Moravian Academy Journal - Spring 2019/Empathy Issue by Moravian Academy

JOURNAL ISSUE

EM•PA•THY

SPRING 2019

CONTENTS

Features:

What do assisted living residents and preschoolers have in common? Evan Briggs ’96 deeply moved audiences around the globe with the release of her first featurelength documentary, “The Growing Season,” in 2017. The film captures the intergenerational connections that come alive at Seattle’s Providence Mount St. Vincent, which doubles as a nursing home and a preschool.

Operation Smile When Upper School math teacher Mrs. Marilyn Reiter agreed to sponsor the school’s Operation Smile club in 2008, she didn’t realize the immense impact the club would have for both Moravian Academy students and the world.

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ABOUT THE MORAVIAN ACADEMY JOURNAL

DEAR MORAVIAN ACADEMY COMMUNITY,

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

EDITORS

Hooray! We’ve put the finishing touches on another incredible year at Moravian Academy. Our Lower School students could barely contain their excitement as they participated in the moving up ceremony during the end of the year chapel. Middlers celebrated their last days with treats from the Kona Ice truck and signed each other’s yearbooks in God’s Acre. And we bid our seniors goodbye and good luck at Baccalaureate and Commencement (page 18-19), while also thanking them and their families for all of their hard work, dedication, and countless contributions they have made to the school.

Amey Owen Stephanie Vasta

DESIGN Imagevolution

HEAD OF SCHOOL Jeffrey Zemsky

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Naveen Ailawadi ‘19 Tracy Bozik Amy Bucher Katie Burd ‘96 Joanne Daniels Robin Flemming Diana Lopez ‘22 Sue Maurer Catherine Moore Manny Oudin Amey Owen Stephanie Vasta Bob Zaiser Jeff Zemsky

As we tried to package these last few months into a 56page Journal , we realized there are simply too many exciting happenings to highlight. So, we decided to dedicate this issue to Empathy and use that as our lens to focus on everything from happenings around campus to alumni working for the U.S. Department of Justice (see page 24). In this issue, you’ll read about of the Lehigh Valley’s first studentled sustainability symposium hosted by our Upper Schoolers on page 21. Then you’ll read about how Andrea Caldwell Berndt ’71S used empathy to save lives in “Teamwork: The Secret to Succeeding as A 30-Year Army Nurse” on page 22. Finally, we highly encourage you to read “The Power of Story: Celebrating Ten Years Of Inspiring Students Through Storytelling” by Upper School English teacher Dr. Catherine Moore on pages 2-3 you can even continue your journey online to read some of the wonderful stories written in collaboration between our seniors and their kindergarten or first-grade friends.

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

CORRESPONDENCE Office of Communications 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 svasta@mamail.net

We hope you enjoy reading the articles and looking at the pictures as much as we did in creating this issue. Have a wonderful summer, Stephanie Vasta Director of Communications and Marketing

Amey Owen Assistant Director of Communications

f I

Join the “Moravian Academy Alumni Group” on Facebook. Linkedin - MA Alumni Group Join Moravian Connect

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

THE POWER OF STORY:

Celebrating Ten Years of Inspiring Students Through Storytelling by Dr. Catherine Moore

When I inherited the Short Story course in Spring 2007, it was a survey course of short fiction. I had second semester seniors who were more or less interested in doing the reading, discussing the stories, and caring about the class. In Spring 2009, I was beyond frustrated. I often thought of how these world-weary seniors might have acted in first grade, listening to stories. Where did the wonder go? I began to fixate on the idea of re-animating these seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; imaginations and desire for stories. That fall, I proposed my idea for the reimagined course to former Upper School Director Joe Chandler. Act I would focus on our childhood, and we would read and tell folktales and study childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literature. We would create collaborative stories with pairs of Upper School and Lower School students. Act II would revolve around our personal narratives and our lives at this moment. Finally, Act III would have us work with the residents of Country Meadows, a nearby retirement community. During April, we would cull the life stories of the residents in student-resident pairs, and at the end of our session work, we would have a final celebration at which we would present our partners a creative project that represents their lives. Without hesitation, Joe said yes. Ten years later, students in the course continue to find the beauty in their lives through stories.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

One student described the ability of stories to show the “softer side of a person.” This phrase perfectly describes what happens in this class, particularly in Act I when students interact with our younger students. They see the child’s perspective of life and rediscover what joy there is to life. Suddenly, my students’ behavior changes; they have fun again and they do not worry about their preoccupations of senior year. I observe them caring for and mentoring the first graders and kindergartners. The dynamics of the pairings evolve as they color and eat together, share giggles, and write and illustrate their stories. Eager and cheerful faces greet each other as we begin an activity, and hugs and sad goodbyes are given when we end. I was heartened to read a student’s final assessment after completing the course, which reflected, “Moravian Academy is such a story-rich place. The open attitude of all the students and the approachableness of the faculty combine so that if you have something to say, you can say it--there’s no holding us back. This course helped me appreciate just how awesome our community is.” I certainly agree. Final grade: A+. To read examples of this year’s stories created by our Upper School and Lower School pairs, visit www.moravianacademy.org/shortstories. JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

Seventh Graders Tackle Environmental Problems Through

Class Shark Tank

By Joanne Daniels

On the ABC reality show “Shark Tank,” budding entrepreneurs get the chance to bring their dreams to fruition by convincing a team of “sharks” - five titans in the business industry - to invest money in their business ideas. While not TV stars (yet!), students in Mrs. Joanne Daniels’ science classes had the opportunity to shine in their own seventh-grade “shark tank” earlier this year. Students began by choosing environmental science, ecology or sustainability topics to learn about including ocean ecology, oil spills, alternative energy, air and water pollution, climate change, recycling, GMO foods, and integrated pest management. Along their learning journeys, students created notes, cited sources and outlined research papers. Each student then wrote a digital ‘Enviropedia’ (in the style of Wikipedia) overview of his or her topic, identifying environmental problems related to their research. As a result of their projects, students realized that these problems are substantial and require ‘out of the box’ thinking to one day solve. After identifying the problems and determining their target audiences, students were then charged with designing and digitally implementing their solutions. Some students used the 3D modeling Tinkercad application, while others made engineering drawings and blueprints or envisioned solutions as smart device apps. Students bounced ideas off each other during class and then refined and iterated their solutions, culminating in presentations of their prototype designs to the class shark tank. In a similar format to the show, students and guest sharks listened to each ‘pitch’ and then held a question and answer session with the presenter. Sharks then provided written feedback to every presenter, who then wrote a brief reflection on their time in the shark tank.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

COMENIUS PROJECTS

JUNIORS AND SENIORS FOLLOW THEIR CURIOSITY The Comenius Program is an honors independent study program designed to allow juniors and seniors to design and carry out a research project under the mentorship of a faculty member and in collaboration with the Comenius Committee. As part of the program, students create projects beyond the Moravian Academy curriculum in areas of personal interest. The presentations of the projects, which were shared with our community over two evenings in April, are the culmination of over 40 hours of work and celebrate the learning the students have achieved.

THIS YEAR’S PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR PROJECTS INCLUDED: Alex Adams ’20 “A Novel Cryptosystem for Secure Communication” Darragh Breslin ’19 “Developing Affordable Spyware” Ethan Buck ’20 “The War to “Begin” All Wars?: World War I and its Connection to Middle Eastern Conflicts Since” Lavinia Burchielli ’20 “Hedging to Obtain a Riskless Profit and its link with Probability Theory” Meghan Connors ’20 “Sports Psychology: Why We Need to Focus on the Mental and Not Just the Physical Side of Sports” Eric Dee ’20 “The Billion Dollar Virtual Economy”

Liam Brolly ’20 “If I Built A Boat” Seeking a personal project that combined his interest in rowing and woodshop, Liam opted to design and build a carbon fiber racing boat. Throughout the construction process, Liam learned a lot about the various materials used and how to persevere in the face of challenges. Jared Gill ’20 “The Colors of Corrosion” Jared studied how metals react with commonly found liquids to create corrosive reactions. According to Jared’s research, corrosion cost the U.S. economy over one trillion dollars in 2016 alone. Kathrine Yeaw ’20 “Kangaroo Care” Inspired by her brother, who was born prematurely, Kathrine researched the physical and emotional benefits of kangaroo care for babies. As part of her project, she began volunteering in the NICU at St. Luke’s University Hospital and observed firsthand the benefits of the practice.

Neil Deshmukh ’20 “A Machine Learning Algorithm That Can Learn Like a Kid” Julius Ewungkem ’20 “Accelerating With ACTN3: The Power Gene” Isha Kaza ’20 “Recognizing the Impacts of Nonverbal Communication” Karilyn Kruklitis ’20 (See page 30) “A Comparison Study of the Cost of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgeries in the United States and Madagascar” Rhea Malhotra ’20 “Controversy in Science & the History of Ethics” Peter (PJ) Scarperi ’20 “Music’s Role in Creating Social Change: A Study of Bob Dylan and Kendrick Lamar” Joseph Sinkovits ’19 “The Art and Science of Color: Using Traditional Photographic Process to Produce Colored Images” Avi Singh ’20 “Hatred of Sound: An Investigation into the Effects of Misophonia”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

DEAR MEMBERS OF THE MORAVIAN ACADEMY COMMUNITY, This school year, we began the exciting phase of implementing our new strategic vision: A Culture of Curiosity and its four focus areas (the mission skills, personal learning, collaboration, and sustaining connections). We used this central vision to set goals and launch initiatives that invest in the student experience. As we close the year, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited about what we have accomplished and know that we are just getting started. Please review our progress to-date in the report on page 7. I look forward to sharing our 2019-20 goals with you in the months to come and continuing on this journey with you. Sincerely,

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

Jeff Zemsky Head of School

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

STRATEGIC VISION: A CULTURE of CURIOSITY PROGRESS REPORT Vision

Mission Skills Curiosity Creativity Perseverance Empathy

Personal Learning

2018-19 Goals • Launch the Vision and teach the four mission skills • Pilot Developmental Designs (DD) and evaluate these methods to teach the mission skills • Expand personal learning in LS • Pilot Lucy Calkins readers workshop in grades 2 & 3 • Create MS task force to design independent research program • Launch Freshman Interdisciplinary Research Experience (FIRE)

Collaboration

• Expand Student Support Services to improve collaboration around student experience • Commit to multi-year partnerships with external experts

Sustaining Connections

• Launch Moravian Connect, an online platform, connecting our community of lifelong learners • Enhance Safety and Security on both campuses

Actions We Took • Actively incorporated and enhanced the use of the mission skills in our curriculum • Trained 40% of faculty in DD, realized importance of getting to 100% • Determined DD was a great fit in advisory/homeroom and increased engagement in classrooms • Implemented Fountas and Pinnell benchmarking and reading groups in grades 1-5 • Readers workshop pilot group recommended implementation in grades 1-5 • MS task force delivered design for independent research program bridging LS and US • Freshmen English, history, and science departments taught three interdisciplinary curricular units (FIRE) • Hired a LS and MS counselor and reformed the SSTs • Created a new office for school psychologist at US • Partnered with leading safety and security expert 911 Consulting • Created long-term institutional partnership with classroom engagement expert Developmental Designs • 600+ community members joined Moravian Connect • Increased communication (Safe2Say for students, sharing information with parents) • Redesigned emergency preparation plans • Trained all faculty and staff on updated Safety and Security protocols JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR THE DAY On March 22, Nathan Brown ’24 served as Head of School for the Day thanks to his parents’, Mr. and Mrs. Shawn and Kelli Brown, winning bid at the 2018 Auction. As Head of School for the Day, Nathan made several executive decisions. He declared the day “Fast Friday,” allowing students and faculty in the Lower and Middle School to wear their favorite athletic clothing - a nice break from the daily uniform. He also requested a cookie decorating station at lunch replete with sprinkles and icing, which was a huge hit in the Middle School Cafetorium. During the day, Nathan greeted students, visited various classrooms, read to our Primer and PreKindergarten students, presented the invocation at Upper School Chapel and so much more. In between his busy schedule, we had the chance to catch up with him for a quick Q&A.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

What was the best part about being Head of School for the Day? I enjoyed being able to come to the Upper School - which I’ve only been to a handful of times. Talking to all the teachers and students and visiting classrooms was a lot of fun. What is your favorite subject in school? English is my favorite subject because I get to read and do more hands-on activities. I also enjoy my elective, Sports and Contemporary Society, with Coach Crivellaro, because it’s pretty cool to learn about how sports can impact the world. Any standout teachers? In the Middle School, some of my favorite teachers are Mr. Brennan, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. McKay. What is your favorite entree that is served in the cafeteria? That’s hard. I’d have to say tacos or quesadillas. If Moravian Academy had a channel on TV, what would you tune in to see? I think it would be cool to put a GoPro on someone to see what an average day is like for a Moravian Academy student. I would also like to see sports updates - especially on lacrosse games - and videos that different students create. A Red and Gold Games special would be awesome!

If you had a LinkedIn page, what skills would you list? I’d put listening, giving feedback, making friends, and encouraging others. I also couldn’t leave out lacrosse, soccer, and flag football! What are you curious about? I’m curious about directing and learning more about how you professionally make films. That’s what I want to do when I grow up. I’ve always loved the films that Disney makes, especially Toy Story. I’m really looking forward to the fourth one when it comes out this summer! With MSBG (Middle School Broadcasting Group), I’m getting some great digital media experience. On any given day I’m helping with the tech side, writing the script, or picking what videos go in the featured slots. It’s great to get to practice my production skills at school. What is your favorite thing about Moravian Academy? All the people you get to meet and the great teachers. Everyone is super nice. For example, I was afraid to give the invocation at Upper School Chapel with Mr. Zemsky in front of everyone - but the Upper Schoolers were really welcoming and encouraging.

FIELD & COURT

Celebrating Our College Bound Athletes On May 14th, we took time to acknowledge our senior athletes for their excellence and extension of their athletic careers over a breakfast in the Athletic and Wellness Center. Thousands of hours of hard work and competition have made these students outstanding prospects in the eyes of college coaches. Wish these athletes luck as they move toward a new world of athletic competition: David Akinsooto ’19 Swarthmore College – Lacrosse Rebecca Donahue ’19 Haverford College – Field Hockey Jordan Holmqvist ’19 DeSales University – Basketball Christian Pfennig ’19 Oberlin College – Lacrosse Joey Cerar* Stevens Institute of Technology – Lacrosse Jozeph Korpics* Utica College – Lacrosse Victor Simone* Susquehanna University - Lacrosse (* – Notre Dame High School Student) Photo: College bound athletes Christian Pfennig ’19, Joseph Cerar,* David Akinsooto ’19, Rebecca Donahue ’19, Jozeph Korpics,* Victor Simone,* & Jordan Holmqvist ’19. JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

FIELD & COURT

New Sch ool Record! Jordan Holmqvist ’19 broke Moravian Academy’s all-time scoring record of 1496 points in January. By the end of the season, Jordan accumulated 1757 points.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

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BOYS’ BASKETBALL

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

PHOTO CAPTIONS

With an overall record of 21-3, our Varsity Boys’ Basketball team fought hard all season, wrapping up district play with a tough 64-60 overtime loss to Executive Leadership Academy in the District XI Tournament finals. The boys then moved on to the PIAA 2A Boys’ Basketball State Tournament. With a three-pointer scored at the buzzer, our Lions were defeated by Constitution High School 53-50 in a nail biter of a game. Thank you to graduating seniors Peter Chiaradia ’19, Jordan Holmqvist ’19, William McKay ’19, and Neel Surya ’19 for their contributions to our basketball program.

The District XI Tournament started off in a positive note for our Varsity Girls’ Basketball team after defeating Shenandoah Valley High School 57-19. Unfortunately, the team ended their season in the District XI Semifinals, defeated by Marian Catholic 38-36 in the last three seconds of play. The girls fought back from a nine-point deficit in the second half and competed fiercely. The team finished with a regular season record of 12-13. Thank you to graduating seniors Sally Hornik ‘19, Kalli Miller ‘19, Tori Spugnardi ‘19, and Lizzie Stifel ‘19 for a great four years!

1. Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team 2. Maya Ettle ‘20 3. Peter Chiaradia ‘19 4. Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team

Peter Chiaradia ’19 and Jordan Holmqvist ’19 made the 2019 Colonial League Basketball All-Stars 1st Team. Abe Atiyeh ‘20 received Honorable Mention.

Maya Ettle ’20 made the 2019 Colonial League Basketball All-Stars 1st Team. Grace Moser ‘20 and Quinn O’Connor ‘20 both received Honorable Mention. JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

SPORTS

BOYS’ LACROSSE

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

BASEBALL

The Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team experienced one of their most successful seasons under the leadership of Coach Patrick Conroy ‘98. The team finished the year with an 11-3 record, led by a strong core of seniors. The team earned the #3 seed in the District XI playoffs, losing to eventual district champion, Southern Lehigh. The returning members of the team know that they will need to continue to develop in order for this year’s success to be repeated.

The Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team looks forward to next year as the program showed signs of growth throughout the season. With a strong contingent of younger players and with some off-season work, the group looks poised for future successes. One of the highlights of the year was the great performance of the team as they defeated Northwestern Lehigh on senior night by a score of 14-2.

The Varsity Baseball team demonstrated the true meaning of perseverance this spring, earning the most wins in the league since Moravian Academy joined five years ago. Losing only two seniors this past spring, next year’s team will consist of a strong core of rising seniors and other underclassmen who had a significant amount of playing time over the course of several years. Congratulations to Tyler Joseph ‘20, who with a team-leading .340 batting average and a.936 on-base percentage, earned the title of the team’s Most Valuable Player award at this year’s athletic award ceremony.

Congratulations to our college-bound lacrosse athletes David Akinsooto ’19, who will play for Swarthmore College, and Christian Pfennig ’19, who will play for Oberlin College! (See page 9)

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

On senior night, Libby Michaelis ’19 showcased her talents as she scored six goals against the Tigers, a double hat trick. After accumulating over 100 points in her career, Libby has solidified her mark on Moravian lacrosse. Darby de Castro ‘20 led the team in goals, scoring 38 times this year.

SOFTBALL

TRACK

This season, Olivia Fabiano ’21, Bethany Marzella ’20, Paige Busch ’21, and Sophia Brands ’22 played as part of the Notre Dame Green Pond Varsity Softball team thanks to our cooperative sponsorship agreement with the school. The team competed in the Colonial League Softball Championship, but ultimately lost in the finals to Palmerton High School. Notably, Olivia pitched great games in the league quarter finals and semifinals, earning victories in both.

This season, we had eight members of our Track team (Joey Zaladonis ’19, Jack Blobe ’20, Julius Ewungkem ’20, Iyancy Georges ’20, Krysta Nichols ’21, Grace Burcaw ’22, Lily Eyvazzadeh ’22 and Hailey Falzone ’22) qualify for the Track and Field District XI Championship, held in May.

1. Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team 2. Darby de Castro ’20 3. Tom Fegley ’20 4. Tyler Joseph ’20 5. Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team 6. Lily Eyvazzadeh ’22 7. Olivia Fabiano ’21 8. Hailey Falzone ’22 (pictured at right on center podium) after earning a gold medal in the 4X100 Meter Relay at the Track and Field District XI Championship.

FIELD & COURT

In the District playoffs, the team fell to Pine Grove Area High School, eventual District XI Champions, in the quarterfinals. Congratulations to the team on a great season!

At the event, Hailey earned a gold medal in the 4X100 Meter Relay, qualifying for a spot at the state-wide PIAA Track and Field Championship at Shippensburg University! Other strong performers at the District XI Championship included Julius, who earned a bronze medal in the Long Jump event; Lily, who earned 8th place in the 800 Meter Relay and 7th in the 300 Meter Relay; and Grace, who earned 9th in the 200 Meter Relay and 11th in Long Jump; and Krysta, who earned 8th in 3200 Meter Relay and 15th in 1600 Meter Relay.

PHOTOS

Joey also represented Moravian Academy as the selected male Colonial League Academic All-Star for this academic year. JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

FIELD & COURT

! s d r o c e R l o o h c S w e 3N

SWIMMING The Boys’ Swim team smashed three Moravian Academy records during a stellar season. The boys took home third place at the District XI Championships, kicking off the meet with a new school record of 1:46.26 in the 200 Medley Relay, swam by Armaan Pandher ’21, James Foran ’19, Bill Lam*, and Mark Nikitine.* Armaan went on to set individual school records in the 100 Fly in a time of 55.07 and the 100 Back in a time of 56.25. At the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championship, Armaan lowered his school record in the 100 Fly to 54.43. The Girls’ Swim team took fifth place at the District XI Championships thanks to strong performances by Anna Shoudt* and McKayla Blazure*, who attend Wilson High School but compete for Moravian Academy as part of our cooperative program. Congratulations to all of our swimmers and coaches for a solid performance at the State Championship! (* - Wilson Area Students)

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

I X t c i r t s i D ! s n o i p m a Ch BOYS’ TENNIS Our Boys’ Varsity Tennis team continued to demonstrate their dominance on the court by winning their 11th consecutive District XI Championship. Remaining completely undefeated in the Colonial League, the team looks forward to maintaining their tradition of excellence on the court as they work hard to perfect their game over the summer. Robbie Shaff ’19 pushed himself to win a silver medal in the District XI Singles Tournament. His leadership will be greatly missed next year as he moves on to Lehigh University. As a team, Robbie Shaff ’19 and Cyrus Elmi ’20 defended their District XI Doubles title this year, winning the tournament for the second year in a row. Due to their strong relationship and focus on fundamentals, Robbie and Cyrus won two straight sets and five straight games during their match for the state championship. At the PIAA Class 2A Boys’ Tennis Doubles Championship, held in Hershey, PA, Robbie and Cyrus took home the bronze medal. Congratulations on a fantastic season! JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

WHAT DO ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS AND PRESCHOOLERS HAVE IN COMMON?

I By Amey Owen

Independent filmmaker Evan Briggs ’96 deeply moved audiences around the globe with the release of her first feature-length documentary, “The Growing Season,” in 2017. The film captures the intergenerational connections between Seattle’s Providence Mount St. Vincent long-term nursing and assisted living residents and the young children of the preschool that is also housed at the home. “I was drawn to this topic because I felt there was a lack of empathy on a cultural level for older adults,” said Evan. “The way that we as a society have chosen to handle aging is to deny that it’s going to happen to all of us. We essentially warehouse older adults and segregate them so they are cut off from the rest of society. What makes us human is the relationship with one another and it’s really devastating to be completely deprived of the basic need for connection.” According to the film, the global population of adults ages 80 and up is expected to triple by the year 2050, and nearly half will experience social isolation. Despite noted benefits for the quality of life of both elderly residents and younger children,

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

less than one percent of assisted-care homes share spaces with preschools or daycares in the United States. Through “The Growing Season,” Evan and her team hope audiences will be inspired to create programs similar to Providence Mount St. Vincent’s in their own neighborhoods. Upon the release of the film’s trailer in 2015 as part of a fundraising effort, “The Growing Season” received press coverage from numerous national and international media outlets, including CNN, ABC, The Atlantic, Huffington Post, PBS NewsHour, and The Today Show. The original trailer has been translated into multiple languages and viewed on social media by more than 200 million people worldwide. “It went totally viral and that was such a huge shock, communicating to me that the film touched on a deeply rooted sense of anxiety and fear we all experience around aging,” said Evan. “To this day, I still get emails from people all over the world asking about how they can start a program in their town. People want to feel connected to each other.” Evan credits her eighth-grade service learning trip to Blough Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Bethlehem while at

FEATURE: EMPATHY

Moravian Academy for helping to inspire the project. “This experience stayed with me and was part of what sparked my interest in addressing the isolation of the elderly population in the long-term. Moravian does an amazing job of fostering empathy and not shielding its students from the harsh realities that are happening in the world. The concept of thinking of someone other than yourself was woven into every aspect of the education at Moravian and I absolutely carry that with me today.” Evan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from Duke University in 2000 and a Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Production from Stanford University in 2008, but she credits her initial love of film to former Upper School photography teacher Mrs. Nancy Frankenfield ’64P. “My career choice had a lot to do with my experience at Moravian and photography. With film, I’m able to blend my love of the arts and photography with my passion for advocacy and social justice.” For her next feature-length project, Evan is co-directing “Sons of Thunder,” which plans to focus on the first ever Christian rock band that was formed in the late 1960s on the heels of

the Civil Rights era and the second-wave feminist movement. The band, which included her mother Rebecca Briggs, was comprised of members from very different backgrounds. “Somehow during this fraught time politically in our nation’s history, this band was able to build a community with each other,” said Evan, who predicts the film will take years to complete. “The band managed to transcend through a lot of things that are divisive right now, such as race, gender, sexuality, and the role of religion in society. We’re interested in looking at what this band can teach us about empathy, especially given today’s socio-political landscape, and the importance of maintaining connections with people who are coming from a really different place than you are.” When not diving into her own creative projects, Evan works as a freelance director for a variety of clients and serves as the in-house videographer for Seattle Children’s Hospital. To any students interested in pursuing film, Evan advises, “Talking to a lot of people who are in the industry is a great place to start. Know your path will be a little meandering-and that’s okay. You have to be along for the ride because it’s a challenging career, but a really rewarding one, too.” JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

AROUND OUR CAMPUS

“Life rs”

COMMENCEMENT

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

During our 277th Commencement ceremony, class president Michael Schellenberg ’19 remembered all the ways the Class of 2019 is leaving a legacy for the students that will follow in their footsteps. “Our class has been a part of everything that Moravian Academy had to offer, and every single time we got involved, we made our school better, allowing those that come after us to continue the traditions that we knew as freshmen. We were mentors for those younger than us. This is the legacy that we have left.”

Moravian Academy

Class of 2019! 82 Students Attending 59 Different Colleges in 25 States Nationwide Yale Cornell

Dartmouth

ATTENDING SCHOOLS RANKED “MOST COMPETITIVE” BY BARRONS

Univ. of Chicago U.S. Air Force Academy Brown Georgetown U.S. Naval Academy

Lacrosse Oberlin Swarthmore Field Hockey Haverford Basketball DeSales

...and more!

4 CONTINUING THEIR ATHLETIC CAREERS IN COLLEGE

continuing their studies in...

BUSINESS at

Northeastern University

Bard College

Oberlin College

Barnard College

Pennsylvania State University

Binghamton University

Purdue University

Boston College

Saint Joseph’s University

Boston University

Stetson University

Bryn Mawr College

Swarthmore College

Bucknell University

Syracuse University

Brown University

Temple University

Carnegie Mellon University

Tufts University

Champlain College

Tulane University

Chatham University

United States Air Force Academy

Cornell University Dartmouth College DeSales University

Babson

Drexel University

Univ. of Michigan, Early Assurance Business

Duquesne University Elon University

Carnegie Mellon ...and more!

Babson College

Columbia College Chicago

OUTSTANDING STUDENTS

Notre Dame

CLASS OF 2019 MATRICULATION LIST:

STEM at Drexel, BS/MD Program Purdue Northeastern Barnard Tulane Lehigh

Emory University Employment - Flexicon Corporation Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College Furman University Georgetown University

LIBERAL ARTS at

Penn State

Haverford College

Bucknell

...and more!

High Point University

Wake Forest

Lafayette College

Bryn Mawr

Lehigh University

Vassar USC Wesleyan

United States Naval Academy University of Chicago University of Delaware University of Miami University of Michigan University of Notre Dame University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of Southern California Vassar College Villanova University Wake Forest University Wesleyan University West Chester University West Virginia University Yale University

Montclair State University Moravian College

Lafayette ...and more!

8 Students Admitted To Honors Programs

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

A Fond Farewell to our

OUR COMMUNITY

Retiring Faculty & Staff! Great faculty and staff are the foundation of the Moravian Academy experience, so it is with bittersweet emotions that we share the plans of seven members of Moravian’s faculty and staff to retire at the end of this school year. Please join us in thanking this wonderful group of educators and administrators for their service to our school. If you would like to send a note of thanks or dedicate a gift in honor of one of our retirees, please contact Tracy Bozik at tbozik@moravianacademy.org or visit www.moravianacademy.org/giving.

Pictured from left to right:

MRS. GAIL SCHAFFER ’69S Director of Transportation, Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Benefits 39 Years at Moravian Academy MRS. ROSEANNE EMIG Lower and Middle School Librarian 37 Years at Moravian Academy MRS. JUDIE GUHL Kindergarten Teacher 31 Years at Moravian Academy MRS. SUSAN AMOROSO Upper School Chemistry Teacher 20 Years at Moravian Academy MRS. FAITH FRAZIER Global Languages Department Coordinator, Spanish Teacher 11 Years at Moravian Academy MRS. MARLA ALTIERI Executive Administrative Assistant to the Head of School 11 Years at Moravian Academy

A FOND FAREWELL 20

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

MS. ROBIN FLEMMING Director of the Annual Fund 6 Years at Moravian Academy

FEATURE: EMPATHY

Moravian Hosts Lehigh Valley’s First Student-Led

SUSTAINABILITY SYMPOSIUM

By Katie Burd ’96

A large contingency of students from Moravian Academy, Liberty High School, and Lincoln Leadership Academy collaborated in the Lehigh Valley’s first-ever Sustainability Symposium for Students on March 30. A keynote address was offered by Lehigh University sophomore Julie Goldberg, who spoke to the group about her own path as an environmental activist. An environmental engineering major who plans to pursue a career in climate resilience planning, Julie offered the students encouragement and suggestions as they consider how to incorporate their passion for sustainability in their future. After the keynote address, Moravian Academy students led

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the Symposium participants in energetic discussions about topics such as Consumer Activism, Recycling and the Problem with Trash, Climate Change, Pollinators, and Land Use Policy Making. Lastly, each participating school had a chance to deliberate and decide upon a Research Action Plan that they will roll out in the next year. The 2020 Sustainability Symposium will feature reports on each school’s Research Action Plan, including achievements, lessons learned, and advice for fellow students hoping to impact positive change in their communities. We hope that more students from schools across the Lehigh Valley will join us for next year’s Symposium!

Yes, Earth is replete with natural resources that we can use to our benefit, but that supply is far from unlimited. We are nearing the point of no return when it comes to caring for our Earth, and it is up to us to take serious action before it’s too late. We’re hoping to broaden our understanding of what it means to properly care for and sustain the environment in the long-term.“ Julia Reed ’19 Designed & Engraved by Dylan Carter ’19 JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

Teamwork: The Secret to Succeeding as a 30-Year Army Nurse By Tracy Bozik Empathy is an important skill that Andrea Caldwell Berndt ’71S honed during her 30-year career as an Army nurse. “So much in life is a team effort and as an Army nurse, you learn teamwork from the very beginning,” stated Andrea. “Empathy is a key ingredient to move a team forward. You’ve got to understand where others come from, what motivates them, and how best to work together.” Andrea grew up overseas in an oil camp in Venezuela, and like her two older sisters, returned to the United States to finish high school at Moravian Seminary for Girls (MSG). She developed a love of science and chemistry and was motivated by the high expectations at the school. “Coming to MSG was like going from one home to another,” stated Andrea. “Initially [Former] Headmistress Lillie Turman set the tone. It was exacting, but she inspired confidence with encouragement to do your best. You strove for excellence and got a sound education from incredible faculty.” Andrea’s love for the sciences led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently a Master of Science specializing in trauma and critical care from the University of Maryland. While an undergraduate she joined the Army Student Nurse Program which funded the last two years of her degree in exchange for three years of service. She said, “It was a challenge and a great way to go.” Throughout her career, Andrea worked with patients, health care professionals and communities throughout the country and abroad, with assignments in clinical practice, education, research and administration.

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Looking back, she mused, “As an Army nurse, there is no typical day. You employ every skill that you learn along the way. Success comes as long as you understand that you are on a team; there’s no way you could do it alone. You need to draw on each other’s strengths and talents. Every day I felt like I made a difference, whether it was working with patients and families, teaching health care providers, assisting with clinical research protocols or leading health care institutions. It was a privilege to serve and to be a part of something that’s bigger than oneself. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to make a difference every day.” Andrea “firmly believes in giving back to the community, whether it’s your professional, religious, or the community in which you live.” Now a self-proclaimed “professional volunteer,” she shares the leadership skills cultivated throughout her career culminating In this as Chief of Nursing Administration at Walter interconnected Reed Army Medical Center world, empathy with community nonprofit should be viewed organizations.

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In a final reflection, Andrea shared, “In this interconnected world, empathy should be viewed as a strength. Our society is blended, so we need to understand each other and learn to work together.”

as a strength. Our society is blended, so we need to understand each other and learn to work together.”

FEATURE: EMPATHY

Jonathan Schwab ’02

Understanding Differing World-Views Through the Historical Lens By Amey Owen What if learning didn’t come from a textbook? What if backpacking through the White Mountains, volunteering at the New Hampshire Veterans Home, or exploring the whaling industry and its aftermath on Nantucket were actually part of the curriculum? Thanks to Jonathan Schwab ’02, the Director of Experiential Learning, these experiences are all part of the curriculum at New Hampton School in New Hampshire which believes that creating meaningful environments in which authentic learning can occur is essential. When speaking with Jonathan, he expanded on the benefits of experiential learning explaining that these experiences often allow students a better understanding of differing worldviews, something he first encountered at Moravian Academy as a sophomore following his family’s move from Kansas City, MO.

stressed the concept of learning everyone’s story to understand the whole picture. Mr. Caldwell made such a lasting impression on Jonathan that he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College and a master’s degree in history from University of Vermont. Said Jonathan, “When I teach history, I’m focused on getting my students to understand that their point of view is only one point of view. We can all experience the same event and have completely different perspectives based on where we are coming from. My eyes were certainly opened to that at Moravian and I’ve been able to build upon that foundation with the adults and students that I work with every day.”

Recalls Jonathan, “There was something that clicked between me and the school that allowed me to meet a ton of people from different religious or cultural backgrounds, who were accepting of who I was. Empathy was in the framework of everything at the school. There was no ‘Moravian Academy student mold’ to fit.”

When not teaching history or serving as the Director of Experiential Learning, Jonathan also serves as House Head in Moore House, one of the student residences at the independent boarding school for grades 9-12. He resides at the residence with his wife and three children. Although Moravian did not operate as a boarding school during his time at the school, Jonathan held in a high regard Moravian’s sense of community that did not simply end at 3 o’clock.

He specifically remembers how empathy was woven into the classroom experience, recalling how former Upper School English teacher Mrs. Tracy Beck-Briggs used literature from all over the world to illustrate differing worldviews in her global literature class and how former Upper School history teacher Mr. William Caldwell always

“I wanted to be part of a high school community that was similar to Moravian,” stated Jonathan. “I was swayed into pursuing this path because I have a passion for the [high school] age group because it was this time in my life, when I was at Moravian, that was foundational and transformational for me.” JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

WHY THE “HUMAN FACTOR” MATTERS IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW

by Amey Owen In the face of sometimes pronounced criticism of the American justice system, Gabe Vidoni ’00 - a prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice since 2014 - points to the overlooked human factor of the legal process. “I appreciate that there is energy and effort given to reforming problem areas within the system, but what people often don’t witness is that empathy and humanity are important to many people in my position,” said Gabe. “While the law objectively governs relationships between people, at the end of the day, we are all human beings in the judicial process. Empathy is an important factor in advocating on behalf of the public in an appropriately measured, fair, and just way for all parties and interests involved.” Gabe’s understanding of the importance of having compassion for others, within both his career and his life as a whole, has early roots in his time spent at Moravian Academy. Gabe, who enrolled in 1996 before his freshman year, recalls how the theme of connectedness was a constant part of his education, particularly in coursework ranging from English classes to history as well as in community gatherings such as Moravian’s chapel program. “Moravian instilled in me a strong appreciation and enjoyment in engaging in critical thinking to understand the challenges that we face in society,” shared Gabe. “In history classes, English classes, in chapel, there was constantly a dialogue about how we could work together as a community to address social challenges and come to understandings across groups.” As part of his role as an Assistant United States Attorney in

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the Criminal Division, Gabe prosecutes crimes under federal law, focusing primarily on violent crimes, narcotic and firearm offenses, crimes against children, and, more recently, public corruption casework. Due to the nature of some of these offenses, Gabe regularly comes across cases that test his sense of empathy. “We deal with some really awful crimes against children and it can be difficult to understand the perspective of someone who would harm a child,” said Gabe. “Those, in addition to certain violent crime cases are especially tough, but across all cases we have a responsibility to maintain empathy in how we approach prosecutions, particularly at the sentencing phase. People commit crimes for a myriad of reasons and an important part of a just outcome is taking into account why someone may have engaged in what they did, what circumstances surrounded the crime, and ultimately, that all defendants are treated with dignity and respect throughout the process. If you do not attempt to come to some understanding of those circumstances and remain mindful of human fallibility, you lack empathy and ultimately can’t proceed in an ideally fair and measured manner.” While Gabe recognizes the perspective of a defendant facing punishment, the impact on victims and the public at large also weighs heavily when determining what type of sentences that he, and others in his position, advocate for in court. Said Gabe, “In dealing with the victims of crime, it’s important to understand the ways an event - often a single point in time - has deeply affected their lives and to adequately give voice to that as part of a criminal proceeding. It is also important to take into account the impact on society as a whole, as well as

FEATURE: EMPATHY

Photo Credit: Tony Webster

departmental policies and statutes, which we are obligated to follow.” Prior to his current role, Gabe worked in a private practice firm representing corporate clients in civil litigation. Seeking to connect with individual clients on a more personal level, Gabe volunteered with the Homeless Advocacy Project, which works to meet the legal and advocacy needs of homeless individuals and families in Philadelphia. In a notable case, Gabe won $30,000 in back compensation, as well as $2,800 in monthly benefits, for a homeless disabled veteran in 2014. In only nine months, Gabe’s advocacy accomplished what this client was unable to accomplish on his own in the 36 years he’d been seeking help from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. “This volunteer work was very rewarding in that it allowed me to connect with and better understand the perspective of people who had gone through experiences in life that were very different than my own, many of whom were suffering from PTSD, addiction, poverty, homelessness and other tremendous disruptions in their life,” said Gabe. “The experience gave me a far better understanding of their circumstances and allowed me to use my skills as a lawyer to substantially impact people’s lives in a positive way.” When asked why empathy is important for Moravian Academy students to embody, Gabe concluded, “We live in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world. Empathy is vital to protecting against the troublesome but almost innate tendency to exclude people in an ’us and them’ capacity. Regardless of our backgrounds, we have far more in common with each other than we do in differences.”

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We live in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world. Empathy is vital to protecting against the troublesome but almost innate tendency to exclude people in an ‘us and them’ capacity. Regardless of our backgrounds, we have far more in common with each other than we do in differences.”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

FEATURE: EMPATHY

Alumna Transforms Tragedy Into Hope for Struggling Families By Tracy Bozik Lisa Rushton ’85 turned to empathy to transform a personal tragedy into a vehicle of hope for families struggling with infertility. By 2005, Lisa had graduated from both Bucknell University and Tulane Law School, established herself as an environmental transactions lawyer, and made partner in the Washington, DC office of an international law firm, Paul Hastings, LLP. Feeling established in her career, she and her husband decided it was time to start a family, a journey that was more difficult than she ever imagined, but one that also gave new purpose to her life. In 2009, after struggling to conceive and turning to Shady Grove Fertility Center for help, Lisa and her husband Charley Pereira welcomed their first daughter Savannah Caroline Pereira to the world via IVF. “Within moments of birth, she smiled and squeezed our fingers with love,” said Lisa. “Over the next 10 months we experienced unimaginable joy and love as Savannah amazed us with her tender, loving, and gentle ways.” In a heartbreaking tragic accident, Savannah died Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 10 and 1/2 months of age. Through the grieving process, Lisa and Charley learned to move forward, established an alliance with the Cade Foundation and created Savannah’s Fund, which annually provides a $10,000 grant to childless families struggling with infertility so that they may afford IVF and hopefully experience the joy of parenting a child one day. Since establishing the Fund, eight Savannah babies have entered the world and they hope to shortly have a ninth on the way. Lisa also joined the Board of Trustees at the Cade Foundation, which provides information and education to families struggling with infertility in addition to grants to families for infertility treatments or adoption. Stated Lisa, “Infertility is something people don’t discuss,

even though one in eight couples struggle to conceive. It is an issue that crosses all social and economic borders.” Lisa’s experiences have given her the empathy to relate to families in need of the foundation’s expertise. Shared Lisa, “When speaking at events for the Cade Foundation, I can relate to families on their fertility journey. I went through 11 cycles in order to conceive our three children, which is a lot more than most people go through. I’ve been where the grant recipients and potential grant recipients have been; I’ve felt the despair; and I overcame. Overcoming infertility can be difficult and an emotional roller coaster; I can understand and empathize with others going through the process.” “Empathy is very different than sympathy. Nobody wants your sympathy, but they love your empathy because you understand what they are going through.” Lisa now is based in North Carolina and a partner at the transAtlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, and credits her ability to relate to both the families struggling with infertility from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and her international client base to her time at Moravian Academy and the multicultural nature of the school. In her class of just 54 graduates, there were students from central and South America, Europe, and Asia. Each brought their own cultural viewpoints to the school allowing for great discussions and exposure to new ideas. In closing, Lisa said, “Practicing empathy welcomes others in and takes away that feeling of alienation. In turn, that makes you more relatable. It creates a harmonious sense of being and working together as a community.” To learn more about Savannah’s Fund, visit: www.moravianacademy.org/savannahfund.

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Practicing empathy welcomes others in and takes away that feeling of alienation. In turn, that makes you more relatable. It creates a harmonious sense of being and working together as a community.”

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FIRST GRADERS USE READING SKILLS TO GIVE BACK Our first-grade students, under the guidance of teachers Ms. Robyn Endress and Sra. Veronica Pascuzzi, hand-delivered audiobooks on iPods with their corresponding paperback books to Diakon Adoption and Foster Care in late-May. As part of the project, students recorded themselves reading their favorite books both in English and Spanish onto the iPods, ringing a bell to signal page turns. The iPods will be used at the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Permanency Center, allowing families to enjoy a unique reading experience with children at the Center. The students also gifted the organization a bookshelf, created by maintenance staff member Mr. Michael Petko, to help store and display the audio library. The students decorated the bookshelf with original artwork. The final product turned out amazingly and fit seamlessly in the Center. During their visit to Diakon, the students learned the history of the adoption center from staff members at the organization and had the opportunity to move the bookshelf into its new home at the center. Listen to examples of the recordings and see more pictures of their visit at www.moravianacademy.org/diakon. JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

FEATURE: EMPATHY

OPERATION SMILE When Upper School math teacher Mrs. Marilyn Reiter agreed to sponsor the school’s Operation Smile club in 2008, she didn’t realize the immense impact the club would have for both Moravian Academy students and the world. Although unfamiliar at the time with the mission of Operation Smile, which provides cleft lip and cleft palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, Mrs. Reiter committed to taking the club under her wing after being asked by then sophomore Lexi Khan ’11. “I’m amazed at how this club has grown over the years,” stated Mrs. Reiter. “We’re supporting a mission that changes so many lives at a fundamental level. As students become more involved, their enthusiasm and shared joy of empathy is passed on to younger students, and they encourage each other.” Cleft lips and cleft palates are openings or holes in the lip or the roof of the mouth and they prevent individuals from being able to eat, drink, breathe or brush their teeth properly. As little as $240 helps Operation Smile provide surgery to a child with a cleft condition, which covers travel expenses for essential medical team members, required supplies, and shipping cargo expenses. To raise funds for these surgeries, the students in the club host a wide variety of fundraisers during the school year, including numerous bake sales, sponsored dress down days, dances, Lehigh Valley Phantoms ice hockey outings, smile grams, and more. The club also regularly sells waffles before school in

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the Melhado Dining Room - thanks to assistance from Head of Dining Services Mrs. Michelle Sheridan. The club also spreads awareness about Operation Smile’s work in chapels, assemblies and community gatherings. Each summer, several Moravian Academy students apply to attend a week-long International Student Leadership Conference put on by Operation Smile. This conference, held at different universities around the world, helps students develop and strengthen their leadership skills, provides training on how to help those in developing countries, as well as exposes them to different cultures. At the 2018 conference, Moravian’s club was honored as “Outstanding Club of the Year” from among the thousands of clubs worldwide. “The organization is committed to helping high-school students improve their leadership skills,” shared Mrs. Reiter. “Involvement in Operation Smile helps our students see outside of themselves, participate and practice empathy, and put their own problems into perspective.”

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As students become more involved, their enthusiasm and shared joy of empathy is passed on to younger students, and they encourage each other.”

OPERATION SMILE

CLIMBING FOR A CAUSE

Ryan Baki ’22 became involved in the Operation Smile club this fall shortly after learning about the medical charity from his father, Dr. Fayez Baki, owner of Keystone Dentistry in Bethlehem and Nazareth. Said Ryan, “I want to be a dentist when I grow up, like my dad. Operation Smile caught my attention because most of the families the organization helps can’t afford to pay for their child’s surgery. I want to be able to help children with these conditions get the surgeries that they desperately need and ultimately change their lives.” Looking for ways to support the cause, experienced hikers Ryan and Dr. Baki decided to climb to the peak of Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, all in support of the medical charity. The duo originally hoped to raise $5,900, the elevation of the mountain above sea level in meters- but ended up far exceeding that goal. Through fundraising efforts and media publicity, the Bakis raised close to $9,000 for Operation Smile and completed the seven-day, 19,000-foot hike in late December 2018. After making it to the top of the mountain, Ryan reflected, “I felt on top of the world and that I had accomplished something meaningful in my life. Moravian Academy has always taught me to believe in myself and help others in need. This climb was a culmination of both of those things.” For Upper School students on the fence about joining the Operation Smile club, Ryan advises, “Do it. Take advantage while you have the opportunity to get involved in the club’s events and activities to make a big impact.”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

FEATURE: EMPATHY

OPERATION SMILE

CREATING A GLOBAL IMPACT In recent years, at least one Moravian student per year has participated in an Operation Smile global mission trip - and this year was no exception. Aarti Katara ’19 traveled to Madagascar in September 2018 and Valentina (Tina) Lopez ’19 traveled to the Philippines in February 2019. Both students were co-leaders of the club this year, joining the ranks of many Moravian alumni who have had the opportunity to travel as part of their involvement with Operation Smile. On these trips, selected high school students accompany surgical teams to clinics and facilities all over the world where the life-changing surgeries are taking place. To be chosen for a mission trip, students must apply to and attend a weekendlong Mission Training Workshop to train with professionals in burn care, oral rehydration therapy, dental hygiene, handwashing, nutrition, and hands-only CPR. Over the course of their respective trips, Aarti and Tina applied their training by presenting basic healthcare modules to local populations using posters as visuals. Both students also directly interacted with patients and their families pre- and post- operation, helped to keep up overall patient morale, and even shadowed doctors during select surgeries. “Learning how to communicate and create connections has been a big part of my life at Moravian,” shared Aarti. “On my trip, connecting with patients motivated and grounded me because I was able to see how people live on the other side of the world. In a few years, I know that I want to go back as a surgeon with Operation Smile to help others and come full circle.” Prior to traveling to Madagascar, Aarti collected toys, crafts, bubbles and stickers to help calm young patients before surgery. Thanks to support from both Moravian Academy and the wider public, she was able to take two suitcases full of donated goods

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with her on her trip. Said Aarti, “The whole community really came together and donated whatever they could.” During her mission trip to the Philippines, Tina worked alongside and spent time with both local and Peace Corps volunteers. She also had the rare opportunity to volunteer with Dr. William Magee, the co-founder of Operation Smile, which was originally founded in the Philippines. Said Tina, “My favorite part of the trip was interacting with people and learning about different cultures. Empathy makes you human. You need to be able to connect with people and definitely on my mission trip, I was able to relate with patients.” A rising senior who has been involved in the club since her freshman year, Karilyn Kruklitis ’20 looks forward to her upcoming mission trip to Malawi this summer. Like Aarti and Tina, Karilyn will be teaching health modules, primarily focused on CPR and nutrition, to members of the Malawi community. For her Comenius Project, an honors independent study program which allows juniors and seniors to design and carry out a research project (see page 5), Karilyn conducted a comparison study of the cost of cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in the United States and Madagascar. Karilyn analyzed the factors that can increase the cost of the procedures, including capital, land, labor and shipping underlining why the pro-bono services that Operation Smile provides are of utmost importance. “With the help of [Upper School history teacher] Mr. Eckman, I was able to do an economic breakdown of the surgical procedures,” said Karilyn. “This project allowed me to pursue that interest, while involving my love of Operation Smile.”

OPERATION SMILE

The Future Is Bright With involved students, like Karilyn and Ryan, and dedicated faculty sponsor Mrs. Reiter at the helm, Aarti and Tina, who graduated in June, are hopeful that the legacy of the club will continue for years to come. “The club was so well-presented to me and peers during my freshman year,” stated Aarti. “In a way, Moravian Academy prepared those students to prepare me, as those students were able to showcase their love for the club and I was empowered to be a part of it. I’m thankful to Moravian for teaching me to go out and try new things. Together, Moravian and Operation Smile have shaped me into who I am.”

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I’ve realized that volunteering with Operation Smile makes you part of a forever family.”

Concluded Tina, “I’ve realized that volunteering with Operation Smile makes you part of a forever family.”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

THE ARTS

THE BOY FRIEND In March, Dyer Auditorium transformed into the French Riviera during the Upper School’s run of “The Boy Friend” by Sandy Wilson. Mistaken identity, love new and old, and, of course, the Charleston played out in this spectacular 1920’s musical directed by Theatre Arts Director Mr. Jarrod Yuskauskas and choreographed by Mrs. Deena Linn. Featuring standout performances by Anna Hauser ’19 (Polly Browne), Ben Kraft ’20 (Tony Brockhurst), Ryan Taylor ’19 (Maisie), Dakotah Kuhns ’19 (Bobby Van Husen), Julia Reed ’19 (Madame Dubonnet), Will Bingham ’20 (Percival Browne), and Emma Gross ’21 (Hortense), the show’s praises were sung by audiences and media alike. Congratulations to the entire cast, production crew, and orchestra for an exceptional show!

Photo Credit: Kalli Miller ’19, PJ Scarperi ’20, & Hennessy Velazquez ’21

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

AN IDEAL HUSBAND

In late April, Oscar Wilde’s 1895 comic tour-de-force came to the Moravian Academy stage in a fresh production set in London during the spring of 1963, a tumultuous time for the British Parliament. Blackmail and political corruption played out in our Upper School’s take on this entertaining drama, directed by Theatre Arts Director Mr. Jarrod Yuskauskas with outstanding performances by Michael Schellenberg ’19 (Sir Robert Chiltern), Dakotah Kuhns ’19 (Lord Arthur Goring), Anna Hauser ’19 (Mrs. Laura Cheveley), Emma Gross ’21 (Miss Mabel Chiltern), Ryan Taylor ’19 (Lady Gertrude Chiltern), Grace Sanborn ’21 (Lady Markby), Jamie Karras ’19 (Mrs. Marchmont), Paeve PailBrack ’19 (Viscount De Nanjac) and Lauren Lee ’19 (Lady Basildon).

Photo Credit: Kalli Miller ’19 & Joe Sinkovits ’19

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

NAHS ART & FASHION SHOW 2019

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THE ARTS

On May 3, our Upper School hosted the fifth-annual National Art Honors Society (NAHS) Art & Fashion Show in the Athletic and Wellness Center’s multipurpose room. The show, hosted by Emma Lamberti ’20 and Marcella Harvi ’19, included a runway show featuring fashion collections from Moravian Academy students and an art exhibit featuring student showcases in mediums ranging from woodworking to photography.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

THE ARTS

LOWER SCHOOL CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES Our Lower School students’ artistic abilities, science explorations, and musical talents shined during the Lower School Celebration of the Arts and Sciences, held on May 7. Student artwork was beautifully displayed throughout the Alumni Gym, while trifold posters displaying student science projects lined the CE Auditorium. At the conclusion of the evening, families gathered in Central Moravian Church to listen to our Lower School Choral ensembles. Discover more pictures and watch the concert by visiting www.moravianacademy.org/lscelebration.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA Our middlers shined in two riveting performances of “The Three Musketeers” in late April. A special thank you to Ms. Emma Ackerman of Touchstone Theatre for leading our talented cast of students. Watch the play at www. moravianacademy.org/threemusketeers.

JAMALOT On May 11, our Upper School students hosted its fourth annual Jamalot, benefiting Lehigh Valley Summerbridge (See page 40). The event featured the MA House Band, as well as a wide variety of musical groups including Win or Lose, singer Alison Riker ’22, the Dylan Carter Band, the Murgolyian Brass Band, and As Annie Falls. Watch the concert by visiting www.moravianacademy.org/jamalot.

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,Â campers enjoy unique, hands-on experiences where they can play, learn and have fun. TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.MORAVIANACADEMY.ORG/SUMMER JOURNAL 2019 JOURNAL || WINTER SPRING 2019

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

OUR COMMUNITY

AUCTION 2019: A RIGHTEOUS SUCCESS! On April 6, Moravian Academy turned back time to the 1980s, raising more than $170,000 to fund initiatives that will enhance students’ experiences for decades to come. Patrons and guests enjoyed cocktails by ROOT Crafted, thanks to Moravian parents Diane Aemisegeo and Trish Lauden, as well as entertainment by Dylan Carter ’19. Surrounded by bright and fun nostalgia during the cocktail hour, guests participated in Piano Karaoke with parent Tom DiGiovanni and Director of Admissions Ingrid Gerber before “Max Head-of-School” greeted us with a totally tubular video presentation created in-house by Sara Polefka ‘87 and Bud Brennan, featuring our students and previously funded projects. The MTV “Moon Man” greeted us into the main event, and we were blown away by glowing décor and rad student artwork, not to mention the charm of host Nate Diehl, the cool cadence of auctioneer Eric Zettlemoyer, and the bodacious beat of the 80s tribute band, RUBIX KUBE. Led by our fearless committee chair Amy Bucher, along with co-chairs Tania Marsh, Christine Mira, and Regina Carolan, the event was a righteous success. Thank you to our numerous parent volunteers, students, staff, teachers, donors, sponsors, the Board of Trustees, and Blue Chip Lighting and Sound for helping make this event totally awesome! JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

Lehigh Valley Summerbridge An Amazing Experience By Diana Lopez â&#x20AC;&#x2122;22 For six weeks every summer, Moravian Academy hosts one of the greatest experiences for rising seventh, eighth, and ninth graders in the area: the Lehigh Valley Summerbridge program. Summerbridge is not a normal summer school program. For seventh and eighth graders, each student selects a math, science, writing, and literature course based on their interests. The students are then divided up into teams based on course selection. The teams are named after local colleges. In seventh grade, I was on team Moravian and in eighth grade I was on team DeSales. Over the next six weeks, we do everything as a team and a very tight bond is formed.

homey, everyone participated because they wanted to, not out of obligation. That is the kind of love and inspiration that is built at Summerbridge; you know that no matter what, your teachers and friends believe in you.

My favorite activity was going on field trips to colleges and places that related to what we were learning. As a ninth grader, I got to take a whole week of classes at Moravian College, and it was fantastic. College professors taught the course and it felt like I was actually in college.

In Summerbridge, students and teachers come from many different schools across the Lehigh Valley and it was great to build relationships with the people I had never met before. Over the course of the summer, everyone is developing as a person and by the end of the program, everyone felt like family. I still talk to many of the students I graduated with and appreciate the lifelong friendships we built.

Another highlight of my Summerbridge experience was the annual Olympics where we competed against each other as teams. Because the Summerbridge environment is safe and

The program ends with a graduation ceremony that is filled with joy and waterworks, as there is no easy way to say goodbye to such an amazing experience.

TEE OFF

FOR THIS SPECIAL CAUSE that supports Lehigh Valley Summerbridge and Moravian Academy

Help continue to inspire students, like Diana, at the...

THE MORAVIAN ACADEMY

GOLF OUTING MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

11:00 am Registration and Lunch 12:15 pm Golf Begins Lehigh Country Club Allentown, PA 40

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JUDA FAMILY FUND

ESTABLISHED FOR INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCES In his everyday life, Adam Juda ’97 works at Google, whose corporate philosophy is that taking care of their people is good for everyone. Adam translated this philosophy to his personal and philanthropic life when he endowed The Juda Family Fund at Moravian Academy, along with his brother Aaron ’99, sister Tamar ’01, and parents Allen and Toby Juda. Adam credits Moravian Academy for allowing him to explore his love of math and science, which enabled him to attend Princeton University, Harvard University, and ultimately be hired by Google, where he has pursued an enjoyable and rewarding career. He was also shaped by Moravian in other ways through exposure to a diverse community of people and ideasafter attending The Jewish Day School through the eighth grade. Adam believes that the establishment of The Juda Family Fund will allow students from the Lehigh Valley to discover the same path and opportunities that he and his siblings did at the Academy. The Juda Family Fund will be used to support information and library sciences at Moravian. Adam, Aaron, and Tamar all have fond memories of their time at Moravian and their studies in the library, in particular. Says Tamar, “The Library was a very special place for me because it’s where I felt my classroom academics were seamlessly and continuously supported by [Upper School Director of Library and Media Services] Ms. Patti Davis and my fellow classmates.”

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Moravian is where my tech journey began in earnest. This endowment is a nice opportunity for me to demonstrate appreciation for that.”

Like Adam, you can establish a named endowment fund at Moravian Academy with a gift of $25,000, payable over a five-year period. Endowments can also be established through a specific bequest in your will. Please contact Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, for more information at 610 332-5291 or bzaiser@moravianacademy.org.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

A Memorial for Dr. Claire Smith Hornung Dr. Claire Smith Hornung was a Lower School faculty member at Moravian Academy from 1992 through 2006. She also was active as a dorm parent as well as the director of LUMA, the Lehigh University and Moravian Academy collaborative in which Lehigh University students worked with Moravian Academy Upper School students on technology projects. Her husband, John Hornung, was a teacher in Moravian’s Middle School and they have four children - Benjamin, Lillian, Sarah and Margaret. After her time at Moravian Academy, Claire went on to Wyoming Seminary and lastly served as the Dean of the Lower School at St. Andrews Academy in Boca Raton, Florida. Claire graduated from Mercy High School in Michigan, Smith College (B.A., M.A.), and Lehigh University Ph.D. Claire passed away on November 28, 2016. Several donors have stepped forward to make this special place a reality by the 2019 Country Fair. To be a part of this endeavor in the memory of our Claire, please visit www.moravianacademy.org/claire or contact Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement at bzaiser@moravianacademy.org.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

The following is a piece authored by Sue Maurer, Moravian Academy Upper School art teacher, in memory of Claire: “Dr. Claire Smith Hornung was a force of nature and to so many of us, a dear friend. Her accomplishments were overwhelming, mostly done quietly and without recognition. She included so many people into her life – treating us like family that it was hard to know where one ended and the other began. The “hats she wore” in her daily life, both at work and privately, were numerous and her steady pace enabled her to achieve her obligations and dreams. None who knew her well would be surprised to find that those dreams were beyond any of our imaginations. All of us were blessed to have had her in our lives and we keenly feel her loss. With the blessing of Claire’s family, we will memorialize her with a tree planting and a bench or two. In our small way, honoring her with a quiet spot in the midst of nature’s beauty on the Merle-Smith Campus seems fitting and we will recognize her with a special place in our slice of heaven here at Moravian Academy. The inscription on the plaque near the tree and benches dedicated in Claire’s name will include her life’s motto: “Be Kinder Than Necessary.” Walking up the path from the Couch building to Walter Hall after Claire’s passing is where an idea of a pink dogwood first began to germinate, as pink was Claire’s favorite color. Claire was also a ravenous reader so I bet she’d love if there were benches near the dogwoods.”

Why Do You Give? YOUR SUPPORT HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR SCHOOL

“

The emphasis that Moravian Academy places on empathy readily manifests itself in how our daughter not only interacts directly with those around her, but also in how she consumes literature, media, and her academic lessons. Often in our conversations, she places herself in the shoes of the person we are discussing and intentionally tries to understand the situation from their perspective. This is reinforced by the broad exposure to various cultures and ideologies throughout the Moravian curriculum. –Parents John DeRemer and Elizabeth McNamara

“

The administration and teachers have always demonstrated empathy. Academy faculty see our daughter as an individual – we see a “whole person” personal approach to each student. We want our daughter to be the best version of herself that she can be, and we believe that Moravian is the place where that can happen. –Parent Amey Senape

As the fiscal year come to a close, we are focused on a successful close of the Annual Fund. Throughout the year, we’ve had so many opportunities to make connections with parents, alumni, and other supporters of Moravian. Our conversations with donors and others considering gifts have had a few recurring themes. One is a desire to give back to a school that provided so much to them, their children, or their grandchildren. Another is a true desire to support the operations of the school and ensure Moravian’s continued financial strength. Still others state that they have a desire to recognize the outstanding work of a faculty member, a coach, or another Moravian employee. There were also questions about giving such as why me, why now, and how much? People have also asked why does Moravian need the money? The truth is tuition only covers 85% of the school’s operating budget, making it imperative that Moravian Academy have a solid philanthropic program to support the work of the school and impact student education. This means, we need you. There is still time to give! Every gift does matter and strengthens the school and all our programs. We encourage you to give before the fiscal year closes on June 30th by simply going to www.moravianacademy.org/ giving. This wonderful school needs and deserves our support. Thank you. Patty Cunningham & Kim Derby Co-Chairs, Annual Fund

JOURNAL | SPRING 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 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)

ALUMNI UPDATES College Corner

The College Corner series highlights Moravian Academy graduates currently enrolled in their junior and senior years of college. The articles appear on the Moravian Academy website, and focus on why students chose a particular college, what they like best about their college experience, what classes they are taking, and extracurricular activities in which students are involved, as well as how their experience at Moravian helped them prepare for college. If you are interested in contributing an article to our College Corner series, please let us know. Also, be sure to visit our website at www.moravianacademy.org/collegecorner and read up on our young college alumni!

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.

Coast to Coast: Calling All Alumni! Moravian Academy will continue its Coast to Coast Tour in the fall. These meetings traditionally are on-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.

For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations, at 610-332-5282 or tbozik@moravianacademy.org.

FOLLOW MA

Join the “Moravian Academy Alumni Group” on Facebook. Linkedin - MA Alumni Group Join Moravian Connect www.moravianconnect.com 44

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

SAVE THE DATE FOR

ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND OCTOBER 4 - 6, 2019

For more information, please visit www.moravianacademy.org/reunion

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

COAST TO COAST 2019

Our “Coast to Coast” alumni tour continued in 2019, with visits in Florida and California and events in North Hollywood and New York City. To view more photos, visit www.moravianconnect.com or the Moravian Academy Alumni Group on Facebook.

PHOTOS 1. The Coast to Coast tour stopped in San Francisco! (Pictured L to R: Ansel Parikh ’09, Rachel Licht ’06, Cal Escue ’08, Amin Famili ’05, Tony Ferrese (Rachel’s husband), Eric Michaelis ’10 and Head of School Jeff Zemsky.) 2. Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, connected with Barbara Quinton Freeman ’68S in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL. 3. Head of School Jeff Zemsky met with Becky Rittenburg ’05 and Virginia Maulfair ’56S in Sacramento, CA. 4. Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, visited with Lauren Stockunas ’10 and Mary Gainey ’03 in Irvine, CA.

5. Janis Cortazzo ’78 and Sue Scribner ’57S got together in Jacksonville, FL. 6. We caught up with Jeff Vaughn ’73 in Orlando, FL. 7. Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, visited with Margaret Whitaker ’78 and Susan Wilcox ’60S in Tampa, FL. 8. Cara Treatman ’96 and retired faculty member and Honorary Alumnus Tom Bross connected at the New York City event. 9. The Coast to Coast California tour hit the campus of USC, where Head of School Jeff Zemsky caught up with Nina Hart ’17 and Oliver Scott ’17. 10. Coast to Coast NYC: We had quite the crowd at the Yale Club! JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

CLASS NOTES

Class Notes 46

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

1957

1968

1994

Rebecca Lovingood ’57P, who taught for 30 years at The Episcopal Academy in Merion, PA, recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who in Berkeley Heights, NJ for her plays and musicology.

Barbara Quinton Freeman ’68S reports, “Nancy Horwath Scheid ’65S and I are now fast friends. We are making up for lost time.” (See photo below)

In April, Jon Olszewski ’94 (and brothers Scott Olszewski ’88 and Frank Olszewski ’86) supported his girlfriend Sarah Murphy during the opening of her shop, Vinal Bakery, in Somerville, MA. (See photo 1 on page 49)

1959

1997

Lynn Laubach Brewer ’59S welcomed her first great-grandson, Oakley Elwood Stuller, born December 28, 2018 to grandson Christian Hagar and Kailee Stuller.

Art gallery Van Doren Waxter in New York, NY recently presented “Names Will Never Hurt Me,” an exhibition of new three-dimensional work on paper by Hilary Berseth ’97.

Lanayre Dawson Liggera ’59S published a biography, The Life of Robert Loraine: The Stage, The Sky, and George Bernard Shaw (2013, University of Delaware Press), and recently completed a blog post about Loraine for the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, England. She also recently self-published INTRUSION, a “theological thriller examining faith, doubt, and the devil in an adventure setting.”

2000

1962 Olivia Criswell Feagins ’62P writes, “My husband Ken and I are retired now and managing his oil and gas interests. I hope to return to campus before my 60th Reunion – but for certain then!”

1964 Nancy Frankenfield ’64P shares, “I had the chance to visit Jeanie Worth Donoghue ’59P and her husband, Rich, in Pine Knoll Shores, NC. Jeanie and I have been friends since childhood; she and her mother, Gertrude Worth, longtime Latin teacher at MPS, lived across the street from me for many years, and the two families shared a long friendship and many holiday meals together.” (See photo 4 on page 49). In early May, Charlene Donchez Mowers ‘64P was honored by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce as the recipient of the Priscilla Payne Hurd Award, which recognizes the impact and influence of an individual on the enhancement of life in the Bethlehem community through the arts, education or health care.

1984 Martha Schatkowski Hoyt ’84 recently had a “fun” lunch with Peter Goodman ’84 in San Francisco. Shared Martha, “Peter is writing a second book. It was great to catch up with an old friend.” (See photo 6 on page 49)

1988 Laura Billingham Navarro ’88 was named the winner in the Wedding Photographer category on the Hunterdon County (NJ) 2019 Happening List. Readers of Hunterdon Happening, a local publication, nominate and vote for outstanding businesses and entities in the area.

Travis Neff ’00 married Delaney Bowles on March 5, 2019. Travis works for the State of Alaska as a land manager and Delaney is a registered nurse. The two live with their cat Lhotse in Anchorage and encourage alumni to reach out whenever they visit the 49th state. Nick Tagliavia ’00 and his wife Staci welcomed their daughter Giuliana Madeline on June 20, 2018 at 8.3 lbs, 20.5 inches. Giuliana and her canine “siblings” Bronx and Bruno live in the Philadelphia area. (See photo below)

1992 Jonathan Epstein ’92 was recently awarded a U.S. patent for “Sensor Reservoir With Probe To Monitor, Measure, and Control Fire Sprinkler And Other Systems” - a device he and his two partners have been developing since 2014. The device is designed to monitor the internal water temperature conditions of wet sprinkler systems and, using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, alert building owners and activate heaters when the water temperature requires it. Currently, the team is working with some prospective buyers for the intellectual property.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

CLASS NOTES Jordan Teel Brown ’02 and her husband Christopher welcomed daughter Audrey on Valentine’s Day 2019. She joins big brother Jack, who is three. Maya Pawar Polack ’02 shared, “My sons Sébastien and Quentin are super excited to introduce their baby sister, Chandani Margaux Polack, born February 22, 2019 at 6 lbs 12 oz, 19 inches long.” (See photo 5 on page 49)

2003 Ben Conroy ’03 and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, James Barlow Conroy, on February 7, 2019 - 8 lbs 15.7oz and 21.5” long. (See photo 8 on page 49) Distinguished Young Alumna Claudia Fischmann Mattison ’03 returned to campus in April to share information about her career in engineering and sustainability with students and reconnect with faculty. (See photo 9 on page 49)

2004

Gretchen Worsley ’00 and her wife Alice, welcomed their son André last July and have since been enjoying every moment together as a family. Gretchen’s parents, Judith Neubauer Worsley ’72 and her husband Jack Worsley, are proud grandparents. Gretchen has put her work as a culinary director on hold to stay home and raise André. In September, on a trip to Europe and in Amsterdam, Gretchen met up with Delphine (Guise) DeKool, who attended Moravian from third to fifth grade. Gretchen and Delphine, who has two daughters, have maintained their friendship throughout the years. (See photos above)

2002 Laura Ziringer Kelley ’02 and her husband Kevin welcomed daughter Brynn Zaida Kelley, born December 17, 2018. (See photo 3 on page 49)

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

JoAnn Marzen reported that his son Mark Marzen ’04 teaches at The Denver School of Science and Technology and was voted “Coach of the Year” in the high school’s cross country league for the third year in a row. He is also an ultra-marathon (100 mile) runner and has won numerous races in the western United States. Josh Regina ’04 and his wife Katie welcomed daughter Brooke Katherine Regina on February 8, 2019. She joins big sister Blair, who will be three in October. (See photo 10 on page 49)

2006 Matthew Bross ’06 married Kelly Griffith on December 28th, 2018 in Peter Hall at Moravian College. Matthew was honored to have long time friends and fellow alumni, Adison Weseloh ’06 and Ryan Leblond ’05 serve as best man and groomsman. Currently Matthew and Kelly, who met while attending Moravian College, live and work in Munich, Germany. Kelly teaches kindergarten at a bilingual German-English school and

Matthew is an experimental researcher in the Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamic department at the Bundeswehr University Munich. (See photo 7 on page 49)

2008 Rachel Large ’08 shared, “[Upper School biology teacher] Doc [Gaby] Dee was gifted tickets and took me, Lily Ma ’10 and Emily Monsen ’08 to see “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in New York City. It was a magical experience to say the least!” (See photo 2 on page 49)

2011 Kendall Vrana Northcutt ’11 and her husband got married at Hotel Bethlehem in July 2018. After the wedding, Kendall shared, “We set out from where we were living in Savannah, GA in a fifth wheel camper in the aspiration of finding our ‘forever home.’ We had the Epic ski pass from Vail resorts, and followed all of the western Epic mountains from Durango, CO, to where we are now. We were intending on making it to Whitefish, MO, but after arriving in McCall, ID, we couldn’t deny that ‘home’ feeling and decided to stay. We absolutely love the scenery, people, and general environment. One of our first friends was Rebecca Hurd ’88!” (See photo below)

7 07

9 1 (Pictured from left to right) Frank Olszewski ‘86, Jon Olszewski ‘94, Sarah 2

Murphy (Jon’s girlfriend), and Scott Olszewski ‘88 at Sarah’s opening of her new bakery, Vinal Bakery, in Somerville, MA. U pper School biology teacher Dr. Gaby Dee (pictured left) saw “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” on Broadway with Rachel Large ’08 (pictured right), Lily Ma ’10 (pictured back right) and Emily Monsen ’08 (pictured back left).

10 7

M atthew Bross ‘06 married Kelly Griffith in Peter Hall at Moravian College in December 2018. (Pictured left to right): William Quinn, Matthew’s brotherin-law, holding daughter Sophie; Emily Quinn, Matthew’s sister and Middle School French teacher, holding daughter Noami; Kelly; Matthew; Debbie Bross, Matthew’s mother and former physical education and health teacher; and Tom Bross, Matthew’s father and former Upper School physics teacher.

3 Laura Ziringer Kelley ‘02 and her husband Kevin welcomed daughter Brynn

8 Ben Conroy ‘03 and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, James Barlow

9 Upper School art teacher Ms. Sue Maurer (pictured left) poses with

Zaida Kelley, born December 17, 2018.

J eanie Worth Donoghhue ‘59P (pictured left) and Nancy Frankenfield ‘64P (pictured right) visited together in Pine Knoll Shores, NC. S ébastien and Quentin, sons of Maya Pawar Polack ‘02, welcomed their baby sister, Chandani Margaux Polack, born February 22, 2019.

6 Peter Goodman ‘84 (pictured left) and Martha Schatkowski Hoyt ‘84 (pictured right) recently had a “fun” lunch together in San Francisco.

Conroy, on February 7, 2019.

Distinguished Young Alumna Claudia Fischmann Mattison ‘03 during Claudia’s April visit to the Merle-Smith Campus.

10 Josh Regina ‘04 and his wife Katie welcomed daughter Brooke Katherine Regina on February 8, 2019. (Josh, Katie, and Brooke pictured with big sister Blair, who will be three in October, and canine sibling Mac.)

CLASS NOTES

2013 Savannah Benbrook ’13 and Spencer Eisner ’10 are engaged to be married in July 2019 in California. The couple met at Moravian while a freshman and senior and have stayed together through college and distance. Spencer graduated in the top of his class from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and currently works for a financial firm in San Francisco. Savannah is working to earn her Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Stanford University in their EXtreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory (XLab). During her undergraduate career, she won the medallion or highest award at Villanova University for electrical engineering. Savannah credits her physics teacher Mr. Bross at Moravian for getting her interested in STEM.

2014 Priya Atiyeh ’14 completed the St. Jude Rock & Roll Nashville Half Marathon in April. Shared Priya, “Running for St. Jude was a truly empowering and beautiful experience. The strength of the patients, families, and staff of St. Jude inspired me through this race and will continue to do so everyday. Thanks for helping me make my miles matter!” (See photo below)

Max Fisher ’14 graduated from Hobart College in 2018 as an International Studies major minoring in Political Science and Economics. For the next two and half years he will be teaching English in Tottori, Japan, through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

2015 Ethan Green ’15 graduated this spring with a B.S. in Biology from Wake Forest University. He will be commissioning into the Active Duty Army as a second lieutenant; wherein he will be attending the Uniformed Services University of Health Science for a Ph.D. in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Stated Ethan, “I have my dream job right in front of me, and believe I have shaped up to the type of man many of my teachers at Moravian believed I would become. I am truly grateful for the school.” In late March, Christian Haldeman ’15 was named Men’s Golf Athlete of the Week by the Centennial Conference. Haldeman, a senior at Gettysburg College, posted his first career win with medalist honors at the Dickinson Spring Invitational. Hamilton College student-athlete Brooke Talsania ’15 was named to the Division III National Academic Squad by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. The program honors student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better through the first semester of the current academic year. The MA Ringers performed a piece with the Bucknell Bell Choir, including members Owen Parent ’15 and Jonathan Riker ’18, during the 2019 Nittany Valley Handbell Festival held in April in Bellefonte, PA.

2016 The Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education awarded a Goldwater Scholarship to Julia Costacurta ’16, an engineering student at Johns Hopkins University. Julia shared, “Moravian prepares you to work hard and advocate for yourself.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

You become really aware of your own self-worth and start to test your limits before getting to college. I’ve found that these skills have helped me to seek out opportunities at Hopkins.” The votes are in! Murphy DiRosa ’16 will serve as senior class president for the High Point University Class of 2020.

2017 The Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education awarded a Goldwater Scholarship to Catherine Ryczek ’17, a physics and astronomy student at Hamilton College. Said Catherine, “Moravian Academy gave me a great foundation...The teachers were incredibly supportive of my scientific inquiries and encouraged my constant questions and pushed me to pursue the ideas that excited me.” Catherine was also named the recipient of The G. Harvey Cameron Memorial Prize, awarded to a first-year student or sophomore who shows the most promise in experimental physics, at Hamilton’s Class & Charter Day held in May. Upper School biology teacher Dr. Gaby Dee recently ran into Jack Michaelis ’17 at Civic Theatre of Allentown. (See photo below)

2018 Hugh Brolly’s ’18 short film “Promposal” was shown in early April as part of the Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas. Elizabeth Frailey ’18 made the Grove City College Dean’s List with Distinction for the fall 2018 semester.

DEATHS Steve Anson ’64P, of Whitehall, PA, passed away on March 14, 2019. John Burke, of Honolulu, HI, passed away on May 6, 2019. He was the father of Mary Ann Groner ’74. Claudia M. Evans ’81, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on April 24, 2019. Ellen Geist ’70P, of New York, NY, passed away on March 14, 2018. Mary Knowles Patterson ’47P, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on January 15, 2019. Evelyn “Nan” Carter Sadler ’58S, of St. Helena Island, SC, passed away on March 7, 2019. Judith Gail Sindel ’58P, of Reading, PA, passed away on April 30, 2019. Joseph Sopko ’46P, of Hellertown, PA passed away on January 28, 2018. The Rev. Dr. Alexander “Sandy” Clinton Zabriskie, Jr., of Sykesville, MD, passed away on March 4, 2019. He was the father of J. Lane Zabriskie ’81.

Erin Kara ‘07

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

From left to right: Saira Agarwala ‘12 (left), her brother Anshul Agarwala, father Dr. Sanjiv Agarwala, and mother Dr. Meena Agarwala

2012 In January, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s website featured Saira Agarwala ’12, who attends medical school at Temple University’s St. Luke’s program in Bethlehem. The article highlighted Saira, her brother Anshul Agarwala, a St. Luke’s orthopedic resident; her father Dr. Sanjiv Agarwala, chief of medical oncology and hematology at St. Luke’s Cancer Center and a professor of medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; and her mother Dr. Meena Agarwala, a St. Luke’s internist. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy.org/alumnipress.

2007 Erin Kara ’07, a Hubble Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Maryland, is quoted in Astronomy Magazine as an expert on the decades-long struggle to capture a photo of a black hole. To read the article, visit www.moravianacademy.org/alumnipress.

Our students will experience more change throughout their lives than any previous generation. They will need to be adaptable, open to new ideas, comfortable with change. The CULTURE of CURIOSITY at Moravian Academy is all about learning the skills to thrive in an uncertain world and your donations help make that vision a reality.

Give.

So our students can be the leaders of tomorrow.

Help our students. Make a donation today. www.moravianacademy.org/give

JOURNAL | SPRING 2019

SMASH

2 4

Alumni and friends from around the world came together to Salute Moravian and Say Hello on May 2 and 3, 2019 in recognition of our 277th birthday. Gatherings were held in several locations across the country and in London, United Kingdom! Attendees were also connecting with one another via phone, text and FaceTime calls.

It certainly was a special time to celebrate Moravian Academy and each other! In addition to these live celebrations, photo and video greetings were posted on social media throughout the two-day period. Visit our website and the alumni Facebook group to view photo and video greetings from near and far.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

1 Th e Bucknell crew - (from Left to Right) Jon Riker ’18, Brian Dadio ’18, Paige Cohan ’17, Owen Parent ’15, Alisa Hardy ’16 - on the main quad, with the Bertrand Library in the background. 2 F rom Left to Right: Greg Duckloe ‘09, Luisa Dodds ‘09, Danielle Bliss ‘86, Rebecca Askins-Gast ‘12, and David Askins-Gast ‘14; (Not pictured, former headmaster Barnaby Roberts via phone call) 3 Alumni Association President Karley Biggs Sebia ’00 sent greetings from Bethlehem! 4 Greetings from Karen Blickwede Knowlton ’66P in beautiful southeast Idaho! 5 A ndy Fogel ’03 said, “Please send my best to the entire MA community from Vienna, Austria. Here’s a photo of me and a cake I made at the bakery I manage here, The Cake Tree.”

6 C heers from Boston! (From Left to Right) Karl Laskowski ’99, Allison Hertz ’01, Samantha Khan ’09, Allison Duckloe ’09 and Dana Popkave ’01 saluted Moravian! 7 Jeremy Vaida ’03 sent greetings from Israel! 8 Greetings from the art studio of Trisha Hensler Kanellopoulos ’70S, Munich, Germany! 9 G reetings from the campus of Vassar College! (From Left to Right) Lotus Lichty ’18, Rachael Kraft ’17, Elliot Hoke ’18 and Bailey Hancharik ’18 in front of the Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library. 10 ( From Left to Right) Shelby Asen Candrea ’06, Gabriel Vidoni ’00, Lauren Ruht Chapman ’00, Nicholas Tagliavia ’00, Ben Goldberg ’98, Sarah Thomson ’09 and Michael Estabrooks ’09 celebrated Moravian at City Works in King of Prussia, PA. 11 Greetings from Cassie Nataro ’18 on the campus of Baylor University!

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT HOSTS:

8 11

Shelby Asen-Candrea ’06, King of Prussia, PA Alexander Battisti ’14, New York, NY Alison Bujnowski ’02, New York, NY Luisa Dodds ’09, London, UK Allison Duckloe ’09, Boston, MA Greg Duckloe ’09, London, UK Mary Ann Groner ’74, Hollywood, CA Neil Johnson ’73, Hollywood, CA Dana Popkave ’01, Boston, MA Jill Schwartz ’93, Washington, DC Karley Biggs Sebia ’00, Bethlehem, PA Nick Tagliavia ’00, King of Prussia, PA

MORAVIAN CONNECT

EXPLORE YOUR MORAVIAN CONNECT NETWORK • L ooking for a new job or a career mentor? • C urious to see what your classmates have been up to? • I nterested in hiring a Moravian Academy alum? Create your profile, or login at

www.moravianconnect.com.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR UPCOMING EVENTS To view a full list of events, visit www.moravianacademy.org/calendar. August 12

Upper School Spring Sports Begin

August 19

Middle School Spring Sports Begin

August 25

All School Community Picnic

August 26

First Day of School

August 30 - September 2

Labor Day Break (No School for Students)

September 13

Red & Gold Games Day

September 16

Golf Outing

October 4-6

Reunion Weekend

Moravian Academy Country Fair October 5, 2019 • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm • Merle-Smith Campus

Games & Rides • Live Music • Food Trucks & Pie Baking Contest • Crafts • Petting Zoo & Pony Ride • Spirit Store • Class Booths 54 MORAVIAN ACADEMY