Why Student-Centered Matters
Investing in Malvern Men
Mike Buckley ’64: What Medicine Has Taught Me
winter 2015
Pulling Together
Malvern’s International Rowing Program and Its New Home on the Schuylkill
An Augustinian School
INNOVATIVE LEARNING BUILT ON TIMELESS FAITH
Entrance Exam for 6th, 7th, 8th Grades February 7, 2015
6th grade Practice Entrance Exam for 4th graders 9th grade Practice Entrance Exam for 7th graders
March 21, 2015 • April 25, 2015
Malvern Preview Morning
All are welcome, but this event is especially designed for families of 4th graders interested in 6th grade and families of 7th graders interested in 9th grade.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 MalvernPrep.org/Admissions • 484-595-1173 Malvern Prep is an Independent, Augustinian, Catholic college preparatory school for boys in grades 6 – 12.
Contents Malvern Magazine :: Volume 12 :: Issue 1 :: Winter 2015
Features
10 Pulling Together
Malvern’s International Rowing Program and Its New Home on the Schuylkill How Coach Craig Hoffman turned a small club team into a rowing powerhouse. By Ryan Kasley
18 “Never stop learning”
Reflections on a long medical career Mike Buckley ’64 knew at an early age that he wanted to be a doctor. Now, a new chapter is beginning with his retirement as executive director of Pennsylvania Hospital, an institution he has served for 37 years. By Art Carey
22 Why Student-Centered Matters And Why Malvern is Best Positioned to Deliver It
For the past two years, Malvern’s Academic Research Team has been investigating new methods of teaching that will prepare students to survive and thrive in today’s world. by Haley Schneider
28 Investing in Malvern Men
Lou Colameco ’77 T Creates the Newest Endowed Scholarship Fund
One Sunday morning last May, Malvern Prep brought together two important groups of people – those who have given so generously to create scholarship funds, and students and their families who have benefited from this critical financial aid. By Jim Mack
Departments up front
Alumni
2 Head of School's Message
30 NewsNotes
Around Campus
40
4 Friar Days 20 The Big Picture
Class Notes Connections and Conversationss
On the Cover Why Student-Centered Matters
Investing in Malvern Men
Mike Buckley ’64: What Medicine Has Taught Me
Pulling TogeTher
Malvern’s International Rowing Program and Its New Home on the Schuylkill
Malvern’s rowing program has grown from a small club team to an international power, thanks, in large part, to the work of Head Coach Craig Hoffman. Now, the team is set to unveil it’s new boathouse in Conshohocken.
10
Page Please Recycle this Magazine
up front
Dear Friends of Malvern— At this year’s Fr. Duffy Christmas party,
President
I told this story about my first visit to Gerry Ellis’ office on the ground floor of Tolentine Hall.
Head of School
As I stepped into his office, I noticed the decorations: books from the English classes he had taught over three decades; a stack of files on the Middle School students for whom Gerry served as school counselor; a crucifix. Set upon the ledge of the window, my eye was drawn to a photograph of Gerry next to student standing outside Carney Hall. Their wide grins reflected a genuine friendship. “Who is that?” I asked.
Rev. James R. Flynn, O.S.A. Christian M. Talbot Assistant Head of School
Stephen R. Valyo ’70
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Carrie Snyder
Development Office Director of Development
Victor D’Ascenzo ’81
Assistant Director of Development
Michael Gondos
Director of Alumni Programs
Gerry proceeded to tell me about a boy who had made the haul to Malvern from Upper Darby every day for four years. Through hard work, focus, and the support of many people like Gerry, that young man thrived at Malvern and is now a proud alumnus with a beautiful family and a successful career.
J. Michael Treston ’02
After Gerry told me the story, I said, “I feel as though we could lift every brick of every building on campus, move every athletic field, from here to the middle of the country, but we wouldn’t be able to recreate Malvern Prep. But if we moved the people who make up Malvern Prep, we could recreate this school in a heartbeat.”
Database Administrator
We are blessed with exceptional facilities, but first and foremost Malvern is our faculty and staff, our students, our alumni, our parents, our trustees, our friends in the community. Malvern is our teachers even after they retire, as Gerry Ellis did at the end of this past school year.
Associate Director of Communications & Public Relations
In this issue of Malvern Magazine, you will read stories about the people who make Malvern a unique community: Craig Hoffman, the coach who took a small club team and turned it into our internationally recognized rowing program; Lou Colameco ’77, an exceptionally generous son of Malvern; Mike Buckley ’64, recently retired Executive Director of Pennsylvania Hospital and father of Malvern’s current Director of College Counseling, Emily Feeney. I’m lucky to be part of the Malvern Prep family with you. Thank you for reading, and thank you for your continued support of our mission to form leaders inspired by the values of St. Augustine and motivated to change the world. mp
Director of Gift Planning
Mary-Helen McCulloch, J.D.
Director of The Malvern Fund
Alexandra Litvinas
Christine Tiberi P’10’12
Assistant to Advancement
Marie Sumser
Communications and Marketing Jim Mack
Associate Director of Marketing
Tasha Hillery
Social Media and Public Relations Specialist
Sarah Trently
Magazine Staff Editor in Chief
Christian M. Talbot Editor
Jim Mack Layout & Design
Proof Design Studios Printing
Great Atlantic Photography
For Malvern—
Sarah Bones, Michael Branscom, Rob Buscaglia, Bob Colameco, Mike DiTrolio, Jim Mack and Sarah Trently Contributing Writers
Art Carey, Ryan Kasley, Jim Mack, Haley Schneider and Sarah Trently
Christian M. Talbot Head of School
Malvern Preparatory School
418 S. Warren Avenue Malvern, PA 19355-2707
tel: 484-595-1100 fax: 484-595-1124 e-mail: information@malvernprep.org web: www.malvernprep.org Malvern Magazine is made possible through your support of The Malvern Fund. For Malvern Magazine queries, call 484-595-1117 or e-mail communications@malvernprep.org.
2 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Around campus
FriarDays Diversity Initiative Grows with Addition of New Admissions Staff “Seeking oneness of mind and heart in the journey toward God, Malvern strives to build a diverse community in which a caring faculty works with parents and students to instill in everyone a personal responsibility for the common good.” – from the Malvern Preparatory School Mission Statement
Patrick Williams ’03, Malvern’s new Assistant Director of Admissions and Diversity.
L
ast fall, as part of the School’s Strategic Plan, the Malvern Prep Board of Trustees unanimously approved an initiative to increase the diversity of the student population to 20 percent by the 2019-2020 academic year. The School’s current enrollment includes approximately 7.5 percent students of color. That aggressive goal, though, is not what drives Patrick Williams ’03, Malvern’s new Assistant Director of Admissions & Diversity. “Our mission statement wasn’t written with any quotas in mind,” Williams says. “Diversity is vital to education and growth of humans and followers of Christ. I personally believe Malvern should be more diverse because to be around people with cultural backgrounds, opinions and experiences that differ from our own enhances the learning experience because it challenges us to think critically and fosters a culture of inclusivity.” In his new role, Williams will be working with the Board and Diversity Oversight Committee and Task Forces to fine tune the diversity initiative; identifying new feeder schools and developing relationships with schools to help encourage applicants of students of color; meeting with prospective students and parents; communicating and mentoring current students of color; developing recruitment and retention strategies; and providing training on cultural sensitivity to faculty and staff. “In a broad sense, we hired Pat in order to help us more fully live Malvern Prep’s mission,” says Head of School Christian Talbot. “A more diverse learning community will ensure that our students are better prepared to meet the challenges and to take advantage of the opportunities of a global economy.” mp
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 3
Around Campus
FriarDays New Experiential Learning Program Pairs Students with Real-world Opportunities “The Experiential Learning program allows students to immerse themselves into a company and make a meaningful contribution, while expanding their horizons,” says Aaron Brady, Malvern’s Director of Experiential Learning and Varsity Football Coach. “These opportunities are simply another way to expand the boys’ window of opportunity regarding college,” says Brady. “They help differentiate the Malvern student from the thousands of other college applicants.” Last spring, eight students worked with Grassracks, a local company founded by Malvern alumni Evan Hajas ’04 and Andrew Lees ’02, that builds functional and eco-friendly storage options for surfboards, stand up paddleboards, skimboards and skateboards. “We were able to use a lot of the information that the students gathered during the research portion of their project,” says Hajas. “We’ve been able to turn that information they gathered into our marketing and sales efforts for the company.” Kevin Smith ’15 felt that he gained experience in the business field, particularly
Spring Distinguished Speaker Explores Idea of Leadership with Malvern Community In March, Malvern welcomed bestselling author and New York Times columnist Adam Bryant for
around how small start-ups work. “One of the big things I learned was that small
the School’s second Distinguished
start-ups take a lot of leg work and how everyone in the company has to do many
Speaker Series event.
different things,” Smith says. mp
In his column, “Corner Office,” Bryant interviews chief executives from across a wide range of industries about leadership and management. This speaking event had a twist, as one student group and one parent group researched and presented a project on leadership. The groups shared their findings in front of the student body, and then at the public event in the evening. The student group of Arjun Menon ’15, Matt Heisler ’16, and Tommy Pero ’17 surveyed leaders across a wide range of industries and concluded that professionals embrace failure, technology is changing leadership and core values do not change over time – principals that Bryant echoed in his presentation. Leadership is personal, Bryant observed, but what do all great leaders have in common? “Trust, passionate curiosity and a bias toward action,” he said.
Rashon Lusane ’16 and Dymond Wright ’15 talk with Aaron Brady, Director of Experiential Learning, about possible opportunities for the school year. Brady’s primary responsibility is to seek and cultivate opportunities for Malvern students to gain real-world work experience with businesses and other organizations.
4 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
TOP: Adam Bryant discusses the research of the parent group of (seated, from left) Ronald Marine P’14’19, Joanie Milhouse P’19 and Lynn Bevevino P’14’15’20’21 and the student group of Tommy Pero ’17, Matt Heisler ’16 and Arjun Menon ’15 (not pictured) before his keynote presentation.
Around campus
“A Teacher is Always a Learner”:
The Summer Institute
T
his past July, educators from Malvern Prep and Villa Maria started the year on the right foot at Malvern’s Summer Institute for Teachers. “The Summer Institute provides teachers the opportunity to recommit themselves to our School and learn how they can improve as teachers, while still holding true to the core Augustinian Values of Malvern Prep,” says Christian Talbot, Malvern’s Head of School. The Summer Institute is part philosophical, part practical. Time is devoted to exploring Augustinian educational philosophy, as well as emerging trends and best practices throughout the field of education. Project-based, inquirybased and other student-centered learning strategies are the focus of much of the program, and teachers are encouraged to incorporate what they have learned at the Institute into their classrooms. Teachers rotate through three cycles, Assessment, Pedagogy and Curriculum, over three consecutive summers. Teachers are encouraged to collaborate with one another, much like students do in the classroom. “Collaboration in the
Malvern teachers demonstrate how to conduct a quick formative assessment in class during the School’s Summer Institute for Teachers.
classroom, like the collaboration that I found in the Summer Institute, enables a student to learn with others in a group, experiencing and exchanging different ideas and questions with one another,” says English teacher Leo Kindon P’12. At the conclusion of the two-week Summer Institute, teachers demonstrated their learning with a group presentation
in front of the other attendees and other teachers and administrators from Malvern and Villa. “Giving a presentation in front of your peers and others is never easy, but as teachers we will be asking our students to perform these demonstrations of learning and it is only right that we do it as well. After all, a teacher is always a learner, too,” says Kindon. mp
Help Malvern Prep Through Two Simple Tax Credit Programs! It’s likely that your business qualifies for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) Programs. To learn more about using your business tax dollars to help Malvern students reach their goals contact Michael Gondos, Assistant Director of Development, at 484-595-5217 or mgondos@malvernprep.org, or visit malvernprep.org/SupportMalvern. Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 5
Around Campus
FriarDays
Friars Reclaim Heyward Cup with Dominant 2013-2014 Cross Country, Football (shared), Golf, Water Polo (shared), Swimming & Diving, Baseball, Lacrosse and Track & Field - with Inter-Ac Championships in each of these sports, the Malvern Prep Friars took back the Heyward Cup, which recognizes overall excellence in the League.
Spring Recaps Lacrosse
Lacrosse Completes Undefeated Season "The message at halftime was sharing—and it’s what we did the whole year. We trusted each other and that changed everything," said Malvern Head Lacrosse Coach John McEvoy '86 - fitting words to describe how his Friars completed the first undefeated season in school history with a 10-9 win over the Haverford School in the finals of the Inter-Ac Invitational. Malvern finished the season 24-0 and ranked third in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. The team was rewarded with an abundance of post-season awards including: Greg Pelton ’14, Charles Kelly ’15 and Kevin McGeary ’14 were named Philly-area US Lacrosse Boys’ All-Americans, and McEvoy was named Coach of the Year; Pelton was named an Under Armour All-American and Most Important Player in the Inter-Ac; and Kyle Anderson ’17, Kelly, McGeary, Mike Mulqueen ’15 and Pelton were named to the All-Eastern Pennsylvania Lacrosse Coaches Association team.
Baseball
Inter-Ac, State Titles for Friar Baseball Team With its fourth consecutive Inter-Ac title already under its belt, the Malvern Prep Baseball
Connor Glancy ’14 makes a play on the ball against Haverford in the Inter-Ac Invitational championship game.
6 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
team completed its impressive season by claiming the independent school Pennsylvania state championship with a 5-0 win over the Perkiomen School. The state title was the second in the past three years under Head Coach Freddy Hilliard,
Around campus
shot put with a throw of 45-5. The Friars took control after the 1,600-meter run, in which Jaxson Hoey ’16 took first place in 4:26.17. Casey Breuer ’14 came up big in the 400-meter dash with a firstplace finish in 50.51; Hoey came back to take first place in the 800-meter run in 1:56.04; and Trevor Morris ’15 took first in the 200-meter dash in 22.36 and second in the 100-meter dash in 11.07. At the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Championship, Breuer had a big day for Malvern, taking first in the 400-meter dash (50.63), fourth in the 200-meter dash (23.00) and joining Dan Ferraiolo ’14, Elijah King ’15 and Hoey on the first-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:25.26). Pancoast took home gold in the high jump with a jump of 6-6, and Hoey took first place in the 800-meter run in 1:55.2. The Friars earned big points in the 1,600-meter run, with Billy McDevitt ’15 finishing second in 4:21.04, Colin Wills ’16 finishing fourth in 4:24.60 and Brendan Stec ’14 finishing fifth in 4:25.99.
Senior captain Dan Grandieri ’14 slugged his way to a First-team All-Inter-Ac selection and helped lead the Friars to an Inter-Ac and state championship.
who credited his team's success to its resiliency and senior leadership. The Friars led by senior captains, Dan Grandieri ’14, Gardner Nutter ’14 and Matt Maul ’14, were able to find their form and storm back from a 1-2 league mark to win the Inter-Ac title. Mike Styer ’14, Maul (Team MVP), Grandieri and Tim Quinn ’15, were named First-team All-Inter-Ac, while Nutter was honored as Inter-Ac CoMVP. The team cruised through the state tournament for the championship, finishing 27-9 overall for the season. The Friars held the Philadelphia Inquirer number one ranking in Southeastern PA a combined seven weeks this spring, and finish the year as the top-ranked team again for the second time in the past four seasons.
Track & Field
Malvern Track Takes Home Inter-Ac and State Titles The Malvern Prep Track & Field team won its sixth Inter-Ac title in the past seven years and followed that performance up with its second consecutive state title and its third in the last four years under Head Coach Mike Koenig. At the Inter-Ac Championship on their home track, the Friars got off to a strong start in the field events, led by first-place finishes by Andy Pancoast ’14 in the high jump at 6-5 and Jake Rebisz ’15 in the
Casey Breuer ’14 dominated the 400-meter-dash last season and helped the Friars win both the Inter-Ac and state championships.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 7
Around Campus
FriarDays
Spring Festival Brings Out the Best in Malvern's Artists On April 30 and May 1, Malvern Prep's talented visual artists, musicians and singers gathered together for two packed-house nights in the Duffy Arts Center as the community celebrated the arts during its annual Spring Arts Festival. With a visual art show on both nights, and band and choral concerts on successive evenings, parents, teachers and students were treated to a wonderful display of artistic skill and hard work. With its push to embrace student-centered learning, the School has been talking a lot about presentations of learning. As Head of School Ron Algeo ’87 P’15 points out, the arts festival is a perfect example of that. “The Band and Choral concerts as well as the art displayed in the hallways of Duffy were tangible results of all that we have been talking about for over a year. The boys were challenged with a very difficult task create a work of art or music, practice it, persevere through the ups and downs of mastering the skill, then display your work for others to enjoy. What a wonderful celebration of learning! What a beautiful night for Malvern Prep.” mp
8 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Innovative Learning – Timeless Faith – Inspired Giving
Endowed Gifts (From left) Brendan, Tricia and Frank Hallinan P’14 T
Gifts to Malvern’s endowment are gifts for the School’s future. Unlike annual gifts, endowment funds are carefully invested, and the interest is used to support specific initiatives on an annual basis. These gifts make a powerful and lasting impact. That’s why Frank and Tricia Hallinan P’14 T chose to create an endowed fund to grow and sustain Malvern’s innovative Global Student Exchange Program. “The world in which our sons are growing up is dramatically smaller than the world we grew up in because of ever-changing technology,” Frank says, “So, we believe that affording our children opportunities
to travel abroad and learn in foreign countries will help prepare them for the competitive global job market. Additionally, our sons who travel overseas for Christian Service and Global Exchange come back much more aware of how blessed they are and inspired to roll up their sleeves and help those who will probably never have the incredible opportunities that they have been afforded. Everyone who has been lucky enough to experience the Augustinian spirit knows that we have a duty to preserve what is best about Malvern and protect the future of the School.”
A key goal in Malvern’s Strategic Vision is to increase the School’s endowment by $10 million by 2016. If you would like more information about ways to support Malvern’s future through an endowed gift, please contact Vic D’Ascenzo ’81, Director of Development, at 484-595-1111 or vdascenzo@malvernprep.org.
Pulling
Together Malvern’s International Rowing Program and Its New Home on the Schuylkill By Ryan Kasley
10 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 11
n June 21, the Malvern Prep rowing team headed to England for the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. It was a seven-hour red-eye flight from Philadelphia to London Heathrow. By the time we arrived in the town of Henley-onThames, about 45 minutes west of London, the squad’s excitement could barely be contained. Despite being exhausted (and jetlagged), they were practicing on the water that same day. The team makes this pilgrimage every two or three years after proving themselves at championship races earlier in the season.
grueling duel race down the manicured banks of the course. All the pomp and circumstance was present at this annual weeklong celebration of culture and sport. In typical English fashion, a dress code was strictly enforced to enter the exclusive Stewards Enclosure. Yet the imagination was allowed to express itself in brightly colored striped blazers for men, and large hats strewn with flowers donned by ladies. This event tops the bucket list of every rower. This year, two four-man quad sculling boats represented Malvern at the competition. Six of the eight students that competed were
It is the highlight of the rowing year for the squad any year they go. Every graduating senior eagerly anticipates the opportunity to compete head-to-head, tournament style against the best crews in the world—the last race of their high school rowing careers before heading to college in the fall. We pulled into Henley and were struck by the quintessential English
12 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
charm it exuded. The River Thames gently wound its way through rolling hills, meadows and quaint cottage-lined villages. The racecourse is something of a legend itself. Most regattas are rowed with six boats lined up across the start line—one race to determine the winner. Henley is unique in that it uses a March Madness-style tournament bracket; each crew races one team per round in a
graduating seniors who have acquired multiple National Championship victories over the past four years. This race, which is the most prestigious race in the world bar the Olympics, is the culmination of four years of hard work: four years of two-a-days, races every weekend, a year-round training program, and countless hours of sacrifice.
Craig Hoffman’s
Most Memorable Malvern Moments 2002
Malvern wins the Varsity and JV Quads at Stotesbury for the first time.
2003
Varsity Quad reaches finals of Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
Varsity Quad wins USRowing Youth National Championship.
2004 Head Coach Craig Hoffman on the deck of Malvern’s new boathouse overlooking the Schuylkill River.
The Visionary For Head Rowing Coach Craig Hoffman, this particular trip brings him back further than just the past four years. Since 1997, Hoffman and his Malvern crews have traveled to Henley six times—a pedigree solidifying his status as an elite-level coach. Hoffman, now entering is 17th year as head coach, smiled as we began to muse about the humble beginnings of the program—especially when compared to the national powerhouse it has become. In 1988, the late Father John Melton, O.S.A. started the program as a club with the few students he convinced to try the sport. In 1992, the school made it a varsity program. Over the next four years
the team had mixed results at local and national competitions. Thanks to Father Melton’s guidance, the program survived and pressed on. In August of 1997, Hoffman came on board. Former Head of School Jim Stewart P’86’94 PT Hon and then Athletic Director Frank Ryan wanted to take the team to a higher “varsity” level, and were willing to fully commit the necessary resources and invest in better equipment. Hoffman brought with him a vision for the team that aligned with the school’s goals—provide an invaluable experience for Malvern students, the means to win major national and international championships and the chance to improve college-of-choice acceptance rates. Several major changes were introduced immediately. An elite-level training program was implemented that stretched the time commitment from a spring-only season to a mostly yearround endeavor. They had 26 rowers
Varsity Quad wins Scholastic and Youth Nationals for the first time. Since 2004, the Malvern Quad has won Scholastic Nationals eight times.
2007
Varsity Quad wins City Champs, Stotesbury and Scholastic Nationals for the fifth year in a row.
2009
Malvern wins at Stotesbury in the Freshman, JV and Varsity Quad with only 20 athletes on the team.
2014
Malvern wins the Varsity Quad and Varsity Double at Scholastic Nationals – the first time any school accomplished this in 15 years.
1997 to Present
More than 80 student-athletes were recruited by and attended the college of their choice.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 13
Pulling Together
when Hoffman started, with enough equipment for only 11. In just one month, the team had shrunk to 11 highly motivated students committed to taking the squad to a higher level. From then on, the training and the sport became a lifestyle, not just an after school activity: weightlifting in the morning three times a week, and afternoon practice on the water Monday through Saturday, with races on Sunday. With the new emphasis on success, Hoffman notes that a “win” is not just a first place medal. He says, “A win is also seeing a student get into the college of their choice, or witnessing a kid overcome mental and physical barriers to perform above and beyond his previous limitations.” But more than winning, a student’s time on the rowing team is a process of self-discovery. In an environment that forces you to be honest with yourself and your teammates, introspection is inevitable. It is one of the things Hoffman prides himself on most regarding the team culture he helped create. He wants the kids to ask themselves, “Am I doing all I can do?” and “Am I being a trustworthy teammate?”
Rowing: The Ivy Ticket? Guided by the Augustinian virtues of Veritas, Unitas and Caritas, Malvern rowers strive to be the best they can be. By the time they reach their senior year, students will have forged a value system that enables them to face the challenges of college and life afterward head on. It is this quality found in Malvern rowers throughout the years that makes them so desirable to the best colleges around the country. Perhaps the one thing that continues to entice students year after year to undertake this monumental journey is
14 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Top: Brett Allan '16 is one of the top returning rowers this season. Bottom: Malvern's Varsity Quad finishes half a boat length behind the Windsor Boys School at Henley in the fastest heat of the day. (Front to back) Seniors Jim Sincavage, Christian Fry, Jim McManus and J.P. Clark.
the allure of getting into a prestigious university. Yet there is much myth surrounding the college recruiting and admissions process that the whole issue requires some clarification for future rowers and parents. Hoffman begins with this: “If you do not love your sport, rowing or otherwise, it won’t end well.” Rowing demands so much from a Malvern student that the goal of being recruited is not enough to get you through the program successfully. A student must have a
genuine interest in the sport and develop a passion over time that will carry him through even the hardest of workouts. Without it, students are unlikely to find rowing enjoyable. Students are encouraged to join rowing because they want to win national championships and follow in the footsteps of the rowers who came before them—the rowers that helped create the reputation of Malvern as a sculling powerhouse. Without a passion for rowing, students may further be dissuaded
from wanting to row for an Ivy League or Division I program where ultracompetitive teams train in a highpressure environment for more than 25 hours per week. When a Malvern student chooses to be a part of something bigger than himself and takes his turn shouldering the team’s legacy, he demonstrates a work ethic that makes him an attractive recruit to the best teams in the country. However, athletic ability will only help students so much. They must be academically competent as well. The seniors who graduated in 2014 attended Princeton, Cornell, Drexel, Penn, Dartmouth and Georgetown. Each was a top student academically. Academic and athletic benchmarks are set high on the rowing team. As for scholarships, Hoffman says flat out, “There is no such thing as a free ride in men’s rowing.” First of all, the Ivy League does not give out any athletic scholarships, for any sport. There are a few big Division I schools like Northeastern, University of Washington and Cal Berkley, that have a limited amount of partial scholarships, but these are rare and are generally reserved for truly exceptional athletes. The largest source of aid from an Ivy League or other top school comes from generous need-based financial aid packages. These packages (often prioritized for recruited athletes) typically cover a student’s demonstrated financial need. It should be noted that rowing is not just about the big name Ivy Leagues. The goal of the coaching staff at Malvern is to help a student find the school that will be the best fit for him, where he will be most happy; this is what really matters to Hoffman. It is not about the name or prestige. He will do everything in his power and work every connection to help a student get in where he wants to go—in his 26 years as a coach this has never changed.
Hoffman’s Career Highlights: Coxswain: Haverford School Syracuse University and Undine Barge Club 1971-1978, winning three USRowing Club National Championships Head Rowing Coach Malvern Preparatory School 1997- present 32 Scholastic and USRowing National Rowing Championships Six Malvern athletes competed for the USA at the 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2013 Junior World Rowing Championships in Spain, Netherlands, Czech Republic and Lithuania.
Since 1998, more than 80 Malvern rowers have gone on to row Division I at Princeton, Cornell, Penn, Yale, Dartmouth, Cal-Berkeley, Georgetown, Naval Academy, Brown, Saint Joseph's, MIT, Columbia and Northeastern. 2004 United States Olympic Committee Development Rowing Coach of the Year USA Junior National Team Rowing Coach: Junior World Rowing Championships: 1993 Norway, 1994 Germany, 1995 Poland, 1996 Scotland, 2000 Croatia, 2001 Germany
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 15
Pulling Together
Malvern Rowing’s New Home on the Schuylkill It is impossible to discuss the history of the rowing program at Malvern without mentioning the long-time goal of building a proper boathouse for the team, and the monumental effort of many selfless individuals who helped this project finally come to fruition. The new boathouse began as a dream of Hoffman’s in 1997. He met with then Head of School Jim Stewart and Athletic Director Frank Ryan after assuming
16 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
the role as head coach, and impressed upon them the need to find a permanent home for the team, with enough room to expand. The squad first rowed out of three 46-foot semi truck trailers (donated by Dante Volpe P’97) out of the parking lot at the Upper Merion boathouse. Then in 2002, they moved to the warehouse on Washington Street in Conshohocken. The initial plan was to build the boathouse in ten years. Within four years, they had managed to complete the Father Melton Indoor Rowing Center, which features a state-of-the-art rowing simulation water tank. Former Assistant Director of Development Carrie Snyder (now Director of Strategic Initiatives), says, “Crew really began to blossom when the tanks were added to Dougherty Hall during the Building from Within capital campaign.”
Yet the boathouse remained elusive for some time—the land, the right partners—these pieces to the puzzle could not be pinned down. However, Hoffman and other key figures in this initiative: Tip O’Neill ’63 P’00’04 TE, Joe Pizonka P’96’99, Vic Maggitti P’02 GP’13’15’17 TE, Mike Lewers ’79 P’12’14 T and Jeremy Gonzalez P’12 never gave up on the dream. In November of 2009, a meeting took place between Hoffman and Christine Stetler, Community Development Coordinator & Zoning Officer for the Borough of Conshohocken. Hoffman sold her on the idea of a public and private partnership between Malvern and the Borough. From there, with the help of Gonzalez, O’Neill, Mike Savona, Malvern Athletic Director Kurt Ruch, Paul Finley P’12’16 T and many others, the project finally took off. Shortly thereafter, Hoffman met with childhood friends
Scot Fisher, William McNabb and their attorney Ross Weiss representing the Haverford School. The most unlikely of partners, Malvern and Haverford, put rivalries aside to forge a joint partnership with the Borough. The final result of their cooperation? The Conshohocken Rowing Center: ample, separate space for each entity under one roof on a narrow strip of land along the banks of the Schuylkill River, just up the road from the warehouse where Malvern has resided until now. The greatest achievement of this publicprivate collaboration is the fact that the youth of Conshohocken now have access to the river and the opportunity to enjoy the sport of rowing—the goal from day one in partnering with the Borough. Malvern Head of School Christian Talbot recognizes how this new relationship reinforces Malvern’s “commitment to preserving the integrity of the waterfront and offering rowing education to residents.” Additionally, Malvern students will be able to engage in Christian Service projects via learn-torow programs specifically for low-income kids in the area. A special acknowledgement must be made to one of this project’s unsung heroes, J. Brian O’Neill. O’Neill owns the warehouse on Washington Street where Malvern has been since 2002. Without his support, the team would not have survived the last twelve years. Rustic though it may be, the Malvern rowers have never stopped being proud of their home, which O’Neill has leased to Malvern for just $1.00 a year. The new space will allow the program to continue to grow. It will provide the space necessary to increase the size of Malvern’s program to 40-50 rowers, from its current size of 20-25 each year. When asked why the new boathouse is significant, Talbot says, “It allows us to begin to catch up to the unparalleled excellence in our rowing program, which has put together a string of exceptional seasons, and provide the resources to
Visiting the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin at Henley. (Front, from left) Coach Craig Hoffman, Jim McManus '14, Coach Bill Doughty '10 and J.P. Clark '14. (Back, from left) Coach Francisco Viacava, Jim Sincavage '14, Coach Ryan Kasley, Christian Fry '14, Coach Art Post, Jackson Connor '14 and Brett Allan '16.
enable Coach Hoffman to continue his long track record of helping rowers obtain admissions to the most selective colleges in America.”
Henley Royal Regatta Back in Henley, the Malvern “A” boat went on to face off against the Windsor Boys School of Windsor, England in the first round heat of the regatta. Unfortunately, they came up short by only half a boat length. Windsor Boys would go on to make it all the way to the grand final against Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School. The Malvern-Windsor race was the fastest race of any other heat in the Fawley Challenge Cup that day by 15 seconds—a margin equivalent to over 200 meters. In any other heat, the Malvern crew would have easily advanced to the next round. Hoffman knows a loss is not an easy thing for one of his rowers to accept. In fact, he has the foresight to recognize that this experience at Henley will spur
the rising sophomores who made the trip into the right frame of mind for the upcoming season. He is confident that the arsenal of talented young athletes on next year’s roster has what it takes to put a few more championships in the books—the perfect way to break in the new boathouse. mp ::: Ryan Kasley is a freelance writer and assistant rowing coach at Malvern.
You’re Invited! Conshohocken Rowing Center Dedication Ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2015 2:00 p.m.
307 Washington Street, Conshohocken, Pa.
www.conshyrow.com RSVP to
events@malvernprep.org
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 17
“Never Stop Learning” Reflections on a long medical career By Art Carey Copyright The Philadelphia Inquirer. Reprinted by permission.
Michael Buckley, M.D. ’64 P’00 in his office at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Used with permission of Philadelphia Inquirer Copyright© 2014. All rights reserved.
18 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Mike Buckley ’64 P’00 knew at an
early age that he wanted to be a doctor. He was fascinated by the family pediatrician's ability to figure out what was ailing people. His father, whose ambition to be a doctor was interrupted by World War II, worked at what was then Smith Kline & French supervising clinical research budgets. Doctors were always coming by the house, talking about the excitement of their jobs. After Malvern Prep, where he blossomed as a swimmer, Buckley went to Yale University, where he continued to excel in the breaststroke, gaining all-America status. At the 1968 NCAA championships, he won a silver medal, missing gold by 1/100th of a second. In the classroom, he majored in English. Although a heavy load of science was required for aspiring physicians, he knew he’d be miserable. Besides, studying English would teach him how to express himself, on paper and in speech, and the great books are primers about how to lead a good life. Fulfilling and meaningful work, a loving family and friends, the esteem of professional colleagues — by those measures and more, Buckley's life has been good. Now, a new chapter is beginning with his retirement as executive director of Pennsylvania Hospital, an institution he has served for 37 years. After medical school at Yale, Buckley did his residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. There, he found his specialty — infectious disease — and he continued training at the University of Pennsylvania. Preferring clinical practice to research, he moved to Pennsylvania Hospital in 1977. “I liked being a specialist,” Buckley says. “Infectious disease employs plenty of cognitive skill. There's a lot of detective work as you explore the history and pattern of an illness. Plus, you get a lot of people better. I’d do it over in a second.” As AIDS became the scourge of the city’s gay population, Buckley and his
medical partner, Stephen Gluckman, soon developed one of the largest AIDS practices in town. They were at the forefront in investigating treatments and medications that would alleviate the lethal collateral damage of the disease. In time, Buckley assumed leadership roles at the venerable hospital - chief of infectious disease, associate dean, chairman of the department of medicine, and finally, executive director, or head of the entire hospital. As his administrative responsibilities grew, he still tried to find time for his principal professional pleasures - seeing patients and teaching young doctors. “It was never hard for me to come to work. I love being a doctor. It's intellectually stimulating and rewarding, and you feel you're doing direct good for people. The relationships with different kinds of patients were always the most interesting part of medicine to me, talking to them and finding out about their lives.” When Buckley was in college, his father told him, “If you want to be a doctor, don't go into it for the money.” “He was absolutely right,” Buckley says. “Infectious disease is at the low end of the financial totem pole, and if you go into it to make a lot of money, you’ll be disappointed.” Buckley enjoys reading “The Corner Office” in The New York Times, in which successful businesspeople muse about leadership. His philosophy of leadership is simple: honesty and consistency. “Don't tell one thing to one group of doctors and something else to another,” he says. That approach was essential when the Penn medical system took over Pennsylvania Hospital in 1997, and he had to merge the two cultures and ways of practicing medicine.
(From left) Michael Buckley, M.D. '64 P'00 with his wife, Sally, daughter Carrie Wernsing, son, Brian Buckley '00, and daughter Emily Feeney, Malvern's Director of College Counseling.
What lessons has he learned along the way? “Stay humble. Medicine can be very humbling; you can't know everything. Know what you don't know and ask for help when you need it.” “Never stop learning. You owe this to your patients. Work hard to stay current.” “Take the opportunity to teach and mentor younger physicians; they in turn will teach you and keep you on your toes.” “There is more to being a doctor than knowing the right diagnosis or the right medicine. Sometimes there is no medicine, or a medicine is not what the patient needs. Sometimes comfort, support, and caring need to be part of, or even all of, the treatment.” I asked Buckley to pretend I was his son. What advice would he give me about achieving well-being? Balance, he said, is “critically important” - between career and family (“I am fortunate to be married to my best friend, and she and my children have always kept me grounded and focused on the right things”), between mental and physical (Buckley runs three miles four days a week and has completed several sprint triathlons). “I think people who are content are happy with what they have," he said, "and do not focus on what they don't or can't have.” mp ::: E ditor’s note: Michael Buckley, M.D. ’64 is the father of Brian Buckley ’00 and Emily Feeney, Malvern’s Director of College Counseling, and the brother of Tim Buckley ’69. Mike is a member of the Malvern Athletic Hall of Fame.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 19
The Big
Picture
A Community of Caring Thank you to These Exceptional Educators This past June, Malvern Prep paid tribute to eight teachers and staff members who retired or stepped down from their positions. The School wishes these eight outstanding people the very best and hopes that they will continue to feel at home in the Malvern family. Thank you to Mr. Gerald J. Ellis P’99, Mr. Paul H. Hornsleth ’64 P’96’02, Mr. Francis P. Kenny P’92’93’03, Rev. Dr. Joseph P. Oechsle, Mrs. Denise
Francis W. Ryan
M. Popper P’01’03, Mrs. Aleida H. Rosle P’96, Mr. Francis W. Ryan and Mr. Alan M. Tomaszewski. Read their stories and see the videos
Scan this code with your mobile device’s QR reader.
Alan M. Tomaszewski
Joseph P. Oechsle
20 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Paul H. Hornsleth
Aleida H. Rosle
Francis P. Kenny
Gerald J. Ellis
Denise M. Popper
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 21
22 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
“Search in ways by which we can make discoveries, and discover ways by which we can keep on searching.” — St. Augustine, Sermon 16 A, 1.
Why StudentCentered Matters And Why Malvern is Best Positioned to Deliver It
By Haley Schneider Chris DeVido, a sixth grade science teacher, wanted to create a project that went beyond the textbook and motivated his students to learn. Guided by the essential question “how can we improve the life of someone who is physically disabled through simple machines?” students researched and designed their own simple machines for a physically disabled member of their community. The fact that they were helping real people served as a huge motivating factor for DeVido’s students. Each student had
the opportunity to interview a member of his community with a physical handicap, and used what he learned to fuel his final product. “They built their product and explained it through a presentation and then presented it to the person that they made it for. They got the feel for what it was like to change someone’s life,” says DeVido. “That’s really what the drive of this is: creating authentic learning atmospheres for them to be excited about doing real things.”
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 23
Why Student-Centered Matters
And Why Malvern is Best Positioned to Deliver It
What is Student-Centered Learning? Student-centered learning is an educational philosophy that puts the student at the center of the classroom, allowing him to participate more fully in his education. In this type of classroom, a teacher will introduce a subject, then allow students to come up with their own questions and projects, providing feedback and support for the students’ progress. “In a student centered classroom the student is highly active. The student is constructing the learning, actively engaged in the classroom. It really puts the student at the center of the learning,” says Head of School Christian Talbot.
:: Key Concepts Essential Questions: Questions pertaining to the curriculum that students explore to improve their understanding of the topic. “If a question is truly essential, it should be open-ended and there should be many different ways to answer it,” says Talbot. “The questions don’t have a fill-in-theblank answer to them. Once there’s a driving question to explore, then students can begin to work in teams to create a project to help them understand the question,” says Talbot.
Divergent thinking: A group can go off in many different directions to answer a single question. Students are able to come up with a variety of responses depending on how they choose to approach the question.
learning, higher-level reading and increased motivation to learn,” said teacher and doctoral student Stephanie Bell. In her study published in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, she reports that 7th and 8th grade science students who had taken at least one project-based course scored higher on a standardized test than those who had not.
Formative assessment: A way to measure a student’s progress over time. Students have checkpoints where they meet with their teacher to discuss the work they have already completed. Checkpoints help students break down a large project into smaller, more
“When you have that real feel like the disability assignment, you actually have feelings and you release dopamine for that intrinsic feeling of why you want to learn and get better. And while you’re doing that you’re actually making yourself smarter. You’re creating new grey matter in your brain,” says DeVido, explaining why asking his students to create simple machines for real people is more effective than answering questions in a textbook. Let’s state that again: you’re actually making yourself smarter. You’re creating new grey matter in your brain. For the past two years, Malvern’s Academic Research Team has been investigating new methods of teaching that will prepare students to survive and thrive in today’s world. After careful analysis, the group determined that student-centered learning best suits the School’s philosophy and its students’ needs. Is this a big change? In practical terms, yes. Philosophically, no. Malvern has tradition on its side – Augustinian education has always been studentcentered.
manageable chunks. For example, if a Convergent thinking: Students bring their ideas together into one set of answers or way to approach the problem.
Project-based learning (PBL): After establishing one or more essential questions, students work in groups to complete projects that help them explore different answers to their questions. Different types of projects could include writing a screenplay, giving a presentation to a panel of experts, or creating a science project that benefits their community. Project-based learning places a heavy emphasis on research, teamwork and adhering to a schedule. “The outcome of PBL is greater understanding of the topic, deeper
24 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
group of students is writing a screenplay, they may have checkpoints to discuss their script, the set design and parts of their film before the final edit. Formative assessment takes into account how students apply corrections and make their work better over time.
Summative assessment: Looks at the work as a whole when it is finished, such as a final exam or project. Summative assessment gives students an end goal to work towards, and formative assessment gives them the tools for getting to that goal. “I think people who know how to seek feedback and use feedback to create an improved product are probably much more likely to succeed in life,” says Talbot.
Dan Giannascoli '15 studied the way temperature affects the aggressiveness of piranhas in his marine biology class, in which students investigated real-world environmental issues.
Student-centered learning the Malvern way “Student-centered learning started about two years ago when I first began here at Malvern, and it’s really been a sustained conversation over two years,” says Malvern Head of School Christian Talbot. The process of implementing student-centered learning at Malvern includes faculty meetings and in-service days where teachers and administrators can discuss theory, practice examples and design creative ways to bring studentcentered learning into their classrooms. Teachers have also had the opportunity to participate in the Summer Institute, where they learn additional methods and in-depth theories, and dive into Augustinian educational philosophy.
“I would say historically the thing that we have done pretty well is project-based learning, and now it’s a matter of being more intentional about it. This is a philosophy, and if we’re committed to that philosophy then we can begin to use these things in a more coherent way.” “The main focus right now is projectbased learning. It’s probably the most visible example,” says Talbot. “I would say historically the thing that we have done pretty well is project-based learning, and now it’s a matter of being more intentional about it. This is a philosophy, and if we’re committed to that philosophy
Top: From the start of the school year, Malvern's new "6th Grade Academy" has focused on projects that encourage teamwork and collaboration. Bottom left: Students in Dr. James Fry's marine biology class apply the steps of the scientific method in their research, rather than memorizing it. Bottom, right: Middle School science teacher Chris DeVido helped design a new curriculum for the sixth grade that implements a hands-on student-centered approach to learning.
then we can begin to use these things in a
everything from assigning group roles,
more coherent way.”
conducting background research, and
Although the phrasing is relatively
presenting themselves as professionals not
new, teachers at Malvern have integrated
only in the classroom but also anywhere
project-based learning into their
they may run into their investor. Gordon
curriculum for quite a while. For example,
said that with limited instruction, students
each year tenth grade honors students
have more freedom to develop the project
anticipate Bev Gordon’s annual history
according to their interests, yielding more
project. These students choose from
creative results.
a number of different transportation
Gordon’s project also tests her
companies and must present their business
students’ abilities to conduct independent
to Gordon as if she were an investor. What
scholarly research, collaborate with a
makes the project unique, Gordon says, is
group, manage time responsibly and
how limited teacher instruction is after
present their findings professionally. To
the first day. Students are responsible for
Gordon, transmitting these skills is as
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 25
Why Student-Centered Matters
And Why Malvern is Best Positioned to Deliver It
much a part of her job as lecturing them in history. Gordon, who has been teaching for ten years, has always put her students at the center of their learning. “I think student-centered learning is excellent and can be done in many different ways,” says Gordon. Another way to motivate students, as teacher Dr. James Fry discovered in his marine biology class, is to allow students to choose the focus of their studies. In the beginning of the year, Fry asks his students what topics they would like to see on their final exam. After some initial surprise, Fry says that his students thought up impressive essential questions that would serve as the focal point of their projects throughout the year.
“Students who know how to learn are going to be the ones who succeed in life. They’ll learn new languages, new cultures, or how to interact with global businesses. Studentcentered learning is all about creating the desire to learn.” The point of the student projects, Fry says, is to look at current environmental issues and design a potential solution. As a part of many of these projects, students create controlled environments in fish tanks. “Students must maintain appropriate chemical levels in their tanks that mirror the real world. Qualitative and quantitative data are collected, analyzed, and later explained to a panel of faculty and fellow classmates,” says Fry.
26 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Top: With access to Chromebooks and iPads, as well as dedicated space for collaborative work, the Learning Commons in Sullivan Hall is a key component to Malvern's implementation of its new focus on student-centered learning. Bottom: Studies have shown that students, especially boys, thrive in projectbased learning environments.
One of Malvern’s goals in implementing
goals and test hypotheses, and situate
student-centered research is to encourage
learning in authentic experiences,” the
learning outside of the textbook. Fry’s
pair writes in their paper “Cognition
project did just that. “This research
and Student-Centered, Web-Based
allows students to apply the steps of the
Learning: Issues and Implications for
scientific method, instead of memorizing
Research & Theory.”
them,” says Fry. Dedication to real-world experience
DeVido and many other Malvern teachers have spent a considerable
coincides with scientific evidence that
amount of time studying student-centered
learning through doing can greatly
learning in order to better understand the
enhance what students take away from
concept and how to utilize it at Malvern.
the classroom. According to Michael and
This school year, DeVido and other
Kathleen Hannafin, leading researchers
teachers involved in a new pilot program
in student-centered learning, a realistic
that the team has been calling “The Sixth
experience helps students better apply
Grade Academy” have developed a plan to
their knowledge. “[Authentic] contexts
monitor their students’ growth through
may help students to identify learning
student-centered learning.
“We’re going to interview the students every single day and just ask them questions and see where their skill growth was,” says DeVido. “It will only take about two minutes, and as the interviews go on we’ll have it documented throughout the entire year to see where they went.”
Why student-centered learning? Some of the core aspects of student-centered learning may seem unconventional to parents who grew up in teacher-centered classrooms. Where are the vocabulary drills, or the list of definitions and dates to memorize? These fundamentals are still there; however, they are integrated into real-life projects and discussions as a more studentfriendly approach. “What I think is difficult for many to understand is that so much of the typical learning is still happening, it’s just happening by a different design,” says Talbot. Through the completion of their projects, students acquire reading skills, critical thinking skills and a more in-depth understanding of the topic. The combination of these essentials and hands-on experience leads to informed and motivated learners. Not only does student-centered learning meet traditional teaching standards, it is also a crucial component of how students need to learn in today. In a world where our knowledge base changes rapidly and any information we could want is at our fingertips, it is not what you know that is important, but your desire and ability to learn. “Students who know how to learn are going to be the ones who succeed in life. They’ll learn new languages, new cultures, or how to interact with global businesses,” says Talbot. “Student-centered learning is all about creating the desire to learn.” When students play a bigger role in their education, they become more invested in the outcome. Malvern learners can discover where their interests lie, and how they wish to pursue them.
“I am confident that we are going to have a Malvern that is very much like the Malvern of the past. It’s an Augustinian school that’s committed to Truth, Unity and Love but also a school where students are motivated internally to pursue excellence and to go out of their way to show us what that looks like.” Augustinian Values in the 21st century Although Augustinian values date back to the fourth century, they are not at odds with Malvern’s new, more modern approach to teaching. In fact Patrick Sillup, Head of Middle School, notes that there is considerable overlap between the ideologies. “St. Augustine talks a lot about interiority and being a perpetual learner. I think student-centered learning is the essence of that.” Interiority refers to the ability to look inside oneself and understand oneself as a person. From a learning perspective, Malvern aims to help its students understand what they are passionate about, what type of learner they are, and how they can contribute to a group project. Discovering how they interact and work in a group, Talbot says, helps students understand themselves as individuals as well. For example, a student who leads the conversation in a group may realize that he absorbs information by talking out loud. This awareness helps the student in his own studies and in his group participation, as he is better equipped to realize when he should let other members of his group speak. In addition to being a key Augustinian value, understanding oneself and how one participates and interacts in a group is an essential skill for learning and working in the 21st century. “A lot of the same principles of studentcentered learning were articulated and espoused by St. Augustine,” says Talbot.
For example, St. Augustine was committed to the discovery of Truth through asking questions. The more he discovered, the more questions he realized there were to be answered. In the same way, Student centered learning encourages students to explore their interests through essential questions that help guide the learning process. In a student-centered classroom, asking the right questions is just as important as finding satisfactory answers. By learning how to ask the right questions, Malvern students fulfill the value of Truth. Student-centered learning also promotes Unity through group projects and discussion. Lastly the value of Love is highlighted both through students’ continued quest for knowledge and their teachers’ dedication to their education. According to Talbot, the transition to wholly student-centered classrooms will occur naturally through teacher education and training. Although there is no set timeline, teachers have already seamlessly integrated student centered projects, discussions and values into their classes. “I am confident that we are going to have a Malvern that is very much like the Malvern of the past. It’s an Augustinian school that’s committed to Truth, Unity and Love but also a school where students are motivated internally to pursue excellence and to go out of their way to show us what that looks like,” says Talbot. mp ::: H aley Schneider is a freelance writer and senior
communications major at Juniata College.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 27
Investing in Malvern Men Lou Colameco ’77 T Creates the Newest Endowed Scholarship Fund By Jim Mack One Sunday morning last May, Malvern Prep brought together two important groups of people – those who have given so generously to create scholarship funds, and students and their families who have benefited from this critical financial aid. Under the umbrella of the Rev. David J. Duffy, O.S.A. ’48 Augustinian Scholars Fund, first imagined by Sallie and Charlie Grandi P’05 PT, Ron Santella ’81 and Karen and Randy Thurman P’05 PT in 2006, Malvern Prep has teamed up with donors to create a series of endowed scholarship funds to provide financial assistance to young men of proven academic ability who might otherwise be unable to afford the costs of a Malvern education. With gifts of $100,000 or more, a family may create an endowed named scholarship, which will not only assist students and their families in realizing their dream of a Malvern education but
established by Lou Colameco ’77 T. For Colameco, who spoke at the School’s Scholarship Mass and Brunch in May, the reasons for creating the scholarship were personal – he sees himself in these young men who need the opportunities that a Malvern education can provide, and he is passionate about helping these students grow into the best people they can be. “My Malvern education made me the person I am today,” Colameco said at the Scholarship Brunch. “Who else is out there like me who just needs that opportunity?” Colameco, who founded Wellshire Farms and built it into a leading all-natural premium meat company, talked about his own story – a young man from a modest family who made the sacrifice to send their son to Malvern Prep. He credited Malvern with helping him form the relationships and instilling the work ethic that led to his success.
"My Malvern education made me the person I am today. Who else is out there like me who just needs that opportunity?" also grow the School’s endowment and help ensure the future stability and success of the school. To date, the total amount of the eight endowed named scholarships has reached more than $1.1 million. The most recent, the Wellshire/ Colameco Family Scholarship, was
28 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
“These are the best relationships you will make in your life – and they will last a lifetime,” Colameco told the students that morning. “And that includes teachers who care about you and help your parents raise you with the right values. It is not where you come from, it is about giving your best wherever you go.”
To the parents in the audience, he emphasized that they made the right choice in sending their sons to Malvern. “A Malvern education is about life. It is the total package,” he said. “The Malvern way is the right way … I want your children to be raised the way I was … Malvern’s way of life.” Colameco closed his remarks by encouraging the students to give back to someone else at Malvern when they are able. That act of giving back may best exemplify the sense of brotherhood that Malvern alumni so often speak about. That brotherhood is formed when passionate alumni like Santella and others who established the first Augustinian Scholars Fund, and alumni, parents and friends like Colameco who have contributed to or created named funds under the Duffy Augustinian Scholars Fund work help make a Malvern education possible for deserving students, regardless of their financial means. mp
Rev. David J. Duffy, O.S.A. ’48 Augustinian Scholars Fund With a gift of $100,000, a family has the opportunity to create an endowed, named scholarship under the Rev. David J. Duffy, O.S.A. ’48 Augustinian Scholars Fund.
Fully Endowed Scholarships • Anonymous • The Grandi Family Scholarship • The Holloway Family Scholarship • The Erika Hornsleth Memorial Scholarship • The Lewers Family Scholarship • The Thurman Family Scholarship • The Christopher J. O’Mara ’84 Memorial Scholarship • The Wellshire/Colameco Family Scholarship Fund
For information about this fund, please call Vic D’Ascenzo ’81, Director of Development, at 484-595-1111.
Head of School Christian Talbot (left) presents Lou Colameco ’77 T with an award commemorating the creation of the Wellshire/Colameco Family Scholarship.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 29
Alumni
NewsNotes Malvern Today: Annual Report of Philanthropy 2013-2014 Corrections With the sincerest apologies we acknowledge the error Malvern Today in the participation for The Class of 1954. Under the leadership of Class Agent, Bill Baney, the Class of 1954 had a momentous year in 2013-2014, reaching 100 percent participation for The Malvern Fund. We thank them for their endless generosity and continued support. Thomas McGillicuddy, Edward Clark (both now deceased) and David Ellis were not listed in the Annual Report. AnnuAl RepoRt of philAnthRopy 2013-2014
The Malvern Fund Additions William J. Kay '14 Mr. and Mrs. Anthony DelVescovo P'16
Malvern
on the Road
Malvern hosted many regional receptions last year and connected with alumni parents and friends across the country. These are wonderful opportunities for alumni, parents and friends to reconnect and learn first-hand about what is happening on campus. We have some fun events planned for this winter, and we hope you can join us! RSVP at events@malvernprep.org.
Philadelphia Reception
New York City Reception
Tuesday, February 10
Wednesday, March 11
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Union League
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Penn Club
Share your Alumni news! Malvern Prep encourages all alumni to share news in the NewsNotes section of the Malvern Magazine. To contribute, visit the Alumni page on www.malvernprep. org, write to Alumni Programs, Malvern Preparatory School, 418 S. Warren Ave., Malvern, PA 19355 or e-mail alumni@malvernprep.org. (All alumni notes are edited for length, grammar and content.)
Alumni photos are welcome! Digital photos, saved as 300 dpi .jpg files, are accepted, as well as print photos. To submit a photo, e-mail it to alumni@malvernprep.org or mail it to Alumni Programs, Malvern Preparatory School, 418 S. Warren Ave., Malvern, PA 19355. Photos will be returned upon request. Only acceptable photos will be published.
::: Looking for a great way to get involved with Malvern that involves the people you know best—your class? The Class Agents & Correspondents program is the answer! Email alumni@malvernprep.org to get involved.
30 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Left Coast Friars Last December, Malvern Prep alumni gathered at the Brick Yard in San Francisco during a Philadelphia Eagles game. Pictured here are: (Front, Dave Chipman '88; middle, (from left): Tom Pizzica '96, Ryan Dougherty '06 and Tim Wochok '02; and back (from left) Glenn Waychunas '65, Malvern Alumni Director Mike Treston '02 and Rawle Anders '95.
Alumni
Understanding the Importance of Independent Schools: Hilary Russell ’61 When Hilary Russell ’61 reflects on his experience at Malvern Prep, three phrases come to mind: clear mission, loyal students and solid academics. Although Russell lives in Massachusetts, he always looks forward to coming back to campus and visiting. Whether it is seeing the new buildings or visiting the students in classes, Malvern continues to impact his life. These experiences, combined with his time as a student, impacted his decision to join the Caritas Society, which recognizes those who have made bequests or other planned gifts to Malvern.
Joe Redican ’60, who teaches
Class of 1961 Rory Quirk visited Malvern Prep
this past April to talk about his book, Wars and Peace, which tells the his family’s story primarily through the letters of his father, James, to his mother during World War II and the Korean War, as well as Quirk’s own service in Vietnam. Quirk talked with Bob Colameco’s history classes, and enjoyed a reception at the end of the day, when he was presented with a recording of Malvern students reading some of his father’s letters and a poster of his book cover signed by the students he met.
at Malvern, had not seen Quirk in 50 years, but the letters in the book brought him back to his childhood when he and Quirk were neighborhood friends. “Sometimes on rainy days we would wander to Rory’s attic,” Redican said. “Mr. Quirk had many souvenirs from his military service. We would play with old uniforms and medals. Little did we realize that these were important artifacts from "The Greatest Generation" and included close involvement with the likes of legendary generals Patton, Bradley and Ridgway.”
“Having spent my professional life teaching in independent schools, I know that, more than ever, schools depend on alumni and parent giving. I want to do my part to model alumni giving in hopes that the alumni body will soon appreciate its necessity,” Russell says. “Once I decided to support Malvern financially, the Caritas Society was an easy way to increase my giving.” Last summer, Russell, who taught at Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., won a first-place ribbon at Mystic Seaport’s 23rd Annual Wooden Boat Show. After retiring from teaching in 2005, the expert boat-builder founded the Berkshire Boat Building School out of the barn behind his house. He guides students of all ages through the process of building their own boats over the course of a week.
Hilary Russell ’61 at work in his workshop, shrinking the skin of a canoe.
Top: Rory Quirk ’61 speaks with an Upper School history class. Bottom: Quirk receives a signed poster of his book cover from Malvern students.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 31
Alumni
NewsNotes Rev. Bill Waters, O.S.A.
Vic D’Ascenzo ’81, the group met
served as a cruise chaplain over the holidays last year and reconnected with classmate Telesforeo Fernandez and his family in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Waters is serving as pastor of St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia.
up with other classmates at the Great American Pub.
Class of 1968 Frank DeLone was named Chief
of Department of Surgery, Riddle Hospital, Main Line Health Care in November.
Class of 1974 Michael Lynch and his wife,
Alumni Augustinians Six Malvern alumni attended the Augustinian Chapter this past June. From left, they are Rev. Brian Lowery, O.S.A. ’59, Rev. Chris Drennen, O.S.A. ’73, Rev. Bill Waters, O.S.A. ’61, Jimmy White ’09, Rev. Joe Wimmer, O.S.A. ’55 and Rev. Gary McCloskey, O.S.A., Ph.D. ’69 T.
B.A.S.H.
XLI Join Us
Class of 1962 The Class of 1962 celebrated a mini class reunion on December 28, 2013, filled with many Malvern memories and stories. After a campus tour with President Rev. Jim Flynn, O.S.A. and Director of Development
Sheila, were honored by Waldron Mercy Academy with the Mother Patricia Waldron Award “for faithful service in the spirit of mercy with compassionate dedication and devotion to the Waldron community.” The award was presented at Waldron’s 21st Annual Golf and Tennis Classic, on Monday, September 22, 2014, at Llanerch Country Club. Lynch served on Waldron’s athletic committee and Golf and Tennis Classic committee for many years when his daughter Katie attended Waldron before graduating in 2011. Mike and Sheila also volunteered for Waldron’s Tigerfest Auction.
Saturday, April 25, 2015 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
O’Neill Sports Center
Learn more at www.malvernprep.org/BASH
32 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Pictured here at the Class of 1962 mini reunion are (from left) John Holsten, Mike Peterson, Steve Friend, Jim Harrington, Mike Banawitz, Phil Dwyer, Sam Mongeilo, Terry Abbott, Phil Duffy, Mike Owens and Pat Vasallo. Bob Auch’s yearbook photo showed up, too! “My highlights were the beautiful prayer Fr. Flynn led for our dearly departed and Vic D’Ascenzo’s personal sharing of the student community atmosphere on campus today,” said Dwyer.
Alumni
Class of 1978 Gordy Bryan has been working
with the Malvern Prep Robotics Team to begin a partnership with students at Virginia Tech. Malvern students will be designing several components of a race car being built by the VT team for a charity race in the spring of 2015. Bryan is a Virginia Tech alumnus.
Class of 1981 Vic D’Ascenzo, Barkley Sample and Steve “Trooper” Sullivan got together this
past October in Chicago. D’Ascenzo, Malvern’s Director of Development, was in town as part of Malvern’s “On the Road” visits with alumni, parents and friends across the country.
Class of 1982 Rod Krasley came back to
campus to talk to the Malvern Prep Football team during training camp this August. Krasley spoke about the importance of perseverance and believing in yourself, as well as what the brotherhood of Malvern has meant to him in his life.
Mark Ware ’83 hosted a rocking 50th birthday party this past July in Denver, complete with a renowned Jimi Hendrix cover band, The Randy Hanson Band. In lieu of gifts, guests were asked to make a donation to Make-A-Wish Colorado. The event raised $8,000 to send a 4-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis to Disneyland. Three of his Malvern brothers joined him for the event. Pictured here with the band are (third from left) Vic D’Ascenzo ’81 and (standing, at right) Mark Smith, Ware and Andrew D’Ascenzo. Ware is Senior Vice President & Managing Director with IMA, Inc., a leading provider of risk management, insurance, surety and employee benefits solutions.
States and Canada. In his role as chairman of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group, Taylor leads nearly 350 attorneys across 18 offices. He practices in the area of commercial litigation, handling matters in state and federal courts across the United States. He also represents corporate boards and individual corporate
officers and directors in internal and government investigations and related proceedings.
at Notre Dame and coached at Malvern Prep for five years before moving on to coach at Arizona State.
Class of 1988
1993
Mike Rooney is serving as a
Ryan Irish, Mike Dougherty
college baseball analyst and broadcaster for ESPN. Rooney played his collegiate baseball
Class of 1983
and John Defreytas bumped into Ed Field ’94 (left) in church while on a ski trip to Aspen last February! After catching up, Field joined them for a day of skiing.
Matthew Taylor was
elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in the country, during the 2013 Fall Meeting of the College in San Francisco. He joins his father, William J. Taylor of Cozen O’Connor, who has been a Fellow of the College for more than 40 years. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United
Colonel Curtis Buzzard ’88 assumed command of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (505th Parachute Infantry Regiment) in the 82nd Airborne Division on June 17 at Fort Bragg, N.C. The brigade consists of seven battalions and almost 4,500 Paratroopers. They are currently serving as the Nation's Global Response Force, prepared to deploy on no-notice anywhere in the world.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 33
Alumni
NewsNotes Class of 1995
Class of 1999
Jeff Hilliard and his wife,
Dan Kelly, now an infectious
Sheila, welcomed daughter Nicole Eileen on February 10, 2014. She was 7 lbs., 13 oz., and 20 in. at birth. Big brother Kyle and big sister Eve are ecstatic to welcome Nikki to the family!
diseases doctor in San Francisco, spent much of this past fall in West Africa trying to slow the Ebola epidemic. In a September essay for the journal Nature, Kelly argues to make diagnostic testing centers a priority. “Bottlenecks in testing samples for Ebola leave patients stranded for days in isolation wards and raise fears of seeking treatment,” he writes. Kelly began working in Sierra Leone eight years ago, when he cofounded Wellbody Alliance, a non-profit health-care organization in Kono.
Class of 1996 Tom Pizzica owns Big Chef
Tom’s Belly Burgers in San Francisco. Lida Rosle P’96 and her husband visited him on their cross-country trip this fall. Pizzica starred in the Food Network show “Outrageous Food.” Rosle can attest to his skill. “We had the best pork belly burgers!” she writes.
aLUMNI NEWS
Will Hobson ’02 Wins Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting Will Hobson ’02 won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting with the Tampa Bay Times for his series of stories out inhumane treatment in a government homeless recovery program. Hobson and fellow reporter Michael LaForgia’s investigation of Will Hobson ’02 (right) is congratulated Hillsborough county's on his Pulitzer Prize by Tampa Bay Times Homeless Recovery editor and vice president Neil Brown. program revealed that the agency, which was created in 1989 to provide transitional housing for the poor, directed millions of public dollars to slumlords and placed families in unsafe living conditions. LaForgia said in a Times article that Hobson was "fearless in reporting these stories. He went places that scared me." Hobson joined the Washington Post in December as a sports news reporter. Photo reprinted with permission of The Tampa Bay Times.
Class of 2002 James Krueger earned a doctor
of philosophy with a major in historical and systematic theology from Catholic University in May.
Class of 2001 Peter DeLone is living in
South Philadelphia and is the assistant manager at Xfinity Live! Stop by to see him if you are at the Sports Complex. Jerry Reitano, a captain in
the U.S. Army, was greeted with a surprise escort by the Haverford Township Police and volunteers from the Warriors’ Watch and A Hero’s Welcome for his visit home last April.
34 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Greg Schreiner ’02 added aerial
videography and photography to his business, Photo Booth
Events. Schreiner took some amazing shots of campus using a remote drone, including this one from above the Pellegrini Athletic Complex.
Alumni
Class of 2003
Class of 2004
Jon Sgro has been representing
Eric DeLone lives in
poor and elderly homeowners facing tax foreclosures and assisting with other tax laws. For his dedication, he has been awarded the prestigious Skadden Fellowship, the top honor for young public interest lawyers. Sgro attended the Villanova University School of Law and works for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. The goal of the Skadden Fellowships is to give lawyers the financial freedom to pursue public interest work. To date, 733 Fellows have been funded to work full time for legal and advocacy organizations.
Philadelphia and is working at a relatively new startup company called RJ Metrics, which provides sophisticated business intelligence and Internet marketing, mostly for online sellers.
Craig Springer opened his
own law firm, Andrews & Springer, LLC, this past March. His Delaware-based firm is a boutique class action law firm focused on representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and corporate misconduct. Having formerly defended some of the largest financial institutions in the world, Springer brings unique institutional knowledge and experience to his clients. Patrick Williams and his
wife, Greta, welcomed their son, Carter, on September 19. Carter was 7 lbs, 7 oz., and 21 in., at birth.
graduated from Penn with a degree in English and received his Masters of Science in Sports Management from Drexel University in 2013.
Putsch, John Rawlings and
Class of 2009
Miele ’77.
Steve Boyle, Kyle Curley,
Joe D’Ascenzo presented at an
Steve Dunn, Joe Miele, Chris
academic conference called
Harte Thompson ventured to the
University of Michigan in an RV for the Penn State football game this past October. The group was “chaperoned” by the brave Joe
Class of 2006 Matt Hurley is serving in the
U.S. Navy, and most recently was stationed in the Greek Islands and San Diego, Calif., for special training.
Class of 2007 Ted Rawlings
was named men’s basketball operations specialist at Brown University. Rawlings served as an assistant coach for the basketball team at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia for the past two years. He was also the director of lacrosse operations at the University of Pennsylvania for both the men’s and women’s programs since 2011. Rawlings is a 2011 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a goalie for the lacrosse team and a two-year starter and AllCSFL defensive back for sprint football. He also volunteered as a student manager for the men’s basketball team as well as assisting the director of basketball operations all four years. As an undergraduate, Rawlings was a broadcaster for the Penn women’s basketball team on the Penn Sports Network, as well a sideline reporter for 88.5 WXPN in 2010-11. He also interned at the Daily Local News and 950 ESPN Radio. Rawlings
aLUMNI NEWS
Alumni’s Inspirational Song Chosen for “Help Our Kids” Radiothon
John Scargall ’08 and Christian O’Connor ’08 were featured in the 93.7 WSTW "Help Our Kids" Radiothon promotional video. Scargall’s song, "That Wind’s Always Gonna Blow" (co-written by O’Connor), was selected by fan voting as the soundtrack for the Radiothon as well as the promotional video. The video was used by the A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital to promote the "Help Our Kids" Radiothon, on September 3 and 4. Scargall’s song trended #1 on 93.7 WSTW this past September. Scargall performed "That Winds Always Gonna Blow" with the Liturgical Music Group at Malvern’s Thanksgiving Mass on November 20. He is currently preparing to release his debut album, titled Breakthrough in early 2015. "This whole singing thing for me started at Malvern Prep, in the fall talent show in Vasey," Scargall says, "I think it’s only fitting that I now write and tour with Christian, my Malvern brother." O’Connor released his first album, Dogma, Dharma, Grace and Karma in May, under Phosphorylative Entertainment Group. Five of the songs on the album are featured in the NASCAR ’14 video game. His album is available on Amazon.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 35
Alumni
NewsNotes Malvernians Gather for Fun “Party at the Shore” Nearly 150 members of the Malvern community turned out for the the School's annual Party at the Shore this past August. This year, guests enjoyed the festivities at Bobby Dee's Rock 'N Chair in Avalon, N.J. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a memorable event!
(From left) Anthony Antonella ’06, Colleen Dougherty, Dan Liva ’05 and Patrick Williams ’03
“Mediterranean Visions: Journeys, Itineraries and Cultural Migrations” at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy, June 13-14. D’Ascenzo, a second-year JD/ International LLM candidate attending Villanova Law School, presented his paper on the legal effects and consequences of immigration law issues currently affecting Italy, and to a greater extent, the whole European Union. He focused on past and current Italian and EU laws that have made it difficult for political refugees escaping from politically unstable and war-torn countries in northern Africa and the Middle East to enter the EU through Italy.
stories of people he meets along the way. Igidbashian moved to Yerevan, Armenia, in 2013. His work in Armenia includes pieces for television networks such as Armenia’s H1 and Europe’s ARTE, and documentaries films created by Bars Media. His most recent film, Haenyeo: Women of the Sea, a documentary about the women free-divers of Juju Island, South Korea, was screened at festivals across the world and won the Coastal Culture Award from the San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival and Best Documentary Short from the LA International Underground Film Festival.
Lehman Garrison is pursuing
Novice Habit this September and was surprised with a visit by Rory Magargee ’10 at the reception.
a Ph.D. in astronomy at Harvard University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from Princeton University. Last spring, Garrison visited Bob Boyce’s electricity and magnetism class to talk about how astronomers measure the properties of stars to look for planets that may contain life.
Jimmy White received his
Class of 2010 Ed Ravert won the Public
Alex Igidbashian is working
(From left) Howard Clark ’54, Rodger Van Allen ’55 and David Ferrens ’55
36 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
on a short documentary, Traversed, about the character of Armenia told through the images of landscapes, ancient churches, rural villages, industrial factories left over from the Soviet era, and its growing cities, as well as the
Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) Daniel J. Edelman Award for the Outstanding Public Relations Student this past March. The award recognizes Ravert’s leadership skills, digital media presence and public relationsrelated achievements and activities. The award included a financial scholarship and a three-month paid internship at Edelman’s Chicago office. Edelman is the largest public relations firm in the world, with 67 offices and more than 4,800 employees worldwide. Ravert
Alumni
graduated from the University of Scranton in May with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Ravert was a featured columnist with the Bleacher Report, and had internships in public relations and investor relations at Gregory FCA Communications, in marketing and public relations with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and in social media with 93.3 WMMR’s Preston and Steve Morning Show. He has also had internships in promotion and studio support at Philadelphia’s 92.5 WXTU and Wired 96.5 WRDW. Ravert was a four-year member of the Scranton’s baseball team, and he hosted The Brunch Break on WUSR, the University’s student-run radio station. Dylan Spangenberg graduated
from Ursinus College in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and economics and a minor in math. While at Ursinus, Spangenberg was a member of the lacrosse team. He completed an internship at M.F. Irvine Companies.
& Field Championship in May. D’Ambrosio, then a junior at Georgetown was encouraging Ostick, then a freshman at Villanova, after each jump. D’Ambrosio finished fifth in the triple jump and third in the long jump, while Ostick finished sixth in the triple jump. Villanova took home the team title.
Malvern Prep Lacrosse alumni continue to
Keith Dreyer earned the
be leaders and standout players in their
tournament MVP award and lead the U.S. Air Force Academy to a 9-8 win over Fairfield in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Lacrosse Championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament last May. Richard Durso finished the
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships tournament in eighth place, making him an All-American for the first time in his career and giving Franklin & Marshall its first All-American since 1981. Durso is the first Malvern alumnus to earn Division I Wrestling AllAmerican honors.
Friars Dot Rosters of NCAA Lacrosse Tournament Teams college careers. This past May, 13 Friars participated in the NCAA Division I Lacrosse Championship Tournament.
J.K. Poirier ’09
Ryan Creighton ’10
Bryant University
University of North Carolina
Henry Lobb ’10
P.J. Finley ’12 Jack Sheridan ’12
Duke University
Drew Kennedy ’11 Eddie Morris ’12
University of Notre Dame
Chris Hilburn ’13
John Hopkins University
University of Pennsylvania
Keith Dryer ’11
Bobby Hill ’10 Matt Barrett ’13
U.S. Air Force Academy
Chad Rafferty ’13
University of Virginia
University of Maryland
Mark Tiberi graduated from
Merrimac College in May. Presiding over the Baccalaureate Mass was Rev. William Waters, O.S.A. ’61. Waters, who was then Campus Minister at Merrimac, now serves as pastor of St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia.
Wes Pancoast was named
second team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference as a defenseman for Roanoke College. Roanoke finished the season in first place in the conference with a 12-5 record. Kevin Rafferty made the
Class of 2011 Rich D’Ambrosio and Dennis Ostick ’13 competed against
each other in the triple jump at the Big East Outdoor Track
Villanova basketball team as a walk-on this season after playing on the practice squad last year. Rafferty helped the Friars to an Inter-Ac title in 2011. He transferred to Villanova after one year at Tufts.
Malvern alumni Joe Carlini ’13 (left) and Matt Barrett ’13 get together at the 2014 NCAA Division I Lacrosse Tournament.
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 37
Alumni
NewsNotes Evan Strickland (left) and Tom Mershon ’10 trained together
last winter, as both of their collegiate teams took trips to Naples, Fla. Strickland has been a star sprinter for Cabrini College, and Mershon was a four-year varsity performer for Penn State University.
Class of 2012 Tom Pitt competes in the
decathlon and jumps for the University of Pennsylvania Track & Field team. He qualified for the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the long jump and the high jump.
Class of 2013 Paul Stockett helped organize
and run the third annual Chase the Friar Kids Triathlon, an event he founded, this past July on Malvern Prep’s campus. Proceeds from the Chase the Friar Triathlon benefit Malvern Prep’s Christian Service program and the Erika Hornsleth Memorial Scholarship. Stockett swims for Purdue University.
Larry DiPaul, Former Malvern Teacher, Christian Service Director, Passes Malvern Prep mourns the loss of Larry DiPaul, who passed away on February 15, 2014. DiPaul taught at Malvern for nearly eight years and ran the Christian Service Program before he joined the Romero Center. Malvern students learned a lot through Larry’s Urban Challenge weekends. Says Malvern teacher Leo Kindon, "Larry gave of himself in reaching out to God’s less fortunate, and everyone that he touched realized that he or she had been touched by someone special, someone who was close to God. He touched people in their hearts. Although he offered many things about which to think, my mind would be at ease in knowing that I had grown by simply listening to a man who had accomplished so much by simply looking people in the eye, offering reassurance about where to find their answers. He taught so many people how to allow their lights to shine and which light they should follow."
38 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Julian Venosky ’12 served as coxswain and led the Cal-Berkeley Eight to the Ladies Plate championship at the 2014 Henley Royal Regatta. Photo courtesy of row2k.
In Memoriam Pamela Bemer P’07’09
Daniel J. Lewis ’57
Robert Berdow ’57
Rosemary Lynch P’74’76
Karen Bjorklund P’87
Thomas McGillicuddy ’54
Jacob S. Blosinski ’12
Norman McMahon P’65’66’67’67’70’73’76 GP’98’00’01
Charles Brockman ’53 Hugh Burke, Sr. P’82 Edward Clark ’54 Louis B. Colameco, Jr. P’77’79 Henry P. "Hank" Corcoran, Jr. ’52 Carlo J. DiMarco, D.O. P’98’00 Larry DiPaul David J. Driver ’58 Bro. Ralph Edmiston, C.S.C. ’54 Robert Ertell, Jr. P’04 Charles D. Eyanson ’54 Dale A. Gaasche P’13 Ralph Gagliardi P’79’80’83’88 PT Justin Griffiths ’08 Brian Hackman ’05 James Hubbert ’56 P’90 Dorothy W. Jones P’79’83 Eva Keating P’77 GP’06’15 Robert Lewers P ’77’79 GP’12’14
Laurence G. Miller P’05 Cynthia Miller-Stein P’07’11 John F. Mita ’48 GP’95 John D. Ohls ’97 John O’Leary ’80 Rinaldo J. Pierangeli P’08 Marvin B. Pittman P’98’99 Lawrence Probst ’43 Don Rhodes ’61 Wyatt Roland ’05 Robert E. Schmader ’74 Edward S. Schwartz ’45 William B. Shermer ’59 Harry S. Stinger, Jr. P’86 John Matthew Treston III ’85 Richard I. Wolfington, Sr. ’57 Rev. Edson J. Wood, O.S.A.
Alumni
Friar Fridays
I see it every day, especially on a Friday this November when I drove to Notre Dame with Ed Ravert ’10, who is also working in Chicago. The car ride was full of stories from our time at that special place on Warren Ave. Upon arriving, we were met by Brendan Bell ’11, a close friend who is is a senior at Notre Dame.
How the Unitas Lives On
Brendan is currently an RA in Duncan Hall,
By Rory Magargee ’10
Duncan and see Brendan interact with all of
One of the biggest lessons I have learned during my year of service is
hallways of Malvern because everyone is such
how blessed I am to have gone to Malvern Prep. As many of you know,
that Ed and I went to Malvern Prep and said
and he lives a door down from Joe DiSipio ’14. It was tremendous to walk the halls of his residents. It reminded me of being in the
graduating from Malvern is the thing I am most proud of in life. There isn’t a day when I don’t wear a Malvern Prep article of clothing or don’t
great friends. They all were excited to hear that they think it’s a tremendous place from what they’ve learned from Brendan and Joe. While at Saint Joseph’s, where I went
talk to a brother I went to Malvern with over the phone. It feels to me as
to college, I began to invite Malvern Prep
if I never graduated, because the unity of the Malvern Prep brotherhood
kids over my house on Fridays to hang out
doesn’t end after graduation, it actually becomes stronger.
idea I got from hearing about the Friars
and continue the Malvern spirit. It was an at Notre Dame, who call the night “Friar
I use the lessons I’ve learned at Malvern
campus minister there. Andrew does not
to help guide me and to help me connect
hesitate to drop everything he is doing to
with the students at St. Rita’s High School
help me. His generosity is a direct result of
in Chicago, where I am serving as an
the unity of Malvern Prep, where you learn
Augustinian Volunteer. Andrew DiMarco ’09
to care for others.
was the Augustinian Volunteer at St. Rita’s last year and is now a math teacher and
People at Malvern talk about how the spirit of Malvern Prep lasts a lifetime, and
Friday.” This night at Notre Dame, there was a Friar Friday going on at the off-campus house of Mike O’Neill ’11. As we walked in the door, everyone stopped what they were doing and came over to hug Brendan, Ed and myself. It was as if we came home to one huge reunion filled with Malvern alumni who were currently at Notre Dame, all living in different dorms and involved in different activities throughout campus. It was just such a powerful moment where we just caught up and talked. It was the definition of the Unitas that makes Malvern Prep so unique. DiSipio and Brendan Hallinan ’14 asked me if I knew where I was a year ago to the day. I thought about it for a second, and realized that we were on the MECO 108 retreat together. It was an extraordinary realization! This weekend was one of the countless examples of how special of a place Malvern Prep is. We might not have graduated together, but any non-Friar at Mike’s house that night would not have been able to tell from the way we were acting. Even though
A “Friar Friday” at Notre Dame this November brought together Malvern alumni (front, from left) Dan McGlinn ’14, Cole Gillan ’13, Rory Magargee ’10, Kevin Cloetingh ’13 and Brendan Bell ’11; and (back, from left) P.J. Finley ’12, Ryan Bonner ’12, Joe DiSipio ’14, Brendan Hallinan ’14, John Oakley ’12 and Ed Ravert ’10.
life brings us to different places in the world, we will always have something that no one can take away from us, and that is the Malvern Prep Brotherhood. mp
Winter 2015 / Malvern MagazinE / 39
Alumni
Connections and Conversations
What the Malvern Community is talking about on Social Media. @MalvernPrep:
#Throwback
This year, if you follow Malvern Prep on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, you would have learned where Athletic Hall of Fame member and current Malvern teacher Gary Duda’s ’88 basketball jersey hangs on campus, seen photos of Malvern Theatre productions from the 1970s, viewed classic yearbook hijinks from the 1960s, and more on #ThrowbackThursdays!
@MalvernPrep:
You would have also had the chance to guess what year this throwback campus photo was taken. (The answer: 1963)
@MalvernPrep:
What a difference 50 years makes!
Keep the conversation going… Are you following Malvern Prep on Twitter and Facebook? Watching our YouTube channel? Joined us on LinkedIn? Reading the student blog? Check out all of our social media channels for exclusive content, news updates and more. www.malvernprep.org/social Old-fashioned email works, too! Write to us at communications@malvernprep.org.
40 / Malvern Magazine / Winter 2015
Create
Opportunities. As the bar rises for Independent Catholic School education, Malvern Prep continues to surpass it.
faculty and staff The faculty, staff, administration and coaches at Malvern Prep are focused on creating a dynamic and individualized learning environment for our students: one that combines the core methods of teaching with real life experience and opportunities to help develop the skills necessary to embark on a successful future.
The concept of 21st century education is not new. What is new is how Malvern Prep is defining and delivering that education. We are now setting the tone for the future of student-centered education and experiential learning. Learning is no longer confined to the classroom, but happening in every corner of campus and the world around us. Project based and thematic learning, internships and our global exchange program all create opportunities for our boys to take the lead in and out of the classroom.
Help Malvern Prep stay ahead of the curve by making a donation to The Malvern Fund today. If you would like to make your donation online, please visit www.malvernprep.org/GiveOnline.
Community As Malvern Prep continues to grow as a leading Independent Catholic institution, we remain humble and grateful to our alumni community for their dedication, time and continued support in making this possible.
Malvern Preparatory School
418 S. Warren Avenue Malvern, PA 19355-2707
SAVE the DATE
Reunion
Weekend 2015 MAY 1 and May 2, 2015 Classes of
1945, 1950, 1955, 1960,
1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995,
2000, 2005 and 2010
www.malvernprep.org/AlumniReunion