MORAVIAN ACADEMY FALL 2017
JOURNAL
2017-18 Headmaster
MORAVIAN ACADEMY
Jeffrey M. Zemsky
Board of Trustees
Christopher Weiler – Chair Mary Catherine Tachovsky – Vice Chair Brian Loftus – Secretary Lawrence B. Eighmy – Treasurer Tasha Bolden James Boylan Erica D’Agostino ’91 Joan Duckloe Daniel Eyvazzadeh ’96 Michael Gulati Matthew McQueen ’99 Jaime Mitchell Stuart Paxton Christine Perrucci Joanne Regina Kathleen Waterbury Reilly Christian Rice The Honorable Paula Roscioli ’83 Carole Devey Schachter ’76 Karen Pearce Sonier ’78 John Spurlock ’01 Mary Wilford-Hunt
Honorary Trustees: Margaret Baldock Steven Krawiec Gordon L. Sommers
Associate Trustees (Faculty): Katherine Martin Burd ’96 Sarah Harshman Lisa Molina-Cheung
Advisors to the Board:
Jeffrey M. Zemsky – Headmaster Dylan Deal – Director of Upper School John Donecker – Director of Middle School James L. Kirtland – Director of Business and Financial Affairs Ann S. Mindler ’70P – Assistant Head of School Susan Parent – Director of Lower School Robert J. Zaiser – Director of Institutional Advancement
Editor
Carla Snook
Contributing Writers Tracy Bozik Angela Emili Stephanie Palmieri Jessica McPherson Gabbey Stone Meghan Szvetecz Jarred Weaver Robert J. Zaiser
FALL 2017
JOURNAL
FEATURES
Celebrating the Start of Our 276th Academic Year 3 Empathy Series 4 MA Welcomes New Faculty, Staff and Board Member 5-6 Introducing Our New Admissions Suite 9 A Look Into Our Extended Care Program 10 Special Events 13-17 Vespers 18 Alumni Reunion 24-25 The 2018 Moravian Academy Auction 26 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners 27-29 New Alumni Association Board Members 30 Athletic Hall of Fame Inducts New Members 31-32 IN EVERY ISSUE
From the Headmaster Institutional Advancement News Field Trips, Retreats, and Off-Campus Adventures Lehigh Valley Summerbridge Fields & Courts: Athletics Highlights Alumni News Class Notes In Memorium
2 7-8 11-12 19-20 21-22 23 33-36 37
Designer
Angela Emili
Photography
Tom Amico Douglas Benedict Tracy Bozik Marco Calderon Carla Snook Lindsay Woodruff Robert J. Zaiser
Printing
Bethlehem Business Forms 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. © 2017 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
M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T 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 our tradition has encouraged sound innovations to meet contemporary challenges while recognizing the permanence of basic human values.
S TAT E M E N T O F P H I L O S O P H Y Moravian Academy seeks to fulfill its mission by pursuing these goals: • Provide a strong academic foundation in preparation for college work. • Help students develop self-respect, dignity, and a concern and respect for others. • Promote creativity and an appreciation of aesthetic values. • Help students to develop their physical skills and encourage positive attitudes about health and fitness. • Engage students in experiences that will develop maturity, independence, adaptability, integrity, and love of learning. • Help students to become aware of the spiritual dimension of life and further their understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition. • Encourage students and their parents to recognize their responsibilities in the educational process and demonstrate their commitment to the purposes and goals of Moravian Academy.
from the
Headmaster Dear Moravian Academy Community, Like years past, the 2017-18 year has immersed all of us at Moravian Academy in excitement, personal determination, and the knowledge seeking that sparks curiosity and intellectual exploration. Ours remains a community full of differing perspectives, passions, talents, and backgrounds. What we share is a deep respect for the light of both learning and connecting as human beings. This is evident across our campuses as we host a series of discussions and speakers around the theme of empathy. The focus on empathy helps us to understand each other while honoring the different points of view that make each of us distinctive. Being stewards of an atmosphere of love and understanding remains an enduring challenge, one that we gladly accept as a school. In this fall issue, we highlight many of the shared experiences that make our school unique, such as Vespers, Grandparents’ Day, Upper School Coffeehouse, and Lovefeasts. These traditions unite us as students, parents, faculty, alumni, and friends. We invite you to visit our new Admissions Office suite located in the Devey Building on the corner of New and Market Streets—you are always welcome to stop by to learn more about what’s new at Moravian. We celebrated Reunion Weekend and Country Fair by dedicating the new Alumni Circle, made possible by the generosity of generations of alumni from Moravian Preparatory School, Moravian Seminary, and Moravian Academy. It was inspiring to hear from our two Distinguished Alumnae award winners—Mrs. Bonnie Biafore ’72 and Dr. Erin Kara ’07—and it was wonderful for our students to see where a Moravian Academy education has led these alumnae who followed their intellectual and personal passions while making significant contributions to the world around them. On behalf of everyone at Moravian Academy, I wish you all a joyous holiday season and a very Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you in the hallways, classrooms, theaters, and sidelines in 2018!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey M. Zemsky Headmaster
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CELEBRATING THE START OF OUR 276TH ACADEMIC YEAR On Tuesday, August 29th, Moravian Academy students in grades 1-12, as well as faculty, staff, and parents gathered at Central Moravian Church to celebrate the start of the school’s 276th year. Andrew Warner ’18, started things off by reading the Invocation, adapted from “Part as Parcel” by Mark Belletini. Headmaster Jeffrey M. Zemsky delivered the Meditation in which he took a moment to ponder the importance of empathy and utilizing the resources in our spiritual backpacks to choose goodness. Mr. Zemsky shared, “An essential supply that we take with us into this school year is our ability to connect with other people as humans. This is not something we take for granted, but instead is something we cherish. We save a special place in our spiritual backpacks for this supply. We call it sometimes mutual respect, or love and understanding, or empathy, or friendship. But always it goes in that special pocket—the one we can check to make sure it is full just by feeling the outside.” Headmaster Zemsky encouraged students to seek out opportunities to speak the truth while striving to engage in acts of empathy toward those in need throughout the new school year. At the conclusion of the service, everyone—including primer, prekindergarten, and kindergarten—gathered around the flagpole in front of the CE Building for the traditional flag-raising ceremony and to sing the Moravian Academy alma mater. 3
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MA KICKS OFF EMPATHY SERIES Starting this past fall, Moravian Academy launched a series of empathy-building events designed to provide opportunities to engage with thoughtful, respectful, and intellectually minded community members. Empathy is a critical skill for success in our highly connected world. We use empathy skills to build bridges across cultural boundaries, invite more people to the conversation, and unlock the potential of partnership when solving a problem. But how do we form and maintain these critical skills? It takes exposure, practice, and reflection.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS PAST FALL’S SPEAKERS AND EVENTS WE ARE ALL WONDERS
This program, which kicked off the series in September, coincided with our community reading of Wonder by R.J. Palacio. With the help of Mr. Sam Drazin, founder and executive director of Changing Perspectives, we explored empathy and its role in how we see the world. In Chapel, classroom visits, and special assemblies. Mr. Drazin spoke with students about themes from the book, especially from his own perspective as an adult with the same syndrome as the character Auggie Pullman.
THE TROUBLE WITH MY NAME
2018 SPEAKERS AND EVENTS REALIZING A BELOVED COMMUNITY
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left us with a vision of a beloved community where all people are appreciated and accepted for who they are. In January 2018, Ms. Emily Chiariello will visit campus to help us operationalize love and understanding in our daily lives and language. Through her facilitation, we will move beyond Dr. King’s famous four words about a dream to what we might accomplish in the here and now. Ms. Chiariello is founder of Education for the Good and the former Chief Curriculum Designer at Teaching Tolerance.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Mr. Rodney Glasgow is an expert in how schools can achieve greater diversity, equity, and social justice. Mr. Glasgow is known to many Moravian Academy students and faculty as a frequently requested speaker and a prominent leader in independent schools. He is the Head of the Middle School and Chief Diversity Officer at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, MD.
In this exploration of the American-Latino experience, Dr. Javier Avila shared stories in two special assemblies in October and November about culture, identity, and the way we make sense of the pieces of ourselves. Dr. Avila is a professor of English at Northampton Community College and the recipient of the 2015 Pennsylvania Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
THE OXFAM HUNGER BANQUET
The Hunger Banquet, designed by Oxfam America, is an interactive event that brings hunger and poverty to life. For one evening in November, members of our Upper School community experienced firsthand the socioeconomic reality for many in our global community. Following the Hunger Banquet, Upper School students were invited to join an overnight refugee camp simulation on the Merle-Smith Campus.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
On November 14, Ms. Mary Jo Hebling, faculty member at the International Institute for Restorative Practices, spoke about the emerging social science field of restorative practices at a special Parents’ Association luncheon at the Hotel Bethlehem. She shared her restorative philosophy and extensive experience as an educator, practitioner and action researcher, and explored the importance of creating an environment that provides space for growing and learning.
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NEW FACES
FACULTY AND STAFF WHO JOINED OUR COMMUNITY THIS YEAR
MR. DYSEAN ALEXANDER ’12 Associate Director of Admissions (Lower, Middle & Upper Schools)
A graduate of Ursinus College and a member of Moravian Academy’s Class of 2012, Mr. Alexander comes to the Admissions team from his work as an Admissions Counselor at Albright College. Many students will recognize Mr. Alexander from his guest appearances in Chapels, Lovefeasts, and alumni events over the past few years.
MRS. KATHY BULMAN
Mrs. Boyd joined the Middle School math department to teach Algebra 1A and Algebra 2 in the eighth grade. Mrs. Boyd is a graduate of Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. She also holds a Master’s from DeSales University and returns to education after several years working at Lockheed Martin.
Mrs. Bulman is a veteran teacher with several years of experience teaching at other independent schools, including Far Hills Country Day in nearby Far Hills, New Jersey, and at the Whitfield School in St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Bulman is a graduate of Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish. Mrs. Bulman also holds a Master of Science in education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Middle School Math Teacher
Middle School English Teacher
DR. STEPHANIE PALMIERI
MS. CHASE MORRISON
MR. MARC YERRINGTON
Dr. Palmieri joined the Middle School administrative team to coordinate the division’s events, student scheduling, placements, and academic initiatives. Dr. Palmieri earned her Ph.D. from Temple University in media and communications. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in creative writing and women’s studies from Lehigh University and a Master’s in secondary education. Dr. Palmieri has been a member of Moravian Academy’s Lehigh Valley Summerbridge leadership team for ten years.
Ms. Morrison arrived at Moravian Academy from New Mexico, where she served as Chair of Performing Arts at St. Michael’s High School and Orchestra Director in the Santa Fe Public Schools. She has extensive experience instructing Suzuki cello, viola, and violin. She has spent time in the Lehigh Valley with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra among other appointments as a teacher and musician. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Wellesley College and a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College.
A graduate of Eastern University with a Bachelor of Arts in ESL and Spanish and a Master’s in multicultural education, Mr. Yerrington brings a wealth of experience in K-6 education. Mr. Yerrington has relocated from Hong Kong, where he was most recently a kindergarten teacher and curriculum director for Yew Chung International School’s English immersion program for Chinese students. Mr. Yerrington grew up in Spain with Spanish as a primary language before coming to the United States to complete his education.
Middle School Academic Coordinator
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MRS. KELLY BOYD
Director of String Orchestras (Lower, Middle & Upper Schools)
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ThirdGrade Homeroom, Spanish Immersion Program
MA WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
MR. JOHN ADAM HERBERT
MS. LARA CESCO-CANCIAN
Mr. Herbert joined Moravian Academy’s Science Department as a biology instructor. A Peace Corps alumnus, Mr. Herbert earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from Denison University and Master of Science in marine biology from the College of Charleston. Mr. Herbert is a graduate of Phillips Andover Academy and had been teaching for several years at The Woodall School.
Ms. Lara Cesco-Cancian happily returned to Moravian Academy after being a Lehigh Valley Summerbridge math teacher in the past. She joins the Upper School math department to teach Algebra 2. Ms. CescoCancian earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and Bachelor of Arts in education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. She also minored in deaf education.
Upper School Science Teacher
Upper School Math Teacher
MR. MATT MCQUEEN ’99 Mr. Matt McQueen ’99 is Managing Director and head of Mortgage Credit Trading within Global Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (FICC) Trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In this role, Mr. McQueen leads trading for credit products including RMBS, ABS and CMBS. FICC is one of the main divisions within Global Markets, Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s institutional sales and trading platform.
MISS GABBEY STONE
MR. DYLAN DEAL
Miss Stone joined the staff of Moravian Academy’s Extended Care program in 2014 and now steps into the role of Director. Miss Stone is a graduate of Moravian College holding a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Psychology and Art. She is currently enrolled at DeSales University, working toward completing a Masters Degree in early Childhood Education. In addition to working in MA’s extended care since 2014 and as a classroom substitute teacher, Miss Stone was Camp Director for the Day-to-Day Summer Camp on the Merle-Smith campus.
Mr. Deal joined the Upper School this past fall after serving as Head of the Upper School at Bayside Academy in Daphne, AL, for the past three years. He brings to Moravian his varied experience in independent schools, including being a dean of students, faculty member, and varsity coach at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, GA. He is particularly excited by Moravian’s mission statement, intellectual traditions, and our students’ desire to learn service leadership. Mr. Deal holds a Master’s degree in school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in religion from Davidson College.
Director of Extended Care, Primer-grade 8
Director of Upper School
Prior to assuming his current role in 2015, Matt was head of Non-Agency RMBS trading. Mr. McQueen joined Merrill Lynch in 2008 from Bear Stearns. He has a BA in economics from New York University and an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago.
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INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
NEWS
ALUMNI CIRCLE DEDICATED In our continuing celebration of Moravian Academy’s 275th anniversary, the new “Alumni Circle” was officially opened at this year’s reunion weekend. The “Alumni Circle” is a new brick courtyard in front of Snyder House on the MerleSmith campus. Many alumni and parents of alumni will remember this space, which previously served as a parking lot and drop off area. The new courtyard includes two sitting walls with the Moravian Seminary for Girls logo and the Moravian Preparatory School logo prominently displayed. In the center of the courtyard, the Moravian Academy logo is situated for all to enjoy. Each Moravian graduate of Moravian Seminary for Girls, Moravian Preparatory School, and Moravian Academy since 1931 will have his/her name added to the bricks in the “Alumni Circle.” At each reunion, each 10-year reunion class (at five-year intervals) will enjoy a ceremony unveiling the names of all members of their particular class. These ceremonies will occur each year over the next ten until we have more than 6,000 alumni names in the circle. The “Alumni Circle” symbolizes our one school community with the uniqueness of each individual. The names of all alumni will be added whether or not they give a gift to support this project. So far, we have raised more than $106,000 from 133 donors, most of whom are alumni, for this project and for other upgrades to the first floor of Snyder House. We are appreciative of gifts of all sizes to reach our fundraising goal of $275,000. This is a special endeavor and with the support of our alumni, we can really make a difference, leave a legacy, and celebrate the great history of Moravian Academy and our predecessor schools. To make a gift to this project, contact Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, at bzaiser@mamail.net or 610-332- 5291. Gifts may also be made online at www.moravianacademy.org/giving.
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5K FUN RUN/WALK More than 100 runners and walkers hit the Merle-Smith Campus cross country course to participate in the Annual Moravian Academy Fun Run/ Walk at the Country Fair on October 14th. Headmaster Jeffrey Zemsky kicked off the event with the help of our mascot, Mac. The top three male runners were: Hunter Zahm ’18, Jack Blobe ’20, and Max Weiler ’18. The top three female runners were: Krysta Nichols ’21, Justine Dell ’18, and Sophie Lee ’22.
2017 GOLF OUTING SUCCESS The 2017 Golf Outing, hosted at Lehigh Country Club this past September, was a complete success. This event not only provided a unique opportunity for the more than 90 participants to enjoy our strong community, but was a wonderful way for our community to learn more about Moravian Academy and our Lehigh Valley Summerbridge program. The proceeds from the tournament benefited the school’s operations as well as Summerbridge. Special thanks to our chairs, Brian Loftus, Richard Pearce ’80, and Mike Baittinger for all of their hard work, our sponsors for their generosity, and our participants who made the day memorable.
MORAVIAN ACADEMY BUSINESS CLUB The Moravian Academy Business Club/DECA has been inviting alumni and parent speakers to address the members and share their insights into today’s business environment. The co-presidents are Isha Mohapatra ’19, Robbie Shaff ’19, and Ryan Hoffman ’19 and their advisors are Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement and Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations. The club is always looking for alumni and parent speakers. Please contact Bob Zaiser at bzaiser@mamail.net to share your interest. We are also pleased to announce that Isha Mohapatra ’19, was elected by other chapters to be a Pennsylvania DECA State Officer as the new District 7 Representative. She will be serving on the State Officer Council starting in February and will be representing 13 schools in our area—both public and independent. Isha is honored to have been supported by her district’s chapters and hopes to work hard at her job to bring forth a great year for PA DECA!
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INTRODUCING OUR NEW ADMISSIONS SUITE This fall, Moravian Academy consolidated its Admissions program with the main office now located in Bethlehem’s Historic District in the Devey Building Annex at 11 West Market Street (on the corner of New and Market Streets) on our Church Street Campus. Our Admissions team includes Dan Axford and Ingrid Gerber, Senior Directors of Admissions, Dysean Alexander ’12, Associate Director of Admissions, and Elaine Reedy, Admissions Assistant. They are excited to work as a team to share the good news about Moravian with prospective students and families. The bright new space, designed by Artefact, Inc. Architects, offers many comforts of home to make our visiting families feel welcome—extra seating, a fireplace, coffee and tea station, and vibrant campus photography. The space allows for the display of student artwork from all three divisions, as well as some special historical pieces, borrowed from our Archives, thanks to Judy Gemmel, Archivist. Special events are planned for making this space a hub for all types of visitors, including faculty and staff, alumni, students, parents, and, of course prospective parents and students. Even though you may need to be “buzzed in,” the door is always open. Please stop by for a cup of tea or conversation about all the exciting things going on at the Academy.
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A LOOK INTO EXTENDED CARE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS Written by Gabbey Stone, Director of Extended Care
Opportunities to continue developing the student’s mind, body, and spirit extend beyond the school day. Extended Care can provide fun activities in a safe environment filled with caring staff members. Students enjoy outside and playground time, a healthy snack, homework assistance, and more! Each day, the children engage in a number of both organized and self-guided activities, such as games and arts and crafts. The hours of Extended Care are 3:00-6:00 p.m. daily (Thursdays 2:15-6:00 p.m.). In addition to Extended Care, there are also opportunities for the students to participate in a wide variety of after-school programs. The programs run in four sessions, Fall, Holiday, Winter, and Spring and have an array of choices each time from which to select. Oftentimes, the programs immediately follow school dismissal and classes tend to be smaller, resulting in individualized attention. Mr. Elstein, Lower School art teacher, says he “loves that After-School Programs give him the opportunity to offer unique projects to smaller groups of focused students who otherwise may not be able to try these more intensive or large-scale mediums.” Many different program types are offered each session, however some do run almost every time so more students have the opportunity to join if they missed a previous session. The programs are diverse so there is something for everyone’s interests (chess, art classes, yoga, etc.) and engage the child in a multitude of ways. “The AfterSchool Programs are often where my passions and the students’ passions overlap. They inspire me, and I, hopefully, inspire them while helping them to develop a skill or concept” is what Mr. Brad Pomeroy, who regularly instructs programs, states about how he comes up with his creative ideas. Currently in session, Mr. Pomeroy’s “MA Perfect” program, based on the YouTube show, “Dude Perfect,” teaches perseverance, resilience, creativity, humility, problem solving, team building, and self-reflection.” The program is based on trial and error, coming up with “an impossible trickshot,” scheming a plan, and the students are met with either success or a blooper. For more information about our Extended Care Program, contact the Lower School and Middle School main offices.
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FIELD TRIPS, RETREATS
and Off Campus Adventures
Seventh graders enjoying experiential learning in nature on September 27. First grade picked from our community garden and made a salad on September 22.
Sixth graders enjoying team-building activities on their retreat at Bryn Mawr Mountain on September 7.
Third grade explored Peace Valley on October 2.
Sixth graders had a blast on their overnight field trip on September 7-8. 11
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Sixth graders exjoyed a day at the Renaissance Faire on October 11.
Seventh graders visited The Franklin Institute on September 27.
Fourth graders visited Unangst Tree Farm on October 25.
Kindergarteners and 10th graders collecting one last harvest in the garden on October 20.
Kindergarteners exploring the corn house at the pumpkin patch on October 25.
The fifth grade enjoyed their visit to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Liberty Science Center on October 20.
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RED AND GOLD
Games Day
The 47th Annual
COUNTRY FAIR
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ALUMNI LOVEFEAST On Friday, October 13, a special Alumni Lovefeast kicked off the weekend of events, bringing together students in grades one through 12, faculty, staff, and alumni, who all celebrated with readings, music, and of course, juice and cookies. There were many ways in which alumni and students participated in the service: Christopher Fanning ’25 delivered the Prayers and Katherine Shnier ’22 delivered the Birthday Prayer;
Triumph”) and the Eighth Grade Handbell Choir (“Wayfaring Stranger”). This year’s Meditation was delivered by our 2017 Distinguished Young Alumna Dr. Erin Kara ’07, astrophysicist and astronomer. Her hard work paid off and has resulted in her positions as Hubble Postdoctoral Fellow and Joint Space-Science Institute Fellow at the University of Maryland and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Dr. Erin Kara ’07
The Liturgy of Stewardship was read by Dysean Alexander ’12; Musical highlights were provided by: the Moravian Academy Chamber Singers (“Song of
UPPER SCHOOL ALUMNI CHAPEL The Upper School community gathered on October 13th to welcome our alumni from Moravian Preparatory School, Moravian Seminary, and Moravian Academy. The voices of Chorale, under the direction of Mr. Riker, resonated beautifully in this space. Ms. Bonnie Biafore ’72, recipient of the Distinguished Alumna award, was the featured speaker and delivered an inspirational message that highlighted her path from Moravian Preparatory School and college at MIT to a successful career as a project
manager and an award-winning author of technical instructional manuals for leading products. She shared “My career path had no planning; it all kind of happened by chance.”
Ms. Bonnie Biafore ’72
Ms. Biafore encouraged our Upper Schoolers to “be open to opportunities the universe presents, discover your passions and hopefully you will find a career in what you love the most.”
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FATHERS’ LOVEFEAST
October 25, 2017
The morning of October 25th was filled with sunshine and smiles as the Lower and Middle Schools welcomed their dads for the annual Fathers’ Lovefeast. Dads began their day by joining their sons and daughters in the classroom, taking part in various projects and observing lessons, before heading to Central Moravian Church for the Lovefeast service.
AJ Williams ’29 and his father, Dr. Allister Williams.
Musical highlights from the service included: the Middle School Chorus singing “Inscription of Hope” by Z. Randall Stroope, the Middle School Concert Band playing “Be Still, My Soul” arranged by Robert W. Smith, and fourth grade singing “Oh Fill My Cup with Amazing Grace” by John Newton. This year’s Meditation was delivered by U.S. Veteran and Allentown Police Officer Mr. Miguel A. Villa, father of Leann ’25 and Liam ’30, who reminded us of the importance of spending quality time together with family. The morning concluded with a reception for dads in the CE Auditorium, courtesy of the Parents’ Association.
Mr. Miguel A. Villa delivers the Meditation.
GRANDPARENTS’ LOVEFEAST
November 21, 2017
Before departing for the much-anticipated Thanksgiving break, students from the Middle School and Lower School invited their grandparents to campus for a very special visitation day and Lovefeast on November 21st. Grandparents began their morning with classroom visits before heading to Central Moravian Church for the service. Highlights included an Invocation “Psalm 100” read by Juliana Blobe ’22, “I Vow, to Thee, My Country,” by Gustav Holst, performed by the Middle School String Orchestra under the direction of Ms. Chase Morrison and a performace by the Sixth Grade Bells under the direction of Mrs. Patrice Kidd. Reverend Jennifer Nichols delivered this year’s Meditation, discussing fun family traditions— especially with grandparents—and shared stories about her beloved grandmother: “One of my favorite memories of my grandmother is watching her at the end of every summer, crawling around in the cucumber patch in our garden. As we grew up, we learned that our grandmother treated people pretty much the way she treated cucumbers. She was always willing to get her hands dirty for people, or spend hours of her day helping them become the best versions of themselves.”
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Lower School Players Present
“BEAUTY & THE BEAST” On November 16th and 17th, the fifth grade Lower School Players gave two magical performances of Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast Jr.” The cast and crew of over 35 students, under the direction of Senior Director of Admissions Mrs. Ingrid Gerber, and with the help of Mrs. Roseanne Emig, did an extraordinary job with just seven weeks of rehearsal time to prepare for the one-hour production, complete with over 20 musical numbers. Songs included “Be Our Guest,” “Gaston,” “Something There,” “Human Again,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Lower School Players, which has become a cherished tradition, is a special experience for fifth graders, who grow creatively and develop lifelong friendships through dedication and hard work.
MS IMPROV
Spontaneous Comedy Ignites Us Our talented Middle School Improv Troupe kept audiences on their toes with two performances in early December. Under the direction of Mrs. Laura Riker and with the help of Mr. Rick Dow, members of the troupe mastered spontaneous comedy and thinking on their feet in rehearsals before taking their show to the stage. The cast performed live fast-paced games, such as “ThreeHeaded Expert,” “Doctor Doctor,” “Taxi Driver,” and “What’s My Line?” Kudos to all involved and thanks to Mrs. Riker and Mr. Dow for their never-ending support and enthusiasm.
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COFFEEHOUSE
US Talent Shines in Two Performances
Our talented Upper School students and faculty shone in two sold-out Coffeehouse performances on December 1st and 2nd in Dyer Auditorium. This cherished tradition affords students the opportunity to share talents that might not otherwise be seen in the Moravian Academy community. The line-up featured a fantastic mix of cultural dances, classical and modern music, and comedy skits. Kudos to all who were involved in this spectacular show on stage and behind the scenes, especially to director Mr. Jarrod Yuskauskas and Mr. Robert Riker, who served as the show’s technical and lighting director.
MIDDLE SCHOOL RECITAL This year’s Middle School Recital on November 21st featured 16 outstanding group and solo performances covering a wide variety of music genres. This annual event gives our talented Middle Schoolers the opportunity to perform in front of a supportive audience where hard work is valued and courage to share talents with each other is appreciated. Thanks to Mrs. Patrice Kidd, Ms. Chase Morrison, and Dr. Richard Fanning for their continued support and direction of our Middle School music programs!
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VESPERS SHINES A LIGHT ON MORAVIAN ACADEMY TRADITIONS On the evening of December 7th, Moravian Academy held its annual Middle and Upper School Vespers service, followed by a Lower School Vespers service on the afternoon of December 8th. Both services featured an impressive festive assortment of Scripture readings, handbells, and string and vocal performances. The Middle and Upper School Vespers began with a Prelude of beautiful handbell arrangements from the various Middle and Upper School ensembles, followed by a Choral Introit, “O Magnum Mysterium,” sung by the men of the Middle and Upper School choirs. Other highlights included performances by: the Moravian Academy Chamber Singers (“Lux Aurumque”), the Women of Chorale (“Cradle Hymn”), the Middle School Girls’ Chorus (“Sing A Joyous Alleluia”), the combined Middle and Upper School Women’s Choirs (“God Has Come!”), Middle School Chorus (“Welcome To Our World” and “Amen! Go Tell It on the Mountain!”), Moravian Academy Chorale (“Sir Christèmas” and “Christmas Day”), and the Middle and Upper School Choirs (“All Is Well”).
“Morning Star” fifth grade soloists: Angie Perrucci, Jolie Eyvazzadeh, Rowan Taylor, Grayson Bucher, Hunter Zicherman, Addison Etter, Christopher Fanning, and Jackson Albert.
This service’s “Morning Star” performance featured fifth grade soloists: Angie Perrucci, Rowan Taylor, Hunter Zicherman, and Christopher Fanning. The Lower School Vespers service opened with a Prelude performed by the Fifth Grade Bells (“O Come, All Ye Faithful”), and then featured heartwarming vocal performances from Pre-kindergarten-5th Grade. Instrumental highlights included The Lower School Vespers Strings performance of “Cornwall Christmas Tidings” and a piano/organ duet of “Carol of the Bells” performed by Middle School Music Director Mrs. Patrice Kidd and Lower School music teacher Ms. Lou Carol Fix. The “Morning Star” fifth grade soloists for this service were: Jolie Eyvazzadeh, Grayson Bucher, Addison Etter, and Jackson Albert.
Harry Vicic
Patti Davis and Kevin Ferdinand
Students begin preparing for their vocal and instrumental performances shortly after school commences in the fall, devoting countless hours to practice and instruction. This tradition of musical diligence not only provides students of all ages with an excellent opportunity to hone their skills, but also ensures that each Vespers service is an unforgettable holiday occasion for all who attend.
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Written by Jarred Weaver, Executive Director of Lehigh Valley Summerbridge
“I’ve gained experience in lesson planning, I’ve taught differentiated lessons to large groups and small groups, and I’ve gained experience in managing the day-to-day logistics of managing a classroom and creating a positive learning community! I’ve collaborated with other aspiring teachers countless times—working on a team of teachers, co-planning lessons, or setting up special events. I’ve received advice from first-year teachers regarding the application and interview process and hearing about what they’ve learned as new professional teachers. I’ve received constructive criticism and feedback from a variety of mentor teachers and professionals. – Antonia Spadafora, Summerbridge Teacher Moravian College Student
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This past summer was filled with so many adventures. Our Summerbridge teachers came from many colleges inside and outside the Lehigh Valley and included DeSales University, Kutztown University, Moravian College, Marywood University, Lehigh University, and West Chester University. We were fortunate to have many returning teachers and we welcomed several new teachers as well. Kicking off our 25th summer with our first Lehigh Valley Summerbridge Giving Day, your generous donations helped to pay for books and supplies throughout the summer and were very much appreciated!
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As part of the curriculum, Summerbridge students read “Holes,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” and “If I Stay” and students chose a science class such as Genetics, Health and Wellness, Forensic Science, and Space Science. They also had many electives and clubs in which to participate, including Art Therapy, Fans of Flicks, Oceanography/Zoology, Drama, Logic Games, and Sports, to name a few.
Summerbridge groups took tours of some of our local colleges and universities to learn a bit about college life. Muhlenberg College, DeSales University, Kutztown University, and Lehigh University all opened their doors to us so that students could visit college classrooms, athletic centers, cafeterias, and dorm rooms, and take a stroll around their beautiful campuses.
“I learned how to involve student interest in projects. During our mock trial, students were able to try out for roles and express why they would fit that role best. Also, students were able to write blog posts about any topic they wanted to! Students loved reading other blogs from students and reading their comments. This project helped the class come together as a community.”
One thing to remember about this summer is all the creative activities that were happening in every classroom each day. While one room was investigating a “crime scene,” another room was practicing yoga, and nearby you could smell empanadas in another classroom (the kitchen). Whether the students were preparing infomercial pitches, performing in a poetry slam, singing, dancing, launching rockets, or learning about therapy dogs, one thing is for sure...they were all having tons of fun!
Rachel Benowitz is a recent graduate of DeSales University and is teaching 3rd Grade at Nottingham Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia. In her spare time she likes to travel, try new things, eat, cook, and watch movies. – Rachel Benowitz,
Summerbridge Teacher DeSales University Graduate
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Fields & Courts MIDDLE SCHOOL FALL AWARDS CROSS COUNTRY Lion’s Pride Katy Shnier ’22 Coach’s Award Sophie Lee ’22 and Liam McCary ’22 Quantum Leap Sierra Smith ’22 FIELD HOCKEY Lion’s Pride Nikki Chiaradia ’22 Coach’s Award Marina Falzone ’22 Quantum Leap Alexa Fegley ’22 GIRLS’ SOCCER Lion’s Pride Chloe Oudin ’22 Coach’s Award Juliana Blobe ’22 Quantum Leap Sophia Brands ’22 BOYS’ SOCCER Lion’s Pride Sam Carter ’22 Coach’s Award Samit Mohapatra ’22 Quantum Leap Ryan Grossenbacher ’22
Varsity US Boys Soccer Team-District XI Champions 21
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UPPER SCHOOL FALL AWARDS
Bobby Beck ’18 and Drew Warner ’18 won the Wasser Cup in the summer of 2017, fourth place at PIAA Class 2A Golf Championships.
The 2017 District XI Golf Championship Team.
CROSS COUNTRY Captain’s Award Justine Dell ’18, Noah Young’18, and Hunter Zahm ’18 MVP Krysta Nichols ’21 and Hunter Zahm ’18 MIP Brooke Foran ’21, Mason Tran ’21, and Sara Xiao ’21 Coach’s Award Dylan Carter ’19 and Quinn O’Connor ’20 GOLF Captain’s Award MVP MIP Coach’s Award
Bobby Beck ’18 and Drew Warner ’18 Drew Warner ’18 Matthew Pulcini ’18 Christian Pfennig ’19
FIELD HOCKEY Captain’s Award MVP Offense MVP Defense MIP Coach’s Award
Katie Keller ’18 and Ellie Werner ‘18 Cassie Romanczuk* Ellie Werner ’18 Darby de Castro ’20 Kalli Miller ’19
BOYS’ SOCCER Captain’s Award MVP MIP Coach’s Award
Daniel Elmi ’18 and Forest Reeves ’18 Daniel Elmi ’18 Evan Edelman ’20 Keith Lutostansky ’21
GIRLS’ SOCCER Captain’s Award MVP Offense MVP Defense MIP Coach’s Award
Rachel Burcaw ’18, Taylor Hesse ’18 and Caroline Joseph ’18 Rachel Burcaw ’18 Caroline Joseph ’18 Elizabeth Stifel ’18 Gabrielle Oudin ’20
GIRLS’ TENNIS Captain’s Award Taylor de Castro ’18 and Bailey Hancharik ’18 MVP Taylor de Castro ’18 MIP Grace Nixdorf ’19 Coach’s Award Lotus Lichty ’18 * Notre Dame of Green Pond Student
Varsity Field Hockey Team, District XI Champions moravian academy journal Fall 2017
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ALUMNI NEWS SOCIAL MEDIA
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR SMASH MAY 3-4, 2018
Join our alumni groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, and invite your friends and contacts to join as well. It’s a great way to reconnect with fellow classmates, network, and access news and events.
Interested in hosting a Salute Moravian and Say Hello (SMASH) event? Contact the Alumni Office at tbozik@ mamail.net or 610-332-5282.
“Like” the Moravian Academy Theatre Alumni page on Facebook—a place for alumni of the Moravian Academy Upper School Theatre program to share their current theatrical endeavors!
We look forward to hearing from you and we are excited to see and share photos from your event!
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 updating information, and stewarding class fundraising efforts for the Annual Fund and Benigna Cup Challenge. Reunion Class Chairs – Help plan and promote attendance at your milestone reunions this year, our focus will be on the reunion years ending in 3s and 8s. Regional Committee Members – Communicate with alumni in your region and help plan local events.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US! Send us your class notes on the enclosed notecard and we will include your news in the next issue of “The Journal.” Pictures are welcome and can be sent via email. Also, be sure to send us your current contact information so we can keep you up-to-date with alumni news and upcoming events!
Young Alumni Network – Provide input on events and activities for our recent graduates (10 years or less).
For more information on any of the alumni opportunities listed here, contact Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations, at 610-332-5282 or tbozik@moravianacademy.org.
COAST TO COAST Calling all alumni! Moravian Academy will continue its coast to coast tour after the New Year. In the next few months, Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, or another member of the Advancement Office will be visiting with alumni in geographic areas such as: • • • • • •
These meetings traditionally are one on one, in small groups, or sometimes in larger gatherings depending on the locations. Please be on the lookout for email invitations. For more information, contact Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, at bzaiser@mamail.net or 610-332-5291.
Altanta, Georgia including Savannah and Hilton Head, South Carolina Southern California New York City metropolitan area Pittsburgh and Ohio Philadelphia Washington, DC
In the past several years, we have visited with alumni in New York, Washington, Baltimore, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Tampa, Nashville, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, and most recently Charlotte. 23
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Bob Zaiser and Will Stifel ’16
Bob Zaiser and Cindy Straher Rhodes ’16
Bob Zaiser and Katherine Cates ’98
REUNION 2017 Each year, the Moravian Academy Alumni Board recognizes Distinguished Alumni during the Reunion Luncheon on Country Fair Day. Profiles on each award winner can be found on pages 27-29.
Members of the Moravian Preparatory School Class of 1967, left to right: Elizabeth Conard, Lyn Emerich, Ann Ramage, Jon Butterfield, John Guider, Candace Pearce, Jon Collani, Gine Walter Flury, John Carlson, and Ed Prince.
Alumni award winners, left to right: Dr. Erin Kara ’07, Judy Waldman, and Bonnie Biafore ’72.
Members of the Moravian Seminary Class of 1967, L to R: Beth Kinney Eppinger, Ellen Whittemore Balmer, Elizabeth “Tekkie” Zapf Culpepper, Mary Schneider, Jackie Humphries Bickley, and Helene Whitaker
Members of the Moravian Preparatory Class of 1972 celebrate their 45th Reunion.
The Class of 1992 celebrated their 25th at Ocean 235 in downtown Easton.
Members of the Class of 1997, left to right: Ronit Sternberg, Dev Albarelli, Claire Brown, Bill Moyer, Spencer Kozinn, Kyle Popkave, Bob LaBarre, Carolyn Davis Hedges, Janna van Gaalen Mudd, and Chris Regina.
Members of the class of 2012, left to right: Chris Holben, Zoe Briggs, Kim Brown, and Shradha Chhabria.
Members Class of 2007 at their 10th Reunion celebration - still a bunch of characters!
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REUNION 2017 After Saturday’s Reunion Luncheon, the Class of ’72 had a round table discussion on “Life in our Seventh Decade.” Sam Thayer ’72 shares, “Each of us (and a few spouses/partners) briefly shared what we’ve been up to in the last six decades (!), and what’s on our minds and hearts as we enter this next decade. Themes included family, volunteering, pastimes, transitioning to retirement, and gratitude. Facilitated by our past teacher Bonnie Brill, the session was full of laughs and some tears, and it was a great opportunity to catch up with each other.” Moravian Seminary graduates reminisce over photos from their days on campus. L to R: Beth Kinney Eppinger ’67S, Connie Herrick Weiss ’67S, Hayden Merrick Hauser ’67S and Helene Whitaker ’67S.
L to R: Bonnie Biafore ’72, Sam Thayer ’72, and Marianna Miller Tlush ’72.
L to R: John Williams, Nancy Hay ’72, and Jonathan Blickwede ’72.
Our Moravian Preparatory School alumni enjoyed returning to the Alumni Gym on the Church Street Campus for a cocktail reception. Pictured L to R: Michele Nadeau Hartmann ’72, Frank Arguelles, and Mary Smull Arguelles ’72.
Classes from the 1970s took the lead in our competition to see which decade had the most attendees at Reunion 2017. Claire Mihalski ’72 was the lucky winner of the Lion’s Pride Pac.
Barbara Moser ’82 reports that the Class of 1982 had a great time at their 35th celebration at The Edge in downtown Bethlehem. Classmates came from near and far, including: Guy Bock, Carol Cherry, Kimberly Murray Colville, J. Eric Crossley, Andrew Gorayeb, Paul Isaac, Robert Jones, Gail Knecht Nanjo, Brad Ritter, Susanna Schantz, Lucy Thomas, Dave Wagner, Johnna Freyman Ward and F. Andrew Wolf.
Susanna Schantz ’82 and Lucy Thomas ’82 caught up with Mrs. Devey during the Reunion festivities!
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moravian academy journal Fall 2017
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Some highlights for the “curiouser and curiouser” include: Patron Level: Come early and enjoy a private wine tasting hosted by Black River Farms and Tolino Vineyards. Patron guests will be invited to a premium tasting with assorted cheeses and live music. Guests are welcome to keep their very own engraved wine glass! More details to come.
Catering: “O Oysters, come and walk with us! A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach: Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear, we can begin to feed.” A Moravian parent, Chef Michael Brack of Sodexo Catering, will be presenting a delectable “Alice” themed dinner delight including White Swan Acres Organic Popcorn, Crab Tarts, Lobster Quadrille, Arugula Salad and more muchness! Tarts, Cakes, & Coffee Bar galore!
Beer and Wine Garden: “In the garden of memory, in the palace of dreams … that is where you and I shall meet.” Enjoy an assortment of local craft beers on draft along with delectable wines from Black River Farms and Tolino Vineyards. A full bar and cocktails, Mad Hatter Martinis and comfortable indoor garden seating are available.
Décor: “Down the Rabbit Hole …” The transformation of the Athletic and Wellness Center is a must see. Dancing, dining, and a live auction under the big tent. Be prepared to be dazzled by the extraordinaire table and tent décor! There’s a seat for everyone at the Mad Hatter Tea Party with open farm table seating. Limited reserved seating will also be available. Don’t be late for the surprise showstopper to kick off the night!
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? That depends a good deal on where you want to get to!” —Alice in Wonderland
Sweepstakes: Enter to win a custom-crafted men’s suit by J. Hilburn and/or a women’s travel capsule of five pieces by Cabi. There will be one winner for the women’s item and one winner for the men’s item. Only 50 chances for each prize will be sold at $100 per chance. Chances can be purchased on the Auction webpage noted below.
For more information about the Auction and to make your reservation to attend, please go to www.moravianacademy.org/Auction
Thanks to our Top Auction Sponsors: Lehigh Valley Acura Honda Hyundai Fogel’s Fuel Desaki - The Trapasso Family“
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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS MS. BONNIE BIAFORE ’72 Written by Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations
Bonnie Biafore has come a long way since she first entered the doors of Moravian Preparatory School as a 5th grader. But it was the Moravian Preparatory School Creative Writing Club and English teacher Mrs. Gonda that really ignited her love of writing. She believes that “writing is not waiting for the muse.” For her, it was more of a fortuitous intersection. An employee came upon a post offering an opportunity to pen a technical book on online personal finance, coincidentally a topic Ms. Biafore had been working on for a course for a non-profit. And thus, her first book was born. She encourages everyone to offer and share their talents and expertise with nearby organizations saying, “You can get experience in whatever you want by volunteering.” Since 1999, she has written more than 30 bestselling technology guides. On the non-technical side, she’s also co-written “Fresh Squeezed,” a funny crime thriller about incompetent hitmen and not-so-bright criminals. Her undergraduate years were spent at MIT. She had difficulty selecting a major, starting out in electrical engineering but ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Art and Design and “way too many high level math courses for an architecture major.” Eventually, she applied to Columbia University and pursued a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering. Working as a structural engineer for several years, she came to the realization that it just wasn’t for her. Opportunity struck when she was asked to lead her firm’s Computer Aided Design (CAD) implementation project, which led to work with the Graphic Date System (GDS) software vendor and ultimately, her interest in project management. She finds it ironic that she became a project manager. She shared that she has always been a “big planner, but not when it pertains to her career. “My career path had no planning,” states Ms. Biafore. “It all kind of happened by chance. I encourage everyone to be open to opportunities the universe presents and make conscious decisions of whether or not to pursue.” In recent years, Ms. Biafore has authored dozens of courses for LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). She traces the origin of most of her LinkedIn and consulting courses back to that very first book that came about by chance.
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Ms. Biafore currently resides in Colorado, where her “down time,” is spent enjoying hobbies like aerial dance, banjo, and improv comedy. She also enjoys travel and recently journeyed to Iceland. Hiking the Inca Trail to explore Machu Picchu is on the top of her bucket list. Additionally, she is a volunteer educational counselor for MIT and interviews prospective students. She shared that the setting of Moravian Preparatory School always inspired her, with the ability to wander through God’s Acre and experience that feeling of history and tradition. “Moravian provided me with high quality education that gave me a solid foundation that has supported everything I’ve done since.”
DR. ERIN KARA ’07 Written by Meghan Szvetecz
If you’ve ever stopped to ponder the sheer size of our universe and its billions of galaxies, and the chance that maybe, just maybe, there are other planets inhabited by intelligent life, you likely experience a wide range of emotions. For astrophysicist and astronomer Dr. Erin Kara ’07 there’s an allure to the unknown. “It just gets your imagination going,” she says. “I find it fascinating because there’s so much out there we don’t understand. That’s why I’m in this field in the first place.” Maybe her fascination could be traced back to gazing at a poster of the planets in Mrs. Lois Kehoe’s pre-kindergarten class. Or to her first physics class when she says she was “totally inspired” by former Upper School Science Chair Mr. Tom Bross. “He was so good at answering those big ‘why’ questions,” Dr. Kara remembers. “His class made me appreciate that physics is a really fundamental way of understanding science and the universe so that’s why I was interested in continuing to study physics in college.” When she discovered her freshman astronomy class at Barnard College, it felt easy “because Mr. Bross was so thorough” and the physics field proved “very community-oriented,” fitting Dr. Kara’s social nature.
galaxies a year, we see these things happenings fairly frequently,” she says.
As an observational astronomer at NASA she’s supporting the $1 billion NICER (the Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR) Mission to develop a telescope to study black holes, set to complete in 2028. Since its launch in early June, Dr. Kara Mentored and inspired by Barnard’s female professors, Dr. Kara has already been able to study data from this telescope and “it’s immediately dived into research and along the way grew her really some of the best data on black holes that we’ve ever seen,” confidence to shine within a male-dominated discipline. she says. Combine drive and intelligence with eloquence and an affable personality and it’s easy to see how Dr. Kara has secured coveted positions as a Hubble Postdoctoral Fellow and Joint Space-Science Institute Fellow at the University of Maryland and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
While it’s exciting to be at the forefront of historic scientific discoveries, what’s equally satisfying to Dr. Kara is sharing her research with the public. She sees it as an important part of her job and welcomes the opportunity, in whatever forms it takes.
On the heels of completing her PhD at Cambridge University and starting her tenure at the University of Maryland, Dr. Kara garnered headlines and an article in the esteemed Nature International Journal of Science with her discovery of a star ripped apart by a supermassive black hole.
From dispelling myths for science fiction fans as part of a panel at the Awesome Con convention in Washington, DC to presenting at conferences all over the world and inspiring the next generation of Moravian Academy lifers with a visit during Lower School Math Week, Dr. Kara revels in her ability to spur public intrigue and curiosity about the universe.
Studying what are referred to as tidal disruption events, Dr. Kara follows individual stars as they lose their track, wander too close to a supermassive black hole sitting at the center of the galaxy they inhabit, succumb to strong tidal forces from the black hole that rips it apart and, for a moment, lights up the entire galaxy. “We think this happens once every hundred thousand years, but because we’re monitoring hundreds of thousands of
“She’s just incredible all the way around,” explains Mr. Bross. “I’m thrilled to think of one of my former students doing this kind of important work. She’s a real role model.” While it would be easy for Dr. Kara to set five- or ten-year career goals, she’s more inclined to see where her work will take her and enjoy the discoveries along the way. “I’m just loving what I’m doing now and I’m going to continue it as long as it’s fun for me and as long as I can do the kind of work I want to do.”
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MRS. JUDY WALDMAN Written by Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations
Upon her retirement from the Moravian Academy Board of Trustees in 2013, Judy’s father asked her if she left the school a better place than she found it. Her emphatic answer was “yes.” Judy Waldman served on the Moravian Academy Board beginning in 1995, holding the positions of Secretary (20032005) and Vice Chair (2005-2009) before becoming Chair in 2009. As Chair, her accomplishments include: the fundraising activities in Honoring Our Heritage, Building Our Future – The Campaign for Moravian Academy; construction of a new Athletic and Wellness Center; construction of a new maintenance building; recent strategic plans and marketing initiatives and plan; and a financial sustainability initiative and plan. While the list of accomplishments achieved under her tenure are impressive, Judy feels it was truly a team effort. “Back in 2008, it was not the best time economically to embark on a campaign, but everything really just fell into place and arranged itself on a plate for me. The capital campaign was the first in decades, and our community was not used to that.” An unassuming leader, she credits a strong, cohesive board and knowledgeable staff with the success. Mrs. Waldman is originally from Easton, PA, and with her husband Bruce, moved back to the Valley in 1992. They have four children who attended Moravian Academy; Jack, Samantha, Casey and Buckley. As a parent at Moravian Academy, Mrs. Waldman was active in volunteering for school activities like the annual Auction within weeks of her children enrolling. Judy and her husband are active in the community. Moravian Academy has been blessed to have them as significant benefactors and supporters. Her philanthropy and tireless efforts as a volunteer have helped the Academy in almost every way imaginable. Judy’s generosity and volunteer support have touched the lives of countless students, alumni and faculty. She has made a significant difference in the evolution of the school she loves. Besides her activities at Moravian Academy, Judy has also served on other Boards in the Lehigh Valley including Lehigh Valley Summerbridge and the Third Street Alliance for Women and Children. She served on the Board of The Hillside School for nine years and currently serves on the Board of the Perkiomen School, both schools her children attended.
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Call for Nominations We need your suggestions for future nominees! For information on how to make a nomination, visit our website at www.moravianacademy.org/alumniawards or contact Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations, at 610-868-4744, ext. 282, tbozik@moravianacademy.org.
MA WELCOMES
NEW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS Ali Bujnowski ’02 After graduating from Moravian Academy, Bujnowski attended Barnard College, where she earned a degree in American Studies in 2006. A few years later, she earned an MFA at New York University. Bujnowski has been teaching in the Expository Writing Program at New York University since 2012. She is a fiction writer whose work has appeared in BOMB and Narrative magazines. She is currently working on her first novel. She says, “I see serving on the Alumni Association Board as both an opportunity to deepen my involvement within the MA community, as well as an opportunity to foster engagement and connectedness between current MA students and alumni.”
Julia Klees ’78 Klees earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Premedical Science from Lehigh University in 1982, a Medical Doctorate in 1984 from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia (now Drexel) and a Masters in Public Health in 1989 from the University of California at Berkeley. She completed residencies at both the Mayo Clinic (internal medicine) and the University of California, San Francisco (occupational medicine) and is Board-Certified in both specialties. She is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and is currently a member of the ACOEM Evidence-based Practice Committee. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (NY) and co-author of several peer-reviewed medical articles. Klees is currently Associate Corporate Medical Director for BASF Corporation, the North American subsidiary of BASF SE, the world’s leading chemical company. Prior to joining BASF in 1995, Julia was a full-time faculty member of Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, had an active clinical and consulting practice, and was also previously Medical Director of the Occupational Health Service at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. She says, “Being on the Alumni Association Board is a way to ‘give back’ and be involved for my 40th MA Reunion.” moravian academy journal Fall 2017
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Left to right: Headmaster Jeffrey Zemsky, Allison Vasta Nicholson ’98, Dr. Matthew Stein ’01, and Athletic Director Manny Oudin
Allison Vasta Nicholson ’98 On Saturday, December 9th, Moravian Academy inducted this year’s members into the Moravian Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. The Moravian Academy Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to honor past student athletes, teams, coaches, faculty, staff, and friends who have brought distinction through athletics to Moravian Academy and themselves. Consideration will also be given to athletes who display a lasting commitment to the mission of Moravian Academy. Moravian Academy Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees are honored at the John Donmoyer Basketball Tournament each December. The committee welcomes nominations from the greater Moravian Academy community. Submit a nomination at www. moravianacademy.org/ AthleticHallofFame.
If you look at Allison’s senior yearbook page, you will see the following Fred Shero quote – “Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.” And by all accounts, she was an athletic inferno, blazing across the field hockey field, the basketball court and the softball diamond. A natural athlete, Allison recalls at a young age being the only girl on the boys’ travelling soccer team and Little League baseball team. It was in 6th grade that she was encouraged to try field hockey, a sport she continued throughout her years at the Upper School. She also added softball and basketball to the mix. “While no doubt exists about Allison’s physical prowess as a three sport athlete who earned 12 varsity letters in her four years at Moravian Academy, only those who saw her in person can appreciate her leadership skills on and off the playing fields,” says former Upper School Director Joe Chandler. Described by many as a “gentle leader” or “reluctant hero,” Allison’s athletic success was not inspired by winning, but by embracing the concept of the team and cherishing the relationships that were made. By her senior year at MA, she was a captain for all three teams and earned MVP awards for each sport. Additionally, she was named to Colonial League second team in field hockey, qualified to play in the VIA All Star Senior Classic basketball game, and hit 4 home runs during her final softball season. Former softball coach Kevin Ballard says, “I always told people that Allison was the greatest athlete that ever graced the playing fields and courts at Moravian Academy. Some of the plays that she made at shortstop had [us] just smiling and shaking our heads. Our problem was that she was such a good pitcher that we couldn’t use her at shortstop enough!” A “lifer,” she feels that MA was the right place for her, and loved being a student. “A love of learning was instilled in us from the time we were in Kindergarten, and, because of this, we approached all subjects with an open mind. I knew when I graduated that I was equipped to succeed in whatever field I chose because I had everything I needed at my fingertips. All I had to do was put it into action. Things weren’t always easy, but we learned to keep a positive attitude and then anything is possible.” She was encouraged by then Athletic Director Betsy Wilson to look at Ursinus College, and was ultimately recruited for field hockey and later added softball. During her tenure there, she was named a Patriot League Player of the Week, as well as a member of the Patriot League Field Hockey Honor Roll. Much to the delight of coach Debbie Bross, after graduating with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Allison returned to MA as assistant varsity field hockey coach and a longterm substitute post in the Lower School. She later became an assistant teacher in pre-K, and added softball and girls’ basketball to her coaching responsibilities. In 2005, she filled the role of Director of Alumni Relations, a position she would hold for five years. Additionally, she fulfilled several terms on the Alumni Association Executive Board, and continues to volunteer as a liaison with the Class of 1998. Today, Allison enjoys life in Quakertown, PA, with husband Pete and sons Drew, 7, and Alex, 5.
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Matthew Stein and Tennis Coach Tom Schoeninger
Allison Nicholson, Pete Nicholson, and sons Drew and Alex.
Matthew I. Stein, MD ’01 Matt came to Moravian Academy in ninth grade for academics, not basketball, but nonetheless became the first 1000+ point scoring boys’ player in school history. He left Moravian with 1393 career points and was the all-time leading scorer until 2014. Always humble, he credits legendary coach John Donmoyer with his scoring milestone and the success of the team. Former athletic director Jim Tiernan maintains that Matt was one of the finest student athletes he has ever met, citing his work ethic, steady demeanor, belief in the team, and determination.
The Athletic Hall of Fame wall in the Athletic and Wellness Center on the Merle-Smith Campus.
MEMBERS OF THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME JOHN DONMOYER
“Of course Matt was a terrific athlete, but what I remember most about him was how good a teammate he was,” says former basketball coach Kevin Ballard. “In fact, [head coach] John Donmoyer and I had several conversations about what we could do to get Matt to be more selfish. He was always more concerned about his fellow players than with his personal statistics and accolades even when we needed him to do more scoring. Matt was the perfect player for Coach Donmoyer—they were both such gentlemen on and off the court.”
1984 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD HOCKEY TEAM
He also excelled on the tennis court, and played in a District 11 doubles final. His senior year, the boys’ tennis team had a 20-0 record. They were Colonial League Champions and won the District 11 Team Championship. The entire squad, including Matt, was named Colonial League All Stars.
KATHERINE “KATIE” KRUM ’00
Of his time at Moravian, he says, “I have such good memories, and got things at Moravian that I wouldn’t have been able to get elsewhere. It was a place that allowed me to compete athletically within an environment of learning and academics. I was set up well to do that on the college level, too.” After leaving MA, he continued his athletic career at Haverford College, where he was a 4-year starter on the basketball team and again achieved 1000+ career points. The senior captain finished top 10 all-time in points, rebounds and steals, and top 5 all-time in field goal percentage and blocked shots. He was also a 4-year varsity tennis player, serving as captain his senior year. In 2005, he was named a recipient of Haverford’s Gregory Kannerstein ’63 Award for recognition of outstanding athletic achievement and leadership.
MRS. BETSY WILSON MARK A. DEVEY ’81
2002 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS’ TENNIS TEAM JAMES “JIM” TIERNAN ALLISON NICHOLSON ’98 MATTHEW STEIN ’01
He graduated from Haverford College with a B.S. in biology, determined to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. After graduating from NYU School of Medicine, he completed an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of South Florida, and a sports medicine fellowship through the Rothman Institute and Jefferson University. Through this fellowship, he provided team coverage for the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, and Philadelphia Phillies. Today, Matt is in private practice in Saratoga Springs, NY, specializing in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and general orthopedics. Widely published, his work has been presented at both national and international meetings on topics such as distal biceps tears, ACL reconstruction, and cartilage restoration procedures. Matt currently resides in upstate NY, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, and children—Gabe, Lena, and Eli.
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CLASS NOTES DEATHS
Richard L. “Dickie” Ament III ’75, of Chandler, AZ, passed away August 23, 2017. Alan Wolfe Bernstein ’65P, of Annapolis, MD, passed away October 29, 2016. Jane Nooy Bunnell ’67S, of Somerville, MA, passed away on May 14, 2012. Ronald J. Colfer ’56P, of Wescosville, PA, passed away August 13, 2017. Dr. Catherine Doten Lewis ’66P, of McLean, VA, passed away on July 12, 2017. Yush Gupta ’06, of San Francisco, CA, passed away on November 5, 2017. Dr. Sharon Elaine Lambert ’62P, of Spartanburg, SC, passed away on August 12, 2017. Yew Louie ’48P, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on November 21, 2017. Jean Ann Howell Rinnen ’45P, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away May 20, 2017. Dr. Edwin A. Sawyer ’31P, of Lititz, PA, passed away October 5, 2017. Attorney Edward J. Zamborsky ’59P, of Allentown, PA, passed away October 16, 2017. Catharine T. Maza, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on June 19, 2017. Mrs. Maza taught music at Moravian Preparatory School from 1966 until the completed merger in 1971.
NEWS OF NOTE 1945
Helene Phillips Herzig ’45S turned 90, and recently welcomed her first great grandchild.
1948
A few words from the 1948 Seminary graduates, gathered by Sylvia Huot Wyatt: We lived and went to class on Church Street. We went on a walk every morning before breakfast. We studied in the Library Room that once was a hospital room for those wounded in the Revolutionary War. There were 18 of us in the graduating class that year. Marion Musselman Mitchel lives in a senior retirement community in Warminster, PA. Her children all live in the DC and Virginia area, and she has 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She reports, “My health is good and I played ping pong and did some bowling a while back. Hello to all remaining members of 1948!” Chesley “Lee” Kahmann Parsons has been creating beautiful music for many years with her group “The Interludes.” Her CD’s are amazing and delightful, and the 17th one will be produced. Her son Ames continues to be an instrumental addition and her son Brockett travels and performs with Lady Gaga. Lee’s beautiful music has been performed in various places like the Kennedy Center. She is living in Summit, NJ. Suzanne Holton Hunsicker has wonderful and delightful memories of Fem Sem Class of ’48. She says, “I am still a
Catharine T. Maza 33
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‘townie’ in Bethlehem, PA, and pass the Seminary so often. Still remembering great times.” Sylvia Huot Wyatt is in Pittsburgh, PA, and shares, “Moravian Seminary was a fine place of learning, with only a few of us in the classrooms. We learned how to live with a roommate and how to be responsible; it was a growing up experience that I have always been thankful for. After Seminary, I married a Texan, and we had 3 children who are all working in creative areas. Suzy Holton Hunsicker and I ended up in NYC to study the theater, which was a wonderful time. In the small village where I live, I have been involved with the Village Players group.” Class of
’48S
Sylvia Huot Wyatt ’48S is pictured here holding an original Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf doll, which she believes her parents purchased between 1946 and 1948.
SEMINARY CLASS OF 1948
1949
Patricia Krolik Nebinger ’49S shares, “My grandson Victor graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy in June and is now an officer stationed in Guam. My granddaughter Bridget is attending DeSales University.”
La Societe des filles du roi et soldats du Carignan, Inc. I was then asked to be on the editorial board of the journal. A second article—on discovering that I share a common ancestor with the husband of one of David’s cousins—is scheduled to be published in the Fall 2017 issue.”
Class of
’72
1976
1959
Carole Devey Schachter ’76 was recently featured as a Newsmaker in The Morning Call. The Q & A article highlighted her work as the head of the Bethlehem School District’s Center for Language Assessment (CLA). The CLA is the first stop for students with a home language other than English who have relocated within the school district. Since the beginning of the academic year alone, they have worked with 96 new students who relocated from Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. To view the entire article, http:// www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nwsnewsmaker-carole-schachter-20171117story.html
Lanayre Liggera ’59S is the author of two books, “The Life of Robert Lorraine: The Stage, the Sky and George Bernard Shaw” and most recently, “Intrusion.” She lives with her husband in Hudson Valley, where they try to keep up with the comings and goings of their global grandchildren.
1961
John Clauser ’61P says, “I took the month of July off for a 7,800-mile motorcycle trip from Raleigh to Portland OR. Going out I chose my own path, often on no more than “that looks like a good road.” On the return trip I followed Lewis and Clark’s path back to St. Charles. I followed the path out in 2002. There’s lots to see out there, but I wish I had paid more attention to history and geology. Most of all, I know that I will wear out and not rust out.
1965
Tom Smull ’65P shares thoughts on the passing of classmate Alan Bernstein, “He was a successful attorney in his home town of Annapolis, MD and battled his disease for 16 years with nary a complaint about the struggle I knew he was going through. He and I played golf a couple of times last summer and he managed to beat me each time. :-) A smart, funny, kind man. We will miss him.”
1969
Richard Nepon ’69P writes, “I am recovering from a cerebral hemorrhage in March; still quite dizzy. I have been enjoying Naples, FL since 2010, and have been doing live theatre at senior centers for the last two years. My kids are all doing their things in Philly, Portland, OR and Cupertino, CA. I am also caring for an aging parent locally. I have two antique VWs being restored, but am driving an old Jaguar and Porsche. Last year, I visited Europe and the South Pacific.
From Dawn Star ’72, “I am happy to telll old friends that Mark Goldberg and I were married on June 17, 2017, in our home city of Washington, DC. My beautiful daughter, Elizabeth Gutermann, who lives and teaches in Fort Worth, Texas, attended me, with many friends and family together to celebrate!”
1978
1970
Richard Burke ’70P shares, “During May and June, I taught literature at Guangdong Pharmaceutical University in Guangzhou, China (the city once called Canton by Westerners). During the fall semester, I am in Kazakhstan as a Fulbright Scholar, teaching literature courses at KazakhAmerican Free University in surprisingly charming Ust- Kamenogorsk in the far northeastern part of the country.”
Dale Soutter Glass ’78 shares, “I enjoy my work as Science Coordinator at National Presbyterian School in Washington, DC, and as a volunteer with NOAA’s Planet Stewards Education Program, as well as with Girl Scouts. I recently had an article published in “The Earth Scientist” about my students’ Anti-Idling Campaign. My husband, Carter, works for Lexis-Nexis, and our daughters live in CA and MD.”
1972
Michele Nadeau Hartmann ’72 writes, “My husband, David Hartmann (P’62), and I met twenty-five years ago in God’s Acre at Moravian Academy’s 250th anniversary events in May 1992. In June 2018, we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary! After I stopped working full time, I started to research my family history. Looking into my paternal ancestry, I discovered that my 7th great-grandfather traveled from France in 1661 to New France (Quebec). He married a fille du roi, a King’s Daughter, one of 800 women sent from France to help populate the new colony. As there was only one Nadeau settler and he married one of these King’s Daughters, researching family history has been surprisingly easy, as they are both a part of richly documented Canadian history. An article on my ancestral search as well as our travel to genealogical sites in Quebec and France was published in Spring 2016 in Sent By The King, the journal of
Class of
’84
Chrissie Lobley Wagner ’84 shares that her first grandchild has arrived! Scarlett Christine Cancelliere was born August 17, 2017 to daughter Crystal and her husband Dan.
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CLASS NOTES Class of
’90
of the move (as those who know me know). Thankfully, Greg’s family is up here and there is no shortage of visits back to PA. In addition to heading up the online program at Newhouse, I am also a tenuretrack professor in the Communications department. Life is busy, but we are settling in nicely! Thanks so much to all those who came for our 20th reunion! It was so much fun to party like it was 1997!”
2001
Tara Roscioli ’90 has co-written Clean Cocktails: Righteous Recipes for the Modern Mixologist with fellow holistic health coach Beth Ritter Nydick. The book provides “the perfect alternative to drinks that are typically loaded with refined sugars, artificial flavors, and dyes.”
1993
Philip McGonigle ’93 is thrilled to announce that he has a new role as North American Consultant with Once Upon A Time Music, after almost 4 years with Brookvale Records. He says, “I’m so excited at this opportunity to keep doing what I love!”
Kimberly Quiogue Andrews ’01 recently graduated with a Ph.D. in English Literature from Yale University, and this fall will be Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. In fulfillment of her senior-year superlative from MA, which was “Most Likely To Write A Book” (do not ask her how she remembers this, she doesn’t know), her first collection of poems is forthcoming this year from Finishing Line Press, where it won the 2017 New Women’s Voices Chapbook Prize. You can find her work in both poetry and cultural criticism online at the Los Angeles Review of Books, ASAP/J, The Recluse, The Missouri Review, and more. Class of
’95
Ed Schwartz ’93 writes, “I am currently the Senior Vice President for Corporate Development at CBS Corporation. I have been with CBS for over a decade and help the company on all M&A as we continue to position ourselves as a leading media and entertainment company.”
Class of
’02
Geoff Finger ’02, wife Claire and daughter Louisa have completed their 2-year Cairo assignment with the State Department and will be living in the DC area while training for their next assignment.
Greg Heller-LaBelle ’01 was recently named to the 2017 Class of the Lehigh Valley Business Forty Under 40.
2002
Eugene Chen ’02 writes, “I left the State Department in December 2014 and joined the United Nations in January 2015, where I currently serve as a special assistant to the Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, which provides logistical and administrative support to all UN peacekeeping and special political missions. In addition to the day-to-day work of the department, I’m also working on the Secretary-General’s reforms of the UN Secretariat.”
Class of
’02
1997
Carolyn Davis Hedges ’97 shares, “This year marked two great milestones for me - my 20th MA Reunion and my return to Syracuse, NY. I earned my Masters (07) and PhD (11) at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, I also met my husband, Greg Hedges, there. Syracuse has held a lot of great memories for me. So, when I was hired as the Director of their online masters program, Communications@ Syracuse, Greg, our children (Graham (age 5) and Maeve (age 3) and I packed up and headed North. Leaving family behind was the hardest part 35
Mike Howard ’95 and his wife Anne wrote Ultimate Journeys for Two: Extraordinary Destinations on Every Continent for National Geographic Books to chronicle their adventures across 50+ countries and to share tips with fellow couples looking to make their own travel dreams a reality.
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Jonathan Schwab ’02 and his wife welcomed their third child Elizabeth (Eliza) on November 17, 2017. Eliza joins siblings Clare and Luke. Jonathan says, “I continue to teach in New Hampshire, and this summer went out to San Francisco for a workshop and got to see Emily Kramer ’02.”
Class of
’03
2010
Class of
Maggie Reilly ’10 says, “I’m still living in New York and switched jobs this summer; I’m now working at Oaktree Capital in their Mezzanine Fund.”
’12/’13
2011
Danielle LaRose Koren ’03 shares, “Our son Benson Ryan Koren was born on June 3, 2017. He joins his big brother Asher.”
2007
Gareth Chase ’07 is a Math for America master teacher working at a transfer high school in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, NY.
Sarah Anderson ’11 is at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH and 1/3 of the way through a 3-year Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program. “I’m currently working as a research assistant as well in one of the labs in the department and am still illustrating books for John Morano (currently working on the 3rd one, the first two are currently published). I am also considering a PhD at OSU in Health and Rehabilitation Science. I’ve been very busy and I don’t get to go back east very often, but hopefully I can visit campus again sometime!” Sarah Rothman ’11 shares, “This fall I am beginning my M.S. in Ecology at The Pennsylvania State University. I will be studying pollinator habitat restoration at the Flight 93 National Memorial.”
2016
2012
Julia Malacoff ’07 moved to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, last January and has started a small content consulting company there.
Zoe Briggs ’12 says, “I am currently working in International Marketing at Universal Music Group in NYC, and moved in with fellow alum Sarah Brown ’12!
2009
2013
Bryan Abbott ’09 shares, “I moved to NYC in August and am working as an Industrial Engineer for PHIDO, an e-commerce pet food distributor. Prior to that I was living in Easton, PA, working as an Industrial Engineer for Phillips Pet Food and Supplies, the parent company to PHIDO.” Class of
’09
Laurie Wagner ’09 and John Puleo ’09 are planning a late April wedding. Both are currently living and working in New York City.
In early August, Alec Talsania ’13 and Saira Agarwala ’12 received their white coats as members of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Class of 2021.
Courtney Bell ’13 started working as an engineer at PPL this past January after finishing a mechanical engineering degree at Lehigh University in 3 1/2 years.
University of Pittsburgh engineering student Kaeem Rabbat ’16 continues work as a member of The Aquaponics Project, comprised of a small team of Pitt and Carnagie Mellon students. The club recently won a Ford Motor Company mobility-themed competition, the College Community Challenge, for improving food rescue mobilization in Pittsburgh.
Savannah Benbrook ’13 was awarded the prestigious 2017 Medallion in Electrical Engineering at Villanova University. She will begin her PhD program in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University this fall. Mari Otto ’13 writes, “I graduated from Lafayette College with a B.A. in English and Art, with Cum Laude and an Honors in Art. At present, I am living and working in New York City. I am a Global Marketing Design Associate at Edelman. Lucy Pidcock ’12 and Natalie Drelles ’13 also work at Edelman with me, although Lucy is stationed in DC.” Temple Shuford ’13 is a Level 1 Reiki practitioner, yoga teacher, and is also studying Early Childhood Education at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Meet one of our newest “Little Lions,” Renji! Born in September, he is the son of Lower School art teacher Brian Elstein and his wife, Satoko.
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IN MEMORIAM DR. EDWIN A. SAWYER Our school community lost a founding voice recently and together we celebrate an extraordinary life that shaped the Moravian Academy we know today. Dr. Edwin A. Sawyer ’31P, President of Moravian Academy from 1971 to 1973 and Bishop of the Moravian Church died on Thursday, October 5, 2017. He was 103. We will hold him forever in the atmosphere of love and understanding that he helped to create and that we now sustain. A widely respected pastor, administrator and scholar, Edwin Sawyer graduated from Moravian Preparatory School in 1931. He went on to Lehigh University followed by Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. In 1938, he was ordained into the Moravian ministry and married Elizabeth Stempel, his wife of 75 years. He served as Chaplain of Salem Academy and College for six years, as President of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church for nine years, and as Director of Stewardship and Deferred Giving for six years. After serving as president of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church and as a trustee of both Moravian College and Moravian Seminary for Girls, he was highly qualified to lead our school through the historic merger of Moravian Seminary for Girls and Moravian
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Preparatory School in 1971. He worked tirelessly to unify the two schools, helping to create one strong institution, and forging a path to the thriving school we know today. His legacy lives on in the Dr. Edwin A. Sawyer Award, the school’s most prestigious, which was established by the Board of Trustees in 1974. This award is given annually to a member of the senior class for exemplifying the values that Dr. Sawyer championed, “those qualities which characterize a gentleman or gentlewoman in the finest sense of the word: humility, gentleness, honesty, humor, and a responsible concern for one’s fellow man.” Students and faculty today will recognize him from his portrait that hangs in the foyers of Snyder House and the Middle School. Dr. Sawyer is survived by three children, Dr. Robert Sawyer, Jean Sawyer Twombly, and Dr. Marilyn Sawyer Sommers; five grandsons; and seven great-grandchildren. A memorial service for family and friends was held at the Old Chapel of Central Moravian Church on December 10, 2017. Please join us in holding Dr. Sawyer’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
M OR AV IA N AC A DE M Y A N N UA L F U N D Gifts to the Moravian Academy Annual Fund are powerful investments that ensure our ability to remain a leading educational institution. Every Annual Fund gift touches every student and goes directly to the Moravian Academy operating budget. Join us to achieve our goal of $480,000 with your gift.
Make your gift today at
www.moravianacademy.org/giving
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Founded 1742
MORAVIAN ACADEMY 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR Upcoming Events
January 5th
Recent Alumni Reception
January 17th
Spanish Immersion Information Night
February 23rd
International Women’s Night
March 2nd - 4th
Upper School Musical “Into the Woods”
April 6th
International Festival for all Families
April 21st
Moravian Academy Auction 2018: Through the Looking Glass
April 25h
All School Birthday Lovefeast
April 26th
Middle School Drama
April 27th & 28th
Upper School Drama