JUNE 9-12, 2022
The Alumni Council invites you to kick off Summer 2022 with four days of fun! Thursday, June 9, through Sunday, June 12, the campus is all yours. Classes ending in 2 or 7, plus 1970 and 1971, will celebrate their reunions. Your reunion committee has helped the school plan a one-of-a-kind weekend that offers something for everyone.
On behalf of Mercersburg’s
As a member of the Class of 2001, I missed the opportunity to celebrate my 20th reunion due to COVID, and I’m really looking forward to being back on campus with all of you! The Long Blue Line is very much alive at the ’Burg. Although the campus has changed and evolved over time, the traditions, values, and mission remain. It’s this remarkable legacy of an extraordinary education that unites us as alumni. As you plan for your reunion, there are many ways you can invest in Mercersburg’s students, faculty, and staff. Our school is strengthened not only by its rich history but by our time, talent, and financial support. I hope you’ll continue this tradition of participation just as others throughout the school’s 128 years have done. Please make your plans now to return home to Mercersburg in June.
Ann Marie Bliley-Ester ’01
How to Register 4Use your unique registration ID # to register at mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend.
4Pricing is a la carte and the weekend is designed to be an affordable getaway. 4Dorm rooms are $100 for a bed in a shared room for three nights or $200 for a private room for three nights. Note: If you’re traveling solo, we will bunk you with someone. Be sure to share your roommate preferences or upgrade to get a private room.
4Early-bird rate is available before April 1; check out the website to learn more! 4Online registration will close Friday, May 20. Refunds will be issued through May 16. 4Please note: Attendees for this event will be asked to follow state and local mandates in place for COVID-19 at the time of the event, in addition to school COVID-19 policies.
SCHEDULE SNAPSHOT AND FAQS Find the lineup of events and a list of FAQs at mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend. The schedule will be updated as programming is added.
Weekend Highlights 4Don’t miss your class photo and dinner on Saturday—a highlight of the weekend.
4Avoid trekking to a hotel—lodge in a dorm so you never have to leave campus.
4Show off your dance moves on Saturday night with live music by The Odyssey Band of DC.
4The entire campus is your playground: take advantage of the Lloyd Aquatic Center, the Hale Field House, the Jimmy Curran Track, the McDowell Fitness Center, the Smoyer Tennis Center, and the Davenport Squash Center.
4Back to school… learn from faculty members about Mercersburg’s curriculum and what it’s like to be a student today.
4Celebrate your classmates as they share their skills, stories, and accomplishments as a part of the program!
And the Award Goes to… The Alumni Council invites you to kick off Reunion Weekend on Thursday with a special dinner celebrating alumni, faculty, and staff.
CLASS OF ’32 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Tom Hadzor ’72
ALUMNI COUNCIL MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT Peggy Northrop ’72
ALUMNI COUNCIL MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Peter Lebovitz ’72
ALUMNI COUNCIL PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT Carla Lopez ’97
ALUMNI COUNCIL PRIZE FOR SERVICE Clint Lawler ’97, P ’23
ALUMNI COUNCIL YOUNG ALUMNI LEADERSHIP AWARD Vanessa Anyanso ’12
FACULTY AND STAFF RECOGNITION The Alumni Council will honor faculty and staff retirees and those with 25 or more years of service to Mercersburg Academy. Please see mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend for a full list of honorees.
Artist Reception with Tom Graffagnino ’67
Tom Graffagnino ’67 is a native of Columbus, GA. In 1978, he received a master’s degree in fine art from the University of Massachusetts. In 1979 and 1980, he taught drawing and painting at Mercersburg. He has also taught at The Hotchkiss School (CT), and more recently at Auburn University (AL) and Columbus State University (GA). His work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums throughout the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington (DC), Atlanta, Charlotte, and elsewhere. In addition, Tom has authored two books. Wilderness to Water (2014) is a compilation of short essays and poems, original drawings, and color photographs. No Border Land (2020), includes poems and commentary regarding contemporary Western culture and Biblical faith.
Read more about these sessions at
Keynote Speakers Friday, June 10 at 3 p.m.
BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY USING APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) THERAPIES Ryan Colby ’07 and Kyle Lininger ’02, moderated by Amy Shaffer Post ’02 In celebration of this school year’s theme of “Health and Wellness,” we are pleased to highlight three alumni who embody the values in our mission: hard work, character, and community.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ryan Colby ’07 is the vice president of growth operations at Elemy, which is focused on pediatric behavioral health. Elemy is building a better experience for families, providers, and payers. Ryan’s team focuses on acquiring and onboarding families and providers quickly, in the right places, and at the right times. Before his work at Elemy, Ryan spent seven years at Uber, where he was promoted internally four times. His last role was serving as the director of United States Marketplace Operations, where he led teams that managed US ridesharing city marketplaces. Ryan received a bachelor of arts degree in economics and anthropology from Amherst College. Kyle Lininger ’02 is vice president of clinical integration at Intermountain Centers, Arizona’s largest not-forprofit health and human services company. Most of Kyle’s clinical and administrative work has been aimed at helping people with behavioral excesses, including aggression, self-injury, substance use disorders, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Kyle earned a master’s degree in public health and administration from the University of Arizona’s School of Government and Public Policy. He received bachelor’s degrees in both cognitive studies and Spanish and Latin American culture from Vanderbilt University. In addition, he has earned a behavior support specialist certificate from the University of Arizona School of Psychology, Special Education, and Rehabilitation and is also a board-certified and licensed behavior analyst.
Amy Shaffer Post ’02 is a social-emotional learning counselor at Mercersburg Academy. Before arriving on campus, she worked as a special education school social worker for 10 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Shippensburg University as well as a master’s of social work degree from Shippensburg. Amy has a specific interest in disorders related to executive functioning and holds a certificate as a clinical services provider for ADHD. Saturday, June 11 at 1 p.m.
YOUR GUIDE TO A LIFETIME OF MEANINGFUL WORK AND CAREER SUCCESS Katharine Stroup Brooks ’72 Katharine “Kate” Stroup Brooks ’72 has provided career services for more than 25 years, specializing in the career needs of college students and alumni in career transition. She is the co-author (with the late Richard Bolles) of What Color is Your Parachute? and What Color is your Parachute? for College. She developed the “Wise Wanderings” career coaching system for liberal arts students that is presented in her book, You Majored in What? Designing Your Path from College to Career. She has twice been listed as one of the “Ten Most Visionary Leaders in Career Services” by CSO Research and received the Kauffman Award from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) for her service to the profession. Her free downloadable workbook, Picture Your Career, received the NACE/Chevron Award for outstanding achievement in innovative programming. Kate has written numerous articles that have been published in prominent news media. A board-certified counselor and coach, Kate earned a doctorate in educational psychology with an emphasis in counseling psychology, and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from West Virginia University. Her bachelor’s degree is in sociology and anthropology is from Gettysburg
Featured Programming How Coeducation Changed Mercersburg: 50+ Years of Women, a conversation with Vanessa Anyanso ’12, Pia Catton ’92, Peggy Ferrin ’72, Katherine Reber ’17, and Martha-Jane Snyder Byron ’72, moderated by Peggy Northrop ’72 Innovation in Education Discussion with Jennifer Miller Smith ’97, P ’23, ’24, dean of academics, and John David Bennett P ’12, ’19, ’24, dean of curricular innovation Hands-On Robotics Demonstration with Andy Brown, mathematics faculty member, and Julia Stojak Maurer ’90, P ’18, ’20, ’22, ’23, associate head of school for school life Hawk and Owl Biology Class with Jim Malone P ’01, ’03, science faculty member Stories of the Chapel’s Stained Glass Windows with Rev. Will Whitmore, school minister Photojournalism with Pulitzer-prize-nominated photographer Donna Fisher ’72 A Tale of Three Pools: The History of Swimming and Diving at Mercersburg Academy with Rick Hendrickson P ’03, ’06, ’19, dean of experiential programs; Glenn Neufeld, head swimming coach; and Mike Collins P ’14,
See the online schedule for a full list of sessions led by alumni and faculty. There are more than 30 sessions to choose from!
Explore Local on Thursday, June 9 4ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD 10 a.m. ($35) Join battlefield experts Jeff Driscoll ’68 and faculty emeritus Ray Larson P ’97, ’01, ’06 for a private guided tour of Antietam, the site of the bloodiest battle in all of American history. Transportation and boxed lunch included.
4GREAT COVE GOLF COURSE SCRAMBLE 11 a.m. ($35) Get your foursome together for a nine-hole scramble and join Head Golf Coach Doug Smith P ’23, ’24 and former and current coaches Paul Galey P ’00, ’02 and Andy Schroer P ’07, ’08 at Great Cove Golf Course, nestled in the northern Appalachian Mountains. Golf cart, transportation, and boxed lunch included.
4CONOCOCHEAGUE INSTITUTE TOUR 2:30 p.m. ($20) Learn about the history of the Conococheague settlement from the early 18th century with staff member Evan Moats ’12, who volunteers for the Conococheague Institute. Transportation provided.
Capacity is limited for these events, and due to scheduling, attendees will only be able to participate in one of these events.
Family Fun
Watch your family fall in love with Mercersburg just like you did!
LEGACY CAMPOUT FOR KIDS While you’re attending your class dinner and dance on Saturday evening, children and grandchildren (ages 8-12) can enjoy dinner, games, music, s’mores, and an overnight campout on back campus. Sponsored by Mercersburg Summer Programs, it’s the perfect introduction to Mercersburg—free of charge! Please visit mercersburg.edu/legacy-campout for more information.
QUAD GAMES—ANYTIME! - Enjoy a game of KanJam, some bean bag toss, and don’t forget your Frisbee or football! FAMILY-FRIENDLY DORM - Select a dorm accommodation for families with young children, providing a kid-friendly environment.
Please note: The school is unable to provide childcare
Class Tents Your campus headquarters for the weekend! This is where classmates will reconnect, visit with faculty, and relax. Plan to bring your Mercersburg memorabilia and Karux for class tent decorations. A panel of judges will award the coveted Class Cup for best tent on Saturday night. Bragging rights are at stake!
Worship and Remembrance To close out the weekend, join classmates on Sunday, June 12, at 10 a.m. in the Irvine Memorial Chapel to remember and reflect on those members of our
Reunion Checklist c
Use your unique registration ID # to register at mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend.
c Contact your classmates to encourage attendance c Visit mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend to see who’s on the guest list c Submit a class note for the school magazine c Make a reunion gift to the 2022 Annual Fund in honor of your class
Questions? Visit mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend, email events@mercersburg.edu, or call 717-328-6100.
#mburgreunion
100 Academy Drive Mercersburg, Pennsylvania 17236
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JUNE 9-12, 2022
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