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S h a r i n g t h e i m pa c t o f p h i l a n t h r o p y a t M e r c e r s b u r g
True Blue Support Brings the Civil War to Life
S
tanding atop Cemetery Ridge on the
The moments these students spend on the grassy ridge powerfully
Gettysburg Battlefield, Mercersburg upper middlers try
bring together all the pieces of what they have learned. “You could see
their best to imagine what might have gone through a
that their connections to this battle, to all that came before and after
soldier’s mind before he plunged headlong into battle.
it, were so much more intense because they now had a personal stake
Weeks of preparation have led to this moment. Their American
and were seeing things through their soldiers’ eyes,” shares Academic
studies, U.S. history, and American literature teachers have guided them through coordinated lessons on life during the Civil War. Each
Dean Julia Stojak Maurer ’90. This Civil War immersion exemplifies the kind of experiential
student has been assigned to a specific regiment and soldier at Pickett’s
interdisciplinary learning that is a priority for the school’s curriculum
Charge. They have learned about the battle’s significance in the broader
under the Mercersburg Plan. It takes a tremendous commitment
war and researched their regiment’s role, as well as their soldier’s
from faculty to prepare such ambitious lessons that reach outside
background and fate.
(continued on page 2)
SUPPORTING MERCERSBURG
TRUE BLUE SUPPORT (continued from page 1) the classroom and break down the boundaries between traditional school subjects. It also takes a great deal of resources. Thanks to generous donors to True Blue: The Mercersburg Annual Fund, the school has the funding necessary to make innovative learning experiences possible for all students. The support of these donors is at the heart of what makes a Mercersburg education extraordinary. The Gettysburg trip is now in its second year, creating the opportunity to link a pivotal moment in U.S. history with the battlefields that are so close to the Mercersburg campus. Extensive thought and planning goes into every detail of the classroom time, the research and writing assignments, and the trip to Gettysburg itself. For example, even the bus ride to Gettysburg is used as a learning opportunity during which students share their bus with members of their own regiment and members of the opposing regiment. Each group then begins their day on the ground where their regiments clashed 148 years ago. After their day at the battlefield and nearby Gettysburg Museum & Visitor Center, students are assigned to write a diary entry or letter home in their soldier’s voice. This historical fiction piece must combine the facts and details they have learned with a convincing emotional tone that takes into account whether or not their soldier survived the battle. Additional classroom
Experiential learning opportunities like these trips to the Gettysburg Battlefield are made possible each school year by True Blue gifts.
time is used for students to share reflections on their Gettysburg experience. For many students, standing on the battlefield’s sacred ground once they know so much about the men who fought and, in many cases, died there is a profound experience. “No matter how good a teacher you are, you can’t come close to a moment like that in the classroom,” says Maurer. “It’s irreplaceable.” Civil War immersion is just one of several ways Mercersburg is tying its curriculum to real-world experiences this year. We are deeply grateful to all donors to True Blue for helping make these meaningful learning opportunities possible.
Class Notes are available online
www.mercersburg.edu/classnotes Submit your own notes and photos by emailing classnotes@mercersburg.edu.
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Gifts to True Blue are supporting five areas in 2011-2012: Community building Financial aid Student leadership development International and domestic immersion experiences Faculty professional development Through these and other funding priorities, Mercersburg ensures that every student will own a set of dynamic 21st century skills and that every faculty member will have training in new technologies and experiential learning.
SUPPORTING MERCERSBURG
Making Mercersburg “Greener”
T
with the Help of The Edward E. Ford Foundation
he Middle States Association’s Accreditation for Growth process gives Mercersburg the opportunity to identify
measurable goals that will help the school strive for and maintain excellence. Increasing student involvement in environmental stewardship is a key area Mercersburg is focusing on for the next three years. To help pursue this goal, Mercersburg applied for and was awarded a grant from The Edward E. Ford Foundation for several on-campus projects that promote conservation. In early 2010, faculty members submitted proposals for a portion of the grant dollars. Today, four of the most promising projects have been funded and are well under way. They include: A community garden planted and tended by students and faculty. Mercersburg-grown produce is served in the dining hall whenever possible and noted with special signage so all students better appreciate the fruits of these
Harnessing human-generated power through exercise. A number of treadmills and elliptical
learned to meticulously lay out and solder 36
machines in the fitness center will be hooked
cells to form each panel, which produced up to 55
into a system called ReRev that translates kinetic
watts of electricity. The panels are now installed
motion into usable energy that is fed back into
near the Masinter Outdoor Education Center.
the fitness center’s power system. Monitors on
activities through the winter months. A full survey of the school’s lighting and energy use. The survey is being followed by a plan for conservation through motion-activated lights, strategic use of energy-efficient light bulbs, and other electricity-saving measures.
The faculty who received these grants are
each piece of exercise equipment show students
grateful to the Ford Foundation for funding these
how much energy they’ve created.
projects to make environmental stewardship an integral part of daily student life!
labors. The school is also adding another greenhouse on campus to extend the garden’s
Building low-cost solar panels. Students
Decades of Generosity and Partnership The Edward E. Ford Foundation’s most recent grant for environmental stewardship maintains a long history of generosity and partnership with Mercersburg. Established in 1957 by Mercersburg alumnus Edward E. “Tink” Ford ’12, the foundation is dedicated to improving independent secondary education. Mercersburg is honored to be among the many schools that the foundation has supported over the past five decades. The E.E. Ford Foundation is a charter member of Mercersburg’s McDowell Society—donors whose cumulative gifts to Mercersburg equal or exceed $1 million. Through numerous contributions, the foundation has helped shape the student experience and the campus. One of many notable gifts from Mr. Ford was the lead gift for construction of Tippetts Hall, and he requested that the building be named in honor of his Mercersburg classmate, Headmaster Charles Tippetts ’12. Mr. Ford was a member of the Mercersburg Board of Regents in the 1960s, and Mercersburg Headmasters William C. Fowle and Walter H. Burgin Jr. ’53 have served as the foundation’s executive director. Today, the foundation’s board of directors includes alums E. Ford Menard ’65, who is Mr. Ford’s grandson, John Prentiss ’65, and Walter Burgin. Extraordinary partners like The Edward E. Ford Foundation are essential to the innovations that make Mercersburg a dynamic learning environment.
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MERCERSBURG TRAVEL
Flock Bequest
Will Transform Summer Study
S
ummer study opportunities at Mercersburg are about to reach an entirely new level thanks to an extraordinary $3.9 million bequest
from the estate of alumnus Howard R. Flock ’40. The most meaningful experiences of students’ education often unfold when they learn to appreciate aspects of our world that are beyond their everyday lives. Travel, especially, gives young men and women unique chances to broaden their perspectives and embrace Howard R. Flock ’40
new ideas. In this spirit, Flock made
his substantial bequest to support summer study programs in the United States and abroad and enhance students’ opportunities to make decisions independently. Mercersburg has long offered top-notch summer study options, but this gift will make the school’s great program even better. Flock’s bequest will nearly triple the funding available to support student travel, making study trips more affordable and accessible for all students. It will also allow Mercersburg to further develop summer study offerings and expand the breadth of experiences provided. A committee led by Associate Head of School Debbie Rutherford is currently planning the details of how the fund established with Flock’s bequest will be used.
lock’s bequest will nearly triple the funding available F to support student travel, making study trips more affordable and accessible for all students. During his time at Mercersburg, Flock was a standout student, musician, and athlete. He was a member of the Washington Irving Society, the Fifteen, and the Cum Laude Society, associate editor of The News, and a member of the KARUX staff. Flock was a psychology professor at York University in Toronto for many years and was regarded as a pacesetter in the psychology of visual perception. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Yale University, an M.F.A. at Harvard University, and a Ph.D. at Cornell University. Flock also served as a naval officer during World War II and fought on a destroyer escort ship during the Battle of Okinawa. Howard Flock has left an incredible legacy for Mercersburg students. His generosity will make it possible for many young men and women to visit historic places, experience other cultures, and better understand their own responsibilities as independent-minded, global citizens. Summer study will change some students’ lives forever and set them on new paths of making a difference in the world. These are priceless gifts, and Howard Flock will be remembered for them.
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MERCERSBURG TRAVEL
Putting More “World”
in Our World-Class Faculty
M
any of Mercersburg’s best supporters show their passion
for the school with more than their generosity. Friends like Pierce Lord ’98 come up with creative ideas for their giving that enrich education in exciting new ways.
Lord has always felt that his travel experiences made him a well-rounded person, and he
realized more faculty members should visit other countries to strengthen the broad worldview that they share with students. To provide for that, he proposed making a gift to help teachers stretch the boundaries of their own experiences by funding faculty travel during the summer months. “Some teachers accompany student trips as chaperones, but that’s very different,” Lord explains. “They need to be able to see what they want to see and travel on their own, too. To be a school with a global perspective, we have to approach that from all angles, and I think getting faculty away from Mercersburg and out into the world is an important part of how we do that.” Beginning in 2008, Lord made several generous gifts to fund travel for two to four faculty members each year. This year, his mother, Stephanie Lord, stepped forward to support the grants for another year. The Lords have made it possible for 17 faculty to visit France, Italy, Switzerland, Thailand, China, Brazil, Colombia, and other awe-inspiring destinations.
“ To be a school with a global perspective, we have to approach that from all angles, and I think getting faculty away from Mercersburg and out into the world is an important part of how we do that.” –Pierce Lord ’98 All interested faculty members are invited to apply for the grants, and winners are selected through a lottery process. The travel grants have generated a great deal of excitement and energy among the faculty, which Lord sees as an added benefit. “I love being able to help create that kind of buzz,” he says. “It’s something for the faculty to look forward to.” Lord emphasizes that supporting faculty travel has been a direct and rewarding way to give to Mercersburg. “There’s nothing more gratifying than knowing that it’s your gift making this happen,” he says. “In this case, it doesn’t take a lot to make a really big impact.” Lord’s idea is off to a strong start, and with support from other alumni and friends, Mercersburg can surely keep it going.
Pierce Lord ’98 (center) with his mother Stephanie (left) and wife Nina
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1 2 MERCERSBURG GIVING
Two Fundraising Challenges Make the Most of Your Gift Octet alumni have a special opportunity to raise
This IS the best possible time to increase your
$200,000 which will name the Suerken Spotlight—a space in the
support for Mercersburg through the William Mann Irvine Society
new Simon Student Center
thanks to a challenge gift from H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest ’49.
to be dedicated in memory
For every new member who joins WMIS before the end of 2011,
of the late Paul Suerken,
Mr. Lenfest will contribute $1,000 to Mercersburg! If you are already
faculty member and
a member, simply increase your gift from last year to the next WMIS
longtime director of the Octet.
giving level and he will contribute an additional $1,000.
Generous donors have
Help make the most of
already contributed $80,000
this generous challenge before
and are challenging fellow Octet alumni to help them reach
December 31 by contacting
the $200,000 goal. For more information, please contact
Will Waldron at waldronw@
Gail Reeder at reederg@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6323.
mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6159.
THE OCTET CHALLENGE learn VISIT WEB PAGE AT more! www.mercersburg.edu/octetchallenge
Calling All Alumni Military Members! Hundreds of Mercersburg alumni have given of themselves by serving in their country’s military. If you are a veteran or an enlisted member of your country’s armed forces, please answer a few questions about your service at www.mercersburg.edu/military. Next year’s Fall Alumni Weekend (October 26-28, 2012) will feature a military homecoming. Come and meet fellow service members of all ages who have shared
your experiences, leadership, and courage.
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THE WMIS LENFEST CHALLENGE learn VISIT WEB PAGE AT more! www.mercersburg.edu/wmischallenge
Secure your family’s future. Achieve your philanthropic goals. Create a lasting legacy. To learn more about the benefits of including Mercersburg in your will or estate plan, please contact Bruce Rosengrant at rosengrantb@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6210 or visit www.mercersburg.edu/plannedgiving.
MERCERSBURG GIVING
Window Restoration
Will Appeal to Mercersburg Military Veterans
B
uilding on its success
of Honor recipients, Talbot was the first Marine
raising funds for the restoration
Corps aviator to ever be recognized with this
of Irvine Memorial Chapel’s Holy
high honor.
Grail window, the Loyalty Club is
The Saint Michael window restoration is
launching its next effort. Fundraising has begun
expected to cost $20,000. The Loyalty Club is
to restore the Chapel’s Saint Michael window
inviting alumni who are veterans or active duty
and will include a special appeal to Mercersburg
members of the military to participate in this
alumni who have served in the military.
ongoing tribute to Ralph Talbot’s heroism and
The Saint Michael window is located in
to honor all alumni who serve their country.
the east transept gallery and vividly depicts the Archangel Saint Michael interceding on God’s behalf to vanquish a satanic dragon. The window was dedicated in memory of alumnus Ralph Talbot ’16, a Marine Corps lieutenant who performed heroically in several
This will be the third Chapel window the Loyalty Club has helped restore. Excess funds from the Holy Grail window campaign will be used for the urgently needed restoration of the
World War I air raids and who died in a plane
Isaiah and Micah window in the apse above
crash near the Belgian front during a motor
the Chapel altar, one of the most deteriorated
test flight. One of Mercersburg’s three Medal
stained glass windows in the Chapel.
S E E
All your favorite
Mercersburg
gear
W H A T ’ S
I N
S T O R E
F O R
Mercersburg’s Future Now is your chance to see the Mercersburg Plan in action! Take a few minutes to watch a video that captures the vision for the plan’s priorities at www.mercersburg.edu/plan.
We want to hear from you! Once you’ve watched the Mercersburg Plan video, tell us your thoughts about it. There’s a place to do so at www.mercersburg.edu/plan. We also encourage you to answer these questions on the web page:
is only a mouse click away! www.mercersburgstore.com
1. Describe your best learning experience. When did you have an “aha!” moment of true understanding? 2. Thinking about your work environment, what characteristics do successful employees bring to your business that are important to instill in today’s students?
TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE MERCERSBURG PLAN, SCAN THIS CODE WITH YOUR SMART PHONE.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MERCERSBURG
Theater Adds a Fresh Dimension
O
to Learning
ne of the core tenets of the Mercersburg
being in Washington, D.C., to study the influences of Roman architecture
Plan is the importance of experiential learning, and half
in the city.
the student body will have their classroom experiences enhanced with trips to the Arena Stage at the Mead Center
for American Theater in Washington, D.C., this school year. The trips are being made possible for a second consecutive year thanks
Students in the Power, Justice, and Authority English classes will read William Shakespeare’s Macbeth after attending a performance of Equivocation, a play about Shakespeare, his life, and the political landscape at the time he was writing his famous tragedy.
to a generous gift from Andrew Ammerman ’68, a longtime supporter
In October, students from the Voices in American
of the Arena Stage who serves on its governing
Literature class read the play Trouble in
board and community engagement
Mind by Alice Childress and saw the
committee and is a founding
production at the Arena Stage.
patron of the Fund
This coming February,
for the Future of Our
studio art class students
Children.
will study the life and
Academic Dean
art of Mark Rothko and
Julia Stojak Maurer
attend the show Red,
’90 is working with the
a theatrical biography
faculty and department
of his life. The trips will
heads to integrate each Arena
conclude in May with an
Stage visit into the school’s
opportunity to enjoy Tony-
curriculum. The performances
award winner The Music Man.
are interdisciplinary extensions
In addition to funding the trips,
of the learning that takes place on
Ammerman helps organize talk-backs
Mercersburg’s campus.
for the students after selected performances
“It’s not only about taking kids to the
through the Georgetown University/Arena
theater,” says Maurer. “The trips are set up to be
Stage/Ammerman Family Partnership. Each talk-
meaningful experiences that enrich our classes in a
back features the show’s artistic director, playwright, producer, or other
positive way. We’ve woven the performances into the curriculum.”
liaison and gives students an inside glimpse into the world of regional and
As at most theaters, the season changes each year, so Maurer studies the line-up of shows to identify natural connections between the performances
national theater. “As a consequence of taking American literature at Mercersburg,
and classroom content. Students in Latin classes, for example, will
I developed a love for various American art forms,” shares Ammerman.
supplement their studies of ancient Rome by attending the farcical drama
“My involvement with the Arena Stage, featuring American-only
You, Nero, set at the time of Rome’s collapse. They’ll also take advantage of
productions, was a natural evolution.”
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Alumni Council Corner Q&A with Vice President Adam Reeder ’97 The Alumni Council is spearheading new ways for Mercersburg
Calendar of Events Christmas Candlelight Services December 18, 2011 New York City Regional Event March 18, 2012
alumni to stay engaged with the school and shaping key events like Fall Alumni Weekend and Reunion Anniversary Weekend. The Council’s first vice president, Adam Reeder, explains what’s on the horizon. Mpact: What’s the most important thing you want alumni to know about the Alumni Council? Reeder: As volunteers, everything we do complements the work of the Alumni & Development Office program. Our job is to represent all classes and focus on alumni leadership, as well as find ways we can
Chicago Regional Event May 2012 Denver Regional Event June 2012 Reunion Weekend For class years ending in 2 and 7 and the Loyalty Club June 8-10, 2012 Alumni Weekend October 26-28, 2012 Regional event dates are tentative. For more information, please visit www.mercersburg.edu/events.
make an impact on today’s students. Mpact: What will that mean for the alumni community? Reeder: Really we’re setting the stage for a new level of volunteer involvement in True Blue that will give every alum a chance to be a part beyond their own giving. Mpact: Give us an example of how you’re revamping alumni engagement. Reeder: The Council recently took a good look at the class agent system and
Find
and be found!
realized we could keep more alumni engaged if that responsibility was shared by more people. So we are in the process of creating class committees instead. The committees will help with fundraising, and they’ll ask for input from their classmates on the kinds of projects they want to be involved with in a way we’ve never done before. Mpact: How is the Council reaching young alumni specifically? Reeder: The first step is recognizing that the way we communicate with graduates from 15 years ago and graduates from 50 years ago can’t be the same. We’re very excited about the work Pierce Lord (’98) is doing with the Young Leaders to update the online MyBurg portal so it better meets alumni needs. Overall, we want to help figure out what the next generation of alumni communication really needs to look like. Mpact: And you’re also paving the way for today’s students to become active alumni in the future? Reeder: Yes, we’ve met with senior class leadership and Associate Head of School Debbie Rutherford to get students’ input on what kind of outreach and programming will really be effective for helping students understand what it means
Browse our new online alumni directory. Visit www.mercersburg.edu and log into MyBurg to access the directory.
to be an alum of Mercersburg. Before, we were planning programs in a vacuum, so this student input is key.
Get Involved! The efforts of Alumni Council volunteers keep the Mercersburg community strong far beyond the borders of campus. The council invites you to make a difference for Mercersburg as well by becoming a volunteer. The school depends on volunteers to help organize class reunions and regional events, participate in phonathons, meet with prospective student families, and much more. To learn about the opportunities available, visit www.mercersburg.edu/alumni or contact De-Enda Rotz at rotzd@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6178.
Join Your Mercersburg Alumni Community on FACEBOOK Event invitations...Photo galleries... Networking opportunities...Campus headlines...Contests and prizes...
Visit www.facebook.com/mercersburgalumni and “like” Mercersburg’s official alumni Facebook page! 9
The Mercersburg Community
Out & About Email photos and captions to mpact@mercersburg.edu
The Landmark Americana Tap & Grille at Drexel University was the site of a young alumni event in Philadelphia on September 30. Above are Austin Young ’06, Travis Youngs ’06, Matt Okoh ’05, and Stephon Fullerton ’06. At right are Whitney Pezza ’05 and faculty member Frank Rutherford ’70.
Mercersburg welcomed nearly 400 parents and other relatives for Family Weekend September 23-25. Above are Sam Hopple ’89, his wife Jenny, and one of their sons, Grayson, who are the family of Abby ’14. At left are Megan Lafferty ’15 and her grandmother, Edith Johnson.
Mpact is published by the Mercersburg Academy Alumni & Development Office. We welcome your questions and comments. Please email mpact@mercersburg.edu or call 800-588-2550. Mercersburg Academy abides by both the spirit and the letter of the law in all its employment and admission policies. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. C To minimize its impact on the environment, this publication is printed on paper made with 30% process chlorine-free post-consumer recycled fiber. The inks contain a high proportion of renewable vegetable-based ingredients.
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Fall Alumni Weekend 2011
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
Mercersburg Academy 300 East Seminary Street Mercersburg, PA 17236 www.mercersburg.edu
Reunions for class years ending in 2 and 7 and the Loyalty Club. Reconnect with former classmates and faculty!
Alumni Weekend October 26-28
2012
PAID
MILFORD, CT PERMIT NO. 80
Reunion Weekend
Enjoy the traditional Step Songs, bonfire, and all-school picnic, plus a military service homecoming and Octet reunion and concert. To explore how your giving can have an impact on Mercersburg, contact us at giving@mercersburg.edu or 800-588-2550.
June 8-10