Newark Academy LUMEN Fall 2022

F R O M T H E E D I T O R S

This issue of LUMEN is also available online. To view the interactive experience, visit: www.newarka.edu/lumen

The Class of 2023 cheers as they get ready to go down the traditional senior chocolate slide at the Back to School BBQ.

Donald M Austin Head of School

Lou Scerra Senior Director of External Affairs and Strategy

E D I T O R S

Dr Renée Walker Director of Communications and Marketing Julie Kayzerman Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing

A S S I S T A N T E D I T O R S

David

Beckman Lou Scerra

C O N T R I B U T O R S

B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S

Executive Committee

Samuel W Croll III ’68 Chairman

Lawrence G Cetrulo ’67 Secretary

Marika Alzadon ’89

Donald M Austin

John H Bess ’69

Patricia Budziak Lauren Hedvat ’01 Wayne D Kent ’85

Trustees

Rohit Bawa ’93

Debra Caplan

David Castelblanco David Crall

Ajay Dhankhar

Robert Fink

Karen Guy Smith

Millwood Hobbs, Jr Rebecca Moll Freed ’94

Andrew Kogan ’90 Leigh Mumford Lisa Powers

Valerie Radwaner Virany Michael Rockoff ’87

Melissa Tassé Rasheea S Williams Hall ’95 Dr Kalenah Witcher ’87 Elizabeth Christou Woodall

Emeriti

Louis V Aronson II ’41

Paul Busse ’38*

Robert Del Tufo ’51*

William D Green ’69 William D Hardin ’44*

Nancy Baird Harwood ’75 K Kelly Marx ’51

John L McGraw ’49

Robert S. Puder ’38* Gary Rose

William T Wachenfeld ’44

A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N B O A R D O F G O V E R N O R S

Rebecca Moll Freed ’94 President

Amanda Addison ’06

Nicole Andrzejewski ’13

Asha Talwar Coco ’99

Daniel D. Cronheim ’72

Justin Garrod ’93

Kumar Ghafoor ’10

Susan Goldberg ’79

Peter Gruenberg ’81

Jade Addon Hall ’98

Shannon Hedvat ’03

Sydney Hershman ’11

Allison Hyans ’11

Lauren Jacobs Lazer ’98

Jordan Jett ’11

Lauren Kaplan ’09

Steve Lozowick ’63

Kathleen Mangunay Pergament ’95

Nicholas Murray ’15

Nnadilim Okafor ’09

Ed Pursell ’02

Jed Rosenthal ’93

Lena Hill Ryals ’94

Alex Senchak ’02

Alexandra Swanson ’09

Pamela Helfant Vichengrad ’94

Emeriti

Lance Aronson ’74

J Richard Beltram ’41*

John H Bess ’69

Leo Gordon ’69

Jeffrey Silverman ’82 William Stroh ’48*

Richard Watson ’50

*Deceased

Newark Academy

Office of Communications and Marketing

91 South Orange Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039

Telephone: (973) 992 7000

Email: communications@newarka edu www newarka edu

Connections and Community

I write this letter on the heels of our Homecoming weekend festivities. Nearly 1,000 Newark Academy community members – students, parents, faculty and staff, trustees, and alumni returned to the NA campus to participate in fun-filled activities, cheer on the Minutemen teams, and connect with one another. Students competed in sack races on the fields, alumni and teachers reconnected over s’mores, and families enjoyed playing on some inflatables. The events of the afternoon were a clear reminder of the long lasting and powerful relationships forged by members of the Newark Academy community. We look forward to many more of these joyful gatherings in the weeks and months ahead.

Robert Marcus

Andrea Dawson Rochelle Outlaw Edwards Robert K Mallalieu Evan Nisenson ’99 Nina Shirey

This issue of LUMEN highlights recent accomplishments of the Newark Academy community with a particular focus on our excellence beyond the classroom Our students excelled in athletics and arts this past year, earning recognition at both the state and national levels. Minutemen Athletic teams won a total of eight state championships the highest recorded number in our school’s history. Our jazz band, Chameleon, qualified and played in the prestigious Essentially Ellington festival at Lincoln Center for the sixth time, and they won the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education title for the 11th straight year Hundreds of other Newark Academy artists and athletes left their mark on the stage and our courts and fields

While outstanding academics are the cornerstone of a Newark Academy education, our vibrant arts and athletics programs help our students find and develop their passions As they engage in these pursuits, they develop skills like commitment, collaboration, creativity and time management These activities

provide a healthy outlet for the talents and energies of our students, and they prepare our students for success in college and in their professional lives

In addition to NA milestones, I hope that you also enjoy reading the profiles of students who are doing cutting edge research in STEM; learning about our outstanding alumna Dr Salamishah Tillet ’92, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for her New York Times essays; and meeting the impressive cohort of new faculty and staff who have joined us this fall

I wish you an enjoyable holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the weeks and months ahead

CONVOCATION

Kicking Off the 2022 23 Academic Year

Newark Academy students, faculty, staff and representatives from our Alumni Board of Governors gathered to kick off the 2022 23 school year with the annual Convocation ceremony on Thursday, September 7, in the Coraci Performance Hall. The event featured the annual Convocation address, delivered by alumnus and Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon ’02, and recognized long serving faculty and staff.

“The wonderful thing about the school calendar is that every fall offers the promise of new beginnings,” said Head of School Donald M Austin in his welcoming remarks Mr Austin closed by asking students to think about how they can both draw strength from Newark Academy and contribute posi tively to the experiences of others “We’re not here just to get straight A’s and into college,” said Student Council President Harold Fullilove III ’23 “We’re here to build a foundation of knowledge that allows us to find, excel at, and pursue our passions Find that

‘‘

‘All beginnings are hard’. I hope that phrase provides you with a dose of perspective, a little bit of compassion, as you weather the ups and downs of finding your place here.”

thing you won’t shut up about, and use that passion to leave a permanent mark on the NA community ”

Dean of Faculty Traci Osterhagen Brock recognized milestone awards for long serving faculty and staff: Shun Yao Chang, Rachel Shapiro Cooper, Bella Galvez, Felipe Ledezma, Tim McCall, Alexis Sommers, Reyther Ortega, Patty

Pascal, Margaret Purcell and James Worrell for five years; Diana Fernandes and Stephanie Hammond for 10 years; Don Austin, Bill Hobson, Viraj Lal and Julius Tolentino for 15 years; and Benson Hawk, Betsy LaPadula, Maria Teresa McNeilly Anta ’93, Kerry Winiarski and Mary Ellen Weinel for 20 years Director of Counseling Carol

Alumni Board of Governors President Rebecca Moll Freed ’94, Jersey City Ward E Councilman and keynote speaker James Solomon ’02 and Head of School Donald M. Austin.

– James Solomon ’02

Keynote Speaker James Solomon ’02

Board of Governors President Rebecca Moll Freed Jersey City Ward E Councilman and keynote speaker James Solomon ’02 and Head of School Donald M Austin

During his keynote speech, James recalled seeing the words “all begin nings are hard” written on the chalk board in his very first college class He shared these words with NA students, faculty and staff as they embarked on the new school year. “I hope that

not here just to get straight A’s and into college We’re here to build a foundation of knowledge that allows us to find, excel at, and pursue our passions.”

Harold Fullilove III ’23

phrase provides you with a dose of perspective, a little bit of compassion, as you weather the ups and downs of finding your place here,” he said.

James, a cancer survivor, went on to detail his journey battling lymphoma and recalled how the two things that got him through the hard times were laughter and community including his friends from Newark Academy, who took him out for walks, brought him meals and provided him comfort through his recovery

Concluding his remarks, James left one final piece of advice for students: “I hope that as you move through NA and the rest of your lives that each of you will take this year to erase the difficulty of beginnings, knowing that with perseverance, with strength, with passion, with laughter and with com munity, you can use this year to build or build upon foundations that will last your lifetime ”

Faculty & Staff MILESTONES

At Convocation, the following faculty and staff were recognized for longevity milestones.

A.

B. C.

A. D.

A. 5 YEARS:

B. 10 YEARS: Stephanie Hammond, Diana Fernandes

C 15 YEARS: Julius Tolentino, Bill Hobson, Don Austin, Viraj Lal

D. 20 YEARS: Betsy LaPadula, Maria Teresa McNeilly Anta ’93, Mary Ellen Weinel, Benson Hawk, Kerry Winiarski

E. 30 YEARS: Carol Spooner

Rachel Shapiro Cooper, Bella Galvez, Alexis Sommers, Felipe Ledezma, James Worrell, Reyther Ortega, Shun Yao Chang, Patty Pascal, Margaret Purcell, Tim McCall

Spooner was honored for her 30 years of service to Newark Academy

We’re

LEADERSHIP & LEGACY: Sitting Down With Newark Academy’s Trustees

With a deep seated passion for a Newark Academy education and the school’s ethos, Newark Academy’s Board of Trustees (BOT) are dedicated community members with key leadership roles. The NA trustees volunteer their time to help safeguard the school’s mission and values, while providing strategic and financial oversight and guidance. In this new series within LUMEN, we invite you to learn more about Newark Academy’s Trustees, their background, and their commitment to the NA community. LUMEN sat down with current NA Trustees Debra Caplan and Milwood Hobbs Jr., both of whom are current NA parents, to learn more about them personally and their experiences as board members. A subsequent feature on alumni trustees will be included in the spring issue of LUMEN.

Debra Caplan

Debra “Debbie” Caplan and her husband, Ken, are parents to two sons, Leo ’23 and Evan ’25 Debbie serves on the Trusteeship Committee of Newark Academy’s Board of Trustees. She has served as an NA parent liaison, and a parent ambassador for the Newark Academy Fund In addition to her service to NA, Debbie serves on the board of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and is an active advocate for children in foster care She is also vice president and co founder of the Lisa B. Fishman Foundation, an organization named in honor of Debbie’s sister that provides critical funds for Hodgkin’s lymphoma research Each week Debbie volunteers with Meals On Wheels, providing hot meals to homebound seniors She is currently on the board of Greenlight Foundation Her prior board and volunteer work includes Pencils of Promise, The Place2Be Organization, National Council of Jewish Women, and the Knightsbridge School in London Debbie spent 10 years in the fashion industry as vice president of sales for Levi’s/Dockers Women’s Clothing and vice president of Calvin Klein Men’s Underwear She has a B A in business and psychology from the University of Michigan.

A Focus on Family First

One of the commonly known things about Debbie is that she holds her family close to her heart.

You will find the Caplans attending NA events with their two sons. In her free time, one of the things Debbie enjoys is the adventures and connections found through walking as a hobby

“I became one of those COVID walkers,” Debbie says “I’ll grab my husband or sons There’s nothing like connecting with a loved one while exploring nature. If they’re not available, I’ll listen to a great book or podcast, or I’ll call friends and catch up with them On vacation, I love it because you’re exploring differ ent places that you would never find normally, just by randomly walking without a purpose ”

Debbie also revealed the fun fact that she eats exactly three dates a day, and only three, simply out of habit “Years ago, it used to be three peppermint patties,” she explains. “One or two isn’t enough, and four seems like a little too much ”

v e t h at N e w a r k A c a d e m y e m b r a c e s d i v e r s i t y a n d d i ff e r e n c e s o f o p i n i o n s i n t h e s t u d e n t e x p e r i e n c e a s w e l l a s o n t h e B o a r d I t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o h a v e t h e v o i c e s o f c u r r e n t p a r e n t s r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s c h o o l ’ s l e a d e r s h i p ”

DEBRA CAPLAN, NA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER

Awareness and Advocacy

Debbie has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, includ ing CASA, in which she advocates for children in foster care She was inspired to join CASA by her sister, Lisa, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Columbia University before passing away from Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 30

“She was my everything She dedicated herself to helping children who had experienced domestic violence and abuse,” Debbie explains. “In the back of my head, somewhere after she died, I knew I wanted to do something in her memory that follows along her path ”

While training to become a CASA advo cate, Debbie forged bonds with other volunteers and encouraged friends to become advocates as well. She noted their shared challenge in juggling their careers and parenting roles along with their work as advocates In her work, Debbie fought for organizational changes to better meet the needs of these women Debbie also speaks from a parenting perspective in her roles as an NA trustee, parent liaison and parent ambassador for the Newark Academy Fund.

“I love that Newark Academy embraces diversity and differences of opinions in the student experience as well as on the Board It’s important to have the voices

of current parents represented in the school’s leadership,” Debbie says

The Importance of Volunteering

Debbie believes in a Newark Academy education, both as a parent and a trustee. She enjoys being involved in her sons’ school activities and has always volunteered in some way, just to see what’s going on in their lives and during their days

“I spend as much time as I can with my boys Any time that I can spend with them is priceless and time that I’ll never get back. I love to be a part of what they’re doing,” Debbie says

She has cultivated relationships with a wide set of NA community members because she enjoys being connected to what her sons are doing, hearing about their experiences, and being a part of the NA community. As an NA trustee, she supports the administration and faculty in empowering all students’ voices in order to help them enter the world as independent thinkers.

“I think anywhere that you can make a positive change that will benefit a student body is extremely important,” Debbie says. “As Newark Academy approaches its 250th year, and even 250 years from now, I hope to continue seeing a spirited school where kids are happy, where they can work hard, play hard and have fun ”

Debbie hopes that all NA students have the best school experience possible and believes that she can play an important role in the NA student experience by volunteering and supporting the school in any way possible. She shares her excitement in knowing that she can make change happen in many ways

“I have always believed that it’s better to give than to receive, and if you’re in the position to give, you give,” Debbie says

The Caplan family gathers at their home From left, Ken, Evan ʼ25, Leo ʼ23, Debra and Bingo

LEADERSHIP

&

LEGACY:

Sitting Down With Newark Academy’s Trustees

Milwood Hobbs Jr.

Milwood Hobbs Jr serves on the Finance Committee of the Newark Academy Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Kimberly, former president of the Newark Academy Parents Association (NAPA), have two sons, Corey ’26 and Christopher. In his professional career, Milwood is managing director and head of Oaktree’s North American Sourcing and Origination (S&O) group His previ ous experience includes roles as execu tive director at Natixis Securities and vice president in leveraged finance orig ination and sales at Goldman Sachs He has an M B A from Columbia Business School and a B S in accounting from Rutgers University.

The Empowerment of Students Through Education

While some people have mistaken Milwood as a New Jerseyan because he is a proud Rutgers University alum, he clarifies that he was raised in the South He was born in Petersburg, Virginia and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia Education was important in his household, particu larly since Milwood’s mother was an

elementary public school teacher

He ultimately earned an academic scholarship to Rutgers

“Given my successful public school background, initially Kim and I had no interest in sending our son, Corey, to private school. Eventually, we found that there was a stronger educational

experience at Newark Academy,” Milwood says. “I truly believe that this school values the individual and creates an environment for that indi vidual to be true to themselves, which drives success When I think about Newark Academy I think about the culture of the school. The school educates in a way that optimizes an individual, which is the unspoken gift of Newark Academy ”

A Balanced Life and Giving Back

While Milwood is deeply passionate about his career in finance, he finds balance by spending quality time with his family and reading or re reading some of his favorite non fiction books, including the autobiography of André Meyer, the French American banker and philanthropist, and Big Deal by Bruce Wasserstein, the American investment banker He also finds creative ways of achieving his daily goal of 10,000 steps.

“When I go into the office, I drive and park at the Port Authority then walk a mile to my office and a mile back,” Milwood says. “I get 14,000 steps playing golf, believe it or not Plus, it’s just good hanging out with friends and as an outlet.”

I have met many alumni in my day to day life who proudly share that they attended or know someone who went to Newark Academy Best of all is that they have that same passion and level of respect 20 or 30 years later, which is pretty remarkable. Likewise, NA has a lot of respect for its students, the community and for academics, not only the rigor but how it’s taught ”

MILWOOD HOBBS JR., NA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER

I t r u l y b e l i e v e t h at t h i s s c h o o l v a l u e s t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d c r e at e s a n e n v i r o n m e n t f o r t h at i n d i v i d u a l t o b e t r u e t o t h e m s e l v e s , w h i c h d r i v e s s u c c e s s . W h e n I t h i n k a b o u t N e w a r k A c a d e m y I t h i n k a b o u t t h e c u l t u r e o f t h e s c h o o l . T h e s c h o o l e d u c at e s i n a w a y t h at o p t i m i z e s a n i n d i v i d u a l , w h i c h i s t h e u n s p o k e n g i f t o f N e w a r k A c a d e m y . ”

Milwood also spends at least an hour a week giving career advice to young adults. He does this freely and willingly as a way to pay it forward He shares that those young adults, most of whom are in college and are interested in a finance career, informally reach out to him after seeing his profile on social media

“They find me through LinkedIn They’ve never met me and they just reach out,” Milwood says

The Importance of Leadership

Milwood believes that diversity of thought and experiences is important for any board of trustees. He believes that this dynamic brings more per spectives to the table and cultivates stronger leadership As a trustee, he is able to give his time and thought to Newark Academy, beyond his role as a parent

As Milwood continues to serve on the Board of Trustees, he is constantly surprised and impressed by the passion that NA community members and alumni have for the school.

“I have met many alumni in my day to day life who proudly share that they attended or know someone who went to Newark Academy Best of all is that they have that same passion and level of respect 20 or 30 years later, which is pretty remarkable. Likewise, NA has a

lot of respect for its students, the com munity and for academics, not only the rigor but how it’s taught,” he says

Legacy and Support

Milwood notes that by working on Wall Street and through his personal journey he has learned that society equates suc cess with money. However, he cautions that money doesn’t necessarily make you happier Instead, Milwood priori tizes his legacy, aspiring to have his children appreciate their bond and fam ily when he gets older While he doesn’t consider himself a philanthropist yet, Milwood believes that it's important for

him to support organizations that are serving children and families

“For families with multiple children at NA, it’s even more important,” Milwood says “They’ve entrusted Newark Academy with the development of their entire family. Here at NA, the value is in people and relationships.”

Meet the Board

Scan the QR code to learn more about Newark Academy’s Board of Trustees.

The Hobbs family is seen at their home From left, Christopher, Kimberly, Corey ʼ26 and Milwood

MILWOOD HOBBS JR., NA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER

H E R E @ N A

Newark Academy Welcomes NEW TRUSTEES

Rasheea Williams Hall ’95 Alumna

Rasheea is an active alumna of Newark Academy’s Class of 1995 and a former Alumni Board of Governors member She regularly attends regional events in Los Angeles, where she resides Rasheea is the vice president, broadcast standards and practices at Fox Broadcasting Company, where she serves as the primary standards executive on shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and Lee Daniels’ Empire a series that garnered close to 20 million viewers at its height

Originally from Newark, Rasheea earned her B S in psychology from Wellesley College, graduating magna cum laude, and her M S in broadcast journalism from Columbia University She is married and has two daughters, Bella (11) and Rae (9). The job Rasheea is proudest of is nurturing these two dynamic spirits.

of Trustees

Leigh became the president of the Newark Academy Parents Association (NAPA) after holding several roles on the executive board, including vice president and communications chair Leigh and her husband, Kevin, have a son, L.J. Hines, who is a member of NA’s Class of 2024.

Leigh has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and currently works as a compliance officer at TIAA. She holds a B.A. in sociology from the College of William and Mary and a J D from Seton Hall University School of Law She also has Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 6, 7 and 63 licenses and is a New York State Producer Licensed Agent

Leigh is a former board member of the Maplewood Memorial Library Foundation, active participant in TIAA business resource groups that unite and support female and African American associates and allies, and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Leigh Mumford – NAPA Representative to the Board

Letter from Leigh Mumford

When I was growing up in Maplewood, New Jersey, my parents emphasized, “If you want to know what is going on, you have to get involved ” When my son, LJ ’24, began attending Newark Academy, I wasn’t quite sure how to get involved. I had heard of the Newark Academy Parents Association (NAPA), but I did not think I had the capacity to participate, as I was working full time Then, while attending Middle School Principal Tom Ashburn’s Town Hall, I was asked if I wanted to be a Parent Liaison I didn’t know what a Parent Liaison was or what I had to do, but I said, “Yes!” I am so glad that I did Participating in NAPA has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and connect with the amazing faculty and staff at NA I have been involved in interesting projects and developed new skill sets Just as important, my involvement has helped me to create meaningful friendships with other NA families. So, what does NAPA do? It provides programming and events that focus on building community, creating meaningful bonds between families and the school, and promoting NA’s global culture and generous spirit. The NAPA Executive Board works diligently all year to create engaging programs and experiences that support and reflect our entire NA community However, none of this is possible without the participation and support of NA parents and guardians all of whom are automatically members of NAPA We are grateful to the talented and generous parents and guardians who contribute their time and expertise to the success of NAPA. The best part is that there is something for everyone, and everyone is encouraged to participate. A big teaching moment that resulted from the pandemic is that it’s beneficial to be flexible To that end, NAPA has pivoted to the hybrid approach of in person and virtual offerings. With an array of committees to choose from and a diverse Executive Board, all are welcome

I hope that I have inspired some current parents and guardians to get involved with N A P A V o l u n t e e r i n g w i t h N A P A h a s b e e n i n c r e d i b l y r e w a r d i n g f o r m e I f y o u a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n v o l u n t e e r i n g , I w e l c o m e y o u t o c o n t a c t u s b y s e n d i n g a n e m a i l t o napavolunteers@newarka.edu with your name, contact information and interests, or by scanning the QR code and filling out our volunteer form For more information on NAPA’s initiatives, please explore the NAPA tile on MyNA. Take a peek at the NAPA Newsletter emailed to parents weekly for information and updates on NAPA events

P r e s i d e n t , N e w a r k A c a d e m y P a r e n t s A s s o c i a t i o n

NAPA President Leigh Mumford (bottom right) with members of NAPA at its annual Celebrate NA! event.

Spanish Exchange Students

Say hello to our Spanish exchange students! In June, this group of 21 IB students and two teachers from IES do Castro high school in Galicia, Spain, hosted our NA immersion students and faculty members We were so happy to return the favor and reunite with them during their two week stay with NA families, when they attended classes and visited several heritage sites includ ing West Point, the United Nations, the Statue of Liberty and the Grounds for Sculpture. #NApride

Rally for Tennis

Over the summer, members of our boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis teams helped organize and run Rally for Tennis, a charity tennis event Through this fundraiser, combined with a New England version, they were able to help raise over $69,779 for the Greater Newark Tennis and Education (GNTE) in New Jersey to provide tennis instruction and educational opportu nities to underprivileged children in the Newark area. #NApride #NAallday

Transitioning into Tough Cookies

Middle School students learned how to embrace transitional phases of personal and educational growth and become tough cookies while enjoying a tasty treat during their advisory groups and Morning Meeting #NApride

Back-to-School BBQ

Our annual Back to School BBQ brought the NA community together for great food and field games It also featured the traditional chocolate slide for seniors and watermelon eating contest! #NApride

Middle

Grateful for the opportunity to develop their swim skills right on Newark Academy’s campus, the Middle School swim team makes sure to pay it forward each year. Spearheaded by NA faculty coaches Rob and Megan Rezvani, the Middle School swim team hosts an annual Swim a Thon to raise awareness around water safety and to fund water safety classes for underprivileged families

Since its inception in 2015, the annual Swim a Thon has raised over $25,000 for the West Essex YMCA’s Safety Around Water Week, which provides free week long water safety classes for families This past year, the Middle School swimmers raised $3,700 “Participating in the Swim a Thon has always been a highlight of the season,” says Abigail “Abby” Hsu ’25 “The whole team comes together to fundraise and give back to the community.”

In order to raise money, swimmers ask their classmates, teachers, family and friends to pledge a donation amount for each completed lap during the Swim

a Thon, or to contribute a set amount On the day of the event, swimmers have 10 minutes to swim as many laps as they can. Abby explains that students have a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money for the good cause This past year, Ryan Wanderer ’28 topped the leaderboard, raising $320

“When fundraising and encouraging my community to donate to this cause, I could feel myself spreading my love of swimming to others,” Abby says. After

transitioning into the Upper School, Abby decided to stay involved, helping out as a Middle School coach so she could foster the same tight knit and supportive environment that she had experienced.

“The Swim a Thon teaches middle schoolers about the importance of giving back to the community,” Abby says “The money has made a big differ ence, and it has also inspired generations of middle schoolers to continue serving the community.”

Abby Hsu ’25

Abby Hsu ’25

IMMERSION EXPERIENCES

Maine Wilderness Experience

This trip allows students to witness the beauty of nature and partake in a variety of activities, including backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing and camping.

Southwest U.S.

Students explore the American Southwest through hiking, canoeing and camping

Spain

Newark Academy students immerse themselves in Spanish culture by living with host families and exploring sites in Madrid.

LETTER FROM ROCHELLE OUTLAW EDWARDS

Director of Equity and Inclusion

It’s hard to believe that I took over the role as director of equity and inclusion just a little over a year ago. When I stepped into this role, my focus was on enhancing Newark Academy’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming to become more student centered and student run. This is an ideal way of building relationships and catering to the specific needs of NA students.

One of the biggest changes to student programming has been the reorgani zation of the Equity & Inclusion Team (EIT) The team, made up of 25 Upper School students who are selected through a rigorous application and interview process, now consists of a number of committees in an effort to empower students and give them more ownership over the work of the team. Among the new committees is the Middle School Liaisons Guided by seventh grade English teacher and Equity & Inclusion Coordinator,

Samantha Wilkerson, the Middle School Liaisons aim to develop stronger connections between Middle School and Upper School students

This group of students recently presented Newark Academy’s Community Commitments for Belonging at a Middle School Morning Meeting and engaged the eighth graders in a conversation around intent versus impact, stretching them to think about how their actions are perceived by others, during Middle School Commons

“The Middle School Liaisons have taken the lead on Middle School Commons experiences,” Samantha says “They are dedicated to ensuring our Middle School students have access to the tools they need to advocate for themselves and feel con nected to the community. This year they plan to touch on several topics, including respect during conflict, accepting differences and building community ”

The team is also forging collabora tions with School Council (SC),

When I stepped into this role, my focus was on enhancing Newark Academy’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming to become more student centered and student run ”

ROCHELLE OUTLAW EDWARDS

Members of the Bias Response and Education Committee include: Yasmeena Sharif ’23, Ethan Garcia ’23, Kieri Keys ’24, Director of Equity and Inclusion Rochelle Outlaw Edwards and Page Schachtel ’23

Director of Equity and Inclusion Rochelle Outlaw Edwards

Community Service Council (CSC) and DEI affiliated clubs In support of this effort, in August 2022, mem bers of EIT and CSC attended a joint retreat that focused on building inclusive leadership They will also unite once more during a student leadership conference this fall.

“I believe that one of the ways we are moving equity and inclusion work forward at NA is by recognizing that building leadership skills is equity work We are teaching students not only how to use their own voices, but also to lift up the voices of others,” Director of Community Service Sarah Fischer says. “Bringing EIT and CSC together allowed us to have formal discussions around implicit biases and power dynamics and use that as a frame for all of the work we do in developing programming.”

‘‘

The event I am most excited about for this year is Divers A Week

A joint collaboration among EIT, CSC, SC, and Newark Academy Parents Association (NAPA), Divers A Week will focus on celebrating all the many ways that the NA community is diverse, including by race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender and ability Scheduled for January 16 20, the week will kick off with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and culminate with the NAPA Inter national Dinner and NAPA Festival. The festival will feature music,

dance, fashion and cultural games and crafts from around the world

My hope is that the festival, like the International Dinner, will become a cherished tradition for years to come

While I am also focused on other areas that will continue to move equity and inclusion forward at Newark Academy, I believe the changes we are making in student programming will continue to make this important work a natural and organic part of our community

We are teaching students not only how to use their own voices, but also to lift up the voices of others,”

– SARAH FISCHER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Black and Latino Family Network (BLFN) Coordinators Ki Keys, Rhonda Wyche, Margaret Isa Butler, Kathy Baker, Raquel Miller Henry, Director of Equity and Inclusion Rochelle Outlaw Edwards and Abisola Oshuntolu at the BLFN kickoff meeting

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER

Throughout the school year, Newark Academy’s state of the art science facilities and equipment empower students to explore topics in STEM but these explorations are not limited to the NA classroom. With the help of STEM Coordinator Charles Crosby, students have discovered opportunities to engage in cutting edge research with pro fessional scientists in university and corporate laboratories.

JULIA LI ’23 Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics

Julia spent six weeks at the Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA), taking classes and working on a research project at the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium, where she analyzed the orbit, behavior and composition of a minor planet

Research responsibilities:

n Learned how to use the observatory’s telescopes to track the position of a minor planet in the sky

n Studied advanced topics in astrophysics, such as the derivation of orbital elements, the Laplace Transform Method and numerical integration

n Applied astrophysics knowledge to code an ephemeris generator, genetic algorithm and orbit model

This past summer, Julia Li ’23, Siyona Bordia ’25, Pamela Davidson ’23, and Andrea Yan ’23, participated in intensive STEM programs pursuing the study of topics ranging from bone homeostasis and the composition of minor planets to the genetics of cancer.

SIYONA BORDIA ’25 BOLD Initiative

With a passion for genetics and life sciences, Siyona decided to attend the week long BioCONECT Oncology Leadership Development (BOLD) Initiative this past July, a

n Processed and submitted data to the Minor Planet Center at Harvard University

“I was able to meet some incredible people at YSPA who came from all over the country,” Julia says. “They were smart and accomplished, and just as excited about math and astrophysics as I was I learned so much by conversing with the people at YSPA, both about physics and beyond ”

pre college program at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey During the program, Siyona analyzed the genetics of cancer, participated in sim ulation labs and case studies, listened to speakers from the Rutgers Institute, and met many health care workers in a variety of different fields

“My favorite part of the experience was forming a connec tion with my fellow peers and teachers,” Siyona says “In fact, I met some of my closest friends and mentors at BOLD There truly is something unique about connecting with someone over a common passion.”

Julia Li ’23

Siyona Bordia ’25

Pamela Davidson ’23

PAMELA DAVIDSON ’23

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Medical Center

With an interest in pursuing neuroscience in college, Pamela asked STEM Coordinator Charles Crosby if he could connect her with anyone in the field New Academy alumnus Dr. Pinakin Jethwa ’98 answered the call and enthusiastica took Pamela on as an intern at the Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Medical Center for the past two summers During this opportunity, Pamela was able to observe several brain surgeries and procedures and shadow Pinakin through postoperative care

“It was truly eye opening to see how everything works and the extent to which technology is used during surgery,” Pamela says “Technology has been created to view and control so many different areas of medicine that I had no idea even existed ”

Pamela, who is also an impressive violinist, connects her passion for arts and neuroscience through an organization she founded called Music To Your Ears. With a deep interest in how music can affect the brain, reduce stress and affect your mood, Pamela uses Music To Your Ears to organize concerts alongside other NA students at local assisted living facilities See more about her musical achievements on page 43

ANDREA YAN ’23 Simons Summer Research Program

After an extensive application process, Andrea was one of 43 high school students chosen from more than 600 applicants to participate in the prestigious five week Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University In constant consultation with Ph D candidates and undergraduates, Andrea worked in the Department of Orthopedics on an ongoing NASA funded study evaluating

the effects of differential microgravity on bone homeostasis. The purpose of the study was to better understand the skele tal impact of extensive periods of space travel Research responsibilities:

n Suspended rats in four different microgravities to mimic conditions on Earth (1 g), Mars (⅓ g), the Moon (⅙ g), and at 0g

n Harvested and evaluated rat tibia under a microscope after a 30 day suspension test

n Quantified osteocytes (a type of bone cell) and bone area with the online software Fiji ImageJ

n Evaluated the effects of microgravity variations on the functions of these bone cells, which are crucial to bone homeostasis

“By working on a study that was dealing with bone, I developed a strong understanding of bone terminology, structure and the functions of bone cells,” Andrea says.

“I was also able to learn how to analyze scientific literature with a goal of presenting and critiquing it in front of team members ”

Andrea Yan ’23

Pamela ’23

Pamela Davidson ’23 with Dr. Pinakin Jethwa ’98

CHEERS TO 47 YEARS!

Dr. Anthony Ungaro Retires After an Unparalleled Teaching Career

By Robert K Mallalieu, Former Director of Library Media Services and Summer Session

Ask Dr. Anthony “Tony” Ungaro what he loves, and he will give you a two part answer: “I love math; but even more, I love teaching math!” Those two loves served as the foundation for a stellar 47 year teaching career at Newark Academy one that he retired from at the end of the 2021 2022 school year. I sat down with Tony to reflect on his career and get a glimpse into where those loves will lead him next.

Q: How and when did your love for math begin?

Tony: My earliest recollection was when I was five years old I was born in Cerignola, Italy, and I was at church The mass was in Latin and I had no idea what the priest was saying, so I started counting. After reaching 1,000, I realized that numbers never end; they are infinite! I had this sense of connecting God and math because both are infinite I realized then how special math is.

Q: You mention your love of teaching math; when and how did that take shape?

Tony: When I was in fifth grade, the teacher was doing a long division problem The kids were not getting it, and because I understood it, the teacher asked me to help the stu dents. I was thrilled! In 10th grade, I was good at geometry, so the teacher asked me to actually teach a class. And in college, I was one of the leaders in a calculus study group A few years later, after leaving a Ph.D. program that conflicted with my desire for family life, I faced the decision of what to do next Then, one morning, I came

M. Austin Head of School

Dr Tony Ungaro’s remarkable career at Newark Academy exemplifies commitment, loyalty and excellence In the classroom, over nearly five decades, he brought to his students clear teaching and shared his love of mathematics In his annual Fibonacci presentations to the whole school, Tony brilliantly and playfully unveiled the beauty of mathematics all around us, in nature, in images, in our everyday life Like the artist that he is, he helped us to see more clearly Over his many years at Newark Academy, Tony was an effective coach, a caring advisor and an engaged colleague His passion for photography, his pride in his family, and above all his devotion to teaching leave a lasting legacy. We are all grateful for his service to the school and wish him the best for retirement

Robert “Bob” Mallalieu and Tony Ungaro

R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M

Donald

to a red light and saw a young girl entering the crosswalk swinging a red lunch box; for me, this was a sign from God telling me that I was to work with students teaching math

Q: How did you end up at Newark Academy?

Tony: I applied to Newark Academy because there was an opening to teach Middle School math. In my interview, Headmaster E Standish Bradford looked over my paperwork and asked me one question: “Can you coach soccer?” Though I never played soccer, I said, “Yes, I can!” He said, “You’re hired!” I coached for seven years without a losing season. Eventually, openings occurred in the Upper School and I moved to that level

Q: Why did you choose to stay at NA for the entirety of your career?

Tony: I came to America with my parents and my sister; all of my relatives are still in Italy. Newark Academy was a family for me; it was a home. Early on, colleagues were very welcoming, especially members of the Math Department.

R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M

Sydney Fullilove ’23

I took calculus with Dr. Ungaro dur ing my senior year at NA. I generally do not see myself as someone who is good at or confident in math, but with his help, I was able to excel in his class He set me up with a tutor and spent extra time helping me grasp the material. Even with the uncertainty that came with the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, he provided the guidance that we all needed to finish the year strong

Q: Looking back, what moments or achievements are particularly meaningful to you during your time at NA?

Tony: Teaching every math course from grades 6 12 helped me see how topics were linked and what needed to be covered for students to be successful at the next level. Of course, the annual

R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M

Pegeen

Galvin

Director of

Upper School Student Life

How do you capture 47 years of such excellence and such kindness? How do you acknowledge all of the wildly successful presentations on arcane subjects that Tony made accessible, entertaining, fascinating and funny? He has made Fibonacci an NA household name, a conversation topic in classes, at lunch tables, even dinner tables At the end of the day, however, it isn’t really about the tenure of 47 years, however impressive It’s about the power of one person one prime mover one teacher’s power in the lives of students individually and collectively In Tony, it’s about his singular dedication to responsibility, his singular dedication to the beauty and creativity in the study of mathematics, and his singular dedication to teaching, learning and sharing Thank you, Tony for being an amazing teacher and colleague for 9,031 blessedly lucky prime days!

The Ungaro family vacation on Lake Michigan saw Tony and his wife Patricia, their four children James Ungaro ’00, John Ungaro ’96, Kathryn Sverchek ’02, and Christina Schreiber ’97 (all NA grads) with their spouses, and 14 grandchildren showing their NA spirit in red and black.

R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M

Bill Blaskopf Former Mathematics Faculty

In the spring of 1975, as Math Department Chair, I was informed by then Headmaster E Standish Bradford that since we needed to fill an opening in the Math Department and also needed a soccer coach, I had to fill the math position with someone who could coach soccer That person was Tony Ungaro Not only did Tony coach soccer, but he also ended up helping to coach fencing and several other sports during his years at NA.

Among Tony’s many contributions to NA is an idea he brought back from a conference to have all geometry students learn to keep a record book of all the definitions, theorems and postulates a legacy that still persists today

Tony’s NA career overlapped with 39 years of mine He was always the perfect colleague whose main interest was his students and how to make their experience better. I believe that his drive to be the best teacher he could be also influenced me to always try harder. I know that NA will miss having Tony around every day. I know that I miss seeing him

Fibonacci presentations and poetry contest were a highlight where I tried to show in an educational and humor ous way that math is everywhere around us. It was rewarding to see the students respond so enthusiastically, many times even before I reached the lectern! It was a great opportunity to share my love of mathematics and art I was grateful for the support that I

received from NA when I was going for my doctorate, and it was special to have my four children attend NA Finally, I was quite overwhelmed with the clap out as I exited my classroom for the very last time Members of my family were there, and some of my relatives in Italy have watched it I’m a small town local hero!

Q: What do you feel is your lasting legacy at NA?

Tony: I believe my legacy is my love for teaching math to young people When people ask me what I do and I tell them I teach math, they roll their eyes and tell me they could never do math That is an opportunity for me to say: “You can do math; let me show you!”

Q: So, what’s next for you?

Together with a handful of NA pupils, I was privileged to participate in Dr Ungaro’s final class, concluding his 47 years of teaching at NA His love of photography enabled him to see things from a different lens For example, his recommendation that I pursue a career that I not only love, but am good at His focus on always striving to attain excellence made his class challenging, yet exhilarating. His classes were chock full of life lessons hidden under equations for those who could decipher their meaning His love for the Fibonacci sequence showed me that everything in life is the sum of previous hard work and dedication, the way that every number in the Fibonacci sequence is the sum of the preceding two numbers Knowing him, he has embraced this new chapter of his life, where his family, traveling and photography are now in the foreground. Le auguro tutto il meglio e buona fortuna!

Tony: Knowing this day would come, I started looking around in my home town of Rutherford, which is a college town I’m now an adjunct professor, teaching a college algebra course at Felician University And the commute? I can either walk for 10 minutes or ride my bike for five

Who knows? Dr. Anthony Ungaro, lover of mathematics and teaching students, may even get to his next class before he can count to 1,000.

R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M

Leon Sarkissian ’25

Leon Sarkissian ’25 and Tony Ungaro.

Left: Tony and his final Algebra 2 Trigonometry Honors class.

Below: Newark Academy faculty and staff send off Tony Ungaro with a special salute during the annual end of the year BBQ.

Dr. Ungaro’s Clap Out

As part of a long held tradition, the Newark Academy community “claps out” long serving faculty and staff upon their retirement from the school.

Scan the QR code to watch our clap out for Dr. Ungaro after teaching his final class at NA.

WAT C H !

MEET DR. CATHY ATWELL:

NA’s New Upper School Principal

In July 2022, Newark Academy welcomed Dr Catherine “Cathy” Atwell as the school’s new Upper School principal Prior to joining NA, Cathy taught and served in a variety of administrative capacities at the Marlborough School in Los Angeles, including dean of student research and head of the school’s Honors Research in Humanities and Social Sciences program. In 2018, she was recognized by Honored, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spotlighting the roles teachers play in transforming students’ lives. Cathy graduated from Dartmouth College, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in Russian area studies. She earned an M.A. in history from Stanford University, conducting archival research in Russia for approximately 18 months. In 2018, she completed her doctorate in International Education at the University of Southern California, writing her dissertation on the benefits of implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program for critical thinking instruction in humanities and social studies in Saudi Arabia

Q: How are you and your pets adjusting to your cross country move so far?

Cathy: My cat, PG, and my dog, UB, are rescues and best friends. They have adapted surprisingly well to our epic move, given the lengthy road trip to New Jersey from Los Angeles and then having lived in three different places during the past few months, including an Airbnb, Residence Inn and now our new home in Montclair. Despite being middle aged, they have been able to go with the flow in a way that I never expected, so I'm taking their response to the move as my own inspiration It turns out that you can actually teach an old dog and an old cat new tricks So, whatever gets thrown at me, I also just embrace and roll with it.

Q: Why do you believe that traveling is an important form of education?

Q: Why did you choose to join Newark Academy?

Cathy: When I interviewed, I could tell right away that the students and faculty are outstanding and share a commitment to Newark Academy as a community where growth and learning come first One of the things that attracted me initially to Newark Academy was the school’s focus on “reimagining rigor ” To me that signals a commitment to holistically rethink ing all the ways that education can be both intellectually exciting and challenging, and still respond to and incorporate broader societal concerns and priorities as we evolve A rigorous academic experience does not have to be one that feels as though it is fossilized in amber It can be dynamic, fun and interdisciplinary, including integrating the curricular and co curricular aspects of school life We can enliven the day to day experience of

school while still respecting and honor ing the process of learning I very much appreciate that aspect of the school’s ethos There is enormous respect for learning at Newark Academy, and I would never want to let go of that part of the school’s tradition

Cathy: I grew up traveling with my family and experiencing other cultures as an integral part of my learning and life experience. My first language as a very small child was Swahili, second language was Kikuyu and third lan guage was English. When I was 16 years old, I went on my own month long

Upper School Principal Dr. Cathy Atwell rides a bull at NA’s 2022 Homecoming.

immersion experience to Spain, where I independently joined a language pro gram at the University of Salamanca and afterwards traveled around the southern region Since then, I have spent extended periods of time in Russia, twice as an undergraduate and once for academic research in graduate school. I’ve also lived in the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Additionally, when I learned to scuba dive, it opened up a whole new world of traveling for me As a humanities teacher at heart, every trip becomes an opportunity to deepen my own understanding of another coun try’s history, culture, economy and political system, and I have loved thinking about how to translate that learning into the classroom

Needless to say, the global mindedness of Newark Academy really resonated and drew me to the school I noticed all the flags in the entry right away, the diverse composition of the student body, and was impressed that the majority of seniors take at least one IB course Through my dissertation and teaching experiences, I know the critical thinking skills and personal development that come from exploring

diverse cultures and perspectives, which is a foundational element of the IB program I am glad to know that through the IB program, as well as Immersion Experiences and June Term, NA students can experience deep learning and new connections through shared experiences that are both chal lenging and enjoyable. These programs also provide an entry point into skills development through topics and content that typically fall outside the traditional academic curriculum

Q: What fun facts can you share about yourself and background?

Cathy: I have a massive scarf collection, which began with the collection of textiles during my travels. My textile collection grew exponentially when I spent eight weeks in India and Sri Lanka on a Fulbright Hays fellowship I love that scarves can be considered wearable works of art and that textile art is repre sented in every culture I also dance, ski, hike, enjoy spending time with my family and love to read One fun fact: my paternal grandparents were big cat trainers in the European circus, and my grandmother went on to join Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

This somewhat adventurous back ground has led me to think about what are appropriate and reasonable challenges in education. Our duty as educators is to look for that sweet spot in which students feel empowered to step outside their comfort zone and take reasonable risks, because they know that there is an appropriate safety net and opportunity to grow if they fail

Q: What is your vision for the Upper School student experience?

Cathy: I want every student to feel equivalently supported and challenged based on where they are, not according to some absolute standard They should take comfort in knowing that they can work at a very high level intel lectually and also take time to be a kid and not take themselves too seriously. I understand that this has a mental health connection My goal is to help NA students think of the classroom as a door into the mind and out into the larger community, where they can ultimately make an impact

Meet Dr. Atwell

Scan the QR code to meet Newark Academy’s new Upper School Principal Dr. Catherine Atwell!

WAT C H !

My goal is to help NA students think of the classroom as a door into the mind and out into the larger community, where they can ultimately make an impact.”

Dr. Cathy Atwell, Upper School Principal

Newark Academy Welcomes New Faculty & Staff

Erica Berger Associate Director of Advancement

Erica Berger is delighted to be joining Newark Academy as the new associate director of advancement For the past six years she served as the special events and develop ment manager at the Buckley School in Manhattan

Erica, a native of Delaware, graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in sociology. She lives in Jersey City with her husband, their young son, Aiden, and Bernedoodle, Cody She is excited to join the amazing NA community and to get to know the students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff!

Orville Drummond Middle School Mathematics

The son of educators, Orville Drummond was destined to be a teacher. Orville is a native of Jamaica and has been an educator for over 25 years. He holds a B.Ed. in secondary mathematics education from the University of the West Indies, an M A in secondary mathematics education from City College of New York, and a master’s in sports administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University

Orville prides himself on a keen ability to create clear and concise learning objectives, and he believes that his knowledge of innovative, appro priate and differentiated instructional methods is the prime reason his students have excelled He also has a passion for playing and coaching sports and deeply believes that children can enrich their lives through athletics

Daniel Gold – Film

Daniel Gold arrived at Newark Academy from Tampa, Florida, where he taught digital film at Tampa Preparatory School He has an M A in visual effects from the Savannah College of Arts and Design and a B.A. in film

production from Emerson College He has worked at multiple production companies, including MTV, Nike and IFC Dan also has extensive experience as a head lacrosse coach at Emerson College, Warren Wilson College and Tampa Preparatory School, and as an assistant coach at the Savannah College of Art and Design He lives with his wife, Amy, and loves taking pictures, playing lacrosse and eating New Jersey bagels

Larry Maley Middle School Humanities

Larry Maley is an experienced educator, coach, community builder and facilitator. Most recently, he taught at Speyer Legacy School in New York City and served as the school’s social emotional learning chair and boys’ basketball coach. Prior to Speyer, Larry taught humanities, history and writing in diverse com munities at schools in both Philadelphia and Phoenix, where he worked to develop cultural awareness programs He also spent two years at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, where he served as both head fourth grade teacher and a facilitator of diversity, equity and inclusion meetings for faculty and staff.

Larry has a B A in communication and media studies from the University of Pittsburgh and an M Ed from Temple University in Philadelphia In his spare time, Larry deejays corporate and private events, works with the Make The World Better foun dation to build stronger playgrounds and grow community in Philadelphia, and enjoys traveling and spending time with his family He has three children, ages 13, 10 and 8

David “Dati” Mamukelashvili Upper School English

Looking to immerse himself within a culture that values rigor, integrity and conscious thought, Dati is thrilled to be joining Newark Academy’s community this year He hopes to contribute to the school’s collective growth while fueling students’ inquisitive nature and expanding their academic horizons. Dati holds a B.A. in philosophy and art history from Bard College and previously

worked as an Upper School English teacher at the Patrick School and Blair Academy.

A man of many hobbies, Dati loves reading, discussing art, playing board games, writing, traveling, and playing sports such as skiing, soccer, basketball and tennis He also enjoys magic and drag, is a cinephile and can read Tarot cards. He hopes to work many of these pastimes into his daily life at NA and to share experiences with students who are fascinated by similar things

Victoria Montemorano Assistant Athletic Trainer

Victoria joined Newark Academy as the Assistant Athletic Trainer in August 2022. Before joining the Minutemen Athletics team, Victoria graduated with her M S in athletic training from Rowan University During that time, she worked with the university’s women’s soccer and football teams and at three different local high schools. In her free time, she enjoys working out and cooking with her family.

Haifa Nouaime Upper School Economics

Haifa joined Newark Academy’s Humanities Department as an economics teacher during the 2021 2022 school year Prior to joining NA, she taught at Montclair State University for eight years, and has also taught at Drew University and Pace University Haifa earned a B A in economics from American University of Beirut and a Ph D in economics from Rice University She speaks Arabic, French and English. During her free time, Haifa gardens and plays the piano, often with the help of her cats, Mitzi and Milo She is very happy to be part of NA’s vibrant and supportive community

After retiring from the Sheriff’s Office, he worked briefly with Global Mark Security before coming to Newark Academy He currently resides in Livingston and has two children, Matthew and Kayla, both enrolled in college He feels very fortunate to have become a member of the Newark Academy family!

Jennifer Rusek –Advancement Services Associate

Jennifer first joined Newark Academy in the summer of 2005 as the Director of Advancement Services After 11 years at NA, Jennifer left to help raise her children, Savannah and Avery. Jennifer is delighted to come back to the Office of Institutional Advancement on a part time basis to work with Barbara Sine, NA’s Director of Advancement Services, as well as to assist the Advancement team with the upcoming 250th Celebration We are delighted to have welcomed Jennifer back!

Russell Smith –Upper School Science

Kurt Paster Director of Security

Born in Atlanta, Ga and raised in Basking Ridge, NJ, Kurt served Active Duty in The United States Army for four years Kurt went on to attend Providence College and ultimately serve 25 years with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Russell Smith joined Newark Academy as an Upper School physics and chemistry teacher He attended St Anthony’s High School on Long Island and graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S in secondary education (with a concentration in earth and space science) and an M Eng in environmental engineering Russell has previously taught Upper School science at Ranney School, the Berkeley Carroll School, Salisbury School and Sachem North High School. He has also worked as the senior environmental engineer and director of compliance for Clarity Water Technologies, a water treatment company servicing the northeastern United States Russell chose NA for the school’s long standing commitment to academics, integrity and community, and he looks forward to being a part of the school for many years to come.

New Faculty & Staff

H E R E @ N A

Valentina Vega

Upper School Mathematics

Valentina received her M S and Ph D in mathematics from Texas A&M University. She began her professional academic career in 2011 at William Paterson University as an associate professor of mathematics until 2021 Originally from Uruguay, Valentina speaks Spanish and enjoys running half marathons

Danny Viola – Technical Theater Director

Danny joins the Newark Academy community from the world of behind the scenes work in theater and film. Over the past decade, he has dedicated most of his time to working with non profit professional theater companies in the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania areas, as well as local amateur theater companies He has previously worked as a technical director at Ethical Culture Fieldston School and Bernards High School, and as a music director and technical assistant at Warren County Technical School Danny has a B A in fine arts theater from Rider University He is looking forward to shar ing his knowledge and passion for everything theatrical

Role Changes

Dr. Richard DiBianca, after serving as upper school principal for 24 years, is returning to the classroom full time

Tessa Ferentinos, formerly Athletics staff, will return to NA as a teaching assistant for the 2022 23 school year

Pegeen Galvin-Scott’s title has been updated to the director of Upper School student life and Kristin Duszak Russo is now the associate director of Upper School student life In these roles, both Pegeen and Kristin support the passions and activities of individual students and student groups

DOCTOR DelRusso!

Congratulations to health and physical education teacher Tara DelRusso for earning a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Elizabeth University Tara successfully defended her dissertation, Incorporating Mindfulness in a High Performing Independent School, to earn her Ed D

“I have always valued education it’s something that is yours,” says Tara “As a teacher, wife and mom of three, this was an important accomplishment for me I want to provide the example that if you really want something, just go for it! That’s exactly what I did, with a lot of support ”

Austin Mease, formerly the assistant athletic trainer, has been named the head athletic trainer for Minutemen Athletics

Lisa Mulligan has been promoted to senior director of advancement annual giving Evan Nisenson will take on new responsibilities within the Advancement Office as the director of alumni relations and giving

Nina Shirey has been named Newark Academy’s first sports information director In her new role, Nina will lead all athletic communications and digital marketing strategies to promote and celebrate Minutemen Athletics

Alexis Sommers has been named director of admission and financial aid and will oversee all aspects of the admission and financial aid processes, as well as the day to day operations of the department Keith Fischer will serve as the director of enrollment management, focusing on setting and achieving the school’s strategic enrollment plan.

E X C E L L E N C E

B E Y O N D T H E

C L A S S R O O M E X C E L L E N C E B E Y O N D T H E C L A S S R O O M A r t s & A t h l e t i c s

Newark Academy students excelled beyond the confines of their classrooms during the 2021 22 school year reaching historic milestones in the athletics program and continuing dominance and success within the arts program NA’s jazz band, Chameleon, landed its sixth straight invitation to the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival, a spot on Good Morning America and an 11th straight New Jersey Association for Jazz Education title. Meanwhile, Minutemen Athletics posted a banner year with eight teams earning state championships (three for the first time in program history), two final Tournament of Champions wins and a slew of county and conference accolades.

These impressive successes are the direct result of students finding ways to thrive together and individually through creativity, collaboration and character development hallmarks of an NA education. LUMEN sat down with students, faculty and coaches to explore the arts and athletic excellence that continuously occurs beyond the classroom. ›››

A R T S A R T S

N

By Andrea Dawson I Photos by James Worrell

On the morning of February 23, 2022, the 25 members of Newark Academy’s nation ally acclaimed jazz band, Chameleon, were huddled, pin drop quiet, around an iPhone in their familiar rehearsal room They strained to hear an announcer reading off the 15 schools nationwide out of 89 applicants that had been accepted to the “Super Bowl of high school jazz festivals,” Essentially Ellington WAT C H T H E A N N O U N C E M E N T !

A Ta k e s o n L i n c o l n C e n t e r : T h r e e D a y s , O n e A w a r d - W i n n i n g J a z z B a n d , a n d a F i n a l , M a g i c a l P e r f o r m a n c e w i t h W y n t o n M a r s a l i s

Among many other honors, the group had already claimed 10 straight state titles at the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education (NJAJE) State Festival, and were about to nail their 11th. Landing an invitation to EE, as Essentially Ellington is affectionately abbreviated, is the height of jazz band achievement

With the words “Newark Academy,” the room erupted in shouts of joy, with many vigorous embraces and back slaps Shouting as enthusiasti cally as the kids was the band’s direc tor, Julius Tolentino, who joined Newark Academy in 2007, when the group barely knew what Essentially Ellington was Not long into his tenure, Julius took his students to the festival as spectators, wanting to give them something to shoot for They spent the next four years diligently submitting recordings but didn’t make the final 15 until 2012.

February’s announcement was Chameleon’s sixth acceptance, a remarkable accomplishment for such a prestigious event

“Earning a spot on Chameleon was one of the happiest days of my life,” recalls tenor saxophonist and recent graduate Skywalker Li ’22, who began idolizing NA’s most competitive band in the sixth grade “Hearing that we were named Essentially Ellington finalists trumped that ”

A little over two months later after a last minute detour to the set of Good

Morning America, where a few of the band members were invited to cameo an opener they landed at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “House of Swing,” Frederick P Rose Hall For the next three days, they were mentored by professional musicians, rubbed elbows with jazz great Wynton Marsalis, engaged in a high octane perform ance, and left their rightful mark on the premier event.

Read on for highlights of the festival and reflections from Skywalker as well as trombonist Vanessa Fang ’24

DAY 1

The Cheer Tunnel: For a kick off festival favorite, Jazz at Lincoln Center staff line Rose Hall as students from all 15 finalist schools from Miami to Seattle, Raleigh to Plano, and even NA’s next door neighbor, Montclair barrel through, waving school banners and streamers in a boisterous wel come. Next, they assemble in Rose

Evan

Vanessa Fang ’24 Skywalker

Theater for a Q&A and open rehearsal with Marsalis, the leader of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO)

“It was a great way to start the whole festival, as it got all of us pumped and excited,” says Skywalker “All the bands were so friendly to one another. Our shared love for jazz was stronger than the fact that we were competitors That camaraderie among bands is what makes Ellington so special ” Masterclass: Grouped by their instru ments, NA students receive feedback and learn techniques from a JLCO member during a professional clinic

Jazz trumpeter Marcus Printup, who spent a day with Chameleon on NA’s campus several weeks earlier to help them prepare for EE, mentors the trumpet section

“Something he told us was that whenever he feels nervous, he tells himself to play for the people he loves,” Skywalker says “When you play for those you love and ignore everyone else, you express your grati tude to them through the music, so all your nerves disappear It becomes something more than just winning a competition It’s about demonstrating your appreciation ”

In 2011, I participated in the Band Director Academy, a summer program that Essentially Ellington hosts. It made me change my approach I really worked to create a culture of listening here at NA, a culture around the music.”

Evening Banquet: Grouped again by instrument, nearly 400 total students are treated to a memorable meal in The Appel Room, with a dramatic view of the Manhattan skyline, followed by a jam session

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to branch out and meet musicians from other schools,” says Vanessa “I still talk to some of the people from my dinner table During the jam sessions, I heard so many more people play and improvise than I would have if I had only heard the performances in the competition ”

DAY 2

The Competition Begins: NA students listen intently as the first eight high school bands hit the stage, all playing Duke Ellington’s music, including some pieces never before performed Standing ovations are frequent

NA Chameleon Jazz Band featured in Jersey Jazz, May 2022.

Julius Tolentino, Jazz Band Director

Vocalist Yasmeena Sharif ’23

Night on the Town: Taking full advan tage of their time in New York City, Julius and his band members visit Chelsea Piers for laser tag. Back at the hotel, the girls, who were upgraded to a suite much to their delight and the boys’ chagrin invite everyone over for a game of cards

A R T S @ N A

DAY 3

Taking the Stage: As NA takes its turn in the competition, Chameleon remains calm and focused The lineup: Ellington’s “Concerto for Cootie” and Count Basie’s “Good Morning Blues,”

followed by “Magnolias Dripping with Molasses,” also by Ellington.

Final Exhibition Concert: All students reassemble in Rose Theater, mesmer ized, as they watch the top three bands play Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra unleash a final, rous ing performance, after which Marsalis announces the order of the top three schools. While NA doesn’t earn top honors, they take home numerous other awards and a lifetime of memories (See page 36 )

“Once I got on stage, I felt a huge adrenaline rush While I was extremely honored to be playing in front of renowned musicians such as Wynton Marsalis and Chris Crenshaw, it felt more as if we were playing in an inti mate venue, or even just playing for each other It was the most fun I have ever had at a performance. I felt so connected to the other band members, and so proud ” Vanessa Fang ’24

“It was a dream come true for me My entire music career at NA was driven by the desire to play in Rose Theater in front of Wynton Marsalis, and to be able to finally do that was amazing I had spent the last seven years watching other bands play bands I thought were out of this world and now I was on the same stage as them and everyone was listening to us ” Skywalker Li ’22

During the one song that I did not play, ‘Magnolias Dripping with Molasses,’ I just sat and basked in the moment I was so proud of our band and how far we had come.”

“We worked so hard towards this moment I told the students, no matter what, you’re already winners. But this year, I thought we had one of our best performances ever ” Julius Tolentino, Jazz Band Director

The Newark Academy student orchestra, conducted by Jack Bender, earned a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Nomination for its performance in the NA Theater musical production of Mamma Mia!

RISING STAR Nomination!

Skywalker Li ’22

2022 ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON Awards

Outstanding Drums Ben Schwartz ’24

Outstanding Alto Saxophone Noah Chirnomas ’22

Outstanding Tenor Saxophone Ethan Lee ’22

Outstanding Piano Ben Collins Siegel ’25

Outstanding Trumpet Sid Chalasani ’22

Outstanding Bass Ben Collins Siegel ’25

Honorable Mention Piano Marshall Graves ’23

Chameleon Accolades

Essentially Ellington Festival Finalists: 2012, 2015, 2017 (Honorable Mention), 2018 (second place), 2019, 2022

First place, New Jersey Association for Jazz Education (NJAJE) State Festival, annually 2011 22

First place, Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, 2018

Wynton Marsalis and Nikhil Kumra ’22

First place, Charles Mingus Festival, 2014, 2015

Good Morning America appearance, May 6, 2022

Scan the QR code to watch Chameleon performing Count Basie’s “Good Morning Blues” at the 2022 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz festival.

Chameleon at the 2022 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival.

Chameleon Outstanding Rhythm Section and Outstanding Trumpet Section awards, in addition to the following individual accolades:

24 NA Students Earn Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards

The Scholastic Awards is the nation’s longest running recognition program for students in Grades 7 through 12 for creativity and excellence in various categories of arts and writing. Two artists, Olivia Dai ’26 and Kaya Patel ’22, earned recognition for their art pieces Olivia earned two Gold Keys and one Silver Key over three pieces and Kaya received a Silver Key and Honorable Mention Twenty two Newark ademy students were recognized for their writing in arious categories:

Writing Awards

G O L D K E Y

Marina Chernin ’23

Jessie Luo ’22

Kieri Keys ’24 (2)

Elliot Kung ’25

Yasmeena Shareef ’23

Rebecca Shan ’23

Ambika Sharma ’24

S I L V E R K E Y

Dina Drogin ’23

Skywalker Li ’22

Olivia Palker ’24 (2)

Neil Pandey ’24

Pranay Maddali ’23

Lauren Siegel ’23

Lily Sternlieb ’24

H O N O R A B L E M E N T I O N

Rahul Arora ’23

Siyona Bordia ’25 (2)

Marina Chernin ’23

Navyaa Jain ’23

Meghan Lai ’24

Svanfridur Mura ’24 (2)

Olivia Palker ’24

Ashna Shah ’23 (2)

Andrea Yan ’23

Brian Yun ’24

“Old Woman” by Olivia Dai ’26 is honored with a Gold Key Award.

Olivia Dai ’26 Dai ’26

Dancing Through Life: Nick DiNicolangelo ’97

By Evan Nisenson ’99

Ask any student or faculty member who was at Newark Academy during the late ’90s to recall memorable Morning Meetings and they will likely mention the dazzling dance routines of Nick DiNicolangelo ’97. With each strike of his heel, his rhythms wowed and energized the audience as he moved across the auditorium stage.

Nick’s love of dance began many years before he tapped on the NA stage and through NA’s halls Obsessed with Michael Jackson at the age of 3, he would move to the beats of “Thriller” and other hits, wearing costumes including a replica of MJ’s signature glove crafted by his grandmother Nick’s mother recognized his gift and signed him up for dance classes to nurture his passion. The rest, as they say, is history.

Nick’s talent has led him to a career of over two decades as one of the country’s most in demand tap choreographers He was a charter member and captain of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble, an original member of Mike Minery’s Tapaholics, and has been on the Adrenaline Dance national tour faculty Nick’s own summer tap intensive, Syn co pate, brings together many of the most talented tap dancers in the nation and features performances from his own tap company, Hands Down Tap Project, which is slated to celebrate its 10th anniversary next summer

With that celebration coming on the heels of his recent 25th NA Reunion, the high spirited hoofer was prompted to pause and reflect “When you get to my age, your eyes open and you realize the importance of things that happened in the past and how they come into play today,” Nick says “Even 25 years later, I’m still referencing things from NA and leaning on things I learned as a student there ”

Even 25 years later, I’m still referencing things from NA and leaning on things I learned as a student there.”

Nick DiNicolangelo ’97

He had a great effect on other students and paved a pathway that made it easier for male students to study dance. He inspired and influenced many other students to try dance and was an asset in developing the dance program at Newark Academy.”

In addition to being a dancer, Nick was also a skilled wrestler at NA under the late Coach Wayne Schiele. “My time wrestling and seeing how much I had to put my body through for the sport showed me that, if I wanted to be a professional dancer, I had to translate that same type of physical training to dance,” Nick says. “Coach Schiele cre ated a small community and a sense of team where we all had a role and we had to work together and remain positive. The respect that he showed for my thoughts and ideas on how to achieve a goal really translates a lot into what I do now, working as part of a team ”

And just as Coach Schiele was a mentor to Nick, today Nick is mentor to numerous young dancers “Any time these young dancers hit the stage and I see people cheering for them or crying when they perform, seeing them turning into artists and evoking emotion in people when they dance on a stage, I never take that for granted,” he says “Whenever I see that moment when they are being appreciated for doing something they love, I feel a great sense of pride ”

Nick’s mentoring and expertise have allowed him to come full circle, to the benefit of recent NA students

He returned to NA in 2010 to perform a solo piece in the concert celebrating the NA Dance Program’s 15th anniversary, and he gave tap master classes in 2017 to Yvette Luxenberg’s Advanced/IB and Intermediate Dance students

“‘Nick DiNick’, as we called him, was a student with great talent that many looked up to,” says Ann Marie Keane, his former NA dance teacher “He had a great effect on other students and paved a pathway that made it easier for male students to study dance He inspired and influenced many other students to try dance and was an asset

A R T S @ N A

FIVE FOXY Nominations!

in developing the dance program at Newark Academy

”

Following in the footsteps of his own NA mentors, Nick instills in all students who have the opportunity to learn from him a great love for dancing, performing, and working together as a team His advice to alums who want to give back is, “Try to do so sooner and don’t be intimidated ” Nick continues to realize NA’s mission on a daily basis and for that, he deserves a standing ovation

Newark Academy’s theater arts program garnered five nominations in four categories from Montclair State University’s Theatre Night FOXY Awards for its fall drama production of The Curious Savage NA Theater earned nomi nations for Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Overall Production and Outstanding Performance by an Acting Ensemble Arwen Schnieders Smith ’22 and Meredith Janay ’22 were both nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress. The Theatre Night Awards recognize excellence in the production of high school and middle school plays throughout New Jersey.

Ann Marie Keane, Nick’s former NA dance teacher

MIDDLE SCHOOLER ANGELA HUANG ’27 Illustrates Two Books Covers

Eighth grader Angela Huang ’27 has always spent most of her free time drawing. Eventually, she began researching other artists online and found free programs that introduced her to digital art.

Now, Angela is a proficient animator and artist, and has already illustrated two book covers Renee M Kenny’s The Tales of Northborough and Northborough Academy Angela met Kenny a few years back at an arts and crafts summer camp When Kenny was in need of cover art for new books, she thought of Angela for the job

“I love stories created with art Comics, movies, storybooks I strongly admire creators who put effort into creating them,” Angela says “One day, I desire to create a story worthy of swaying the heart, even if by a little I want to create a world that is able to suck in the audience and characters people can feel close to That dream is what keeps me looking forward to tomorrow.”

Scan the QR code to check out the incredible animation video Angela created for the Middle School literary magazine Arsenic Lobster

A R T S @ N A

FIRST PLACE at Carnegie Hall!

Pamela Davidson ’23 took first place at the Elite International Music Competition in Carnegie Hall for the second year in a row on April 26, 2022 She performed Pablo de Sarasate’s “Introduction and Tarantella” on the violin, accompanied on the piano by NA Orchestra Director Oliver Hagen

Upcoming ARTS EVENTS

IB/Advanced Student

Art Reception

December 7, 2022

2:30 p m

Teiger Gallery for the Studio Arts

Dance Concert

December 10, 2022

7:30 p m

Coraci Performance Hall

Winter Choral Concert

December 11, 2022

3:30 p.m.

Coraci Performance Hall

Middle School

Drama 7 Performance

December 12, 2022

7 p.m.

Lautenberg “Black Box” Theater

Sixth Grade Works in Progress, Instrumental and Choral Concert

December 15, 2022

4:30 p m

Coraci Performance Hall

Winter Instrumental Concert January 12, 2023

7:30 p.m.

Coraci Performance Hall

By

Andrea Dawson

spring at the Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, NJ, the top golf teams in the state face off at the Blue Devil Invitational. Newark Academy is often invited,

Varsity boys’ golf wins the 2021 22 Tournament of Champions.

But on a chilly, windy day early this past spring “brutal” in Robin’s words the boys’ team defeated perennial favorites Bergen Catholic, Delbarton and Wall to capture the Blue Devil trophy, and they went on to secure gold at the NJSIAA Non Public B State Tournament Next, they prevailed over even the largest and top public schools in the state to win the Tournament of Champions, the program’s first ever such achieve ment. Capping their star studded season: NJ com Golf Team of the Year honors

“It’s all kind of a blur,” Robin says “It was a phenomenal season.”

As it turns out, seven yes, seven other Newark Academy teams had similarly phenomenal seasons during the 2021 22 school year, each culmi nating in a coveted state title, including three for the first time in their pro gram’s history These successes come on the heels of a recent initiative set by the Board of Trustees to assess and recommit to athletic excellence and eight state victories in a single academic year is a significant feat

How did NA do it? And what does the future hold? Below, a peek at the

strategic efforts, many years in the making, that are leading NA to success not just in the classrooms, but on the fields, on the courts and in the pool

SETTING GREATER EXPECTATIONS

For years, tennis has been the strong hold of NA’s athletic program, with the program’s success celebrated and, to a large extent, anticipated “We’re making an intentional and systematic effort to improve all teams, including those who have been successful in the past,” explains Associate Athletic Director Liz Bona Beach

That investment is paying off To cite just a few highlights, varsity volleyball as well as both varsity boys’ and girls’ swimming clinched state titles for the very first time during the 2021 22

school year Varsity boys’ fencing defeated number one seeded Ridge to take the state title; varsity girls’ tennis took home its first Non Public B state championship since 2017; and varsity boys’ cross country ran to its fourth straight crown Varsity boys’ tennis repeated its undefeated season from 2020 2021, triumphing in all 24 matches, securing a Tournament of Champions win for the second straight year, and garnering NJ com Team of the Year honors All of these teams’ triumphs are a result, in part, of a slow and steady programmatic build, in which success breeds success.

When Billy Blomn, head coach of varsity boys’ and girls’ swimming and a health and physical education teacher at Newark Academy arrived at the school in 1999, around 15 kids, by his estimation, took part in the entire co ed swimming program Only a handful were club and YMCA swim mers, typically the engines of a swim team Now, as the coach of separate boys’ and girls’ teams, Billy has a total roster of more than 60 “It shows how the program has grown and improved,” he says “We’re getting more club swimmers from a wider area Prospective students are seeing NA as a place that has a great swim program, and they want to come.”

Assistant Athletic Director for Middle School Sports Bella Galvez, who begins her seventh season as head coach of

Varsity girls’ tennis wins the 2021 2022 Non Public B State Championship.

I think we are just starting to create a legacy and make our name known around the NJ swimming world, and I am looking forward at what’s to come.”

William Crall ’23, Boys’ Swimming

the varsity volleyball team, also notices a difference “When I first started coaching, I had one or two girls playing club who would carry the team, but for the most part, volleyball just wasn’t a focus for students,” she says By fostering an increased level of excitement and commitment among her players, and as more girls began playing club volleyball during the off season, Bella found that the integrity of the program as a whole improved “Last season was our best by far On any given day, at every position, I had someone who could take over.”

ENGAGING STUDENTATHLETES OF ALL LEVELS

Last season, for the first time, six girls who had spent time on the JV volleyball team competed in the varsity lineup. Their contribution, according to Bella, was essential to the team’s success. “Before, if you had any idea what you were doing, even as a freshman, you’d make the varsity team Now, you really have to know the game to make varsity; there’s more incentive to work hard.”

With increased excitement and partic ipation in NA Athletics, many teams that could never before fill a JV roster now can Seven of the 25 varsity teams now offer a JV program Being able to train and mold athletes early on raises the profile of a team and sets a stronger course for its future success. JV programs also provide an essential space for burgeoning student athletes to not only grow in their sport but feel included, thereby helping to build team camaraderie The benefits are self reinforcing: as more students feel more engaged in their teams, interest and participation naturally flourish

IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY MINDED COACHES

While outside coaches were the norm several years ago, NA is placing more of an emphasis on hiring quality fac ulty who can also serve as quality coaches Currently, 15 of NA’s 21 varsity head coaches (some coaching more than one team) are either faculty or staff members at the school “It makes a big difference when coaches know

the kids inside and outside of the school day, when they’re engaged in and contributing to the culture of the school,” Liz explains. “We have passionate coaches who really want to get the best out of their kids ”

Aakriti Caprihan ’23, a four year var sity swimmer and field hockey player, says that Coach Blomn has supported her goals well beyond the pool, even though she hasn’t yet had him as a teacher. “He has been a major advocate within my academic life,” she says “When I was diagnosed with a concus sion, he was the first person to recog nize that I was overexerting myself He is always available as a resource and outlet, and for that I am grateful ”

Pierce Malloy ’23 who captains the boys’ cross country, winter track and field, and spring track and field teams attributes NA’s fourth consecutive cross country state title to head coach Sarah Guelich, who also serves as the school’s director of human resources Last fall, Sarah earned NJ com’s Coach of the Year honors “She is constantly

Aakriti Caprihan ’23

Varsity volleyball wins its first state title in program history.

The one moment that sums up the season was when, at the end of our state game, we all fell into a dog pile in the middle of the court. It was such a uniting moment and you could feel all the emotions of pride, relief, happiness, and team spirit so strongly.”

fencing centers in the country. In 2013, Coursen Memorial Field was upgraded to turf and a new synthetic track was installed This past summer, Kacur Field was returfed, and planning is under way to overhaul NA’s 10 tennis courts.

who come for camp might see our pool, for example, and say, ‘I want to go to school here!’”

COLLABORATING WITH ADMISSION

pushing us to work much harder in practices, and I’m not sure if the team would be at nearly the same caliber if not for her efforts,” Pierce says “Even when juggling the responsibili ties of her own two young children, she found the time to coach one of the best teams in recent years ”

INVESTING IN FACILITIES

Another factor underscoring NA’s commitment to athletic success has been methodical improvements to its athletic facilities. A 2019 revitalization of the Cetrulo Family Fencing Center added specialized flooring and strips for electronic scoring, making it one of the most state of the art high school

“When you can play all of your sports at one facility and don’t have to travel to a public park or field, that’s a big draw We’re able to host more than we travel,” says Liz Hosting competing teams brings with it a certain pride of place, not to mention home court advantage. What’s more, she adds, NA’s facilities, as sought after rentals in the summers and off season, catch the attention of those outside the school community “Younger kids

A few years ago, the Admission Office began hosting more regular Open Houses for prospective and accepted students, and head coaches were pres ent to answer questions Robin recalls standing by idly at first, waiting for students to approach her, though few did “Now, there’s more interest in golf,” she shares Beyond the Open Houses, Admission routinely connects coaches and team captains with student athletes who are applying to NA With multiple touchpoints, prospective students get their ques tions answered and have a sense of their future team even before they step foot on campus

Getting to chat on several occasions with Billy, who even invited him to attend one of the swimming team’s

Varsity boys’ fencing nabs the state title.

Pierce Malloy ’23

– Fiona Tillyer ’22, Volleyball

meets, was a compelling part of the admission process for William Crall ’23 “I quickly got a sense of the hunger on the young team and their hopes for improvement three to four years down the road,” he recalls. “Witnessing their passion and success showed me that this team was special ”

While a close partnership between Athletics and Admission inarguably elevates the institutional significance of the former, it also points to a persist ent concern among many independent schools: the desire to nurture extra curricular success while continuing to prioritize academic rigor and allow for intellectual exploration NA is proud of the balance it is achieving in support ing athletics and arts programs

In addition to swimming, Will plays the bass trombone in NA’s award winning jazz band, Chameleon, another signifi cant time commitment, and is a member of the Outdoors Club and the Green and Blue Committee Thanks to the school’s coordinated scheduling, he is able to maintain these varied commit ments “I know at the public high school in my town I would have to choose between jazz and swimming,”

he says “NA’s balance between arts and athletics is actually one of the many reasons why I came here.”

While athletics is an integral part of the NA experience, Liz explains that it’s just one of many pieces that round out a Newark Academy education. “Many of our student athletes are involved in other school activities, and we want them to be able to pursue both,” she says

FOSTERING TIES WITH ALUMNI ATHLETES

Last November, as the Minutemen took on Immaculate Conception High School in the finals of the Non Public B State Volleyball Tournament, Bella wasn’t the only one whose eyes were glued to the court Many of her former players who return to campus on occasion to visit with current players were tuning in to the livestream and sending her emoji filled texts. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the teams before us,” she says “They paved the way for our success ”

Aakriti recognizes that sense of legacy, too, which she sees ingrained in the record board that sits above the pool She enjoys connecting with the alumni who return to cheer on the team at meets For those alumni who can’t make it, the team’s active Instagram account keeps current and former

swimmers connected “We post our wins and successes of the week,” she explains. “It is always nice to see alumni commenting with their support or referencing a team joke that has been passed down ”

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

The days of bowing out of the Blue Devil Invitational are over for Robin and her team Now, she’s faced with the opposite challenge: scouting tougher competition Looking ahead to next spring, when the Tournament of Champions will no longer be con tested, she is confident the team can defend their state title.

Seth Lieberman, who joined the school community over the summer as its new director of athletics, is eager to support her, and to help all NA coaches and teams build upon their recent successes as they set even loftier goals for the future “From the moment I arrived on campus, I could see that NA’s athletic program has many strengths,” Seth says. “I’m excited to work side by side with dedicated colleagues coaches, faculty and staff in all aspects of the school to help all our student athletes reach their full potential. Given the achievements of this past school year, the Minutemen have a great deal to look forward to in the years ahead!”

I have seen first hand the amount of dedication and communication that [head coach of varsity boys’ and girls’ tennis] Coach Scerra has with incoming freshmen applying to NA It makes a huge difference in having elite student athletes join our community.”

William Crall ’23

Hilary Adelman ’23, Girls’ Tennis

A T H L E T I C S @ N A

M I N U T E M E N AT H L E T I C S C H A

In a banner year for NA Athletics, the Minutemen saw an astound ing 31 championship wins during the 2021 2022 school year. These triumphs included two Tournament of Champions titles, eight state championships, five sectional championships, two county titles, six conference championships, four Prep Tournament crowns, a district championship, and four Middle School Athletic Conference victories

Tournament of Champions

Varsity boys’ golf Varsity boys’ tennis

State Champions

Varsity boys’ cross country

Varsity girls’ tennis

Varsity girls’ volleyball

Varsity boys’ fencing

Varsity boys’ swimming Varsity girls’ swimming

Varsity boys’ golf Varsity boys’ tennis

Sectional Champions

Varsity girls’ volleyball

Varsity girls’ tennis Varsity boys’ golf Varsity boys’ tennis Varsity boys’ track and field

Essex County Champions

Varsity boys’ golf Varsity boys’ tennis

Conference Champions

Varsity girls’ soccer Varsity wrestling Varsity boys’ track and field Varsity girls’ track and field Varsity boys’ golf Varsity boys’ tennis

Prep Tournament Champions

Varsity boys’ cross country Varsity boys’ winter track and field Varsity boys’ swimming Varsity boys’ spring track and field

District Champions

Varsity boys’ fencing

Middle School Athletic Conference Champions

Middle School boys’ soccer Middle School girls’ tennis Middle School boys’ tennis Middle School baseball

Follow the Minutemen

Instagram: @NA Minutemen Twitter: @NA Minutemen Facebook: @NAMinutemen

A T H L E T I C S @ N A

Newark Academy Names First SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR

Continuing its pursuit of athletic excellence, Newark Academy has added the position of sports information director (SID) to the Minutemen Athletics staff. The SID will lead all athletic communications and digital mar keting strategies to promote and celebrate Minutemen Athletics Current NA Athletics staff member d oach Nina Shirey was named as e school’s first SID for the 2022–23 chool year.

“Having spent the last year at NA coaching and working as a staff member in the Athletics Department, I was able to fully mmerse myself in the culture,” Nina ys “During that time, I learned just

how special athletics are at NA It’s one big family in which everyone supports one another. The high number of multisport athletes in our programs speaks volumes about the student athlete experience I’m astounded by the opportunities NA provides to its student athletes to grow their skills, bond with teammates and develop as individuals ”

Nina is most excited to showcase NA’s outstanding student athletes and hopes to bring a fresh outlook that will bring Minutemen Athletics to the next level, while still preserving the qualities that make it outstanding.

She holds a B A in sports administration and a master’s in sports administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

“As this is a new role in the Athletics Department, I plan on collaborating not only with all members of the department, but with the entire internal and external NA community,” Nina says. “Together, I hope to bring new ideas and perspectives to continue promoting athletic excellence at Newark Academy ”

M P I O N S H I P S

Stay updated on all Minutemen news at www.naminutemenathletics.com

Meet NA’s New Director of Athletics: SETH LIEBERMAN

By Nina Shirey

In July 2022, Newark Academy welcomed Seth Lieberman as its new director of athletics. In his role, Seth leads the entire Minutemen Athletics program, overseeing the day to day operations of both the Upper School’s 24 programs in 15 different interscholastic sports and the Middle School athletic program.

Q: What drew you to Newark Academy?

Seth: Everything! First and foremost, it was the people here. When I came through and interviewed, it was clear to me that from the athletic adminis tration to the school administration to the coaches and teachers, everyone seemed very genuine The students were terrific Everyone was really interested in athletics And then a close second was the school itself. The facilities are terrific and I love the history of Newark Academy I have known about NA for a long time, and this was a terrific opportunity I could not pass up

Q: Can you talk about your experience and what led you to this point?

Seth: I have been an athletic director my entire career I started out teaching physical education and it was a dual role combined with being the school’s director of athletics and physical edu cation I’ve always been interested, as most coaches probably have, in being a better version of the coaches that I had. This is what I’ve always known and always done Growing up, both my parents were educators, so education has always been in our blood

Q: It looks like you have been all over the East Coast. Why New Jersey?

Seth: At this point in my career, I was looking for a community that I can become a big part of I was looking for a school where I could incorporate my previous experiences and help make a difference It became evident to me that NA was the school for me This is my last stop I’m looking to be here for the long term and to really plant myself in the community and to be involved not only in athletics, but all facets of the school I grew up in the suburbs of New

York City and still have family in the area, so that factored into my wanting to be back here as well

Q: Did you always want to be an athletic director?

Seth: I don’t know that I knew or really thought about if the profession existed when I was in college I knew I wanted to be in athletics and education, but I was on a little bit of a different career path. I double majored in sociology and urban planning in college. My goal was to work for the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development, but my plans and route changed My first real job out of college was at a YMCA in Mount Vernon, New York, and someone there told me about the history of the YMCA and its connection with Springfield College, the birthplace of basketball. So, as the saying goes, the rest is history I changed course and was off to Springfield to get my master’s degree in athletic administration

Q: What are some of your biggest goals for Minutemen Athletics?

Seth: One goal is to build a community. I want everyone to appreciate Minutemen Athletics both on and off the field I want to really support all student athletes, which I know is hap pening here now and I want to continue that Another goal is to make our athletic program the best it can be I would like to have alums come back in five or 10 years and say they were a part of the program and now want to coach or give back in some way To me, that’s a bigger mark of a program’s success than winning I also want to continue to put NA on the map for athletics. I want people to know where we are all over the state and region, what we’re doing, and all about our programs Without telling them, we want them to know.

Q: What are some of the accomplishments you’re most proud of?

Seth: I feel the most proud when I look back on the different programs and the successes that the teams and student athletes I’ve worked with have had It’s always great to see student athletes go on and become collegiate athletes, but to really see the type of people that they have become is even better to know that they are making a positive difference in both their communities and their profession. When I hear back from students and families years later, that makes me most proud that we’ve done right by them One of my proudest individual accomplishments is being named the New York City Independent School Basketball Coach of the Year, in combination with our team winning the New York state championship that same year I’m more proud of the team winning, but on my own, it was nice to be recognized by my peers

Q: Which sports teams do you root for? Do you have any fun game-day routines when watching your favorite teams?

Seth: The New York Yankees, the Carolina Tar Heels, and the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, when the Panthers were established and bought season tickets (which I still have today). One game day routine that comes to mind is that I don’t wear the hat or gear of my team to the game I don’t know why, I just never did. I always found it funny because it’s clear that I’m there to cheer on the team, so I just never did

Scan the QR code to download the NA Athletics app from the Apple App Store.

Q: If you could have dinner with any athletes, who would they be and why?

Seth: I’ll pick three from real life and two from movies Muhammad Ali I’ve always been a fan of everything that he stood for, and I love his stories Another would be Thurman Munson, the Yankees catcher and team captain in the ’70s He was killed in a plane crash in the prime of his career, and he was my favorite player The last would be Billie Jean King. I love tennis and everything that she fought for and accomplished

On the movie side of things, I would definitely choose two coaches from movies based on real life The first is Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) from Remember the Titans. Coach Boone helped bring a community together as he integrated the football program at T C Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971, and ultimately led them to the state championship Similarly, the second is Coach Norman Dale (played by Gene Hackman) from Hoosiers Coach Dale helped bring a small community together as he led Milan High School to the 1954 Indiana Boys Basketball State Championship

I was looking for a school where I could incorporate my previous experiences and help make a difference It became evident to me that NA was the school for me. This is my last stop.”

Lieberman, Director of Athletics

Seth

A T H L E T I C S @ N A

Newark Academy Inducts Three to the ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

The Newark Academy Alumni Association presented Athletic Hall of Fame Awards to Danielle Schwartz Auerbach ’01, Ralph Pellecchia ’62 and Whitney Russell ’62 during the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony at Reunion on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Kaltenbacher Hall

A star tennis player at NA, Danielle was presented the Hall of Fame accolade for her prowess on the courts, which led the Minutemen to four conference champi onships, four county championships, four state titles and four Tournament of Champions victories Playing a huge role in the team’s 104 match winning streak, Danielle was named Essex County Player of the Year and earned First Team All State Honors during her junior year in 2000.

“What I remember most of all is the incredible school spirit,” Danielle said during the ceremony. “There was always such an extraordinary sense of pride represent ing Newark Academy and everything it is known for: its long history, rich traditions, outstanding reputation for academic excellence, athletic successes and NA’s focus on developing future community, national and global leaders.” See more of Danielle’s current tennis accolades on page 69.

Pat Ciccone ’62, a 2007 NA Hall of Fame inductee, pre sented Hall of Fame accolades to his former teammates and lifelong friends Ralph for football, basketball and baseball, and Whitney for football, basketball, and track and field.

“I made many lifetime friends, and I think that’s the best thing about [my Newark Academy experience],” Ralph said while accepting the honor Whitney added, “This evening is stunning in the fact that there’s such excel lence growing in the school in so many areas and ways.”

Join us at our next Alumni Awards Ceremony during Newark Academy Reunion on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

A.

A. Danielle Schwartz Auerbach ’01

B. Pat Ciccone ’62, with inductee Ralph Pellecchia ’62

C. Pat Ciccone ’62, with inductee Whitney Russell ’62

H O N O R I N G

Alumni Veterans

Newark Academy unveiled a plaque to students during Morning Meeting on November 9, 2022, in honor of alumni veterans. T h e d e d i c a t i o n p l a q u e w i l l h a n g o u t s i d e o f t h e W i l l i a m G . Wrightson Gymnasium.

“Since our nation’s founding, Newark Academy has a long and proud history of our alumni serving in the U.S. Armed Forces,” says Col. William “Bill” Kaplan ’69. “NA’s newly commissioned plaque will recognize the generations of veterans that have protected the freedoms that we enjoy and often take for granted.”

If you or someone you know is an NA veteran, please reach out to Director of Alumni Relations and Giving Evan Nisenson at enisenson@newarka edu, so we can add those names to the plaque

Col. William S. Kaplan ’69, Air Force

Investing in a More Sustainable Future

As Newark Academy formulates its next strategic plan, the school continues to uphold the importance of education about sustainability within the student experience. Inspired by Newark Academy’s efforts to create a more ecological and economically vital society, the Martini Education and Opportunity Trust ( M E O T ) , h a s g r a c i o u s l y c o n t

move past our isolated discus sion groups and become a core part of our teaching in and out of the classroom ”

b

e d a v

r y g e n e r o u s g r a n t t o N A ’ s F a c u l t y Innovation Fund in order to incorporate additional education about sustainable solutions within the curriculum.

“The Martini Education Opportunity Trust is all about empowering young people to be effective change makers in their organizations, whether that’s a charity, a non governmental organization or a big company, or whether it’s their community or personal relationships, in or outside of the classroom, wherever it is, whatever it is,”says MEOT Founder Brent Martini about the organization which aims to instill environmental, social and gover nance (ESG) values in young people Martini has an extensive history of making a profound impact through supporting faculty and student change makers who are leading the transformation of ESG structures worldwide. This includes vol unteering and investing in his alma mater Fordham University to establish its Social Innovation Collaboratory, a network of the school’s students, faculty, administrators, alumni and community members working

together to promote social innovation for the achievement of social justice, social entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability.

Martini’s gift is intended to put “wind in the sails” of Newark Academy faculty members from all academic disciplines who are passionate about incorporating sustainability and climate change into their curriculum and pedagogy MEOT seeks to expand the many activities already taking place at Newark Academy and to introduce new topics or approaches.

“Thanks to amazing student initiatives and faculty support, NA often considers sustainability in the avenues that aren’t discussed in traditional environmental work,” says Navyaa Jain ’23 “However, to build upon conversations we’ve had and truly integrate sustainable thought into the foundations of NA, the efforts must

In Debra “Deb” Tavares’s sixth grade science classroom, students currently explore pollution, climate change and abnormal wildfire cycles through an array of projects during the year They also research, study and build a sustainable house using recycled materials and design a 3D printed sustainable city “Teaching sustainable concepts and sustainable design to our students is giving them the tools and understanding to solve the social, environmental and economic problems that face our society it is our responsibility to them,” says Deb

During the 2021 22 school year, the Office of Community Service centered environ mental stewardship at the core of its service initiatives in an effort to educate students about sustainability through service learning projects. The eighth grade is studying the water quality of the Passaic River through experiential lab testing In the Upper School, students have several opportunities to participate in service that enhances sustainability including the Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep, where students collect and catalog trash from the beach and the Northern NJ Eco Summit, where NA hosts students from local independent and public schools for workshops and conversations about sustainability Newark Academy’s Student Sustainability Representatives also work to hold school clubs accountable for sus tainable practices and promote eco con scious living throughout the school year

“The MEOT donation will allow our faculty to develop and enhance the ways in which we teach sustainability across the curriculum,” says Director of Studies Jeffrey Vinikoor “These funds will allow Newark Academy students to come to a better understanding of how sustainability can address environmental, economic and social challenges facing humanity ”

Brent Martini, MEOT Founder

At left, students in Debra Tavares’s sixth grade science class present their sustainable cities project At right, students tend to the Morris County Community Garden during the Middle School Day of Service

L e t t e r f r o m R e b e c c a M o l l F r e e d ’ 9 4

Dear Fellow Alums:

I’m often asked what I love most about Newark Academy After careful thought and consideration, I realized that although I love many things about NA, the connections that permeate the community may just be my favorite Once I came to this realization, I couldn’t help but continue to notice these seemingly small but tremendously impactful connections.

I know that we all have our own exam ples of NA connections, but my recent focus began when I had the opportunity to participate in an Alumni Connections Program established by current NA students. During this program, I chatted with a group of students who asked me how my NA education prepared me for a career in law I spoke about the importance of hard work, preparation and dedication. I may have surprised them when I talked about the power of the Newark Academy network and the fact that, once I entered the “real world,” I started to (and still do) run into members of the NA community almost everywhere I go

A few weeks later, I spent the day at NA for Reunion The day started with the Alumni of Color Breakfast, where current students and alumni had the opportu nity to share their experiences with one another Next up was the Women of NA Luncheon, where while celebrating the 50th anniversary of the return to co education at NA I had to smile when alumnae from the 1970s were chatting over lunch with alumnae from the Class of 2022 That evening, at the Alumni Awards Ceremony, I witnessed members of the Class of 1962 being just as excited as members of the Class of 2012 to spend time with beloved former NA teacher Blackwood “Blackie” Parlin

As I sat down to write this column, I learned of Dr Allan Strand’s passing Dr Strand was not only the headmaster while I was at NA but also my eighth grade English teacher, who taught me how to diagram a sentence. Like you, I have many fond memories of Dr Strand Because Dr Strand served as the head master from 1979 until his retirement in 1997, in many ways his passing feels like it marks the end of an NA era

which, truth be told, makes me kind of sad However, once I started to read the comments and memories that alumni were sharing on social media, I realized yet again the power of the Newark Academy community and the importance of the connections that we have to one another

I am especially grateful to my fellow Board of Governors (BOG) members for helping facilitate these connections.

I would particularly like to thank Michele Chiles Hickman ’86 for her six years of service on the BOG Michele attended almost every BOG event dur ing those years. She always showed up with a smile, an interest in learning more and the desire to make everyone feel welcome We will miss you on the BOG, Michele, but know you will not be a stranger.

I would also like to welcome two new members to the BOG: Nicholas Murray ’15 and Nnadilim Okafor ’09. We look forward to having you as part of the BOG Team!

P R E S I D E N T , A L U M N I B O A R D O F G O V E R N O R S

New Alumni Board of Governors for 2022–2023

The Newark Academy Alumni Board of Governors welcomes two new members to the group for the 2022–2023 school year. The BOG works closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement to plan and manage more than 20 alumni events and programs each year. Meet the new members:

Nicholas Murray ’15 San Francisco, CA

Nicholas has worked for tech start ups large and small over the past five years, including Expensify, Eluvio (which patented a novel technology for distributed video streaming) and Workday. Currently, he is an engineer at Samsara in the Telematics division While at NA, he was cross country captain, senior class president, a peer leader and president of the Robotics and Engineering Club Nicholas majored in computer science at Washington University in St. Louis where he played rugby, served as an executive on the Japanese Student Association and volunteered for a youth program in St. Louis He now lives in San Francisco, where he hopes to host future NA alumni events

Nnadilim Okafor ’09 Boonton, NJ

Upon graduating from NA, Nnadilim went to Cornell University as an undergraduate and majored in biology. Post graduation, she spent four years teaching domestically with Teach for America and internationally in South Korea After returning stateside, she completed her master’s degree at Rutgers University and pivoted to a career in corporate strategy. Nnadilim has experience in managing mergers and integration as well as leading the rollout of multiple go to market and strategic initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies. On a personal note, she has an eight year old Pit Bull mix and enjoys spending time with her on long walks or hikes at the South Mountain Reservation

2 0 2 2 P U L I T Z E R

P R I Z E W I N N E R :

Dr. S a l a m i s h a h T i l l e t ’ 9 2

A light circled around Dr. Salamishah Tillet ’92 as she sat down for an interview with LUMEN It was coming from her son, Sidney, who was rotating around her chair spotlighting his mother with a flashlight.

Always humble and just a little bit shy, Salamishah was thrown into the lime light by her proud son, who wanted to add his own spotlight to the news that his mother had won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize Salamishah was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism on May 9, 2022,

“I was overwhelmed,” says Salamishah “It was sort of unbelievable I suppose it’s a cliché to feel shocked by such an amazing honor, but I think partly because I am a writer and someone who understands American his tory and who reads so many other writers and often times when you’re writing

T h e i d e a o f b e c o m i n g a c r i t i c i s s o g r o u n d e d i n t h e w a y t h at I w a s t a u g h t t o r e a d l i t e r at u r e i n h i g h s c h o o l . I r e a l l y t h i n k I h a d s o m e o f the best English teachers in the country.”

Dr. Salamishah Tillet ’92

for her New York Times essays on race in arts and culture. As a contributing critic at large for the Times, Salamishah earned the accolade the nation’s highest in journal ism for what the Pulitzer board described as “learned and stylish writing about Black stories in art and popular culture work that successfully bridges academic and nonacademic critical discourse.”

about someone like Alice Walker or poet Rita Dove, you’ll put before their name ‘Pulitzer Prize winning etc ’ there’s kind of an intimate relationship I have to these moments when Black women in particular have won this award So the weight and that cherished history is also part of this too ”

Salamishah’s journey to becoming a Pulitzer Prize

winning critic was undoubt edly nurtured in her Newark Academy English classes Always a lover of reading, Salamishah mainly dove into Nancy Drew or Agatha Christie mystery novels, until she was introduced to the likes of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in Joe Ball’s eighth grade World Cultures class “That was kind of a really eye opening moment to both West African litera

ture, but also the ways in which you can tell an epic history in a novel through the singular intimate character,” she says

Then, when studying with Alfonso Orsini, Salamishah explored Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God “Just being in the English class reading Hurston’s words out loud and Mr. Orsini’s attentive ness to the beauty of her southern Black vernacular English to have that as a ninth grader, and to under stand power, inequity and language was really, really

Alumni Achievement Award

On June 4, 2022, Salamishah was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award during the Newark Academy Alumni Awards Ceremony She was pre viously named to Newark Academy’s Women of Distinction in 2017. “Salamishah has always been a woman on the move, a fighter fighting the good fight,” says NA English teacher Von Rollenhagen “Here at NA, she was a scholar and an athlete from early on, a person who has always given her best and relentlessly worked hard to make sure that others always give their best selves.”

quite powerful,” she says A critical moment for her came when she received a C+ on a ninth grade paper about Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken ” “I was a good student, and I think that was a real turning point for me in understanding that you have to kind of push beyond the obvious as a reader, that you get to explore where the author takes you, and that good writing often has a lack of resolution ”

She also fondly recalls foster ing her love of Shakespeare in an elective class with Von Rollenhagen and dis secting Latin American and Japanese women’s writing with Carrie O’Connell

“The idea of becoming a critic is so grounded in the way that I was taught to read

literature in high school I really think I had some of the best English teachers in the country,” Salamishah says. “There’s a real throughline for me. It’s very obvious. You can see how I was pre pared and how that passion was nurtured at Newark Academy.”

Salamishah went on to study English and African American literature at the University of Pennsylvania After graduat ing, she earned master’s degrees in English education from Brown University and in American and English literature from Harvard University, before capping off her education with a doc torate in American Studies, also at Harvard

Salamishah now works as the Henry Rutgers Professor of African American Studies and Creative Writing at

Rutgers Newark and as the director of Express Newark, a center for socially engaged art and design that brings the community together She is also co founder, alongside her sister, Scheherazade Tillet ’96, of A Long Walk Home, a non profit organi zation that empowers young people to end violence against girls and women

In her future work as a critic for the Times, Salamishah hopes to continue showing the importance of art as a vehicle for change She is also currently working on two books: one about Civil Rights activist and singer Nina Simone, and the other on tennis legend Serena Williams

As Salamishah continues to change the world through her work as a critic, writer

and activist, she encourages other NA students interested in pursuing a similar path to prioritize reading

“Read as much as you can,” she says “Read for pleasure, as well as for school Take risks with your questions and with your ideas Part of the challenge of criticism is that you’re being asked to see something beyond what is obvious There are so many leaps one has to make to do the kind of critical analysis that is necessary to under stand the art that’s unfolding before you So it’s OK to ask questions, but it’s also OK to be in that place of unknowing and where the meaning is unclear. That’s where the excitement is That’s where the passion and mysteries can be solved ”

A LEAGUE OF THEIR

OWN

Salamishah’s Pulitzer Prize adds her to the growing list of brilliant Newark Academy alumni who have earned top honors in their respective fields.

In 2017, alumnus Dr. Richard S. Thaler ’63 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, the first alumnus of any independent school in New Jersey to do so

A leading mathematician of the 20th century, Dr. Daniel G. Quillen ’58 was awarded the Fields Medal at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1978 for transforming many aspects of algebra, geometry and topology.

B E CO M E A R E U N I O N A M B ASSA D O R !

Reunion ambassadors perform a valuable service to the NA alumni community They communicate school and class news, support key initiatives such as Reunion, and encourage participation in the Newark Academy Fund Sign up online at www newarka edu/ reunionambassador.

H

Campus View

WILF MIDDLE SCHOOL: 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

With the understanding that middle schoolers love to learn, connect, play and have fun, the design of this space deliberately features bright colors in the classrooms, a large common room, student created artwork on the walls, open fields with a basketball court, four square and gaga pit and an open plan faculty workspace in which teachers can model connecting and collaborating with each other

Five years later, NA community members reflect on the incredible impact the addition of the Wilf Middle School wing has had on Newark Academy students

‘‘

T h e M i d d l e S c h o o l b u i l d i n g w a s s u c h a n e x c i t i n g a d d i t i o n f i v e y e a r s a go , e s p e c i a l l y t o e m p h a s i z e t h e e a r l y f o u n d at i o n s o f e d u c at i o n f o r N e w a r k A c a d e m y s t u d e n t s . E d u c at i o n i s a v e r y h i g h p r i o r i t y f o r o u r f a m i l y . We w a n t f u t u r e ge n e r at i o n s t o r e c e i v e a p r o p e r e d u c at i o n , g r o u n d e d i n s t r o n g p r i n c i p l e s . I t ’ s f u l f i l l i n g t o s e e t h e M i d d l e S c h o o l a n d t h e e n t i r e N e w a r k A c a d e m y c o m m u n i t y c o n t i n u i n g t o f l o u r i s h i n a l l a s p e c t s . T h e W i l f F a m i l y i s p r o u d t o b e c o n n e c t e d w i t h N e w a r k A c a d e m y .”

A R K W I L F

‘‘

T h e W i l f M i d d l e S c h o o l i s a s a n c t u a r y o f l e a r n i n g , a h o m e f o r a c o m m u n i t y , a n d t h e r e i s n o b e t t e r p l a c e t o s t a r t y o u r j o u r n e y at N e w a r k A c a d e m y ”

C H A R L I E

G O L D S T E I N ’ 2 6

In 2017, the Newark Academy Wilf Middle School opened its doors as a separate space for middle schoolers, thanks to the generosity of Jane and Mark Wilf, lead donors to the Rise & Flourish campaign.

M

The Wilf Middle School Building is designed for adolescents to learn in a joyful environment. T h e b u i l d i n g a l l ow s s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s t o b e at t h e i r b e s t , f r o m t h e s c i e n c e l a b s t o t h e c o m m o n s p a c e t o t h e M i d d l e S c h o o l o ff i c e . T h e p r ox i m i t y t o o u t d o o r p l a y a n d g at h e r i n g s p a c e s i s i d e a l f o r e a r l y a d o l e s c e n t s . T h e W i l f f a m i l y ' s c o m m i t m e n t t o m i d d l e l e v e l e d u c at i o n m a d e t h i s p o s s i b l e . A l l o f u s w h o a r e f o r t u n at e e n o u g h t o w o r k i n t h i s s p a c e e a c h d a y a r e g r at e f u l f o r t h e i r g i f t .”

‘‘

Starting sixth grade in the old Middle School, I remember f e e l i n g a l i t t l e n e r v o u s , a l i t t l e s h o r t , a n d v e r y l o s t W h a t I l o v e d m o s t a b o u t m o v i n g t o t h e n e w W i l f M i d d l e S c h o o l w i n g d u r i n g s e v e n t h g r a d e w a s n o t o n l y t h e n e w f a c i l i t i e s , b u t t h e f a c t t h at w e h a d o u r ow n s p a c e t o i n t e g r at e i n t o N e w a r k A c a d e m y i n a m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e a n d l e s s i n t i m i d at i n g s e t t i n g . ” I S A B E L A M C N E I L LY A N T A ’ 2 3

T h e M i d d l e S c h o o l s p a c e p r o v i d e s s t u d e n t s w i t h a s e n s e o f a ‘ h o m e b a s e ’ a p l a c e where they belong. They travel all over the school for lunch, physical education and art classes, but they have a home here to feel comfortable. Also, the fact that we have a designated room, that is bright and has natural sunlight, for the school counselor i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e s i x t h a n d s e v e n t h g r a d e c l a s s r o o m s m e a n s t h a t o v e r h a l f t h e s t u d e n t s s e e m e b e t w e e n c l a s s e s ! I n t h i s w a y , t a l k i n g t o t h e s c h o o l c o u n s e l o r a n d t a l k i n g a b o u t a n d t a k i n g c a r e o f t h e i r m e n t a l h e a l t h i s n o r m a l i z e d . ”

T O M A S H B U R N , M I D D L E S C H O O L P R I N C I PA L

K I R S T I M O R I N , M I D D L E S C H O O L C O U N S E L O R

1 9 4 4

CO N TAC T: Robert Lee (561) 747 4331

1 9 4 6

CO N TAC T: Robert Cronheim rdc@cronheim com

1 9 5 1

The Rev David Hoag finally fully retired from Supply Ministry in the Diocese of Central Florida

1 9 5 2

CO N TAC T: William (Bill) Van Winkle billvw7334@aol com

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CO N TAC T: Edward L. Levitt eezyed@comcast net

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CO N TAC T: Stephen Knee shknee@hotmail com

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CO N TAC T: Douglas B Slade dslade542@aol com

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CO N TAC T: Frederick Katz, Jr katzjr@optonline net

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CO N TAC T: Curtis Cetrulo curt cetrulo@gmail com Peter Papademetriou papadem@cs com

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CO N TAC T: Bernard J. D’Avella, Jr. bud@davellafamily business com

During Newark Academy’s Reunion, Whitney Russell, Bernard “Bud” D’Avella and

Steve Lozowick ’63 visited the Coursen Memorial Field plaque on the brick wall that was brought over from their former Newark Academy campus on First Street in Newark, N J

Whitney Russell and Ralph Pellecchia were inducted into the Newark Academy Athletic Hall of Fame last June at Reunion

1 9 6 3

CO N TAC T: Charles A. Fischbein cafpac@Earthlink net

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CO N TAC T: michael R. Yogg michaelyogg@gmail com

Back To The Future: The Musical, which mark Belnick co produced, is breaking box office records in London’s West End, where it has won a number of awards While continuing in London, the show will come to Broadway in early 2023 Tickets on sale now Fingers crossed for a successful run!

1 9 6 5

CO N TAC T: Van S Stevens drvanstevens@gmail com

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CO N TAC T: Warren G Soare wsoare@optonline net

1 9 6 7

CO N TAC T: matthew Leone mleone@colgate edu

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CO N TAC T: Stephan G Kravitz sgkravitz@gmail com Franklin C Phifer, Jr fphifer@hecht com

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CO N TAC T: John H. Bess bessjh@gmail com Leo m. Gordon gordon43b@gmail com

ON WHICH WE SERVE: WHERE LIFE-LESSONS ARE LEARNED

Edward Atkins ’44, Author

Edward attended Newark Academy from September 1939, the start of World War II, to June 1944, the start of the invasion of Europe He enlisted in the Navy where he was eventually assigned to the U S S Antietam, serving on the flight deck for two years Edward’s book, On Which We Serve: Where Life Lessons Are Learned, is a first person account of activities on the flight deck of this fleet aircraft carrier It contains several National Archive photographs with captions by Edward which detail the many values and virtues he learned on the flight deck Edward graduated from Yale University and went on to work in NYC banks and electronic companies, eventually ending up working for the U S Navy Electronic Systems Command in Washington, D C , as a management engineer until his retirement in 1991

Leo Gordon and Paul Kiesel ’78 visited the White House together with the Federal Judges Association

a group exhibition titled Flowers, at the gallery Barbara showcased one of her recent mixed media collages along with a paint ing by Anne and others See more of FOG’s exhibits at www faroutgallery com and Barbara’s collages at www cromartyart com

Katherine Weiss DiSabito welcomed two grandsons this past year, Tyler and David Her son, John, achieved his M A in communication from Western New England University last May

S. Dillard Kirby was pre sented with the Fulton H MacArthur Award during Reunion in June

Anne Herbst, founder/ director of Far Out Gallery (FOG) in San Francisco, was delighted to show Barbara Cromarty ’84 in

W e Fo n d l y R e m e m b e r

Joel Handler ’50

September 22, 2022

James T Ball, Jr ’48 September 14, 2022

Karl G

Jr ’56 August 20, 2022

August 3, 2022

Donald Schlenger ’39 May 15, 2022

Richard S. White ’50 May 13, 2022

Frank Koch II ’50 May 2, 2022

Eric

Rober

December 25, 2021

Richard Gennaro ’73 November 9, 2021

James Dunn, Jr ’50 August 31, 2021

Richard Slutsker ’52 May 12, 2021

Ralph

Januar y 18, 2021

Newark Academy Remembers Beloved Late Headmaster D R . A L L A N S T R A N D

Beloved former Newark Academy Headmaster Dr. Allan Strand died at age 91 on July 26, 2022, at his home in Selma, Alabama. He was surrounded by his family and passed away peacefully.

During his nearly 18 year tenure as headmaster, from 1979 until his retirement in 1997, Dr Strand was pivotal in strengthening Newark Academy’s academic standards and developing extracurricular programs that have become integral elements of the student experience The school NA is today owes much to his leadership and vision Under his direction, Newark Academy introduced the International Baccalaureate Program and created an interactive learning center to bring the latest in technology to the school’s instructional program Instrumental music and dance were also added to the NA curriculum on his watch

Dr. Strand also enhanced and expanded Newark Academy’s campus to include many of the signature spaces enjoyed by students today He introduced a more aesthetically appealing entrance to the NA campus, a Middle School wing that accommodated the addition of Grade 6, and the Elizabeth McGraw Arts Center to serve as a dedicated space for the growing arts program

As many alumni, faculty and staff members will recall, Dr. Strand memorably shared his wisdom during Morning Meetings and actively participated in the life of the school An accomplished athlete, holding both North Carolina state and Tennessee state tennis championship titles, Dr. Strand enjoyed watching NA Athletics He was also known for readily attending to the needs of any student or faculty member and for upholding the importance of cultural diversity

Dr Strand will be missed, but he leaves a lasting legacy at Newark Academy and a devoted family He is survived by his wife, Dr Anne Strand, and children Dr Allan E Strand III ’81, Anne Catherine Reeves ’83, Dr Elizabeth B Strand ’88, and Clark Strand

Vogelsburg,

Glenn T. Masucci ’83

Dr Allan Strand Former Headmaster

July 26, 2022

Margaret “Peg” Madden Former Director of Counseling July 18, 2022

Dr Norman “Doc” Schaf ler Former Faculty Member

June 29, 2022

Eden Sumner, Jr ’73 April 14, 2022

t Greene ’48

Politi ’49

Beverly “Bev” Ann Pickering Former Middle School

A d m i n i s t ra t i ve A s s i s t a n t M a r c h 3 , 2 0 2 2

Beverly “Bev” Ann Pickering ser ved Newark Academy from 1984 to 1997 as an adminis tra tive assis t ant f or the Middle School She spent mos t of her time at NA working f or f ormer Headmas ter Dr. Allan Strand, f ormer Head of Middle School

Joan Parlin, and f ormer

Assis t ant Head f or Academic Af fairs and Dean of Faculty Blackie Parlin Joan remembers Bev f ondly, picturing her always surrounded by scores of middle schoolers who jus t loved her Blackie recalls, “She was a fun and good hear ted person.”

DouBLE GoLD mEDALS AT THE mACCABIAH GAmES!

Danielle Schwartz Auerbach ’01

Danielle competed in the 21st maccabiah Games in Israel in July 2022 She played Masters Tennis 35+ and took home two gold medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles She went undefeated in both draws. While there, Danielle met up with Jeff Jacobs ’83 who played Masters Soccer 55+

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CO N TAC T: Jason S Granet grizo1222@yahoo com Andrew Slutzky andrewzky@gmail com

Jason Granet took the Newark Academy sixth grade class on a tour of BNY Mellon and the New York City financial district.

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CO N TAC T: Amanda Rubinstein Black amandahblack@gmail com

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CO N TAC T: Jack A. Hyman jahyman@gmail com

Lauren Jacobs Lazer laurenjacobslazer @gmail com

Smita Ramanadham smitar2280md@gmail com

Jenna Smith Schwerdt jenna@smithdesign com

For the past two summers, Pamela Davidson ’23 has interned with neurosurgeon Dr Pinakin Jethwa at the Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore Medical Center where she was able to observe several brain surgeries and procedures

CO N TAC T: John Gregory Jcg681@gmail com

Asha K Coco asha talwar@gmail com

Asha Talwar Coco started a new role as President of lifestyle brand FORVR Mood

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CO N TAC T: Alison Poole Lasher alisonklasher@gmail com

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CO N TAC T: Colin R Griggs cgriggs13@yahoo com Brian mcGaughan bmcgaughan@gmail com

Danielle Schwartz Auerbach was inducted into the Newark Academy Athletic Hall of Fame at Reunion in June

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CO N TAC T: Joshua Jacobs joshua s jacobs@gmail com

marcelo C Porto mark c porto@gmail com Alexander C. Senchak alex senchak@gmail com

James Solomon was this year ’s Convocation speaker

and delivered encouraging remarks to the entire NA community

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CO N TAC T: Lauren H Anderson lauren h anderson@gmail com David N. Rattner drattner07@gmail com Evan P Sills evan sills@gmail com

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CO N TAC T: Danielle Grunebaum Barrett dlsimon85@gmail com Kathryn Pagos katie pagos@gmail com

Stephanie Reingold simma reingold@gmail com

Louise Ball Schutte louisehira@gmail com

maria Deoliveira received her M B A from Lehigh University and her J D from Rutgers Law School Maria served as a law clerk to Jaclyn Medina, judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey Then she went on to serve as a law clerk to Rosemary Gambardella and Vincent Papalia, United States bankruptcy judges, District of New Jersey Currently she is a law clerk to the Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey She is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and New York.

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CO N TAC T: Jonathan Allocca jonathan allocca@gmail com

Gabriel Gaviola gabe c gaviola@gmail com Bridget Duffy Raines bridgetpraines@gmail com

WAT C H !

Director of Alumni Relations and Giving Evan Nisenson ’99 sat down with Matteo Moretti ’17, whose recent film, “Just Being Here,” is earning several presti gious accolades, including an Honorable Mention in the New Jersey International Film Festival

CO N TAC T: Julia Appel appel julie@gmail com

Sarah marcus Hansen sarahmarcushansen @gmail com

Brandon Hedvat bhedvat@gmail com Ilana mandelbaum Sterling ilana mandelbaum@gmail com Asia Stewart asiamstewart@gmail.com

Humanities faculty member Danny Petrillo and his wife Jaclyn welcomed a baby boy, Mariano, in October 2022

CO N TAC T: David Doobin doobind@gmail com

Catherine Pfeffer catherine pfeffer@gmail com Emily Crystal emily c simon@me com 2 0 0 8

CO N TAC T: David Frank david frank44@gmail com

Alexa Gruber Kitchin alexa gruber@richmond edu maximilian C Staiger mstaiger41@me com 2 0 0 9

CO N TAC T: Andrew S. Binger abinger1990@gmail com

Christina A Colizza christina colizza@gmail com Rebecca Curwin rebecca.curwin@gmail.com

Shannon Lam Webster shannonrlam@gmail com

Brian L Silver briansilver0711@gmail com Nnadilim okafor has joined the Newark Academy Alumni Board of Governors

CO N TAC T: Lisa Fischer lisasuefischer@gmail com

Patrick Kelly patrick o d kelly@gmail com Brian mcHugh mchugh brian10@gmail com

CO N TAC T: Sydney Hershman smhershman@gmail.com

Jordan I Jett jordanjett13@gmail com Jennifer mandelbaum jmande15@bu edu

Jourdan mcGhee jourdan mcghee@gmail com 2 0 1 2

CO N TAC T: Christopher P. Davis davis cp@gmail com

Shane S Neibart ssneibart@gmail com Carissa E Szlosek szlosek@wisc edu 2 0 1 3

CO N TAC T: SaVonne Anderson savonneanderson@gmail com Nicole Andrzejewski nicole@go wustl edu matt Cowen mcowen95@gmail com 2 0 1 4

CO N TAC T: Jai Ghose jghose@andrew cmu edu

Thomas Pan tpan14@gmail com

Lauren Whelan lmw025@bucknell edu

Wieseneck jwieseneck@gmail

CO N TAC T: madeline DeLamielleure maddydelamielleure15 @gmail com

Jasmine Gamboa jgamboa19@amherst edu

Nicholas murray nsm407@gmail com

Zachary Persing zcpersing@gmail.com

matthew Thekkethala matt@learnforlife foundation org

Nicholas murray joined the Newark Academy Board of Governors

mollie Wohlforth returned to NA as an Ancient World guest speaker for the entire ninth grade to demonstrate how to analyze art and artifacts for the students’ end of the year Legacy Project 2 0 1 6

CO N TAC T: Courtney Cooperman courtneycooperman @comcast net Jacob Furst jacobfurst20@gmail com

Joshua martin martinjoshua029@gmail com

Elizabeth merrigan elizabeth merrigan16 @gmail com

Samuel Vazir samvazir@gmail com

Bryan Wilensky bryanwsemail@gmail com

mackenna Woods mackennavalle@gmail com

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CO N TAC T: Chloe Yu chloeyu@college harvard edu

megha Gupta was an alumni leader on the Immersion trip to Spain this past June, seven years after going on the same trip as a student

Chloe Yu was an alumni leader on the Southwest Immersion trip to Utah and Arizona in June

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Ben Cole was an alumni leader on the Immersion trip to Spain this past June, three years after going on the same trip as a student

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Bisk ’19, Alex Leaf ’19, Jamie Paradis ’20, Caroline Tam ’20, Kristin Tsay ’21, Parth

’19,

’21, Ben Tolpa ’21 and David Cohen ’20)

Dr. Norman Schaf ler, af fectionately known to his s tudents as Doc Schaf ler, ser ved Newark Academy from 1982 until his retirement in 2013 in several roles including Spanish teacher, Foreign Languages Depar tment Chair, Quiz Bowl Team advisor, School Council member and leader of many s tudent trips to Spain Despite his gruf f exterior, Norm was ver y devoted to his s tudents and his colleagues His passion f or Spanish and f or using the acquisition of languages as a way to broaden horizons had a signif icant and las ting impact on Newark Academy s tudents He will be greatly missed by the entire NA community

“Norm loved NA with a passion He was devoted to his students, (several of whom showed up days before his death to honor him with one last visit), and he managed to tour hundreds of them (and colleagues) around Spain and Mexico Norm’s ability to inject scorching humor into all situations will be sorely missed, and Newark Academy’s histor y will record his many contributions to the institution He didn’t like to project emotional vulnerability, but he cared deeply about people.” Scott Jacoby, Norm’s longtime colleague and friend

Dr. Norman “Doc” Schaf ler, Former Faculty Member

Loren (Weiss) Selig ’87 was delighted to crash a wedding in order to visit with Eric Walker ’87 This is a ver y treasured friendship 11 A group of alumni at Cornell University gathered together for dinner in Ithaca, NY (From lef t to right: Samar th Desu ’19, Gabe Schif fer

Tyler

Sarkar

W E F O N D L Y R E M E M B E R

H E R E @ N A

Alumni Achievement Awards

Fulton H. MacArthur Award – S. Dillard

Kirby ’77

Head of School Donald M Austin presented the Fulton H MacArthur Award to S Dillard Kirby ’77 at Reunion The award is given to NA graduates who have distinguished themselves through loyal and dedicated service to Newark Academy through their efforts on behalf of the Alumni Association, the Board of Trustees, or in another volunteer capacity. “[Dillard] always found time and energy for NA. He served on the Board of Trustees and left an indelible mark on the Academy through his thoughtful guidance, his expectation of institutional excellence and his demonstration of generosity to his alma mater,” said Mr Austin

Dillard recalled his time at NA, crediting a course with former faculty member Blackwood “Blackie” Parlin for learning empathy and a love of mankind He also reminisced about the time the entire football team came together to buy him a new varsity jacket, since he had lost his then subsequently awed the crowd by pulling it out and proudly putting it on.

Artistic Achievement Award – Peter Rundquist ’82

Arts Department Chair Viraj Lal introduced Peter Rundquist ’82 as the recipient of the Artistic Achievement Award, which is presented to NA graduates who have distinguished themselves in the fields of creative, literary, performing and visual arts. Recipients began their careers with significant contributions to the arts while at Newark Academy.

“It was here at NA that the spark of creativity and composition was kindled into a flame,” said Peter, noting that he was challenged to perform publicly for the first time while in school “At NA, I was free to make mistakes in a safe and forgiving environment It was here that I learned music and the arts connect us with all of our passions Music and the arts illuminated, cultivated and connected me to my emotions and instilled in me a sense of resolve of purposeful perseverance ”

Distinguished Faculty

Award – Robert “Bob” Mallalieu

In celebration of 39 years of service to Newark Academy, Bob Mallalieu was presented with the Distinguished Faculty Award by head librarian and his colleague of 26 years Jean Moroz. The award recognizes an NA faculty member who has a significant impact upon the educational development of students Over his tenure, Bob served as the director of library media services, Summer Session director, department chair, administrator, coach, advisor, public speaking teacher and more. Memorably, Bob was part of The Watchung Mountain Boys, a beloved Morning Meeting performance group “When I first came to NA, I found it to be a place that provided opportunities to grow and to give, and often, in unexpected and uncharted ways,” said Bob. “Life at Newark Academy was and is very good, and for that, I am indeed thankful, grateful and blessed ”

S. Dillard Kirby ’77 wears his old NA varsity football jacket during his Fulton H MacArthur Award acceptance speech.

Arts Department Chair Viraj Lal presents Peter Rundquist ’82 with the Artistic Achievement Award

Head Librarian Jean Moroz presents Bob Mallalieu with the Distinguished Faculty Award.

The Ultimate Win-Win

Would you like to make a gift to Newark Academy while simultaneously protecting your family? Sounds too good to be true, but alumnus William “Will” Green ’69 showed us a creative, win win strategy.

By choosing to make Newark Academy the owner and beneficiary of his whole life insurance policy, Will was able to take an immediate tax deduction, and in the future Newark Academy will receive a gift of Will’s life insurance proceeds

“My family has always supported Newark Academy and believes in its mission. This is a final way, for my generation, to complete its support of Newark Academy so that the next generation can continue.”

If you are interested in exploring this planned giving tool or other related structured giving possibilities, which can benefit both Newark Academy and you, please call or email Newark Academy’s Director of Advancement Services Barbara Sine at 973 992-7000 x362 or bsine@newarka edu newarka.giftplans.org

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