Among Friends Spring 2024

AMONG FRIENDS

Mission Statement

Moorestown Friends School is a community rooted in Quaker values and dedicated to the pursuit of educational excellence for a diverse student body within an academically rigorous and balanced program emphasizing personal, ethical, and spiritual growth. Fall 1987, revised May 2011

MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL

110 East Main Street

Moorestown, NJ 08057 (856) 235-2900, www.mfriends.org

Published By

The Development Office

Editor, Director of Marketing and Communications

Mike Schlotterbeck

Graphic Design

Alison Judah ’86, Hypno Design

Photography

Peter Chollick, Kat Mitchell, Mike Schlotterbeck, Julia Applegate Tracy ‘10, and alumni, student, and parent contributors

Head

Julia de la Torre

Director

Stephen Zakroff

Kat

Hunter

Moorestown Friends School admits students without

Dear Friends,

For three years, the beloved Moorestown Meeting House was closed - first because of the global health crisis and then for much-needed renovations to keep the building healthy for years to come. During those three years, our students gathered and worshiped in a variety of creative ways: from advisory groups, to outdoor spaces, to worshipful activities like drawing, walking, and listening to music. When we returned to the Meeting House this Fall, I was struck by the familiarity and comfort of the space, despite the passage of time - the smell, the feel, the light, the sense of calm. Three years felt like the blink of an eye because the space has been such an anchor for every Moorestown Friends School student. Space has the profound ability to ground us and connect us to experiences in visceral ways that leave lasting memories.

Our alumni, even after many years away, say that walking through the Meeting House, the Auditorium, the art rooms, or the hallways feels like coming home. Although the people may change, the spaces capture a moment in history that shapes our experiences. I look forward to sharing with you this issue of Among Friends, which features “Spaces We Love,” a tribute to how the rooms, fields, and buildings across campus elicit emotions, remind us of traditions, and reconnect us with the people and moments that make up our best memories of MFS. As you peruse the pages and take in the images from across the decades, I hope you are reminded of the spaces that matter to you and your family and consider coming to campus to experience them in person.

This issue also highlights the lasting impact of our Model United Nations program. Hearing from alumni illustrates how many critical life skills are learned through this exceptional program. From analytical writing, to public speaking, to collaborative problem solving, Model UN continues to nurture confidence and a student’s ability to find common ground across diverse perspectives. It also ensures that more and more emerging leaders can call on their experiences with Quaker education and Model UN to inform how we greet the challenges facing our global community. It gives me great hope for the future to know that our graduates are bringing a global perspective, empathy, and a critical lens to their work and to their respective communities.

I hope you enjoy connecting with the school through this special issue, as well as catching up on class news and the various exciting happenings from around campus. I wish you and yours a wonderful Spring.

Warmly,

Julia de la Torre Head of School

Notes from Pages Lane

This section of Among Friends takes its name from Pages Lane, the road that bisected the Moorestown Friends School campus prior to the construction of Stokes Hall in 1986.

March 3

Agnes Dao ’30 (sixth grade) performed at the All-South Jersey Junior High Band Concert in Egg Harbor. She was selected for the band based on her performance at a January audition. Agnes was one of 30 flutists to audition and received the fourth highest rating to earn her position.

February 26

“Hip hip, hooray. Today’s our 100th day!” Lower Schoolers celebrated the 100th day of the school year with a parade through the halls and Library.

March 1

Five professional music clinicians led sessions for students at the annual on-campus Upper School Music Retreat.

February 24 Pi Day - The Math Department and Hartman Hall staff hosted the annual Pi Day celebration with lots of donated pies to feast on from students, faculty, and staff.

The Auditorium was filled with the beautiful voices of students in all three divisions as part of “A Celebration of Animation,” the theme for this year’s annual Choir Showcase. Some faculty and staff also joined the performance.

Five Upper School students attended the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference (QYLC), held in Philadelphia from January 25-27: Aodhan DiPalma ’27, Ted Tarter ’25, Noah Frizell ’25, Maddie Calixto ’25, and Ayden Katsikis ’27. They were accompanied by Chester Reagan Chair for Quaker and Religious Studies Dan Zemaitis ‘98 and Science Department Chair Jen Mosher. QYLC is an opportunity for students from Quaker schools to come together, explore Quaker themes, and build community.

January 25

Seventh grade students demonstrated their adaptation and mitigation strategies to address climate challenges at the annual Climate Change Expo as part of the school’s multi-discipline Quest Program.

January 23

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Students and faculty gathered to celebrate Friendship Day,

January 25

Second and third grade students showed off their coding skills during their annual Book and Bot Parade, with help from seventh grade computer science students who designed scenery using a 3D printer.

January 16

Students in grades K-4 participated in the first of three Author Sharing events during which they were able to share feedback amongst their peers in different grade levels.

a chance to embrace the connections across all three divisions at MFS.

Students in Matt Lubicky’s sixth grade science class designed and constructed earthquake-resistant skyscrapers.

December 13 December 12

The Upper School MLK, Jr. Club organized the annual Soul Food Fest from which all proceeds go toward the planning and coordinating of the club’s MLK, Jr. Day of Service event.

November 17-19

The new semester-long Essential Life Skills course for 11th and 12th grade students is designed to prepare students with everyday skills needed for the rest of their lives. Above is a photo of a self-defense lesson that was part of the personal safety unit. Other units ranged from personal finance to car maintenance to networking to mindfulness, and much more.

enjoyed

Audiences

three performances of the Upper School Fall Musical Addams Family: School Edition

Julia de la Torre Completes Klingenstein Fellowship for Heads of School

Head of School Julia de la Torre was in New York City for a two-week fellowship (January 21 - February 3) for heads of school at the Klingenstein Center, which is a part of Teachers College, Columbia University. As part of a cohort of 15 heads of school, she explored a creative and wide-ranging curriculum that prompted deep reflection about leadership and the future of schools. She responded to questions about her experience.

How did you interact with the other school leaders and how did they inform your experience?

I was fortunate to be a part of a very diverse cohort from around the world, which included ten heads of American schools and five heads of school from Norway, India, Egypt, South Korea, and South Africa. Our fellowship was collaborative in every way. We worked on case studies, participated in experiential learning throughout NYC, and dug into projects together. I was humbled to know that regardless of cultural context, our schools have

Fellowship Reflection:

strikingly similar missions and aim to support students in similar ways. We grew extremely close in a short period of time, and I continue to rely on these exceptional educators, now months after the conclusion of our time together.

How did you develop personally or professionally during the Fellowship?

Creativity was a prominent thread throughout the program. We were asked to keep a daily creativity journal, and many of our hands-on activities in the city were intended to hone our creative thinking skills. One of my final projects was to develop a creativity strategic plan for myself as a leader and for the school. It was a challenging and inspiring exercise to explore ways to infuse more creativity into school leadership, with the idea that opening up new pathways can inspire innovation.

This was your second Klingenstein experience...can you reflect on the similarities and differences of the experiences and how they impacted you?

The last time I participated in the Klingentstein Fellowship was as a new teacher, just three years into my career. That program was a month-long residential program at an area boarding school and was aimed at helping novice teachers develop their philosophy of education, explore pedagogical strategies, and understand how brain science impacts student learning. Now nearly 25 years later, I see many similarities between the two programs. They are both cohort-based, with a core belief that learning in community exposes us to diverse perspectives that make us better educators. They are immersive experiences that pull you out of your daily routine, in order to see your home school from a fresh perspective. They are highly selective experiences that expose students to content-area experts and leaders in the field of education. And both programs recognize that educators are, at their core, learners and that in order to

How might we cultivate our students’ ability to think outside the brain?

While returning to a graduate school setting immediately sent me back into student mode - think three hours of homework a night, papers, and projects - the Klingenstein Institute was far from a traditional school setting. One of the first readings we explored was Annie Murphy Paul’s The Extended Mind, which asserts that our brains are somewhat limited in their ability to persist in the face of challenging tasks or abstract concepts. Schools and the business world have been traditionally grounded in “brainbound thinking” - the idea that if you focus more, sit still, work harder, and are self-disciplined, your cognitive abilities will expand in turn. Murphy argues that in order to extend beyond the capacity of our brain’s limitations, we must move our bodies, situate ourselves in new environments, and integrate the thoughts and feelings of others into our own cognitive processes. By engaging these “extra-neural resources,” we are able to think more creatively and deeply and extend our brain’s capacity. In addition to plenty of traditional brain-bound learning, the Klingenstein Institute created endless opportunities for us to engage these resources. We visited museums, discussed case studies, and explored the city without necessarily having a destination or goal in mind. The purpose was to activate our senses, develop a spirit of wonder and curiosity, and freely participate in dialogue with other cohort members in order to tap our unrealized cognitive potential. It reinforced for me how important it is to learn in community, as we do at MFS, and to extend learning beyond the classroom in hands-on ways.

Julia de la Torre , Alexis Wright (Head of School at New City School in St. Louis, MO), and Jennifer Galambos (Head of School at Kent Place School in Summit, NJ, and an MFS trustee). RIGHT: Julia de la Torre and Dan Seiden (Head of School at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville, SC).

continue to help young people grow, we must be committed to a growth mindset ourselves. The key difference is that the Heads of School program comes at educational challenges from a leadership lens and allows us to learn from seasoned school leaders who share a commitment to independent school education. It has been a gift to participate in the well-respected Klingenstein program at two very different stages of my professional development.

What are the top learnings/takeaways from the Fellowship that will directly apply to your work here at MFS?

The most impactful learning was around understanding my leadership style and presence in a school setting. We completed an extensive leadership profile analysis that lifted up our strengths and opportunities for growth. Stepping back from my own identity as a leader and person was a humbling experience and one that inspires me to lean into my strengths to better serve Moorestown Friends. On a more topical level, the sessions on artificial intelligence, climate education, and brain science were all fascinating and timely as I lead the school in the best way possible going forward.

What is one learning experience you had during the Fellowship that sticks with you, and why?

One day we were asked to pick any location in New York City to explore with fresh eyes and open senses. I went to the Museum of Natural History, a place I had visited before, and explored the halls as a newcomer. We were encouraged to wander this location with a sense of wonder and curiosity, as a child would seeing it for the first time. We learned deep listening skills with the understanding that creating a culture of true listening in our schools helps us solve problems with greater empathy, care, and understanding. I am continually amazed by how stepping out of a classroom, one can tap into a different part of the brain to inspire new ways of thinking.

Fellowship Reflection:

How might we continue to invite students to demonstrate their learning in a way that prioritizes process over product?

One of the benefits of participating in a program like Klingenstein is that we gain access to previous Fellows or master’s students and are able to learn from their experiences and research. We participated in a session on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) led by former teacher and current AI integration specialist, Evan Harris. Since leaving Columbia and attending Stanford’s Human-Centered AI program, Evan has dedicated his career to helping schools navigate the AI era. We focused our time together on what we can do today to lead and support change in schools for a future that is almost certain to be intertwined with AI. Instead of spending time thinking about how to keep students from using AI, we were encouraged to focus on ethics, safety, and authentic assessments for students as a starting point. Up until today, AI has been less able to replicate process than it has product. If assessments are simply products, AI can navigate that quite well. What it hasn’t mastered is the messy, collaborative, real-world application of learning that authentic assessments call on students to do. It makes me think quite a bit about the Seventh Grade Quest program and other courses at MFS and how the greatest learning comes from the process, feedback, and revision that takes place throughout the year. While AI may be good for certain automated tasks, what it can’t do is replicate authentic learning in a real-world setting.

Boys’ Soccer Captures Non-Public B South Championship in Dramatic Penalty Kick Shootout

The first-ever sectional championship contest held on the Moorestown Friends School campus did not disappoint on November 7. (Four years ago, the NJSIAA shifted the non-public sectional finals for most sports from neutral sites to the highest remaining seed). Hundreds of fans from both teams filled the sidelines at MFS for a memorable NJSIAA Non-Public B South Boys’ Soccer championship match between the Foxes and St. Rose of Belmar.

The Purple Roses controlled the first 15 minutes before the Foxes found their footing. The hosts eventually began to create chances and hit both the post and the crossbar before halftime, but the game remained scoreless. MFS goalie Jonah Bierig ’24 (10 saves) and St. Rose goalie Jack Harmon (11 saves) continued their elite goalkeeping displays deep into regulation, which concluded 0-0.

Two 10-minute overtime periods also produced plenty of chances but no goals and the championship would be decided by penalty kicks. The format is a best-of-five round of kicks from the spot which ended 4-4. The match then proceeded to sudden victory kicks with both teams matching results through four rounds, before Bierig clinched the victory with the 10th kick for the 8-7 shootout victory. The game is officially a 0-0 tie. MFS fell in the state championship match to Gill St. Bernard’s and ended their season with a record of 14-6-2. It was the fourth sectional championship in nine years in Boys’ Soccer for Moorestown Friends.

Goalkeeper Jonah Bierig finished his career with a program record 412 saves.

Players lift the sectional championship trophy in front of their home crowd.

Jonah Bierig prepares to make the game-winning save in the championship shootout.

Isaiah Coleman Appointed Director of Athletics, Effective July 1

Isaiah Coleman was appointed in November as the new Director of Athletics, effective July 1. He will succeed Danielle Dayton who will retire at the end of the school year after nearly two decades of service to MFS.

Isaiah is currently the Assistant Director of Athletics at Cannon School in Concord, NC. At Cannon, he coordinates game schedules, communications, and travel arrangement for their extensive athletics program (high school and middle school). He serves as the department’s external operations lead and college counseling liaison supporting studentathletes as they transition to postsecondary education. Isaiah also works closely with Upper School Deans and speaks to students on a range of motivational topics. He serves as an Academic Advisor for the 12th grade, helping seniors plan their academic and personal transitions.

Isaiah is no stranger to New Jersey, having worked at Christina Seix Academy in Ewing from 2016-22 where he was at the helm of the athletics program and served as a lead residential educator. At Christina Seix, Isaiah helped establish the school’s athletic philosophy, oversaw the development of student-athletes and coaches, and promoted the importance of wellness, performance, and achievement. In addition, he launched their first-ever lacrosse program and started a flag football league to engage more students in athletics.

Isaiah was a four-year football player at Slippery Rock University and served as a team captain his senior year. He has his B.A. from Slippery Rock and a M.S. in Education Administration from the University of Findlay.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to become Moorestown Friends School’s next Director of Athletics,” said Isaiah. “It is my sincere goal to use athletics as a vehicle to further build community, cultivate relationships, and ensure our students’ seamless transition to even greater achievements beyond MFS. This position comes at an opportune time in my life, expanding my leadership abilities personally and professionally, and allowing me to relocate back to my home state of New Jersey.”

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1 Field Hockey players (top) Alicia Leung ‘24, Amaya Beatty ‘24, Azaria Coleman-Stokes ‘25, (middle) Olivia Neri ‘24, (bottom) Isabella Didie ‘24, Maddie Calixto ‘25, and Maya DeAndrea ‘25, have been named to the 2023 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) High School National Academic Squad. The program recognizes high school juniors and seniors who have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 through the first quarter of the 2023-24 school year. Maya DeAndrea and Alicia Leung were also named NFHCA High School Scholars of Distinction, a recognition reserved for seniors and juniors who have achieved a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.9 out of 4.0 through the first semester of the current academic year.

2 During a December campus celebration, two record-breaking soccer players signed National Letters of Intent to continue their careers at the collegiate level. Foluke Balogun ’24, the all-time goal scoring leader at the school (93), will attend Northeastern University. Goalkeeper Chelsea Mohammed ’24, the all-time saves leader (457), will attend the University of Rhode Island.

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3 Isaac Linden ’25 finished in fourth place in the NJSIAA NonPublic B State Championship Race with an overall time of 17:42. The race was held on November 4 at Holmdel State Park. Isaac’s finish qualified him for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions for the second year in a row.

4 Four boys’ soccer players were honored on January 7 at the Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey Banquet. Pictured from left: Matt Schlotterbeck ’25 (Second Team All-State – Non-Public South), Preston Galanis ’25 (First Team All-State – Non-Public South and Second Team All-State – Non-Public), Jonah Bierig ’24 (Second Team All-State – Non-Public South), and Jared Kolaris ’25 (Honorable Mention All-State – Non-Public South).

Goalkeeper Jonah Bierig ’24 (Second Team) and midfielder Preston Galanis ’25 (Third Team) were named All-South Jersey at the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Banquet on January 8. The All-South Jersey teams are selected solely by coaches and consist of the 51 top players (15 forwards, 15 midfielders, 15 backs, and 6 goalies) in all of South Jersey regardless of school size.

Jonah also was selected to participate in the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game at Rutgers-Camden on November 21. Boys’ Soccer Coach Mike Schlotterbeck was selected to coach one of the all-star teams.

5 Five members of the Girls’ Tennis team were recognized as AllSouth Jersey by the Courier-Post. From left: Erika Cappella ’27 (doubles), Dinah Megibow-Taylor ’24, (doubles), Avani Verma ’24 (singles), Anna Thompson ’25 (doubles), and Sarah Huynh ’25 (doubles). The Foxes finished with a record of 10-9 and fell to Red Bank Catholic in the first round of the NJSIAA Non-Public Tournament.

6 Selena Kareem ‘28 (left) and Sophia Rutherford ‘24 (right) were selected to participate in the Al Carino Girls Basketball Club of South Jersey All-Star Game on March 15. Selena played in the Eighth Grade All-Star Game and Sophia played in the Senior AllStar Game. They are pictured with Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach Mike Brunswick.

7 Assistant Athletic Director Bryan Wright (center) was recognized on September 19 by the Virtua Community Service & Wellness Program for his work with the Moorestown Township High School Boys’ Lacrosse program. Bryan received a certificate of recognition as their Eat Well – Be Well Award inaugural honoree. Bryan served as the Moorestown High School Resource Officer, a Moorestown Police Officer, Lacrosse Coach, and Referee, and has been a community service leader in Moorestown. 3 5 4 7 6

Stephan Schenk Provides “SUPA” Career Day Keynote Remarks

Chief Strategic Enterprise Risk Officer for Wells Fargo and alumni parent Stephan Schenk provided keynote remarks for the junior and senior classes at Career Day on February 8. He is primarily responsible for leading enterprise risk programs, governance, and infrastructure at Wells Fargo.

Stephan’s remarks for students were framed by the acronym he created, “SUPA,” which stands for Strength, Uniqueness, Purpose, and Authenticity. It is also a play on the Austrianaccented pronunciation of the word “super.” He shared wisdom and covered a wide range of topics with students, all traced to his personal story, values, and global citizenship.

He urged students to do everything with the utmost respect, with 100% effort, and to be resilient. Stephan’s career path originated in the hospitality and hotel management industry and he provided a few tales from his experience. When working on a cruise ship which ran aground, he witnessed a specialist flown in by helicopter (“the man with the red beard”) to oversee the operation to remove the ship from the sand bank. To Stephan, it was a shining example of the value of competence - clearly, this man was so fully competent at how to navigate a marine crisis that he was flown in to do the job. He urged students not to underestimate the importance of competence in whatever field they may enter.

He spoke about building teams, providing examples of why it’s not about a single person when assembling teams to execute tasks in the workplace. Stephan noted: “How you connect with other people will make all the difference. As a leader, it’s about how I can help my team and others be successful. It’s not about me.” In addition, he elaborated on the value of problem-solving, especially if you can solve problems for others, no matter the industry or situation. He provided three key themes that

Stephan Schenk

•

Chief Strategic Enterprise Risk Officer, Wells Fargo

• M.B.A., Duquesne University

• College Diploma, Salzburger Hotelfachschule Kolleg

“As a leader, it’s about how I can help my team and others be successful. It’s not about me.”

related to success in the workplace: 1) learn, listen, and ask questions; 2) improve things and put your own imprint on them; and 3) find somebody else who can do your job.

Prior to his role at Wells Fargo, he led Shared Services for TD Bank which included loans; deposit and payment operations; real estate; bank-wide project management; and governance as well as data and analytics, and much more. Stephan has served as the President and CEO of TD Group US Holdings, and was responsible for governance, oversight, and risk management of the combined U.S. operations. He also held other positions with TD including Chief Auditor and Executive Vice President & Head of Operational Risk Management, and also was a Senior Vice President & Chief Operational Risk Officer at PNC Financial Services Group. Stephan taught Enterprise Risk Management in the Graduate Business School at Duquesne University, where he has served on the Business Advisory Committee.

Stephan earned an M.B.A. from Duquesne University and completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He has also completed the Advanced Risk Management Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Leading Change & Innovation Program at the University of Chicago, as well as multiple technical training programs. He has a degree from Salzburger Hotelfachschule Kolleg in his native country of Austria.

Stephan has served on the MFS School Committee, the school’s finance committee, and was an active participant in the most recent Strategic Planning process. He and his wife Jannette are parents to Liam ’19, a Northwestern University graduate, who is now a Software Analyst for Deloitte, and Nolan ’21, a student at Tufts University.

CAREER DAY GUEST SPEAKERS

Michael Bitman

Cherry Hill, NJ Actuary

Managing Director of Analytics Product Management, The Cigna Group

B.S. Rutgers University

Liz Boccolini ’11

Mount Laurel, NJ Career Networking Skills

Product Operations Manager, LinkedIn

M.S. Rutgers University

B.A. Rowan University

Stephen Dwyer ’12 Florence, NJ

Sports Editing/Video Operations & Production

Sports Editor, The Topps Company

B.A. Marist College

Sarah Lynn Geiger ’05 Haddon Township, NJ Lobbyist/Policy

Regional Director, Northeast Region, State Affairs & Policy, AHIP

M.P.A. The George Washington University

B.A. Rutgers University

Jill Gonyea ’10 Moorestown, NJ

Sports Medicine/ Athletic Training

Certified Athletic Trainer, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

M.S. Long Island University

B.S. Syracuse University

Shawn Gupta ’10 Harrison, NJ

Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine Physician

M.D. St. George’s University

M.S. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

B.S. Carnegie Mellon University

Alleanna Harris ’11 Willingboro, NJ

Arts/Illustration

Freelance Illustrator, Bright Agency

B.F.A. University of the Arts

Dr. Tiffany M. Jenkins ‘97 Voorhees, NJ Counseling

Executive Director, Awakening Change LLC

Ed.D. Grand Canyon University

M.S. Grand Canyon University

B.S.H.S. Thomas Edison State University

CAREER DAY GUEST SPEAKERS

Julie Laskin ’08

New York, New York

Financial and Strategic Communications

Senior Vice President, Gladstone Place Partners

B.S. Lehigh University

Brooke Oki ’10

Hyattsville, MD

Law

Assistant United States Attorney

J.D. Howard University School of Law

B.A. The George Washington University

Karen Abele Scheu ‘91 Hunt Valley, MD

Nursing

Assistant Professor, University of Maryland

D.N.P. University of Maryland

M.S.N. Columbia University

B.S.N. Boston College

Kenan Soso ’14 Ewing, NJ

Engineering

Lead Engineer, Meta

B.E. Ontario Tech University

Bridget Wiese

Moorestown, NJ

Personal Money Management Skills/ Financial Literacy

Vice President/Senior Store Manager, Republic Bank

Ilana Zablin Moorestown, NJ

Personal Money Management Skills/ Financial Literacy

Assistant Manager, Republic Bank

Experiential Learning Near and FarIntensive Learning 2024 Spotlight

Students in Grades 5-12 traveled near and far for a week in late March as part of Intensive Learning. Middle School students enjoyed grade-wide experiences together, while Upper School students chose from a menu of local and overnight experiences. For one week each March, regular classes are suspended for Intensive Learning, when Middle and Upper School students and teachers engage in an in-depth study of a specific subject, often involving off-campus research. This long-standing MFS traditionwhich dates back to 1972 - allows teachers and students to break out of the structure of formal class periods and traditional study for a time of experiential learning. Both students and teachers are encouraged to view themselves as life-long learners and students of the world around them.

CHINA - LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

The Chinese language and culture excursion visited Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, and Xi’an, enjoying a wide variety of experiences. They visited Shifan Falls (known as the Taiwanese Niagara Falls) and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. They enjoyed a day in Beijing and also traveled to the Great Wall of China. In Xi’an, where they spent a majority of their time, they immersed themselves at a Chinese school, took cooking and calligraphy classes, and visited the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses and factory which manufacturers these unique figures. They also enjoyed an eight-mile bicycle loop around the city during which they observed the varying architecture styles.

UPPER SCHOOL LOCAL EXPERIENCES:

Arts & Entertainment

Folk Art & Living Simply Growing for Good

Hands-On Science

Historical Mock Trial

The Science, Culture, & Practice of Barbecue

Pine Barrens Experience

Sacred Spaces

Solar Energy

South Jersey Service

The Great MFS Baking Show

UPPER SCHOOL OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCES:

Belize - Exploring Ecosystem and Culture

China - Language and Culture

Dominican Republic - Language and Service

Florida - Service at Give Kids the World Village

France Immersion (included homestay)

Authentic Northern Norway Adventure -

Sámi Culture in the Arctic

Peru - Service and Exploration

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - LANGUAGE AND SERVICE

A full slate of service, adventure, and education marked the trip to the Dominican Republic. Students learned about the coffee-making process and its history with an extensive tour of the Monte Alto Coffee Company in Jarabacoa. They worked on a number of service projects at El Instituto Ambiratal and other locations, and enjoyed many other cultural excursions and lessons such as cooking classes and a market challenge.

PERU - SERVICE AND EXPLORATION

In the mountainous region of Cusco in southern Peru, students performed service, explored ancient Incan ruins and enjoyed several authentic Peruvian experiences while taking in the jaw-dropping scenery. The group was welcomed to the remote village of Kajllarakay (elevation: 12,000 feet) where they were honored with a flower ceremony, symbolizing their acceptance into the community, after performing hours of community service. A highlight for many was the hike to the top of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

SOLAR ENERGY

The Solar Energy program provided students with a basic understanding of different solar energy strategies through the construction of Solar Powered Charging Stations, Solar Ovens, and Solar Parabolic Cookers. While building these projects, the students learned basic electronics, Arduino microprocessors, programming, electronic soldering, and building skills. As part of their experience, students visited thermal engineer and educator Dr. Eric Teitlebaum ‘08 at his labs at AIL Research in Hopewell, NJ and Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. They learned about his research on radiant heating, cooling, and heat pumps. Students also demonstrated their projects to a number of Lower School classes.

SIXTH GRADE

The Middle School Intensive Learning experiences all began with a Day of Service. Sixth graders walked to Cambridge Enhanced Senior Living where they brightened the days of the residents by joining them for a number of fun activities, engaging conversation, and fellowship. Highlighting the week of activity was an overnight trip to Princeton-Blairstown Center where they enjoyed a wide variety of team-building activities, outdoor education, and adventures. The week concluded with indoor rock climbing at Elite Climbing in Maple Shade.

The Model UN team was named Outstanding Delegation at the Philadelphia Model UN Conference in February.

Successful Model UN Program Builds Skills and Provides Leadership Training

Model United Nations is a curricular and extracurricular initiative in which students role-play as diplomats to address existing and emerging global issues and crises. With high school programs usually hosted by a college or university, hundreds of students from scores of schools attend what are typically multiple-day events. During these simulations, schools will represent a country in a number of UN Committees. Simulations have also explored diplomatic engagement in past international events. Individual and delegation awards are presented for top delegates and schools.

At MFS, Model United Nations has taken many forms over the years, but the last decade has seen an unprecedented amount of interest and success. Currently, the program combines a minor course with a lunchtime club. The club provides the opportunity for more students to participate, particularly underclassmen, according to Advisor and Upper School History Teacher Clark Thomson

The vibrant, active group, with over 40 members, provides students with opportunities to get exposure to conferences during which they participate in healthy debate and discussion about a wide swath of topics and issues - all while building a variety of skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

“There are the obvious and often touted skills of public speaking - both extemporaneously and prepared - as well as persuasion, and leadership,” said Clark. “But, the ability to collaborate with people unknown to you before the conference begins is extremely powerful.”

Clark has served in the advisory role for 13 years and helps student leaders steer the growth of the program, which now sees MFS host its own Quaker Model UN Conference (QMUNC). In addition to QMUNC that was held in December, students also attended the Ivy League Model UN Conference (ILMUNC), Rutgers University Conference (RUMUN), and Philadelphia Conference (PhilMUN), along with a smaller conference hosted by Moorestown High School. The 2023-24 conference season culminated in grand fashion as the MFS delegation was named Outstanding Delegation at PhilMUN. In all, MFS students garnered an astounding 32 awards at the conferences listed above.

However, the awards are not the focus of the program and this is reinforced by student leaders. “When Maya DeAndrea ’25 and Haila Desai ’24, our Secretaries-General, addressed the delegation before we got off the bus at MFS after our final conference, they reminded everyone that our Outstanding Delegation trophy was the result of everyone’s work, not simply the delegates that received individual honors,” said Clark. “Conference preparation builds the curriculum of the program and the rhythm of the year, but building an MFS Model UN culture that is based on support, collaboration, and fun is one of the most important skills. The leaders learn how to teach and many of the delegates aspire to take on that role. Model UN leadership is about work and students see that as a benefit, not a detriment. What I love about how this program has developed is that every new leadership group wants to add something to make the program better, meaning more supportive and educational.”

Clark is appreciative of many of the alumni who provided the building blocks for the recent high participation levels and successes. “I enjoy looking back on the point when the program began to find its way to what it has become,” he said. “I remember the frustration Dante Bucci ’14 had wanting MFS Model UN to be what it is now. I embraced his vision of a program in which everyone was committed, supportive, and had fun being in Model UN, not just going to conferences in different cities. Anna Goula ’18 (founder of QMUNC - see page 17) moved us in that direction.”

The pandemic provided barriers to engagement and eliminated in-person conferences for a number of years, but provided other opportunities for the program.

“The first COVID year had the biggest impact,” said Clark. “The ninth grade students who attended our last conference before the shut down (Spring 2020) always remembered how Aaron Klein ’20 and Josh Strauss ’20, our Secretaries-General embraced them as the future. From then on, even though we would not go away to a conference for two years, every leader focused on building a community of respect and support. When we came back to conferences last year, those ninth graders were our leadership and we had the most successful year in every way. That model has continued. Of that, I am most proud.”

Enjoy reading on the following pages reflections from alumni from the past decade on their Model UN experiences and how it has impacted them in their personal and professional lives.

Anna Goula ’18

• Strategic Partnerships Lead, Transperfect

• M.S. in Nonprofit Management, Columbia University

• B.A. in World Politics, Hamilton College

Anna Goula ‘18, founder of the Quaker Model United Nations Conference (QMUNC) held annually at MFS, is now leaning on the skills and training acquired during her Model UN experience, both at Moorestown Friends and Hamilton College. She is the Strategic Partnerships Lead at Transperfect, the world’s largest provider of language services and related technologies.

Anna sees many parallels to Model UN in her everyday work. “In Model UN, there’s the topic or the problem to which you’re assigned - and all of these different opinions and cultural competencies that are rooted in years of history based on the country to which you are assigned to represent,” she reflected. “How do you create a solution that everyone will vote for and that is universally accepted, but is also something that, representing your country, adequately expresses their values and culture. Today, I feel like this is a big part of business in general - how do you create something that is inclusive for everyone, but that also sticks to your core values and mission?”

A standout Model UN participant and goalkeeper on the Girls’ Soccer team during her Upper School years, Anna wondered why there wasn’t an outlet for Quaker schools in the region to gather and compete in Model UN, similar to the Friends Schools League.

She got to work on developing just that in 2016. As part of her Capstone Project, Anna founded the QMUNC, held in October 2017. The conference was designed to help students of Quaker schools gain a better perspective on how Quakerism affects many modern world issues. Anna and her student chairs were able to attract over 60 student participants from MFS, William Penn Charter School, Germantown Friends School, and Abington Friends School to convene for the initial QMUNC. By using the six Quaker testimonies, or SPICES (simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship), as a foundation for each of the six conference committees, participants examined how influential Quaker values are around the world.

“The SPICES gave us a good baseline for tying the conference to Quaker values, and they also translate pretty easily to our world today and the things you talk about in Model UN - current issues and crises,” said Anna. “We were also able to be creative and less rooted in geopolitics. But no matter what the issues, the SPICES are relevant.”

An opportunity during college helped her realize that she wanted to enter the nonprofit space. Anna gained two years of experience working for the United Way during her undergraduate studies at Hamilton College - first as an intern and then as an International Network Project Coordinator.

“Until I worked at a humanitarian aid nonprofit in college at

the United Way, I didn’t realize the gravity and the intense nature of what goes into that and how important it is to be on the action side of things,” said Anna. “These are the people that at the end of the day get to execute that mission.”

This experience led to Anna enrolling in the M.S. in Nonprofit Management program at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies. During her time in the program, she was also a competitor in The Negotiation Challenge - an international negotiation competition for mostly graduate students. Every year, it attracts passionate student negotiators majoring primarily in business, law, and international relations. She and her teammates were one of 16 teams worldwide (of 66 entrants) selected to travel to the Netherlands for the competition finals where they placed third. Anna directly credited her experience in MFS Model UN as playing a large part in her selection to be part of the international competition.

In pondering the value of her Model UN experience, Anna pointed to a few key skills which play a part in her everyday work. “Model UN built my confidence,” she said. “I became comfortable having smaller conversations about compromising, values, and people’s interests.”

She cited listening and collaboration skills as keys to success. “I learned to become an active listener and I can identify what is important to someone I am speaking with,” said Anna. “Now, how can I integrate what’s important to them into whatever we are doing? That starts at Model UN. You’re taking all these different countries and people’s interests and you’re putting it into a position paper. It has to be a collaborative effort, but you can only do that if you are willing to open up your mind and open up your ears to be fully listening to someone else.”

She concluded by lifting up the Quaker values ever-present today at Moorestown Friends School:

“It is because of MFS Model UN that I have dedicated my life to help create better opportunities and resources for nonprofits so that they can enact the change that brings the world closer to developing Quaker ideals such as peace, community, equality, and stewardship.”

Model UN Photo Flashback: 2017-18

Dante Bucci ’14

• Government and Public Sector Consultant, Deloitte Consulting LLP

• M.S. Marketing and B.A. Political Science and Business Administration, American University

I believe my Model UN experience allowed me to learn from others who had diverse opinions and perspectives, outside of what I was thinking about at MFS, which was of great help when acclimating to college. I am grateful the Model UN program began when I was a student, and a lot of credit goes to (former History Teacher) Joel Hager for leading the program during the early days and to (current History Teacher) Clark Thomson who helped take it to the next level. The best teachers are the ones who inspire students to expand their horizons, think critically, and help shape and improve the world around them. Model UN was a space where those lessons were taught and applied regularly, and I am proud to have taken part in the program and help establish it as a lasting space for students interested in national or geopolitics.

Model UN provided me a forum to begin practicing important skills relevant to my current workplace environment, including communication, collaboration, and networking. When going to conferences and participating in mock scenarios where you are trying to build alliances and establish trust between students representing nations with differing interests, it is critical to communicate your opinion effectively, collaborate with others and compromise when possible, and network with your peers outside of “work” settings to build more authentic relationships and find common interests which can be leveraged both professionally and personally. These are skills I apply and practice frequently in the workplace, and when engaging with clients or working in a project team setting.

Samantha Bastien ’20

• Syracuse University Class of 2024, studying Computer Science

Model UN gave me a lot of confidence and allowed me to put myself out there in a way that felt familiar to me. In addition to Model UN, I was a Mock Primary Election candidate my senior year. I don’t think I would have been comfortable speaking in front of the student body if it weren’t for Model UN. While I no longer compete in Model UN, it has allowed me to grow into a person that can confidently communicate and have a wealth of knowledge on global issues I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Model UN at MFS improved my public speaking, critical thinking, and problem solving. As a graduating computer science student, I am no longer solving political issues in a weekend, but I tackle problems the same way I did years ago. Model UN has allowed me to become a better public speaker and taught me how to work with others even when I don’t know them well.

Aaniella Desai ’22

• Haverford College Class of 2026, studying English and Religion

Model UN was the place where I grew from a shy Middle School student who hated public speaking to a confident young adult who enjoyed speaking in front of hundreds of people. The transformation did not happen at once but was a product of the deep mentor relationships that Model UN built. As a ninth grader, I worked with a senior who had done Model UN throughout high school and taught me how to assert myself, even when I felt scared. As I continued through the program, I continued to learn from my mentors as well as become a mentor for younger students, many of whom I still have relationships with. Model UN is one of the fondest memories I have from Upper School and is a testament to the strong community MFS fosters.

Model UN Photo Flashback: 2011-12

Joseph Kiernan ’13

• University of Chicago Law School

J.D. Candidate, Class of 2024

• M.Phil. University of Cambridge in International Relations and Politics

• B.A. University of Pennsylvania in Political Science and History

Model UN was a fantastic leadership opportunity to work with my fellow students to design policy documents and articulate them before our peers. Model UN helped inspire me to study diplomatic history and political science in college as well as pursue a master’s degree in International Relations and Politics. Even today, in law school, my passion for government policy, perhaps unsurprisingly, can be traced back to those days in high school.

I would point to three discrete skills that I garnered from Model UN which not only galvanized my academic and professional interests but helped guide me in my professional and academic journey - leadership, public speaking, and international policy awareness. Model UN encourages students to be leaders in the best sense possible. Leadership within a collaborative work environment means delivering a vision, but also mastery of compromise. I don’t think that I am alone in finding those skills to be useful in any common endeavor. To communicate that vision and effect that compromise requires public speaking and engagement, the second of the skills that Model UN helped develop. Today, as an (almost) lawyer, I can clearly point to my days at conferences as some of the first when I was confronted with the challenge and the reward of public speaking. Finally, Model UN taught me how truly crucial it is to remain engaged with world events. The concerning geopolitics of today are testament to the importance of remaining engaged and always striving to learn more about the world around us.

Kayla Patel ’21

• University of Pennsylvania Class of 2025, studying Bioengineering and Chemistry

Model UN was a continual learning experience in leadership, teamwork, and organization which shaped me into a leader. Organizing a virtual conference on the scale of QMUNC in my senior year at MFS - which required coordinating several schools across different countries and creating multiple unique committees - was a formative and memorable experience that taught me how to effectively communicate and delegate. I’ve been able to successfully run clubs and committees to organize events at Penn because experiences like QMUNC gave me the ability to lead. In my bioengineering courses, I often collaborate in a lab group on everything from circuits to code to lab reports; having participated in Model UN, I was able to draw on that experience to be a team member who is able to articulate myself, while also being able to make space for others and their opinions.

Model UN also let me grow into an independent thinker. I’ve encountered people from so many different backgrounds and have been exposed to different perspectives throughout my time in college, and Model UN played a huge role in teaching me how to respectfully discuss current events and form my own opinions.

Model UN was fast-paced and forced me to think on my feet, but that was extremely valuable to me as I now am able to articulate myself and my ideas in a clear and concise manner. At Penn, I’ve had to give presentations for classes, explain concepts as a teaching assistant, and talk about logistics for events during board meetings for the organizations I’m involved with. The writing skills I came away with have also helped me communicate my ideas clearly and concisely.

Josh Strauss ’20

• University of Michigan Class of 2024, studying Sport Management with a concentration in Marketing and Management

MFS Model UN had a profound impact on my professional and personal growth. My critical thinking, analytical writing, and public speaking skills have all improved dramatically because of my experience in Model UN. The ability to speak publicly in front of large groups, both in prepared speeches and on the fly, has been invaluable during my time at Michigan. Being able to convey ideas clearly and concisely has been applicable to all of my classes and internships, and my ability to do so came in large part from my time in MFS Model UN. My critical thinking skills also improved during my time in Model UN; there was always a strong emphasis on finding creative solutions to the problems we were assigned and not falling into the trap of using a cookie-cutter solution.

Brett Barbin ’15

•

•

Chief of Staff to New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian

B.A. University

of

Chicago, Public Policy Studies and Political Science

It took until junior year before I discovered crisis committees were my preferred Model UN assignment. Crisis committees offered a handful of delegates a bite-sized, everevolving problem and allowed the free-flowing reactions from the war room of delegates to set the direction for the rest of the conference. Each crisis committee allowed me to examine a world event thoroughly, consider the dynamics and alliances at play, and delve deeply into my character who was often barely worthy of a textbook footnote. Yet, in these crisis committees, I saw how global problems had formed from minor figures causing local problems to snowball out of control. Because of the origin of these global problems, their solutions were rarely global in scale; rather, it took a small group of individuals willing to target the minutiae to produce an observably better result. I fully recognize and embrace the irony that my Model UN experience taught me to first consider problems at the local level, but whether it has been my involvement in civic associations, petition drives, parish activities, or business endeavors, I have found the most professional and personal fulfillment in communityoriented pursuits where my actions can lead to results both real and plainly visible.

Roma Jha ’22

• Georgetown University Class of 2026, studying Healthcare Management and Policy

• Director of Registration for the North American Invitational Model United Nations LXI Conference, hosted by Georgetown.

Crisis committees in particular encouraged delegates to develop long-term planning (15+ committee hours stretched over a multi-day conference), resourcefulness, independence, rapid response, and creative critical thinking. I employ each of these skills daily directing legislative affairs, managing constituent services, handling media interactions, developing overall strategy, and performing many more duties in the service of a state representative.

Model UN allowed me to strengthen soft skills that have proven to be essential in professional and personal endeavors. Although the research, argument development, and critical thinking were crucial in fostering an interest in international relations and global affairs, what sticks with me most is the ability to communicate with others and resolve conflict. Although I no longer compete, the active listening skills I developed through MFS Model UN have stayed with me to this day.

The communication skills I developed in Model UN have informed my leadership development over the past several years. Being able to mediate conflict between others, and manage disagreements that arise between myself and other delegates, have improved my ability to find common ground between opposing views. I am currently participating in a fellowship about global health diplomacy, and when working with other fellows to compose our joint report, I find the communication skills I developed during Model UN to be essential.

Christine Chandran ’21

• University of Pittsburgh Class of 2025, studying Natural Sciences

• Part-time Research Assistant, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Participating in MFS Model United Nations has significantly bolstered my confidence in public speaking, conflict resolution, and innovative problem-solving. This experience not only sharpened my skills but also broadened my perspective on global issues, inspiring me to work with the United Nations Development Program in 2021 on initiatives to empower women in the mining industry through education and health awareness. I have learned about the importance of communication, and articulating my thoughts clearly. Model UN helped me in my way of thinking, building plans, and collaborating with others, which I can apply in school and in work.

Model UN Photo Flashback: 2018-19

MFS SPACES WE

Generations of students have walked the halls, traversed the playing fields, graced the stage, worked in the art room, and so much more at Moorestown Friends School. Alumni were asked to identify “Spaces We Love” and a great number and variety of responses were provided. Due to the large number received, all submissions were not able to be included. Enjoy viewing this feature and thinking about the MFS Spaces YOU Love!

“The SPICES on the library wall are the essence of community and core values. The library is a spacious and social area, unique and full of meaning.”

– Marcella Thanh-Guyet ’20

“I love that the Library was always serene and a good place to decompress.”

– Hunter Harris ’17

Administrative Assistant to the Director of Development

DILLER LIBRARY

DINING HALL COMMONS

“One of the places that struck me as amazing when I arrived at MFS in ninth grade as a Camden Scholar was the Dining Hall Commons. Everything about it was different than the cafeteria I had left behind - the sun streaming in through the windows, the freedom of choice in the lunch line, the teachers sitting amongst the students. Then, as an alum returning for Alumni Weekend, the DHC is where I have met some of the nicest, kindest, funniest graduates who cherish their memories of MFS as much as I do. Now, as a parent, I’m grateful my kids have the chance to break bread with their friends in such a bright, welcoming place.”

– Sonia Mixter Guzman ‘02

MFS Lower School Quaker

Education Coordinator

“I enjoyed the view out onto the fields and Oval from the second floor windows of the main stairs outside the Auditorium. I love looking out the windows and remembering back to my days playing lacrosse; plus the view onto the Oval remembering my Graduation day.”

– Lisa Thomas Martin ’84 Lower School Technology Teacher

“I loved being underneath the three great oak trees that are now gone. Playing field hockey and lacrosse out in the fields after school, in the space and fresh air, with friends, were among the happiest memories I have of high school.”

– Bonnie Wood ’75

“Having played four years of field hockey and lacrosse, there was a lot of time spent running around those fields. The sweltering heat, the freezing cold, the muddy fields, and Floss Brudon yelling ‘If you can touch it, you can catch it!’ brings back some wonderful memories.”

– Kay Durbin O’Brien ’80

“Just remembering how I loved running up and down the hockey field or playing outside our kindergarten/first grade building - always a great sense of release from the classroom and studies!”

– Mary Rose Caldwell Schlatter ’51

Legendary multiple-sport coach Floss Brudon pictured at the 1989 Alumni Field Hockey Game.

WORDSWORTH FOX TRACKS STUDIO

“I’ll always remember the WordsWorth Fox Tracks Studio as a truly collaborative environment where some student drafts of twoto three-minute news segments could be transformed into a halfhour long production with the help of the student-led team. With so many additional hours spent outside of class in this space, I’ll never forget the people who occupied the studio with me for so long.”

–Shelby Deibler ’20

“The Upper School office was a great place to visit during the day to see and chat with some of the most kind and influential people I met at MFS. The people really make the place.”

– Ava Carlson ’22

“The Upper School Office is such a safe environment. The best people work there. It is such a great place to stop by in between classes and during lunch.”

– Lauren Edelstein ’22

UPPER SCHOOL OFFICE

FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

“I loved a few parts of the old Elementary School building… The fire escapes - especially the slide out the window of the second grade classroom, the ladder up out of the alcove in the gym, and the metal steps from (I think) the fourth grade classroom. The window seats in the library - much coveted. The art room with its wall of windows facing the Meeting House and its big tables. Ms. Cowan and my classroom teacher (not sure which) let me paint a mural alone there, which would be mailed to our penpals in France. The girder in the fifth grade classroom to which my desk abutted; where I sat when Mrs. Clausen motioned Mrs. Caughey to the door for a few moments, and then we were told that President Kennedy was shot. We had a moment of silence. And after a while, we were sent home early.”

– Francie Bobbe Pearce ’71

The former Lower School building was located on the land directly behind the current school sign.

“I fondly recall sledding down the hill in winter and I enjoyed the warmth of the old Elementary School Building”

– Patricia Ann Metzer ’59

Children enjoy sledding down the hill in 1950 on the footprint of the current Lower School with the former Elementary School Building and Meeting House in the background.

“The Baiada Field House Gym has a special place in my heart. As someone who attended MFS from Kindergarten to Graduation, I spent a large quantity of my time in the gym, whether it was for assemblies to gaze at wild animals, to stretch for a PE class, or play seven years of basketball. There was something about walking into the gym, seeing the beautiful wood flooring, and the decorative painted logo in the middle that made me feel as if I was home. Now, as a freshman in college, I miss the gym, and playing sports, dearly. Running onto the court, hearing cheers from loyal MFS fans, and working so hard with my teammates to win brings fond memories to my mind. I can hear the echoes of my supportive coaches, the clapping of cheering parents, and the welcoming smiles of all of my teammates. I am forever thankful for the Field House, home to so many events, memories, and experiences.”

MEL AND DIANE BAIADA FIELD HOUSE GYM

– Alissa Fox ’23

“I attended MFS from 10th through 12th grade. I was admitted after the school year had begun...

“For the first several weeks I resisted going to Meeting for Worship, resenting being forced to engage in a religious practice foreign to me.

“Discovering my missing presence at Meeting, our Headmaster, the formidable Merrill Hiatt, called my father and me into his office. His message centered on helping me grasp and agree to demonstrate what a privilege it was for me to have been admitted to MFS at all, what a lucky chance, given everything.

“I grew to love Meeting for Worship. It became the best time of the weekalthough outside of Neil Hartman’s math classes - I loved every single moment of every day in the oasis of peace that Moorestown Friends became for me.”

– Ina Schachter Bransome ’61

MEETING HOUSE

“I did music all the time and the Music Room was an easy place to relax/jam out if (Music Teacher Brian) Howard would let me.“ – Nathan Wolfington ’23

MUSIC ROOM

“The center hall by the main steps to the second floor - in the 1950s - 1970s it was the Times Square of the high school with all the student foot traffic.”

– William Shelley ’72

“The school entrance and foyer were simply touching to me. Symbolic of quality-substance-purpose-beauty - and offered me a grand and meaningful entrance to the rest of my life.”

– Margot Elizabeth Glendenning ’66

MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL ENTRANCE/ FOYER

AUDITORIUM/OLD GYM

“I have two ‘favorite spaces,’ but neither is recognizable any more. One is backstage during any production and the site of our ‘disgraceful’ Senior Skit and the other is out the door at 3:06!”

– Martha Sawyer DeLuca ‘66

AUDITORIUM/OLD GYM

Editor’s note: The current Auditorium stage served as a long-time multi-purpose space - a gym, stage, and host of school special events. It was known by many as the “Gymnatorium.”

“In 1967, I was in eighth grade and a typical awkward teenager who also happened to stutter. One Friday evening, our class had a dance in the old gym. It was the first “real” dance I had ever attended and I was both excited and very nervous. Loud music was playing and I seem to remember a couple of strobe lights flashing back and forth across the wooden basketball court that served as the dance floor.

“A crowd of us boys huddled over in one corner of the gym trying to look cool in our jackets and ties, while a group of girls stood in the opposite corner looking much more confident in their colorful dresses. A handful of the coolest kids in the class were actually dancing, while the rest of us just wished we were.

“I don’t know how I found the courage, but I still recall stumbling my way across the gym that night. During that lonely walk, I decided that if I was going to go down in flames I was going to go down asking one of the kindest, nicest girls in the class. I was scared to death and could barely breathe as Mary Ann turned around to look at me.

“Since that fateful night, every time I hear the song ‘Jimmy Mack’ by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas I feel the same old elation coming back. I’m transported to the old gym, returning to the wonder and excitement I experienced while dancing with Mary Ann to that song.

“I will be forever grateful to that eighth-grade girl who was so kind to say yes—it’s made so much difference in how I’ve approached taking risks throughout my life.”

– Jeff Miller ’71

ART STUDIO/DARKROOM

“I may be a little biased, but when I was at MFS, the Art Studio and Darkroom was where you could find me at any time of day. Overseen by Nicole Edmund, Rich Marcucci, and Marty Richter, it was a space that for me, and many of my classmates, felt safe, fun, inspiring, and like a haven during the school day. As a freshman, I was able to take classes with older students and be inspired and yearn to have their skills, and by senior year it was a space that my friends and I took ownership of; something that I continue to do today. Learning in that space, with its talented faculty, inspired me to pursue art and photography at a higher level and return to continue to be a steward of the studio for students every day. Not much may have changed for me, I am still here at all times of the day, but now strive to give my students the same (or better) place that I had. “

–Ailsa

Stevenson Moriuchi ’11

MFS Arts Department Chair

“The art room is a space where I could go and spend time doing what I love with my friends (many of whom are still close friends to this day). We would listen to music that Mr. Marcucci had on vinyl (Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumors comes to mind) and create drawings, paintings or any other projects we had for the Art Studio class. It is truly a special place. “

– Alison Judah ’86

“I loved art class because I love art and appreciated my art teacher. Her joyful approach to us was comfy. She never lost patience with us - or maybe she did; nonetheless she artistically guided us with her beautiful, patient smile and uncanny ability to get us to focus. I greatly enjoyed my fellow art students; some were more outgoing and vocal than I. I enjoyed listening to them - they made me laugh - a lot! “

– Margot Elizabeth Glendenning ’66

“In the antediluvian years when I was at MFS (1946-1952) boys went to shop classes and girls went to art. I spent a couple of years in shop and made some useful things, but I was considered talented in art and therefore was allowed to go to art classes in the later years. Art, yes, with the indefatigable Peg Cowan, but when we were in the art room unsupervised, we got into lots of trouble: yelling, messing around, playing records loud enough for the entire school to hear, painting a ping pong table a color nobody wanted painted...So, yes, I have fond memories of the Art Room.”

– John Dick ’52

Alumni Sports

Alumni Basketball

A very competitive Alumni Basketball game took place on December 15 with the Blue team prevailing on a last-second three-pointer by Surya Reddy ’18. Kneeling: Steve Haines ’08, Assistant Director of Development/Camden Scholars Coordinator and JV Boys’ Basketball Coach Justin Spencer-Linzie ’10, Peter Tummarello ’22, Chase Eni ’21, Andy Cook ’15, and Tommy Martin ’15; Standing: Drew Elmore ’22, C.J. Eni ’15, Artese Brown ‘23, Aadit Pande ’23, Surya Reddy ’18, and Jackiem Wright ’00.

Alumni Soccer

Many players and spectators braved the cold for the Alumni Soccer Match on November 25. Matt D’Ottavi ‘21 and Brent Cohen ‘21 earned co-MVP honors in the Red team’s 3-2 victory. Kneeling: Brent Cohen ’21, Danny Salowe ’12, Peter Barna ’11, Nick Cook ’11, Adam Quaranta ’15, David Howarth ’15, Sulayman Hussain ’22, Kian Canelas ’21, Matt D’Ottavi ’21, Jackson Fox ’20, Matt Grahn ’19, Jack Burrows ’18, Evan Kolaris ’22, and Nolan Schenk ’21; Standing: Boys’ Varsity Soccer Coach Mike Schlotterbeck, Danya Weinstock ’22, Denis McDaniel ’71, Liam Schenk ’19, Mike Stobbe ’09, Kyle Koste ’11, Bryan Gfeller ’12, Ethan Carilli ’13, Dylan Carilli ’17, Mikey Paznokas ’21, Tyler Patton ’21, Evan Schlotterbeck ’21, Shane McAleer ’93, Wes Simpson ’22, Larry Miles ’18, Teddy Kinzler ’18, JV Boys’ Soccer Coach Luca Chigounis, and Phil Evans ’18.

Photographs of alumni are indicated with . If you see this symbol, a photo featuring a class member is either on the page or nearby!

1948

Gretchen Kieckhefer Finch, now 93 years old, resides in the serene woods of Montana with her beloved tricolor Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Skye. She is an avid watercolorist. With a passion for writing, she has authored several books, including Win’s Way and Come In, Sweet Dove, and has been leading women’s Bible studies for over 50 years. With a large and loving family comprising five children, 11 grandchildren, and 11 greatgrandchildren, Gretchen writes that “life is still a wonderful adventure.”

1949

Margarita Sharp Johnson turned 92 in December and has very fond memories of her time at MFS from fifth to tenth grade.

1952

Janet Carslake Aaronson reports that she enjoyed a cruise on the Columbia River in October and hopes to soon do another one on the Mississippi River. She has four grandsons, three of whom are married, and two great grandchildren. She lives in Columbus, NJ.

1956

Paul Mecray, along with his wife, Nell, continues to enjoy retirement at Beaumont in Bryn Mawr, PA. Paul gives lectures on his time as an international oil specialist for the former Atlantic Richfield and Wellington Management Companies.

1958

Holly Archer Crawford enjoyed her class reunion when she returned to campus in May 2023.

1959

Catharine Magee Karsten helped organize the Class of 1959 Reunion on Alumni Weekend. She also shared this penpal story:

“In 1953, our sixth grade teacher, Ruth Ferguson, handed out blue airmail letters from the sixth graders at The Friends’ School in Hobart, Tasmania. The students there were seeking penpals in the U.S. The letter I chose was from Christine Iredale. We corresponded on airmail stationery for years, each urged, I imagine, by our mothers! It took six weeks for letters to arrive. She wrote about life in rural Tasmania where they raised goats and chickens and had a bountiful garden. In 1964, Christine visited us in NJ and was a huge hit. She visited several Moorestown schools and marveled at the fall foliage on Main Street. In 1968, my mother and I flew to Hobart and spent a week with Chris and her wonderful family. Chris married and had two children. As did I. Through the years we continued to visit one another, and this January I returned. I was curious to see the School in Hobart. It is well attended and has a lovely Meeting area and vast Quaker library. There was a book there about Dr. Still! Knowing Christine and her family expanded my horizons and enhanced my understanding of other countries and points of view.”

1963

Virginia Howitz Hackney is enjoying retirement in Virginia with all but one of her seven grandchildren living nearby.

After 40 years as a trial lawyer in Washington, DC, Richard Tomar retired in 2011. He reports: “I moved up to our family house in Margate and was a Middle School substitute for seven years which I really enjoyed. During that time, I had periodic assignments in Moscow, teaching business executives of multinational corporations, legal English, business English, advanced conversation, etc. First, for one month, then three months, then seven months and finally in 2019, I moved to Moscow permanently. I got stuck there for a few years during the pandemic, which was no problem because this job was a sweet gig and I loved Moscow and I married a Russian woman. I left a week after the invasion of Ukraine and there is no going back. My wife Yana and I have

1959

1963

been in Lisbon, Portugal for a year and a half while she waits for a green card to get into the U.S. However, I love the life of an expat and will probably stay in Lisbon. I have three children and three grandchildren.”

1964

Peter Reagan reports that he was on a week-long hiking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park with his son Josh when he experienced some cardiac issues: “We hiked for four days. On two of them I got to a place at 12,000 feet, where rather suddenly I couldn’t walk uphill... After a minute’s rest I felt fine but really couldn’t

Catharine Magee Karsten and penpal Christine Iredale in Hobart, Tasmania.

Richard Tomar with his wife in Lisbon.

1968

Karl Foord’s turned

go up more than 20 or 30 feet without getting that feeling again. While it was obviously my heart, Josh and I couldn’t figure it out...was it the altitude? The denial was so strong that we went back out the next day and I had the same problem. Trouble was I eventually recognized the same feeling in the airport in Portland and that led to an expedited trip to the cardiac cath lab and a spiffy chromium/platinum stent in my left main coronary. Sigh. I was very lucky not to have had any significant heart damage and feel good as new. Whew. Just goes to show it can happen to anyone.”

1967

Thomas Hedges enjoyed seeing many of his classmates at brunch on October 29.

1968

Larry Van Meter recently spent several days in Chaska, MN with Karl Foord. Karl and Larry have been best

1971

friends from the time they met in kindergarten at MFS. Karl retired a few years ago from the University of Minnesota and has developed a passion and great skill turning wooden bowls, vases, and other containers. He prefers to use unusual woods to make one-of-a-kind pieces that are both practical and beautiful (see photo). Sadly, Karl passed away on April 24.

Larry Van Meter was appointed in February as the Interim Board Chair at Darrow School and is steering an effort to develop and maintain financial sustainability after a large outpouring of donors enabled Darrow to maintain operations. He served as Head of the New Lebanon, NY boarding school from 1994-2001 before his appointment at MFS. He is heading up a team of former school leaders and alumni with over 50 years of experience as heads of schools who are committed to steering Darrow towards a bright future.

1960s/1970s

Alumni parent Mike Adelman (father of Sarah ‘06 and husband to former Lower School teacher Sallie) reported on an MFS reunion on the ski slopes of Vermont this winter: “I spent a week skiing in Vermont. I was joined there by several friends from earlier times in New Jersey. Among these were the three daughters of the late

1971

Nancy Zbikowski Gifford at one of her retirement celebrations.

1960s/1970s

Karen ’77, Becky ’70 , and Nancy Roberts ’66 were part of an MFS reunion on the slopes of Vermont.

Peter Reagan during a hiking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Donna Zucchi, Sheila Ginn Spagnolo, Judy Hurst Loane, and Nancy Zbikowski Gifford gathered for an event at the Union League this past Fall.

wooden bowl.

Rade Musulin ’75 Named Australian Actuary of the Year

Rade Musulin was recently named Australian Actuary of the Year by the Australian Actuaries Institute for his work in climate and sustainability. In 2022 he represented the global actuarial profession at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and in 2023 at COP 28 in Dubai, UAE.

Rade has had a diverse set of experiences since graduating from MFS, earning a B.A. in Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University and then embarking on a global career as an actuary - specialized insurance mathematicians who support insurers in setting rates and assuring solvency. He has worked across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the U.S. on extreme disaster risk from things like hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, and pandemics.

Rade worked in Florida until 2006 then moved to Australia to take a position managing analytics for Aon in Asia Pacific. He now works as a natural perils and climate risk consultant for Finity Consulting in Sydney. Rade is Chair of the International Actuarial Association’s Resource and Environment Forum. Rade would be happy to speak to any MFS students interested in an actuarial career or in climate and sustainability. He has a podcast on COP 28 available at https://finity.com.au/news-and-insights/COP28-the-worlds-meeting-on-climate-change.

Mac ‘37 and Margaret Roberts. Mac and Margaret were famed throughout the Delaware Valley for their huge orchards along Routes 70 and 73. Less well known was their quiet leadership at Moorestown Friends School. Both were members of the School Committee at one time...Skiing at Mount Snow were Karen ‘77, Becky ‘70, and Nancy Roberts ‘66, shown in the photo at Grey Ghost Inn in West Dover VT. Karen is a nurse in Maryland. Becky is a recently retired physician in Bradenton, FL. Nancy is the IT manager at a major NYC hospital.”

1971

Nancy Zbikowski Gifford retired from Federal Student Aid on December 30 after 34 years of service. She reports: “Bill and I will be cruising from Barcelona to London in early 2024 followed up by an auto train trip to visit with Kurt Klaus in Florida.”

Kurt Klaus lives in Redland, FL and enjoys volunteering as a Master Gardener and boating on Biscayne Bay.

1972

Joyce Sholl, an AFS exchange student from Brazil who attended MFS in 1971-72, and long-time friend Melanie Oliviero continued their travel adventures, exploring Winnipeg, where Melanie lives, during Joyce’s year-long sabbatical from her engineering job in Rio. They attended the Festival de Voyageur and made snow angels at Hecla Island in Canada. They ventured to Basque Country in Northern Spain, visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites, and walking part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Their final trip saw them explore Newfoundland, Quebec City, Niagara Falls, and Toronto.

1973

Chiyo Moriuchi ’73 was profiled in Columbia Public Health, the magazine of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Chiyo is the CEO/Executive Director of Friends Village, a Quaker retirement community providing personal care and independent living in Newtown, PA. She earned a degree in public health from Columbia, after a long career in international finance and real estate

1972

investment management. Chiyo wanted to “make a difference” in her second act and after learning how populations everywhere are aging and how there are few affordable alternatives for housing and care for the elderly in the United States, she chose to pursue a degree

Rade Musulin at the COP 28 global climate summit.

Melanie Oliviero and Joyce Sholl pictured at the Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg.

in public health to study aging. This led to her being recruited to be the CEO of Friends Village where she is working to put what she learned into practice.

1974

Molly Forsythe and her partner, Bill, now split their time between rural Ontario and Cape Breton, where Molly has been making ceramic wall pieces and sketches of the Cape Breton scenery.

1975

Rade Musulin page 37

1978

Michael Cohler shared that he and his wife Abby became grandparents in 2023, with the birth of Alden Grey Cohler in June to his oldest son and daughter-in-law. Also, his middle son has joined the family practice, and will begin taking up some of the slack from Abby’s law practice and Michael’s financial planning practice. They are very excited to work less and travel more in the future.

1983

Steve Walsh and Merrie Hart attended the Foreigner concert in Atlantic City on October 27. Steve also provided a professional update: “September was a huge month. I officially became a Federal Employee. I still work outside Atlantic City

1983

at the FAA Technical Center. I went from working as a senior electrical engineer in a group that builds power distribution for the research and development labs to a senior electrical engineer working with a group who oversee the power distribution to 200 buildings over 5,000 acres.”

Walsh and Merrie Hart, center, with Foreigner in the background.

Heather McKay ’00 Appointed to Leadership Position at Strada Education Foundation

Heather McKay is the new Senior Vice President of Employer Engagement and Executive Director of the Strada Institute for the Future of Work, part of the Strada Education Foundation, which works to strengthen the link between education and opportunity.

Launched in 2018, the Institute has published pioneering research on strengthening education to employment pathways. Under Heather’s leadership, the Institute will develop actionable research to strengthen workforce competitiveness for employers and expand pathways to opportunity for individuals, as well as help states leverage their education and employment data to improve labor market outcomes for individuals, employers, and regions.

Over the course of her career, Heather has engaged with 26 states and internationally, as well as with many employers, regions, universities, and community colleges. Her work has spanned a wide range of education and workforce development topics, including educational alignment with the labor market, career and technical education, transfer pathways, prior learning assessment, non-degree credentials, STEM programs, work-based learning, career coaching and navigation, student decision making and major choice, workforce development systems and funding, and performance-based funding models for higher education.

In her previous role at the Virginia Office of Education Economics (VOEE), Heather developed the Virginia Skills Initiative, a new data set designed to help the state understand where Virginia graduates end up and what skills they possess. She also coordinated the state’s $1 billion Tech Talent Investment Program, a nationally recognized program that is building a pipeline of graduates skilled for the tech workforce.

Steve

Renowned Music Arranger Rob Moose ’00 Profiled by Pitchfork

Rob Moose was profiled and interviewed in the January edition of music industry publication Pitchfork: “Meet Arranger Rob Moose, the Violinist Pulling the Strings in Indie Rock and Pop.”

In August, he released his first solo project, a five-song EP titled Inflorescence.

The article begins: “From the 65th floor of an office tower in lower Manhattan, Rob Moose can see most of the city he’s called home for nearly 25 years. First arriving to study violin at the Manhattan School of Music, he’s since established himself as an in-demand and inventive arranger, developing a subtle but distinctive touch on landmark indie rock records and millennial pop blockbusters. His sensibility largely emerged from the connections he found and forged between the worlds of classical music and contemporary song.”

Rob’s credits and musical partnerships include work with a wide range of renowned artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, The National, Anohni, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon, Joanna Newsom, Ed Sheeran, Perfume Genius, Blake Mills, Moses Sumney, Phish, and many more.

1986

Col. G. Shawn Wells, Jr. (retired) continues to work at the Pentagon for the Department of the Army as the Chief for the Capital Ventures Directorate managing all of the Army Privatized Housing

within the U.S. He enjoys traveling and recently had an opportunity to travel to Tampa to participate in a Veterans Day event honoring veterans from WWII to the present day. His daughter Katie, now a senior at Syracuse University, is graduating in May with a dual major in

Forensic Science and Anthropology. This year she had an opportunity to study abroad for a semester at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

1988

Janice Johnston, Executive Producer of ABC’s 20/20 won an award for Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) at the 55th NAACP Image Awards. The award was for the 20/20 segment “Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts.”

Alice Roberts works for the European Union and lives in a suburb of Strasbourg, France with her husband and daughter.

1994

Rai Wilson and Maria Aseron Ramos caught up and shared memories while Maria was traveling for a conference in San Diego. If any classmates are visiting San Diego, Rai promises good fish tacos and virtually guarantees good weather!

Janice Johnston , Executive Producer of ABC’s 20/20 won an NAACP Image Award. 1988

photo illustration

credit:

Pitchfork

2006

Danielle Chung Couture (left) and Trustee Nicole Young (right) visited and donated to the Moorestown Fire station with their husbands Louis (left), and Peter (right) and sons, Xavier (age 2) and Casey (one month) during the 2023 Christmas season.

2006

Members of the Classes of 2005 and 2006 pose for a photo at the wedding of Billy Martin ’06 and Janel Zarkowsky.

1995

Ian Alteveer was appointed as the Beal Family Chair for the Contemporary Art Department at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, leaving his post at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he served as a curator for 17 years.

2000

Ashley Brinn is a business and real estate attorney who recently joined the law firm of Blank Rome. She is the Director of Best Practices and serves on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. She also is on the

Board of the French American Chamber of Commerce - Philadelphia Chapter. Ashley welcomed her third child, a baby girl, in January. Classmates, Kari Myers and Alicia Resnick Drozen, attended her sprinkle.

Heather McKay see page 38

Rob Moose see page 39

2004

Adrian Concepcion and his wife, Dana, welcomed their son Emilio in 2023.

2006

Andrew Preston and Nil Gural were married in New York City on February 9.

2006

Young and husband Peter Mauer welcome Casey Evan Mauer to their family on November 14. Go

2006

Daniellle Chung Couture and Nicole Young and their families visited and donated to the Moorestown Fire station during the 2023 holiday season. Danielle also reports that members of the Classes of 2006 and 2005 (Danielle Chung Couture, Simone Hall Wood, Jodi Schantz Laughlin, Chris Santorella, Sean Lee, Caitlin McCarrie Koszowski ’05, Ken Koszowski, Andrew Preston, Shawn Stutz, Kevin Console) and their spouses celebrated the marriage of Billy Martin and Janel Zarkowsky on November 18 in Annapolis, MD.

Nicole

Foxes!

Hannah Spielberg is pictured with an intergenerational group she has been organizing alongside for over a decade to end youth incarceration in Pennsylvania as part of her work with Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project.

Andrew Preston married Nil Gural February 9 at New York City Hall in Manhattan. They met playing volleyball and reside in Brooklyn. Andrew is a fourth grade teacher at the Dalton School and Nil works in healthcare and biotech investments for Polaris Partners.

Alexandra Stark recently had a book published by Yale University Press in April titled The Yemen Model. She argues that the U.S. approach to Yemen offers insights into the failures of American foreign policy throughout the Middle East. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Trustee Nicole Young and husband Peter Mauer welcomed their son, Casey Evan Mauer, to the family on November 14. Casey is the grandson of Allison Barclay Young ’75 and Russell Young.

2009

Sarah Fischer married Edward Egan on September 9 in Olivebridge, NY. Jen Donato, Andrea Pennett Cotter, Lindsay Stevenson Clough, Sophie Demuynck, and David Fischer ’06 were also in attendance.

Maeve Kelly and her husband, Mike Herb, welcomed their daughter, Hadley Herb, on October 18. Hadley recently met her MFS aunties Rebecca Salowe, Kelly Barna Baerman, Hannah Spielberg and Katie Stutz for the first time!

Bread & Roses Community Fund honored the Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project (YASP) with the Victory is Ours Award for their 2023 Tribute to Change, “Sparking Youth Power.” Hannah Spielberg, as then Social Work Director for YASP, accepted the award together with an intergenerational group she has been organizing alongside for over a decade to end youth incarceration in Pennsylvania. She continues organizing with YASP and cross-issue coalitions while working as a therapist in Philadelphia, and welcomes connecting with students and alumni interested and/or involved in adjacent work.

2012

Chandler Lutz was named to the St. Joseph’s University list of Alumni “30 under 30.” Chandler is a traffic anchor and reporter at CBS 3 Philadelphia, sharing stories and issues that are pertinent to the Philadelphia community. Chandler graduated with a double major in entrepreneurial business and communication and media studies from St. Joe’s.

Rebecca Salowe, Kelly Barna Baerman, Hannah Spielberg, and Katie Stutz visited with Maeve Kelly (center) upon the birth of her daughter Hadley.

Chandler Lutz in the CBS3 Studio. 2012

Jasmine Brown ’14 Recognized for Work Addressing Access and Equity in Healthcare

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in Biophysiology, Jasmine Brown dedicated herself to making a significant impact during the peak of the COVID pandemic. She spearheaded programs in Jacksonville, FL aimed at addressing the disparity gap in access and equity for youth and young adults with special health care needs. Her focus extended to crucial areas such as social and psychological services, as well as dental health, ensuring comprehensive support for those who needed it most.

Jasmine’s exceptional contributions were recognized with numerous awards in healthcare innovation and research from esteemed institutions like the Pediatric Academic Society and the University of Florida. Currently a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she continues to exemplify dedication to community welfare. Jasmine has taken on a leadership role in co-founding the Philadelphia chapter of “Sisters in Medicine,” a community organization passionately devoted to encouraging, supporting, and uplifting women of color in the health allied fields. The organization’s primary focus is giving back to the Philadelphia community, aligning seamlessly with Jasmine’s ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

2014

2015

Arianna

2013

Ari Levine and his wife Sarah welcomed their son Lucas Julian Levine on April 21, 2023.

Shanelle Jones graduated from Drexel University with a master’s degree in Public Health, with a concentration in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology in March 2023, and now

works as an Industrial Hygienist as she moves toward obtaining her Certified Industrial Hygienist certification.

2014

Jasmine Brown see above

Eliezer Cartagena a Middle School Teacher and the Race, Equity, and Identity Coordinator at KIPP Academy in Camden,

.

met up with former MFS faculty member Dot Lopez, now Head of School at The Friends School of Atlanta, and current MFS students and faculty who attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference November 29-December 3 in St. Louis, MO.

2015

Arianna Caiazzo lives in Osaka, Japan with her boyfriend of four years. She

Eliezer Cartagena ’14, a Middle School Teacher at Camden’s KIPP Academy, poses for a selfie with the MFS delegation at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in St. Louis.

Caiazzo has lived in Japan for seven years and was recently profiled in Business Insider

Independent Trust Reception

Independent Trust hosted an event at Friends Select School on December 28 attended by a number of MFS alumni during which they were also able to enjoy the John Rhoden Exhibit at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Independent Trust hosts events throughout the country, bringing independent school alumni of color together to connect, restore, celebrate, and explore opportunities to impact the lives of the next generation.

Pictured: Assistant Director of Development/Camden Scholars Coordinator Justin Spencer-Linzie ’10, Trustee Braheim Knight ’92, Miles Oglesby ’20, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Development Hunter Harris ’17, Ahimsa Aradhya ’17, Simone Stanley ’13, Kayla D’Oyen ’13, and Shanelle Jones ’13. Also in attendance were Director of Diversity, Community, and Belonging and Camden Scholars Program Director Chanelle Rivers Walker ’01 and Sean Denson ’08.

teaches English and math to children ages 6-8 at an after-school service. She was profiled in Business Insider in February. A three-week trip in 2017 to Japan to explore fashion sparked a love of the country and culture and she then decided to move to the country permanently. The profile details Arianna’s fondness for the country and culture as well including her experience in a Japanese language school, as well as fashion school (she graduated in 2023).

2016

Christopher Grahn relocated to Alaska in February 2022 and is currently employed by the National Park Service as a Park Guide at Denali National Park and Preserve. His Wilderness Lit class with Mr. Shaffer and Senior Project at Palmyra Cove Nature Park during his years at MFS laid the early groundwork for his interest in outdoor/nature education. Chris graduated from Muhlenberg College in May 2020 with degrees in Media & Communications and Film Studies. His responsibilities at Denali Park include creating content for the park’s social media presence.

2018

Dakota Chambers is attending Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She is studying transactional entertainment law over the next three years.

Anna Goula graduated from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies in December 2023 with a master’s degree in Science, Nonprofit Management. In January 2023, she stepped into the role of Head of Strategic Partnerships at TransPerfect Translations. Read more about Anna in the Model UN feature on page 17.

2023

Sarah Mitchell had jewelry from her shop, the Steampunk Ghost, featured in Rolling Stone magazine in October 2023 with pop singer Olivia Rodrigo modeling various watches made from recycled materials.

Christopher Grahn is a Park Guide at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.

Philadelphia-Area Alumni Reception

Alumni gathered with several MFS faculty and staff for fellowship and conversation at Triple Bottom Brewing on November 16.

Danny Salowe ’12, Hannah Spielberg ’09, Middle/Upper School English Teacher Katie Stutz ’07, and Rebecca Salowe ’09.

Larry Miles ’18, Vishal Doshi ’18, Macy Brooks ’18, Jose Colon ‘18, and Mike Le ’18.

Jamal Pratt ’15, C.J. Eni ’15, Emily McKeown ’14, and Sarah Applegate ’14

Look for coverage of Alumni Weekend 2024 and Class Reunions ending in 4s and 9s in the Fall issue of Among Friends.

Share Your News with Friends Moorestown Friends School encourages all alumni to share their news for Class Notes. To contribute, please email communications@ mfriends.org with updates on your life and any high resolution photos you would like to submit for publication. If you prefer, you can also write to Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Schlotterbeck, Moorestown Friends School, 110 E. Main St., Moorestown, NJ 08057.

Class Notes received after April 1 will be printed in the next issue of Among Friends.

Elizabeth Davis Anneseley ’56

Kenneth Banks

father of School Committee member Kennette Banks ’02

Frances Hessert Barnes ‘49

J.S. “Lee” Braddock ’54 brother of Robert Braddock ’57

Mary Loveland Chisholm ’64 sister of Samuel “Cappy” Loveland ’58 and the late Crane Loveland ’60

Dinesh Desai

former School Committee member; father of Aani ‘22 and Haila ‘24 Desai

James Durr father of Zachary Durr ‘18

Harry Ellis ‘51

Gertrude Betts Entwistle ’54

Karl Foord ‘68 sister of Lynn Foord ‘73

Elizabeth Graham mother of W. Robb Graham ‘76 and Julia Graham Slater ‘86

Roger Graham father of Dana Graham ’75 and Tracey Graham ’80

Anne “Nancy” Ritschard Hall ’47 sister of John Ritschard ’52

Carl Herckner ‘61

Lester Hopton father of Ted Hopton ’80

J. Robert Jamison ‘50 husband of the late Mary Manser Jamison ‘50; brother of Edward Jamison ‘57

Kenneth Lockerby father of Jenny Lockerby ‘03

Oscar Raymond Mayer ’15 brother of Elizabeth Mayer ’18

Sarah Hess Mellor ‘61 sister of Margaret Hess Johnston ‘59 and Bill Hess ‘66

Clifford Vincent Melvin husband of Betsy Dunn Ross ’72

Steven Oxler father of Lizzie Oxler ’03

Rowland Ricketts ‘57 brother of the late Mary Ricketts ‘53

Charlie H. Rose ’46 brother of Doris Rose ’57 and the late Elizabeth Rose Heiney ’51

Robert Rosenthal ’73

Warren Davis Sawyer former School Committee member; father of Martha Sawyer DeLuca ’66, Janet Sawyer Thomas ’67, and Stephen Sawyer ’76

Marianne Thompson Seto ’56

Phyllis Taylor former Lower School Director

Alexander Wohler father of Maya Wohler ‘26

Diana Myers Zanzot ’61

Daniel Zuccarelli father of Atticus Zuccarelli ‘32

Editor’s Note: Full obituaries are found on the MFS website. “In Memoriam” lists the passing of the following: alumni; immediate family of alumni (father, mother, child, spouse, sibling); current parents; current and past faculty and staff; spouses, partners and children of current faculty, staff and administration; current and former trustees; and spouses and children of current trustees. Notices will include any of the deceased’s relatives who are MFS alumni. To locate full obituaries on the MFS website, navigate to “News” in the top menu of www.mfriends.org and then select “Among Friends Magazine.” Alumni who do not have access to the Internet may contact Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Schlotterbeck at (856) 914-4434 to request a hard copy of an obituary.

“Ms.

– Nancy Zbikowski Gifford ’71