Spring 2018
RI
W STO N- B EA RD
MO R
Mor r istow n-Bear d School M agazine
A Place of Possibilities • Transforming Our Future Campaign Update • Center for Innovation & Design • Endowment & Scholarship
The Opportunities are Endless
CONTENTS 2 Remarks from the Headmaster 4 MBS Moments 14 Powerfully Prepared
24 Endowment Giving 26 Student Scientists: Real-life Research in the New Math & Science Facility 30 MBS Hosts NJAIS Math and Science Symposium
16 A Future That Knows No Bounds
32 Stories of Excellence in Teaching & Learning
22 The Center For Innovation & Design
36 Beyond the Classroom
Morristown-Beard School
Crimson Spring 2018
Board of Trustees John F. Fay, President David Gately, Vice President Gail Kurz ’86, Vice President Thompson D. Grant, Jr. ’69, Treasurer Judy Taggart, Secretary Peter J. Caldwell, Headmaster Bernadette Aiello Joseph B. Baker ’65 Christopher Blake Mary-Ellen Campbell (Honorary) Ronald DePoalo David Ferry Abbie Shine Giordano Jeffrey Gronning Paul Hawkins ’85 David V. H. Hedley ’64 (Honorary) Allan P. Kirby, Jr. ’49 (Honorary) Paul Lombardi Michael Mariano Ajay Nagpal Gerald Scully Katie Simon ’85 Carisa Strauss Elizabeth Warner Elizabeth Winterbottom
40 Student Spotlight 43 Diversity & Inclusion Retreat 44 Crimson Corner 48 Class Notes 57 In Memoriam 60 Alumni Moments 64 New Additions
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Director of Institutional Advancement Betsy Patterson Associate Director of Alumni Relations & Faculty/Staff Giving Monya Taylor Davis ’88 Young Alumni & Annual Giving Associate Maggie Ranger ’10 Alumni Relations Associate Melissa Hedley ’90 News & Information Manager Steve Patchett Brand & Communications Manager Crimson Managing Editor Janet Burdorf Magazine Layout & Design Sharon Cowen-Cain Website Manager Tiffany Zuber Contributing Writers Allison Gogarty, Steve Patchett, Betsy Patterson, Maggie Ranger ’10, Carol Selman ’64 Photography AEROJO, Peter Chollick Photography, Ethan Kim ’19, David Kramer ’69, Steve Patchett, Tiffany Zuber Printed locally by Action Graphics using soy based ink on 30% recycled & sustainably-sourced paper
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Remarks From the Headmaster Dear Friends of MBS, It’s been an exciting academic year at Morristown-Beard School! The opening of the new Math & Science Facility has certainly been a transformational moment in the history of the School, and I’m truly grateful to be a part of such a supportive community whose generosity helped us fully fund the building before we opened the doors in September. Throughout the year, the Math & Science Facility has been buzzing with activity and energy. As you will read in this issue of Crimson, students are working closely with our faculty members to conduct original research, and they are gaining real-world experience seldom found in other high schools. The flexibility of the spaces—along with the flexibility of a new daily schedule—has created new and exciting opportunities for collaboration and learning. Spontaneous team-teaching is becoming a regular occurrence, as faculty members will informally drop in on each other’s classrooms and add to the discussion. The first floor commons area is similarly becoming a place where students not only study and relax, but exchange ideas with the faculty and collaborate with classmates. Although the Math & Science Facility has been open for less than a year, we have already hosted an impressive statewide Math & Science Symposium here in April, with the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) and Far Hills Country Day School. After the conference, I heard from a number of visitors who were absolutely in awe of the new facility—the beauty of the building, the comfort of the space, and the innovative classrooms and laboratories. Even MBS faculty members from other departments commented about how inspiring it was to teach and learn in such an engaging space. Our hope is that the Symposium will deepen our relationships with our peer schools and that they will return to MBS with their classes to use our innovative resources including Science On a Sphere® and our Stream Table. I know that they appreciated the hospitality of our community and the expertise of our faculty. While we have surpassed our fundraising goal for the Math & Science Facility, we are still in the midst of our comprehensive capital campaign Transforming Our Future—$20 million by 2020, and are now focusing our attention on endowment and scholarships—two priorities that are integral to the School’s long-term success. We are also planning to renovate the old science classrooms beneath the Dining Hall as a Center for Innovation & Design. Our vision is to create a center that serves as an “idea incubator” where students can connect with their passions, collaborate, tinker, and practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It will include industrial design and makerspace studios while upgrading our computer science facilities as well as our audio and video studios. To learn more, please see the article on page 22. As we continue our process of growth and evolution, one of the most important sources of information to ensure we are fulfilling our mission is 2
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to get your views, and to take a measure of our direction from your perspective. In April, we sent out a comprehensive Parent Survey to all current families to elicit information regarding their MBS experience. The survey is a follow-up to one we sent in 2014, and its results will serve as an excellent benchmark for us to measure the progress we have made in the last four years. I look forward to sharing our findings with you in the near future. Thank you for your continued interest and support of MBS. With best wishes,
Peter J. Caldwell, Headmaster
Peter J. Caldwell, Headmaster cordially invites you for
Wine & Cheese
to share plans for an extraordinary and innovative new center
T H E
C E N T E R
F O R
Thursday, May 31, 2018 5:00 - 6:30 PM Lower Level Math & Science Facility We invite you to join Darren Burns, Head of Upper School, Boni Luna, Head of Middle School, and faculty to hear about the exciting plans for the renovation of the space below the Dining Hall to create a Center for Innovation & Design. All interested parents, alumni and friends of MBS are invited! RSVP to rcarmody@mbs.net by Wednesday, May 30th See page 22 for more information about the center
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MBS MOMENTS
Eddie Franz Wins 400 th Game Congratulations to MBS boys basketball head coach Eddie Franz, who added another impressive achievement to his stellar career—his 400th career win. He reached the milestone victory in front of the home crowd on Saturday, February 3rd as the Crimson defeated Hanover Park, 68-54, in the second round of the Morris County Tournament. Coach Franz has served as the MBS boys basketball head coach since 1991 and was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012. He enjoyed his most successful season as a coach last year when the Crimson finished with a 25-5 record and were crowned NJACLiberty Conference champions. For the first time in School history, the Crimson advanced to the championship game of the Morris County Tournament and Franz was named the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Coach of the Year as well as the Daily Record’s Morris County Coach of the Year. This season’s highlights included a second straight Prep B title and NJAC-Liberty title. Eddie Franz has been involved in a wide range of activities at MBS since he began his tenure here in 1983. He currently serves as Wellness Coordinator, boys varsity basketball coach, and an Upper School history teacher.
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Governor Whitman Speaks to MBS Students Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman visited Morristown-Beard School on Friday, November 17th to speak with students about a host of issues including the environment, the political system, and the importance of public service. Governor Whitman’s visit was coordinated by the MorristownBeard School GLOW (Girls Leadership Outreach and Worth) Club. Before speaking at the All-School Meeting, she met informally with members of GLOW in the Middle School Commons and answered questions about her leadership style and career path. Governor Whitman, New Jersey’s first woman governor who served from 1994 through 2001, also served as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was credited with the work she did at the EPA in promoting watershed protection. Currently, Whitman is president of the Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues. In a question and answer session with students, she emphasized that, “The environment is important for everyone; it’s
not a partisan issue. You don’t have clean air for Republicans and clean water for Democrats.” She also expressed concern that the major political parties have come too polarized. “Democrats have moved as far to the left as Republicans have moved as far to the right. (In government), you should represent your constituents first, not your party,” she said. “It’s healthy to have a vibrant two-party system...you want bipartisanship. It’s better for all of us.”
Upper School Musical This winter, the Studio & Performing Arts Department presented Merrily We Roll Along in The Theater at Founders Hall. The cast and crew included 56 Upper School students. Featuring lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth, Merrily We Roll Along begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealth jaded composer Franklin Shepard and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives.
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MBS MOMENTS
Mikie Sherrill Speaks about Running for Congress On Thursday, January 25th, Congressional candidate Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11th) visited campus and spoke to the MBS community at an event hosted by the Progressive Club and the GLOW (Girls Leadership Outreach and Worth) Club. Sherrill briefly outlined some issues that are important to her (healthcare and taxation) and spoke about the challenges of campaigning and fundraising. She also addressed the importance of being a positive role model for girls. “I think that you do need role models to see yourself in a certain position. It’s important for young girls to see that; it gives them something to shoot for,” she said. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Sherrill spent almost a decade serving in active duty. As a Sea King Helicopter pilot, she flew missions over Europe and the Middle East. She later served as a Russian desk officer for the U.S. Navy in London, where she earned a Master’s degree in Global History from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Sherrill left the Navy in 2003 and returned to the United States to earn a law degree from Georgetown University. She later joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey as an Outreach and Reentry Coordinator where she helped federal prisoners gain employment, housing and education. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she served as a federal prosecutor.
Seniors Sign with Colleges Morristown-Beard School seniors Keegan Heher ’18 and Patrick Ryan ’18 signed Letters of Intent on November 8th to continue their athletics on the Division I level next year. Heher will play lacrosse at the University of Richmond; Ryan will play golf for Fairfield University. Heher was a First Team All-Conference selection for lacrosse in 2016 and 2017, was named Honorable Mention All-Morris County, and also received the team’s Crimson Award for her leadership. In 2016, she led the team in ground balls and caused turnovers. This past season, she led the team in goals scored (31) and draw controls (44). As an ice hockey player, she was also named First Team All-State last winter and helped guide the Crimson to a 17-9-1 record and a Prep B Championship. Ryan led the golf team to a 19-3 record last year including a final #7 ranking in the NJ.com Top 10, a Morris County Tournament title, a Prep B crown, and an NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public B Championship for the first time in MBS history. He was named First Team All-NJAC and earned Third Team All-State honors. This past summer, 6
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Ashleigh Scully ’20 Named Youth Wildlife Photographer of the Year In November, MBS sophomore Ashleigh Scully ’20 was named the 2017 Youth Wildlife Photographer of the Year as part of the Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards. She is one of the youngest female photographers to win the youth title. Her winning image of two bear cubs is on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. through October 2018. In October, Ashleigh won the 11-14 year old category of the London Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, and placed a separate image among the finalists. Her honored images are two of only 100 chosen by the competition from an entry pool of nearly 50,000 photographs. Her winning photo of a red fox half-buried in deep Yellowstone snowpack will travel to museums and galleries in more than 70 countries worldwide through 2018. Ashleigh just finished her first self-published children’s book about a young Great Gray Owl, and will give a presentation at the North American Nature Photography Association’s 2018 Spring Conference on “The Future of Wildlife Photography.” Last fall, her work was on display at Tilting Gallery in Manchester, Vermont, the 70 South Street Gallery in Morristown, and at the Phoebe Stiles King ’49 Gallery at Morristown-Beard School.
Ryan qualified to compete with the top young golfers in the world at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kansas. On April 11, Declan Kelly ’18, Tahj Valentine ’18, and Ryan Russo ’18 signed Letters of Intent to play collegiate football next year. Declan Kelly and Ryan Russo will play at Wagner College, (DI), while Tahj Valentine will play for Stonehill College (DII). The three players served as captains of the MorristownBeard School football team (4-4) this past fall, leading the Crimson to State Tournament play for the first time in the past four years. Tim Fell, Head Football Coach at Morristown-Beard School, praised the three senior captains for their leadership and work ethic. “Declan, Ryan and Tahj led by example. They showed younger players proper technique, and demonstrated to upper classmen what real commitment and leadership looks like,” said Coach Fell. “Their hard work and commitment to being the best they could be is what makes all three of these athletes tremendous football players, leaders, and people.” Crimson Spring 2018
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MBS MOMENTS
Zachary Esposito ’18 Earns MPAC Music Student of the Month MBS Senior Zachary Esposito ’18 was selected as one of 12 outstanding local percussionists and was recognized for his achievements prior to a concert at MPAC on January 20 th. Students were nominated by their teachers and were chosen by the Theatre’s Education Department based on their commitment to and excellence in the performing arts. Esposito has been an active participant in the Morristown-Beard School Performing Arts Department during his entire high school career. According to MBS music teacher Dr. John Girvin, “He has been an indispensable member of the MBS Jazz Ensemble, playing drum set with remarkable talent and intensity. His high level of musicality has really enabled the band to swing wonderfully. He has an innate sense of time, and is able to switch between styles and tempos in a professional manner.” Zach has been the featured drum set soloist in many of the band’s selections, and is able to play both prepared and improvised solos with great ease. In addition to playing jazz, Zach is a truly modern drummer, as best exemplified in his work with the MBS Contemporary Music Workshop (CMW) concerts. He is also adept on mallets, and has been featured as a marimba soloist with the MBS Percussion Ensemble as well as with the Jazz Ensemble.
Middle School Geography Bee On Wednesday, January 24th, the Middle School held the MBS 2018 National Geographic Bee. Ten students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade qualified to compete in the final round of the School championship organized by Geography Teacher Lisa Swanson. Morristown-Beard School seventh grader Neal Ramasamy ’23 battled hard to win the MBS championship for the second year in a row. Eighth grader Ronak Shetty ’22 was the runner-up in a very challenging contest that tested students’ knowledge and thinking skills involving physical geography, map skills, demographics, and natural resources of the United States and the world at large. Neal clinched the victory by correctly answering that the Seikan Tunnel connects the northern island of Hokkaido with the main Japanese island of Honshu. Other questions focused on key cities, river systems and natural resources.
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The MBS Parents Association threw a wildly successful Jeans & Jewels Gala on Friday evening, February 9th at the Hilton Short Hills. Approximately 300 attendees came ready to party in their best denim. The evening activities included a gift basket raffle, live auction, delicious food, and hours of dancing!
February 9, 2018
The MBS community is extremely grateful for the work of co-chairs Margaret Dempsey and Carisa Strauss and for all of the volunteers who worked tirelessly to help make the evening possible.
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MBS MOMENTS
Middle School Places 1st in Forensics Consortium The MBS Middle School team placed first in both Original Oratory and Interpretive Reading at the Middle School Consortium of New Jersey’s Forensics Competition on February 22nd. In the Original Oratory category, Hannah Williams placed second, Ava Penizotto placed third, and Eshaan Popat also had a strong showing. The MBS Interpretive Reading team was led by Olivia Siegel (2nd place) along with teammates Ava Bourneuf and Lauren Hardman. The other schools that participated in the event were Central Middle School, Oak Knoll, and Oratory Prep. Middle School English teacher Melissa Hill and French teacher Soni Dougherty coordinated the event.
Middle School Hockey Wins County Championship The Morristown-Beard Middle School ice hockey team won the Greater Morris County Tournament following a 2-1 shootout victory over The Peck School on February 14th. The team is under the direction of coaches Rob Mead, Kevin Meany and Woody Kapp. This is the second year in a row that the MBS Middle School has captured the county title. Last year, MBS defeated The Peck School, 7-2, to win the championship. 10 Crimson Spring 2018
Anika Buch ’20 Named Finalist in Essay Competition MBS sophomore Anika Buch ’20 was named one of four finalists in an essay competition organized by the French Embassy and French Morning, an organization supported by the French government in order to promote French and bilingualism in American schools. The essay topic was: “How does being bilingual make you different, shape you, or define who you are?” Anika was competing against students from the tri-state area who attend public, private, charter, bilingual, and monolingual schools. Essays were judged on clarity, persuasiveness, originality, and how compelling the storytelling is. The awards were presented at the French Morning’s annual Bilingual Fair on November 4th at Fordham University School of Law.
House Challenges in the Middle School On Wednesday, February 28th and Thursday, March 1st, the members of the four Middle School Houses—the Athenians, Spartans, Whippanies, and Shongums—competed in a number of House Challenge activities including basketball, dodgeball, and trivial pursuit. The House Challenge competition began in 2006 and is designed to boost class spirit while also giving students a sense of the School’s tradition. The eighth grade House names are rooted in Morristown and Beard School history—the Athenians and the Spartans were taken from the Beard School, while the Shongums and Whippanies were part of the Morristown School tradition.
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MBS MOMENTS
MBS IN THE NEWS
EXTRA! EXTRA! FEATURED IN:
Morristown-Beard School graduate and University of Denver lacrosse player Trevor Baptiste ’14 was selected as the first overall pick in the Major League Lacrosse draft in April by the Boston Cannons. Trevor Baptiste ’14 was featured in the February issue of Inside Lacrosse magazine and is praised as being “the best player from New Jersey” and possibly the “best face-off specialist of all-time.”
SEEN IN:
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FEATURED ONLINE:
SEEN IN:
AND
The MBS Weather Services club is featured on Earth Networks’ website for their demonstrations at AMS Weatherfest in Austin, Texas in January. The club is also featured in a new case study video created by The Earth Networks marketing team. www.earthnetworks.com
HIGHLIGHTED ON: This January, MBS junior Perri Easley ’19 was selected as one of 50 students nationwide to represent Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation as a 2018 Channel Kindness reporter. As one of 50 youth reporters from around the country, Easley will be creating videos, writing articles and recording podcasts about acts of bravery and kindness. www.channelkindness. org/our-reporters
CBS-TV Channel 2 News was on the MBS campus in February to shoot a story about Morristown-Beard School boys basketball coach Eddie Franz, who guided his team to a second straight Prep B title while battling cancer. The story, which aired on the 5 p.m. news hour, highlighted the resiliency of Coach Franz as well as the entire team.
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Powerfully prepared By Maggie Ranger ’10
The success of our alumni is proof of the powerful impact a Morristown-Beard School education can have. As the alumni in this issue demonstrate, our graduates are exceedingly well prepared for college, careers, and beyond. Passionate, hardworking, and fueled by a desire to give back, these alumni are making meaningful contributions, and we are proud to be part of their journey.
TRAVIS NARDIN ’14 & NICK FERRY ’13
Game Changers When two former MBS varsity baseball captains and sports fanatics, Nick Ferry ’13 and Travis Nardin ’14, teamed up to create GripRx in December 2016, they were determined to advance the game of baseball as we know it. An axe-shaped handle that attached to the bottom of a baseball bat, GripRx set out to provide hitters a grip to reduce the risk of injury, enhance performance, and increase comfort. As the year progressed, it became clear there might be a broader market for GripRx. A few months later, GripRx launched in the lacrosse market as a contoured grip that slips over the bottom of a lacrosse stick, providing hand support as well as improving shot speed, accuracy, and control. The reception among its growing lacrosse base has been resoundingly positive. Ferry and Nardin both attribute their success to their experience at MBS. Says Nardin, “Without MBS encouraging me to challenge preconceived notions, take risks, and pursue my passions, I don’t think GripRx would be where it is today.” Ferry acknowledges the opportunity to be a leader in activities outside the classroom as key to his success. “Being the captain of two sports teams and a Head Tour Guide, I was able to develop strong leadership skills at a young age,” he recalls. “Mr. Caldwell’s Rhetoric of Leadership class greatly enhanced those abilities as well. We analyzed different speeches, discussed how the authors displayed remarkable leadership, and talked 14 Crimson Spring 2018
about how we could apply those skills to our own lives.”
Soon after launching GripRx for lacrosse sticks, Ferry and Nardin signed professional lacrosse stars Kyle Harrison (pictured middle) and Michelle Tumolo to act as brand ambassadors. This was a coup in the lacrosse world; Harrison is one of the top players in the sport, and Tumolo is a decorated member of the United States women’s national lacrosse team. Ferry and Nardin’s social media strategy utilizing endorsed professionals as influencers has proven successful for the brand. Nardin stressed its importance saying, “My favorite part of the job is [hearing feedback] and seeing people enjoy our products…there is nothing more satisfying than seeing our product used by players all over the world.” Ferry has advice for MBS students who are thinking of developing a new product: “If you try and it works, that’s awesome! If you try and fail, then you gained valuable experience along the way. If you don’t try, you’ll forever be haunted by two words: what if ?” Nardin remarks, “Mr. Timek’s Engineering and Drawing class is a lot of the reason GripRx was possible. In his class, I learned prototyping process, drafting, building models… which helped me communicate my ideas with professionals to create GripRx products.” What’s next for the young entrepreneurs? “To make GripRx practically a requirement for every lacrosse player,” declares Ferry. “We truly believe that everyone who plays lacrosse needs one of our grips on the end of their stick.” Nardin adds that the pair have “many other business development categories, but for now, we’re going to keep those to ourselves.”
TIFFANY HALO ’01
Finding the Right Chemistry
Halfway through her college career, Halo added a major in chemistry, leading to her next venture as a TA in a chemistry lab. By her senior year at Cornell, Halo decided that she would like to be involved in creating new medicines as opposed to treating patients directly. This led her to Yale, where she received a Ph.D. in Chemistry.
Tiffany Halo ’01 is currently the Assistant Director of Global Regulatory Strategy at Bayer. An impressive academic journey has led her to this point, spurred by a curious personality and a strong work ethic. “I guess I’ve always liked learning how things work—how small pieces can fit and work together in small ways to create new functionality,” she muses.
After Yale, Halo worked at two biotech companies in Chicago and then Boston, which she found to be a positive and important experience. “Biotech companies are small and under-sourced, which means you have opportunities to wear different hats… I was able to try out regulatory affairs for the first time and found I really liked it,” Halo explains.
While Halo didn’t always know what she wanted to do, MBS helped her discover what she enjoyed. “At MBS I had the freedom to explore different subjects and activities that I thought I might like,” she explains.
After 10 years of research, Halo found herself wanting to learn more about drug development outside of the labs. When an opportunity to work in regulatory affairs at Bayer in New Jersey opened, she jumped on it. In this position, she is involved in almost every aspect of drug development, utilizing her strategic skills and keeping her challenged with an ever changing landscape of clinical science, global healthcare systems, business development, and government. “The teamwork and strategy are my favorite parts of the job,” she notes.
While at MBS, she appreciated that her teachers kept classes interesting and engaging. “I never felt like I was being taught solely out of a textbook,” Halo recalls. “Being able to have these positive experiences across multiple disciplines in high school helped me learn what areas I liked best.” Halo credits the small class sizes at MBS to her success—she always had access to her teachers when questions arose and most importantly, she maintains, “They helped me to know how I learn and that established a significant foundation for me moving into college.” Two years of biology at MBS had sparked an interest in the subject, which she chose to major in for her undergraduate degree at Cornell University.
There are so many career paths to choose from in the sciences and a myriad of opportunities to explore. Halo’s advice to MBS students who choose this field: “Try out as many different things as you can in college—take a variety of classes and labs, try working in a research lab, join a club, do an internship. If you have an advanced degree in sciences, you will have tons of career options—everything from research and academia to public policy, business consulting, patent law, and robotics engineering.” Crimson Spring 2018 15
A FUTURE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDS Campaign Update 2018 By Betsy Patterson, Director of Institutional Advancement, Parent ’14, ’16
Transforming Our Future
MI L L I ON
The Campaign for Morristown-Beard School
16 Crimson Spring 2018
The MBS community has much to be proud of ! Thanks to the generosity of many, our School’s historic comprehensive campaign, Transforming Our Future, is in full swing. To date, this community-wide effort has fully funded the construction of the stunning $12.6 million Math & Science Facility that was opened in the fall. Wilkie Hall is now home to an extraordinary new teaching tool, and the Simon Athletic Center and Rooke Pool have undergone significant improvements. Continued support of the
Morristown-Beard Fund—as well as gifts to endowment and scholarship—positions us well to reach and exceed our overall campaign goal of $20 million by 2020. Thank you to all of you who have chosen to support this historic campaign to date. I invite you to read about our campaign progress and some exciting new initiatives that will propel Morristown-Beard School to the forefront of independent school education.
Our Path to Success $20 Million by 2020
$14.6 Million
Capital Projects
$5
Million
Morristown-Beard Fund
$ 400,000 New gifts to Endowment and Scholarships
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Transforming Our Future
CAPITAL PROJECTS
MI L L I ON
The Campaign for Morristown-Beard School
Math & Science Facility
In September 2017, MBS proudly opened the doors to a 25,000 square foot state-of-the-art Math & Science Facility, surpassing the goal of the $12.6 million cost thanks to the generosity of the MBS community. While this new facility promises to be transformational, its greatest impact will be on how it enriches the student experience. The newly constructed facility contains student-friendly gathering and work spaces, as well as places for project-based teams to collaborate in both math and science including: ■
Eight science classrooms/ laboratories, prep rooms and independent research labs ■ Eight mathematics classrooms ■ An environmental science lab ■ A dynamic math studio ■ DNA lab ■ Art gallery
■
Small group study areas Open common space for students and faculty
■
Science On a Sphere®
Morristown-Beard School is proud to introduce Science On a Sphere, an extraordinary display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) developed “SOS” as an educational tool to help illustrate Earth System science to people of all ages. Animated images of atmospheric storms, climate change, and ocean temperature can be shown on the sphere, which is used to explain complex environmental processes in a way that is simultaneously intuitive and analytical. The carbon-fiber globe hangs suspended from the ceiling in the main room of Wilkie Hall, with projectors pointing at it from each corner. While the globe itself does not move, the animations projected onto the globe give the illusion that the globe rotates just as the Earth does. The animations range from satellite imagery to radar to hurricane-tracking patterns.
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The Future Begins Now
Simon Athletic Center and Rooke Pool Thanks primarily to the generosity of an anonymous donor, significant renovations to the Simon Athletic Center and Rooke Pool have been made, including: ■ New roof and exterior paint ■ New ventilation system ■ New locker rooms ■ Conversion of chlorine pool water to saline ■ New pool deck ■ New training room ■ More efficient lighting
With the completion of the Math & Science Facility, Phase I of the renovations to the Simon Athletic Center and Rooke Pool, and the Center for Innovation & Design currently underway, MBS is extremely well positioned to meet the evolving needs of the future. As we continue to look to the future as an institution of academic excellence with uncompromising facilities, we plan on addressing the following needs: Wilkie Technology Center Renovations to the ground floor to accommodate Architectural Drawing & Design ■
Health and Wellness Center Expansion of nurse’s office and counseling support to a more accessible and appropriate location ■
■
Dining Hall Expansion of current facilities to accommodate additional seating, better food service flow and larger kitchen
Athletic Center Phase II Expansion of weight training facilities and addition of fitness center and yoga/pilates studio ■
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Transforming Our Future
THE MORRISTOWN-BEARD FUND
MI L L I ON
The Campaign for Morristown-Beard School
The Morristown-Beard Fund
RI
W STO N- B EA
RD
MO R
The MB Fund exists for one reason only: to improve the MBS student experience. Every dollar donated supports the expansion of academic and curricular initiatives, arts and athletics programs, and student leadership and service opportunities. While special fundraising for capital projects, endowment, and scholarship bring significant long-term benefits to our School, the MB Fund’s consistent support of today’s student experience is vital to our students’ intellectual and emotional growth and our School’s financial health.
What the MB Fund Supports and its Impact Your tax-deductible gift to the Morristown-Beard Fund (our School’s annual fund) provides unrestricted support for essential programs and other areas of greatest need, including: ■ Academic/Curriculum
Development ■
Arts, Athletics, and Other Student Programming
■
Faculty Support
■
Student Leadership and Service Opportunities
■
Student Financial Assistance
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More reasons why your gift positively and immediately impacts MBS students…
$5,000
12:1
100%
The approximate gap between the cost of educating one MBS student and his/her tuition. The MB Fund helps close this gap, each and every year.
The average student to faculty ratio at MBS. The MB Fund supports our exceptional faculty and small class size.
The MB Fund supports the entire student body— every student, every year.
Transforming Our Future
ENDOWMENT & SCHOLARSHIP
MI L L I ON
The Campaign for Morristown-Beard School
Endowment
The continual growth of an independent school’s endowment is vital to the long-term financial health of the institution. A robust, well-managed endowment enables independent schools like Morristown-Beard School to strengthen its future aspirations by providing increased support to both unrestricted and restricted needs. Infrastructure costs related to the academic experience (such as the rising investment in technology at MBS during the last decade) represent one of several ongoing, evolving priorities for investment income generated by the School’s endowment.
Planned Giving
Endowment income will continue to play a key role in helping MBS maintain tuition increases at a lower level than many regional and national peer schools through its support of general operating expenses. For more information on the importance of endowment, please turn to page 24.
The 1891 Founders Society was established to honor generous alumni, parents, and friends who have created trusts, bequests, or other planned gifts to benefit Morristown-Beard School. Every individual who supports MBS with a planned gift is eligible to become a member of the 1891 Founders Society. Planned giving provides an opportunity for donors to make provisions for the support of MBS through deferred gifts. Many of these planned gifts offer attractive tax benefits to the donor. Funds provided by these gifts—whether given through gift annuities, trusts, insurance policies, bequests, or other means— help ensure a bright tomorrow for Morristown-Beard School.
Scholarship
Another important priority for MBS remains scholarship support for students with demonstrated financial need. While annual investment income from the endowment does help limit tuition increases, the overall affordability of an independent school education continues to be a challenging question facing schools throughout the nation. Additional, related issues such as diversity and inclusion within the composition of the student body amplify the growing need for scholarship support.
MBS Scholar Partners Program The MBS Scholar Partners Program is an opportunity for members of the MBS community to provide mentorship as well as tuition assistance to support outstanding students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Greater Morris County area. MBS is dedicated to creating opportunity for students who would not otherwise have access to an exceptional education. Help us empower and support our students by supporting this critical initiative.
Crimson Spring 2018 21
T H E
C E N T E R
Inspiring Self-Directed “Design Thinking” for the
21 Century st
22 Crimson Spring 2018
F O R
By Betsy Patterson, Director of Institutional Advancement, Parent ’14, ’16
I
n addition to the Center for Teaching & Learning and the Center for Academic Writing, exciting plans are underway at MBS for a cutting-edge Center for Innovation & Design that will help students achieve the next level of academic success, enhancing our already rigorous academic program and deepening the levels of student engagement across all disciplines. Just as the new Math & Science Facility is helping to generate a host of new independent study options and student-led research projects, this new center will be a hub for original work that is fueled by our students’ passions. Located below the Dining Hall, where the former science labs are, the Center for Innovation & Design (CID) will inspire and support “design thinking” for both our Middle School and Upper School students where they can connect with their passions, collaborate and engage with each other and faculty, and develop new ideas and products. A natural extension of the $12.6 million Math & Science Facility, this highly anticipated center will provide over 8,000 square feet of flexible and innovative space where students will explore, experiment, design, problem solve, and tinker as they engage in multi-disciplinary projects. While other schools in the area have innovation and design spaces, MBS will be one of the only schools with a CID of this size and scope. The overarching goal is to create a center where all students will collaborate and practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The CID will serve as an “idea incubator” where students will analyze challenges, deconstruct them, think creatively, tinker, and forward new and unconventional ideas, and vet them with their peers in a sort of “Shark Tank” mentality. “If we can do this well,” states Darren Burns, Head of
Upper School, “our students’ experience in the Center for Innovation & Design will be organic and will be relevant to the world in which they live and work. I envision their projects as being a way to set themselves apart and get a jump on life beyond MBS. At MBS, students have always been participants in their education; now they can become the architects. As our students have shown, they can produce some incredible work when they take the lead and believe in themselves.” “The CID was always part of our long-range plan for the School,” explains Headmaster Peter Caldwell, “but our primary goal entering into this campaign was to build and fund the Math & Science Facility and evaluate how the space was being utilized before moving forward with the CID. After a full academic year, we have a much better sense of what needs to be in the CID and how it can help facilitate bringing the sciences and humanities together.”
The CID will feature: ■ Collaboration Lab with Harkness Table and Augmented Reality Capabilities ■ State-of-the-Art Computer Science Studio ■ Professional Sound and Film Studios ■ Industrial Design Studio ■ Prototyping Studio ■ Makerspace Studio ■ Robotics Space
With an estimated $2 million cost for the renovations and equipment, fundraising has begun. “We are in the early stages of our fundraising efforts”, states Betsy Patterson, Director of Institutional Advancement, “The sooner we can reach our goal, the sooner we can move forward with the renovations.” As this is space not currently being used by students and faculty, renovations can occur during the school year. “Ideally, we would like to have the CID completed and opened in late winter 2019 but that depends on the success of our fundraising,” states Headmaster Caldwell. Headmaster Caldwell cordially invites all interested parents, alumni, and friends of MBS for a “Wine & Cheese” on Thursday, May 31st from 5:00-6:30 PM to see the existing space below the Dining Hall and to hear more about the exciting plans for the Center for Innovation & Design (please see page 3).
Center for Innovation & Design 70 Whippany Road Township of Morris, NJ
A X O N O ME T R I C V I E W
04.27.18 NK:2058.600
Crimson Spring 2018 23
ENDOWMENT : GIVING Sustain The Crimson Spirit By Allison Gogarty
The most worthwhile things in life usually require careful planning: a successful career; a healthy family; a secure retirement—and, of course, a superb education. The decision to invest in a Morristown-Beard School education no doubt involved significant planning and consideration to ensure the perfect fit and best option for future success. The School administration and Board of Trustees feel the same obligation to plan for the future success of MBS, not just for decades but generations to come. MBS is fortunate to have an incredibly generous community of parents, alumni and friends of the School who have made so many of our recent accomplishments possible. Through both gifts to fund capital projects and contributions to the Morristown-Beard Fund (our School’s annual fund), the support of the MBS community has been crucial to uphold the standards we set. This support, particularly throughout our comprehensive campaign “Transforming Our Future” $20 Million by 2020, has allowed us to make great strides toward the state-of-the-art 21st century campus that allows for exploration and reflection, cultivating the next generation of leaders. Now that we are closer to realizing our goals for the physical campus, we owe it to future generations to secure the financial health of MBS by growing our endowment.
Support of capital projects has built up the School’s body; a robust endowment will sustain its soul. 24 Crimson Spring 2018
Our pedagogy is on the cutting-edge of independent school education—empowering our students to direct the path of their education. Focusing on creativity, ingenuity and problem solving will set our students up for real world success. Our new Math & Science Facility and planned Center for Innovation & Design provide a place to put these skills into practice. Our endowment will provide the funds to maintain the level of instruction required to get the most out of these facilities, to add the tools that will promote further discovery within their walls, and provide deserving students the opportunity to experience this caliber of education, regardless of their means. A school’s endowment is critical to its long-term success. Defined as assets donated with the intention of benefitting a non-profit institution, endowments typically stipulate that the principal remain intact, allowing the dividends to provide support in perpetuity. While a donation to a capital project will live on through the brick and mortar structure, an endowment will provide a less tangible, but no less important legacy of support that will keep the brick and mortar functioning.
Tasked with overseeing the management of the MBS endowment is Paul near completion of our current capital projects, we are also focusing on Hawkins ’85, Trustee and Chair of the Endowment Committee. MBS building the endowment to make that dream possible.” has been an important part of his life for decades, but when it comes Currently the MBS endowment is somewhat smaller than average for the to the endowment, Paul is thinking more in terms of generations. “My region, yet a stroll around the grounds will show that passionate effort and goals for the endowment go beyond my lifetime—I’m thinking of my above average generosity have gone into the development of the campus. potential grandchildren and great grandchildren who might attend the The Crimson family has demonstrated a dedication to the betterment of School,” he said. “The focus is on prudent management. While we want the School and a willingness to support the goals of the administration for to utilize the dividends our endowment generates, we also want it to the benefit of our extraordinary and talented students. While greatness grow.” The endowment can only grow in two ways—by taking a smaller can always be improved upon, the physical campus is approaching a point than average percentage of its income for use by the school each year, or of completion in terms of significant capital projects and new buildings. by adding to it through contributions such as bequests, gift annuities, Like anything so beautiful, it will require no small amount of work to trusts or insurance policies. MBS currently opts the former, which maintain its luster, both inside and out. There will always be needs for allows modest growth of the endowment but does not allow for as much a School so determined to provide the type of experience we do, but a flexibility in funding for the School. If the endowment grows, however, planned gift to our endowment will ensure a legacy that lives on for both then the amount of money that modest percentage represents grows as the benefactor and for future MBS generations. well—and keeps growing year after year. The funds that come from the endowment growth are critical to the security of the School; from keeping tuition increases to a minimum, to providing financial aid and scholarships, to serving as a budget buffer against unforeseen Think of MBS as a large investment, like buying a house. You have to make payments on your circumstances. mortgage, but you also need to pay to keep the lights on. In the world of MBS fundraising, the endowment is like the long-term investment of mortgage payments, while the MB Fund (annual “A healthy endowment is key to fund) is like the immediate need to pay the utility bills. sustaining the level of education we
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? MB FUND
ENDOWMENT
$ Every Year
Stability During Times of Recession
Lasting Security
Expenses Not Covered by Student Tuition ACCESSIBLE
Immediate Needs
Long-term
FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE
Checking Account
Small Gifts Making Large Impacts REOCCURRING
Short term
Investment
Needs to Increase with the Growth of the School
Annual Fund
Available to Use
Savings Account
BUFFER
currently offer,” says Headmaster Peter J. Caldwell. MBS takes a modern and effective approach to learning. With a focus more on the process than the result, students learn how to think rather than what to memorize. This is the future of education and MBS is ahead of the curve in making this type of teaching available. “I’m proud of the fantastic opportunities we are able to offer to wide range of students. I would love for every student who qualifies and who has the drive to be able to benefit from a Morristown-Beard School education. Increasing our endowment dividends is how we can make that possible.” Caldwell envisions many uses for increased endowment income including an endowed department chair to draw a world-class faculty addition to complement the new Math & Science Facility. “My dream is to one day leave the School with no debt and a strong groundwork to build on for the future. As we
Crimson Spring 2018 25
Student Scientists:
Real-life Research in the New Math & Science Facility By Steve Patchett
This year, there has been tremendous energy and excitement surrounding the new Math & Science Facility, which is far more than just a “new building” on campus. This 25,000-square foot facility has been truly transformational in the many ways it supports the academic vision and philosophy of MBS. In addition to providing state-of-the-art classrooms and inviting gathering spaces, the facility includes sophisticated technological tools not commonly found in secondary schools—an environmental systems lab with a 10-foot stream table, a DNA lab, an aquaponics tank and a large saltwater aquarium. Coupled with a new daily schedule which features designated collaborative periods, the Math & Science Facility has become a hub of student-teacher engagement and it is providing a wealth of opportunities for students to pursue independent research. The following are just some of the ways that students have been using the new resources in the Math & Science Facility to expand their intellectual curiosity and explore intellectual areas in depth: Femi Gbayisomore ’18: DNA Fingerprinting
This past semester, MBS senior Femi Gbayisomore took full advantage of the School’s new DNA lab, pursuing an independent study with Dr. Elena Fiorica-Howells on DNA fingerprinting, a laboratory technique used to establish a link between biological evidence and a suspect in a criminal investigation. He became interested in DNA analysis after taking Experimental Biology with Dr. David Molowa and Genetics and Biotechnology with Dr. Fiorica-Howells. As part of the project, Femi performed a genetic analysis using a small section of DNA called a Short Tandem Repeat (STR), focusing on one of the STRs used by the FBI in identifying individuals potentially involved in a crime. He focused on the location on chromosome 16, which could be either 941 or 641 base pairs long, depending on the version inherited from an individual’s parents. Femi then obtained 17 DNA samples from human hair, extracted the DNA, and amplified the section he was focusing on using a technique called Polymerase Chain Reaction, which multiplies a section of DNA thousands or even millions of times. The sample was then analyzed using gel electrophoresis, which separated the mixture of DNA according to molecular size. He got good results from seven of his samples, and found 26 Crimson Spring 2018
that four were heterozygous, meaning they had one of each version, two had only the short version, and one only had the long version. “The experience taught me that you have to be patient in science. You might make mistakes along the way and the final result may not be what you expected, but that’s okay,” said Femi, who plans to major in biology at Fairfield University in the fall with a minor in economics. “I’d like to pursue a career in medicine or maybe work for a pharmaceutical company on the business side of it,” he said.
Julia Mariano ’18:
Saltwater Aquarium
urchin, hermit crabs, snails, and, of course, living coral. She also carefully measured and adjusted the chemical properties of the water—including the pH, temperature, and salt content—in order to create the necessary conditions for a healthy ecosystem. The aquarium serves as a functioning model of our oceans and provides an opportunity to discover how human influence is affecting these ecosystems. “The main thing I learned was how to create equilibrium in the tank and how adding new elements affects the overall chemistry,” said Julia.
Julia Mariano’s passion for oceanography and the environment led her to pursue an independent study in Marine Biology with Upper School Science Teacher Brad Turner and to take the lead in creating a saltwater aquarium and living coral reef in the environmental systems lab.
As part of her research, Julia studied the effects of climate change, acidification, pollution, coral bleaching and more to illustrate the delicate balance that these ecosystems are in. At the end of the first semester, Julia taught a lesson to MBS sixth graders about ocean acidification and how excess carbon dioxide in the oceans is affecting the flora and fauna there (see article on page 32).
“I’ve always loved marine biology and the ocean and figured this independent study would really give me a head start,” she explained. “This project definitely would not have been possible in the old science classrooms.”
In the fall, Julia will continue her studies at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, one of the leading academic and research institutions in the country in the field of oceanography.
Throughout the school year, Julia spent countless hours setting up the new 180-gallon saltwater reef aquarium, which is the home of a variety of species including clownfish, cardinalfish, green chromis, sea stars, sea
“All of the background knowledge from this project—as well as what I learned in my environmental studies class—will certainly help me in the future,” said Julia. Crimson Spring 2018 27
Brian Collins ’18: Aquaponics
With help from Upper School Science Teacher Brad Turner, senior Brian Collins established a functioning aquaponics system this year in the Environmental Lab. Aquaponics is a system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, snails or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. Brian said he first became interested in aquaponics during his family’s frequent trips to Disney World. “There’s a ride in Epcot called Living With The Land, and one of the displays shows an aquaponics system. I’ve always thought it was really cool to make food production more efficient and nutrient rich,” he explained. Brian admits that experimenting with an aquaponics system was “a bit of a pipe dream until this year” when the new Math & Science Facility, along with additional funding from the Student Government Association, helped make the project possible. In the system that Brian helped to create, a large “grow bed” of plants sits atop a 300-gallon water tank stocked with tilapia. The basic principle of the system is that fish waste is pumped up from a tank and serves as a source of water and nutrients for the plants, which are not grown in true soil. The plants essentially filter and clean the water, before it drains back down to the fish, and the cycle continues. “You have two living systems, but you only feed the fish,” said Brian. “It saves on water, with the only losses being to evaporation.” 28 Crimson Spring 2018
Throughout the year, Brian has grown lettuce, arugula, basil and cilantro using aquaponics. Middle School Geography Teacher Lisa Swanson’s classes have also been using the aquaponics system as part of their study of food security around the world. “We had great success growing a variety of lettuce. The students recently picked it and took bags of lettuce home to eat,” said Mrs. Swanson. “Because rice is an important staple food for many countries, we are now trying to see if we can grow rice in the aquaponics system. We are not sure if it will work, but we are giving it a try while students do further research on the viability of aquaponics as a solution to food security in struggling countries around the world.” Swanson said she hopes the Middle School will expand its use of aquaponics, and the entire Environmental Systems Lab next year. Similarly, Science Department Chair Scott McCormick said they are always looking for students to take over these research projects next year, modify them, improve their efficiency, and discover new ways the system can be optimized. “We are so fortunate to have this impressive new facility,” said Mr. McCormick. “It has really helped us provide students with more opportunities for advanced independent research—something that is extremely rare in a high school setting. Our students are discovering what real science is all about, and doing their own research is a great way for them to stand out from the crowd!”
MBS SUMMER INSTITUTE
Morristown-Beard School Environmental Stewardship and Science Embrace your role in the future of the world!
August 6-17, 2018*
*One week option available for August 6-10
Young Scientists
(Rising 6th and 7th grades)
ENGAGING hands-on introduction to environmental stewardship
Middle Years
(Rising 8th and 9th grades) INTERACTIVE exploration of environmental stewardship
Upper Years
(Rising 10th, 11th and 12th grades)
IMMERSION into the challenges of environmental stewardship and science
Enrollment space is limited. For more information and to register:
www.mbs.net/summerinstitute
Crimson Spring 2018 29
MBS Hosts NJAIS
Math and Science Symposium
S
cience educators from around the state came to Morristown-Beard School on Monday, April 9th to attend Math and Science Across the Curriculum, a symposium hosted by Morristown-Beard School, Far Hills Country Day School, and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS). Over 200 independent school teachers from across New Jersey gathered to share ideas and tour the new Math & Science Facility. The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Ellen Stofan, former Chief Scientist for NASA. Dr. Stofan, who was recently named the Head of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., spoke about “Exploring Other Worlds to Understand Our Own.” In her talk, she discussed the importance of studying the planets Venus and Mars as well as the moon Titan (the largest moon of Saturn) because of their geological similarities with the Earth. She stated that we are at a crucial time in space study and Earth science, and discussed NASA’s search for life beyond this planet with the Kepler Mission and The James Webb Space Telescope. “We are on the verge of understanding planets, solar systems and the potential for life without our solar system and beyond,” she said. “I am confident that we are going to find life beyond Earth within the next 20 to 30 years.”
By Steve Patchett
and Humanities: Bridging the Gap,” and “Math and Music: Randomness, Groups, and Serial Music.” Morristown-Beard School faculty and students also showed their innovative work with Science On a Sphere®, an extraordinary display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. Other featured presenters included Kariane Calta, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Vassar College, and Brian Mandell, Division Director of Curriculum and Communications for the Smithsonian Science Education Center.
Dr. Stofan also discussed NASA’s global climate change projections and scientific data as a driver for change. “My biggest concern is inaction,” she said. “What worries me is that we actively have time to do something about climate change, but we have to do something now. We have to get past the point of people saying, ‘I don’t see it; it’s not happening.’” Throughout the day, the Symposium included nearly 50 breakout sessions. Thirteen sessions were presentations by MBS faculty members, with topics including “Gel Electrophoresis,” “The Art of Chemistry,” “Science 30 Crimson Spring 2018
MBS Upper School History Teacher Chris Teasdale discusses research that MBS students have conducted using Science On a Sphere.
Independent school math teachers from across the state gather in Morristown-Beard School’s Baker Math Lab to exchange ideas about curricular offerings at their school.
Dr. Ellen Stofan, Former chief scientist for NASA, speaks about the importance of space exploration in her keynote address, “Exploring Other Worlds to Understand Our Own.”
MBS Mathematics Teachers Anton Fleissner (middle) and Natalie Marone (right) work with a colleague during MBS Mathematics Teacher Matt Wilson’s workshop, “Math and Music: Randomness, Groups, and Serial Music.”
As part of his workshop “The Art of Chemistry,” MBS Science Department Chair Scott McCormick discusses making paint in a science lab and then using the product in a visual arts class. In his “Narrative Innovation” workshop, MBS Middle School Science Teacher Brent Deisher shows how the power of story can be used to teach scientific innovation.
Crimson Spring 2018 31
Stories of Excellence
Teaching& Learning in
Senior Teaches Science as Part of Independent Study
As part of her Independent Study course in Marine Biology with Upper School Science Teacher Brad Turner, MBS senior Julia Mariano ’18 taught a lesson in ocean acidification to Archana Sankar’s 6th grade science students. Mariano treated the students to a lesson using Science On a Sphere®, Morristown-Beard School’s extraordinary resource that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. The 6th graders then conducted experiments to understand how excess carbon dioxide in ocean water affects the flora and fauna.
32 Crimson Spring 2018
Julia Mariano works with students to show how a shift in the ocean’s PH can impact marine life.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Independent Study Focuses on World War I and Alumni Veterans This past semester, MBS junior Alex Rebhun ’19 pursued an Independent Study project focusing on World War I and seven Morristown School graduates who fought in the war. On January 11th, he presented his research to members of the MBS community. Working closely with Upper School History Teacher Tim Hannigan as well as Archivist Dr. Alan Cooper and French teacher Dr. Gorica Hadzic, Rebhun traced the personal stories of Morristown graduates who died in World War I between 1914 and 1918: Braxton Bigelow ’06, Frederic P. Clement ’12, Charles Scott Dean ’05, Gordon Kaemmerling ’08, Charles W. Plummer ’10, Francis Burritt Shepard ’01, and John Whitall ’08. He also mentioned an eighth graduate, Kenelm Winslow Crosby ’11, who did not fight in the war, but worked for a company that produced chemicals for the allies and died of influenza. Rebhun said he began his Independent Study by looking at World War I in a broad sense, but he narrowed his focus after visiting the MBS archives with Dr. Cooper. “At the beginning of my research I found a plaque in the MBS archives that listed the names of the graduates who had died in combat. I was intrigued because it gave me a personal connection to the war,” he said. For each graduate, Rebhun was able to provide details about their activities at The Morristown School, their college years (most of the graduates attended Harvard), their military training, their tour of duty, and ultimately, their death. While some of the alumni were killed on the battlefield, others died of illnesses and other causes. Pilot Frederic Clement ’12 was killed while performing in an airshow after his plane went into a tailspin. “I was touched by all of their stories and their bravery, and I hope that my presentation brought their memory alive,” Rebhun said.
INDEPENDENT STUDIES The Independent Study Program at MBS encourages students to expand their intellectual curiosity and explore an intellectual area in depth, under the guidance of a selected faculty member with a special expertise or interest in the field. The program has grown significantly since being introduced in 2007. This fall, MBS Upper School students pursued Independent Studies in more than 30 courses—exploring such topics as DNA Analysis, Equine Veterinary Medicine, Sports Journalism, Mandarin, Speech Pathology, Music Production, and Astrobiology.
Crimson Spring 2018 33
IN THE CLASSROOM
Theme Week Highlights Water as a Global Resource From February 23rd through March 2nd, MBS held a Global Theme Week that focused on Water as a Global Resource. “According to the United Nations, water is the core of sustainable development, critical for socioeconomic development, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems, and for human survival,” said MBS Global Studies Coordinator Aline de la Torre. “We chose water as the focus of this year’s Global Theme Week to raise awareness and appreciation of the role that water plays in all of our lives.” During the week, Middle School students participated in discussions about personal responsibility and water conservation. They also learned more about environmental decision making by examining the creation of the Round Valley Reservoir as a case study. Upper School students attended a workshop of their choice on a range of topics including: urbanization, ecosystems, scarcity, quality and wastewater, disasters, and more. This special Global Theme Week was “bookended” with presentations at the February 23rd and March 2nd All-School Meetings. At Middle School Morning Meeting, Head of Middle School Boni Luna presented information about water from a global perspective while Geography Teacher Lisa Swanson spoke about the topic from a national perspective, using the Colorado River water rights controversy as a an example of the challenges we face as a country.
34 Crimson Spring 2018
MBS Upper School students enjoyed using the stream table in the Math & Science Facility to learn about erosion, flood plains, tributaries, deltas, and soil deposition.
Hilary Peddicord, an Education Specialist with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), taught a Global Theme Week workshop using the School’s Science On a Sphere®.
Paper Mill Playhouse Director Leads Audition Workshop Twenty MBS Upper School students attended an audition workshop with Patrick Parker, the Associate Artistic Director at Paper Mill Playhouse, on the Founders Hall stage on November 15th. A former actor and dancer who appeared on Broadway in Gypsy with Angela Lansbury, Parker now works with directors and casting directors to find performers for Paper Mill’s shows. He also teaches auditioning techniques in the Paper Mill Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and at several studios in New York City.
Physics Students Create Deliberately Complex Contraptions The act of shooting a ping-pong ball through a goal post has never been more complex or amusing! In Dr. Payette’s 9th Grade Physics classes, students were asked to create Rube Goldberg machines to perform this seemingly simple task. Using a wide range of objects including dominos, clothespins, rubber bands, egg timers, and even toy cars in the sequence, the students collaborated to achieve their goal. A Rube Goldberg machine is a deliberately complex contraption that uses a chain reaction to accomplish a very simple task in a very complicated manner. As they tinkered with their projects, the students discovered the high level of skill, patience and creativity that is required to make a successful chain reaction. Spring 2018 35
Beyond the
SPRING BRE AK
2018
Classroom
36 Crimson Spring 2018
UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT FRANCE The MBS French Exchange Program is well underway with our first group of students having spent two weeks in France during spring break. The trip began in Nantes, where they visited their host families, some of whom visited MBS in October of 2016. The students attended a week of classes at the Lycée (secondary school for ages 15-18), where they studied math, biology, physics, and philosophy. The next stop was the coastal village of Pornic, and then on to the “city of lights,” Paris. From the ascent to the Eiffel Tower, visits to Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, the Louvre, Musée díOrsay, École des Beaux-Arts, Champs Elysées to the cruise on the Seine river, their time in Paris was filled with learning, explorations, long walks and, of course, French food.
Crimson Spring 2018 37
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT GERMANY During spring break, a group of 15 MBS Upper School students and four faculty members traveled to Germany for a week to tour Berlin and Munich. The tour was centered on the humanities, meaning it focused on artistic, political, cultural, historical, and intellectual aspects of both cities. Some Berlin highlights included visits to the Topography of Terror, the German Historical Museum, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Reichstag, the Brandenberg Gate, the Berlin Wall Documentation Center, and many museums across the city. Munich highlights included a trip to Dachau, biking through the English Garden, and tours of the Residenz Palace and Altes art museum. On the final day, the group traveled to the foothills of the Alps to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle.
38 Crimson Spring 2018
SPRING BRE AK
2018
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT COSTA RICA Twenty-three students and four faculty chaperones had an opportunity to experience "pura vida" (pure life!) by visiting Costa Rica—a wonderland of natural attractions known for its beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and biodiversity. The five-day trip started in San Jose, and included stops to the Coastal Puntarenas and San Ramon. Some highlights included eating the local cuisine, spotting crocodiles sunning themselves, hiking through Manuel Antonio National Park, frolicking on the beautiful beaches, zip lining through the treetops, touring a butterfly farm, dairy farm and coffee plantation, visiting a local schoolhouse, and white water rafting.
STUDENTS VOLUNTEER WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN ALABAMA During the second week of MBS spring break, a group of 15 students and three chaperones traveled to Mobile, Alabama to volunteer for the Mobile County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. The group spent most of their time rehabilitating two houses, where they painted, landscaped, caulked, laid vinyl flooring, and installed baseboards and trim. They also worked in the ReStore and framed walls for a new building. When not busy working, the group explored the historic port city of Mobile and the Gulf Shore beaches.
Crimson Spring 2018 39
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Perri Easley ’19
By Steve Patchett
Channeling Kindness Junior Selected to Represent Lady Gaga’s Foundation Morristown-Beard School junior Perri Easley was recently selected as one of 50 students nationwide to represent Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation as a 2018 Channel Kindness reporter. Channel Kindness is a program launched by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, to showcase acts of bravery and kindness in the midst of increasingly negative news coverage. As one of 50 youth reporters from around the country, Easley will create videos, write articles and record podcasts that will be posted on the Born This Way Foundation (BTWF) social media accounts, shared by BTWF partners, and distributed by traditional media. This winter, Easley met with the other youth reporters and members of the BTWF team in New York City. “I am so excited to be representing such an amazing organization,” she said. “BTWF strives to make kindness cool, validate the emotions of young people, and to end the stigma of mental health, which are all things that I am incredibly excited to do this year.” She said she learned about the Channel Kindness reporter program by scrolling through her Facebook feed one day. “I have always been familiar 40 Crimson Spring 2018
with Lady Gaga’s philanthropic work, and all of the amazing things she has done with the Born This Way Foundation. When I saw that they were looking for youth reporters, I decided to apply because I figured I had nothing to lose,” she said. “In mid-December I got an email saying that I was selected. I’m so excited to be a part of something so special!” At Morristown-Beard School, Easley serves as president of the Social Justice Board and is one of the leaders of Kaleidoscope, the School’s multicultural diversity club. She has been a member of Jack & Jill, a leadership and service-based organization and currently serves as Foundation Chair. A member of the MBS French Club, she spent last summer in Rennes, France improving her French language skills with the hopes of becoming fluent. She credits her parents with fueling her passion for social justice. “My parents have always been passionate about politics, specifically my mom. She went out of her way to learn a little more about politics,” she said. In the future, Easley hopes to pursue a career in civil rights as a lawyer or a political pundit.
By Steve Patchett
Matthew Lindberg ’19
Tinkering with Technology
Junior Competes in VEX Robotics World Championship MBS junior Matthew Lindberg’s passion for problem-solving has led him to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky for three consecutive years. Lindberg’s team qualified after winning the New Jersey High School State Championship in Cherry Hill in February. To capture the title, his team built and controlled a robot to complete tasks and score points in this year’s VEX Robotics Competition game called “In the Zone.” The game is played by stacking cones on goals, by scoring cones on mobile goals, by having the highest stacks, and by parking robots. Lindberg began competing in robotics four years ago as an 8th grader. “I like robotics because it’s really competitive and it allows me to work with my hands. You imagine something, you build it, drive it, and improve,” he said. “I like how you never reach the top in robotics—there’s always something that you can work on, and ways to improve your robot. It’s never-ending.” He spends between 10 and 20 hours each week working with his teammates at Robot Revolution in Summit to troubleshoot and improve their design. The process in itself is a learning experience. Lindberg says that many of his classes at Morristown-Beard School have also helped provide him with a solid academic foundation for his robotics pursuits.
“I’m currently taking AP Calculus with Mrs. Marone and AP Chemistry with Dr. Berthel—these classes are at such a high level. With a basic understanding of calculus, I can discover why things work the way they do,” he said. “I hope to take AP Physics next year and understand even more.” In his previous trips to the VEX World Robotics Championships, Lindberg’s team has fared extremely well. Last year, his team finished 50th out of 500 teams. He said one of his favorite parts of the competition is meeting his fellow competitors from around the world. “It’s awesome. It’s a bunch of driven kids who care about robotics as much as I do,” said Lindberg. “You meet kids from Japan, Spain, Portugal… all over the world. It’s an amazing experience.” After the competition, Lindberg and his teammates returned to the robotics studio to tinker, explore new ideas, and get ready for the next year’s challenges. “I definitely want to pursue some sort of engineering in the future, whether it’s mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical, or robotics,” he said. Crimson Spring 2018 41
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
By Steve Patchett
Ally Detre ’18
Icing the Competition Senior Named NJ Player of the Year for Third Time It was quite a senior season for MBS girls ice hockey player Ally Detre ’18, who was named the state’s Player of the Year by NJ.com for the third year in a row! A team captain and an All-State selection for three years, Detre led Morristown-Beard School to back-to-back Prep Championships and a 13-4-2 record this past season. In the final game of the season, she became the all-time leading scorer in MBS girls ice hockey program history as the Crimson beat Chatham-Madison, 4-2, on senior night on February 27th. Detre played her final game for the Crimson with all the offensive firepower she displayed throughout her career—notching a hat trick and adding an assist to finish with a total of 200 points (101 goals and 99 assists). Her record-setting 200th point came in dramatic fashion, on a goal with less than 30 seconds left in the game! Throughout her career, Detre did her best to carry on the legacy of former MBS leading scorer and Player of the Year Kendall Cornine ’15, whom she played with and learned much from during her freshman season. 42 Crimson Spring 2018
“She taught us how to play the game, how to work hard, how to be a good leader,” Detre said of Cornine. “Plus, she’s an incredible player. She’s something special. I didn’t want to take away from any of her legacy because she was so great.” The team’s success and growth were always of paramount importance to Detre. “It really developed from freshman year—that nine-player team—to becoming a real team at the end of it,” she said. “This year we had more than one line that could do damage, and everyone was playing a system and playing together. I’m just happy with the way the team grew over the past couple of years. I hope—and I know—that they’ll do really well in the years to come.” MBS girls ice hockey coach Bruce Driver praised Detre for her leadership and work ethic, saying, “Ally has been the epitome of hard work since her first days at Morristown-Beard School. She is not only one of the hardest working players, she’s extremely humble as well. Ally has always led by example. She has become a leader both on and off the ice, and has a teamfirst mentality.”
Students Participate in
Diversity & Inclusion Retreat STUDENTS DISCUSS AND CELEBRATE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND COMMON BONDS
During the weekend of January 27th, 20 MBS Upper School students participated in a Diversity and Inclusion Retreat in Blairstown, NJ. The retreat was designed to provide students with an opportunity to discuss and celebrate their differences and their common bonds. Throughout the weekend, students addressed topics of race, class, gender, sexuality, mindfulness, and mental health. “One of the many activities we did was called ‘Step Forward.’ One of the facilitators read different statements related to race, gender, interest, and family dynamics, and we would silently step up if we identified with that statement,” said senior Hallie Cadeau. “By participating in the game, we connected with our peers in new ways and learned about the aspects of each others’ lives that we would not normally know from everyday conversations.” Other activities included guided meditations, a reflective hike, and a painting exercise.
“In the middle of the room, there was a small table with a vase of flowers, a jar of jellybeans, and different fruits. We were all given the same colors and the same paintbrushes and were told to paint what we see,” said junior Nicolette Lewis. “The activity taught us that everyone has different perspectives. Even though we were all looking at the same thing, our pictures were different from each other and unique.” Student participants included: Katharine Bernstein ’18, Jennifer Blackwood ’18, Hallie Cadeau ’18, Tessa Connell ’19, Briana Diggs ’19, Devany Di Paolo ’18, Perri Easley ’19, Zoe Grebin ’18, Quiya Harris ’19, Theodore Koide ’19, Dan Levine ’19, Nicolette Lewis ’19, Sundia Nwadiozor ’18, Sophia Picozzi ’19, Emily Ramos ’19, Eleanor Reinhardt ’18, Patrick Salazar ’19, Laury Senecal ’19, Madeline Sit ’19, and Tahj Valentine ’18. Faculty and staff members Klarissa Karosen, Jenna Sumner, Liz Harrison, Zoe Jameson, and Kyle Augustyniak served as chaperones and helped facilitate the discussions.
Crimson Spring 2018 43
Crimson Corner
VARSITY SPORTS ROUND-UP By Steve Patchett
Field Hockey
The girls varsity field hockey team posted an impressive 13-6-2 record this fall, qualifying for the Prep Tournament, the Morris County Tournament, and the State Tournament. In the post-season, they lost two heartbreakers, falling in strokes to Montclair Kimberley Academy in the Prep semifinal and to Kent Place in the NonPublic State semifinal round. The Crimson were ranked fifth in the state in the final Non-Public Top 10 by NJ.com. Senior Katie Wright ’18 was named an NJAC Liberty Division All-Star while Ali Palazzetti ’18 was an All-Prep B selection.
Boys Soccer
Despite finishing the year with a 3-17 record, the young boys varsity soccer team showed a great deal of improvement toward the end of the season. The team qualified for the Prep, Morris County, and State Tournaments, losing a close game to DePaul Catholic to finish the season. Junior defenseman Shyam Popat ’19 was named First Team All-NJAC Liberty Division 44 Crimson Spring 2018
while Liam Garland ’18 and Massimo Banfi ’20 received Second Team honors. Brandon Levy ’19 earned Honorable Mention. Popat and Banfi earned Honorable Mention from the Morris County Boys Soccer Coaches Association while Popat and Garland also received Honorable Mention from the Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey.
Girls Soccer
The girls varsity soccer team had a successful season in 2017, finishing the fall with a 107-2 record. The girls fared well in the Prep Tournament, beating Wardlaw Hartridge in the first round before falling to Montclair Kimberley Academy in the semifinals. The girls also beat Villa Walsh in the State quarterfinals before losing to Morris Catholic in the semifinal round. Juliette Pike ’19 led the way for MBS and was named one of the “Top 22” players in Morris County. Maggie Cotter ’18 and Sofea Stanton ’18 received Honorable Mention All-Morris County. Pike and Stanton were
Fall 2017 - Winter 2018
named First Team All-NJAC while Cotter and Lily Pinkin ’19 earned Second Team honors. Danielle Yannotta ’19 received Honorable Mention.
Football
The varsity football team had a competitive season, competing for the second season in the Metropolitan Independent Football League. Finishing the season with a 4-4 record, the Crimson qualified for State Tournament play for the first time in four years. A highlight of the year was the team’s thrilling 41-40 win over Riverdale Country Day School as Ryan Russo ’18 caught the game-winning reception from Declan Kelly ’18 with just 13 seconds left in the game. Tahj Valentine ’18 was named to the All-County Offense Team, and his 427-yard, six touchdown rushing performance behind a strong offensive line was the best in the state this year.
Girls Tennis
The MBS girls varsity tennis team competed
at a very high level this year, increasing their strength of schedule from a year ago. The varsity team finished the season with an impressive 14-6 record, and was ranked third among Non-Public B schools by NJ.com. At the very competitive Morris County Tournament, the Crimson finished sixth as a team out of more than 20 schools. There were plenty of individual highlights as well, as the First Doubles team of Paige Williams ’18 and Molly Michel ’20 reached the Prep B Finals after beating teams from Gill St. Bernards and Montclair Kimberley Academy.
Volleyball
The MBS varsity volleyball team had another rebuilding year, finishing the season with a 3-16 record. As the season progressed, it was exciting to see the improvement in individual skills as well as overall team dynamics. The team’s biggest and most impressive game came against Parsippany late in the season, a 2-0 win for the Crimson. Katie Mackin ’18 was named
Second Team All-NJAC Liberty Division while Julia Downey ’18 received Honorable Mention. Jasmin Jenkins ’18 showed powerful serving skills all season long, and led the team in aces.
Cross Country
The MBS cross country team worked hard all season, and competed in several batch races where they ran against top runners in the conference. All runners improved during the season and recorded personal bests as the season progressed. At the 2-mile Hoka One High School Postal Challenge at Gill St. Bernards, Alex D’Alessandro ’19 finished first overall in 11:20. Later that week, eight runners represented MBS at the State Group Championships in Holmdel and raced well: Alex D’Alessandro ’19, Theodore Hunkins ’20, Logan Jaeger ’21, Ethan Kim ’19, Arik Morton ’19, Calvin Poche ’18, Justin Recupero ’19, and Ryan Recupero ’21. Sophomore Jessica Roitman ’20 earned NJAC Liberty Division Honorable Mention.
Boys Basketball
For the second year in a row, the MBS boys basketball team captured the Prep Championship, this time with an exciting triple-overtime victory over Pennington. The Crimson (16-11) were also Morris County quarterfinalists, conference champions, and State Tournament qualifiers. Coach Eddie Franz posted his 400th career win during the season, and Raphael Castillo ’18 joined the 1,000-point club. Justin Rodriguez ’18 was named First Team All-Morris County while Castillo was named Third Team All-Morris County. Rodriguez and Castillo were named First Team All-NJAC Liberty Division, while Zach Dees ’18 and Ryan Russo ’18 were selected to the Second Team. Ian Beumee ’18 received Honorable Mention.
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team enjoyed another winning season and finished the season with a 16-10 record. The Crimson captured the conference championship again, and the Crimson Spring 2018 45
CRIMSON CORNER team also reached the semifinals of the Prep Tournament and the quarterfinals of the State Tournament. Bridget Monaghan ’19 joined the 1,000-point scoring club, and teammate Erin Martin ’21 was third in the state with an average of 5.9 blocks per game. Monaghan, Martin, and Addisyn Ibrahim ’20 were named First Team AllNJAC Liberty Division while Sarah Bregna ’18 received Honorable Mention.
Ski Team
Boys Ice Hockey
Once again, the numbers in the MBS ski team continued to grow, and all athletes got a taste of high school ski racing in multiple competition races throughout the season. The MBS boys ski team qualified for States for the fifth year in a row and finished in second place in the conference during the regular season. Brandon Hawks ’21, Jesper Trapness ’19 and Alex D’Alessandro ’19 qualified for the Race of Champions for the third year in a row. On the girls’ side, Nikki D’Alessandro ’20 also qualified for the Race of Champions. Alex and Nikki D’Alessandro competed in the Eastern Nationals and fared extremely well.
The MBS boys ice hockey team had another stellar year, finishing with a 16-7-2 record. The Crimson competed in the finals of the Mennen Cup Tournament and also finished the season as State Tournament semifinalists. Milestones for the program included Brayden Patricia ’18 being named the New Jersey Devils Ice Hockey Player of the Month and also netting his 100th career point. Patricia and Tommy Dempsey ’20 were named First Team All-Mennen Division, while Anthony Del Tufo ’18 was selected to the Second Team, and D.J. Layden ’20 earned Honorable Mention. Freshman Seth Kaplan ’21 earned the Terry Maguire Memorial Rookie of the Year Trophy from the MCSSIHL.
Winter Track
Swim Team
The MBS winter track team had a very strong season with a record number of participants. As a team, MBS placed third overall in the Prep Championships. In the Morris County Championships, Nicole Borowiec ’19 placed third, setting personal records in both the 55-meter hurdles and 55-meter dash. At the State Group Championships, three MBS athletes qualified for the Meet of Champions— Nicole Borowiec, Laury Senecal ’19, and JayShon DuBose ’20. At the Meet of Champions, DuBose set a PR in his event, while Borowiec and Senecal both set new School records and personal bests in their events.
Girls Ice Hockey
The Crimson earned back-to-back Prep titles this season, as they beat Princeton Day School for the second year in a row in the final. The team finished the year with a 13-4-2 mark— including a perfect 8-0 record against New Jersey teams—and took third place in the WIHLMA. Ally Detre ’18, Keegan Heher ’18, and Emily Kitchin ’18 led the way offensively while Lindsay Pych ’18 (.920 save percentage) was rock solid in net. Ally Detre was named the NJ.Com Girls Ice Hockey Player of the 46 Crimson Spring 2018
Year for the third year in a row and finished as the team’s all-time leading scorer. Junior Jenna Kurz ’19 and senior Keegan Heher each reached 100 points two weeks apart in the season. Detre was an All-State selection along with teammates Keegan Heher and Lindsay Pych. Emily Kitchin and Abby Russell ’20 received All-State Honorable Mention.
The MBS swim team continued to make waves after last season’s very successful year. The MBS boys finished with a 6-8 dual meet record and placed second at the Prep Tournament. Juniors Jack Armstrong ’19 and Aidan Hughes ’19 both set School records at the Prep Championships, Armstrong in the 100 butterfly and Hughes in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. The MBS girls 200 medley relay team and 200 freestyle team (Margot Armstrong ’20, Kaitlyn Tartaglione ’21, Reagan Waters ’20 and Amelia Hawkins ’20) also set School records at the Prep Championships. Margot Armstrong also broke the School record in the 500 freestyle. At the end of the year, Jack Armstrong and Aidan Hughes earned Honorable Mention All-NJAC, as did Margot Armstrong and Amelia Hawkins. Terry Luongo ’21 was highlighted as one of the top freshmen in the state by NJ.com.
MBS Alumni & Friends Mark your calendar for the following upcoming events
Friday, August 3, 2018
YORK NEWYACHT NEW YORKYORK CLUBYACHT YACHT CLUBCLUB
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
For more information, email alumni@mbs.net or call: Melissa Hedley ’90, Alumni Relations Associate 973-532-7581 Bay Head Yacht Club
Monya Taylor Davis ’88, Associate Director of Alumni Relations 973.532.7578 Crimson Spring 2018 47 New York Yacht Club
Class Notes Updates From the
Alumni Board Dear MBS Alumni, It’s hard to believe it’s been four fabulous years that I have served as President of the MBS Alumni Board, and that this is my final letter to all of you. Thank you so much for letting me represent you over this time. It’s been an honor! I was recently asked by an alumnus who hadn’t been back to an event in quite some time, “Why?”—and he gestured around a room packed full of Alumni and current parents. Why do I (we) return to MBS and donate our energy and time to a place that touched our lives so many years ago? I started with an answer about community, but concluded with the answer that we are all family. We grew up together through something as trying (and fun) as high school and/or middle school, and that’s a bond that’s hard to forget. Who else can you share the same crazy stories with 30 years later and still think they’re hysterical—that’s a family. I tell my son who is currently in 6th grade at MBS, you will know your classmates for the rest of your life. You’ll go through MBS together, keep in contact with many through college, come back together for your milestone reunions, celebrate weddings and births of children together, mourn the loss of parents together and then sadly start mourning the loss of one another. Those are years of history and emotion that will pull you back. Of course, this leads me to Reunion, which is coming soon—Saturday, June 2nd—and we would love to see you. You’re missed! This year classes ending in 3 or 8 will be celebrating milestone reunions, however MBS Alumni Reunion is for all of us, regardless of our graduation year. It’s for all Beard School alumnae, Morristown School alumni, and MBS alumnae and alumni. So join us on Friday, June 1st for Y.A.R.P. and Saturday, June 2nd for the reunion picnic, campus tours, Headmaster’s Cocktail Party and more. Come and see how beautiful campus still is and how advanced it’s become. For those of you looking to build a deeper connection with your alma mater, there are lots of volunteer opportunities such as being a Class Agent, serving on the Alumni Board, mentoring, speaking, etc. If you aren’t able to do any of those things at this time, send in an email with a Class Note for the fall Crimson so we know how you’re doing or make a donation to the MB Fund. A gift of any amount is appreciated and will help to increase our alumni participation rate. On a final note, I leave you all in very good hands—Amy Chaiken Wolffe, class of 1978, will be the new Alumni Board president, effective July 1, 2018. Amy is a fabulous lady with a ton of MBS spirit! Go Crimson!
Caroline Elias Turben ’87, P’24 President, MBS Alumni Board
48 Crimson Spring 2018
Need volunteer or event information? Please visit www.mbs.net/alumni or email alumni@mbs.net.
1944
Anne Matteson Sisson writes “I moved from Wichita, KS to Omaha, NB to be near my son Ben and I am now living at the Maple Ridge Retirement Community. This is an independent resort style property with a busy schedule of activities that fill up my days. The residents here are from many states and I have made numerous friends, even some from New Jersey and New York.” Anne celebrated her 91st Birthday on August 22 and shares, “It has been an amazing life and I have written my memoirs for the family, (including 4 children and 11 grandchildren) so they won’t forget. My husband passed away in 2015. We were married in 1951 three days after he graduated from West Point. During my years as an Air Force Officer’s wife, we moved 24 times. My husband retired from flying in 1969 and started his own business in Wichita.” Anne continues, “I am in awe of the wonderful Morristown-Beard School that our small Beard School has become. I remember well being a student there when Miss Beard was alive and Miss Turner was my aunt. I was a boarder from Mt. Vernon, New York there from 1942-1944.” “I don’t know how many classmates I have left, but I received a Christmas card from Janet Evans McBride recently, which really was exciting. I would love to hear from fellow alumnae. My email is annes5610@gmail.com.”
1947
Nancy “Taz” Tasman Brower urges, “classmates —and/or children of classmates— let us know where you are.”
1948
70th
Reunion
year
Robert “Bob” Greenberger reports, “living in Leesburg, FL. Stop by to say hello if you’re in the area. Still standing on two feet!” Richard “Dick” Mayer writes “Morristown School was a great school then and is better today. Too bad it wasn’t co-ed back then! It was 1943 during WWII and the years following. We had some terrific times with great friends. The faculty were amazing, they taught us a lot in class and out. Coach Burke was exceptional in many respects. Many times
I repeat his words, ‘Always do what you are supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it.’ Simple, but still rings in my ears. His wife was a terrific lady. H.K. Fitts was an excellent English teacher. Because of “HK,” I developed a fine vocabulary, receiving a high score on my SATS. Valleau Wilkie, the headmaster, and math teacher, was respected by all. His wife was a loving, warm and compassionate person. Their son, Bob, was a war hero. All of the teachers and staff did an incredible job in very lean years. Because of the war, I lived at the school for five years. There were a handful of others. Classmates who invited me to their beautiful homes on weekends included David Merrill, Howard St. John, Bob Mervin, Hank Frame and Allen Bogardus. They have passed away, but are still in my heart. My brother Dwight died two years ago. He was four years older than I, though he graduated with me, due to the war. He was in the army during the occupation in Germany. I was proud to become Senior Prefect. That was a memorable moment on the circle in front of those four beautiful columns on a bright sunny day in May. I still visualize it. And today the pictures of the campus are incredible. I attended Wesleyan for two years, joined the army, went to OCS at Ft. Benning, then to Korea. I was wounded on Memorial Day, but was back on the line in 10 days. Eight days before the war ended I wasn’t as lucky. In the first two minutes of the engagement mortar fire took half my patrol and I spent one year in the hospital. I received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for Valor. After serving in the army, I started in the life insurance business in 1955. I ran the second largest insurance agency in the US for National Life Group. I founded the National Association of Physicians and Surgeons. We funded physicians going into medical practice and we also loaned them money to supplement their residency. After that I went into sales. It has been a fun and fulfilling business. I am still working 5-6 days a week. Retirement is for golfers, and I am a lousy golfer. I co-authored a book, Planning for the Affluent. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants endorsed the book. My wife Ginger and I have been married 64 years. Our daughter Susan and her husband, Jim Breck have two children, Morgan and Reid. Morgan got married last June to Felix Wibergh. Susan, Jim, Morgan and Reid all graduated from great colleges and all are working. With every good
wish for Morristown-Beard School and its continued success!”
1950
Carolyn “Carrie” Clarkson Markham writes: “Class of ’50—All is quiet. Hopefully we all have enough energy to attend some events. Reunion weekend will be June 1st and 2nd. Each year is now a ‘milestone’ reunion year for both Beard and Morristown classes of ’50. Will I see you there?” Dr. Peter Hall has “re-retired” after 11 years as a professor of physics at an HBCU in Charlotte, NC. He originally retired from Bell Labs after 31 years before taking up a second career teaching. Though retired, he still does “online tutoring in physics. At 84 years, I am in great health, and have two (super) great grandchildren. I am grateful to all the schools and people that prepared me for this happy and fulfilling life. Life is good.”
1952
Jon Richard Appel declares, “Blessed with our 8th grandchild last November—six girls and two boys!” He adds “Tell Fred I now have a girls hockey team.” John enjoys golf twice a week, crosscountry skiing, and serving as a Hospice volunteer to VETS. “MBS has always been in my thoughts and I’m totally impressed with its success.”
1953
65th
Reunion
year
Suzette Figeroux Betancourt is still living in Texas. She has four children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. At 90 years old, her husband is still tending their cattle. Joan Cole Knost says, “Hello, everyone! We have been living in Central Florida for 40 years this March 2018. Our daughter Amanda attended Tavares schools here and then Sweet Briar College in Virginia. I retired in 2016 from 33 years of working in the Presidents Office at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg, FL. It was a wonderful career and I enjoyed every day of it! Peter and I now enjoy our retirement years together. Amanda and her husband Arnaud Levendangeur live nearby. He is a French national and they have been married for six years. Fondest regards to all of you!”
Anne Newmark Machinist is still working as a travel agent and loving the travel associated with it. She was encouraged by her Class Agent, Joyce Bodig, to provide an update on her life and shared the following information. Anne still lives in Morristown, NJ where she was born. She has three daughters: one lives with her, one is in NYC and one lives in San Diego. Anne has two grandsons who she enjoys traveling with and recently they spent four days in Philadelphia together. Widowed 17 years ago, Anne has been a travel agent for over 30 years and went into the field because travel is her passion. She has been fortunate to have visited all the continents and has checked off most of the places on her bucket list. Now her goal is to cover cities in the U.S. that she has missed. Anne loves movies, books, and her good friends. Susan (Sue) Brewer Williams regularly keeps in touch with Joyce Bodig, her Beard School Class of 1953 Class Agent, and she too was inspired by Joyce to submit a Class Note. Sue was surprised that writing her Class Note was actually fun to do and she’s looking forward to receiving Crimson magazine. Sue writes, “Much has passed since our 50th reunion in 2003 in all our lives. My world changed drastically in June 2009 with the death of my husband Tom (who came with me to our 50th). He died after a brief battle with cancer, one month shy of our 51st anniversary. I never realized how many widows I knew until I became one: volunteering here and there and having wonderful friendships were the best possible way to cope with my husband’s loss. Four years into this life, I was re-introduced to Peter Meincke by a friend who felt we, both widowed, would be good for each other. How right she was. It didn’t ‘take’ the first time and I am thankful she tried again! He, of course, is the man in the picture. While my activities were parochial in nature, Peter’s cover the world: economies of small islands, global warming, control of nuclear weapons, and several peace projects. I join him in some, scrambling to listen and learn. We commute between my house in the oldest section of the city and his attending concerts and plays in Ottawa and loving the peace, the trees, the birds, the river, at his. We both feel very lucky. As Crimson Spring 2018 49
CLASS NOTES to family, I have three children—all married— and five grandchildren. All are keen skiers. I read MBS and my mind says ‘Miss Beard School.’ A bit of family history is that my grandfather— and probably other dads, too—gave his wife’s good friend, Edith Beard, $500 to start a school his daughters could attend. I think of the lovely grounds Beard now occupies with Morristown School that we saw at our 50th and think of that successful legacy. I still think of Mrs. Faber and all that I learned from her.”
1955
Janet Blackwell Bent writes, “I’m lucky to have a very supportive family, lovely places to live and to have had 55-plus years of life with a wonderful husband.” She spends her time in Florida and Connecticut. Lois Dane Soule reports, “It’s been a long time since I’ve sent in anything to Beard. Our lives have changed a good deal. In July of 2015, we moved from our house of 55 years to Dirigo Pines, a retirement community in Orono, ME. Bill’s sister had moved there from Connecticut after her husband died and we were impressed with the place and the accommodations. Many of our University of Maine faculty friends live here and the time seemed right. It is a beautifully landscaped campus. I like to describe it as a friendly place, but there is no “cruise director.” No one pushes you to take part in the large variety of activities. Our children, Nancy and Helen, were very supportive of the idea. We are very fortunate to have our wonderful daughters and their families who keep in touch and help when needed. We still have our “camp” (cottage) on the Maine coast and we try to get there for a good part of the summer, when it isn’t rented. We are in pretty good shape for our age—I’m still adjusting to being 80! We’re about to get a new computer and printer—so a training session is in order! I don’t think like a computer. We have lost family members and many friends but so far we seem to be hanging in there and doing pretty well. I hope more of our class of ’55 will send in news.” Glenna Macdonald Ackerman still lives in Florida. Her granddaughter, Morgan (daughter of Jennifer) is attending the University of Oregon in the honors program and is studying Law. 50 Crimson Spring 2018
Kate Dwyer Corvaja is visited by classmates Peg Pattyson Greene and Robin Reynolds Rockafellow. While Kate was living in Italy, Ms. Edith Sutherland (former Beard School Principal) visited Kate and stayed with her. Kate was the great Italian hostess. She has wonderful funny stories that only she can tell. “We all loved Ms. Sutherland and she was a great influence on us.” Virginia Clarkson Martin says that her oldest son is retiring from teaching this spring. Her second son has a son who just graduated from Purdue University and will be working for American Airlines in a top job. Sadly, Virginia’s husband died in 2008. Her two sons live nearby. She had a left knee replacement but is doing great. Robin Reynolds Rockafellow lives in Connecticut and gets the award for most activities for the Class of 1955. Her activities include: water aerobics at the YMCA, Book Club and Theology Class at St. Mark’s Church, Art Video Programs at the senior center, Bible study at Talmadge Hill Community Church and playing bridge. Robin walks 1.5 to 3 miles daily and she co-taught two classes on autism at the local Community College. She is excited to report that her granddaughter Olivia was accepted at Harvard and Stanford Business Schools, her grandson Christian will marry his fiancé Barbara in June in Miami, and her daughter Carolyn continues volunteering at the Ritsona Refugee Camp and created Café RITS. Marilyn Klass Sigel got down to 125 pounds after having fluid in her lungs. Her husband told her that he was going to buy her suspenders so her pants don’t fall down. Since being treated for the fluid, Marilyn feels great. Sometimes Peggy Pattyson Greene and her son visit Marilyn at the farm. Marilyn invites all to come to her farm and visit her because she has to stay close to the hospital. Marilyn is in a book club and they are reading A Gentleman from Moscow by Amor Towles. She really liked All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Class Agent Bettie Francis Comas LaVallee writes, that like Marilyn, she also belongs to a book club and they will be reading the two books that Marilyn read. Bettie’s book club recently finished The Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. She continues, “We visited our family in
St. Louis with our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. My grandson graduated from the University of North Carolina and is working for a company developing websites for businesses.” In the picture Bettie is holding her ninth great grandchild Alina. Bettie concludes, “We have decided to make a Beard School Class of 1955 cookbook. We are beginning with appetizers. Classmates please email me recipes at manjimger@gmail.com.”
1956
Dick Stinson and his wife Anne Melanie recently enjoyed lunch with Eric Johnson in Warrenton, Virginia. “Wide-ranging lively conversation covering most of the world’s major concerns. By dessert, we had things pretty well solved… if we could just remember the solutions. Paul Kiselik and I correspond
often, and reports are he is doing well. Eric and I would love to hear from alums in Virginia, or anyplace else!”
1957 Class Agent Brenda Pruden Winnewisser sent in the following collaboration of Class Notes from she and her classmates:
Nancy Coppedge Lynn from Atlanta writes, “Our 60th reunion ( June 2017) was great fun! We had a huge turnout however we missed all those that could not be there. Brenda did a fabulous job organizing and herding all of us. Our major (financial) contribution to Morristown-Beard was well received- thanks to Naneen Hunter Neubohn for organizing our gift.” Nancy will be in Maine again this summer and shares, “Jill Constantine Carroll rents the cottage next to us in August. I love being able to see her. I am trying to keep my brain alive by playing the card game Mahjong.” Nancy Leavens reports: “I’m co-producer of the 2019 children’s theatre play at the Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco. We perform a free musical fairy tale for over 7,000 Bay Area school children. Our “season” lasts for eight weeks, add another 10 weeks for rehearsals and it will be a busy year. Also plan to go hiking in Croatia in September before the fun begins.” Joannie Blanchard McNulty shares, “I finally moved to Reno, NV in the early part of October. Last winter (2017) just did me in after 40 years of living in Incline Village, NV. I retired from the Incline Village Recreation Center and am now a lady of leisure. I am renting a single level home in a wonderful 55+ Del Webb community called Sierra Canyon. I love it here! There is so much to do and everyone is so friendly. And so... a new adventure is on my plate. Yippee!” From Vermont, Lisa Haenlein Newton writes: “Since June, I have (1) traveled to Massachusetts for the baptism of my seventh grandchild, (2) made a pilgrimage to Ireland, and plan to make another next fall, (3) got both knees replaced (4) and now am in the middle of our sugaring operation in Wake Robin’s sugarbush. I learned how to set and light the
fire in the new evaporator! We’ve taken off six gallons so far this season hope to quadruple that by the end. Other than that, life proceeds with amiable repetition.” Barbara Davis Miller has been busy, “Much of my time over the past six months has been spent working on a spring fundraising event for the Cathedral Scholars Program for Washington National Cathedral. Celebrating its 20th year, the Program offers students from DC public high schools a summer of college preparatory and SAT courses. On another note, Karen Kessler Sade and I caught up over tea while she was visiting her daughter here in Washington just a few days ago.”
in the 1950s! I’m still living in the Los Angeles area with my darling wife Rita Getzelman. It’s been almost 50 years. We are just putting the finishing touches on our new house in Palos Verdes, two and a half years in the creating, and well worth it. Business is good, kids/grandkids are good, and best of all, our health is good. And that is the main thing. Reunion should be fun!”
Brenda Pruden Winnewisser writes: “I must add that the 60th reunion success was largely due to a large and vocal (mostly via email) hard core group of those of us who really wanted it to happen. We tried to include as many of us as could be reached, and in real time everyone helped me keep us moving smoothly through our activities and getting the most out of it all, and binding us all closer.”
1958
60th
Reunion
year
Class Agents Bill Birch & Gus Hancock are hard at work to stimulate attendance at their 60th Class Reunion—Saturday, June 2, 2018. “After all these years with no contact, it turns out that we live (at least in winter) less than a mile apart on Orchid Island, a barrier island in Vero Beach, Florida. We are trying to contact all classmates. Please let the MBS Alumni Office know of your address, email address and phone number if you’ve not heard from us.” Gus Hancock writes: “Bill Derrico ’68 and I had a delightful lunch under palm trees & sunshine, a mile from our respective houses on Orchid Island. We each wore shorts. Bill rode his bike.” Doug Mockett shares: “Very much looking forward to the 60th reunion of the Class of 1958 in June, catching up with long lost friends, and hearing about adventures and challenges of the past six decades. Yes, there have been ups and downs—but we’re still standing! And I want to see the amazing improvements to the campus. We thought it was pretty advanced
Ken Phillips and his wife Rebecca traveled to Vietnam, Angkor Wat, and Hong Kong. He is pictured here with Ho Chi Minh in Saigon. After their adventures in Asia, they headed to New York City for “ballet, museums and some work with NYC Kids who use puppets in schools to teach empathy and inclusion with kids with disabilities. We had a wonderful time with family in the Grand Canyon in August and at Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Lots of travel for work and my book on fundraising. Looking forward to our 60th reunion in June!”
1960
Melinda Mitchell Lyon writes, “After much consideration, we sold our wonderful Meyers 200 airplane that we enjoyed for so many years. It was time to let someone else have fun in it. We will have to fly commercially to Oshkosh, WI Crimson Spring 2018 51
CLASS NOTES this summer. John and I will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary this June.”
1961 Caroline Von Hessert Hodge continues to love living in Sarasota, FL. She still has an active art business and plays tennis. She concludes, “Sadly my son, Sean, died suddenly at age 50 in December, still processing that loss.”
1962 Loretta Porter James and her husband John
welcomed a new granddaughter, Louisa Marie James, on January 30, 2018 in New York City. Louisa Marie joins cousins Arabella Elizabeth Gold, James Porter, Adaline Blanca, and Marina Katherine. After 20 years living at the shoreline in Madison, CT, Loretta and John moved to Old Greenwich. The move allows them to see their East Coast grandchildren more easily and living closer to New York City will make returning to UN non-governmental volunteer activities more feasible. Loretta also shares news of the passing of classmate Sandy Phillips. A Celebration of Life was held in April at Chatfield Farms in Littleton, Colorado. Susan Magennis Underwood reports “Steve and I will be married for 45 years on May 26th. I enjoy many trips to the south of Spain where our youngest daughter, Megan and her Spanish husband, Daniel, live in Linares. They had their first child on November 1, 2017—a baby girl named Emma. I was there for three weeks after Emma was born—a week in Madrid studying Spanish and living with a lovely Spanish woman and two weeks in Linares which happened to be La Ruta de La Tapa. We enjoyed special tapas in close to 30 establishments during my visit. Stephanie, our oldest daughter, has recently moved to the United Arab Emirates with her family. We spend much of the summer in Twilight Park, in Haines Falls, N.Y. located in the beautiful Catskill Mts. Come visit us there.” Marie Neubert Younkin Waldman writes: “Grandkids are in college and graduating. Myron and I are retired and now divide time between Wakefield, R.I. and St. Simons Island, 52 Crimson Spring 2018
G.A. I take classes at University of Rhode Island in French, art history, yoga, writing group and other classes.” Marie is also active in her church. Charles Edward “Ted” Lawson writes, “This has been a year of superlatives! In December 2017, I met the love of my life—“Liz” Elizabeth Nesbitt Moldenhauer. In January we were engaged which started the merger of our two lives—no small feat when we each have families and years of accumulations. Almost immediately after our engagement, I went sightseeing: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Liz put her house on the market in May so she could move into my apartment in New York City. We spent time in Martha’s Vineyard and in Quogue, New York with friends. The wedding ceremony, reception and luncheon were held on October 21st at the Union Club and we went on a honeymoon to Bermuda. We celebrated our first Christmas together and have started our own traditions.”
1964 Susan Drewes Minich has moved again and now
resides in Stillwater, MN. “No other news. I’m still teaching high school English and evening online classes for Florida Eastern State College.”
year 50th 1968 Caroline Kennedy says, “I’m looking forward Reunion
to seeing and catching up with classmates at our reunion. Can you believe it’s been 50 years?” Class Agent Bill Derrico lives in Milford, CT. He is married with three sons and two grandchildren. Bill is a salesman in the hardware industry and is looking forward to celebrating his 50th Reunion in June. Craig Johnson writes, “I am now retired after 45 years as a buyer for JC Penney and a salesman for a private company selling athletic socks to a major retailer. Living in Closter, NJ for the past 35 years, I have two sons and two granddaughters. Along with Dave Dyer ’67, I visited with Mrs. Larry Totten some months ago and reminisced about Larry (former faculty member and her deceased husband) and what he meant to both of us. Thanks to Larry, I still run five days a week and have completed 15 NYC marathons since 1980. I also keep busy as a voracious reader, do pen and ink drawings, and fancy myself as a gourmet cook. My wife, of 43 years, Barbara, is a school teacher in our district and has been for more than 40 years. Would love to catch up with any of my classmates!” The National Association of Realtors honored and bestowed upon Malcolm Miller the status of Realtor Emeritus, for “40 years of valuable and lasting contributions to the Real Estate profession in the community.”
1977 Ellen Wing shares pictures of her grandchildren 1966 Roger Schwarz explains, “In December I was
at a party in Brooklyn in the kitchen along with everyone else. I was chatting with a friend of the hostess, who, it turned out, not only was from New Jersey, but from near where I grew up. And then, in response to the inevitable question of “Where did you go to high school?” The answer was of course Morristown-Beard School. Here I am pictured with Beth Eisgrau Heller ’88. It’s a small world!”
including her 3-year old granddaughter Tzai Cyrus enjoying a piece of her birthday cake and her son Enrique with his wife Nathaly and their baby Eliana, Ellen’s youngest grandchild.
1978
40th
Reunion
year
Ann Marie Kennedy was elected as a state delegate for the Oklahoma Democratic Party. She is the chair of the 4th precinct in Rogers County Democrats. Earlier this year, Ann was elected to be a board member at large for the Stonewall Democrats of Tulsa. “I am working on improving life in Oklahoma for all of the people. I hope to see you at the reunion in June.”
1980
Lisa Lamborn Adams caught up with classmate Alex Wiman Cafaro at the Short Hills Mall this winter. The two shared memories and a selfie. Warren Bobrow spoke at the 2018 South by Southwest festival and was chosen to be the Mercedes-Benz Germany Mystery Speaker at the 2018 ME Convention at SXSW. Warren also presented at the Vegas Nightclub and Bar Show as well as being chosen to be a rum judge at the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival.
Department of Cultural Affairs, Materials for the Arts, BAM, Bard College, Disney, and he served as cultural ambassador to Kenya with the US State Department. He learned a great deal about physical experience and expression, which is why his life-long passion for his stick table sculptures is so intimately tied to his mission of better balance. Robert is a certified foster parent, a proud uncle 30 times, godfather and “guidefather.” “I learned lessons in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and East and West Africa. I’ve been to natural and manmade places, some sacred, some unexpected. I learned the depth of sensitivity and it’s ability to heal, and provide a dynamic body/mind comfort that is earthy, dynamic, and not at all fussy.”
1981 Maresa Moglia says, “Here’s my attempt to sum up 40 years in a paragraph. After MBS I tried to study pre-med, but to my father’s great disappointment transferred to Barnard in NYC for a degree in contemporary dance. In the meantime, I started studying classical Indian dance and as soon as I graduated, I moved to Italy with my partner Fabio Pianigiani—Italian composer and guitarist. From Italy, I felt I could finally travel to India, my dream, where I searched for and found many adventures including my teacher (Krishnaveni Lakshmanan renowned dancer and choreographer) and guide for the following 15 years, until her untimely death in 2004. I have toured throughout Europe with a contemporary company Luisa Casiraghi and with my own company, Mangalam, with which I present classical Indian and fusion pieces. I presently teach and lecture on Indian dance and art in Italy and abroad.” Craig Slaff was asked to do a one-man show at the Foreman Gallery of Hartwick College. The show includes 57 works of different subject matter, including aviation, industrial, and marine art, to name a few. The show ran from February 15 through March 23, 2018.
Sarah Jahries Kenyon writes: “My mom passed away last May which was hard—but because my dad is doing great, my kids are thriving, work is still fun, and my partner is awesome, life is good. The girls are both freshmen in college: Martha at Connecticut College and Rylie at Temple University. Charlie is a sophomore at Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH), playing ice hockey and lacrosse; Robby is in the eighth grade, playing soccer, ice hockey and baseball. We live on the NMH campus. Come visit!”
1983
1984 Dawn Bridy says, “It’s been so much fun
seeing Billy Campbell’s band playing at The Laundromat in Morristown and reconnecting with Mo-Bearders (pictured) ...I missed the night David Lucas played... Hope that happens again soon.”
35th
Reunion
year
Robert Bangiola’s practice and Bangiola Protocol development began in 2006, when he was studying Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) with the Upledger Institute. He pursued CST to answer questions about his own unusually high physical sensitivity and his sympathetic sensation. Combined, these traits enable him to actually feel what others feel in their bodies. Robert has also studied Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki, Mindful Caregiving at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco, Alexander Technique, and others, including the healing Bengston Method with Dr. Bill Bengston. Prior to opening Better Balance In Reach, Robert was an art manager. Helping artists better connect with their art and audiences, Robert’s resume includes NYC
Dawn also sent in a picture of her get-together with her two BFF’s in MBS from Myrtle Beach – Paula Finn ’83 and Lisa Kline Traylor ’82.
1985 Tim Rooke provided the following “bio on Team Rooke:” Tim lives in Greenville, SC
Crimson Spring 2018 53
CLASS NOTES with his wife, Kristen. They moved there two weeks prior to 9/11 in 2001. Tim and Kristen have two children, Whit (22) and Ana (20). “We reproduced ourselves and quit.” Whit is a senior at Furman University and Ana is a junior at Rollins College. Kristen is very involved with the South Carolina Women’s Golf Association, First Tee, and is the varsity boys golf coach at the private school where their children graduated. Tim now works with his brother Andrew ’76 managing the Rooke family interests. Tim states, “I had a chance to visit with Katie, Bobbi, Steve, Paul, Dave Mead ’84, Charlie Hutchinson ’84 and Gail Kaltenbacher Kurz ’86 in early September when our family visited Morristown for our father’s funeral service. He passed away on July 31st. My wife and I flew in a day early so that we could have dinner with them all. Really glad we did that. It was fun to see everyone. Also saw Sefton Stallard (Class Agent) who came down for the service. We didn’t get a chance to visit the MBS campus.”
Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington state.
lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Katrina and their 1-year old son, Floyd.
Rich Stein is a sergeant with the Habersham County (GA) Sheriff ’s Office assigned to the special victims unit. Kevin Woodward lives with his wife, Stacey and two sons, Connor (8) and Ryan (4) in Phoenix, M.D.. Kevin works at T. Rowe Price as a Technical Solutions Manager, and remains in touch with a few friends from MBS. He hopes everyone is well.
1992
Jeff Grace shares “I had a stand-up comedy special come out through Amazon. It’s called ‘Jeff Grace: Live In Los Angeles’. It’s available for streaming to Amazon Prime members for free.”
1995 Alejandra Ospina writes, “I left the US soon
after graduation and moved with my family back home to Bogota, Colombia. Since then, I moved to Europe in 2007 and lived in London until Summer 2016. Now I am back in the US. I live in Boston and would love to get back in touch with old classmates. I am married and have a 2-year old daughter, Sienna.”
1986
Vannakay Harvin Hurnevich is an airline captain for Delta Air lines, flying the MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft across the country. She recently flew the owner/editor of Sass Magazine and, as a result, was interviewed for the magazine. The article can be found online.
1988
30th
Reunion
year
After several years at home raising her son, who is now seven years old, Beth Eisgrau-Heller is launching a music photography business.
1989
John Ditmars is an acupuncturist in the 54 Crimson Spring 2018
1993
25th
Reunion
year
Michael Masini is an actor/movie producer with recurring roles on CBS’ “Blue Bloods” and “The Young and the Restless” as well as the BET series “Rebel.” Michael has guest starred on “NCIS,” “Stitchers,” and “Modern Family.” He currently costars in the Capital One hockey commercial with Jennifer Garner. Michael recently produced movies starring James Franco, Natalie Portman, Kristen Wiig, Matthew Modine, and Jimmy Kimmel. Michael
1996 Britton and Drew Bitterman welcomed their daughter, Helen Julie, on May 16, 2017. They are the Directors of Camp Watitoh, a co-ed overnight camp in Massachusetts.
1999 Scott Michael Robertson continues to serve
as a policy expert on neurological diversity and inclusion in school and the workplace. Last fall, he co-authored the first federal interagency report to Congress on autistic young adults
and youth transitioning to adulthood. This report incorporated input from seven federal departments and the U.S. Social Security Administration. It emphasized strengthening support for the transition to postsecondary education, employment, and community living.
that help elevate and enable the communities we serve. Eriqah also serves as the Board Chair of the HBCU Green Fund, an organization focused on supporting HBCUs in technology and community activism practices that lead to providing a sustainable, Earth-friendly education for their students. Eriqah also launched her own event planning and consulting business Logistics by E.Re.
2007
2005 Niral Patel has been running his own home
care business in Hackensack NJ for the past two years. Niral explains, “My home care is a franchise (ComForCare) and currently services Bergen County. Prior to starting my business in April 2016, I finished medical school. Currently my business has 33 active caregivers on staff and twenty clients. My office staff consists of two RN’s, a scheduler, and an office manager.”
2006 Justin Leigh reports, “In August, my wife
Jocelyn and I opened Dwinell Country Ales, a microbrewery located in Goldendale, Washington. Additionally, I was recently elected to the Goldendale City Council.” Eriqah Williams Vincent started a new position in February with the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) as the Manager of the Just Energy Portfolio. In this position, Eriqah manages all aspects of PSE’s Just Energy Portfolio including the functionality, programmatic work plan, and successful growth of the Just Energy Circle. The Partnership for Southern Equity advances policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in the growth of the American South. Focusing on three key areas: energy, growth, and opportunity, PSE has developed strong partnerships, which have resulted in a series of successful policy initiatives
Matt Engel was appointed to the Chatham Borough Planning Board, where he is responsible for fulfillment of the town’s Master Plan, subdivision controls and site plan reviews, zoning ordinances, variance appeals, and environmental issues. Matt is also excited to reconnect with his fellow alumni and is looking forward to the many different events being held on campus this year! John McHale is beginning his fifth year working at ABC News and his third as a full-time Live Stream operator. His department brings viewers online daily news from Washington DC, international news, and everything in between. John explains, “Every day is a new learning curve as the news is constantly responding to the attitude in the country.” Dr. Chase Rupprecht, DC, will be attending medical school this fall at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine as a part of the Class of 2022 to receive his medical degree. Chase is unsure what specialty he will be pursuing, but is strongly considering either ENT Head and Neck surgery or Infectious Disease. After a short career in chiropractic, he looks forward to continuing his education in pursuing his dream of becoming a medical doctor.
2009
Katie Apolinario reports, “I’m giving back to my community by continuing my volunteer work with the National Association of Asian American Professionals, DC Chapter (NAAAP DC). I’m now serving as the President of this nonprofit.” Ian Moore currently serves as the Community Resource Program Specialist for the Office of Gangs Coordinator in the Fulton County
District Attorney’s Office. He formerly worked as a certified Georgia educator and has several years of classroom experience. Ian has contracted his services as a certified RYT-200 Kemetic Yoga Instructor, to the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice as well as several juvenile courts in Metro-Atlanta. He is a current candidate in the Masters of Educational Leadership Program at Kennesaw State University and he received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College. Ian has served locally and globally as Vice-President of his Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Community Chair for Gate City Lodge #42 Prince Hall Affiliation. During his undergraduate years at Morehouse College, Ian was selected as a college ambassador for service projects in South Africa and Haiti. Ian’s goal is to awaken consciousness and help others grow spiritually. He looks forward to attending his 10-year Reunion in 2019 with his Class of 2009 classmates.
2010
Gordon Callender is a member of the organization My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Newark. On February 27, MBK Newark hosted the Pathway to Success Opportunity Summit at the Prudential Center in conjunction with the City of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Prudential, and the Obama Foundation. Over the course of seven hours, 1,400 young men of color had the opportunity to receive tailored suits, ties, haircuts, resume assistance, interview simulation and on-site hiring opportunities from over 50 companies. An estimated 500 jobs were earned that momentous day. Gordon was honored to be featured in both the Prudential and Obama Foundation Newsrooms, discussing his story and involvement with the organization. In both interviews, he gave major credit to the Morristown-Beard School staff for assisting in molding him into the man he is today. Crimson Spring 2018 55
CL A S S NOTES
“Crimson Connects” in NYC On Thursday, April 19th at the New York Yacht Club, Morristown-Beard School held “Crimson Connects,” the first in a series of alumni networking events. Distinguished MBS alumnus Scott Tannen ’95, CEO and founder of Boll & Branch, served as guest speaker for the evening and addressed a crowd of alumni spanning from the Class of 1978 to 2014. The Commodore Room set the stage for an intimate setting in which alumni learned from Tannen’s personal experiences about how to launch a start-up and how to break into a large market community. Tannen also discussed “how to beat the big boys” through commercial and behavioral disruption, and told the crowd that, “It’s okay to be motivated by money. That’s how I provide for my family.” Like any true entrepreneur, Tannen drew from his life experiences to accomplish his career successes. He spoke candidly about a personal time in which deep reflection was needed and applied this reflection period to his business as well, “At some point in your life you have to be honest with yourself... There are norms here I don’t feel good about being a part of.” He spoke about the importance of trusting his instincts and following a passion that doesn’t fizzle too quickly. This reflection led to the evolution of Boll & Branch. “Our mission is to change the way luxury home textiles are sourced, made and purchased, backed by a commitment to treat people with dignity, respect and honesty—from our farmers, to our factory workers and to our customers,” he said. The night concluded with a robust Q&A as well as personal one-on-one time with Tannen.
56 Crimson Spring 2018
Maggie Ranger, Young Alumni & Annual Giving Associate at MBS, got engaged on April 7, 2018 to Michael Manasia in New York City. They are happily planning for a wedding in 2019! Samantha Wynn is currently the Internal Operations Lead at ConsenSys Systems, a blockchain based venture production studio operating out of Brooklyn, N.Y. ConsenSys focuses on building and scaling tools and software products powered by the Ethereum platform. Their mission is to use these solutions to build emerging economic, social, and political operating systems for the planet.
2016 Alex Motley shares the following updates:
“PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Start program 2018 Summer intern; Vice President of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Lehigh Valley Chapter; back-to-back Patriot League Champions (football); two-time Patriot League Football Academic Honor Roll member; Student-Athlete Mentor for Lehigh Athletics Leadership Academy.”
Stay in Touch with MBS! Send us your news for the next issue of Crimson! Keep the MBS community updated on your latest personal, professional, and civic achievements. To be included in the next issue, please email us at alumni@mbs.net by September 7, 2018.
In Memoriam Helen Ill Giammattei ’48, January 27, age 87. Helen was born in Newark, New Jersey. Active in sports and student government at Beard, she remained loyal to the School all her life, attending reunions and alumnae lunches in Bay Head and Millburn, New Jersey. After graduating from Bennett Junior College she married Francis (Frank) Giammattei in 1951; his work brought the couple and their children to the Midwest where she was an active volunteer at Christ Church Cranbrook in Birmingham, Michigan. Later the couple would live in Wilmington, Delaware where she volunteered at Christ Church Christiana Hundred. Helen and Frank met as teenagers in 1946 in their beloved Mantoloking, New Jersey. Helen wrote of summer memories there especially the night of August 15, 1945: In spite of a mandatory World War Two blackout, she and a small band of fellow 15 year old girls found their way to St. Simon-bythe-Sea Episcopal Church and rang the church bells to honor the Japanese surrender. Helen co-authored many books, including Needlepoint from America’s Great Quilt Designs and More Needlepoint from America’s Great Quilt Designs. She loved sewing and needlework, sailing on Barnegat Bay, knitting, and card games, which she taught to everyone. At the time of her death she was living in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Her three children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandson survive her; Frank her husband died in June, 2017. Judith Blackmar Jahries ’58, May 22, 2017, age 77. Born in Orange, New Jersey, Judy grew up in Summit, New Jersey. At Beard she made lifelong friends. She attended Pine Manor College for two years before being drawn to New York City. In 1961, she met John Robert (Bob) Jahries during a party at the Short Hills Ski Club; they married soon after. The couple lived in Summit, New Jersey for 32 years and built a vacation home named Singing Pines in East Calais, Vermont, where they enjoyed morning swims in #10 Pond, sugaring, evening bonfires and stargazing. While her children were young, she was an active volunteer at the Summit Garden Club, the Lincoln School PTA, the United Way, and the Junior League of Summit Thrift Shop. Judy would later work for the Youth Employment Service, at Summit High School and then at Summit’s City Federal Savings Bank.
Judy spent childhood summers in Mantoloking, New Jersey and later on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard Islands, Massachusetts. When her husband retired in 1991, the couple put down roots in West Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard where they gardened extensively—their gardens were photographed for Martha’s Vineyard Magazine and for A Garden Lover’s Martha’s Vineyard and featured on local tours. She also did needlework with a weekly sewing group and volunteered as a docent at Polly Hill Arboretum and the MV Agricultural Society. She was also a volunteer for the Vineyard Haven Library, the US Census Bureau, and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. Judy worked for 23 years at the Toy Box, a beloved children’s toy store, and owned her own tour business, Vineyard Guides. She won many ribbons at the Vineyard’s Agricultural Fair each August. Her husband Bob, four children, 12 grandchildren, two sisters, two brothers-inlaw, and nieces and nephews survive her. Abigail Sarah Jane Finch ’06, January 3, 2018, age 29. Abbey grew up in Maplewood and South Orange, New Jersey. After graduating from MBS, she received her bachelor’s in English from Drew University in 2011 and her master’s in journalism from Columbia University in 2017. Abbey worked for numerous advertising agencies throughout New Jersey; established her own successful online content business, ScribeSpace in 2014; and her writing was published in many print and online articles. After receiving her journalism degree, she wrote exclusively for the North Jersey Media Group. Abby attained many of these accomplishments during her four year struggle with melanoma. Previously, after a 2008 rapid recovery from addiction, she was a volunteer mentor to many addicted young women. She is survived by her companion Bill Vezzosi, her daughter Chloe Bergrin, her parents, sister Emily K. Finch ’01, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and her former husband Matthew Bergrin. A great aunt Anne Gate Radwell graduated from Miss Beard’s School in 1940. Carolyn Ann (Lynn) Daniels, former faculty, December 5, 2017, age 86. Ms. Daniels was beloved by the generation of Beard School and MBS students whom she mentored and inspired. She joined The Beard School physical education
staff as teacher, coach and modern dance instructor in 1960. At Beard, she soon became department head on the retirement of long time Physical Education Head Eunice Child. Lynn was elected to the MBS Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Ms. Daniels was one of a handful of faculty members who came to MBS with the 1971 merger. She remained at MBS until 1976. During a tumultuous time of changing roles for women, as teacher, coach, and Co-Dean of Girls with Rose Koch, Ms. Daniels helped girls be their own best selves. She inspired lifelong tributes and friendships as well as a Beard 1960s singing group, the D-Naturals—the D was for Daniels. With Mary Margaret Hart, her wife of 38 years, Lynn often returned to the MBS campus, enjoying Alumni Reunion Weekends and a 2016 Beard luncheon on campus. Born and raised in East Haven, Connecticut, Lynn was a 1952 graduate of Arnold College in her home state. Most of her 25 years in teaching and coaching were at Beard and MBS. In the mid 1970s, Lynn moved to State College, Pennsylvania, receiving in 1977 a master’s degree from Penn State with a focus on sport psychology. Lynn worked for many years as a woodworker and also drove a school bus for the State College Area School District, becoming an instructor of new drivers. Lynn and Mary shared a love of travel and hiking, especially in Acadia National Park in Maine. She was also an avid gardener, birder, and reader, plus a committed Lady Lion basketball fan. Mary and their children, Sheila Nelson and spouse Kim Lloyd and Rachel Nelson and one sister survive Lynn, as well as nieces and nephews and their families. Crimson Spring 2018 57
2018 Alumni Association CLASS AGENTS
The Alumni Association is dedicated to bringing you—our treasured alumni—coveted events, such as Reunion, Homecoming, regional events, and exciting campus news. Class Agents are imperative to our Alumni Community by keeping their classmates connected to MBS. Their primary role is to encourage their classmates to attend events and to contribute class notes.
*Nancy “Taz” (Tasman) Brower ’47 tazbrower@yahoo.com
Carolyn (Clarkson) Markham ’50 cmredfox3@gmail.com
Joyce (Christian) Bodig ’53 jbodig@ix.net.com
*Fred Greenberg ’55 fgwindswept@aol.com
Bettie (Francis-Lajara) LaVallee ’55 manjimger@gmail.com
Richard L. Stinson ’56 kb3kbc@gmail.com
Bruce “Sandy”Adam ’57 peaba@comcast.net
Brenda (Pruden) Winnewisser ’57
winnewisser.2@osu.edu
Gus Hancock ’58
indigosailing52@gmail.com
Hope (Phillips) Hazen ’60 hopehazen@aol.com
Loretta (Porter) James ’62 lorettapjames@aol.com
Bill Phillips, Jr. ’62 swike7ct@comcast.net
Carol Selman ’64
caselman28@aol.com
Paul Tversky ’64 ptversky@aol.com
Pamela (Norman) Apito ’65 pnorman.bes@gmail.com
58 Crimson Spring 2018
Martha (Root) Brody ’65
*Jackie (Jonnard) Landre ’86
*Cartwright Wallace ’93
Michaele Esposito ’66
Joseph “Joe” Lentini ’87
Whitney (Brusman) Shelton ’94
Bill Derrico ’68
*Sandra “Sandi” (Appet) Pesso ’87
marwdhnd@stny.rr.com meme1015@yahoo.com billd981@yahoo.com
Delevan Barrett ’70 del_barrett@yahoo.com
Daniel Gonnella ’72
daniel.gonnella@novartis.com
Cheryl Teare ’73 cteare@aft.org
David Weisbrod ’73
davidweisbrod1@gmail.com
James “Jim” Crouch ’77 jamesccrouch@gmail.com
*Amy (Chaiken) Wolffe ’78
jrgriffith2000@yahoo.com jcljr68@nyc.rr.com
spesso01@gmail.com
Robert Warnock ’87
robwarnock69@gmail.com
*Greg Bendelius ’88 gbendelius@gmail.com
Monya Davis Taylor ’88 mtaylor@mbs.net
Dominique (Bales) Wagner ’88 dominiquewagner@me.com
Lisa (Kaugher) Humphreys ’89
nantucketer@gmail.com
wbrusman@yahoo.com
Dr. Christina (Toth) Breen ’95 cnt1978@gmail.com
Peter Hedley ’97
phedley01@gmail.com
Hugh Leoni ’97
hugh.leoni@wellsfargo.com
Ed Forbes ’98
ed.forbes02@gmail.com
Melinda Sheehan ’98
melinda.p.sheehan@gmail.com
Ridgely Harrison ’99 ridgelyiv@gmail.com
amywolffe1@gmail.com
lisatomh@gmail.com
Steve “Peach” Fusco ’79
Melissa M. Hedley ’90
darnell.t.parker@gmail.com
Betsy (Lorber) Stern ’79
Lynne (Saliba) Moronski ’90
tashiammartin@yahoo.com
Stephanie (Gowski) Bush ’91
suedriscoll32@gmail.com
Sallie (Oakes) O’Connor ’91
mcconnell.todd@gmail.com
Chip Rollinson ’91
tyler.g.mulvihill@gmail.com
steve@obrienyacht.com bs61@aol.com
Joe Selvaggi ’83
joeselvaggi@gmail.com
David Moretti ’85
proskomedia@gmail.com
William “Bill” Trimble ’85 billtrimble901@gmail.com
Gail (Kaltenbacher) Kurz ’86 gail@setonco.com
Herman Kurz ’86 hkurz@setonco.com
mhedley@mbs.net
lynnemoronski@gmail.com stephaniejbush@me.com oakessal@yahoo.com
chip.rollinson@gmail.com
Mary (Milanesi) Koenig ’92 mem3297@aol.com
Katherine “Katie” (Ewig) DiNardo ’93 kewig@aol.com
Darnell Parker ’00
*Tashia Martin ’01 *Sue Driscoll ’02
Todd McConnell ’02 *Tyler Mulvihill ’05 Greg Williams ’05 gwilliams@mbs.net
Lee (Grant) Bogaert ’06 lee.bogaert@gmail.com
*Jennifer Conway ’06
jennifer.lynn.conway@gmail.com * Denotes Alumni Board Member
Alumni Association
Morristown-Beard School
Join Our Team
2018 Alumni
14 85 states strong
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 1
Y.A.R.P.! Young Alumni Reunion Party
Class Agents unify and inform MBS Classmates across the country.
Classes of 2007 through 2017 7:30-9:30 PM—MBS Quad
Join us as a Class Agent today and make your imprint on the MBS map.
June 2
Alumni Reunion
Please email Melissa Hedley ’90 at mhedley@mbs.net.
*Matthew Engel ’07 engelmattc@gmail.com
*John Capo ’08
jcapoiii@gmail.com
Adam Dubov ’08
adam.l.dubov@gmail.com
Lauren Johnson ’08
lauren.c.johnson23@gmail.com
Zach Borker ’10
zborker@gmail.com
Rebecca Lerner ’10
lerner.rebecca@gmail.com
Emily Martuscello ’10 emar2cello@gmail.com
Maggie Ranger ’10
maggie.ranger1@gmail.com
Sam Taggart ’10
staggart19@gmail.com
Anna Balliet ’11
annacballiet@gmail.com
Lauren Capo ’11 lcapo93@gmail.com
Alix Shulman ’11
alixshulman1@gmail.com
11:00 AM—MBS Quad
*Zachary “Zach” Gray ’12
June 30
zach@thebriiidge.com
Last day to receive gifts for MB Fund (annual giving)
Brette Brier ’13
bhbrier@gmail.com
Megan Reiling ’13
www.mbs.net/support
megan.reiling@gmail.com
Ashley Young ’14
August 3
ashyoung88@gmail.com
Bay Head Yacht Club Alumni & Friends Cocktail Party
Trevor Baptiste ’14
tbaptiste96@gmail.com
John McDonald ’15
jdmcdonald19@gmail.com
October 13
Maddie Carrol ’16
maddiecarroll@icloud.com
Nicole Robertson ’16
nrobertson707@gmail.com
Mackenzie May ’17
mam102@bucknell.edu
Charlie Naples ’17
charlie.naples.5@gmail.com
Ryan Waters ’17
rpwats99@gmail.com
Homecoming at MBS
9:30 AM Field Hockey: Girls JV Game 11:00 AM Field Hockey: Girls Varsity Game 2:30 PM Football: Boys Varsity Game
November 9
San Francisco Alumni & Friends Cocktail Party
Crimson Spring 2018 59
ALUMNI MOMENTS
From left: Sandi Pesso ’87, Pamela Nelson Davidson ’90, Peter J. Caldwell, and Alia Roth ’10.
4 th Annual Alumni Career Panel Provides Insight & Advice The Alumni Board’s Internships and Careers Committee held its fourth annual Alumni Career Panel for Upper School students on Tuesday, April 17th. Senior Tahj Valentine ’18 hosted the panel, which featured two alumnae: Pamela Nelson Davidson ’90 and Alia Roth ’10. Pamela is the Chief Legal Personnel and Recruitment Officer at Paul, Weiss in New York City. Paul, Weiss is an international law firm of more than 1,000 attorneys and is recognized as one of the top law firms in the world. Pam’s responsibilities include leading the firm’s global attorney recruitment efforts, as well as all aspects of talent management. Pam earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from Hartwick College in 1994. Alia Roth graduated from MBS in 2010 and went on to attend Connecticut College where she obtained a bachelors degree in political science and human development. After graduating from Connecticut College, Alia taught 6th-8th grade special education in the South Bronx, while attending graduate school at City College of New York. In 2015, Alia left the Department of Education to join INCLUDEnyc, an advocacy organization that provides special education and disability rights advocacy, training, resources and support to ensure equity, equality and access for NYC youth and their families. As manager of the Youth and Transition Services Department at 60 Crimson Spring 2018
INCLUDEnyc, Alia supervises multiple programs that support youth with disabilities between the ages of 16-26 ensuring that their educational rights are met and appropriate accommodations are made in post-secondary life. The women shared stories and photos of their days as MBS students and the importance of internships and networking. Pam reminded the students that “grades matter,” and to take their Morristown-Beard School education seriously because it will position the students for greater opportunities in both college and career. She also explained that they shouldn’t be afraid to take risks and “think outside the box” because the best option is not always the familiar one. On that same theme of moving beyond one’s comfort zone, Alia shared stories of her adventures studying abroad and serving underserved youth in urban areas—experiences that fuel her passion for providing high quality and inclusive education for all children. The feelings of community and acceptance at Morristown-Beard School gave Alia the confidence to try new things. After the panel, students had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions and speak one-on-one with them. Both Pam and Alia expressed how much they enjoyed talking with the students and how nice it was to be back on campus.
Baseball Alumni Reconnect
During winter break, MBS baseball coaches and alumni enjoyed a reunion at Zagursky’s in Whippany. “It was a long time coming. Every year I received calls from baseball alumni who wanted to reconnect with each other and the School,” said coach John Sheppard. “We put it together rather quickly…but the interest is greater than ever so we intend to make it an annual event.”
MBS Graduates Return for Alumni Ice Hockey Games!
This winter, alumni and alumnae ice hockey players got back on the ice for two fast-paced games! In November, over 30 alumni played in a game that ran neck-and-neck on the scoreboard. December proved to be a victorious month for 15 alumnae who played in a very competitive game against the current MBS girl’s ice hockey team. Keep a lookout for details about the alumni and alumnae ice hockey games in 2018!
Alumni and coaches shared stories about their favorite games. Amongst them was the coveted 2016 County Championship win. Older alumni remarked about how nice it is to come back to the School and watch the younger guys play and how proud they are of their accomplishments. Sheppard said, “It was fun to see baseball alumni from different eras come together and share stories about the team when they played.” Those in attendance included: Kevin Brophy ’16, Pat Davis ’16, Coach Joe Dekasar, Jack Fleming ’11, Drew Jansen ’16, Coach Ken Monteith ’08, Nick Naples ’13, Bob Saburn ’16, Coach Scott Schroeder, Coach Eric Shea ’05, Coach John Sheppard, Dillon Sinegra ’16 and Pat Yannotta ’06.
Crimson Spring 2018 61
ALUMNI MOMENTS
MBS Alumni Excelling in College Athletics
Morristown-Beard School alumni are making their mark in college athletics. Highlighting this year’s athletic excellences are: Kevin Brophy ’16, a sophomore at West Virginia University, hit three home runs—including a tiebreaking grand slam—when the Mountaineers beat the University of Illinois, 10-8, on February 24th. At the start of the season, Brophy led NCAA Division I baseball with four home runs. Kyle Larsson ’14, senior captain of the track & field team at Trinity College, was highlighted in an article that praised him for his strong mental game, his leadership ability, and for being the embodiment of a student-athlete. Kyle’s many accomplishments include earning All-New England indoor honors as a sophomore and being selected to represent Trinity men’s cross country on the 2017 NESCAC Fall AllSportsmanship Team. Kyle epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete at Trinity College, and his hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. As a freshman at Ithaca College, Jaime Sheppard ’17 finished 2nd in the 400 meter dash (1:00.70) in the Liberty Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships to help Ithaca win the team championship. The Ithaca College women’s track & field team was ranked within the top five of the NCAA Division III conference for the entire 2018 season.
Baptiste ’14 added to 2018 International Lacrosse Championship Roster
Morristown-Beard School graduate and University of Denver faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste ’14 has been named to the United States roster for the 2018 Federation of International Lacrosse world championships in Israel. Baptiste, a Tewaaraton Award finalist and the nation’s leader in faceoff winning percentage last year, was the lone active college player selected to the roster of distinguished players. “It’s a blessing and an amazing opportunity to be able to represent my country playing the sport I love,” said Baptiste. “I know I’m playing with and against the best of the best, and it’s truly a dream come true. This will be an incredible year of lacrosse with my last season at Denver this spring and Team USA this summer.” Baptiste is third in NCAA Division I history with 879 career faceoff wins, and fifth in career ground balls (481). He has been named the Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and is a two-time USILA First Team All-America selection. 62 Crimson Spring 2018
10 thAnnual Remmey Roast—A Tribute to a Beloved Alumnus This spring marked another amazing turnout for the 10th Annual Remmey Roast in New York City. On Saturday night April 7th, over 30 Morristown-Beard alumni attended a celebration and remembrance in Remmey Bumsted’s honor for a great cause. The event was held at Sessions 73 in NYC with over 100 people total in attendance. The money raised from ticket sales and donations went directly to VH1 Save the Music Foundation on behalf of the Remmey Bumsted Fund.
Remmey graduated with the class of 2003 and was a Crimson “lifer.” He unexpectedly passed away at the age of 23 from Sudden Cardiac Death due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition. His passion was felt throughout the School as he served as class president and was captain of both the football and lacrosse teams his senior year. The Remmey Roast started in 2008 at Gettysburg College at the TKE house and has grown in popularity since. A few different venues in New York City have been used as well as other venues in Baltimore, MD, Shelter Island, NY, and the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ. With the compassionate support of Morristown-Beard alumni, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised in Remmey’s honor. Family and friends alike thank the MBS community for their generous support in keeping Remmey’s memory alive. Alumni in attendance included: Todd McConnell ’02 (Remmey Roast founder), Greg Botitta ’02, Corey McConnell ’98, Jackie Pellenburg ’02, Dan Pellenburg ’02, David Genova ’02, Kaite Fenstermake ’02, Meghan Kendall ’03, Tyler Malmstrom ’03, Brian and Lindsay Roos ’02, Shane Vince ’04, Gardner Lonsberry ’02, Andrew Geartner ’01, Molly Pribor ’05, JD Pribor ’04, Tucker Pribor ’08, Ken Monteith ’08, Dave Starr ’02, Robert Skinner ’02, Chad Hillyer ’01, and Robbie Elliot ’04.
4 thAnnual MBS Alumni Performing Arts Concert The MBS community was treated to a fun-filled performing arts reunion on January 9th as seven talented graduates took center stage in Founders Hall. From jazz to rock to Broadway and everything in between, the musical selections highlighted a wide range of talent and interests. The concert featured performances by Pooja Aggarwal ’14, Ashley Aracena ’13, Breyton Croom ’13, Dominique Diggs ’17, Steven Karbachinskiy ’16, Arlyn Goldberg ’78, and Courtney Ober. Steven Karbachinskiy also served as master of ceremonies, and behindthe-scenes, MBS graduates Taylor Jaskula ’17 and Harrison Kern ’17 returned to help make the performances shine.
Crimson Spring 2018 63
ALUMNI NEW MOMENTS ADDITIONS
Alumni Board Welcomes its Newest Members MBS is happy to announce the appointment of three new Alumni Board members. In true MBS fashion, these people bring to our community the unity, spirit, and dedication coveted among our past and present MBS families. Kelly MacMahon Ewing ’91 Kelly has enjoyed an extensive journey in her physical therapy career beginning at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Over the years, Kelly has educated physical therapy students as a clinical supervisor, as an adjunct teacher at UMDNJ, and as a guest lecturer at Stony Brook University in New York. In 2005, Kelly went back to school and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Kelly currently works for Atlantic Homecare and Hospice performing home treatment for patients who have been declared homebound: “The most rewarding aspect is helping a patient achieve their maximum potential.”
Ewing ’91
Kelly lives in Florham Park with her husband Paul and four children. She looks back on her years at MBS with great pride: “Now that I have established roots in the area, raising my family in Florham Park for the past decade, I am looking to give back to the MBS community as a member of the Alumni Board.” Ryan Carr ’95 “Morristown-Beard was an important part of building a solid foundation for me to live my life. While at MBS, I learned the importance of hard work, developed confidence in leadership, and a love for community service.” All of these attributes are apparent in Ryan’s life today. Ryan lives in Convent Station with his wife and four daughters. Since college, Ryan has had a successful career in banking and currently works at Credit Suisse. When he is not at his desk, Ryan enjoys coaching basketball for his daughters’ teams as well as helping out with fundraisers for his daughters’ school. He is looking forward to being back on campus and helping in any way he can. Kirsten Stainer ’14
Carr ’95 Stainer ’14
After graduating from MBS, Kirsten began her next chapter at New York University majoring in global economics. Her professional focus has always been set on finance, currently residing at Merrill Lynch in Private Wealth Management. Kirsten’s passion to excel in the financial sector aligns with her passion for philanthropy. In early 2016, she was Program Coordinator of the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation, fundraising for the families of federal agents impacted in the line of duty. “Sense of community has always been important to me. It has been ever-present since my time at MBS, and remains a part of me at NYU, in the office, and with my non-profit network. For me, joining the MBS Alumni Board means giving back to a community that has shaped me and who I have yet to become.”
If you are interested in volunteering for the Alumni Board or to help with a specific event,
please contact Monya Taylor Davis ’88, Associate Director of Alumni Relations at alumni@mbs.net or call 973-532-7578. 64 Crimson Spring 2018
Your support transforms bright futures. The Morristown-Beard Fund (our School’s Annual Fund) exists for one reason only. Through the thoughtful generosity of the MBS community—individuals like you—the MB Fund works to support and transform the student experience in the classroom and beyond.
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W STO N- B EA RD
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Help transform the bright futures of our talented MBS students— Please make a gift today!
The Morristown-Beard Fund: Supporting MBS students—each and every year. Gifts received by June 30, 2018 will be recognized in our Annual Report of Giving for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
Morristown-Beard School
Office of Institutional Advancement 70 Whippany Road Morristown, NJ 07960 www.mbs.net
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
2ndAnnual
Morristown-Beard School
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Festival
Join Us
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH Morristown-Beard School 70 Whippany Road, Morristown
Free Food and Refreshments DJ & Photo Booth Popcorn Machine Hot Dog Truck Children’s Activities Including: Giant Slide Pumpkin Painting Face Painting Outdoor Activities
Bring your family, friends and neighbors!
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID S. Hackensack, NJ Permit #79