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ARIANAPOLIS
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MAGAZINE Winter 2020
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Dan Atwood, Chairman, P’01, P’07, P’20 Alyson Aleman ‘89 Richard Androlewicz P’99, P’05 Mehdi Anwar Tom Dodge ‘73 Ryan Ford P’13, P’16 William Fontaine P’16, P’19 Michael Herlihy Jim LaPosta Brett Marston ‘90 Raenato Patria ‘56 Mark Russell ‘67 Robert Werge ‘84, P’11, P’13, P’21 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rachel Rogers MANAGING EDITOR: Robin Stanley LAYOUT & DESIGN: Shelley Blair CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Adrienne Fournier, Mackenzie Jutras ‘22, and Robin Stanley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY: Rev. Allen Alexander, MIC, Brian Andersen, Shelley Blair, Stan Godlewski, Mackenzie Jutras ‘22, Jierui Li ‘23, Linh Nguyen ‘23, Linh Pham ‘21, Rachel Rogers, Robin Stanley, Yi Nok Yeung ‘21
CONTENTS 02 GOLF TOURNAMENT 04 PARENT & FAMILY WEEKEND 06 RAKE DAY 08 HALLOWEEN 10 GLANCE INSIDE THE CLASSROOM 14 BRINGING WARMTH TO THOMPSON 16 STUDENT LIFE 18 FALL ATHLETICS 20 VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS 24 ALUMNI FEATURE: SHANNON MITCHELL ‘12 25 CLASS NOTES 28 IN MEMORIAM
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Watch this video to get a glimpse of life at Marianapolis both in and out of the classroom. As you read this edition of the magazine, be on the lookout for more links to explore the many aspects of the Marianapolis experience.
Linh Nguyen ’23
Winter greetings! W
inter greetings to you as we finish a snowy first semester here at Marianapolis!
There are many facets of our School community that make me proud, from our people to our programming and everything in between. But one stands out at this time worth commending, and that is our collaborative spirit of creativity. At the opening of this year, I challenged us to be even “greener,” to make more tangible strides towards sustainability, and to do so as a community united around this important common concern. Since then, I am pleased to report that we have clearly accepted the challenge and have embraced this year’s theme, Planet Earth, to an inspiring degree. A campus-wide plan has been consistently growing all semester full of initiatives and ideas from constituencies throughout our community. Some examples of classroom explorations include working with recycled materials in the arts, researching and proposing sustainability solutions in Finance, analyzing one’s environmental footprint in Global Markets, Money, and Trade, and considering current events on these important topics in Journalism and the Media and the English Capstone course. Students have also responded wholeheartedly to the opportunity to make a local and global impact on sustainability. Led by seniors Nhi “Rosa” Nguyen and Chenxi “Ellen” Liu, Marianapolis participated in World Cleanup
Day in September and collected 780 pounds of recyclables. This initiative, along with an upcoming food waste awareness program, have been designed to call attention to what is thrown away every day. Our Advisory program has also been home to some creative initiatives in specific student-led programming, and participation in recycling in our residential houses and halls is on the rise as well. In the spirit of sustainability, I am proud to announce our move to producing and delivering our Marianapolis Magazine electronically. This new change in medium yields expansive creative opportunities to connect beyond just the written word. Enjoy following links on the pages ahead to live videos and performances that will bring what is happening on campus to life. Grateful to all who have taken up the call to increased environmental responsibility through practical application this semester, I eagerly look forward to what lies in store. United around our common concern for Planet Earth, the opportunities are many and readily attainable. Warm regards,
Joseph C. Hanrahan Head of School
“I have been golfing in the tournament since my freshman year at Marianapolis in 1995. My grandfather helped organize the first tournament back in the day, so it became a family tradition. My father has been on the Board of Directors since the late 90’s so our family has strong ties to the School and its commitment to education.” - JONATHAN ANDROLEWICZ ’99
GOLF TOURNAMENT
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his past September, Marianapolis celebrated the 40th annual Golf Tournament. The tournament raises funds to support the financial aid program for deserving students. This year the tournament raised over $58,000. As has become tradition at the tournament, current students were present to greet golfers and deliver clubs to carts as a way of saying thanks. The Marianapolis Golden Knight even made an appearance for some high-five encouragement before the shotgun start. The excitement of the day was palpable as alumni, current and former parents, and community members joined the School for this annual tradition.
“I have golfed in the Marianapolis golf tournament for over 20 years. I enjoy playing every year because it provides a great opportunity to not only support the School, but also see past and present, near and far members of our Marianapolis family. I love catching up with old classmates, students, and parents, along with past faculty and staff, who I may not otherwise see. It doesn’t matter if you are a great golfer or someone who plays once a year, we are all there to have fun, visit with one another, and support a good cause.” - JOY NICHOLS ’85
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PRESENTING SPONSOR: The Russell Family TOURNAMENT SPONSORS: The Mousseau Family John ’74, Peter ’79, David ’80, and Ann Mousseau Noack Rampco Construction Company – Dudley, MA Richard Androlewicz – Board Member, Beverly, Jonathan ’99, and Jenna ’05 Resources Management Corp. – West Hartford, CT Michael Herlihy – Board Member Thompson Electrical Contractors – Quinebaug, CT WINNING TEAMS: 1st Place Men: Dan Gilbert ’96, Brendan Meehan ’96, Ryan Salvas, and Jared Meehan ’99 with a score of 52. 1st Place Women: Lisa Monaco P’10, P’14, P ’17, Terry Buron, Dawn Menoche, and Beth Aulenback with a score of 70. 1st Place Co-Ed: Peter Mousseau ’79, Cathy Church, John Mousseau ’74, and Charlie King ’79 with a score of 63. Closest to the Pin: Women: Kris Willis Men: Nick Marcoux ’03 Longest Drive: Women: Andrea Allen P’21 Men: Craig Barret Click here to see more photos.
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“I love coming to the alumni soccer game because it brings all of us alumni back together on the field and gives us a chance to see the new soccer players at Marianapolis. The nostalgia really hits you when you’re on the field. It’s also really great to play alongside my former teachers.” - KEVIN TATA ’16
To help kick off Parent & Family Weekend, alumni came back for the annual Alumni & Community Soccer game. The game has been notorious for notso-great weather, and this year was no different! Through the cold and rain, the alumni charged against the student soccer players. With Coach Eric “G” Gustavson on the sidelines, the alumni team rallied at the end with two goals but ultimately fell short of the students. The score ended with the students defeating the alumni 7-4. In case you missed the fall game, there will be an alumni soccer game at Alumni Weekend!
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PARENT & FAMILY WEEKEND
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ver the Columbus Day holiday weekend, the Marianapolis campus was once again a sea of pink as has become tradition during Parent & Family Weekend. In conjunction with Finally Lisa's Hair Salon in Southbridge, MA, the community "goes pink" with pink hair dye and extensions as part of the "And Down Goes Cancer" fundraising initiative. This year, $2,500 was raised from the event to support cancer research. English Language teacher Wes Howard challenged the community to reach a goal of $2,500 and he would shave his head. This is the second year Mr. Howard has done this challenge. “I decided to shave my head every year as an incentive to raise more money, and in solidarity to all suffering from cancer,” he said. “My father lost his battle with cancer in 2012, and I’ve lost several other family and friends to the disease. It’s the real life bogeyman that’s hiding under everyone’s bed. If shaving my head can help to alleviate the suffering of another, then it’s a minuscule price to pay.” The weekend also saw a flurry of athletic activity, with families of our students on campus to enjoy the fall weekend. Click here to see more photos and a video of Mr. Howard getting his head shaved.
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ake Day at Marianapolis began around 1958. According to Father Timothy Roth, MIC, it was started by the students and faculty at the time because there was only one maintenance worker. In its 60 year history, Rake Day has certainly evolved. “Students would work from dawn to dusk. They would frequently be picking up leaves using only the headlights of cars and trucks to find out where they were,” Father Tim said. This year, due to frigid temperatures, students spent a shortened amount of time raking, and then the community participated in a student versus faculty volleyball game where the faculty came out victorious. “This year's Rake Day was the best by far! Even though it was cold we got to rake for a bit with our friends while drinking hot cocoa and then came together to play a great student-faculty volleyball game. The energy was great and it was so much fun to see my fellow seniors come together and try our best to beat the teachers.” - JULIETTE GOLDEN ’20
HISTORY FACT: In 1963, Rake Day was held on the same day that President Kennedy was assassinated. News of the assassination spread slowly throughout campus as there was no instant communication like there is today. Most of the students stopped to say a prayer once they heard the news but did not stop raking.
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Click here to see more photos and a full interview with Father Tim
RAKE DAY ISN’T JUST ABOUT RAKING! It’s about.... .....
creativity!
realizing there are no limits! appreciating our beautiful campus!
hot cocoa!
hardwork.
teamwork.
getting the job done!
bringing everyone together! believing you can do anything!
the overall Marianapolis tradition!
HALLOWEEN
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nyone who has been a Marianapolis student in the past few decades knows that Halloween is a big deal. The Halloween parade dates back to 1990 with former art teacher Tom Perkins as its main champion. While there are store bought costumes, most students and faculty opt to create their own and the community’s creativity is on display.
COSTUME WINNERS:
SINGLE COSTUME WINNER: Blind Ref - Ethan Gosper ’20
MOST CREATIVE COSTUME WINNER: Fan - Brendan Phaneuf ’20
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DOUBLE COSTUME WINNERS: Flo from Progressive and Jake from State Farm - Angelina Hargrave ’23 & Lauren Lemire ’23
BEST FACULTY COSTUME WINNERS: The Benedicts
GROUP COSTUME WINNERS: TRIO COSTUME WINNERS: Spice Girls - Adrianna Balducci ’22, Fairly Odd Parents - Alexandra Hayley O’Connell ’22, Anna Wildes ’22, Valentina Mena ’22 & Kaylynn Horan ’22 Delano ’21, Chiara Faiola ’21 and Fiona Doiron ’21
Click here to see more photos.
"The three of us collaborated to come up with the idea based on our interest in the TV show The Fairly OddParents. We each were responsible for our own costume pieces, but we worked together to create our own wands and crowns from craft store materials. Our favorite part of the costume was definitely spraying our hair different colors to match the character as best we could. The tradition of Halloween at Marianapolis brings out our creative side and allows us to have fun within the community." - JUNIORS ALEXANDRA DELANO, CHIARA FAIOLA, AND FIONA DOIRON
“I tried to go with an art theme. In my Art Foundation class we discussed Salvador Dali and surrealism as an art form so I decided to go that route and be a surrealist painting. I painted most of the dress. It probably took me 5-6 hours to paint it. I usually start off going to a thrift shop and finding something that could work as a base and then figuring out how to transform it into something. I always try to do something that pushes the barriers in some way or pushes the expectations.” - MONIKA CHOJNACKI ’07 & CURRENT ART TEACHER 9
A GLANCE INSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Take a look at what’s happening in some of our classes.
The Journalism and the Media class has been studying various broadcast mediums through the lens of both a historical perspective and through current events. Taught by English teacher Patrick Riedy, the goal is to broaden students’ understanding of the news and its ever-changing nature. Each quarter during the year-long course is structured similarly and focuses on a different medium: print, broadcast television, social media, or radio. Students begin each quarter with a critical, historical paper and then focus on contemporary issues, finishing with a creative project. “In the second quarter, we started with watching All the President’s Men, and students wrote a critical paper on the film and how the film represented investigative journalism,” said Riedy. “Then we watched news broadcasts -local, national, and cable news, and students have been asked to keep reports on those different broadcasts and notice the changes between them.” The quarter will culminate in the class creating its own broadcast, with each student playing the role of a member of a broadcast news team (camera operators, writers, anchors, editors,
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etc.). For the quarter on social media, the class will be asked to cover March Madness and work to get their coverage trending on Twitter. In the final quarter, students will study radio and will create a Podcast as their creative project. “I want the students to get a sense of how the news is ever-changing and as producers of the news they need to be responsive to those things,” said Riedy. “I hope that the historical context will help them be more aware of the world around them and understand that the job of a reporter is not just writing the story but knowing what’s going on in the current moment and what has happened historically.” Senior Chenxi “Ellen” Liu said that the class has helped her get into the habit of reading or watching the news every day. The class subscribed to the New York Times during the first quarter and she has continued to read the newspaper daily. Classmate Ryan Martin ’20 agrees that the class has helped to increase his news consumption, “Before I would just see stuff on Twitter, but now I’m definitely more inclined to watch the national news, in order to have a broader knowledge.”
experience. The grammar needed to converse on each topic is introduced, giving students a context in which to learn. After finishing a unit on music with his Spanish III students, Parodi-Brown said that students are able to talk about what kinds of music they like, make comparisons between different kinds of music, and describe what they are listening to, all in Spanish. Brianne Rett ’21 is taking Spanish Conversation this year, having already completed Spanish II and Spanish III. This is her second year without using a textbook, and while it has been challenging, it has been beneficial in her Spanish proficiency. The Modern Languages department at Marianapolis has been taking a unique approach to learning: by ditching textbooks. Now in its second year, all Spanish and French class curriculums are completely designed by the teachers. According to Modern Languages Chair Joseph Parodi-Brown, it is more important that students can demonstrate what they can do with a language rather than what they know about a language, such as how to conjugate a verb. “The example I always use is, I’ve never been to a cafe in Madrid and been told ‘I’ll give you this coffee if you can conjugate this verb in the past tense’,” he said. “That doesn’t happen. However, the model of textbooks has been very wedded to that. We’re finding that the textbooks don’t match up with how we wanted our students to learn and what we wanted our students to learn.”
“If I’m going to a Spanish speaking country, being able to have a conversation and ask people how they are, or if I need help -- that’s really important,” she said. “When you’re learning a language it doesn’t help if you just memorize everything from a textbook. If you’re talking to someone you have no idea what could come up in conversation so being able to form sentences rather than memorize sentences is important.” Part of the reasoning for not using textbooks is to help students achieve the level of proficiency expected for a particular class. It was discovered that textbooks were going beyond the proficiency level, introducing material that students were not prepared for. Parodi-Brown stresses communication over correctness in his classes, meaning that being able to hold an understandable conversation is more important than making mistakes.
Instead of relying on textbooks, Modern Language instructors create their own units, with both Spanish and French classes focusing on the same topics to give students a similar
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A week-long project in Wes Howard’s Intro to Finance class turned into something much greater once students began researching ideas. The assignment was to pitch a sustainability investment idea for Marianapolis that would increase the School’s environmental profile, in conjunction with the Planet Earth theme. Students were tasked with determining the return on investment of their ideas and presenting it to the administration for possible implementation. Many students in the finance class, which is made up of all seniors, are enrolled in the Centers of Excellence and built upon knowledge learned in past business classes to assist in their projects. Groups presented their ideas during exam week and were given feedback from the administration for further research. Below is a brief summary of each group’s idea.
Energy Efficient Lighting by Lauren Makie, Daniel Moors, Kaylynn Nolan, Jonathan Reardon
A Green Marianapolis by Michael AcquaahHarrison, Pannawat Chauychoo, Benjamin Dagget, Ashley Robert
The pitch: Replace all of the old fluorescent tube lights in the hallway and classrooms in the main building with new energy-efficient LED lights.
The pitch: Replace the paper towel dispensers in all of the main building bathrooms with more efficient hand dryers.
They calculated the cost of the current lights versus new LED lights as well as the expected lifespan and determined that the School could save $17 a day by switching to LED lights. The group discussed the benefits of using LED lights given that they cost less than standard light bulbs and last longer.
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The group contacted local electricians to determine estimates of installing hand dryers on campus, and from the quotes they were given, calculated the potential cost savings to the School. “One of the biggest problems in the world now is paper towels and paper in general. They go to landfills and the country is running out of landfills. Unlike paper, paper tissues are not recyclable,” said Pannawat during the group’s presentation.
Powering the Gustavson Track & Field Scoreboard by Owen Alicandro, Gilbert Fournier, Connor Murray, Jared O’Connor, Andrew Raps The pitch: Install solar panels to power the scoreboard overlooking Gustavson Track & Field. The leftover electricity will go into the Athletic Complex power grid. After installation, the community would help monitor and maintain the solar panel. The group emphasized the fact that having solar panels would place Marianapolis ahead of its competitors and could attract prospective students. The group contacted local companies that install solar panels to determine the cost, and then calculated the return on investment for the School. One cost saving initiative they found was using the Innovation Lab at Marianapolis to 3D print the holding system for the battery. They also laid out a plan for the community to get involved in the maintenance of the solar panels through the engineering classes and having the class monitor the energy production of the solar panel through an amp meter.
Solar Power Greenhouse by Panachai Chauychoo, Syhyoung Lee, Sydney Kennison, Doyoon Kim, Zhenyu “Jeffrey” Wu The pitch: Use solar panels to heat a greenhouse on campus. Science Department Chair Michelle Parker and Director of Experiential Learning Maria Viens are planning to build a greenhouse on campus. This group determined how the School can efficiently heat the greenhouse making it usable year-round. Through research, they calculated the School could save over $1,000 a year by powering it with solar panels. In addition, the team looked into possible grants to assist in covering the cost of building the greenhouse as well as the solar panels. “We are very enthusiastic after seeing the sustainability presentations made by the finance class,” said Doug Daniels, Chief Financial Officer. “I am personally looking forward to exploring these ideas in more detail with the students in hopes of benefiting the School both financially and ecologically.”
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BRINGING WARMTH TO THOMPSON By Mackenzie Jutras ’22, Media Team
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hen Homelessness Awareness Night had to be cancelled this year, the Community Service Council did some quick thinking to readjust their plans and create a new fundraiser. Homelessness Awareness Night was an event where students would donate a set amount of money to help those in need and got to partially experience what it is like to be homeless, just for one night. They did this by spending a night outside on the Thompson Common and having nothing but each other to keep them company. This was a well-loved tradition, however this year it was not safe due to the threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Luckily, we are blessed with an amazing Community Service Council who jumped right on the case and planned out a new idea, that was equally as fun and influential as the last. This year, we had the opportunity to make and/or buy fleece tie blankets, made by our very own school community. Students could make them themselves during Office Hours, or if they preferred, they could order one, and even get it specialized to whatever color, length, and thickness they desired. Serena Godin ’20, Co-President of the Community Service Council, said, “I was very disappointed about the postponement of Homelessness Awareness Night, but this is a perfect alternative that I am sure we will be including every year. [Nhi “Rosa” Nguyen ’20, Co-
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President of the Community Service Council] came up with every single detail and it is possibly one of the best ideas.” She went on to talk about how this wonderful idea is still extremely effective in spreading awareness about homelessness, because, “The forces of nature are something that every Marianapolis student knows about, whether you're walking from your dorm or are watching a varsity field hockey game. People experiencing homelessness have to face the declining temperatures every day and night. By providing a solution to people who are only experiencing this for an hour or two shows how universally valuable a soft and warm blanket can be to everyone.” Not only did this sudden change of plans show how capable our students are of dealing with and overcoming obstacles, but also the way in which they actively worked together to find a plausible solution that still spreads the message intended. The fact that this cause meant so much to the students, specifically those in the Community Service Council, showcases exactly what Marianapolis is all about. The Community Service Council made 48 blankets and raised over $600 that will be donated to the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) for homeless support services.
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STUDENT LIFE
Seniors in the Centers of Excellence completed their internships over the summer. In the fall, students presented their internship experience at the first Centers of Excellence Internship Exposition.
The Experiential Learning program is a favorite amongst the students. This fall, students had the opportunity to go cranberry bogging at Ocean Spray, white water rafting, sailing, sport fishing, and so much more!
Mr. Howard’s advisory held a “Crusade Against Hunger” food drive before Thanksgiving and collected non-perishable items donated by the community for TEEG.
Students on the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Team hosted the Knight of Science in November. They had stations where they presented on topics such as ocean science and climate change. Myles Wagner from the class of 2018, also gave a presentation. He is currently studying Marine Biology at the University of Rhode Island. For more on the Knight of Science, click here.
“EL trips and weekend activities are such unique traits that make our school so special. At these events, I’m able to try new things that I never would have been able to do outside of school while also meeting new people. Whether it is something simple like doing yoga with goats or going white water rafting in the rapids, I am always so grateful to have this opportunity.” 16
- JOCELYN NGUYEN ‘20
Throughout the year, the community takes a break for Mental Wellness Mondays. During this time, students can take part in a number of activities meant to help relieve stress. This fall students had the chance to decorate cupcakes, cuddle with dogs, play card games, meditate, or just take the time to relax.
An annual tradition, the Ring Day Mass was held in October during Parent & Family Weekend. Members of the junior class took part in a mass where their class rings were blessed.
“Together, we can make a difference.” - CHENXI “ELLEN” LIU ‘20, PRESIDENT OF THE GREEN KNIGHTS AFTER A SUCCESSFUL WORLD CLEANUP DAY.
Ms. Chojnacki’s Art Foundation classes participated in the annual Thompson Common scarecrow contest in October. They used recycled materials that the Green Knights collected during World Cleanup Day.
Our first snow day of the year coincided with Thanksgiving break, giving everyone an extra day off. Boarding students celebrated with fun in the snow!
The Green Knights and the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Team collected over 780 pounds of recyclables during World Cleanup Day in September. For the full article, click here.
Marianapolis celebrated Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, by creating an ofrenda to honor loved ones who have passed. To read more, click here.
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FALL ATHLETICS Boys’ Varsity Crew: Boys’ varsity crew had a young team this fall, with only one senior, one junior, and the rest of the slots filled with sophomores and freshmen. Despite this, the team had a successful season, with highlights at the Head of the Merrimack and Head of the Fish. “Our primary goal in the fall is to learn how to row, first and foremost, and then, secondly, to build strength, conditioning, and grit. This season, our boys did exactly that – our novice crew was introduced to the strange and challenging world of rowing and our varsity crews pushed themselves to get stronger and more resilient over the course of the season, using each weekend’s individual course as a new opportunity to improve.” - Boys’
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Varsity Crew Head Coach Sean Murphy Girls’ Varsity Crew: The highlight of the girls’ varsity crew season was competing in the Head of the Charles. As one of the youngest crews to compete, the girls had an impressive showing. Boys’ Varsity Cross Country: The boys’ varsity cross country team placed 6th out of 24 teams at the NEPSTA D4 Cross Country Championships. Salvatore Masciarelli ’21 and Zachary Stoddard ’22, both earned top twenty finishes at the NEPSTA D4 Championships and competed at the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals. Girls’ Varsity Cross Country: The girls’ varsity cross country team placed 4th out of 11 teams
at the NEPSTA D4 Cross Country Championships, earning a repeat performance of last year’s success. The team was led by top performers Sydney Masciarelli ’21 and Rachel Ullstrom ’22, both of whom earned top twenty finishes at the NEPSTA D4 Championships. Sydney finished in second place at the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals and finished in 7th place at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. Varsity Field Hockey: The field hockey team saw their first win for the program against Concord Academy and finished their second season with a record of 4-10-1. The team continues to build the program and make their mark in Marianapolis history. “This fall the Marianapolis varsity field hockey team took on their
second season and never looked back. This group of 18 goofy, wrong side of the stick using, talkative, hard-working athletes, took the field determined to improve.” - Field Hockey Assistant Coach Michelle Parker Varsity Golf: The varsity golf team had a difficult season in terms of wins and losses but despite this did enjoy very pleasant weather and a fantastic home course to play and practice on. The team will graduate six seniors this year. JV Golf: JV golf finished the season with a 1-2 record including a home win against Chapel Hill - Chauncey Hall. Boys’ Varsity Soccer: Boys’ varsity soccer recorded a 7-103 season with memorable wins against Greens Farms, St. Andrew’s, and Governor’s Academy under the lights in Putnam. Goalkeeper Ryan Martin ’20 recorded 111 saves throughout the season. Boys’ JV Soccer: The boys’ JV
soccer team finished with an 8-31 record. The Knights outscored their opponents 36-8 on the season due to an explosive offense and a stifling defense. Eleven out of the 13 team members scored goals, which demonstrates the depth and skill of the team.
Varsity Volleyball: Varsity volleyball doubled its tally in the win column over last season with a record of 6-11. Memorable games included set wins against Suffield and Worcester, as well as match wins against Ethel Walker and Portsmouth Abbey.
Boys’ IIIs Soccer: Boys’ IIIs soccer had a 1-5-3 record this season. Ties against Concord, Hopkins, and Portsmouth Abbey, and a win against Eagle Hill were strong points of the season.
JV Volleyball: The JV volleyball team set out with one goal this season and it was to improve on last year’s record. Last year’s record saw the Knights win a total of 2 games, and fall with 6 losses on the season. This year the JV team smashed their record by finishing the season 5-5.
Girls’ Varsity Soccer: Girls’ varsity soccer ended the season with a 4-11-3 record. The season ended on a high note with an amazing, nail biting comeback win against High Mowing School during the senior game. Girls’ JV Soccer: Girls’ JV soccer recorded a 3-2-1 season. From a group of individual soccer players they came together to become a strong, well-connected team. Throughout the season they overcame many injuries and illnesses and worked to get to every game.
IIIs Volleyball: The IIIs volleyball team started the season with many players who had never been on a volleyball court. The ability of every player to bump, pass, and hit a volleyball with precision and accuracy increased exponentially throughout the season, allowing for even greater development as they continue through the program.
ATHLETIC SIGNINGS On November 13, seniors Juliette Golden and Ashley Smith signed their National Letters of Intent to play college basketball. Juliette signed with Division I Bryant University and Ashley signed with Division II Franklin Pierce University. Click here to see more photos.
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CHRISTMAS CONCERT
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he annual Christmas Concert & Art Show took place on December 5. The vocal portion of the concert was entitled “aqua : in terra pax, a choral etude on life sources.” An etude is a musical term that describes a short study on a concept. Musical selections focused on the theme of water as a physical source of sustenance. There were interactive stations for the audience to visit to discover the importance of water. “There is a lot of need for the conservation of water around the world,” said Joshua Smith, Chair of the Performing Arts Department and Director of Choirs. “In tandem with the theme for the school year, Planet Earth, it was easy for us to be able to take a look at water as a life source and be able to bring it into the Christmas holiday season given that this time is so full of life, so full of joy, and so full of opportunities to be with one another.”
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CHASE 26 Chase 26, the a cappella club at Marianapolis, is gaining momentum this year as it plans future performances and grows in size. Named for the reverse order of the School’s address, Chase 26 was founded three years ago by Johanna Sullivan ’19 and Jillian Ormerod ’19, and is now overseen by sophomore student leaders Sophia Maloney and Lily Mueller. Chair of the Performing Arts department Joshua Smith serves as the faculty advisor. The club meets once or twice a week and currently has 11 members, with more expected to join in the spring. At the Christmas Concert, the group performed “California Dreaming” and is working on more songs to perform. Sophia and Lily hope to one day see a cappella offered as an evening class. “We love being able to have a hands-on role in the planning and structure of the club,” Sophia and Lily said. “It’s fun seeing the members grow in musical experience as well as seeing the group grow together. We bond over our love for music and all work together to achieve a common goal.”
Click here to see more photos and the video of the concert.
ART SHOW FEATURES & SCHOLASTIC ART AWARD WINNERS
Kaitlyn Jacoboski ’20, Book Arts
Cassandra Belsito ’22, Art Foundation I, Bear Down
Julia Crosby ’20, Mixed Media Cyanotype and Embroidery
Michael Hanrahan ’20, AP® Art, Why Not? *Scholastic Art Award Winner - Silver Key
Alison Tourtellotte ’21, AP® Art, Dreaming of Memories, *Scholastic Art Award Winner - Gold Key
Olivia Sczuroski ’22, Art Foundation 1, Lily of the Garden
Evan Lundt ’21, Digital Photography, Conflict Within, *Scholastic Art Award Winner Honorable Mention Lily Mueller ’22, Art Foundation I, Euphoria *Scholastic Art Award Winner - Honorable Mention
Click here to see more photos.
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DANCE SHOW
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he gym was packed for the Fall Dance Show on November 15. Over 18% of the student body was involved in the dance program this fall, from dance classes to dance as an extracurricular activity. For some students, it was their first time dancing, while for others it was their last dance show at Marianapolis after being in the program for four years. The show featured six performances from all levels of dance classes choreographed by dance instructor Mrs. Kendra Sumner. In between dances, the audience was treated to musical performances by Lily Alessandro ’20, Alyssa Leveille ’21, Jocelyn Nguyen ’20, and Brianne Rett ’21. “I have been so blessed to be part of the dance department at Marianapolis since my freshman year. This year’s fall dance show was bittersweet for me as it was my last one. Dance at Marianapolis has allowed me to meet so many amazing people and grow as a person and dancer.” - LAUREN MAKIE ’20
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Click here to see more photos.
“The dance show is always my favorite time of the year! I look forward to performing and showing all of the hard work that Mrs. Sumner and each dancer has put in. The show this fall was incredible. I loved dancing and sharing the stage with 67 other amazing dancers.” - ABIGAIL BORIA ’21
“My favorite number from the dance show this year was Rescue, the advanced dance piece. I enjoyed this piece because I really connected to the song and felt that I could truly share a story with the audience through the emotion I felt in the music.” - SYDNEY DUBY ’22
DRAMA
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he fall play “Good Dreams, Bad Dreams, Daydreams” was a collection of short skits with excerpts from “Sixteen in 10 Minutes or Less” by Bradley Hayward. To compliment these scenes, the cast developed concepts that were then written by Laurelyn Mayen ’21. This was Laurelyn’s first time performing in front of the curtain, as she had previously been part of the tech crew and costume design for last year’s spring production of “Little Women.” She had the unique experience of watching her words come to life and witnessing the actors’ interpretations of their characters. “My favorite thing was the introduction of Lily (Qianhui Lin ’21) and Jason (Shunnan Qi ’22) into a scene and I initially wrote it not realizing it was funny,” she said. “Once they started performing it, the interaction as a whole became funny. People laughed and it was an awesome feeling to know I made something funny and it was by accident. It was also cool to see how much fun the other kids had with their parts.”
Click here to see more photos.
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ALUMNI FEATURE: SHANNON MITCHELL ’12 while in college, and began as the Product Manager upon her graduation. Soon after, she was offered the position of Chief Operating Officer by CEO Marguerite Dibble.
“When you’re playing a game, you know you’re powerful enough to slay a monster, solve a mystery, or become a hero. Games are incredible at helping us see ourselves in a new light, and encouraging people to solve problems they never would have thought possible.” -SHANNON MITCHELL Following her passions led Shannon Mitchell ’12 to GameTheory, a company that designs games for education and research. She now serves as its Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Shannon graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Management of Creative Media from Champlain College in 2016. She interned at GameTheory 24
“GameTheory is a company devoted to turning the power from games towards problems in our world like inequity, healthcare, research, sustainability, and skills training,” she said. “We work with experts in all of these fields to understand the problems they face in their day-to-day lives so that we can design games that take on those issues, and inspire more people to get involved. For each problem these experts approach us with, we design and build a game to take on that problem.” The game Passport to Success, was developed to address the global talent gap for young women. Users will be able to “travel the world as part of a special jobs program where you get to try a new job in each country, collect souvenirs, and build your soft skills expertise.” Another game was created in partnership with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to test children’s hearing. This virtual reality game was intended to make hearing tests a little less scary and intimidating by using the storyline of a monster party. “What we often find out when working on games like this,
is that when you’re engaged and having fun in a game you do better at things that would normally be hard for you,” Shannon said. “The kids that were tested using the tool were able to more accurately perform on their hearing test because they were engaged in the game.” Part of Shannon’s interest in gaming started at Marianapolis during an Amnesty International Club meeting where the group was discussing the UN Conference on the Rights of the Child. The Right to Play, in particular, and its role in human development stood out to Shannon. “I spent a lot of time after that considering what play means to us as humans, and trying to understand the impact of playfulness and fun on our minds,” she said. “I think it was one of the first conversations that sparked my interest in gaming which eventually led me to where I am now.” Shannon’s advice to anyone looking to get into the game design field is to realize that there is more than one way to make a game. “Games are really what you make of them, and I think if you feel passionate about making a world that’s exciting, tells a powerful story, and makes people think of themselves in a new way, then you’d likely be really good in this field.”
CLASS NOTES 1966
John Learson ’66 competed at the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico in racquetball. He placed first in doubles in the 70 to 74 division.
1968
Paul Lango ’68 (left) participated in the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His events in the 70 to 74 age division were the long jump, shot put, discus, hammer, 200 meters, and he ran a leg on a 4 by 100 meter relay team. He placed 8th in the hammer throw and the relay team won the bronze medal for placing 3rd.
1971 After a long career in New York’s criminal justice system, Terrence (Terry) O’Neill ’71 is working with the NYS Legislature to create a State University for the study of transnational organized crime. Terry had the privilege of working with the late Tom Constantine who was Superintendent of the New York State Police, chief of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and Oversight Commissioner for the reform of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. For over twenty years, Terry built a network of police, journalists, lawmakers, and others who have been active in exposing the global network of criminal conspiracies that infest the modern world. His goal is to put all their knowledge and experience to work in fighting that nemesis.
1974
Neil Fitzgibbons ’74 was reelected Faithful Navigator, St. John Paul II, Assembly No. 3355, 4th Degree, Knights of Columbus. He was elected Deputy Grand Knight, Council 9923, St Catherine of Siena, Knights of Columbus, Kennesaw, GA. As his avocation, he is a living
history presenter of 1700s Georgia Highlanders.
1986
Adrienne Dunne ’86 recently joined the Main Office as a Senior Administrative Assistant at Concord Carlisle High School in Concord, MA.
1990
Michael Walsh ’90 works for Star Screen Printing & Embroidery. He represents the company as a client and program development sales executive.
1996
Misaki Takasugi ’96 visited campus this summer while her daughter attended Camp Stonewall. She teaches English at Sacred Heart School outside of Osaka, Japan. Pictured below with Associate Head of School Karen Tata25 years ago.
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We want to hear from you! - Graduation - Accomplishments - Study Abroad - New Job - Wedding - Children - etc.! Submit your updates here!
2000
Jonathan Porter ’00 and his wife Brynn recently welcomed their first child – a daughter named Sloane Monroe Porter! Jon reports that everyone is doing well and they enjoy watching Sloane grow and learn new things every day. Jon, who is a graduate of the meteorology program at Penn State has been at AccuWeather in State College, PA for more than 15 years. He is a member of AccuWeather’s executive leadership team and was recently appointed as Vice President and General Manager for AccuWeather’s Business Services team. Jon’s group works with businesses all around the world to help them keep their employees safe from severe weather and better plan for weather impacting their business, improving profitability and reducing risk.
2006
Colin E. Hill ’06 and his wife, Katarina, became the proud parents of a daughter, Linnea Holmgren Hill, on May 2, 2019. Colin is employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. He and his family are living in Clemmons, NC.
2010
Michaela Mercier ’10 and her son, Ronin, stopped by Marianapolis for a visit in September. Michaela is a chef at the Pomfret School but Ronin is a future Golden Knight. Pictured below with Karen Carter, Development and Alumni Affairs Officer.
2011
Jinzong “Michael” Li ’11 is a graduate of Purdue University. Michael spent
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a few years working in Oklahoma City before relocating to Beijing. He works as a commercial real estate broker for a company that provides clean and safe housing for Beijing’s service workers. He is the point of contact for Marianapolis alumni in Beijing. Pictured below with Head of School Joe Hanrahan.
Ryan Werge ’11 stopped by this fall to speak to students during a Lunch & Learn. Ryan graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Business. He went into the business field working for companies such as Bose and HGH Infrared Systems in the Boston area. There he combined his love of technology and business. Since then he has worked in the medical technology field as a consultant, again combining his love of the business field with his interests in the sciences. He now works directly with
providers, nurses, medical assistants, and hospital staff to ensure that their technology is up-to-date and properly supporting their needs.
& Learn. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute studying Mechanical Engineering. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in 2018, and is now pursuing his Ph.D. at WPI’s 2011/2012 Multiscale Heat Transfer Talia Nichols ’11 and Laboratory researching novel Rafal Lachcik ’12 got married fluid and heat management June 8, 2019 on campus in systems for both terrestrial Blessed George Matulaitis and space applications. His Chapel. Rev. Timothy current research involves Roth, MIC, who had them controlling the movement both as students, was the of fluids using electric fields officiant. Several classes of (electrohydrodynamics) Marianapolis alumni were in and ultrasound vibration to attendance for the celebration. improve the performance of heating and cooling systems. In the past year, he had the opportunity to visit and work at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and conducted experiments on a zero-gravity flight in preparation for testing on the International Space Station. 2014 These research projects are Nicholas O’Brien ’14 in cooperation and funded graduated from Rochester by NASA Headquarters’ Institute of Technology Fluid Physics Program and in May with a BS/MS in The Department of Energy. Computing Security and (Pictured below, right) a BS in Computational Mathematics. He is working for Facebook at their Menlo Park, CA campus as a Product Security Engineer. Nathaniel O’Connor ’14 stopped by this fall to speak to students during a Lunch
2016
Cooper Everson ’16 has been promoted to BalletMet’s second company (BalletMet II) for the 2019/2020 season. The company is located in Columbus, OH and is led by artistic director Edwaard Liang.
2018
Emma Sarantopolous ’18 will be participating in a marine archaeology dig off the coast of Spain this summer as an intern. She attends the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where she plays on the volleyball team. The team was promoted to the highest division of British volleyball and is predicted to win the Scottish Cup. BOSTON ALUMNI RECEPTION On December 5, alumni gathered at Flatbread Company Brighton for an evening of reconnecting, networking, and bowling! Thank you to everyone who came. Click here for more photos!
IN MEMORIAM
2006 - Amanda Dabrowski, 31, died on July 3, 2019. Amanda was born February 18, 1988 in Southbridge, MA. She is the daughter of Edward and Beth (Cyganiewicz) Dabrowski. In addition to her parents, she is survived by a loving sister Victoria Dabrowski ’09 and her little buddy Gus, her Great Dane. Amanda also leaves aunts, uncles, and cousins. She graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice. She was a quality control microbiologist with Bristol-Myers Squibb in Devens, MA. Amanda loved her Great Dane Gus, was a wine connoisseur, and ran a blog called The Glorious Grape. 1970 - Stephen “Steve” Thomas Doyle Sr, 67, passed away unexpectedly on November 11, 2019 at home. After Marianapolis, he attended Providence College. Steve had a distinguished career as a manufacturer’s representative for BSE Marketing in Farmingdale, NY. Steve is survived by his sons, Stephen Thomas Jr. (Eileen) of New City, NY and James (Judy) of Shark River Hills, NJ, his loving grandchildren, Sean, Trevor, Brayden, Gavin, and Charlotte, as well as his longtime girlfriend, Laura Trent. He is also survived by siblings Faustina Tormey, Dolores (Mike)
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Tighe, Maureen (Rich) Soderberg, and Francis “Ro” (Diane) Doyle. He leaves behind numerous devoted nieces and nephews as well as an entire network of loving family, friends, and colleagues. He is predeceased by brother Lawrence M. Doyle, brother-in-law Steve Tormey, and grandson John Thomas “Happy Jack” Doyle. William N. “Bill” DuPont, 62, passed away Sunday, January 5, 2020. Bill served on the Board of Directors at Marianapolis for over a decade. Serving as Chair of the Development Committee, Bill led the School’s fundraising efforts to historic levels. Not only did Bill help raise money, he also kept a watchful eye on expenses as a member of the Finance and Buildings and Grounds Committees – his opinion was highly sought after given his expertise in construction, finance, and banking. He leaves behind his wife of 33 years, Nancy M. (Mason) DuPont; two sons, Jeffrey W. DuPont ’10 and Jack W. DuPont ’17 of Dudley. Bill was born December 22, 1957 in Webster, son of the late Dr. Emil N. and E. Marilynn (McKinstry) DuPont. He was a graduate of Bartlett High School and was active on the basketball, football, and track teams and was a graduate of Northeastern University. Bill was known for his keen business sense, deep generosity, and infectious sense of humor. He loved to entertain both family and friends and was widely known as the
grill master. Bill was Chairman of Webster EMS and Hubbard Health Systems, and was instrumental in board negotiations allowing healthcare to continue to be available in the Webster community. He was an investment manager and Real Estate developer, and was also highly involved in his community. Bill was instrumental in the establishment and development of Lavoie Field Youth Soccer fields in Dudley. In addition, he was a member of the Polish American Veteran’s Club and 200 Sportsman’s Club, a member of the Webster-Dudley Rotary Club and Dudley Soccer Association, where he served as treasurer and also was a coach from U6-U18 youth. He served as an Assistant Delegate of the Massachusetts Republican Committee and was a member of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. Bill was the former owner of Holden Hills and Point Breeze Banquet facilities. Marilyn Ebbitt, Headmistress Emerita, died peacefully in her home on August 3, 2019. Mrs. Ebbitt became the “temporary” Headmistress in 2001. This temporary position would continue for the next 10 years and the School would flourish under her tutelage with an increase in enrollment, and the offerings in athletics, arts, and academics. She proudly began the MOMs group and the K-MOMs group (Korean Mothers of Marianapolis). In addition, Mrs. Ebbitt and her husband Mr. Ken Ebbitt, class of 1960, were instrumental in the creation of the Trinity Foundation which purchased the
School from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in 2010. “In God’s perfect Providence, when Marianapolis needed a person with deep wisdom, passion and determination, and an unwavering devotion to Catholic education, Mrs. Ebbitt responded to His call and breathed new life into our beloved School,” said Head of School Joe Hanrahan in a letter to the community. “At a time when semiretirement may have been the next chapter in her life, Mrs. Ebbitt committed herself to Marianapolis and touched many students’ lives from all over the world, as well as a generation of teaching professionals.” During her years as Headmistress, Mrs. Ebbitt began the tradition of the Book Signing, and created a Distinguished Speaker Series by bringing notable authors, humanitarians, politicians, scientists, and environmentalists to the School. This has continued under the established Marilyn S. Ebbitt Speaker Series. The iconic front gates of the School were named the Ebbitt Gates in 2012, for Marilyn and Ken Ebbitt’s unwavering dedication to Marianapolis. “I have loved the years that I have spent at Marianapolis, and I am deeply appreciative of the many students, parents, faculty, and alumni who have brought joy and purpose to my life,” she wrote in her final “Headmistress Corner” in the 2011 Golden Knight newsletter. Upon Mrs. Ebbitt’s request, memorial donations may be made to the Ebbitt Family Scholarship Fund for Faculty & Staff Children. To read more about Marilyn or make a gift, please click here.
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IN MEMORIAM
2018 - Grace Rett, 20, born January 14, 2000, died in a tragic car accident while on a training trip with the College of the Holy Cross women’s rowing team on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, one day after celebrating her 20th birthday. She was the daughter of Christopher and Mary Jo (Mason) Rett of Uxbridge and the sister of Brianne Rett ’21. Grace was raised in Uxbridge and spent the happiest years of her young life attending Our Lady of the Valley Regional School. At Marianapolis, Grace excelled academically and was a member of the National Honor Society, was an AP® Scholar with Honor and was on the Captains’ Council, Salvete, Spiritus and Community Service Council. Grace graduated as the only 12 season varsity athlete in the class of 2018, having been a member of the varsity basketball and varsity crew fall/ spring teams. At graduation she was awarded the Father Casimir Kuckell Memorial Award. She also played the cello in the orchestra and had many opportunities to share her beautiful singing voice in chorus and at school performances. Grace became the first rower in the school’s history to be recruited to row at the college level and thus began her journey as a D1 varsity athlete at the College of the Holy Cross. Rowing at the college level was a dream come true for Grace. As a freshman she was awarded the “Unsung Hero” award for her
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tireless and selfless commitment to the team and others. In addition to being a member of the rowing team, Grace was an active participant in campus ministry where she attended Athlete Bible Study weekly. Grace worked in the Office of Admissions where she loved to give tours of the beautiful campus and share her love of the college. Grace also worked in the Sports Media Department where she operated the live stream camera. She loved getting to watch her fellow Holy Cross Crusaders in all their athletic endeavors. At Holy Cross Grace was selected to be a Monserrat leader and mentor incoming freshman. Grace was a member of the Liturgical Choir, spent time being a RA and most recently joined the club basketball team. In December of 2019 Grace set the Indoor World Rowing record when she completed 62 hours and 3 seconds of continuous indoor rowing. Out of all the accolades and achievements Grace had, her most cherished and significant accomplishment was the relationship she had with her sister, Brianne. The two of them were joined by a sisterly bond and friendship like no other. Grace loved her sister fiercely and the times they spent together were the most fun and cherished times of their lives. Grace is survived by her maternal grandparents, Fred and Josephine Mason of Lady Lake, FL, her paternal grandmother, Joyce Rett of Whitinsville. She was the granddaughter of the late Wayne Rett. Grace is also survived by 28 first cousins, 9 second cousins and several aunts and uncles. She leaves behind her two faithful dogs, Sir Lancelot and Bruschi. To read more on Grace’s time at Marianapolis, please click here.
Photo by Linh Pham ’21- Media Team
Give so Marianapolis can grow. By financially supporting Marianapolis, you make an investment in the School’s mission. Each year that you give to Marianapolis you are joining hundreds of fellow donors who have a powerful, collective impact on the student experience. Our current and future strength depends on your generous support – at any amount that you can give. Click here to give now.
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Ačiū
Tack
Grazie Dziękuję Köszönöm
Thank You!
Dziękuję Ci
Gratias tibi
Danke dir
Giving Tuesday & Marianapolis Monday Phonathon
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Gracias
$12,060
For the 3rd year, Marianapolis participated in the National Day of Giving, Giving Tuesday, on December 3, 2019. Sixty-seven donors contributed to a record $12,160 dollars in gifts and pledges towards their preferred area of concern which included financial aid, arts, academics, athletics and the area of greatest need (unrestricted). The annual phonathon was postponed until Monday, Dec. 9th and was renamed Marianapolis Monday. A team of 20 faculty, students, parent ambassadors, and members of the alumni council made well over 300 calls. An additional $3,400.00 in gifts and pledges was raised. We are so grateful for the support shown to the School this year! Thank you for being such a generous community!
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Alumni Achievement Award Nominations The Alumni Achievement Awards are presented to alumni who have continued to carry out the School’s mission in their daily lives - displaying strength of character with content, compassion, and integrity. Because so many younger alumni were nominated in the past, this year, we will be presenting two awards: a Young Alumni Achievement Award for alumni who graduated up to 15 years ago and a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for alumni who have graduated 16 or more years ago. Through professional and academic accomplishments, personal triumphs, or contributions in support of Marianapolis, the recipients will have demonstrated ongoing spiritual and intellectual growth, leadership, appreciation for diversity, respect for others, and a commitment to community service. Nominate an individual for either the Young Alumni Achievement Award or the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award using the nomination form at: marianapolis.org/nomination
What Will Your Legacy Be? By joining the Marianapolis Planned Giving Society you will help secure a high-quality education for our students. There are a number of ways to give and tailor your planned gift to fit your financial situation. WAYS TO GIVE: • An outright gift of cash • Name Marianapolis as a remainder beneficiary on a trust • Create an endowment in honor of someone • Add Marianapolis to your will BENEFITS: • A charitable tax deduction as well as possible capital gains tax savings • Annual income for the rest of your life through a charitable remainder trust • Income or estate tax benefits • Financial and tax savings for your estate and beneficiaries
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May 15-17, 2020 Save the Date and click here to register today!
Celebrating milestone years ending in “5” and “0” Members of milestone reunion years (graduation years ending in ‘0 or ‘5) have a special challenge from an alumni donor that we hope will be embraced. This donor will match gifts from all reunion classes on a one-to-one basis up to $25,000, making this challenge worth a total of $50,000. Thank you for your consideration of this amazing fundraising opportunity which will allow current and future students to also have a formative Marianapolis education. Make a gift today!