Endeavor Developing a Writing Portfolio Joe Amato Internship State Senator for New Jersey’s 27th District (Mr. Kevin O’Toole) Kristina Bylancik Internship MKA US F&PA

Jared Gallimore Internship Marketing Robbert Ladov Internship Montclair Film Festival Thea McRae Internship Shakespeare Theater Company Ravi Melwani Internship Retro Kingdom Michael Miller Internship SportsRecruits Miki Peiffer Internship Union County Economic Development Corporation Robert Wong Internship Info Cop Erin Duca Internship Washington Square Films Kori Durando Internship MKA Communications/ Alumni Relations Evin Henriquez-Groves Internship Dun and Bradstreet Nicole Szczech Internship North Jersey Neurology Care Ibrahim Abukwaik Startup 101 Elizabeth Bowman Startup 101 Madi Fleming Startup 101 Declan Halbert Startup 101 List continues on pages 31, 34.

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Up & Running

Vineet Champaneria Internship Gearhart Chevrolet

Tell us a bit about yourself. I came to MKA in 4th grade and spent most of my time here as a student athlete. I played hockey and pole vaulted throughout my four years of high school. My favorite classes were always math and science, specifically calculus and physics, which have led me to an interest in mechanical engineering. As I learned more about mechanical engineering, I realized that it was exactly what I wanted to study in college.

Why did you choose your May Term project? I got into dirt bikes at a young age and was always interested in how they worked. I tried to find out as much as I could on how the engine and transmission worked, the difference between all sorts of engines and even how the individual parts were fabricated and put together.

Midway through physics I learned thermodynamics, which includes the physics of engines, motors and other machines. This was about the time I realized that I found the physics of engines really fascinating. For my May Term I wanted to incorporate dirt bikes and mechanical engineering.

Given that more cars are becoming hybrids and electric, I liked the idea of converting a gas dirt bike to 100% electric. I approached Mr. Rich and told him my rough idea and after figuring out a lot of the basics, we were on track.

I think it will be a great opportunity to learn more about electrical and mechanical engineering from a hands-on perspective. I’m excited to work with Mr. Rich to learn more about the components of electric vehicles and how they are put together.

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Can you describe the project for us? My main goal for May Term is to take a Kawasaki KE100 dirt bike, strip all of its regular gas components (engine, transmission, gas lines, carburetor, etc.) and replace them with 100% electric parts. However, making the motor work has proven to be time consuming. My goal is to get it up and running.

What was the outcome? What were some of the successes and obstacles of the project? There was a real learning curve here and I think I bit off way more than I could chew. I ended up having more obstacles than successes, but nonetheless did enjoy the process. Before I started, I did what I believed to be enough research in order to have sufficient knowledge to put everything together.

However, I could not have been more wrong. There were some major obstacles that we ran into that we were not expecting.

First off, the kit we ordered was in no way the “plug and play” kit that we were expecting. We had to do everything from cutting the wires and putting terminals on them, to trying to figure out how to make the battery management system

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connect to a computer software.

It was work that an electrical engineer could have done in an afternoon, but we had to do the research and make sure we weren’t going to short circuit anything before we tried to tackle one of the many small projects. Also, the directions we received were poorly written and unclearly diagramed, which did not help at all. All of these things hindered us from being able to complete the electric motor circuit or the battery management circuit. Both of which are crucial to making the motor run. However, I did learn how to do some metal fabrication including welding, cutting and grinding metal, which was a lot of fun and something I’ve been wanting to learn for a while.

How do you think it will help you down the road? I definitely learned that I should make sure that any project I’m tackling is reasonable within the time frame I’m given. As I looked for help online I found numerous write-ups and videos of people working on a similar project. The only difference I found was that they were all electrical engineers and spent anywhere from six months to two years working on the motorcycle.

Nevertheless, I also learned many useful skills that I will definitely use through college and maybe even in my career as an engineer.

What are your plans for the future? I plan to continue to work on this project throughout the summer as well as talk to my college professors to see if they would be willing to help me finish the dirt bike. I will study Mechanical Engineering in undergraduate school and from there determine the specific area of engineering for my Masters.

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TA K ES

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M AY

TERM

M AY T E R M P R O J E C T S Nikita Israni Startup 101 Jillian Jones Startup 101 Heather Milke Startup 101 Danny Nasti Startup 101 Sam Wildstein Startup 101 Jack Ross Teaching Internship (MS) Aiden Newman Teaching Internship (MS) Bradley Bergman Teaching Internship (MS) Benjamin Rapsas Teaching Internship (MS) Sarah Weiswasser Teaching Internship (MS) Matthew Skolnick Teaching Internship (MS)

CHINA TRIP The 2015 May Term China Trip, led by David Hessler, featured a trip to remote sections of the Great Wall (Interesting tidbit: the Chinese name for it actually means “Long Wall”), a cooking lesson at a Culinary School, training with a Tai Chi master and a photo op with a camel at the originating point of the Silk Road! We rode on trains through the Chinese countryside, stayed in a traditional courtyard hotel and haggled with local merchants. Some students haggled a lot. They fully embraced the art of negotiating prices and regaled each other with stories of purchases bought for half of the asking price. We also did some fun things like a bike ride on top of the city wall of Xian and a foot massage in the ancient city of Ping Yao. We also had daily photo contests which produced some wonderful photos of locals and the beautiful locations we visited.

Jack Petrocelli Teaching Internship (MS) Christopher Giersz Teaching Internship (MS) Malcolm Dixon Teaching Internship (MS) Wesley Wade Teaching Internship (MS) Casey Hunter Teaching Internship (MS) Dan Barrett Teaching Internship (PS) Ross Musicant Teaching Internship (PS) Sophia Silberman Teaching Internship (PS) Alex Geyelin Teaching Internship (PS) Morgan Hersh Teaching Internship (PS)

PS STUDENT TEACHERS The Primary School students have greatly benefited from their interactions with the seniors who have earned the respect and appreciation of all in the Primary School community. Pictured, from left to right: Back row, Dan Barrett, Morgan Katona, Monty Nelson, Ross Musicant, Alex Geyelin, Maria Lambridis. Front row, Megan Massey, Sophie Silberman, Morgan Hersh, Melissa Shelby, Morgan Smith.

Monti Nelson Teaching Internship (PS) Morgan Smith Teaching Internship (PS) Morgan Katona Teaching Internship (PS) Maria Lambrides Teaching Internship (PS)

List continues on page 34.

MS STUDENT TEACHERS Children on the hill: Ken Smith, Alise Shuart and Ryan Boyea welcome Brad Bergman, Jack Ross and Wesley Wade to the Middle School’s Physical Education Department.

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E

UROPE

Seniors had the opportunity to explore sculpture, painting and architecture in Paris, Provence, Barcelona and Madrid, as part a May Term European trip led by Alicia Cuccolo. Experiences in Paris included visits to the masterpieces in the Louvre, Impressionist treasures at the Musée d’Orsay, the Rodin Museum dedicated to the works of sculptor, Auguste Rodin as well as a street art/graffiti walking tour. They also visited the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. After strolling through Monet’s Giverny Gardens, seniors traveled by train to Avignon to discover the places that inspired Cézanne, Picasso and van Gogh. They stepped inside the Palais du Pape to see stunning Italian frescoes and visited the Arles amphitheater and the Pont du Gard, an aqueduct that supplied the Romans with running water. In Spain, they viewed the distinctive work of Antoni Gaudí, including his Parque Güell, Casa Mila and La Sagrada Familia.

Seniors participated in a mosaic workshop, learned how to cook paella in a cooking class and enjoyed an evening of Flamenco dancing before heading to Madrid to see to Museo del Prado and Palacio Real.

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LI VE A GREAT STO RY

C HA PT ER 7 // DR EW CR I C H LOW, KA RA N J UV E KA R * & A L E X PA I

Investing in the Future Tell us a bit about yourselves.

Drew Crichlow: In the fall I will be attending Yale University, where I will major in Economics. During my four years at the Upper School, I was a member of the student government, as well as a member of the Cross Country, Winter Track and Spring Track teams.

Alex Pai: I attended MKA for the past 14 years, graduating this past year as a “lifer.” Come September, I will be attending Princeton University, where I will most likely major in computer science. During my time at the Upper School, I played Varsity Tennis all four years and was a member of the Laptop Leadership Club for three years starting in my sophomore year. To finish my high school career, I played one season of Varsity Basketball.

Why did you choose your May Term project? Alex Pai, Karan Juvenkar and I were very invested in our pursuits of knowledge.

Our participation in the Honors Economics class with Mr. Carroll fueled our passion so much so that we all look to continue—throughout college and for our careers—in the fields of economics, finance and business. As a group, we aimed to continue and expand upon our learnings in the Economics class and from our own experiences, through thorough analysis of companies within various market sectors. By doing so, we familiarized ourselves with current events, observed the changes in the markets and made predictions on how a few specific stocks, and sectors as a whole, would perform.

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Can you describe the project for us? Over the course of our fourweek journey, we researched and analyzed a multitude of different stocks. Each week, we evaluated stocks in different sectors of the market, analyzing each sector’s past trends, current events and investigating each stock’s qualitative and quantitative attributes/ key statistics.

To show our findings, we posted a summary of our research to a blog at the end of each week. While we researched many different stocks, each post only contained the relevant information on the stocks that we believed would be the most lucrative investments in each sector—a choice that was made through immense research, thorough comparison and analytical debate. These companies were smaller, less celebrated companies that allowed us to properly test our valuation skills.

What was the outcome? What were some of the successes and obstacles of the project? Just as we expected we are much better versed in numerous financial sectors as well as a several stocks that we believe will be lucrative investments in the future. Additionally, through our research we were able

to identify a stock (Avago) that increased by $18 in two weeks—it even recently acquired another company and its stock increased even more.

How do you think it will help you down the road? This project afforded us the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with various stocks, general market trends and independently immerse ourselves into the world of investing.

We all look to employ our learnings from the classroom and our independent studies into our future professions and investments in the stock market. Our hope is that we can take our findings from this May Term and build upon them in future years, so that our hypothetical predictions will become real capital returns.

What are your plans for the future? Drew: I hope to work on Wall Street for a few years before returning to school to get an MBA. Afterwards, I would like to transition my focus to private equity and/or venture capitalism in order to assist worthy companies that need funding or a better capital structure.

Alex: I plan to graduate from Princeton. From there, I would like to get an MBA and work either on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, not necessarily in that order.

*Karan Juvekar was unavailable to be interviewed for this piece

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C HA PTE R 8 // ROSS M US I CA N T

M AY T E R M P R O J E C T S

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I started attending MKA in 9th grade. I was a Peer Leader and a member of the Student Athletic Council, and played baseball and soccer for all four years.

Meghan Massey Teaching Internship (PS) Melissa Shelby Teaching Internship (PS) Jessica Schmitz Teaching Internship (US) Chris DeLara Teaching Internship (Tri)

Kevin Brown Travel—China Andrea Castro Travel—China Sam Cleverly Travel—China Celeste Fields Travel—China Brandon Neglio Travel—China Payson Ruhl Travel—China Joseph Sierotko Travel—China Ciara Stanley Travel—China Meredith Bagger Travel—Europe Melissa Baney Travel—Europe Josh Chery Travel—Europe Caitlyn Coyle Travel—Europe Dylan Goldberg Travel—Europe Rachel Hegarty Travel—Europe Kayla Magee Travel—Europe Wyatt Noble Travel—Europe Gabi Notkin Travel—Europe Nicola Pease Travel—Europe Sarah Pryor Travel—Europe Jazmin Shah-Dutta Travel—Europe Chloe Vizzone Travel—Europe Will Zaubler Travel—Europe

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Having a Field Day

Sarah Botwinick Travel—China

Why did you choose your May Term project? I have always loved working with kids, and I worked at some of Coach Pacifico’s summer camps, so I knew many of the Brookside students through that. I loved working with them during those summer camps and teaching them the fundamentals of baseball or any other games. I also remember how fun gym class was when I was in elementary school, and I thought this was a good opportunity to share my enthusiasm for sports and exercise as a break from the school day.

Can you describe the project for us? I worked with Coach Pacifico at the Primary School and assisted him with his gym classes throughout the day, which included setting up and running the games.

I also helped set up and run some of the events during Field Day. What was the outcome? What were some of the successes and obstacles of the project?

Overall, the May Term project was a success. It taught me how to interact and teach these kids, not only during class but outside of it too. I really enjoyed going to my internship everyday because of the great environment that the teachers at Brookside created. It was a joy working with the teachers and students alike everyday. At times, the kids got a little upset over a game or how another kid treated them, which is always difficult to deal with, but my experiences at Brookside definitely helped me learn how to deal with these kinds

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“Watching how much the teachers enjoyed what they were doing and how rewarding it is to be teaching these kids, it definitely inspired me. ”

of situations, and I will know how to respond in the future.

How do you think it will help you down the road? Watching how much the teachers enjoyed what they were doing and how rewarding it is to be teaching these kids, it definitely inspired me. Someday, I could definitely see myself as a teacher either for younger kids like at Brookside or even older ones.

What are your plans for the future? I am going to work at a baseball camp this summer run by the Teels Baseball organization where I will teach and coach younger kids. Next fall, I am attending Vanderbilt University where I plan to study economics and corporate finance.

LI VE A GREAT STO RY

C HA PT ER 9 // A LU MN I P E RS P ECTI V E // M I C H A E L BRAUN ’0 1

Tell us a bit about yourself. I am the Director of Brand Strategies at ID PR and oversee the media relations and day-to-day strategy for clients which include Netflix, Facebook, “Watch What Happens Live,” UNICEF and Instagram. I specialize in developing integrated marketing and publicity campaigns for brands on the cutting edge of entertainment and technology. A member of the Sports group, one my core focuses at DKC was the integration of sports, entertainment and lifestyle. With a passion for politics, I traveled the country extensively with President Barack Obama, Senator John Edwards and Secretary of State John Kerry, as part of their presidential campaigns and a member of their national advance staffs during the 2004 and 2008 elections. I also interned at Sony Music UK in London, the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Warner Bros.

Records, Triple Crown Records, Clear Channel Communications, Arnold Worldwide, Zoom Media and Jive Records. I received my Bachelor’s in Communications with a specialization in Public Relations from Boston University.

What do you consider some of your greatest professional accomplishments? My work with UNICEF, is some of the most important work, that I do on a daily basis. Knowing that the publicity and attention that we garner for the atrocities that children have to face around the world can help to make even the smallest difference or even raise a single penny means more to me

me, is more my speed than a hardcore/emo label. From there, all doors opened up as I had experience working at one of the largest record labels in the world before I even started college.

than getting a celebrity photo in Us Weekly. Lighting up the Empire State Building in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the UNICEF Snowflake Ball was pretty cool too.

Additionally, having the opportunity to travel the country with President Obama, Senator Edwards and Secretary Kerry was life-altering.

What did you do for your May Term project? My May Term project consisted of an internship at a hardcore, independent record label called Triple Crown Records. It was three of us in the entire company, with more rats than employees in the office on some days, but it was an incredible experience. I commuted three days a week to DUMBO, and got to learn the inner workings of an indy label.

What was the outcome of this project? Greatest successes?

Obstacles? The outcome of May Term is pretty much my entire career. The wife of the label’s owner was an executive at Warner Bros. Records, which, if you know

How did your May Term project help to prepare you for your future? I credit May Term with setting me off on my professional path. I knew that I wanted to continue to gain additional experience within the music industry and explore the opportunities that could and would be afforded to me later on in life.

What advice would you give current students? My biggest piece of advice is that I know how appealing the various trips seem.

Yes—how cool to go to China or Ireland or wherever is offered now, but you have your whole life to do that, and you can study abroad in college. As you embark on your journey into undergraduate studies, why not be prepared with valuable experience that will actually place you leaps and bounds ahead of other students.

As one of the heads of my company’s internship program, I promise you that almost every resume looks identical. If you have experience from an early age that stands out, you’ll be propelled on a path to potential greatness. May Term helped to mold me into who I am today and laid the foundation for a pretty good life (thus far).

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L IV E A GREAT STO RY

CHA PT ER 1 0 // A LU MN I P E RS P ECTI V E // RO B E RT G E L B E RG ’ 1 0

The Write Direction Tell us a bit about yourself.

I transferred to MKA as a sophomore in high school, and it was at MKA that I began to become interested in theatre. As a senior, I performed in The Zoo Story and it was as a direct result of that experience that I am pursuing a career in playwriting. I graduated from Macalester College with honors in creative writing and a minor in religious studies. I am currently pursuing my MFA at The Lir at Trinity College Dublin where my tutors have included Graham Whybrow and Conor McPherson.

What do you consider some of your greatest professional accomplishments? I have had staged readings and productions of my work in Minneapolis, London and Dublin and have won several fellowships for my writing, including the 2010 NJ Young Playwrights Competition (to which I applied after a last-minute suggestion from Upper School performing arts teacher Nicole Hoppe). My biggest production so far has been in the 2012 Minnesota Fringe Festival in which I directed, produced and performed in an updated and expanded version of the script I had originally written for my May Term project. Right now, my focus is on completing my MFA, which, if all goes accordingly, I will do in September of this year. I am currently developing a musical with a director here in Dublin.

What did you do for your May Term project? I wrote and directed two one-act plays, which J.C. Svec produced along

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with four one-acts from my classmate Julie Longthorne. Together, we put on this two-hour long evening of one-act plays which we collectively titled The May Plays. The two plays I wrote were entitled On the Balcony (which explored the relationship between a widower and his imaginary friend from childhood who has returned for a conversation on Christmas Eve) and To and From on the Earth (an imagined business meeting between God and Satan).

They were my first attempts at playwriting and my first attempts at directing, and I owe the success of the May Term project entirely to the MKA actors (all underclassmen and juniors) who performed in them.

What was the outcome of this project? Greatest successes?

Obstacles? The outcome was several sold-out performances of a really solid production, fully produced with lights, sound, sets and costumes, and absolutely none of that is as a result of my script or really any work that I did personally. The entire process in May went off without any problems of note because of the resources and support MKA provided and because of the guidance and tutorship J.C. Svec offered during every step of the production. That’s what I think makes May Term such a vital time for MKA seniors: MKA is sponsoring your development not just as a student but as an independent creator.

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How did your May Term project help to prepare you for your future? May Term was my first experience as a director and my first experience seeing my work on stage. The lessons I learned during my project are lessons that I kept with me during nearly every other theatrical endeavor I’ve undertaken. During May Term I learned how to deal with actors while giving them rewrites, how to differentiate between what’s on the page and what’s on the stage and how to give control of the show over to the actors once it was time for the show to open. These were all lessons most playwrights don’t learn until very late in their careers, but as a result of May Term I learned them when I was eighteen, which I think provided me with a distinct advantage as a college student and now as a practitioner.

What advice would you give current students? You would be a fool to waste this opportunity. May Term may seem at first like this annoying thing keeping you from going down the shore once you’re done with classes. It’s not. It’s a privilege. More importantly, it’s a privilege that you likely won’t get at any other time in your life. You can do anything you want. Literally anything, so long as you can prove that it is in someway educational or related to your interests or your planned career. You can do any project you can dream of, and MKA will give you more resources and time than you can ever hope to get as an undergraduate.

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Tell us a bit about yourself. After being a lifer at MKA, I moved to New York City for my university studies.

Following my May Term at MKA, I continued to work for the French fashion brand I interned for in Paris by working in their New York boutiques. During my final semester at Barnard College, majoring in French, I began interning for the Retail Director of APC. After deciding to graduate early, I quickly decided to move abroad when I was finished with school.

I was lucky enough to continue my work with APC at their global headquarters in Paris. I have been living in Paris since this past January.

What do you consider some of your greatest professional accomplishments?

I feel proud to have graduated early and to have followed my dreams of moving to Paris, while remaining loyal to the brand APC. I have been working for them for over four years.

What did you do for your May Term project? I traveled to Paris to intern in the design studio at APC.

What was the outcome of this project? Greatest successes? Obstacles?

It could not have been a greater success. It has made a lasting impact on my life to date. I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful May Term experience.

How did the knowledge gained from your May Term project help to prepare you for your future? I quickly learned responsibility, being the youngest working at the APC design studio.

I likewise learned respect, working in a different country and a different culture.

What advice would you give current students? No task cannot be undertaken.

Take this opportunity seriously and do something you will never forget. It may not seem like a long time, or enough time to do something with a lasting impact, but you have the power to use this experience to change your life. ■

<< I dressed this model for the first Vanessa Seward runway show. It was the first runway show for Vanessa Seward, a brand that APC has done many previous collaborations with and now has invested in as a stand alone brand. I also helped with the castings and fittings for this runway show.

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L L I V EE A REA AT G GR Y TO R Y ST “[May Term] isn’t simply the “butterfly stage” of the MKA life cycle.

Somehow, it’s also a reversal of that life cycle— butterfly becoming pupa becoming larva becoming egg.

Somehow, it’s also a return to essence and purest potential.”

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COUGAR PRIDE DAY See page 41.

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PAMKA BOARD OF OFFICERS Amy South *President

Dear Parents,

Sybil Eng Secretary

Welcome back to the start of the school year and the arrival of fall! I hope this letter finds you well and that you had an enjoyable summer.

As PAMKA President, I invite you to join us in the many ways that we enrich the MKA community.

Opportunities vary from giving an occasional volunteer hour at the Book Fair or Cougar Pride Day, to sending emails to promote events, to donating an item for the Spring Gala, or to attending our events! The scope of PAMKA’s work is vast and truly depends upon the support of all our community. The events we organize are vital to the student experience, to the work of our faculty and to the development of a strong community. Let me take this opportunity to express my thanks in advance to all who plan to dedicate an hour of time, or who have agreed to chair a committee! I also wish to welcome those of you who will find a new niche within PAMKA this year! Below you’ll find some dates for upcoming events and opportunities at the school this year.

While the success of PAMKA’s Mission is dependent on the active involvement of many of us, it’s also important for us to be sure that we’re meeting the needs of our members. Included in this section are some of the results from the survey PAMKA’s executive board conducted last year to help us plan our future. I wish you all a great year ahead!

Margot Macdonnell Communications Vice President

Beth Fuchs *Finance Vice President

Sincerely, Amy South, PAMKA President

Nancy Wheeler Community Vice President Rebecca Scuorzo Volunteer Coordinator Vice President Dawn Armbrust Special Events Vice President Anya Barrett Primary School Campus VP Michelle Dice Middle School Campus VP Angela Privitere Upper School Campus VP *Two-year positions. All others are one year.

THE PAMKA MISSION STATEMENT PAMKA is a parent volunteer organization established to provide opportunities for parents to participate in the support and enhancement of the students’ educational experience at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA). PAMKA pursues its mission working in cooperation with the school administration through activities consistent with the policies and goals established by the Board of Trustees of MKA.

SAVE THE DATES!

November 8–11 2015 Tri-Campus Book Fair

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December 3–4 2015 Winter Boutique Middle School Campus

February 19–22 2016 Internship Auction Online

February 20 2016 Parenting Workshops Location TBD 8:30 am to 12:15 pm

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Survey Results Thanks to those that completed the survey and for providing insight regarding PAMKA’s successes and areas for growth!

Some highlights from the results: W H AT P EOPL E AR E SAYING ABOU T PAM KA:

“

PAMKA does a great job at trying to meet the needs of many.”

The energy, dedication, and creativity of PAMKA leaders and volunteers is a huge asset to MKA. So many signature school community experiences come from the hard work of PAMKA volunteers. It’s really impressive!”

I appreciate the many good things PAMKA does. It is sometimes hard to find a way to connect with people whose lives are so totally different from mine, and whose values seem so different. But if you need help, I am always willing.”

FAST FACTS A B OU T PA MKA PAMKA helps New Families get connected to MKA!

90 93% 167 90%

expressed interest in attending the PAMKA Coffees in the Fall

New MKA Families

felt PAMKA is welcoming and inclusive of our diverse community PAMKA scored an average

PA M KA I S LO O KING FORWARD TO RESPONDING W I T H I M P ROV E MENTS TO THE FOLLOWING R EQUESTS EXP R ESS E D IN CO M M E NTS : • Addition of evening meetings to accommodate personal schedules and better use of technology • Incorporate more opportunities for casual social gathering for parents • Plans to further streamline communications

4.0

(on a 1–5 scale) for effectiveness in: Fundraising, Student Faculty Support, Building Community, Communication

FACULTY TRUST GRANTS

Faculty Trust Grants are a special and unique opportunity funded by PAMKA. The Faculty Trust Grant Committee, led by PAMKA volunteer Karen Durando, reviewed many extensive applications and ultimately awarded $25,000 to support the travel of five faculty members to pursue field oriented experiences.

100+ 1978

Faculty members have traveled on PAMKA grants.

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was the first year of the grant program.

$500,000

(approximately)has been awarded Destinations this year: Alfred University School of Art and Design / Reykjavik, Iceland / Italy / Morocco / Scotland

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MKA families (approximately) agreed to host

A super busy ice cream truck serves

350 700

happy guests for The Primary School ice cream social

Hello

name tags for the New Family and Host Reception at the Nammack Residence

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Every new family knows at least

friendly face on campus to start the year!

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Cougar Pride Day MKA COMMUNITY TURNS OUT IN FORCE FOR A WALK ON THE BOARDWALK! On a day filled with school spirit, hundreds of members of the MKA community gathered at the Middle School Campus to take a Walk on the Boardwalk at this year’s Cougar Pride Day. Expertly organized by parent chairs Lara Dahl and Liz Katz, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends enjoyed a wide range of activities including carnival games, sports, crafts and much, much more. Highlights included a special appearance by the MKA Cougar, a professional photo shoot, a hard-fought faculty vs. student tug of war contest and the limitless food provided by Upper School students.

Cougar Pride Day is one of the few occasions that the entire Pre-K-12 community can gather together and has become one of the school’s most popular traditions.

PARENTS HOST

A Night to Remember With the weather perfectly reflecting the theme, it was a night to remember as MKA’s Parents’ Association (PAMKA) hosted “Hello Spring”—their annual Gala—at McCloone’s Boathouse on Saturday, April 18.

With kudos and congratulations due to the accomplished leadership of event chair Anya Barrett (an MKA Primary School parent and alumna), a dedicated team of volunteers orchestrated a hugely successful event. Close to 300 parents and friends enjoyed a relaxed and festive evening using their phones to bid on silent and premium auction items.

Auction leaderboards helped build the excitement, together with the drawing of basket and tuition raffles. In addition to dinner and dancing, entertainment was provided by the MKA Upper School’s acapella group, the Unaccompanied Minors.

Proceeds from the event, PAMKA’s largest single fundraiser, go to support MKA Faculty Endowment, Campus Wishlists and Faculty Trust Grants— travel opportunities for teachers to pursue their academic passions around the world.

300 parents & friends attended the annual gala.

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See more photos of both these great events at mka.org

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ABOARD THE MOONDANCE See page 44.

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Welcomes & Thank Yous On behalf of the Board, I would like to welcome new Trustees Anya Barrett and Paige Cottingham-Streater. I consider myself privileged to serve on the Board with such an incredible group of talented and passionate individuals, and I know that Anya and Paige will make great additions.

Allow me to introduce you to our newest members.

Anya Barrett is an MKA alumna from the class of 1989 who received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College. She is married to John Barrett and mother to Brooks ’25, Annie ’27 and Grace ’27. Anya is also a member of the Board of Management at Van Vleck House and Gardens and loves to travel.

Paige Cottingham-Streater is an alumna from the class of 1979. She received her bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College and her JD degree from The George Washington University National Law Center. For the last four years, Paige has worked as an Executive Director for the Japan-US Friendship Commission. She also serves as Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors for the School for Ethics and Global Leadership. She has two children, Rahmaan and Kehwe Streater.

It is also with tremendous appreciation that we say farewell to four remarkable Trustees: Michael Friezo, Steven Milke, Elizabeth Weiswasser and David Turock.

Michael Friezo has served on the Board for the past seven years.

In addition to his role as Board Secretary, Michael has worked on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Strategic Planning Committee, and has served as the Chairman of the Student Life Committee for the past four years. Michael has been an invaluable member of the Board. We wish him and the entire Friezo family well in the next stage of their lives.

Steven Milke has been on the Board for the past eight years. Most recently, he held the position of Board Treasurer. In addition, Steven served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee, Development Committee, Facilities Committee, Student Life Committee and Technology Committee. There aren’t adequate words to express how much Steven will be missed. We wish him and his family well and want to thank him for all he has done for MKA. Elizabeth Weiswasser has been a member of the Board for the past three years, serving in numerous capacities including working on the Educational Programs and Policies Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. We are deeply grateful to Elizabeth for all of her contributions and hard work on the school’s behalf.

David Turock joined the Board in 1997 and then served on the Advisory Board from 2009-2015. During his time on the Board, David served as Vice President and on various committees including: Executive, Finance, Development, Facilities, Technology, Strategic Planning and Educational Policy. After 18 years of indelible service to the school, we bid David the fondest of farewells. David has contributed more to benefit MKA than can ever be sufficiently acknowledged.

In service to the entire MKA community, we look forward to a great 2015–2016 school year.

Montclair Kimberley Academy BOA RD OF TRUSTEES 2015 –2016 OFFICERS Michael V. Johnson President Christina A. Cotton Vice President Kathleen M. Logan Vice President Jeffrey G. Szilagyi Treasurer Kenneth W. Barrett Secretary MEMBER TRUSTEES Joseph V. Amato Merrick G. Andlinger Anya C. Barrett ’89 James L. Bromley Daniel B. Carson ’83 Evelyn M. Colbert Paige L. Cottingham-Streater ’79 David A. Crichlow Carolyn N. Everson Clifford B. Finkle IV ’92 Karen T. Gulliver Tracy E Higgins Thomas W. Nammack Eric F. S. Pai ’79 Kenneth S. Rivlin Luke A. Sarsfield III ’91 Amy L. South Jaclyn V. Spedaliere ’00 Linda H. Sterling Jonathan M. Strain Chiming Tse Mei-Mei H. Tuan Lori W. Yanes HONORARY TRUSTEES Aubin Z. Ames ‘54 John E. Garippa Alice M. Hirsh Susan H. Ruddick Newton B. Schott, Jr. ADVISORY TRUSTEES Barry W. Ridings ‘70 Robert L. Tortoriello

Warm Regards, Michael V. Johnson, President, Board of Trustees

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Problem-Solving with Facebook Carolyn Everson speaks to Tom Carroll’s Honors Economics Class On March 12th, the Honors Economics classes hosted MKA Board of Trustees member Carolyn Everson.

Carolyn is VP of Global Sales at Facebook and is on the forefront of marketing in the social media space. Prior to her visit, students were given a set of three prompts to prepare. These asked for students to form into small groups to solve problems such as how Facebook could improve its user interface, how could it make the user experience more relevant and what new features would students want to see. Students also brainstormed on how to use social media to effect social change in a positive way. During the presentation, students were able to engage with Mrs. Everson and get feedback on their ideas. They also learned firsthand about the challenges and rewards of working for a dynamic, market-shaping company like Facebook.

Moondance

This summer, Board President Michael Johnson, joined by eldest son Matt Johnson ’08, Matt’s wife Jacqueline and five other intrepid sailing friends, including Upper School Honors Economics teacher Tom Carroll, set sail on a transatlantic adventure from Newport, Rhode island to Sotogrande, Spain on a 56-foot sailboat name Moondance.

The 3,100 nautical-mile trip included lots of trial and error, an abundance of sunscreen and sometimes relentless winds that resulted in unsettled stomachs. However, overall this was a transformative experience that included dolphin and whale sightings, some of the bluest water in the world, great food, lots of laughs and TED Talks and ended with all safe and sound. Michael said of the trip, “Terrific crew, craft and conditions— this long-planned adventure was stupendously wonderful, like a honeymoon with the ocean.”

To read all about Michael’s unbelievable trip visit their blog at: http://moondance2015.com/

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Trustees & Graduates

2015

From the top, left to right: Trustee Joseph Amato and his wife Lisa, could not be more proud of son Joe standing here on his graduation day with sisters Alyse ’09 and Elizabeth ’13. / Trustee and delighted father, Ken Rivlin, poses with his wife Renee, son Alex ’17 and newly graduated daughter, Madison. / Delighted mom and former trustee, Elizabeth Weiswasser poses with her daughter, recent graduate, Sarah. / Former trustee Michael Friezo celebrates his daughter Caroline’s graduation with wife Michele and daughter Lauren ’11. / Trustee and past PAMKA president, Lori Yanes, celebrates her son Dan’s graduation with sons Zach ’13 and Ben ’17 and husband Jose. / Proud dad and MKA trustee David Crichlow poses with son, Drew, wife Rhonda and daughter Joelle, MKA ’18. As Student Council President, Drew gave the concluding remarks at Commencement. / Former trustee Steve Milke honors his daughter Heather’s graduation with wife, Beth and son, Miles ’17.

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The view from Montclair Golf Club’s North Porth at MKA’s 3rd Annual Headmaster Schamble Golf Outing.

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Dear Fellow Alumni,

SAVE THE DATES!

SAVE

THE

I hope you had a chance to relax and recharge this summer. I had the honor of presenting my former soccer, Mr. Ken Smith, with the Alumni Association’s 2015 Founder’s Cup at the All-School Closing meeting last June, and it was a wonderful and celebratory event. Congratulations, Mr. Smith!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Alumni Council for all of their hard work and dedication last year. From Young Alumni Happy Hour, Homecoming Weekend and the DAA Award presentation this past fall, to the Alumni Spring Social, Klank Klassic and the Founder’s Cup Award, our Council hosted a plethora of successful events and awards. I am proud of our accomplishments and send my sincerest thanks to all the members of our community who have contributed to helping our events flourish. I hope that our Council members got their well-deserved rest during our summer break!

On the heels of new venues and changes to existing events, as well as the success of new events this past year, we are already looking forward to this year’s calendar. I am excited about continuing the theme and achieving new goals and new heights with the Alumni Council in the coming year.

We have already scheduled our second annual MKA DAY on Friday, October 16, One Day to Make a Difference. Thanks to the incredible success of last year’s fundraising event, this year’s MKA DAY will include the entire MKA community of students, alumni, current parents, parents of alumni, grandparents, current and former faculty and staff. Our goal this year is to raise $250,000 in annual fund donations in one day to receive an additional $50,000 in challenge funds when we meet that goal. Please be sure to make your annual fund donation or pledge on MKA DAY! I look forward to seeing you at any one of our alumni events this year!

OCTOBER 9-11, 2015

DATE October 9–11 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend mka.org/ homecoming2015

On October 16 make a difference at mka.org/mkaday

October 16 MKA Day 2015— One Day to Make a Difference Online at mka.org/mkaday

Best, Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00, Alumni Council President

November 27 Alumni Game Day Basketball, US Gym, 4:30pm Ice Hockey, Clary Anderson Arena, 4:30pm Reception—Tierneys, 6:30–8:30pm December 3 Alumni Networking Event @ iHeartRadio Corporate Headquarters, 125 W. 55th St. New York, 7:00–9:00 pm

ALUMNI COUNCIL The Montclair Kimberley Academy Alumni Council is an organization that advances the interests and influence of MKA, strengthens relations between alumni and MKA, cooperates with the Board of Trustees and with MKA’s other associations and participates in MKA’s fundraising activities. The Council makes known to the Trustees, the administration, the faculty and students the ideas, interests and concerns of the alumni; and to the alumni, the desires, purpose and objectives of the school. The Council engages current students and alumni through meaningful connections, activities and services in order to build a loyalty bond that encourages philanthropic and volunteer support of Montclair Kimberley Academy. We are grateful to the following alumni who have volunteered their time and talent to serve on the Alumni Council beginning July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016: Executive Committee Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 President

Klaudia Pyz ’98 Networking Vice President

Jessica Simpson-Cook ’99 Executive Vice President

Council

Amanda Englander ’04 Secretary

Brittany Berckes ’06

Dennis Rodano ’87 Treasurer

Casey Breslow ’03

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Bryan Becker ’96 Lindsay Braverman ’01 Jon Bruno ’02

Jared Cook ’01

Angela McCaffrey ’06

Rich Cosgrove ’84

Diane Ridley-White ’84

Pamela D’Amato Davis ’89

Richard Stanton ’87

Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06

John Thompson ’03

Michael Fortunato ’02

Lee Vartan ’96

Lauren Hyman Kaplan ’93

J. Kent Walker ’80

Cooper Knowlton ’03 Andrew Kyrejko ’05

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Now Accepting

NOMINATIONS for the Alumni Association Awards The Alumni Association is proud to present four awards, two that specifically honor outstanding alumni achievement: The Distinguished Alumni Award bestows recognition and appreciation for outstanding achievement.

This award is a meritorious reflection on the school and provides inspiration and encouragement for our students.

The Athletic Hall of Fame Award is given every other year to an individual, team or coach who has brought distinction to the school through excellence in athletics.

In addition, the Honorary Alumni Distinction Award honors members of the MKA family who have made a significant, easily recognizable and

Klank Klassic

direct impact upon MKA students

Alumni Game Day 2015

MKA’s strong tradition of teaching

It was a beautiful day for the Annual Klank Klassic and Alumni Games Day on June 13th. The Klank Klassic is held each year in honor of MKA’s long- time, beloved lacrosse coach William “Noll” Klank who passed away in 2003.

Three great, competitive games were held with alumni players ranging from ’77 all the way up to current students on the fields. The teams were lead by coaches Paul Edwards, Injoo Han and Ralph Pacifico. At halftime, Varsity Coach Paul Edwards recognized many of this year’s current players for their achievements including Dan Yanes ’15, who received this year’s W. Noll Klank Memorial Award.

Players from all teams, including family and friends, were invited to Egan’s to enjoy a post game BBQ and pizza reception on the deck.

award is presented to an outstand-

See more photos on page 52.

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and the community of learners.

Finally, the Founders’ Cup is awarded each year in recognition of excellence, dating back to 1887. The ing faculty member who is most representative of the best qualities of MKA teaching.

Please be a part of the process by nominating a friend, classmate or faculty member who deserves recognition. For additional criteria and/ or to submit your nomination for any of these awards, please visit mka.org.

DI STINGUI S HE D ALUM N I AWAR D

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Kassie Canter ’75 MKA’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award , which is bestowed in recognition and appreciation for outstanding achievement by an alumni who has achieved distinction in some field of endeavor, or through outstanding character or dedication has been of special service to humanity, goes to Kassie Canter ’75.

As Executive Vice President, Communications for Viacom Entertainment Group, Kassie Canter oversees all corporate communications and entertainment publicity for the Entertainment Group, which includes Comedy Central, Spike TV and TV Land and their respective web sites.

She is responsible for all internal and external communications for the Entertainment Group, developing and implementing a coordinated communications strategy and supporting the group’s focus through media outreach, messaging and other communications opportunities, including conferences and events. Canter manages the individual communications teams for Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land and the Entertainment Group’s digital properties as they publicize their content and communicate the value of their brands in the marketplace.

Previously, Canter served as Chief Communications Officer for Oxygen Media, where she oversaw all public relations and public affairs activities. Prior to joining Oxygen, Canter was Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Media Relations for NBC. In this role, she led all communications for NBC Corporate, NBC News, NBC Sports, CNBC and MSNBC, and managed corporate communications around acquisitions, legislative issues and the Olympics.

Canter is currently a lecturer on the faculty of Columbia University’s Masters Program in Strategic Communications. She holds a MPA from The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a BA from Tufts University.

Earlier in her career, Kassie held positions with the New York Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention, the 1988 Dukakis for President Campaign, and the Mayor’s Office of Boston.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Though I will always be a Jersey girl at heart, I consider myself a New Yorker, having lived in Manhattan for the past 24 years. Family is very important to me, and though my siblings live far away, we keep in close contact. I am married to a wonderful man who has two daughters. We have an unusually needy little dog who I adore. I work hard as the Executive Vice President for the Music

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and Entertainment Group at Viacom and love my job, but I try to keep my life in balance.

How did you first become interested in economics— what was the appeal? I am a TV junkie—I did my homework in front of the television when I was growing up and somehow it ended up serving me well. Maybe not the best advice for MKA students—but it worked for me!

What is it that you most enjoy about your work? It’s an exciting time in television and I feel very fortunate to be working in the industry. At Comedy Central, MTV, Spike and VH1, we make so much great content, and I love being a part of it all. I realize I’m not curing cancer, but most people watch television on a regular basis, and I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from being even a small part of that experience.

What are you most proud of? I’m proudest of the people who work for me. They are smart, hard-working and most of all—they are nice people who know how to have fun while they work.

What are the most challenging aspects of your work? Viewers are consuming television very differently than they have in the past.

The traditional television screen is no longer the only choice for viewers — it’s often not even their first choice.

Viewing habits are changing so quickly. Figuring out how to address the rapid pace of change is very exciting.

In what ways did your MKA experience prepare you for the path your life has taken? MKA taught me the importance of community.

My community of friends at MKA continue to play a huge role in my life. Many of us talk, email and get together regularly, and I cherish those relationships. The same holds true in my professional life.

Building relationships, treating my peers with respect and having my colleagues reciprocate, being a contributor to the team—those are many of the values I learned at MKA. What is your favorite MKA memory? We spent a lot of time laughing (Ok. Let’s call it what it was. We spent a lot of time giggling—after all we were teenage girls). I have so many fond memories of laughing with my friends.

I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one.

What advice would you give today’s graduates who might be interested in a similar career? These days, most of our entry level employees have had internships in the field. So I would definitely recommend doing an internship during college. On a broader note, I recently attended a talk given by Brian Grazer, who is a well-known producer of movies and television. He spoke about the importance of curiosity. I think he’s right.

Those who are successful in my world are often those who have insatiable curiosity—for what’s new, what’s next and what’s interesting.

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Athletics Hall of Fame Congratulations to Ed Conlin ’84 and Karen Ladenheim-Martos ’85 on their induction to the MKA Athletic Hall of Fame. The Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who have brought distinction, honor and excellence to the school through athletics. It is now awarded every other year.

Karen Ladenheim-Martos’s career in fencing spans three

decades. Beginning foil lessons with Maestro John Geraci in Summit, NJ at 12 years old, Karen immediately became entranced with the sport. When it came time to choose a high school, Karen knew she wanted to fence at MKA because they had the best team in the state.

However, there were difficulties. Karen was an average middle-student attending public school at the time unaware of the academic rigors of MKA. The high standards and copious amounts of homework were quite a surprise for her! There was another problem; MKA was almost one hour from her hometown of Teaneck, NJ. This made for a long commute especially after practice. But then the real tragedy struck the Ladenheim household. In 1982, during her sophomore year, Karen’s older brother, Fred, died in a swimming accident while at college. Thankfully, the support and guidance from her beloved teachers helped Karen struggle through this dark time. The other thing that helped her get through this tragedy was... fencing!

Karen fenced with MKA from 1980–1985 and was coached by Mr. Carmen Marnell. She became the NJ State Champion in 1985, and a finalist at the Jr. Olympics. After MKA, she fenced at Temple University and was coached by Nikki Franke. In 1990, after receiving her B.S. in Education, Karen packed up her car and moved to California to work as a school teacher. Just by chance, she walked into Letterman Fencer’s club in San Francisco. To her amazement there were the best fencers in the country at the time: Greg Massialas and Dean Hinton. These were indeed good practice sessions leading Karen to win the Pacific Coast Championships three times and the Division I Women’s Foil US Nationals Team GOLD. In 2000, Karen married Darwin Martos and started the Sport Fencing Center in Richmond, California

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where she coaches with her husband Darwin. With the birth of her children, Sara and Jimmy, she retired from competition, and became a full-time mom and fencing coach. In 2010, Karen and Darwin started coaching for Greg Massialas, the US Olympic Men’s Foil Coach.

She coaches for MTEAM (Massialas Foundation) at National and International events and travels extensively throughout the year.

Karen’s whole family fences! Her husband, Darwin is currently ranked 8th in the US in the Vet-40. Sara, age 13, is coming up strong. She is ranked 3rd in her age group and will represent the US in Budapest in September, 2015. Her brother Jimmy 10 years old is following in the family footsteps and has just earned his first national points.

Today Karen is fencing and coaching more than ever before! She placed 3rd at the North American Circuit (NAC) in Reno in December 2015, and also placed 3rd at the NAC in Dallas in March. She recently finished 6th place at US Nationals in July, 2015.

Ed Conlin played Lacrosse, Basketball and Soccer When I would come home from a game, my Dad would ask me how we did. Hopefully I could convey that we were successful and our team came out on top. He would ask the score which I rarely knew. He would ask who we played which was also often a mystery. My usual report was our team played well and I did Ok. I never put much emphasis on my individual stats.

I do remember being named to the All- American team in lacrosse in my senior year and I do believe I was given the honor of most valuable player that year.

We did very well as a team in lacrosse building on the great example set by Bill Hall, Bob Carson, Peter Edge, Peter Schfenhaus and so many others. I was always more concerned with how well we played as a team and not the final outcome.

One of my fondest honors was to be nominated as co-captain on the different teams I was a part of. I believe I enjoyed that compliment four times. Two years in lacrosse and one year each for basketball and soccer.

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I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with a degree in Speech Communication. I became interested in art at Carolina. I played one year with the lacrosse team and decided I would rather spend my afternoons in the sculpture studio. I wish I had made time for both pursuits. Those years went by quickly and I missed my teammates. Carolina also was successful in winning the national championship in lacrosse the year after I left the team. C’est la vie.

I was so fortunate to have interested caring coaches from my first year at MKA in seventh grade. Doug Alsofrom, David Love, John Rabke, Sandy Lonsinger, Tony Dauer, George Hrab, Peter van Hoffmann, Bob Pilot and Billy Swan were all young teachers and assistants with young families yet they generously poured themselves into the sports program at MKA and made great efforts to connect with and motivate their players. Players like Rob D’Alessandro brought a wonderful, competitive grit to our team. I think we all played a little harder when we knew Robert’s dad was watching from the sidelines.

My experience in college was much different.

Coaches are more aloof. Your role on the team and the amount of time you play will change. Be patient and positive and fill your new role to the best of your ability. If you do choose to play don’t try to work side jobs as well. There is just not enough time. This is your only opportunity to play, and four years goes by quickly.

My athletic accomplishments since college are to stay in some kind of shape. I enjoy all things active. I ride my bike with my dog often to keep us both from getting too fat. I get into the woods to collect materials for sculpture. I enjoy boating, camping and gardening.

Currently, I am excited to be part of the team of Real Estate professionals at The Stanton Company. Rich Stanton, MKA class of 1987, and his father, Dick and grandfather have been assisting and guiding the Montclair community in their real estate purchases and sales for the past 93 years. I am fortunate to be part of this dynamic group.

I hope to continue to develop as an artist and designer. I look forward to traveling and continued discovery.

Montclair Kimberley Academy Introduces its Mobile App! Staying connected has never been so easy… or so fun!

The Alumni Office introduces an App for your Android or Apple devices designed specifically for MKA Alumni! EVERTRUE is a private, customized, alumni-networking platform powered through an interactive mobile directory.

Alumni Mentorship Platform Virtually connect with alumni worldwide. Get insights on employers, industries, or career paths. Connect with one another when you want to make your next career move.

Looking for a job in a particular industry or at a specific company but need advice or a personal connection?

Browse alums you'd like to connect with based on their company, industry or function.

MAP IT! Want to see what MKA alums are living in your area or in an area you are traveling to? The App includes a social component that maps alumni.

You can filter by the age of the alum, the location they live in, where they go to school, where they work, etc!

STAY CONNECTED! MKA's App also offers an activity stream that gives you updates on everything happening on our social platforms and in our community such as social and sporting events, networking events, current news, and much more!

Join the Montclair Kimberley Academy Alumni Group on LinkedIn

Like the MKAAlumni page on Facebook

Follow us at @MKAAlumni on Twitter

Follow MKAAlumni on Instagram

QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS?

Lois Montorio Gretchen Berra//lmontorio@mka.org gberra@mka.org / 973 233 3014

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Alumni Events

Klank Classic (see p. 48 for story)

3rd Annual Headmasters Schamble Golf Outing The MKA community came together when current parents, past parents, alumni, administrators, faculty and staff, trustees and friends all partook in a great day full of golf, contests, food and drink at the Montclair Golf Club on June 11th. Co-Chaired by the Becker Brothers, David ’90 and Bryan ’96, the day was a huge success that culminated with even more people joining in on the festivities at the glorious cocktail reception held on the club’s North Porch.

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JOIN US! Don’t miss out on all of our great alumni events.

Visit mka.org and see all the great upcoming events taking place.

Spring Social The MKA Alumni Council held their Annual Spring Social at Halcyon Brasserie on May 14th 2015. With over 50 alumni in attendance spanning the classes of ’76 –’06 and several MKA faculty members, the night was a huge success! Guests reconnected with each other in their hometown on a gorgeous spring day enjoying food and drink and an unbelievable selection of Tricky Tray baskets including Yankee Tickets, Broadway tickets, premium wines, gym memberships, and much much more!

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HOW MKA HELPED THESE ALUMNI

Live a Great Story themselves. I’m enjoying being a grandfather. Ann and I are building a house in Bermuda. I’m actually not sure what the next chapter of my life will be like, but I’m looking forward to it.

BARRY RIDINGS ’70 MA

What has been the biggest accomplishment so far in your career? From a business perspective, I would say building the leading restructuring practice on Wall Street. My partners have become dear friends and we have all been working together for over 20 years.

We have been involved in all the biggest bankruptcies like Lehman, American Airlines, WorldCom. But I’d say the biggest accomplishment of my career has been mentoring the young associates in our group,many of whom have become outstanding investment bankers and leaders themselves.

What is your favorite memory/ story? There are so many.

... the biggest lesson learned in your career? Never, never, never give up! (I have a plaque on my desk that says this) If you think about 40 years, your career is a very long time, so play for the long run.

How did your time at Montclair Academy influence you in your life? I think high school has a very influential effect on you. Things learned during those four years make lasting impressions on one’s character. In my case, I learned how to study, I learned how to be dependable and I learned teamwork and leadership skills.

Who were your mentors at MA?Every teacher made lasting impressions on me. Mr. Kerner in English, Mr. Hemmeter in history, Mr. Gibson in science. Carmen Marnell the football coach made the biggest impression on me.

Really taught me about teamwork, leadership, the desire to win and the effort you need to make.

Where has your life’s journey taken you – what are you involved with now? I’ve spent 40 years on Wall Street, and I’ve seen more than a few business cycles. I’m at the point in my business career when it’s time for me to step aside for the next generation.

I’m happily married for 38 years to my college sweetheart, and I’ve watched my five sons grow into wonderful men and fathers

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You can’t live without your…?

This one is simple. I can’t live without my wife, Ann. CHRIS HOLMES SMITH ’85

How did your time at MKA influence you in your life? I went to MKA from first grade on, so the day-to-day activities at each of the school’s three campuses bore an influence on my life in a number of important ways. In my formative years in Brookside and Middle School, the commitment and enthusiasm of the faculty had an incredibly positive and enduring impact on my outlook. My teachers and coaches during those early stages sparked my intellectual curiosity, instilled a respect for goal

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setting and hard work, and put in place a flexible approach to solving problems and resolving ethical dilemmas that complimented and reinforced what I was learning at home and in my community. Once I arrived at the Upper School, I had ample opportunity to build upon this rock-solid foundation, stretch beyond my comfort zone and begin acclimating to serving in positions of leadership—whether on the athletic field, or in the classroom.

It’s also important for me to acknowledge how MKA provided me with a sound model for how elite institutions that are steeped in tradition can evolve with changing times and inculcate a spirit of inclusion and respect for social and cultural differences. No institution is perfect in this regard, but looking back, I feel good about how MKA responded to greater awareness of the post-Civil Rights era’s multicultural reality. It was an interesting experience growing up in the 1970s and 80s as a working-class black kid who lived in a predominantly black neighborhood while attending a predominantly white school that was endowed with significant economic and social capital reserves. It would be naïve to suggest that MKA could ameliorate all of the ideological fault-lines brought to bear by this wide gulf of lived experience. However, quite crucially, as an MKA student, I was always encouraged to be my best self and pursue whatever dreams my heart desired. The faculty and administrators also demonstrated

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commendable leadership where cultural sensitivity is concerned and put forward a curriculum and set of experiences that respected various points of view and fostered meaningful debate and productive disagreement. I benefitted tremendously from this flexible approach to scholarship and dedication to the hallmarks of good citizenship.

Overall, my MKA years laid a cornerstone of self-belief and optimism that I’ve leaned upon and leveraged against at every stage of my adult life.

Where has your life’s journey taken you – what are you involved with now? MKA set my life on a trajectory that initially led me to the heartland of the Midwest —first as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, and eventually as a doctoral student at the University of WisconsinMadison—and eventually to “The Golden State” of California, where

SUSAN WRIGHT ’65 TKS

I am a professor of communication at the Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism of the University of Southern California.

What has been the biggest accomplishment so far in your career? No other moment has knocked my socks off more than when one of my former students asked me to become an ordained minister so I could officiate at her wedding. Touching young lives and serving as a mentor to my students has been my greatest source of career satisfaction. ... the biggest lesson learned to date in your career? I’ve learned the power of patience and adopting a long-term strategic perspective. Sustainable growth always is a sober-minded, brick-by-brick endeavor. Also, relationships are EVERYTHING!

Kimberley has been my touchstone, a good luck charm I hold fast. Whoever converted the former Montclair Athletic Club, with its squash courts and playing fields, into a day school for girls must have envisioned the one-of-a-kind education had by us. The physical space created an unforgettable environment in which a small group of us could learn and grow.

I felt as if I were going to school in a mansion. Tall windows set in stucco and charming French doors opening on the lawns let in the light.

Among many memories I remember the assembly at which Miss Winfield became Mrs. Easter and introduced her husband, Captain Easter (whose daughter, Theo was my college classmate). I remember Miss Renz who always led me by the hand as if I were a first grader when I was a grown-up ninth grader. I remember getting out at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays and going to

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Who were your mentors at MKA? I had so many phenomenal teachers and mentors over the years, but I must say that I have particular affection and appreciation for my high school math teacher, Mr. Ken Mansuy and my high-school English teacher, Bill Bullard. Both of them were incredibly elegant, nimble in mind and body, and always wore a smile.

They were “Renaissance men” in every sense of the term.

What is your favorite memory/ story from your time at MKA? Doing battle with—and beating!— our archrival Newark Academy on the football field while at Middle School and at the Upper School were definitely special moments.

And those middle school field trips for “Survival” and the Colonial Williamsburg project were a real hoot, as well!

Bond’s. And who among us can forget the Senior Room given to us for smoking during our last year (situated in a former squash court)?

My Kimberley classmates were my mentors. All the teachers influenced me, especially Miss Hamilton, our English teacher in senior year, who introduced me to Thomas Hardy in a yearlong project.

Throughout his life I remained in touch with Mr. Loveland, who became the Headmaster our senior year.

(His family has roots here in New Hampshire; I drive past Loveland Road on most days.)

Volunteering keeps me engaged with the community.

I’m involved with the local NIH-designated cancer center, Colby-Sawyer College (the former Colby Jr. College whose president went to the Academy), my Vassar class, especially including three from Kimberley, and the state humanities council, among other organizations.

Presently I’m volunteering as a docent for Dartmouth’s art museum. I study art—a subject I skipped in college—at this stage of life I find satisfying.

My greatest professional reward has been advising students at Dartmouth. To my good fortune, I am married to Mr. Wright.

Without my Kimberley friends my life would be far less meaningful—and a whole lot less fun.

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C L AS S N OT ES

G

A GEN EROUS L I F E

YOUR GENEROSITY SUPPORTS We believe in our ability to empower our students and we know that to support new generations our future must include expanded and renovated facilities, robust Annual Giving and a stronger Endowment that provides security and confidence.

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Martin Brayboy ’80 Recently, alumnus J. Martin Brayboy ’80 met over lunch with Associate Director of Development Keith Wiggs in beautiful Collinsville, Connecticut to catch up about Martin’s life and career.

The son of longtime fourth grade teacher Thomasina Brayboy (now retired), Martin attended MKA from kindergarten to 12th grade, making him among the elite group of MKA “Lifers.” After graduating from the Upper School, Martin attended Amherst College where he majored in political science.

Currently, Martin is Vice President, Employee Benefits Management at Rose & Kiernan, Inc, an insurance brokerage.

Martin’s wife, Elizabeth, an independent management consultant, is an avid horsewoman, having served as organizer and coach of the Yale Polo Team. Together, they share a passion for travel, fine food and wine.

Philanthropy and volunteerism remain an important part of Martin’s life. He supports several local and national nonprofits, and he serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Northeast Connecticut and The Psi Upsilon Foundation.

On behalf of MKA, Martin will join J. Kent Walker ’80 as the Co-Chairs of their 35th Reunion in October 2015.

Martin is a member of MKA’s Heritage Society, naming the Academy as a beneficiary of his estate plans. Regarding this decision, he says, “I credit MKA for giving me the educational advantage that made me who I am today. I feel a stronger connection to my experiences at MKA than at any other school or organization.”

Membership in the Heritage Society may be as simple as

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The Heritage Society “Having been a MKA “lifer” and faculty brat, I greatly appreciate the preparation MKA provided.

We were guided by a wonderful faculty who challenged us and opened our minds to new vistas.

My wife, Lizzie, and I want others to be able to have such an experience.”

— J. Martin Brayboy ‘80

Legacy

Leave a lasting legacy.

Learn more about the benefits of MKA’s planned giving opportunities. www.mka.org/plannedgiving

Contact Geoffrey Branigan, Director of Development at gbranigan@mka.org or 973-509-7940.

naming MKA in your will or IRA. Life income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, are also practical options for some people.

Advantages of membership in the Heritage Society include annual luncheons, invitations to special events and seminars and a subscription to our newsletter. The most important benefit you will

receive from joining the Society is the satisfaction derived from making a lasting contribution to MKA’s long-term success. ■ For further information, go to www.legacy.vg/mka or contact Geoffrey Branigan, Director of Development, at (973) 509-7940 or gbranigan@mka.org.

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Sheila Feagley James ’43 The Kimberley School in Montclair, New Jersey, became a part of my life as I entered the third grade, and it stayed with me, as family, friend, occasional foe for ten years, until I graduated in June, 1943.

All of our teachers were women save for one man (the artist husband of the studio art teacher), and they all had graduated from women’s colleges. The impression this made on me still lingers: women can be educated, with degrees, from real colleges. And the importance of learning! Our senior year history teacher had us read Karl Marx’s “Manifesto,”but she did ask us to cover the book with brown paper so people on the street, and even family members, wouldn’t confront us. Clever woman! Our teachers expected us to think and to be adventurous, to be caring, to continue to learn.

Although I love music, I cannot play an instrument or carry a tune. I am forever thankful that Kimberley made me, as well as all students, sing. Miss Bauer and Miss Carpenter, our music teachers, showed me a new world.

In singing, we went everywhere, from Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” to Australia’s “Waltzing Matilda.”

A grand treat was the year the music teachers returned from England after summer vacation with a set of hand bells. I could play them! So I joined the Bell Ringing Group. I loved Morris Dancing when that was part of the gym experience. I’m still proud that I was able to manage

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the timing of shaking hands, the fingers covered with bells, to the shaking of feet, also covered in bells in tune with the music.

The Kimberley School awakened me to travel—to go places and not just dream of them.

Over many years, I fulfilled that dream many times over. Among my travels was a trip by open motorboat to Skellig Michael, the remote island off the West Coast of Ireland that is difficult to get to. Then to the Isle of Iona, off the West Coast of Scotland, where the Scottish Kings are buried; there are no headstones. And Iona is where the Books of Kells were saved by monks during the Dark Ages. It was wondrous, after seeing the Isle of Iona and those treasures, to view the Book of Kells in beautiful condition at Trinity University, Dublin, to see what had been preserved. A special treat at Trinity was a temporary exhibit of the Journals of Capt.

James Cook. I had studied him in depth living in Hawaii, (which he had named the Sandwich Islands, after his benefactor, the Earl of Sandwich).

When my youngest child was in first grade, I decided I must get my undergraduate degree. At Fairleigh Dickinson University, the superb professor, Dr. Gene Weltfish, was my main teacher

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and senior mentor. Her specialty and dissertation had been on the Pawnee Indians. She had been a classmate of Margaret Mead, so when a question arose about Samoa in class one day, she said, “I don’t know the answer to that.

I’ll call Margaret and find out.” Dr. Weltfish’s great courses changed my degree interests from sociology to anthropology. I received my BA degree, magna cum laude, in anthropology, when I was 49 years old.

My husband took a job in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the fall of 1975, so we entered a whole different world. In Honolulu, I took two special courses: a writing literature course from Maxine Hong Kingston (author of The Woman Warrior), and a poetry workshop with Galway Kinnell, both at the University of Hawaii, Manoa (on Oahu). Encouraged, I entered the Masters in Education Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

I was sixty-five years old. Family matters delayed my degree, but get it I did: Masters of Educational Foundations (MEd). My husband and I celebrated my receiving a master’s when I was 70 years old, by taking a two-week narrowboat trip through canals of Wales and England.

From 1976 on, I was a docent/ guide in museums. How I got interested in art was the one unpleasantness at Kimberley school: I was 16, starting my senior year and two weeks into chemistry class. I was called to the Headmistresses to be told the chemistry teacher wouldn’t have me in her class anymore. I either would not or

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“My Kimberley teachers instilled self-worth and courage for new challenges, even though some of it took years to blossom. ”

could not memorize the Periodic Tables. Out! (That was when I discovered I have a real inability to memorize.) It was suggested I take studio art instead. I hadn’t a clue what that would be like, but I found it perfect.

My most spectacular and unexpected reward I received was from the participants of a tour I gave at the Honolulu Museum of Art. That museum gives tours to all, and starting some years back, tours for wounded warriors.

Officially it’s called “Warriors and Art,” but all the visitors on this tour are recovering from war wounds. Most of the military who

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arrive at the museum are “post stress disorder” patients.

I found giving tours to wounded warriors the most rewarding.

They had one hour with a docent, and then an hour in the art studio with an artist. So what could my wonderful reward be? At the end of one of the tours, the military visitors were so entranced with my tour (I’m usually a non-stop talker) that first I couldn’t get them to leave, and when, with much talk, laughter, and smiles, the men, all eight of them, did go out the door, each gave me a kiss when they thanked me! And the two women (and Women Warriors

don’t like anyone to get close to them or touch them) came over to me and shook my hand. Tears of Joy. My sister, Anne Feagley Wittels, TKS 1945, and I are forever grateful that our mother, Elizabeth O’Neil Feagley, used her creative talent, with hard work and no complaints, which allowed us to have the wonderful education of The Kimberley School. Anne and I decided to honor her memory with an annual award for a creative junior high school girl. Anne and I have been delighted with the recipients.

In my head has been the constant reminder I had heard when I started at The Kimberley School: that Miss Jordan had been born aboard a clipper ship in the Indian Ocean. True or not, I believed it, and it gave me the wish to be an intelligent, major, sophisticated traveler, too. My Kimberley teachers instilled self-worth and courage for new challenges, even though some of it took years to blossom. ■

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Jennifer Ladda ’84 Jennifer Ladda ’84 just celebrated her 30th reunion with her fellow 1984 classmates. She has many fond memories of her time at MKA and credits the Upper School faculty with helping her to learn the critical skills necessary for higher education and beyond. Her favorite, and most influential, teacher and mentor was her history teacher, Bob Hemmeter.

Through “many hours of debate and discussion in and out of class with Mr. Hemmeter,” she discovered her strength as an advocate and uncovered a path that ultimately led her to law school and her career as a litigator. Jennifer says, “The type of educational environment I experienced at the Upper School, I believe, is unique to MKA, and I want to make sure the school upholds its tradition of attracting and maintaining the very best faculty so that it can continue to be an extraordinary place to learn and develop.” Jennifer is a passionate advocate and has supported MKA financially since her graduation because she believes in “giving back to a place I credit with having a very formative influence in my life.”

Jennifer’s Upper School experience was further enriched by her involvement in MKA’s athletic program as a varsity field hockey player. Her coach, Jeanne Mersch, was another teacher who provided invaluable support and guidance through her high school years.

Jennifer and her husband, Todd, are excited for Dylan and Caitlin to enter their freshman year at the

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Upper School and experience all that MKA has to offer.

Twins, Dylan and Caitlin, have been members of the MKA community since joining us in Pre-K. Dylan enjoys sports, in particular soccer, basketball and tennis and looks forward to playing soccer at the Upper School. He plays club soccer outside of school and spends many weekends attending games and tournaments. Over the summer, Dylan will attend several soccer camps including MKA pre-season training camp in August. Dylan recently had the honor of being elected to serve as 8th grade Class President and Middle School Student Government President. He hopes to get involved in student government at the Upper School as well.

Caitlin is passionate about music, theater and the performing arts. She is very excited to be a member of MKA’s award winning a capella group “Unaccompanied Minors,” and she can’t wait to explore all of the other acting and musical opportunities available to her at the Upper School. Outside of school, Caitlin takes voice and acting lessons

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in addition to studying guitar.

She will spend three weeks this summer at Frenchwoods Festival of the Performing Arts where she will perform in musical theater, sing in a band and take acting courses specializing in Shakespeare, among others.

Caitlin is also an incoming member of MKA’s cheerleading squad and is looking forward to preseason camp in August.

Todd and Jennifer met during her junior year at MKA, and together share a longtime connection to the school. As a professional in finance, Todd has been a guest speaker at MKA informing students about the importance of financial investments and money management. Over the years, Todd and Jennifer have contributed to MKA’s capital campaigns to invest in and improve the school’s infrastructure and facilities.

We are very fortunate to have Jennifer, Todd, Dylan and Caitlin in the MKA community and can’t wait to see Dylan and Caitlin showcase their talents in the classroom, on the stage and on the field.■

“[I believe in] giving back to a place I credit with having a very formative influence in my life.”

“[I believe in] giving back to a place I credit with having a very formative influence in my life.”

GENEROUS LIVES INSPIRE THE MKA STORY

Above: Caitlin Ladda ’19 Middle: Dylan Ladda ’19 Below: The Ladda Family

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MKA is a school of thought that turns inquiry into insight.

We intentionally foster balance in students’ lives so they can develop their infinite potential in and out of the classroom.

Embracing a contagious go-for-it attitude, students confidently try anything on their distinct educational adventures, guided by faculty who love to learn and live to teach. As diverse as it is united, our community is strengthened by a commitment to good character, and together we celebrate each student’s success.

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Scu lptu re Class

Students in Sculpture 1 with Upper School Fine and Performing Arts instructor, Alicia Cuccolo, having fun learning the subtractive process of carving (chipping, gouging, hammering) from a block of plaster.

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MON TC L A I R K I M B E R L E Y A C A DE MY 20 1 VALLEY ROAD, M O NTCLAIR, N J 07042

“It’s best to think of May Term, then, as an echo of other formative MKA experiences. And like an ECHO, it’s a reminder of an original sound, in this case, the purpose of an MKA education. ” Steve Valentine, Assistant Head of the Upper School See page 22 for full story.