Moravian Academy Journal - Winter 2019/Creativity Issue by Moravian Academy

ISSUE

CRE A TIV I TY

1 WINTER 2019

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

EDITORS Amey Owen Stephanie Vasta

DEAR READERS,

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tracy Bozik Brian Elstein Robin Flemming Amanda Jackson Amey Owen Stephanie Vasta Bob Zaiser Jeff Zemsky

PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Amico Amy Bowser Marco Calderon GDA Integrated Services Michelle Leyesa Kalli Miller ’19 Amey Owen PJ Scarperi ’20 Stephanie Vasta Lindsay Woodruff Bob Zaiser

DESIGN Imagevolution

PRINTING Christmas City

The Moravian Academy Journal is published by Moravian Academy, a non-profit educational institution, 7 East Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 (610-868-4744). Moravian Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, financial aid awards, and athletic or other school administered programs. Applicants who are disabled (or applicants’ family members who are disabled) requiring any type of accommodation during the application process, or at any other time, are encouraged to identify themselves and indicate what type of accommodation is needed. © 2019 by Moravian Academy. Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Postmaster: send changes of address to Moravian Academy Journal, 7 East Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. www.moravianacademy.org

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Our Culture of Curiosity encourages students to become agents of their own learning by finding passions, developing internal motivations, and learning how to learn. At the heart of this strategic vision is the concept of creativity the art of thinking beyond current boundaries and synthesizing concepts to make new discoveries. In this Journal issue dedicated to creativity, we highlight just a few examples of the ingenuity happening everyday in our classrooms (see pages 16-19). Under the guidance of dedicated faculty members, such as Lower School art teacher Mr. Brian Elstein (featured on pages 20-22), our students continue to challenge current ways of thinking and open doors to new opportunities. Throughout the magazine, you’ll discover how members of our community are harnessing their creativity through projects that span from solving realworld problems to helping pop culture installations go viral. For example, on page 12, you’ll learn about Neil Deshmukh’s ’20 life-changing mobile apps for underserved populations; on page 31, you can read about filmmaker Ani Acopian’s ‘12 win at the GIPHY Film Fest; and be sure not miss out on #LivingYourBestLife (on page 29) with designer Carlos Estrada ’08, who worked to help launch “The Private Jet Experience” via SnapChat. We hope this issue brings you joy and inspires creativity in your own life. Sincerely, Stephanie Vasta Director of Communications and Marketing

Amey Owen Assistant Director of Communications

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 International Festival for All Families 23 3 Remembering Arnav Krishna ’20 4 Field & Court: Fall Sports Highlights 9 Comenius Corner 10 A Creative Way to Define Creativity 11

Lions Take the Stage

Opening Doors, Bridging Futures

24 Moravian Academy Parents’ Association 25 Auction: Let’s Go Back to the ‘80s to Give Back For the Future! 26 Vespers: Ringing in the Holiday Season

12 Artificial Intelligence for Social Good: How One Student is Creating Life-Changing Solutions for Underserved Populations

After Moravian: Creative Paths

Reunion 2018

39 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Creativity in the Classroom

20 Japanese Nebula Festival Sparks Inspiration for Art Teacher

34 Class Notes

Alumni Updates

Coast to Coast Alumni Tour

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR ALL FAMILIES

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the International Festival for All Families on November 9th, 2018. The rain couldn’t keep our community from celebrating our diversity through delicious food, fun entertainment, and thought-provoking programming put together by the dedicated members of the Global Awareness Committee of the Parents’ Association. The night kicked off with storytelling, African drumming, and henna, with plenty of time for interested parties to enjoy all three. Henna was a huge hit thanks to stick-on stencils that made the art form a bit easier to achieve while still producing beautiful flowers, butterflies, and scrolling patterns. Many of the Upper School students attended the showing of the Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” and participated in a discussion following the film. Before the long line formed at the food tables, the younger Lower School students paraded through the festival giggling and laughing dressed in clothing from the countries they chose to represent. As usual, the food did not disappoint, and no one went home hungry. A very special thank you to the families that provided the many excellent dishes for us to share and to committee co-chairs Ms. Kelli Greene and Mrs. Fatima Jaffer.

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Among the speakers at the service was Arnav’s advisor, Upper School English teacher Mrs. Amanda Jackson, who shared the following poem she wrote for Arnav:

REMEMBERING ARNAV KRISHNA ’20 When 16-year-old Arnav Krishna ’20 arrived home, he was greeted by a cheering crowd of nearly 100 people. Unfortunately, his journey didn’t come after achieving his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in cycling. But the trip followed a training regimen every bit as arduous, and the cheers were every bit as genuine, as a post-Olympic parade. Arnav, who passed away in December 2018 after a two-year battle against osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer that strikes only 400 teenagers annually, spent his last week celebrating life with friends and family. A last-minute VIP trip to see the Philadelphia 76ers play the Brooklyn Nets, complete with souvenir shoes and a visit with several of the players. A trip home to swap stories and jokes with friends. Hugs and prayers with his parents Nitin and Sunita, his twin brother Dhruv, and his grandparents. His life journey was too short, but Arnav’s fight against cancer brought him wisdom beyond his years. “Cancer has made me grateful for all of life’s gifts and has taught me many life lessons that I will never forget,” he wrote last year. “It has taught me to be positive even in the darkest of times. As Michael Jordan once said, ‘Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up, figure out how to climb it’.”

Dear Arnav, Whenever something happens that adults can’t quite explain, When we don’t really know how to respond, We say things like, “No one prepared me for this,” or “Why didn’t anyone warn me it would be this way,” or “They didn’t give me a handbook for that.” But for this—well, for this, there are Volumes Upon Volumes Written about every kind of grief. How to cope, how to memorialize, how to heal. But nothing in that library of books, poems, or songs Eulogies, elegies, or essays Quite captures your particular smile, Or your fierce determination, Or your effortless grace. How could anyone who didn’t know you ever understand the uniqueness of youYour beautiful soul, your quiet kindness, your relentless positivity. How could anyone ever articulate the specific absence of you, The space left in our homes, in our classrooms, in our hearts. And so, this is my promise to you: In the days and weeks and months and years ahead, We will fill the space that remains with goodness and warmthWith stories, With rose petals, With light. And in the small moments that conjure you up unexpectedly in our minds– A glimmer of forgotten gold glitter on the sidewalk, catching the sunlight just so, An Eagles victory, a 76ers win, A sole cyclist on a country road– We will think of you, and we will smile Knowing that you left the world a better place than it was Simply because you were here.

Arnav adopted the mantra ‘Relentless Positivity’ to help him through the tough chemotherapy treatments and difficult surgeries. Those words have become the legacy his friends and family will carry with them on their own life journey. Contributions in Arnav’s memory should be made to Steps to Cure Sarcoma (https://stepstocuresarcoma.com/). Photo at right: Upper School woodworking teacher Michael Brolly created an illuminated box that was displayed at the memorial service. Throughout the week leading up to the service, students wrote memories and notes on paper tags and attached them to the spokes of a bicycle wheel, as Arnav had been a nationally ranked bicyclist.

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FIELD COURT SOCCER In a historical season, both the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer teams won their respective 2018 District XI Team Championships. 2018 was the first year in the program’s existence that the girls’ team won their first district championship and the first year the team competed in the state tournament. This is the seventh time that our boys’ soccer team has reached the PIAA State quarterfinal round. Because of their outstanding athletic performance, Austin Recinos ’20 and Gabrielle Oudin ’20 were both recognized as members of the 2018 Colonial League Soccer All-Stars 1st Team. Carson Danaher ’19 and Cameron Rohatgi ’19 were recognized as members of the 2018 Colonial League Soccer All-Stars 2nd Team, while Chloe Oudin ’22, Maddie Tran ’19 and Nikhil Mhatre ’21 received Honorable Mention. Congratulation to all of the student-athletes and the coaching staff for a fantastic season!

D i st rict Xi1o n s! Ch a mp

photo credit: PJ Scarperi ’20

photo credit: Lehigh Valley Live

photo credit: PJ Scarperi ’20

D i st rict Xi1o n s! Ch a mp photo credit: Manny Oudin

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FIELD COURT photo credit: Cheryl Donahue

FIELD HOCKEY Our Varsity Field Hockey team’s season finished the regular season with a 13-4 record in the District XI quarterfinals. The team finished with the second best record in the Colonial League behind eventual league champion Bangor High School. With two League Championships (2015 and 2016), three District XI Championships (2015-2017), and a PIAA Championship (2016), our seniors should be proud of their legacy. Cassie Romanczuk* was recognized as a member of the 2018 Colonial League Field Hockey All-Stars 1st Team. Darby DeCastro ’20, Grace Mulligan* and Kate Costantino* were all recognized as members of the 2018 Colonial League Field Hockey All-Stars 2nd Team, while Carolyn Reilly ’19 received Honorable Mention. (* - Notre Dame High School Student) photo credit: Tom Amico

photo credit: Tom Amico

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D i st rict Xi1o n s! Ch a mp photo credit: Tom Amico

photo credit: The Morning Call

The Varsity Golf Team won the 2018 Colonial League and District XI Championships for a record fifth consecutive year, finishing the regular season with a 13-1 record. Davis Koch ’19 won the individual Colonial League Golf male title. Grace Sanborn ’21 won the individual Colonial League Golf female title, as well as the individual District XI female title. Grace also competed in the PIAA Girls’ Individual Championships in York, PA in October 2018. She finished in 18th place and was one of only four juniors to compete in the event.

photo credit: The Morning Call

GOLF

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

FIELD COURT

CROSS COUNTRY Both our Varsity Boys’ and Varsity Girls’ Cross Country competed in the District XI Team Championship in October 2018. The boys’ team finished in second place, taking home a silver medal. The team just fell two points shy of the gold medal and a trip to the PIAA Championship meet. Mason Tran ’21 was our top male finisher as he earned an 8th place finish. Our Varsity Girls Cross Country finished in 6th place. Lily Eyvazzadeh ’22 was our top female runner finishing in 7th place. Both teams also ran in the October Colonial League meet at DeSales University. The boys’ team had an excellent race finishing in fifth place, while the girls’ team placed in tenth.

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GIRLS’ TENNIS The Varsity Girls’ Tennis won the 2018 Colonial League regular season and tournament titles. Ultimately defeated by Bethlehem Catholic in the District XI finals, the team finished their regular season with a 17-1 record and an undefeated Colonial League season. Miranda Gibson ’20 and Isabella Bartolacci ’22 advanced to the District XI doubles tournament semi-finals.

COMENIUS CORNER

To stay up to date on all our latest news and happenings, please visit www.comeniuscorner.moravianacademy.org. Here’s a sneak peek into some of the amazing content you will find: YOUNG ALUMNI COLLEGE DAY

On January 4th, a group of seven young alumni returned to campus to share insights on college selection and life on campus with our current seniors and juniors. Panel participants included Vivek Katara ’16, Alex Rand ’16, Julia Costacurta ’16, Noah Ruebeck ’16, Zoe Delaney ’16, Adrianna DiMarco ’16, and Myria Zambas ’16. (See top photo)

SCHOLASTIC SCRIMMAGE BATTLES, BRINGS HOME SILVER

Moravian Academy came in second place out of 32 schools participating in this season’s PBS Channel 39 Scholastic Scrimmage competition. The team members participating in the televised matches included Alex Adams ‘20, Angela Chen ‘21, Neil Deshmukh ‘20, and Rhea Malhotra ‘20. (See photo of team below)

COUNTY CHORUS 2019

Izzy Martino ‘19 shared his experience after participating in the Northampton County Chorus concert, which the Upper School hosted on January 5th. (See photo above)

LIONS SELECTED FOR PMEA BAND FESTIVALS MRS. KUNKLE VISITS LOWER SCHOOL DR. RAS MIKEY COURTNEY VISITS MORAVIAN ACADEMY

On January 17th, we welcomed Dr. RAS Mikey Courtney, who talked with students of all ages about how to chart a career that bridges arts and academia. A big thank you to Elizabeth Burke ‘19 for connecting him with our school after she met him during a pre-professional dance seminar last summer. (See photo of Dr. Courtney and Elizabeth above.)

Former Moravian Academy Lower School Director Mrs. Ella Jane Kunkle shared her experiences growing up in the 1940s to students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Mrs. Kunkle brought in memorable toys, books, and games that were part of her childhood. (Photo of Mrs. Kunkle below)

Nico Colitas ’23, Krish Gupta ’24, Oliver Pervizpour ’25 and Faust Capobianco ’26 were all selected for PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) District Band Festivals. (See photo below)

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Once considered the product of genius or divine inspiration, creativity—the ability to spot problems and devise smart solutions—is being recast as a prized and teachable skill. –Creativity Becomes an Academic Discipline, New York Times, 2009

CREATIVITY IS THE ACT OF

EXPRESSING IDEAS AND TURNING THOUGHTS INTO REALITY; IT IS THINKING BEYOND CURRENT BOUNDARIES; IT IS SYNTHESIZING CONCEPTS TO MAKE NEW DISCOVERIES. IN ORDER TO OPERATE IN TOMORROW’S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, EVERCHANGING, GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, CREATIVITY WILL BE CRUCIAL. CREATIVITY IS WHAT FUELS BIG IDEAS, CHALLENGES NEW WAYS OF THINKING, AND OPENS THE DOOR TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 10

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A CREATIVE WAY TO DEFINE

CREATIVITY By Jeff Zemsky, Head of School

It’s time for an updated, more complicated look at creativity. Long ago I confronted my hang-ups with creativity: it does not start with a blank page, it never has. Expression might begin with an empty canvas, but creativity exists before and outside of that moment. Growing up, I remember the feelings of staring at those blank pages and wondering when lightning would strike. I also remember, as a classics major in college, realizing that timeless, visionary works of the human mind - from Shakespeare’s plays to Darwin’s explanations of evolution - build on the previous work of other people. Knowing that Shakespeare was borrowing the character and plot lines for Romeo and Juliet from the poetry of Ovid did not lessen the creative impact, it enhanced it! He was telling a timeless story about the human condition in a brilliant way. It’s time to include these ideas in our use of the word. Creativity, as we understand it, needs to celebrate those who add new understanding onto the ideas of others, who combine existing work to reveal new truths, who are responding to the limits of previous solutions to better answer the questions of today. This is why I’m excited for our students today, who are asked to solve problems in novel ways and to think critically about existing interpretations in order to make their own. So while creativity is thriving in the art studios, handbell rooms, and stages of Moravian Academy, it is also a key component in Kindergarten and calculus classes and everywhere in between. It’s also no mistake that the faculty and staff selected creativity as one of our four mission skills for the culture of curiosity vision. It takes creativity out of the hands of just the inspired few and into the hands of everyone who is willing to see and solve problems, seek feedback, and push boundaries. Our definition, seen on the left, insists that everyone can be creative by asking more questions, by using determination to refine results even after failure and to synthesize observations large and small - into new discoveries. This is the kind of creativity that we can all participate in, once we are taught, encouraged and celebrated to do so.

LIONS TAKE THE STAGE

From Upper School’s Coffeehouse performances to Middle School’s Evening of the Arts, to Lower School Players’ production of Mary Poppins, Jr., our students across divisions impressed audiences during the month of November - proving that creativity is alive and well at Moravian Academy.

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“If it was my brother, the computer would lock the door and if it was me, it would unlock the door,” said Neil. “As soon as I learned about AI, this was the first thing I wanted to try.”

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Neil Deshmukh ’20

Artificial Intelligence for Social Good: How One Student is Creating Life-Changing Solutions for Underserved Populations Three years ago, Neil Deshmukh ’20 had never heard of artificial intelligence (AI). Today, utilizing the technology, he has developed two apps that are being used around the world and is currently working on a third. And it all started because he wanted to keep his brother out of his bedroom. One day while reading about applications of AI in the real world, Neil decided to try to build a device that would recognize the difference between both him and his brother’s faces. Utilizing the coding skills he learned while on Moravian Academy’s Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) team in middle school, he inputted a few lines of code into his computer and put his device to the test. “If it was my brother, the computer would lock the door and if it was me, it would unlock the door,” said Neil. “As soon as I learned about AI, this was the first thing I wanted to try.” Luckily for people the world over, the device worked, and Neil’s curiosity in AI was solidified. “When I first started, I thought AI was like a superpower because you can basically do anything that’s within the realm of knowledge,” said Neil. “We can use artificial intelligence to replicate human thinking and solve problems that we once thought were impossible to solve. We can create solutions to help people who really need help.” Fascinated, Neil dove into exploring more about the technology, creating apps, within the last year that have life-changing implications for underserved populations all over the world. JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

Neil was motivated to create the apps, PlantumA, which helps detect and diagnose plant diseases, and VocalEyes, which helps visually impaired users navigate their environment, by significant people in his life. “When you have a personal connection to a problem, you have better knowledge of the [intricacies of the] problem and how to solve it,” added Neil. “Otherwise, you are coming at it from the outside and, sometimes, getting into the perspective of people who have the problem, that’s the hard part.”

PLANTUMAI: TREATING PLANTS WITH A SINGLE TAP Inspired by his grandfather, who is a farmer in India, Neil launched his first app, PlantumAI, in May 2017. Through frequent family trips to India, Neil met rural farmers and learned firsthand about crop diseases and the impact it has on farmers’ lives. “I have a lot of friends in India and for most of them, their entire way of life is dependent on whether their crops succeed or not,” said Neil. “When farmers are trying to get rid of a [plant] disease, they’re worried about getting food out to their family. At the time, there was no way for them to solve this problem and it was all based on guess and check. It was like flipping a coin to see if they could get their crops to grow.” Designed by Neil to be “an instantaneous disease expert in your pocket” for farmers, PlantumAI is able to detect, diagnose, and provide treatment options for plants with a push of a button. The app allows users to take a picture and immediately figure out what strain of disease, or what nutritional deficiency, is destroying the harvest. The app also runs completely offline, benefitting remote users that often don’t have reception. “In testing the app, the most interesting feedback I received was from one farmer ”who told me he wasn’t using [the app] because he had a friend at the university. For the past ten years, whenever he came across a disease, he would travel to meet his friend who is a plant pathologist. He told me that the app was amazing, but I realized he wasn’t looking for a single-solution, he was also interested in maintaining the human connection,” concluded Neil. To bridge this gap, Neil established a partnership with a local university in India that works with the farmers. Now, professors teach farmers how to use the app to treat their crops, which in turn minimizes the workload on the university, while still maintaining a cooperative experience.

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Currently, Neil is working with a group at Penn State University to work with farmers in Africa to see if the technology will work there. “So far, the app is doing a lot better than I thought it would. The farmers have picked it up really fast because they are seeing that it can help them,” said Neil. “The cool thing is that because they are taking so many pictures with it, the app is getting smarter and smarter. The way that AI works, the more images you get, the better and smarter the algorithm becomes.”

VOCALEYES AI: COMPUTER VISION FOR THE BLIND Shortly after launching PlantumAI in June 2017, Neil began developing a second app to aid the blind and visually impaired. Working with two other students while attending MIT Launch, a summer entrepreneurship boot camp for high school students, Neil convinced the team to work on a solution for his grandmother. “The problem that I saw was that for a lot of visually-impaired people, my grandmother in particular, it’s hard for them to tell the difference between a bottle of water and a bottle of Coke. Also, if there’s text she wants to read, it’s hard for her to do so,” said Neil. To help her and others like her, the team created VocalEyeAI, which utilizes a cell phone to take a photo then describe it to the user via the phone’s speaker. During the creation process, Neil had the opportunity to visit the Perkins School for the Blind, located in Boston, Massachusetts, to test out the app with students at the school. “The kids loved it so much. They were taking pictures of everything just to see what was around them,” described Neil. “One student described his existence, before the app as living in a sphere because he had to feel around to sense objects. With the app, he could take a [broad spectrum picture and know that there were two people walking in the distance, a room over there, and a kitchen over there... It broadened their scope of the world.” Just as with PlantumAI, Neil received insightful feedback from the students.

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“I originally built the app with a button, settings you could change, and a flash feature,” said Neil. “But when I talked to the kids, they explained that they didn’t need any of that. They were just tapping the screen. I realized I didn’t need multiple settings for different types of objects. I needed to make a singular experience that would work for any scenario. This changed the app to a simple whole camera view. Anywhere you tap on the screen will take a picture and it will tell you all of the information you need at once.” VocalEyes is available for Apple and Android devices and already has several thousand downloads. The app, which has been featured on CNN and other major media outlets, is continuing to be tested at several institutions for the visually impaired across America, India, and Egypt.

CREATIVITY’S INVOLVEMENT IN AI “Farmers in India are a completely different population than kids in Boston, but in working with them, both groups had a childlike fascination that technology can do this,” said Neil. “AI is capable of anything, but it’s really up to the person that makes it. The creativity of people in the field is super important right now. It’s not based on what you know, but on how creative you are with what you know. By using creativity in new fields, we can create solutions that don’t necessarily need new technology or new ideas.” Neil credits his passion for coding with his experience at Moravian Academy, particularly his involvement in PJAS and the influence of his Middle School science teacher Mrs. Joanne Daniels. “I wouldn’t have started coding at all if it wasn’t for PJAS and the entire program at the Middle School. Mrs. Daniels helped me figure out that I was interested in building things,” said Neil. “Moravian stands out because, in every subject, we aren’t focused on memorizing information, but on how the knowledge can be used in the real world. The school teaches you the fundamentals of what you need to know, along with the skills.”

I wouldn’t have started coding if it wasn’t for PJAS and the entire program at the Middle School.

When asked to give advice to younger students pursuing their passions, Neil stated, “If you really want to make a change, it’s not dependent on how smart you are. It’s dependent on how passionate you are about learning something and actually making that change. If you are passionate enough, the resources are all around you.”

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Creativity in the CLASSROOM CREATIVITY IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURENCE IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THE FOLLOWING PAGES DETAIL JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR STUDENTS, GUIDED BY DEDICATED FACULTY MEMBERS, ARE MAKING NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT BOTH THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND THEMSELVES.

The Teachable Moment: A Monster of a Collaboration in Lower School Mrs. Anne Fessler’s fifth-grade class overheard Mrs. Robyn Endress say to her attentive first-grade students, “Today’s story is ’The Teeny Tiny Ghost and the Monster’ by Kay Winters.” Mrs. Fessler responded to her students’ plea to go hear the story and the rest is history. Together, these two classes embarked on a week-long collaborative project. The two classes read the story together and each student created their own monster puppet. In pairs later in the week, the students filmed short story videos using their colorful monsters. (See photos this page at left and above.)

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The Hero’s Journey: Dr. Moore’s English Class Overcomes Fears with Dr. Kish To accompany English 10’s reading of and work on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Dr. Catherine Moore’s sophomores trekked to biology teacher Dr. Peter Kish’s lab in October to examine some creatures that are feared or generally regarded as disgusting or repulsive. Dr. Kish shared with the classes his collection of insects, spiders, tapeworms and other critters in vials and had Octofuzz the tarantula and boa constrictors Puppy Dog and Rosie make live appearances. Also on hand were human bones and a skull from a real human skeleton to pass and inspect. Whether viewed in a jar, touched momentarily, or wound around one’s neck, these creatures were fascinating to investigate.

Dr. Kish reminded the classes that there is nothing inherently scary about these living things; we need to learn about them in order to understand and appreciate them. Just as Tolkein’s character Bilbo Baggins undertakes many challenges that test his bravery on his journey, so too did students learn to overcome their fears and learn to appreciate these wonderful critters! (See photos 01 and 02.)

You May Have Heard of Fantasy Football... But What About Fantasy Geopolitics?

Now in its third year, Mr. Dave Walp’s eighth-grade social studies class features a competitive fantasy geopolitics league via the online FANschool platform (https://www.fanschool.org).

FANschool play mirrors traditional fantasy sports leagues. Students draft three different countries, and earn points based on how often their countries are mentioned in the news. Trading countries and seeing how they stack up against their classmates creates a fun, competitive atmosphere that enables students to get excited about reading the news, and learning about new countries. This activity is not graded, but serves as an engaging and interactive supplement to our regular current events discussions. Mr. Walp’s FANschool league has a regular season of 12 weeks, at which time the best teams in league will advance to an elimination playoff series. In the end, there can be only one Walp Bowl champion! (See photo 03.) JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

Pop-Up Shakespeare

In October, seventh-graders in Mr. Bud Brennan’s English classes presented Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in pop-up fashion around classrooms, offices, and cafeterias at both the Lower and Middle schools. The thrill and terror of performing live, especially with little to no acting experience and only five days to prepare, can be intimidating and stressful, to say the least. Nevertheless, our students faced their fears, collaborated beautifully with one another, and expressed themselves creatively and passionately. (See photos 04 and 05.)

Ready, Set, Launch!

Creativity in the Classroom

In December, eighth-grade science classes in Mr. Paul Messman’s classes built rockets and launched them at Glasser Field as part of a unit on forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion.

The water rockets were made from 20 oz. soda bottles and, after filling them about half full of water, were pressurized with a bicycle pump. When released, they soared to heights of 300 feet or more. While this activity was quite engaging, it also provided the students with an important hands-on experience that will help them better understand Newton’s Third Law: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” (See photos 07 and 08.)

Escape Room with Profe del Real In Profe Gonzalo del Real’s Spanish class, Upper School students worked as a team to solve a Star Wars-themed Escape Room designed in Spanish. The clues were all given in Spanish and students were not permitted to use English to communicate.

The engaging exercise helped strengthen student Spanish vocabulary, while encouraging collaboration amongst peers. The multiple Escape room clues, hidden around the room by Profe del Real, eventually led the students to find Darth Vader’s mask. (See photo 06.)

A Colony of Curiosity

Inspired by A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord, Lower School’s 2018 summer reading book, students in grades one through five collaborated to create a “beeutiful” artistic installation entitled “Colony of Curiosity.” Leading the project, Mr. Brian Elstein felt that the “beedazzled” bees served as an appropriate metaphor for our school, which is made up of many unique and creative individuals who, like a colony of bees, work together towards a common goal. As you view the artwork installation, you can enjoy listening to the buzz of activity as our busy little worker bees strive to learn new and exciting things guided by their curiosity! (See photo 09.)

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04 09

07 08

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JAPANESE NEBUTA FESTIVAL SPARKS INSPIRATION FOR MORAVIAN EDUCATOR The following is adapted from a presentation that Lower School art teacher Brian Elstein shared with staff and faculty before the start of the 2018-19 school year.

by Brian Elstein

At 22-years old, I was a young, idealistic college graduate armed with a degree in anthropology and no idea how I wanted to use it. Guided by my interest in travel and utter befuddlement over what to do next in my life, I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to teach English in Japan. In July of 2005, I moved to Japan with a full suitcase, enough Japanese to ask directions, but not to understand the answer and pretty much no idea what I was getting into. I moved to Aomori Prefecture, a rural area on the northern tip of Japan’s main island. I dove right into the culture and language, making lots of new friends and experiences. I renewed my one year contract and soon two years became three and then three became four.

Now, I could tell you about how while I was there I found that my calling was to be an educator, or I could tell you how I met and fell in love with my wife, Satoko, but those are not the life-changing experiences I plan to share in this piece. Instead, I would like to tell you about the first time I went to the Nebuta Festival.

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This summer festival takes place in the three main cities as well as several small towns throughout Aomori and is best known for its amazing, larger than life sculptural lantern floats. The first time I saw one of these powerful works of art, I was left in awe. They are created using a hand-fashioned wire armature that is strung with lights, covered with Japanese paper and painted with sumi ink, wax, and paper dye. When you see one in person the tension in the wire, vibrant colors, impressive attention to detail and imposing scale take your breath away. There is really no other art form quite like it. From the first time I attended the festival I became obsessed. I made it my mission to see every version in every small town in the area. Luckily one of those towns was, Kizukuri, where I lived. It took me

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two years to build up my language skills and the courage I needed to introduce myself to one of the float making groups. Having never worked with a foreigner before, they were welcoming yet cautious. Before long, the members of Yachi Naka Nebuta team recognized my enthusiasm and dedication to the project and took me under their wing. Together we created four amazing floats over the next two years, mostly working in the evenings after work and into the wee hours of the morning. My skills quickly improved and by the beginning of my second year, I was able to create my first original design. Soon I was hooked integrating this new medium into my artwork. I’ve made everything from a life-size penguin to our Nebuta covered Christmas tree to Hank, the seven-foot octopus that lives on my home ceiling. I found myself inspired by this powerful art form often spending evenings immersed in my work only to notice that the night had flown by and sun was already rising. Once I returned to the States eager to take the next step towards my new career as an art teacher, I found myself being drawn again and again to share this compelling medium.

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I worked with students to create Nebuta lanterns in the shape of liberty bells and mobiles as an artist in residency in inner-city Philadelphia, made Nebuta fans with early childhood classes in Quakertown, and eventually incorporated Nebuta into my fifthgrade curriculum here at Moravian Academy. Our students create original fish themed Nebuta lanterns, modeled after the traditional Kingyo Nebuta lanterns from Aomori. Each year I get to share my passion for these unique sculptural lanterns, reliving my first reaction to this amazing art form through my students’ eyes. The students are always excited to try out an art form that is so meaningful to me. Even though this ambitious project offers a challenge for many students, by the end almost everyone shares that it is one of their favorite projects. The valuable connection this art form has to my artistic past and present shines through illuminating my students’ imaginations much like the bulbs that fill these amazing works of art with light. Page 20-21: An illuminated Nebuta Festival float (Photo Credit: Flickr user tomotubby/Zhong Kui); Page 22: Top Photo: Created by Brian, this seven-foot octopus lantern adorns his ceiling (Photo Credit: Brian Elstein); Bottom Left: A Nebuta float, standing almost 22 feet tall, in Japan (Photo Credit: Flickr user tomotubby/Zhong Kui); Bottom Center: In Kizkrui, Japan, Brian poses with artist Kenji, whom Brian apprenticed with to create Nebuta floats (Photo Credit: Brian Elstein); Bottom Right: Brian poses with his grandmother at the Tachi Nebuta Museum in Goshagawara, Japan (Photo Credit: Brian Elstein)

OPENING DOORS, BRIDGING FUTURES Lehigh Valley Summerbridge (LVS) is a free, non-profit enrichment program hosted by Moravian Academy that is designed to assist predominantly lowincome students, from nine different middle schools in the Lehigh Valley, in their quest to become college students. This past summer, our students experienced core subjects and electives through project-based learning activities. Some highlights included bridge building, crime scene investigation, and the creation of a wax museum featuring characters from Greek mythology. Outside of the classroom, we took field trips to several colleges and universities including Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, and Lehigh Carbon Community College to name a few. The summer concluded with our annual celebration, where we had student/ teacher testimonials, film elective final project presentations, as well as student performances from dance club, choir and songwriting.

In July, we launched a new one-week program for ninth graders designed to prepare students for the transition to high school, expose them to the exciting opportunities related to college, and teach them a variety of subject areas taught by college faculty. Twentyone students attended the program at Moravian College facilitated by Dr. Michelle Schmidt of the Psychology Department and Brad Foltz, former Summerbridge teacher. It was an amazing opportunity for the students to reconnect with one other, learn new things, and realize just how much is possible. To learn more about Summerbridge, visit www.moravianacademy.org/ summerbridge.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

MORAVIAN ACADEMY PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS: DEVELOPMENTAL DESIGNS at Moravian Academy on Wednesday, February 20th at 8:30 am. Discover what teachers are learning about in ways to meet students’ needs by addressing key elements of effective teaching and ways in which to extend it to home. Presenters include Roxanne Habel of The Origins Program, and Head of School Jeff Zemsky. Location: Lower School, CE Auditorium SAFETY AND SECURITY at Moravian Academy on Thursday, March 28th at 6:30 pm. Learn how we provide a safe environment at Moravian Academy. Presenters include Bo Mitchell, Safety and Security Consultant of 911 Consulting; and Ann Mindler, Assistant Head of School at Moravian Academy. Location: Merle-Smith Campus

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

DIRECTORS’ COFFEES on Tuesday, April 9th at 8:15 am in the Lower School and 9:30 am in the Upper School; and on Tuesday, April 16th at 8:15 am in the Middle School. Focused on embracing the learning process, we’ll be discussing perseverance and how to make setbacks a success. Attendees will have the opportunity to watch the TEDx Talk “JK Rowling: The fringe benefits of failure” and to ask questions to divisional directors. Locations: Lower School, CE Auditorium; Middle School, 11 West Market Street; Upper School, Snyder Conference Room

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION FINAL MEETING AND VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON on Tuesday, May 21st at 12:00 pm. Stop in for a chance to connect with fellow parents over lunch. Head of School Jeff Zemsky will give a brief update on the 2018-19 school initiatives at Moravian Academy. Location: Upper School, Snyder Conference Room.

For the most current Parents’ Association information, be sure to check the Parents’ Association webpage at www.moravianacademy.org/pa

LET’S GO BACK TO THE 80’S TO GIVE BACK FOR THE FUTURE!

We are so excited to present this year’s Totally Awesome Auction, in celebration of the iconic era of the 1980s. We hope you “Can Turn Back Time” and join us for what is sure to be a fun and entertaining evening, exploring so many aspects that made this decade great. Highlights include:

Patron Level: “Don’t You Forget About Movies, or Blockbuster Video!”

Patrons will walk the red carpet to enjoy early access to the event, with an exclusive ‘Patrons Only’ area, offering entertainment from our talented Upper School students and an opportunity to taste some exciting cocktails from Root Crafted Cocktail Mixers, a local company founded by Moravian parents Diane Aemisegeo and Trish Lauden. Will you sip feeling “Pretty in Pink” or do you feel the need for the speed of a “Maverick?”

Catering: “Hungry Like A Wolf?”

Enjoy an 80’s-inspired menu prepared by Karen Hunter Catering, featuring delicious appetizers served during the cocktail hour as well as an array of delicious dinner and dessert options.

Display: Have a Bit of “Pac-Man” Fever?

Our silent auction display area will offer an array of exciting items for bidding, set in an arcade-style theme. There will be an opportunity to test your skills on some of the more iconic games from this decade, while enjoying drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Sweepstakes: “99 Luft Balloons!”

Increase your chances of walking away a winner by participating in our Sweepstakes Balloon Pop! You could score something fun or something truly extraordinary. Don’t let this event-only opportunity float away from you!

Décor: “I Love Rock-N-Roll”

Be prepared for our talented team to transport you back to the 80’s in sensational style! Whether you are new to the ‘80s or have fond memories as a child or young adult, you are sure to be amazed at the transformation of the Athletic and Wellness Center. Following our live auction, the highlight of the evening will come from the music provided by the awesome 80s tribute band, RUBIX KUBE! You won’t want to miss it!

For more information and to register for the Auction, go to

WWW.MORAVIANACADEMY.ORG/AUCTION

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

VESPERS RINGING IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON

In what traditionally feels like the kick off to the holiday season at Moravian Academy, our students and faculty presented the community with a beautiful Middle and Upper School Vespers service on the evening of December 6th and a Lower School Vespers service on the afternoon of December 7th. The services featured impressive musical and vocal performances, as well as scripture readings that helped us herald in the season.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Morning Star Soloists: Back Row: (From Left to Right) Peyton Falzone ’26, Daniyal Jali ’26, Aveer Chadha ’26, and Faust Capobianco ’26; Front Row (From Left to Right) Sophie Wandall ’26, Alanna Henderson ’26, Kyara Maeding ’26, and Emma Grandin ’26

After Moravian:

Creative Paths

Joey Hartmann-Dow ’08 During a residency in Washington, DC with Quaker-lobbying organization Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), artist Joey Hartmann-Dow ’08 recently brought to life the first issue of a young-adult comic book series about the importance of citizen lobbying to create social change. Inspired by FCNL’s mission, “The Seeks Series” aims to empower anyone, no matter their background, to engage with their representatives to affect change through policy.

your staffer or with a representative’s office. It took me a while to pin down the story I wanted to tell, but pulling from my own experiences made the process easier and made the story feel more authentic.”

“When I asked Congressional staffers about their most memorable lobbying visits, so many times their answers involved kids or when they had a group of students come into their office,” said Joey. “This is because it’s really different when young people want to communicate with their representatives. I thought it would be cool to show teenagers and young adults exactly what a lobby visit would look like, and in a more accessible medium than just written.”

“I was surprised at how engaged the class was. The comic book series is different than a brochure, pamphlet or a website because I can bring it into places, like coffee shops and comic book stores, where you wouldn’t normally see a resource about lobbying,” added Joey.

Shortly after the first issue was published in April 2018, she had the opportunity to lead a workshop with a group of seventhgrade students.

Quickly after beginning her residency in February 2018, Joey realized her original goal of producing multiple books during her short two-month residency wasn’t feasible - and she ended up only producing the first installment of the series.

“When I was at Moravian Academy, I loved the art program, but I never thought I would be an artist because, at the time, I didn’t see how I could make an impact with art,” said Joey. “Later on, I figured out I could help people through art, but I would have to use my creativity. If I wasn’t creative, I wouldn’t be able to send a message through a comic book, a painting, a drawing, or any project that I am working on.”

“It was incredible to me how much goes into a comic book,” noted Joey. “Storytelling is crucial to making a connection with

To view “The Seeks Series,” visit Joey’s website at www.usandweart.com.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

Lauren Sion ’04 Professional dancer Lauren Sion ’04’s passion for dance didn’t start out in the traditional sense. “My interest in dance was sparked by my parents — they encouraged me to take classes when I was little so that I would have something to put for my extracurricular activities when I applied to college. At first I hated dancing,” confessed Lauren, who has been dancing since the age of four, “but after I discovered the versatility inherent in dance and all creative work, I fell in love with it. There are so many different dance styles to learn and enjoy.” Today, Lauren lives in New York City and dances professionally with the Lower East Side-based Rod Rodgers Dance Company. When not performing, Lauren also teaches and choreographs throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. After graduating from Moravian Academy in 2004, Lauren received her BA in Dance from Muhlenberg in 2008 with Magna Cum Laude Honors, having trained in various styles and techniques such as ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. “Moravian really prepared me for college by giving me the mental muscles to balance my interest in dance and my commitment to my core classes. I could focus on dance whenever I wanted to do so. Moravian really helped me be successful throughout the rest of my academic career.” When asked what advice she would give to students interested in entering careers in the creative industry, Lauren answered, “Passion is essential for a creative career. Work hard. Know that it’s not always going to be easy. There are times you are going to want to give up. But if you truly love something, and that’s what you’re passionate about, you should fight for it. You have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to do what you love.” Learn more about Lauren’s work and background by visiting her website at https://www.laurension.com. Photos by Matthew Wright, DanceETHOS Performance Company

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Carlos Estrada ’08 #LivingYourBestLife is now even easier thanks to Snap Accelerator Senior Designer, Carlos Estrada ’08. In one of his most recent projects, Carlos and Snapchat teamed up with Matty Mo aka The Most Famous Artist and SelfieCircus to install and launch The Private Jet Experience, which recently debuted at Fred Segal in the Los Angeles and Art Basel 2018 in Miami. Wanting to democratize the jetset selfie, Matty created a backdrop complete with leather seats and small jet windows so anyone can snap a luxe selfie. Using his natural creativity and the expertise gained from his tenure at Snap, Inc., a technology and camera company best known for its development of the popular app, Snapchat, Carlos and his team took Matty’s idea from single-store installation to viral sensation. “Creativity is really what gives me life,” said Carlos. “It helps determine what I see out in the world that I want to participate in.”

After Moravian:

Creative Paths

After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2012, Carlos began his career in product development, but quickly shifted to pursuing more branding roles. “I moved into branding because it is this subtle art form,” said Carlos. “You are creating something - whether it’s a word, a graphic or a phrase - that will ultimately decide whether a consumer buys into your brand message. I think that’s really cool.” Throughout the course of his career Carlos has worked on branding campaigns for Samsung, Burton, New Balance, Fossil, and celebrities, including Scott Disick, Adriana Lima, Ghostemane, Salice Rose and more. He credits his passion and ability to constantly adapt to new technology and ways of thinking with his years at Moravian Academy.

Photo credit Daily Mail

“My experience at Moravian - the intensity of the courses, the culture that was fostered there - has led me to where I am now. Moravian taught me to follow my curiosity, to constantly be learning and striving to become an expert in whatever subject I’m pursuing.” For more information on Carlos’ work, visit his website at https://cjestudio.co/.

Photo credit Business Insider JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

After Moravian:

Creative Paths Drew Swantak ’09 Drew Swantak ’09 is the Photography Director at Thrillist, a popular online media website covering food, drink, travel and entertainment. “What I like about working at Thrillist is that I never get bored,” said Drew. “Our daily schedule varies. Thinking of new ideas is a constant. Everything we touch involves creativity. I’m always working on something different- and for me that works really well.” My most recent project, a feature entitled “Best New Restaurants of 2018: The Hottest Restaurants on the Scene,” which features photos and video of entrees from restaurants all across America, is a great examples of the vast skill set needed to pull off my job. To create this feature, I had to schedule photo shoots, develop promotional materials for the video series, and supervise a team of photographers, and collaborate with editorial, product, and advertorial teams. “The amount of troubleshooting and collaboration that is necessary to produce a feature is often overlooked when you are first starting a project,” said Drew. “I think it’s important for people to have their own personal workflow. Moravian Academy provided me the backbone for my work ethic.”

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Drew discovered his talent and passion for photography while taking several classes with Mrs. Nancy Frankenfield ‘64P at Moravian Academy. Thanks to her encouragement, Drew signed up for the Main Media Workshop summer program at Northampton Community College for two consecutive summers. This solidified his love of the medium and led him to pursue the advertising photography program at Rochester Institute of Technology. After graduation, Drew joined the Thrillist team as a Photo Editor in 2014 and worked his way up to Photography Director. For his career success, Drew cited the importance of the mandatory senior post-term internship project at Moravian, which provided him the opportunity to work at a photography agency in New York. “Because of that jumpstart in high school,” said Drew, “I was able to get internships the following year. I felt ahead of everyone in college. Take advantage of those opportunities and ask lots questions. It’s actually very important to do that or you won’t learn.”

Ani Acopian ’12 Filmmaker Ani Acopian ’12 recently took home the grand prize at the first ever GIPHY Film Fest, which celebrated micro-films that tell stories in 18 seconds or less. Chosen from over 900 submissions, Ani’s work, “Washed Up,” was filmed by drone in Reynisfjara, Iceland. “I think it’s really cool that GIPHY [a database and search engine for GIFs] put on this event, since it’s the first of its kind. It’s epic to be a representative,” said Ani. “Video doesn’t need to be long to get across an emotion, concept or story. My main goal is to make work that is eye-catching and different.” “Washed Up” is not a one-off creation for Ani. She has produced short films for well-known brands, including Red Bull, Chipotle, Snapchat, Budweiser, Samsung, and W Hotels. “My favorite part about working in the creative industry is that it feels like there are no boundaries,” said Ani. “I don’t have to stick to a linear career path and I’m in control of my own destiny. I work hard and set goals, while not being held down by traditional roles.”

in her senior filmmaking class than I did during my entire time in film school.” Ani also recalls consistently bringing her camera to classes to film YouTube videos, most memorably those produced for her class president campaign with Sarah Brown ’12. “I remember creating rap videos with Sarah to convince people to vote for us,” said Ani, who served as co-president with Sarah both her junior and senior year. “That’s when I first realized that advertising could have a real impact.” To Moravian Academy students interested in pursuing the creative industry, Ani stated, “If you have a passion, go after it and don’t give into your fears. A lot of people think the creative industry doesn’t pay well or is hard to break into. Your passion will take you a lot further than any statistic that’s not in your favor.”

A lifer at Moravian Academy, Ani recounted photography and video classes throughout high school with Upper School teacher Mrs. Lindsay Woodruff, whom she considers to be one of her earliest mentors and supporters. “The classes I took with Mrs. Woodruff in 11th and 12th grade were super formative because I had never shot on film before, or had someone push me to create better work. I was more passionate about the assignments in her classes than any other homework I’d ever had, which was a sure sign that I had found something special,” said Ani. “I experimented more JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

REUNION 2018

Members of the Class of 2008, celebrating their 10th year class reunion, pose on the stairs in Synder House.

(Left to Right) Cat Davies ’08, Alex Parzych ’07, Karalynne Clark Parzych ’07, Head of School Jeff Zemsky, and Julianne Zackey ’07 celebrate at Bethlehem Brew Works.

MORAVIAN CONNECT SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER ALUMNI! MORAVIAN CONNECT allows you to reconnect with classmates as well as enables you to utilize the trusted Moravian Academy environment to expand your professional network. With Moravian Connect, you can find alumni in your profession or in your neighborhood, seek career advice, find a mentor, post or view job opportunities, and much more! Join today at

www.moravianconnect.com 32

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

In mid-October, Moravian Academy celebrated its Alumni Reunion for the classes ending in “3’s” and “8’s,” as well as our 50th Annual Country Fair. The weekend featured fantastic connections, creativity, and curiosity. The MerleSmith Campus at Green Pond was filled with alumni reconnecting with their classmates and former teachers, as well as discovering new additions to the campus. Reunion weekend kicked off with a well-attended Friday night happy hour at Bethlehem Brew Works. The following morning, alumni had the opportunity to enjoy Country Fair before heading into Saturday’s luncheon in Melhado Dining Room. The highlight for most alumni were the class events held on Saturday evening, where our strategic vision of sustaining connections was put into

Honorary Alumna Elinor Dinsmore (center) poses with family members and Moravian alumnae from the Class of 1973.

action. Whether in the CE Auditorium or at a local restaurant, alumni caught up with classmates from across the country, recounting stories from their days at the Academy, the Seminary for Girls, and the Preparatory School. Pictures on cell phones were passed around as they shared milestones, weddings, children, pets, and adventures. No matter the class, our alumni enjoyed being back on campus, finding their name on the Alumni Circle, and sharing stories of their personal journeys through life and how their experiences at Moravian helped shape who they are today. It was a wonderful weekend to be a member of the Moravian Academy community. We encourage you to join us again at next year’s Reunion for what is sure to be a great time.

Distinguished Alumna Shelley Sherman Brown ’68P receives her award from Alumni Association President Karley Biggs Sebia ’00.

Peter Tabbot ’86, Vice President of the Alumni Association (left), presented the Benigna Cup to Abigayle Ward ’18 (right) who accepted on behalf of the 2018 class.The Benigna Cup is awarded each year to the class with the highest percentage of alumni giving.

Members of the classes of 1968 from Moravian Preparatory School and Moravian Seminary for Girls pose on the Alumni Circle in front of Snyder House.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR 277TH BIRTHDAY ON MAY 2ND AND 3RD! PARTICIPATING IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3!

1. Get together with alumni, parents and friends at one of our regional events on May 2nd, or sport some MA gear on your own.

2. Take a group photo/video or selfie, or go live on Facebook. 3. Share your photo/video on our Moravian Academy Alumni Facebook Group on May 2nd and 3rd, or send to tbozik@moravianacademy.org to post.

Our goal is to get representation from as many states and countries as we can. Be sure to check out the fun both days on social media and our website! JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

CLASS NOTES 1951

1977

Charmarie Jenkins Blaisdell ’51S writes, “I retired as an Associate Professor of History, Department of History at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. I am a volunteer instructor for Coastal Senior College, Rockford, ME. I have two daughters - one is a psychologist and the other is a family medical doctor – and two grandchildren.”

Former Lower School teacher Michele Long Graffis ’77 writes, “I retired from teaching in the primary grades after 35 years! I loved my entire teaching experience and feel blessed to have taught in three great schools – Moravian Academy, Glen Ellyn District 41 (IL) and Clinton Public (NJ). I am currently working with preschool children at the Hanover Township Community Center and babysitting for friends!”

1965 E. Helene Sage ’65P shares, “Richard Crannell ’65P and I have been keeping in touch. He and Sage (his beautiful Setter) visited the old plantation I recently moved to in Virginia. My horse, Will, won Reserve Hunter Championship here this year – his first!”

In November 2018, Jean Armstrong Nick ’77 and Jennifer Diehl Welborn ’77 (pictured below at Jean’s farm in Kintnersville, PA) had their first in-person meeting since their graduation!

In mid-November 2018, Patti Davis, Moravian Academy Upper School Director of Library & Media Services, met up with Tamar Juda ’01 at the Winter Village in Manhattan’s Bryant Park. (See photo below) Jean Armstrong Nick ’77 and Jennifer Diehl Welborn ’77

1995 CNN commentator and columnist Sally Kohn ’95 recently published her new book entitled “The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity.” Patti Davis and Tamar Juda ’01

2002

A few days after the 50th Reunion in October, Mary Dower Salisbury ’68P was with Kathy Figlear Malu ’68P at William Paterson University, where she received an award recognizing her 20 years with the institution. (See photo of Kathy at right).

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

In January, Moravian Academy appointed Kristi Johnson ‘97 as Director of Support Services for Grades Primer-8. She brings 15 years of professional school counseling experience to this important role. Welcome back, Kristi!

2001

1968 Donna Rea Queen ’68S reports, “I’ve reconnected recently with Sue Bartlett Hamill ‘68S (who lives in Cape Cod and Bethlehem but spends most of her time traveling all over), Julie Hambrook Berkman ‘68S (who was an aquatic biologist and now lives in Medford, MA), Maureen Hall ‘68S (who now lives in Frankfort, KY) Deborah Lindsay Dyson ‘68S (who now lives in Carmel, CA teaching transcendental meditation), and Susan Steacy Tollefson ‘68S (who moved to Bozeman, MT 43 years ago). Catching up with them has brought back so many good memories!”

1997

Kathy Figlear Malu ’68P

Geoff Finger ’02 and his wife, Claire, welcomed their second daughter, Margot June, on June 21, 2018. She joins sister Louisa, who is now three. Geoff is currently serving as a Foreign Service officer in Monterrey, Mexico.

01 (From left to right) Callie Woods ’10, Yaas Bigdeli ’10, Meghan

Woods Musfeldt ’12, Jill Davison, Mallory Zondag ’12, Marissa Zondag ’09 at Meghan’s wedding in Columbia, SC.

02 Kendall Vrana ’11 in a photo piece in Celebrate Hilton Head magazine’s October 2018 issue. (Photo Credit: Celebrate Hilton Head)

05 Rachel Large ’08 (right) Emily Monsen ’08 (left) traveled together to Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

06 (From left to right) Oliver Meeker, Chris Barrett ’05 and Drew Balshi ’05 celebrate at David Cooper ‘06’s wedding.

07 Luisa Dodds ’09 (right) recently met up with Greg Dockloe ’09 (left) upon her recent move to London.

08 The 100th birthday celebration of Harriet Seebald 04 Amy Schneider Adelson ’04 (left) and Seul Kee Oh ’04 (right) reconnected in New York City.

MacDonald ’43S. (Photo Credit: The Morning Call). JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

for Tesla, which is near their home in San Carlos, CA. Rachel saw Yush Gupta ’06 a few times in California before his sudden death in November 2017. So sad to lose him! (See photo of Rachel and Yush at 2006 Moravian Academy commencement at right) Rachel also saw Christine Buzzard ’06 and others at Mini Saraswati’s ’06 wedding, a miniMoravian reunion! Kudos to Moravian Academy for preparing Rachel so well.”

2008 2003

Bonnie Wismer and grandchildren

Eric Wismer ’03 and his wife, Kristen, welcomed their daughter, Aria, in October 2018. Aria joins brothers Emitt and Lennon. She is the granddaughter of Bonnie Wismer, former Moravian Academy French teacher and Honorary Alumna, and the niece of Dr. Lacey Wismer ’01. (See photo of Bonnie and grandchildren above.)

2004 Julie Stein Sherman ’04 and husband Wes welcomed a baby boy, Jack Levi Sherman, on June 29, 2018. The family of three resides in Brooklyn, NY. Amy Schneider Adelson ’04 and Seul Kee Oh ’04 reconnected in New York City for brunch after 14 years! (See photo #4 on page 35)

2005 Oliver Meeker, Chris Barrett ’05 and Drew Balshi ’05 were present at David Cooper ’06’s wedding. (See photo #6 on page 35) The trio has been friends since kindergarten!

2006 Dorothy Cockrell shares news about her daughter, Rachel Licht ’06 (See photo of Rachel top right). Dorothy wrote, “Rachel has a PhD from Berkeley in Chemical Engineering and works at Exponent, a consulting company in the Silicon Valley. She met her husband, Tony, in the same department. He now works

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Joey Hartmann-Dow ’08 recently joined the Upper School for a chapel focused on creativity, describing her path to becoming a professional artist and the way creativity has shaped her professionally and personally. (Read more about Joey’s art on page 27) Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Emily Monsen ’08 and Rachel Large ’08, traveled across the globe to explore Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan. They spent 10 days exploring the sights, sounds, food and culture of both countries. Meeting new people and navigating the public transport system was an adventure. Highlights of the trip included visiting Tokyo Disneyland, making authentic Korean crafts in a 13th century village, and touring shrines and palaces. (See photo #5 on page 35)

2009 Luisa Dodds ’09 shares, “I recently moved to London and caught up with Greg Duckloe ’09 over drinks. Greg moved to London two years ago.” (See photo #7 of Luisa and Greg) Adam Fix ’09 received a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship from the University of Minnesota Graduate School for the 2018-19 academic year.

Rachel Licht ’06 left and with Yush Gupta ’06 right at 2006 commencement

2011 Alexander Dolan ’11 writes, “I finished my Peace Corps Service in Benin, West Africa, and have moved back to Washington DC, where I am working with Education Development Center on their USAID funded projects in francophone developing nations.” Former Upper School photography teacher Nancy Fillman Frankenfield ’64P spied Kendall Vrana ’11 in a photo piece in Celebrate Hilton Head magazine’s October 2018 issue. (See photo #2)

2012 Ani Acopian ’12 shares, “I had the honor of winning the FIRST ever GIPHY Film Fest for the video I made in collaboration with [friend] Cody Guilfoyle in Iceland!” (Read more about Ani’s award on page 31) The Lace House in Columbia, SC, was the site of the November 3, 2018 wedding of Meghan Woods ’12 and Austin Musfeldt. Callie Woods ’10, Mallory Zondag ’12 and Tyler Thomas ’12 were in the wedding party. The couple resides in Pensacola, FL. (See photo #1 on page 35)

2014 Nicollette Amico ’14 moved to Jersey City at the beginning of September 2018. Shares Nicollette, “I am working at Magnolia Bakery as a cake icer, assistant teaching dance for Jersey City Ballet, auditioning, and taking dance and circus arts classes!”

1975

Maria Biery ’14 shares, “After I graduated from Penn (degree in political science, minor in journalistic writing, magna cum laude), I received the Robert L. Bartley Fellowship and worked on the Wall Street Journal opinion pages this past summer. Currently, I am doing a collegiate network fellowship at the Washington Examiner as a breaking news reporter and also covering the Department of Veterans Affairs. I’ve decided to become an officer in the U.S. Navy and will be starting that in 2019.”

Krystle Clark ’75, who resides in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with her husband, was featured in Lehigh Valley Live for her plan to ride out September 2018’s Hurricane Florence. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy.org/ alumnipress.

1985

Justin Manhoff ‘14 is currently pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at Temple University. In June, Avery Newell ’14 graduated from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, with a degree in Sustainable Development. She is now studying Environmental Law at Vermont Law School. She is also considering pursuing a Master’s degree at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

2016 Shelby Nickerson ’16 writes, “I am a junior at Moravian College, majoring in accounting with a minor in history and marketing. I am a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority and ZTA social sorority. I am also involved with Stitches, the knitting club, and the Amrhein Investment Club, where I just got voted as Income Fund Manager. I am grateful for all MA gave to me because I have done these things and so much more!”

2017

Caroline Spugnardi ’18 and Caroline Joseph ’18

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS 1943 The 100th birthday celebration of Harriet Seebald MacDonald ’43S, who has helped to bridge the the gap between the worlds of the hearing and the deaf, was highlighted in The Morning Call in December 2018. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy.org/alumnipress. See photo of Harriet below. (See Photo #8 on Page 35; Photo Credit: The Morning Call)

Australia’s The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted lawyer and researcher John Fuisz ’85 in an article about Russia’s political interference campaigns. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy. org/alumnipress.

1995 In November 2018, The Morning Call featured an article on attorney Zachary Cohen ’95, a former president of the Lehigh County Bar Association, when he became the second attorney to announce a bid for the one open seat on the Lehigh County bench. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy. org/alumnipress. (See photo of Zachary below; Photo Credit: The Morning Call)

1970 The story of how renowned rock music archivist Denny Somach ’70P helped popularize Billy Joel appeared in The Morning Call in November 2018. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy. org/alumnipress. (See photo of Denny Somach below)

Grace Cowen ’17 is currently a sophomore at American University in Washington DC.

Zachary Cohen ’95

2018

2000

Caroline Spugnardi ’18 and Caroline Joseph ’18 returned to campus while home from college on winter break. (see photo at top)

Best-selling author Maya Rodale ’00 was featured in an Entertainment Weekly interview in September 2018 about her newest romance novel, “Duchess by Design.” To read the article, visit www. moravianacademy.org/alumnipress.

Denny Somach ’70P

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

2012 The Morning Call announced Mallory Zondag ’12 as a 2019 ArtPop artist. Her piece, “Growth No. 4,” was chosen from over 170 entries. Mallory’s artwork will be displayed on Adams Outdoor Advertising billboards on major thoroughfares in the greater Lehigh Valley region throughout 2019. Said Mallory, “It is truly an honor and even a bit surreal to have my art on a billboard. ArtPop Street Gallery is a really amazing program and competition and I am so excited to have been selected to have my work showcased. It has also inspired me to dream up some billboard size textile installations for future projects.” To read the article announcing Mallory’s selection, visit www.moravianacademy.org/alumnipress. (See photo of her art piece at right.)

DEATHS Madlyn A. Haines, of Allentown, PA, passed away on December 11, 2018. She was the mother of John Haines ’80. Christina L. Housman ’68P, of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away on August 21, 2018. Louise R. Koch ’68S, of Phoenixville, PA, passed away on September 11, 2018. She is survived by her brothers, T. James Koch ’72 and Dr. Henry Koch ’75. Nancy Bray Norris ’48P, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on November 2, 2018. Ronald W. Utley, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on November 22, 2018. He was the father of David Utley ’83 and Susan Utley McKinney ’87.

In Memoriam: Marjorie Ellen Haines Marjorie Ellen Haines, former Moravian Academy faculty member, passed away at home on October 29, 2018, after an extended illness. She was 73.

Mrs. Haines was a graduate of Calvin College and Western Michigan University, and pursued advanced graduate studies at Penn State, Temple, and Lehigh Universities. She spent most of her professional life as a teacher, and served at Moravian Academy for many years as an English teacher, theater director, and dorm director. She was named Teacher of the Year at Kalamazoo Christian High School and was later nominated for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. She also directed numerous plays, taught television production, coached women’s basketball, cross country and track and field, assisted with the marching band, and coordinated yearbook productions. Outside of school, Marjorie was a distance runner, a voracious reader, and a published author. She was grounded by faith and believed in putting her faith into action. She was active in her church, a political activist, and served on the School Board in the North Pocono School district. Marjorie is survived by her husband, Richard (“Dick”) Haines, her two stepsons, Bruce Haines ’83 and Mark Haines, and step-daughter-in-law Lower School teacher Holly Haines.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

On December 8th, 2018, we celebrated our newest Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Lynn Iannotta Richardson ’85 and Kathleen Farrell Connolly ’93. LYNN IANNOTTA RICHARDSON ’85

KATHLEEN FARRELL CONNOLLY ’93

A three-sport athlete at the Academy (field hockey, basketball, and softball), Lynn Iannotta Richardson ’85 scored the winning goal in overtime to secure the school’s first state field hockey championship in 1984. She continued her athletic career at the University of Delaware and is currently a school counselor, varsity field hockey coach and varsity lacrosse coach at Polytech High School in Woodside, DE.

Kathleen Farrell Connolly ’93 was a three-sport athlete at the Academy (basketball, soccer and field hockey) and has the distinction of being our first 1,000+ point scorer. She continued her athletic career at Ursinus College, playing varsity basketball and helping to form the first women’s soccer team at the school. Currently, she is the staffing manager for Pepper’s Artful Events in Northborough, MA.

FIELD HOCKEY, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL

“

I am very thankful that my parents gave me the opportunity to attend Moravian,” shared Lynn. “I truly believe Moravian’s philosophy of developing the mind, body, and spirit, and my parents’ support gave me the necessary foundation to be successful as a student-athlete and now an educator and coach.

BASKETBALL, SOCCER, FIELD HOCKEY

“

I thoroughly enjoyed my high school years. Moravian provided small but dynamic classrooms and hands-on learning. Yes, teachers had their plans but the lessons evolved depending on what individuals brought into the class. That learning style encouraged you to think outside the box and also apply concepts into other areas as well.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! There are many ways to reconnect with your alma mater! If you have some time to give, volunteers are needed in the following areas: CLASS AGENTS Act as a liaison between Moravian Academy and your class, sharing information and soliciting feedback, receiving class notes and updated information, stewarding class fundraising efforts for the Annual Fund and Benigna Cup Challenge REUNION CLASS CHAIRS Help plan and promote attendance at your milestone reunions (in 2019, our focus is on 4’s and 9’s) CAREER DEVELOPMENT NETWORK Share information about careers, workplaces, geographic region, or the pursuit of an advanced degree with interested students and alumni

ALUMNI UPDATES COLLEGE CORNER

The College Corner series highlights Moravian Academy graduates currently enrolled in their junior and senior years of college. If you are interested in contributing an article to our College Corner series, please let us know.

CLASS NEWS Send us your class news on the enclosed note card and we will include your news in the next issue of the Moravian Academy Journal. Pictures are welcome and can be sent via email to tbozik@moravianacademy.org. Be sure to send us your updated contact information so we can keep you up to date with alumni news and upcoming events. Class Notes can also be submitted online at www.moravianacademy.org/ stayintouch.

CALLING ALL ALUMNI!

Moravian Academy will continue its “Coast to Coast” tours throughout the spring. (See pictures of 2018-19 tour on page 41.) Over the next few months, Bob Zaiser or another member of the Advancement Team will be visiting with alumni in geographic areas including Chicago, Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, Florida, San Francisco/Northern California, Philadelphia and Washington DC. These meetings traditionally are one-on-one, in small groups, or sometimes in larger gatherings depending on the location. Please be on the lookout for email invitations. To help organize a gathering or schedule a personal meeting, contact Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, at bzaiser@moravianacademy.org or 610-332-5291.

REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS Communicate with alumni in your region and help plan local events Young Alumni Network – provide input on events and activities for our recent graduates (10 years or less) For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations, at 610-332-5282 or tbozik@moravianacademy.org.

Alumni gathering at Dillon’s in Boston! L to R: Stephanie Zumas ’09, Rachel Loetzbeier ’12, Director of Instiutional Advancement Bob Zaiser, Max McClaskie ’09, Samantha Khan ’09, Aliza Vaida ’06, Kelly Molewski Francis ’08, Alexander Dolan ’11, and Vinith Annam ’06.

FOLLOW MA

SAVE THE DATE!

NEW YORK CITY ALUMNI GATHERING Join the “Moravian Academy Alumni Group” on Facebook. Linkedin - MA Alumni Group Join Moravian Connect (see page 32) 40

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

FEBRUARY 28, 6:00-8:00 PM

at The Yale Club (50 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY)

WEST HOLLYWOOD ALUMNI GATHERING FEBRUARY 28

at Saddle Ranch Chop House (8371 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069) 6:00 pm Meet & Greet in Lounge; 7:00 pm Dinner

2018-2019 COAST TO COAST TOUR

Our 2018-19 “Coast to Coast” alumni visits kicked off in mid-October 2018 with Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, heading to New England. The tour continued in late November 2018 with Bob Zaiser’s trip to Georgia and South Carolina.

9 PHOTOS 1. Bob Zaiser gathered with Tyler Boddie ’92 and Louise Beaumont Peach ’82, and their guests in Williston, VT. 2. Gianne Conard ’69P, Susan Conard ’66P and Eve Cinquino ’15 posed together in Belfast, ME. 3. Gill Watt ’84 in Maynard, MA. 4. Bob Zaiser with Scott Olszewski ’88 outside the Exeter Inn in Exeter, NH. 5. Bob Zaiser met with Dan Odenwelder ’08 in Clemson, SC.” 6. Gail Andersen Havron ’66P in Georgia.

7. Bob Zaiser met with Kathleen Farrell Connolly ’93 in Wellesley, MA. 8. Bob Zaiser pictured with Dana Leigh Popkave ’01 in Boston. 9. Karen Davies Hall Wright ’66S, Lindsay Marles Britt ’02 and Gary Krasnov ’76 in Atlanta, GA. 10. Bob Zaiser posed with Bill Schaeffer ’66P, Marlee Senderowitz ’14, Steve Koch and Diana Beamer Koch ’94 in Atlanta, GA. 11. Rev. Margaret Wyatt Bickford ’54S in Holderness, NH.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

COMPANIES GIVE TO MORAVIAN THROUGH THE EITC AND OSTC PROGRAMS

Each year, numerous companies make a gift to Moravian Academy through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTC) and these gifts offer a Moravian education to students who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend. These gifts provide the company who contributes with substantial tax credits. By making a donation to the Moravian Academy financial aid fund, companies can save as much as 90% of the value of the gift in Pennsylvania state taxes. In essence, these companies are exchanging paying their Pennsylvania tax liability for a donation to Moravian Academy. There are also opportunities for individuals to work with “Special Purpose Entities” (SPE) which allow individuals to receive Pennsylvania EITC tax credits up to their personal/ individual tax liability. A Special Purpose Entity is a new class of pass-through partnership that exists solely to earn Educational Improvement (or Opportunity Scholarship) Tax Credits. Individuals and legal entities - not limited to partners or shareholders - can earn tax credits through SPEs. These types of gifts ensure that the Academy’s education can be available to qualified students regardless of their financial circumstances. In the past ten year, more than 50 different companies have made gifts in this way totalling more than $2.3 million. More than 30 students annually benefit from this program and are able to attend the Academy. For more information on how to take advantage of either of these opportunities, please call or email Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement at 610-332-5291 or bzaiser@mamail.net.

GIVING TUESDAY A HUGE SUCCESS! This year’s Giving Tuesday efforts were a tremendous success as 123 donors contributed to the school to inspire curiosity in every student. The School asks that everyone mark their calendars for Moravian’s third annual Day of Giving - #1742Minutes which begins on March 5, 2019. Be one of 375 donors who support the Academy in 1,742 minutes. Be on the lookout for special features that day such as for giving challenges, the United States giving heat map, and another battle of the “Alumni Decades,” all in support of the Moravian Academy Annual Fund.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

THE ALUMNI CIRCLE DEDICATIONS CONTINUE

The Alumni Circle in front of Snyder House on the MerleSmith Campus continues to see its bricks inscribed with the names of alumni, this year with members whose class years end in “8” being added to the display. All alumni from the class of 1931 onward will have their names displayed in the circle with dedications happening over the next eight years. Each year, the graduating class will also be displayed. This is a lasting tribute to all of the individual graduates of Moravian Seminary for Girls, Moravian Preparatory School. The names will be displayed for current and future generations of Moravian Academy graduates and members of our community to see. At this year’s Reunion, more than a hundred alumni searched for their own names, took pictures, and reminisced while seeing names of their classmates. To support the Alumni Circle project, please call or email Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement at 610-332-5291 or bzaiser@mamail.net.

JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

A Simple Bequest Can Help Moravian Academy! A gift of a bequest can provide for the people and the causes such as Moravian Academy that are important to you. To establish a bequest, all you have to do reach out to your own attorney to add a few sentences to your will. Your attorney can help structure your bequest. Here are a few examples: • A specific bequest is an outright gift of a certain item to a particular beneficiary such as a family member or charity. • A general bequest is an outright gift of a stated sum of money. • And, finally a contingent bequest is made on the condition that a certain event must occur before any distribution is made from an estate. It is best to work with an estate planning attorney to achieve your goals. Moravian Academy has a Planned Giving Society, the Naomi Haupert De Neufville Society, for all those who include the school in their estate plans. (See photo of Naomi Haupert De Neufville above) For more information or questions, please contact Robin Flemming at 610-332-5281 or by email at rflemming@moravianacademy.org.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

GREEN POND DAY CAMP AT MORAVIAN ACADEMY

INDULGE YOUR

CURIOSITY!

JUNE 10 - AUGUST 23 1 - 5 DAY OPTIONS BEFORE & AFTER CARE AVAILABLE Morning only option for students entering Primer through Kindergarten. Choose enrichment and sports programs or simply have a blast at day camp. No matter the program, campers enjoy unique, hands-on experiences where they can play, learn and have fun. TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.MORAVIANACADEMY.ORG/SUMMER JOURNAL | WINTER 2019

NON-PROFIT ORG

Moravian Academy

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

11 West Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018

LEHIGH VALLEY PA PERMIT #583

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

MARK YOUR CALENDAR UPCOMING EVENTS

To view a full list of events, visit www.moravianacademy.org/calendar. March 1 - 3 March 8 - 17 April 6 April 19 - 22 April 24 April 25 April 26 & 27 April 27 May 2-3 May 15 May 21 May 27 June 1

Upper School Musical (The Boy Friend) Spring Break (No School for Students) Moravian Academy Auction Easter Break (No School for Students) All School Birthday Lovefeast Middle School Drama Upper School Spring Drama (An Ideal Husband) Community Garden Day SMASH Events Mothers’ Lovefeast Parents’ Association Luncheon Memorial Day (No School for Students) Commencement

Ani Acopian’s ’12 film, “Washed Up,” which took home the grand prize at the first ever GIPHY Film Fest. (Read more about Ani’s work and other alumni pursuing creative careers on pages 27-31.)