Moravian Academy Journal - Winter 2021 - Innovation by Moravian Academy

IN•NO•VA•TION

IN THIS ISSUE, SEE HOW WE HAVE REIMAGINED THE SCHOOLHOUSE ON PAGE 34!

WINTER 2021

ISSUE

JOURNAL

CONTENTS

Features:

Give Her Some Space: Claudia Hernandez '21 Develops Analytics Tool for NASA

Lions Helping Lions: How an Alumni Connection Strengthened a Start-Up and Opened the Doors to a Career in the Tech Industry

Teaching as Inspiration for Innovation How teaching in NYC changed the career path of educational game designer Elana Blinder '94

Lifelong Learner. Expert Engineer. Astrophysics Student. Meet Bill Soulis '54

ABOUT THE MORAVIAN ACADEMY JOURNAL

Dear reader, Innovators look at the world with attentive purpose. They don't profess to have all the answers. In fact, they seem to be constantly asking questions. Their curiosity simply cannot be contained. If you have ever peered into a classroom at Moravian Academy, chances are, you have seen an innovator quietly at work. Innovation, or "looking at old problems in new ways" as Bill Soulis '54P describes it (pg. 36), takes many forms. For Soulis, it's collaborative. It involves learning from others and diversifying your perspective. Eric Michaelis '10, CEO and founder of his start-up NEUO, would agree; he even brought fellow Moravian alumna Myria Zambas '16 on board for her valuable insight as he worked to get his ascending start-up off the ground (pg. 10). Often, innovators are change-makers, like Claudia Hernandez '21 — an award-winning computer programmer and developer of an analytics tool for NASA — who is most proud to be forging a path for girls to follow — especially those from underrepresented communities — to close the gender gap in STEM fields (pg. 4). Rohan Mehta '23 and Yan Yu '23, named Conrad Innovators, invented a social network for senior citizens to find connections in this time of isolation (pg. 18). Inspired by her time as a teacher, it's important to educational game developer Elana Blinder '94 that the process of innovation is inclusive, a theme that motivates her work and studies (pg. 20). When Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf believed that women deserved an education 279 years ago, she with the help of her community founded the first school for girls in the American colonies, a school that grew into today's Moravian Academy. Here, innovation isn't just what we do. It's who we are. It's who we've been from the beginning. When innovation calls to you, when you see a problem that needs solving or have an idea worth bringing to life, we hope the stories in this issue of the Journal inspire you to take action. We can't wait to see what you accomplish next. Happy reading,

Stephanie Vasta Director of Communications and Marketing

Julia Fox Associate Director of Communications

The Moravian Academy Journal is published three times per year. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted with credit to Moravian Academy.

EDITORS

Julia Fox Stephanie Vasta

DESIGN

Imagevolution

HEAD OF SCHOOL Jeffrey Zemsky

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Bowser '87 Max Demsky '20 Chris Eckman Julia Fox Katie MacMillan Melika Matlack Jessica McPherson Susan Parent Brad Pomeroy Kim Sanborn Favor Ufondu '22 Stephanie Vasta Karen Washington Cole Wisdo Bob Zaiser

PHOTOGRAPHY Max Demsky '20 Julia Fox Susan Parent Kim Sanborn Stephanie Vasta WDIY 88.1 Lindsay Woodruff

ADDRESS CHANGE

Office of Institutional Advancement 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018

CORRESPONDENCE

Office of Communications 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 Moravian Academy is a church-related school whose Moravian tradition affirms that young people best realize their potential in an atmosphere of love and understanding. We seek to promote the child’s full development in mind, body, and spirit. Since 1742 the school has encouraged sound innovations to meet contemporary challenges while recognizing the permanence of basic human values.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Perseverance Curiosity Empathy Creativity

IN A FALL SEMESTER UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN OUR SCHOOL’S 279-YEAR HISTORY, OUR MISSION SKILLS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR SCHOOL TO REOPEN AND STAY OPEN FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING. When we reopened our doors in August 2020, we approached the start of the year with quiet, hopeful optimism. The pandemic had taken a mental and emotional toll on everyone -- even if we could stay open for the fall semester, would our students show the same enthusiasm for learning? The months spent reconfiguring classrooms and implementing new technology were worth it. Students returned to school eager to reconnect with faculty and each other. They remained as curious as ever, throwing themselves into independent research projects on topics ranging from the economics of Pokémon to the sociopolitical dimensions of genetic diseases to the glimmering lights of the Aurora Borealis. Their creativity was overflowing, too. The sound of handbells once again filled our hallways, with the Walter Gymnasium at the Upper School being transformed into the “Bellodome.” Vibrant artwork lined the walls, Upper and Lower Schoolers completed creative writing projects together, and students showed off their talents in virtual showcases in lieu of traditional talent shows and performances. Perhaps most important this year were empathy and perseverance. Innovating isn’t easy. It involves on-the-fly problem solving and patience. We leaned on each other. We reminded ourselves not to neglect our mental health while focusing on our physical health. We had extra recess time and community activities and all-school chapel services to remind us that we’re in it together. Now, with pride, admiration, and gratitude for every student, teacher, and parent who turned to our mission skills in the face of a remarkable up-hill climb, we want to say thank you for a year of in-personal learning, creative virtual experiences, and a sense of humor along the way. 1. Coda Red, the Upper School a cappella group, gathers for an outdoor rehearsal under the direction of Mr. Rob Riker. 2. One of our favorite school traditions rang loud and clear — handbells! The gymnasium in Walter Hall at the Upper School transformed into the Bellodome, while Middle School students had weekly practice in an adapted music classroom. 3. Students spent as much time outside as possible on the Downtown and Merle-Smith campuses, spreading out across the lawn for learning, lunch, and laughing with friends.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

4. Tah-dah! Middle School Improv moved its rehearsals outside and online, adapting rehearsals to best fit the platform. Creativity and spontaneity were in high demand this year, and our Improv troupe was virtually unstoppable! 5. Recess for all! Being outside greatly reduces the risk of transmitting germs, while fresh air, fun, and games are important for our mental health, too.

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

FEATURE: INNOVATION

According to NASA, Hernandez “mastered five progra mming languages and produced a highly professional online app.”

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Give Her Some Space:

CLAUDIA HERNANDEZ ’21 DEVELOPS ANALYTICS TOOL FOR NASA By Julia Fox All Moravian Academy students are encouraged to reach for the stars, but Claudia Hernandez ’21 took that advice literally. Under the mentorship of Dr. Geronimo Villanueva, the scientist that discovered the ancient ocean on Mars, Hernandez developed an interactive analytics tool for NASA. Scientists will use her highly dynamic tool — a web interface and graphic visualizer — to analyze and categorize cometary ices and abundances by composition as they research the origins of life in our solar system and beyond. Eventually, the novel interactive tool will serve as a NASA repository. According to NASA, Hernandez “mastered five programming languages and produced a highly professional online app.” On November 13, 2020, she presented her project via Zoom to NASA’s Planetary Spectrum Generator Team, of which she was an intern. What would be a crowning scientific achievement for some, the work for NASA is just one of Hernadez’s passion projects. She founded STEMWOMEN.TECH, a national/international resource website for girls K-12 that provides education (via educational links and videos she’s made for her Community Coding Club), inspiration (via links to “Tech-Women’’ success stories), and connection to over 10,000 free STEM programs, clubs, and mentorship opportunities by partnering with several organizations. STEMWOMEN.TECH arose as part of her commitment to work towards closing the gender gap in technology, especially focusing on low-income and underrepresented populations who need it most. Hernandez also serves as president of the PA chapter of the Girls Computing League, for which she has created and is currently teaching a national 10-week Web Design & Development workshop. She is also a programmer and designer on the FIRST Robotics Competition Team. In February 2021, the National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) recognized her as being among the top 400 High School Women for her technological achievements and awarded her national recognition, a trophy, and a monetary prize. Hernandez went on to receive first place as NCWIT's 2021 Philadelphia-area affiliate winner of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

WDIY's Teen Scientist Hosted by Rayna Malhotra ’24 WINS PA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS AWARD By Julia Fox

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LISTEN TO RAYNA'S DEBUT INTERVIEW AT www.moravianacademy.org/teenscientist.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Rayna Malhotra '24 is the host of WDIY's radio show Teen Scientist, which has recently won the 2021 Excellence in Broadcasting Award for Outstanding Public Affairs Program/Series by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB). According to WDIY, "The program focuses on groundbreaking innovation in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines—entirely from a teenage perspective." Malhotra's interviewees include Dr. Stephen Tang, OraSure Technologies CEO and president, and Moravian Academy's very own innovator and entrepreneur Okezue Bell '23 (pictured). Teen Scientist launched in 2019 and was hosted by Rhea Malhotra '20 before her sister took over hosting duties in 2020.

Photo courtesy of WDIY 88.1.

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Okezue Bell ’23 Speaks at EVOKE X CASCON

Okezue Bell ’23 spoke at EVOKE X CASCON, Canada’s Largest Developers Summit, sponsored by IBM on November 12, 2020. “This is a really, really cool multi-day conference that features top innovators and entrepreneurs from all sorts of industries and backgrounds and their work in technology,” Bell said. “I personally presented an industry talk and Q&A on security, and the development of advanced emerging technologies, and their roles in our world. There will be company executives, top engineers, YouTubers, and more speaking at this conference. In fact, Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank spoke at the event last year!” BELL IS FOUNDER AND CEO OF FIDUTAM & CO. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT HIS WORK ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/okezuebell.

By Julia Fox

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Team Bababooey for the Win:

SENIORS SEE BIGGEST EVER GAINS IN THE STOCK MARKET GAME AT MORAVIAN ACADEMY By Chris Eckman

Alex Lega '21 and Canyon Reeves '21 (team name: "Bababooey") finished first out of the ten teams in my two sections and had the biggest gains ever during my thirteen-year tenure at Moravian Academy. After a ten-week period, they finished with more than $125K in their portfolio, more than a 25% return on their initial $100K investment. This placed them fifth out of 75 in the East region and eleventh out of 431 in what The Stock Market Game refers to as "coordinator rankings," which are effectively the rankings for the state of Pennsylvania. Their success is especially impressive this year considering the volatile economic situation the world is facing. The Stock Market Game is "an online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance and that has prepared nearly 20 million students for financially independent futures." It is a program of the SIFMA Foundation.

Seniors Among Top 10 English Language Finalists

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IN GLOBAL UNESCO WRITING CONTEST By Kim Sanborn

Madame Sanborn’s AP French class studied the classic Antoine de SaintExupéry novella Le Petit Prince in the fall. As part of their final assessment, they entered the ’Conversation with The Little Prince’ writing contest sponsored by UNESCO, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Foundation, Le Labo des Histoires, and #LearningPlanet to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the author’s birth. While it appears to be a children’s book, The Little Prince is quite philosophical with perpetually relevant observations about life and human nature. The contest asked that the submissions depict the conversation between The Little Prince and a young girl during lockdown/isolation due to COVID-19. They were to recount their exchanges and describe emotions, shared hopes, or even the common values of humanity which are part of the continuity of a better, happy, creative, and sustainable world. Submissions were accepted in the six official languages of UNESCO (English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French and Russian). They received 2,428 submissions, in six languages, from 60+ countries! Ten finalists were selected in each of the six languages. Congratulations to DeDee Hoffman ’21 and Grace Sanborn ’21 who were both English language finalists! Because Grace’s submission included an illustration, it will be included in a virtual exposition.

TO READ THEIR WINNING SUBMISSIONS, VISIT THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/littleprince.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Lions Helping Lions: HOW AN ALUMNI

CONNECTION STRENGTHENED A START-UP AND OPENED THE DOORS TO A CAREER IN THE TECH INDUSTRY

By Julia Fox A decade ago, Eric Michaelis '10 was a typical Moravian Academy senior — i.e. involved in all kinds of activities on campus and poised to branch out at his dream school, Loyola University. Now, Michaelis reminisces on his time at the Upper School during his commute into Silicon Valley. Ten years ago, the core of his student identity was playing tennis for the Lions. Now, he's the co-founder and COO of NEUO, his tech start-up that aims to build a virtual learning social network on college campuses "where communities come together to share content, like articles, videos, and podcasts around certain topics." The company aims to connect with the clubs on campuses to strengthen the community network. After graduating from Loyola with an influential study abroad experience in Beijing and a few internships under his belt, Michaelis soon found himself working for Uber just as the app was launching in the Baltimore and DC markets. "Everyone was like, 'Oh, I can just use it as a taxi. I need to download this app'. And I thought, all right, just watch. It's going to be a big company," he says. "So I ended up being very interested in how to grow a consumer business pretty early on." He worked for several Baltimore-area start-ups before moving to San Francisco, joining the team of a food delivery company just getting off the ground.

"Pay attention to the nuances, whether you're building something for a class, another member user, or even a B2B software. And question everything, like why you're doing it, who's it for, and then really hone in on that ability to think about that little widget, what it's doing, and what's the cause-andeffect relationship with it." -10Eric Michaelis '10 MORAVIAN ACADEMY

When the pandemic hit, Michaelis felt it was "time to make the leap to start [his] own company with a friend." In September 2020, NEUO came to life. It was not long after that Myria Zambas '16 came into the picture. Zambas had just graduated from University of Notre Dame with degrees in math and finance when Libby Michaelis '19 connected her with her brother's new start-up. Zambas interned for Michaelis's company during the summer of 2020. "I really, really valued the experience," Zambas says. "I loved every minute of it, getting to see the ins and outs of starting something on your own." Michaelis's company was partnering with colleges, universities, and student organizations to provide "a pathway to personal growth with the communities existing on campus," and in this regard Zambas's perspective was invaluable. "She had some amazing ideas on products, and I was really grateful to have her work with us until she started her first fulltime role," Michaelis says. After leaving NEUO, Myria took a position at a FinTech consulting firm called FactSet. She says, "FinTech consulting just sounds like a lot of buzzwords, I'm sure. But for anybody

You need to be stubborn enough to believe that your way and your idea is correct because no one else is going to put the effort in on your idea." - Myria Z a mbas '16

that works in finance, it makes a little more sense." She explains, "[The company] provides a lot of data analysis tools. My job is essentially working with clients at big banks and asset managers, helping them build out models and find the best ways to analyze new data." Zambas is just beginning her career, but she may have already been bitten by the start-up bug. She may not be ready to strike out on her own just yet, but she believes that she has the character to make it happen one day. "I'm a relatively stubborn person," she says. "My dad always says that that's one of the things that you need to have to be a successful entrepreneur. You need to be stubborn enough to believe that your way and your idea is correct because no one else is going to put the effort in on your idea." Michaelis agrees, adding that, "I think there's one type of person that has the bug and it's compounded by a decisionmaking process. Before you make the jump, it's what makes you look over the edge and just leap not necessarily knowing if there's something below that's going to catch you." Perseverance is also a key factor. "I think I've definitely seen it in Myria in some capacity, because it's just a sense of looking at a problem that needs to be solved and wanting to create something to help solve that problem." Whether working for a start-up or an established player in the tech space, both Michaelis and Zambas recognize the pressure that comes with succeeding in the industry. "It's the type of process where, when you're being innovative, you're never going to know all the answers. You're never going to know what you're going to come up with in the next two hours when you're trying to solve a problem. That's what keeps it exciting for me," Zambas says.

Michaelis says, "I have other friends who've started companies who are raising millions of dollars and it gives me some motivation. I'm trying to surround myself with people that are on that path. So it's also a ton of pressure, right? But at the same time, it's motivating for me to want to do more and build something that lasts." Confidence is another important quality to have to be competitive, and both alumni credit Moravian Academy for giving it to them. If they had the resources and time to solve a global issue, they both want to create a world where all children have equal access to the educational resources and freedoms that they experienced at Moravian. Zambas says, "We had Mrs. Dubreuil and Mrs. Shaughnessy, who were just outstanding. I look back and think, 'Wow.' I did take initiative, but where would I have been without them? And there's so many resources I had, and I didn't create those for myself. They were provided to me." As for current Moravian students hoping to break into a high-pressure industry, Michaelis's advice is to focus on the details. "Pay attention to the nuances, whether you're building something for a class, another member user, or even a B2B software. And question everything, like why you're doing it, who's it for, and then really hone in on that ability to think about that little widget, what it's doing, and what's the cause-andeffect relationship with it." A lesson we can all learn from this dynamic duo? You should never doubt the power of the alumni network at Moravian Academy — it might just lead you on the path to your dream job.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

The Periodic Table of Black History By Favor Ufondu '22

MA Participates IN THE STUDENT DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE By Karen Washington Upper School students Bianca Matos '24, Ava Noel '24, Anjali Shankar '23, Favor Ufondu '22, Katy Shnier '22, and Nora Ronan '22 represented Moravian Academy at the virtual NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) on December 1 - December 4, 2020. I have accompanied students to SDLC countless times since 1970, with the same result. Students gather with their peers from across the country to engage in conversations around community, equity and justice, helping them develop leadership skills and action plans to bring back to their respective schools. The mission of the conference is "to provide a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools," according to NAIS.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

One of the best ways to celebrate Black History Month is by elevating Black figures whose accomplishments haven’t been popularized to the same extent as those of their white counterparts. While I can’t force others to seek out the people that history has forgotten, I can make something large and colorful that will catch their eye, encouraging them to take a second and acquire new information for themselves. And that is exactly what I did. The periodic table of Black history in itself was not an original idea; I took it and made it my own. Discontent with a mere name and date of birth per element, I took on the difficult task of condensing each Black pioneer’s achievements into a short quasi-biography. I also decided not to feature Black leaders whose impacts are regularly discussed (e.g. MLK, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, etc.) — not to suggest their insignificance, but to encourage new conversations. Hopefully, the periodic table of Black history will spark interest and lead to a more in-depth exploration of the culture, activism, and human stories in Black history.

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A Guest Teacher from Across the Globe: SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM STUDENTS LEARN NARRATIVE STORYTELLING By Sra. Melika Matlack On November 2, 2020, Fourth Grade Spanish Immersion students connected with Dra. Pilar Jódar Peinado — a professor at the Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria en Cantabria, el IES Nueve Valles — all the way from Spain via Zoom. Dra. Peinado spoke with the students about theatre, plays, and narrative texts. After an inspiring conversation with our special guest, students shared the final versions of puppet shows that they wrote and produced in class.

WATCH THEIR PUPPET THEATER PERFORMANCES ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/SIPtheatre.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Ninth Grade Explores Spiritual Traditions By Julia Fox On Friday, November 13, the Class of 2024 gathered in the Athletic and Wellness Center (AWC) for a day of experiences that explore sacred traditions. This event was held In lieu of the Ninth Grade history/religion field trip that would normally take place. Facilitated by Mrs. Katie Burd '96, Dr. Brian Crowe, and Rev. Jennifer Nichols, the day began with a chapel led by Rabbi Nahama Benmosche via Zoom that explored the Sabbath as internal sacred space. From there, students learned about Muslim prayer traditions from Imam Beytullah Colak of RESPECT Graduate School, which was followed by videos and education about the Whirling Dervishes from instructor Karen Cavanaugh. Students then had their choice of participating in yoga with Sheetal Shah via Zoom, tai chi with Ms. Jane Wang, or taize chanting with Mr. Rob Riker. As if on cue, the sun appeared for the final activities of the afternoon. Before heading outside to the fresh fall air for quiet meditation on the beautiful campus, students gathered for a final Zoom presentation: "The Outdoors as Sacred Space" with Connor Moriarty, MA, LPC, NCC.

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Students Qualify for District 10 Orchestra By Chase Morrison

Congratulations to the following Upper School musicians for earning their place in the District 10 Orchestra! 1. Krysta Nichols '21 2. Yan Yu '23 3. Ellie Capobianco '23 4. Chessie Bartolacci '24 5. Emma Derby '24 6. Okezue Bell '23 7. Valia Tsirukis '24 The District 10 Orchestra is a part of the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association and is comprised of student musicians from schools in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, and Schuylkill Counties.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

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MORAVIAN ACADEMY

A Whale of a Woodworking Project

WHILE STUDENTS REPLICATE THE SKERRY USED BY JOHN GUIDER '67 TO RETRACE THE FAMED DONELSON TRIP, WOODWORKING INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL BROLLY ASPIRES TO BUILD A BOAT FOR A FUTURE WHALE-WATCHING EXPEDITION. By Julia Fox On Dec. 22, 1779, an iron mine owner and politician by the name of John Donelson, packed up his wife and nine children and headed down the unexplored Holston River. 1,000 miles later he landed on bluffs of the French Salt Springs, now known as Nashville, TN. An avid waterman who has always been enthralled by this journey, John Guider ’67 worked with Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) to design and build a boat much like the ones Donelson would have used so he could retrace Donelson's Journey of Destiny.

The Chesapeake Light Craft Co., the company that provided the boat-building kit to Guider, gave woodworking students a set of the plans so that they could also build models of the boat on the woodshop's CNC machine.

Woodworking instructor Michael Brolly has followed Guider’s feats on the water, which include traveling the 6,500-mile “Great Loop” of the eastern United States, solo racing the 2019 Race to Alaska (R2AK), a 750-mile human- and windpowered race from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, paddling 2,500 miles from Franklin Tennessee to New Orleans. So it was only natural for him to reach out to Guider when some of his students expressed an interest in boat-building.

As far as Brolly's motivations for teaching his students about boat-building are concerned, he simply hopes to instill in them a passion for the environment. "I'm not trying to cross the Atlantic," he says. "I'm just trying to get kids involved in saving the planet."

When a few of woodworking instructor Michael Brolly's students learned that John Guider '67 was willing to donate most of the materials and the funds to purchase the design plans for the boat Guider used to retrace the famed 1,000-mile Donelson trip that resulted in the founding of Tennessee, they jumped at the chance to use class time in the woodshop to recreate the 14.5' skerry.

In addition to the replica of Guider's skerry, Brolly hopes to one day construct an oar-powered boat that can be used to take students on a whale-watching expedition. Stay tuned for future updates when the boats are ready for the water.

"I'm not trying to cross the Atlantic," he says. "I'm just trying to get kids involved in saving the planet."

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

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Rohan Mehta ’23, Yan Yu ’23 Named Conrad Innovators By Cole Wisdo

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

I've been working with Rohan Mehta '23 and Yan Yu '23 on an independent entrepreneurship competition this year, the Conrad Challenge, to help with developing a senior-citizen focused social media site (S.A.G.E.). Basically, the site is aimed at connecting senior citizens with each other and is meant to help with combating social isolation (which is extremely prevalent now in the pandemic landscape). Rohan and Yan are now considered Conrad Innovators in the health and nutrition category, a distinction that opens them up to several networks and scholarship opportunities. Their project finished in the top 15 in its category. According to the Conrad Challenge website, "The distinction of Conrad Innovator denotes the students who have excelled in the competition by submitting a noteworthy Business Plan, meeting or exceeding all the requirements for Round 2. These teams truly reflect our core value of innovation! This badge of excellence is bestowed upon these students by the Conrad Foundation as an honor that can be carried along in their educational careers, as a source of pride and ownership in achieving a new standard of entrepreneurship. Conrad Innovators also qualify to join our network of Conrad Challenge Alumni at the end of the challenge season!"

Lions Bring Home State DECA Awards By Susan Parent Thirty-eight Upper School students spent months researching, preparing and collaborating only to dress in business attire and compete in the 70th Annual State DECA Career Development Conference. Remote project presentations, role-plays, cluster exams, and interviews filled virtual competition airwaves culminating in a first-ever virtual conference and award ceremony on February 19. The conference boasted over 3,000 participants and 62 competitive events this year. Exceptional work resulted in exceptional ratings. Eighteen Moravian students received awards. Students in first through fourth place will compete in the International Conference this spring. Students in places five and six are alternates for their categories.

Moravian Academy is proud to announce the following winners: Okezue Bell ’23 and Wisdom Ufondu ’23 1st Place - Independent Business Plan Aarav Shyamkumar ’22 1st Place - International Business Plan Ben Borsuk ’21 and Niketh Surya ’21 1st Place - Sports & Entertainment Team Decision Making Rohan Mehta ’23 2nd Place - Innovation Plan Anya Chadha ’24, Krish Gupta '24, Rayna Malhotra ’24 2nd Place - Integrated Marketing Campaign Product Hildi Kurlansik ’23 and Drew Mariani ’23 5th Place - Business Services Operations Research Jamilie Atiyeh ’22 and Isabella Bartolacci ’22 5th Place - Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making Michael Alchaer ’23 and Nabeel Rifai ’23 5th Place - Project Management Financial Literacy Sierra Smith ’24 5th Place - Principles of Business Management and Administration Ilyas Kose '22 and Divik Verma '22 6th Place - International Business Plan

Additional congratulations and thanks go out to Francesca Bartolacci ’24, Sunny Chen '24, and Kanchan Gupta '24. They placed seventh in Project Management Community Giving and raised $1,000 for Summerbridge of the Lehigh Valley, which serves low-income middle school students on the Moravian Academy campuses each summer. Thank you for making a difference! JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Teaching as Inspiration for Innovation HOW THE ARC AND SWOOP OF ELANA BLINDER'S '94 CAREER TOOK HER FROM MTV. COM TO THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BECOMING A PASSIONATE DEVELOPER OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOR CHILDREN.

The career path of Elana Blinder '94 has been anything but a straight line, but the influences of her varied experiences shine through in her current work. Blinder collaborates with game designers to develop mastery gamebased learning products for the company Age of Learning as a curriculum specialist, a job that blends her love of arts and media with her passions for design thinking and education. As a Moravian Academy student at the threshold of her journey in the 1990s, Blinder remembers loving the independence she had during free periods, deciding if she would spend her time "finishing [her] homework, or writing pretentious poetry under a tree or going to the art room to talk to [her] teachers." She frequented the art and photography studio with Ms. Mauer and retired teacher Mrs. Frankenfield '64; her love of the arts led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in film. "Right towards the end of my undergrad years was when the Internet was this cool thing and digital technology was taking off," she says. "After undergrad, I was working in production at MTV.com and Time Warner in the new hip and cool web slash digital media department. And then I took some time off to travel." This is where Blinder's trajectory takes an unexpected turn. While "bouncing around overseas," Blinder became increasingly engaged with social issues, and her focus shifted towards education. She taught ESL in the Czech Republic before ultimately deciding that she wanted to pursue teaching as a career. For eight years, Blinder taught in the New York City public school system. "Teaching is really, really hard. It's fulfilling, but it's just full on all the time," she says. "And I just realized it wasn't a sustainable option for me." However, the time she spent in the classroom would influence her life's work "a hundred percent in every way, shape, and form." "When I started to become interested in design, I recognized how much my work as a teacher was really akin to design work, where you're understanding the students in your class on this deep level and adjusting your instruction to meet their needs."

By Julia Fox

Look at your own environment and say, 'What don't we like about this?'....develop an action plan, learn the tools or find a mentor who can help you through that process. Start implementing changes in your own community and then revise and improve your approaches as you learn and discover more."

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

FEATURE: INNOVATION "And when you talk about innovation, you're constantly like 'This isn't working. How am I going to solve the problem of the week or of the year?' And you're constantly innovating. Like, I tried it this way yesterday. It didn't work for these three kids, so I need a new approach to try to bring this to life for them." So, with her new perspective as an educator in tow, Blinder went back to school for another master's degree with a focus on digital media design for learning. She went on to work for a non-profit research organization called The Center for Children and Technology, collaborating on digital games and virtual reality, before taking on a contract position at Sesame Workshop in its digital games department. "That whole period of my life really exposed me to a lot of the possibilities for innovation and education," she says. Since September, Blinder has been with Age of Learning, but her own educational journey isn't over. She will soon be beginning a PhD program in education with a focus on youth experience and child-computer Interactions. "The idea is that you're co-creating with kids so that their needs and interests will be more meaningfully addressed through the design of these products and experiences.

But beyond this, I'm especially interested in investigating how we can leverage intergenerational co-design to support kids in developing the skills and confidence they need to tackle problems that directly impact their everyday lives," she says. Partly from her experience teaching a diverse population of kids and her time spent traveling, Blinder brings a deep sense of empathy to her work. "When I think of innovation, it's important to me that there is an ethical dimension — that we're solving problems that will meaningfully improve the lives of people in marginalized and underrepresented communities." She advises current Moravian Academy students to find their own call to action, and then to answer it. "Look at your own environment and say, 'What don't we like about this?' And instead of just complaining about it during your free periods," she laughs, "develop an action plan, learn the tools or find a mentor who can help you through that process. Start implementing changes in your own community and then revise and improve your approaches as you learn and discover more." After all, innovation doesn't always take the form of grand invention. Sometimes, it's finding new ways to achieve better outcomes, and, as Blinder teaches us, what better motivator is there than to make a difference for someone in need?

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

FIRE Zooms With Experts on Genetic Diseases By Dr. Brian Crowe On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, students were treated to a morning of dialogue with two experts on genetic diseases, hearing from both the clinical and theoretical sides of the field. Renee Cecil, RN/MSN, has worked for decades with patients suffering from sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder that predominantly impacts people of color. She spoke not only of her professional background treating patients with sickle cell, but also of her personal investment in their lives, taking pride in helping them live as free as possible from the pain caused by the disease. Dr. William Lamberti, more affectionately known as Billy, recently earned his doctorate in Computational Sciences and Informatics from George Mason University. He explained in helpful detail the various applications for computer science in the field of genetic research, emphasizing also the role that visual artists and others from various disciplines play in ongoing innovations. Moreover, Dr. Lamberti’s message spoke to many, including Mrs. Reiter, who noted that “the pursuit of a dream can take many paths”; one need not major in the sciences to participate in scientific research. True research and genuine learning utilize the skills of many different disciplines, a message shared by all those involved in the FIRE program. The value of Ms. Cecil and Dr. Lamberti’s expertise was not lost on students, several of whom asked insightful questions relating to their own research into genetic diseases for their ongoing FIRE projects. Questions arose about the particular dietary needs of patients with sickle cell as well as the evolutionary adaptation linked to protection from the parasite that causes malaria; likewise, students asked about how the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic impacts patients with sickle cell as well as comparable diseases that affect the lungs, such as cystic fibrosis. Students completed their research into particular genetic diseases in early March and finalized annotated bibliographies independently before joining with classmates to create podcasts highlighting the larger social and ethical questions raised by such inquiries. These wonderful projects added much to the burgeoning FIRE program, and we’re so proud of the Class of 2024 for their earnest efforts and impressive achievements.

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"I loved having the opportunity to research essentially whatever we wanted for the F IRE project. It was such a joy reading about it, interviewing people and just seeing different perspectives and being able to learn more about something I truly loved learning about since middle school. Sunny Chen '24 Fall 2020 FIRE Project: An exploration of eating disorders and body image through "Broken Mirrors," a poem about the perspective of a high school bathroom mirror.

"Overall the project meant a lot to me because I feel like space exploration in the future is going to be a really big deal in our society. If I was giving advice to Eighth Graders for their future F IRE projects, they should pick something that really intrigues them. You need to be really motivated to keep working on it." George Husack '24 Fall 2020 FIRE Project: A short story personifying the Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket launch, incorporating research about its attempt to journey to Mars.

"I got inspired by this project because I'm Italian, and I really wanted to do something that had to do with my heritage and my culture. And I think this marble really captured all of it both in the literal sense — because some of Italy's most fa mous parts of history is the Renaissance in which this marble statue was created — and also in the figurative sense, because to me, and to many people, that statue represents overcoming one's limits. Ginevra Toso '24 Fall 2020 FIRE Project: "Io sono il Davide: As a statue, I have lived a life of liberation," a narrative from the point of view of a personified block of marble that later became the David of Michelangelo.

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MORAVIAN ACADEMY ONCE AGAIN ENDEAVORED TO ANSWER THE AGE-OLD QUESTION: WOULD THIS BE RED'S YEAR, OR WOULD IT BE GOLD'S? By Julia Fox

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

In October 2020, a special council of the captions convened to innovate a safe, socially-distant alternative to the annual field day. The Red & Gold Cup Challenge — a series of competitions designed to test mind, body, and spirit — was born. Challenges included: • Dance-off • Blind Pringles-tasting contest • Snowman-building challenge • M&Ms chopstix race • Cup-stacking relay

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

Only one team will raise its flag and ring the bell. Follow us on social media so you don't miss the announcement of the winning team.

@MoravianAcademy

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Seve nth Cons ecutive District Cha mpio nship!!

SOCCER The Wins Keep Coming for the Soccer Teams. Boys' Soccer takes seventh consecutive District Championship and Girls' Soccer takes third consecutive District Championship.

Third Consecut ive District Cha mpionshi p!!

FIELD & COURT

I X t c i D i st rm p io n! Ch a

GOLF Grace Sanborn '21 won the District Individual Golf AA Title in impressive fashion. She shot a 76 to finish 4 over par to earn the gold medal and a spot in the PIAA Individual Championship. Boys' golf brought home the silver from the District XI Championships.

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TENNIS The Girls' Tennis team dominated to become the District XI Champions! Meanwhile, Girls' Tennis player Chessie Bartolacci '24 made quick work of her opponents to win the District XI AA Singles Title.

District Cha m RICK BROWN NAMED THE MORNING CALL GIRLS TENNIS COACH OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

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mpions! According to Dante Terenzio of The Morning Call, the well-deserved honor was given to Brown "[f]or keeping his team on track, despite tough circumstances." Brown led the Lions to become the Colonial League and District XI Class 2A champions. The Girls' Tennis team was crowned runner-up at the state finals.

FIELD HOCKEY The field hockey team finished the regular season with a string of victories, taking third place at the District XI competition.

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FIELD & COURT

CROSS COUNTRY The boys' cross-country team earned a silver medal in the PIAA District meet, while the girls took third in the same competition.

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Kindergarten Celebrates School Milestones By Amy Bowser '87 and Katie MacMillan

On November 11, 2020, Kindergarten marked an extra special occasion this year — the 50th day of in-person learning by throwing it back to the 1950s, complete with poodle skirts, records, hula-hoops, and root beer floats! Fast forward to February 23, when our Kindergarteners were super excited to mark the 101st day of school! To show what a heroic feat this was during the pandemic, learners in the Spanish Immersion Program dressed as their favorite superheroes.

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AROUND OUR CAMPUS

Teacher Thank You by Dr. Erica D'Agostino'91

On a cold, rainy day in December, our faculty arrived at school to find a small, yet heartfelt, reminder of how much they are appreciated. At each of our three divisions (Lower, Middle, and Upper School) on the Downtown and MerleSmith Campuses there were balloons and signs exclaiming, "We love our teachers!" This small token of appreciation was the administration's way of recognizing our personal heroes, our teachers, who made our reopening, and inperson learning, a true success. Despite the immense anxiety associated with teaching amidst a pandemic and the plethora of new health and safety protocols added to their plate, our teachers began the school year with smiles and open arms, ready to greet students and their families. We will be forever grateful to our teachers, as well as to our incredible staff, for making this pandemic year a success.

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Meet the Crouch Family Steve and Conny met in 1995 in Baltimore where Conny was an au pair. Since then, they have lived in four countries together. They started in Germany, where they got married in Conny’s home country, and then moved to Japan, where Linnea was born, back to Germany where they had Mateo, then to the UAE for nine years. They've just returned to the USA in 2020 after 24 years abroad and have joined the Moravian Academy community. They speak both German and English at home. Their new puppy, Bowie, spends a lot of time trying to decide which language he prefers to ignore.

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OUR COMMUNITY

Tell me about your move from Dubai. What brought you to the Lehigh Valley? How are you all liking it here? We spent nine wonderful years in the UAE. Life is really interesting and adventurous there. We made wonderful friends from all over the world and were able to travel frequently because of the UAE’s proximity to Europe and Asia. We missed having all four seasons because the UAE mainly has two seasons – beautiful, warm winters and hot and humid summers. We never imagined that we would end up living in a desert country but we love to travel and life always presents opportunities filled with surprises. When we first arrived in Sharjah in 2011, it was the middle of the night on the last day of Ramadan. Our first observation was that it was extremely hot and humid, even at midnight. It took some time to adjust to the extreme heat, but still we managed to enjoy our lives there very much. We moved to Bethlehem in July 2020 in the middle of the virus pandemic. We came here because Steve got a job with Lehigh University. We were disappointed that we could not venture out much to explore our new hometown. We had spent many months studying up on the restaurants and activities in the Lehigh Valley and were very excited to see what lay ahead. We enjoyed many outdoor activities such as pumpkin picking, horseback riding, and Christmas tree cutting. Because of Covid, we still haven’t seen nearly as much as we’d like, but we are very hopeful that the spring will bring a true renewal along with the flowers. What drew you to Moravian Academy? Why did you choose Moravian for your children? Linnea and Mateo started in the German school system, then switched to the British system in Sharjah. They had great teachers in a very intimate community school. Moravian Academy seemed to be similar to that environment, in that it was all about the community. We saw this first hand when we went “trunk or treating”. We also like the effort that the teachers and administrators put into personalizing the educational experience. Believe it or not, we really appreciate the (occasional!) messages telling us that one of the kids is late with an assignment because it shows us that the teachers are paying close attention to our beloved spawn. Reflecting over the past several months, what was it like to be a part of the MA community while weathering a global pandemic after just having moved across the world? This certainly wasn’t the ideal time to move internationally. Even relatively routine tasks like packing up your belongings or house hunting were much more complex during the

pandemic. The kids were trapped indoors all summer since we couldn’t venture out and they didn’t know anyone. They were jumping out of their skin when school finally started, and being able to go in person and make friends meant that the school became the solid foundation for our family this year. While many schools have been remote all year, Moravian’s in school learning made it so the kids had an easier transition than the adults. But knowing they are happy and thriving gives us peace of mind. What is your greatest hope for the future for your children? How do you see Moravian making that vision a reality? Mostly we hope that they are happy, kind and gracious towards others. We are very fortunate to have been able to share a variety of experiences with them, and we want them to understand and empathize with others. We are so glad that they already have friends in dozens of countries, meaning they don’t have to be taught to embrace diversity. I guess in a word, we would want them to be peacemakers. Moravian can help them achieve that goal by helping them become the best version of themselves. By teaching them to think critically, the school can help them get into the university of their choice. It is not easy for young adults to find their place in this world, but a good education can give them the tools and the confidence to survive and to thrive. What have you enjoyed most about Moravian Academy? LC: The thing that I have enjoyed most about Moravian Academy is the opportunities they have given me to continue going to in-person school during a pandemic. I’m so grateful that I get to go to school to see my friends, to take in-person classes and to have a little bit of normalcy in my life during these times. MC: have enjoyed getting to know the community and having a small class size so I can get to know the students, the teachers and other adults in the school. I have also enjoyed that every class is different. They are all fun and never boring. It is nice that all of the teachers are engaged in the class and are passionate about what they teach. What are your favorite MA memories so far? LC: Some of my favorite memories from this year are going to God’s Acre during lunch. I watched the leaves on the trees go from green and fluffy in the summer to orange fall colors, and now nothing but snow covered patches and empty branches. Walking through God’s Acre on the first day of school filled me with excitement and hope for the year to come. MC: My favorite memories of Moravian Academy so far are getting to know everyone and having fun with my cohort. I love being able to go outside almost every day when the weather is nice. I have also enjoyed learning in all my classes. It’s great that we can be virtual so we don’t have to miss a day of school if we have to stay home. JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

FEATURE: INNOVATION

Lifelong Learner. Expert Engineer. Astrophysics Student. Meet Bill Soulis ’54 By Julia Fox

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Bill Soulis '54 is a man who has always been intrigued by new ways of looking at old problems. For him, innovation is embedded in his life's outlook, and it's how he's found success during his storied career as an engineer. After graduating from Moravian Preparatory School in 1954, he studied structural engineering and architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Soulis joined the Army after graduating, serving in Texas and Germany for three years of active duty and three years in the reserves. At the conclusion of his Army tour, it was time for Soulis to make use of his education. For fourteen years he worked for structural engineering firms in the Boston area. He was involved in projects led by influential innovators, such as German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School, the late Walter Gropius. In 1974, he moved to Hagerstown, MD where he has lived ever since. It was at the Hagerstown Mack Truck plant where, in reflection, Soulis began to see himself as an innovator. While his background was in structural engineering, his role as the plant engineer required him to learn new disciplines and skills of the trade, like electrical work and mechanical engineering designs. He remembers when he took over for the electrical engineer: "It was about a million-anda-half square foot plant with heavy duty electrical systems, and I was now in charge." "So," he says, "I went and started reading." No one, he concedes, is truly selftaught. Although he took the initiative to learn whatever was needed to run the plant, he relied on the expertise of the electricians and other employees. "This to me is very, very important. I would just go down and talk to the electricians. Because you can read something in a book. And anybody can put numbers in a formula [...] They might not have had the book learning, but they had a kind of learning that it takes years to accumulate."

courses in astrophysics and particle physics. He enjoys the challenge, but perhaps more importantly, it helps him see the world through a different lens.

"The most important axiom is to treat ALL people with respect, honesty and decency, including those who reside on the lowest rung of life’s ladder." "Always be curious and eager to learn [...] Be willing to change and adapt. Accept that the world will always be in constant flux." "Never allow the striving for financial success to interfere with the values that bring richness to your soul and to your inner peace."

Retired now, Soulis still consults for Mack Truck. When he isn't completing engineering jobs for various local contractors and building structural certification work for local real estate firms, he is teaching himself something new — he's taking online

"It's about understanding the world you're in and that we're on a little planet that's in the vast universe in nothing but darkness, warping around at tremendous speeds, and you start getting interested in what's that all about." "So I started reading a little bit about it, and every time you learn something, you have about four questions. So then you start working on those four questions and then it just exponentially grows and grows and grows. So, you know, I'll never pursue all the answers I'm interested in, but I just like to keep up, end to end." Appreciation for the sciences runs in his family — one of his daughters is a former chemistry teacher (now serving as an Episcopal priest), and the other is a nurse. They live near Soulis and his second wife; his first wife tragically passed away in a car accident in 1975. He beams with pride when he talks about how they share his love of learning. When he reminisces about his time at Moravian Preparatory School, he remembers with fondness "the dedicated teachers who inspired me to further learning" and "my classmates, many with whom I have maintained a bond that lasts even after all these 67 years, only interrupted by the unfortunate passing of some of those friends." For current Moravian Academy students, he shares his manifesto titled, "The Path to a Successful Earthly Journey," that begins: "The most important axiom is to treat ALL people with respect, honesty and decency, including those who reside on the lowest rung of life’s ladder." Soulis lists advice on living a meaningful, successful life, and the influence of his experience is apparent. "Work hard," he writes. "Always be curious and eager to learn [...] Be willing to change and adapt. Accept that the world will always be in constant flux."

He concludes, "Never allow the striving for financial success to interfere with the values that bring richness to your soul and to your inner peace."

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Students Look Forward To Unleashing Their Curiosity

IN OUR NEWLY RENOVATED, HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE ART, MUSIC, & LIBRARY SPACE By Stephanie Vasta and Bob Zaiser

Each year our second-grade students study Japanese culture in a themebased unit of study. In language arts, they read the Japanese story, Peach Boy, and then take the story to the stage complete with Japanese accompaniment of Orff instruments played by several non-cast members of the class. In art, students create Setsubun masks, cherry blossom paintings, and carp kites while in science they learn about tsunamis and the weather patterns around Mount Fuji. They showcase their learning in an exhibition that involves oral presentations, physical demonstrations, art galleries, and music performances. They spend many hours transferring instruments and materials between rooms and setting up temporary exhibitions just for the showcase night. Research into the psychology of learning shows that the most effective learning is a process of inquiring and posing challenges, creating new understandings and skills, testing them out and refining, and then sharing and getting feedback from others. This kind of learning requires curiosity, creativity, perseverance, and empathy. It takes a special school environment to immerse young people in this learning process and bring it alive. When we see how facts and ideas connect with one another across subjects, we construct meaning and when we’re able to communicate that meaning, our learning is further reinforced. The practice of integrating curriculum across disciplines is so effective because it helps learning become more relevant for students. continued on page 40

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The Mindler Library was named by an anonymous donor to celebrate the long career of Ann Sloyer Mindler ‘70P at our school. The library honors the curiosity and love of learning that Mrs. Mindler brought to Moravian Academy each of her 47 years as an educator. May children always find a home here.

"When our learners meet in the idea room with our art teacher and our librarian, and they think about problems in the world and where ideas can lead us, and then they go into either the creativity studio or the library to do research or to make prototypes so that they can showcase their ideas for others — they're engaging in making new content for the world, not just absorbing other people's content. You see that in this space. That's why we wanted to build something that was future forward but still connected to who we are as a school." —Jeff Z emsky, Head of School

CREATING A HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE CURRICULUM IS VERY CHALLENGING IN SMALL, HIGHLY STRUCTURED SPACES. In order to help us create a more integrated curriculum, we need spaces that allow learning to flow from one subject to the next, we need to imagine spaces that aren’t just dedicated to math or science or language arts. We need to imagine larger, more creative spaces that allow students to dive deeper into their learning by creating understanding, showcasing their interpretations and connecting ideas across disciplines and with other learners. On November 13, 2020, we were able to unveil our new, highly collaborative space on the second floor of the CE Building with funds raised from the Reimagining the Schoolhouse Campaign. Due to COVID restrictions, we have only been able to lightly use the space for Suzuki lessons and some art classes. We can’t wait for the 2021-22 school year to see how our students are able to unleash their curiosity and bring their learning to life. To date, we have raised more than $620,000 towards these renovations on our way to a goal of $1,000,000. There is still time to support this project by going to www.moravianacademy.org/giving. To learn more, email Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, at bzaiser@mamail.net or call at 610-332-5291.

MAKE YOUR GIFT AT www.moravianacademy.org/giving.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

The Michael F. Hilton Creativity Studio was dedicated to the thinkers, artists, and makers of Moravian Academy and is made possible through the generosity of the Hilton Family.

When we see how facts and ideas connect with one another across subjects, we construct meaning and when we’re able to communicate that meaning, our learning is further reinforced. The practice of integrating curriculu m across disciplines is so effective because it helps learning become more relevant for students. JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Science Teacher Inspires Alumnus to Take Flight

Years before becoming the youngest licensed pilot in the state of New Jersey, Max Demsky '20 was a Lower School student in Brad Pomeroy's science class. Now, he flies small single-engine planes about three times per week while pursuing mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware.

Hi, Mr Pomeroy! I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I thought I would tell you about some pretty exciting news, as well as how you affected the outcome. If you don’t remember me, my name is Max Demsky and I was in your science class for two years in a row. I went to all of the rocket camps you did at the upper school and brought my legos into class whenever I could. I really enjoyed all my time learning from you. If you remember, I started flying when I was 13 and had the goal of getting my pilot's license one day. It was definitely very difficult for me as a 13-year-old to understand some of these big concepts. However, I remember vividly you telling me that you had attempted to get your license, but never managed to get all the way through. (So I hope this story inspires you to get back in it!) When I became a junior in high school, I had to stop flying for about two years. I constantly thought about what you said, how it always bothered you. So now, five years later, I’m proud to say I have finally managed to attain my pilot's license. Your words had kept me motivated to not let this goal slip by. Thank you for this. I hope you and your family are all safe and life is good. If you would ever like to go for a flight or grab coffee, feel free to reach out! I could even give you some lessons! From student to teacher! Thank you again for devoting your career to helping kids like me reach their dreams. Max

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Hi Max! Of course, I remember you! CONGRATULATIONS! Well done! I'm so proud of what you have accomplished, and I'm honored to have played a small part in heading you in that direction! I am so VERY EXCITED for you! It's hearing from students like you that reinforces the idea that teachers can make a positive difference in the lives of those we teach. Thanks for reaching out, sharing your exciting news, and letting me know that I played a significant, positive role in your life! You're awesome, Max! Keep on pursuing your passions! With admiration, Mr. Pomeroy

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

OUR COMMUNITY

Do you have a story about a time when a Moravian Academy teacher profoundly impacted your life? Tell us about it! Send an email to Julia Fox, Associate Director of Communications, at jfox@mamail.net and your story might be included in a future issue of the Journal!

Giving Tuesday in 1742 Minutes

426 GIFTS 383 DONORS

$85,685 RAISED

By Susan Parent Giving Tuesday in 1742 Minutes was a tremendous success. Parents, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, parents of alumni, and friends of Moravian Academy leapt at the opportunity to make a difference on our one-and-only giving day of the year! Together, we exceeded our goals and collected 426 gifts from 383 unique donors for a total of $85,685 in just 1742 Minutes! This total accounts for nearly a quarter of this year’s overall goal of $450,000. Collaboration really made the difference. Volunteers reached out to the community, spreading the word about our unique needs this year. Alumni posed challenges and matches. With pandemic relief, safety for our students and teachers, and the continuation of excellence in education at the forefront, this made gift-giving meaningful and important to everyone. Thank you ALL for participating, whether it be your time, talents, or treasure. Every aspect of Giving Tuesday was a success because of collective efforts. The Annual Fund’s fiscal year ends June 30, 2021. Streamlined and exciting, watch for the final six-week push starting May 15. It’s never too late to join the effort.

MAKE YOUR GIFT AT www.moravianacademy.org/giving. 44

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INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

The Duck Dash By Jess McPherson

On Saturday, February 20, 2021, Moravian Academy successfully held its first Duck Dash! Head of School Jeff Zemsky and Assistant Head of School Erica D'Agostino '91 dumped two tubs filled with 283 rubber ducks into a local stream, and the race was on! Student announcers gave viewers a live play-by-play of the action until the last duck crossed the finish line. Congratulations to our winners: First Place: Duck #29 Dawn Fisher Second Place: Duck #4 Stefanie Traub Third Place: Duck #1 Heather Maeding Last Duck: Duck #5 Christine Mira Thank you to everyone that supported the Duck Dash, especially (or including) our Co-chairs of the event, Regina Carolan, Beth Brown, Colleen Marshall, and their families.

IF YOU MISSED THE LIVE ACTION, YOU CAN VIEW THE VIDEO ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/duckdash.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Zoom Tuesdays: A Silver Lining During a Pandemic By Susan Parent

Since October 2020, alumni from Moravian Preparatory School, Moravian Seminary for Girls, and Moravian Academy have been engaging on Zoom calls with Bob Zaiser and Susan Parent. Classmates meeting one another after decades have transpired into exciting developments. Conversations have been wild and wonderful, from meeting former prom dates to talking about memorable teachers, or leading start-up companies to enjoying grandchildren, reconnecting has been a lot of fun. These gatherings are continuing into spring, so keep an eye out on the Moravian website, alumni Facebook page, or Moravian LinkedIn. Keep the engagement coming! TO SEE THE FULL ALBUM OF ZOOM TUESDAY PHOTOS, VISIT www.moravianacademy.org/ZoomTuesdays.

SAVE THE DATES Mark your calendars with these upcoming virtual and in-person alumni events!

Alumni Virtual Reunion / Gatherings May 14 and May 15, 2021 • • • • • •

Class Zoom Gatherings Virtual Class Visits Virtual Campus Tours Alumni Career Networks with Students Remote Alumni Circle Celebration Updates from Administration

In-Person Alumni Activities October 22 and 23, 2021 • Friday Alumni Cocktail Gathering and Warm-up • Alumni Luncheon • Tours • Alumni at the Auction

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

CLASS NOTES

Class Class Notes Notes 48

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Little Lions

WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN TO OUR MORAVIAN ACADEMY FAMILY 1. Irene van Gaalen Tyburski '01 and husband Matt, with their daughters Chloe Anna and Cora 2. Alden, grandson of Mary Beth Stolz Passaro '75 3. Ophelia Mae Clark Parzych, daughter of Karalynne Clark Parzych '07 and Alex Parzych '07

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE! We love to help you celebrate your milestones. Send us a quick note and a picture if you have one and we’ll include your news in the next issue of the Moravian Academy Journal. Send submissions to: bzaiser@mamil.net

JOURNAL JOURNAL | WINTER | FALL2021 2019

CLASS NOTES spent as an exchange student from the school (to Nice, France). She also appreciates having been a member of the last graduating class of Moravian Prep. Barbara Wint Wolf '71P reports “After Prep, I studied French and German, while living in Paris and Munich for three years. After getting my master’s degree in Cincinnati, I moved to California, taught high school for 5 years before changing careers to stock broker for 35 years in SanFrancisco. In that time, I got married, had two daughters and now have three grandkids and have been retired for 4 years” Barbara was delighted to reconnect on Zoom, even recognizing her prom date on the call, though they had not seen one another for 50 years!

1975 Duane Gumbs '75 writes, “I will be married 40 years on July 11, am blessed with two children, Victoria 34 and Branden 29 and 1 grandchild Dorian 2 whom I adore. I moved from Edison, NJ last year after living there for 62 yrs, and now live in Hamilton, NJ about 20 Brad Owen '61 with daughters Dana and Vanessa, son-in-law Gavin and wife Deenie. minutes from my grandson. My wife is Sheila Long '61P enjoyed reconnecting retired but I don't think I will ever fully 1961 with classmates on a Zoom call. She retire. I’m running 2 companies now. We Brad Owen '61 Moravian Preparatory shared, “I attended Prep K-9 and now own rental properties that I manage and School shared this summary of post MPS live in Windsor, upstate New York. Since a home improvement company. I lost a life: After earning my PhD in Ecology Covid, we've had quite a few guests but brother 4 years ago to cancer, and have a I held environmental positions in the can’t offer our usual hospitality. Instead, brother and sister in Anguilla where our academic, industry and consulting friends use three different guest spaces: family owns and runs the Rendezvous world, finally retiring early to be a full 2 hermitages (one-room cabins) and Bay Hotel. I continue to keep in touch time environmental consultant, mostly a larger guest house. We are currently with my Moravian classmates and look in the Appalachian region. Meanwhile, attracting people who just want solitude forward to the day when we can meet in my wife and I operated a small farm and time away from their busy lives. person. near Pittsburgh, built houses, had numerous rental units, and various other Jeff Risberg '75 shared broad life 1971 entrepreneurial pursuits, finally "retiring" experiences on the 1975-76 Alumni zoom. to the North Carolina mountains where Tory Baker Taylor '71 retired a few He has made a career out of applying we bought a large greenhouse business. years ago from her paralegal position technology in new areas, which has This business will eventually be passed at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. She is included the music industry (where on to our oldest daughter (biologist also), loving retirement, and is keeping very he worked with great people such as who along with our younger daughter busy, mainly due to the fact that she and Stevie Wonder and Chick Corea), one (professional dancer) live within our her husband, Jack, have 5 very young assignment to the Navy submarine force acreage surrounded by National Forest grandchildren living less than a mile in Hawaii, and 4 or 5 startup companies about 12 miles from the highest mountain from them in Berwyn, PA, outside of including one that keeps Wall Street of Eastern USA.. Currently, as I let the Philadelphia, and 3 older ones nearby as running, and one that motivates people reigns of the greenhouse management well. Tory and her husband are looking to stay healthy. Moved to Palo Alto, pass to the younger generation. I have forward to getting back to sailing on the California in 1985, and has a family returned to my love of art and am busy Chesapeake Bay and traveling once this with children following a similar path of developing my portfolio, restoring antique Covid situation is somewhat resolved. technology and creativity. Mid-career cars, gardening, and exploring the Tory values her 9 years at Moravian at MBA at Stanford. Currently combining wilderness surrounding our property. the in-town campus, with her 11th grade many of these experiences in a research

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fellowship in AI and national security. He wrote: “I really felt that the experience at Moravian gave me the chance to believe that I could try new things and succeed. Much of my life wouldn't have happened without that. Stay safe. Please visit.” See photo below left. Mary Beth Stolz Passaro '75 shared, “I live in New Jersey now, just over the George Washington Bridge, a huge shock since living in Manhattan all my adult life. I can walk to and over the bridge if necessary but now have a much more car-oriented life and don't see people I know on the street anymore. I have one grandson, born just before the pandemic. I visited with them luckily just before getting infected with what might have been Covid in March. My three sons are all still active musicians though only the youngest works in the arts (in technical theater); the other two are in software. Here's my sweet grandson.”

1976 Gary Krasnov '76 was a Navy Pilot and retired as a Commander from the Navy Reserves. He also flew for Delta Air Lines for 35 years and opted to take an early retirement last fall. As a dual career he has been in the financial services industry and currently serves as the Chief Compliance Officer and VP of Airline Strategy for RAA, a registered investment advisor serving the airline community. Married for 36 wonderful years with two grown boys both of whom attended the US Air Force Academy.

1981

1982

Didier Matel '81 is surviving Winter in New England by swapping woodstove tips with classmate Bill Regan ( ’81), who retired to the area after a career in D.C. He is busy with wife Penny caring for two adopted mustangs, and hopes to visit classmate Lee Murray Honsinger ( ’81 ) in Idaho one day, to see mustangs in the wild like she has! Otherwise, Didier is doing his best to stay healthy and safe, and looks forward to his many Moravian friends and their families being able to have things get back to normal soon.

Paul Isaac '82 shared that, “I’m extremely busy now with starting my Running News Online Business and working my day Job more than full time, etc. Take a look at my Website, runningnewsonline.com.

1985

Angela Brusis '85 writes that” I studied French culture and language for 1 year in Aix-en-Provence at the Université d'Aix-Marseille, then went on to graduate from University of Michigan. I worked for Thomson Consumer Electronic for a while During the Moravian 1980 & 1981 classes in my home town, then travelled through zoom reunion, Bill Coale '81 commented India, and Morocco on a 1 year sabbatical. he and his wife Cricket settled their family I then got my Master of Anthropology in the mid 1990's in the small coastal from the Universities of Göttingen and town of Manchester, Mass, just north of Hamburg, thesis on Genghis Khan and Boston. The town's small school district cultural identity. I lived on the Canary his two children attended frequently islands after that for 5 years, working reminded him of the positive experiences as a traditional purely medical Thai he values from attending Moravian masseuse. A skill I obtained doing field Academy. He recalled two aspects. First, work in Thailand at a traditional medicine Moravian's small school community Hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The where all the teachers could recognize Plan was a one year break, but it turned every student, even those students into 5 years and my daughter was born they have not had in a class. Second, and lived her first 3 years there. I returned the influence of sustained teacher to my home in the Black Forest in 2005 connections from multi-year classroom and have been working as a ESL teacher teachers. A memorable teacher was his and translator ever since, and started German teacher Gudrun Matel (mother my career in the International Office at of classmate Didier Matel '81) with her DHBW in 2007. 4 years of individual guidance & high expectations for conduct.

1. Jeff Risberg '75, wife Emily, children Brandon and Lauren 2, 3. Angela Brusis '85 JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

CLASS NOTES

1. Didier Matel '81 with his mustangs 2. Bill Moyer '97 with sons Ben and Beau and wife Mary Ann 3. Monica Masters '86 with husband John

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

1986 Monica Masters '86 is a Moravian legacy. Her dad (George Hudimac) also went to Moravian (Prep) and graduated in 1957. Monica shared, “My husband John and I live in Chicago about 2 blocks off of Michigan Avenue on the 52 floor of a 56 floor building. We travel to Florida often for business and to visit friends. We are avid sailors and race competitively in offshore regattas on Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Recently we placed 3rd in our section of the Race to Mackinac (this race started in 1898). It was great to reconnect with other classmates virtually a few months ago and reminisce about the fun we all had at Moravian and what a great experience it was.

1989 Maud Maron '89, a Senior Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society for NYC, is running for City Council in New York City.

1990 William Chen '90 writes, "Even though I only attended Moravian 1978-81, I am very grateful for the experience. In the last twenty years, I have been working in a small trading company in engineering products in the greater New York area. In my spare time, I enjoy reading about history, no doubt stimulated by the beauty of Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley, gardening, and cooking. Look forward to getting back in touch with the Moravian community!"

1993 Pas Simpson '93 was profiled in the Morning Call recently. The story entitled, “2021 must be about healing, community building,” highlighted Pas’ work with Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley. Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley is the only Black-led, antiracist, liberation-based volunteer-driven grassroots organization within the Lehigh Valley. Our board, staff and volunteers serve the community in which they live, work and pray.

1995 Zac Cohen '95, an Allentown attorney and a former president of the Lehigh

County Bar Association, is the first lawyer to announce a bid for one of two seats that will be open on the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas bench in 2021. A Democrat, Cohen said he will cross-file to appear on both parties’ ballots. He came in second place in the 2019 race won by Judge Anna-Kristie Morffi Marks. Zac is a partner at the Allentown firm Lesavoy Butz and Seitz, and has focused primarily on civil litigation and commercial law. He served as a clerk to Judge Robert Freedberg, former president judge of Northampton County and a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge. Mike Howard '95 shared that “After 3.5 incredible years road tripping the USA, we’ve reached our 50th state! And to think, we almost called it off. Just as we were about to leave in 2017, Trump took office and the tension between party and state lines made us question if America was a place we wanted to explore. But having been to 60+ countries, we weren’t going to be scared away from our own. We left on what we thought would be a one-year road trip, but as the months rolled on...our love and curiosity for the US grew. We went deeper into the bayou, the plains, hollers, and backwoods, and kept meeting lovely locals—like Dave the fifth-generation hay farmer, Teeny the Cajun dance hall owner, Coyote the Cherokee auto-body artist, Jeff the Mormon cowboy, Susie the Dollar General clerk, and Mike the Montana lumberjack. We weren’t sure of their political affiliations, but we knew they were good people. Driving around the country, we saw plenty of angry lawn signs and bumper stickers (and being white, there is obviously racism we didn’t see), but whenever we actually met someone…any hostilities vanished, even if just for a beer. Now we have elected a new president and he is calling for unity. And while that may sound far-fetched after this bloodbath of a news cycle… we’ve met America, and we know it’s possible.”

1997 William "Bill" Moyer '97 shared, “I currently live in Broomall, PA with my wife Mary Ann and my 2 boys Ben (7) and Beau (5). I work for Merck in Manufacturing IT. In my free time I enjoy hiking with my family, trail running, and fixing up our historic home.”

1999 David Orsi '99 has now spent over 8 years in the Minneapolis / St Paul, MN area working as an IT manager and IT Project Manager for the State of the Minnesota, TCF Bank, The Toro Company, and United Healthcare most recently. In his down time he travels as much as possible and spent several weeks in Italy and Germany in 2018, plus Costa Rica and Mexico. This past year he’s been making frequent trips to the North Shore of Minnesota and enjoying Lake Superior. For the future David is planning his next move, possible to the East Coast again. He is looking to make a career move into something that blends IT software development with historical research, like GIS mapping of historical events. David just turned 40 and many of the Class of 1999 are turning 40 this year!

2001 Irene van Gaalen Tyburski '01 and husband Matt welcomed their daughter Chloe Anna to the family in September 2020. She joins big sister Cora (4 years old). The family resides in Towson, Maryland. Dan Rabinowtz '01 shared, “I'm the Educational Technologist at Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences. My hands have been very full this last year, helping to enable professors to deliver instruction online. In April, I, my wife, Adrienne, and our 2 kids, Mira (6) and Jake (4) bought a home in Mansfield, MA. Also, I'm in my second year of an evening MBA program at BU, focused on Social Impact.”

2002 Geoff Finger '02, a foreign service officer with U.S. State Department in Monterrey, Mexico, will return to Washington in mid-March, along with his wife Claire and daughters Louisa (5) and Margot (2). He’ll complete training before he begins a new posting in Costa Rica. Chelsea Severson '02 writes, “In September 2019 I relocated from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA to join the in-house legal team at Amazon Studios, the studio branch of Amazon that creates all of our “Amazon Originals” movies and shows. I support our JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

CLASS NOTES financial planning and analysis (FP&A) roles across wealth management and management consulting industries. I currently work in Corporate Finance at a Fortune 500 mortgage loan company where I lead Enterprise Forecasting, Planning and Reporting. I am also pursuing a Master’s degree in Management at Harvard University - fascinating subjects such as change management, org behavior, strategic information systems (IT, AI, digital transformation) and sustainability keep me busy, and I hope to graduate in Spring 2022. My husband, who I met while working and living in Washington DC, and I recently relocated to the Lehigh Valley where we look forward to being involved in the community, including supporting Moravian Academy in its future endeavors. During my free time, I enjoy taking our 7 lb Maltipoo on walks, traveling, trying new recipes, and supporting my husband (from the sidelines) as he competes in various races including Ironman and triathlons.

2008 Chelsea Severson '02 with husband Mike and rescue pup, Macho Nishant Rastogi '08 is doing exciting

marketing, PR, licensing and distribution teams in all the creative ways they bring our content and talent to our customers. Working at a movie studio that’s also part of a fast-paced technology company means no two days are ever the same, and even during a pandemic, we’re busier than ever before. Having spent most of my legal career in the food and beverage industry, joining Amazon Studios was a challenging change of pace but an exciting one, and I’m still learning something new every day. When I’m not watching Prime Video, I’m usually out enjoying my new neighborhood – Venice Beach – or exploring the desert or hiking trails near LA with my husband Mike and our rescue dog, a blue heeler/hound mix named Macho.”

2005 Katherine Clark Godiksen '05 No doubt that a silver lining to the pandemic was creating the opportunity to reconnect with the Moravian Academy community, which has played such an instrumental role in shaping who we have become today. I had a really nice time

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

things. After spending many years catching up with Peter, Andrew, and Amin outside of PA following high school, - hearing about their careers and families. including time in Boston and Chicago, Nish was excited to move closer to home Currently, I'm living in Connecticut with when he moved back to Philly in 2018, my husband, Brian, and our 18-month after finishing his MBA. He currently old daughter, Katelynn, where I'm a Cardiology fellow at Yale University - New works at New Rhein Healthcare, a biotech and medical device venture Haven Health System, specializing in firm he helped launch in 2018, where Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology. It was also great to reminisce he evaluates and advises start-up companies developing new medical about memorable physics lessons with technologies. Nish and his wife Devi, an Mr. Bross. In addition, on another zoom, OB/GYN resident at Penn, live in their "Lunch break with retired faculty and new home in Fishtown, enjoy exploring alumni," it was absolutely wonderful to see our beloved teachers and hear about Philly’s food scene and attending Philly sports events (pre-COVID), and are their retirement adventures. expecting a baby boy this spring!

2007 Karalynne Clark Parzych '07 and Alex Parzych '07 announce the birth of Ophelia Mae Clark Parzych on December 10, 2020. See photo #3 on page 45. Olga Sklyarova '07 is back in the Valley and is a member of Moravian’s Alumni Board. She offered this update: “In the ~10 years since graduating from George Washington University in DC with a degree in Finance, I’ve held

Rebecca Margolis '08 shared, “I just moved to Pasadena CA, but had been living in St. Louis for the past five years working for a corporate relocation company. I've held a few different roles at the company, most currently as an instructional designer and trainer, where I create training materials (videos, guides, etc.) and lead trainings for our internal employees as well as for our suppliers and clients. I speak Spanish and am glad for the opportunity to practice speaking and writing in Spanish on occasion for

work. While in St. Louis I also taught a weight lifting class at a few gyms in the area and sang with a few groups including the St. Louis Chamber Chorus.”

2009 Congratulations to Marissa Zondag '09, winner of the AFP Eastern PA Chapter's 2021 Chamberlain Scholarship! Marissa, the leadership gift officer at Moravian College, will have the opportunity to attend AFP's ICON in June 2021, the world's number one conference for fundraising professionals. The conference is three days of speakers, workshops and networking sessions and "all the fundraising training, trends, and meaningful connections you need to make more impact."

2015

2017

2018

Julia DePillo '17 was recently named the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Women in Science Society. Julia is a 4th year biochemistry major with minors in microbiology and philosophy at San Diego State University. Julia is a researcher in Dr. John Love’s biochemistry lab studying proteins. She has been working with the Women in Science Society for almost 3 years at both Chapter and National levels. Julia is honored to be able to continue to promote, educate and motivate women through her work with the Women in Science Society.

Cassie Nataro '18 was selected to be the Vice President of Programs for Baylor Activities Council at Baylor University. The BAC helps coordinate all university events with other student organizations.

2019 Izzy Martino '19 writes, “I am currently a second year intended Astrophysics major at the University of Chicago. I am considering studying abroad in Athens next year and possibly picking up a Creative Writing minor. I am president of my house and participate in both Fire Escape Films (a filmmaking group) and Le Vorris and Vox Circus (a performing arts group).”

Jaycee Brown '15 started a new job at Meera Salon and Day Spa. Stefan Joseph '15 writes, “After graduating from MA in 2015, I studied Computer Science and Game Design at Cornell University. After that, I shipped out to Portland, Oregon to participate in a rotational program at Nike. I cycled through three different technology teams during the program, with just a six month stint with each one; suffice to say, I learned a whole lot in a pretty short amount of time! I just recently completed my final rotation of the program and transitioned into a permanent role at Nike. I'm currently working from home in Oregon and looking forward to meeting my new coworkers in person when we eventually get back to the office.” Annie Marmaras '15 officially started her new position as an Executive and Operations Assistant at Marmaras and Smith LLC.

1. Olga Sklyarova '07 with husband Anil and fluffball Winston 2. Ryan Peslis '15 hikes in Zion National Park, Utah

Ryan Peslis '15 writes, "I have been working at PwC in NYC within the Deals Actuarial Consultant Practice since graduating college. In my spare time, I volunteer with the Global Economic Awareness project, acting as a mentor and teaching economic literacy to students in Indonesia, Colombia, and other developing nations.”

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

Alumni/ae Deaths OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST.

Sylvia Wyatt ’47S May 16, 2020 Jane Bannan '42P August 28, 2020 Violet S. Maxwell '47P November 12, 2020 Clark P. Smith, Jr. '48P September 21, 2020 Jim Tyler '59P November 20, 2020 Thomas Judson Smull '65P January 5, 2021 Maryellen (Thomas) Blass'65P November 16, 2020 Helen Richardson '73 September 7, 2020 Elinor P. Dinsmore (former faculty) November 19, 2020

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

In Memoriam

KATHLEEN (KATE) CARAGHER

In Memoriam

Kathleen (Kate) Caragher, faculty member, passed away November 21, 2020. Mrs. Caragher began her 22-year career at Moravian Academy in September 1998, and over the years has influenced countless students, colleagues, parents with passed away November 21, 2020. Mrs. Caragher began her 22-year career Kathleen (Kate) Caragher,and faculty member, her patented studyAcademy techniques, listening ear, andand over the years has influenced countless students, colleagues, and at Moravian in September 1998, infectious laughter. parents with her patented study techniques, listening ear, and infectious laughter. For many she was caring and firm voice For alumni, many alumni, shethe was the caring and firm voice that made it possible for them to achieve their goals. During her that made it possible them to achieve their the Upper School’s academic support program, peer-tutoring, and Student tenure, she wasfor instrumental in growing goals. Support During her tenure, instrumental Team, and she waswas a joy-filled and creative planner for proms, winter formals, and other school celebrations. in growing the Upper School’s academic support program, peer-tutoring, Student Before she began and changing theSupport lives of Team, students at Moravian Academy, Mrs. Caragher was a student herself, and was a joy-filled andNotre creative planner proms, graduating from Dame High for School and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on her way to earning a winterMaster’s formals, in and other Education school celebrations. Special and Teaching at Lehigh University. BeforeMrs. she Caragher began changing lives ofand students loved tothe decorate she applied this love to her home, herself, her friends, and any wall she could at Moravian Caragher get herMrs. hands on. Shewas hadaastudent passionherself, for gardening, where she spent most of her free time, and she enjoyed sewing graduating from creative Notre Dame Highwith School and other projects andand for her friends. She loved to spend time with her family, her dogs, her students, Bloomsburg of Pennsylvania on her way and herUniversity friends. She loved to laugh. to earning a Master’s in Special Education and Teaching at Lehigh University. Mrs. Caragher loved to decorate and she applied this love to her home, herself, her friends, and any wall she could get her hands on. She had a passion for gardening, where she spent most of her free time, and she enjoyed sewing and other creative projects with and for her friends. She loved to spend time with her family, her dogs, her students, and her friends. She loved to laugh.

ELINOR P. DINSMORE Former Moravian faculty member, Elinor P. Dinsmore, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at Moravian Hall Square. She was a beloved teacher in the Lower and Middle Schools at Moravian Preparatory School/Moravian Academy in Bethlehem from 1967 until her retirement in 1993. Survivors include Patti Dinsmore ‘73, Cindy Dinsmore ‘73, and Jodi Dinsmore ‘79. Beloved by so many, former students nominated Dinsmore to be an Honorary Alumna in 2018.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2021

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Mark Your Calendar Upcoming Events To view a full list of events, visit www.moravianacademy.org/calendar. May 14-15 Alumni Reunion May 15 Country Fair June 4 Last Day of School (Primer, PreK, and Kindergarten) June 8 Last Day of School (Grades 1-5) June 9 Last Day of School (Grades 6-11)

THEN NOW

Students at Moravian Preparatory School build a snow fort in 1963.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Mrs. Matlock's Fourth Grade class climbs upon a snow pile, enjoying the winter weather in 2021.