Peddie Chronicle, Fall 2009 by The Peddie School

PEDDIE C

Seeds of Success As the first beneficiaries of the Annenberg gift make their marks, they all agree: Peddie paved the way. Their stories, Page 26 Finn M.W. Caspersen â&#x20AC;&#x2122;59, Peddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board chair, dies. Page 2

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Groundbreaking With Peddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new eight-lane, 35-meter pool under construction in the distance, senior Nikko Lara launches a pass during preseason workouts on the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new high-tech, all-weather turf field. The addition of the yet-to-be-named field, which is lined for field hockey, lacrosse and soccer, is part of the ongoing $30 million expansion and renovation of the Ian H. Graham Athletic Center. To date, $13.8 million has been raised toward the campaign goal of $15 million. The field, which hosted its first game action on Sept. 12, will be dedicated on Parents Day, Saturday Oct. 24. The pool is scheduled to be open this winter as the school celebrates the 100th anniversary of Falcon swimming.

chronicleXtra To view a slideshow on construction of the athletic center, go to www.peddie.org/chronicle

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Dedicated Board Chair Dies Finn M.W. Caspersen

Falcon 411 Art of the Fulbright, incoming info, etc.

Commencement 2009 You had the best of both worlds, Head of School John Green tells grads

Reunion Weekend A celebration fit for a Peddie pillar

Sports Wrap A mighty showing from girls’ crew, plus a sportsmanship award

Firsts at Peddie

Doc Martin scours the archives, plus crossword glory

Focus on Faculty

Hope in Africa

Welcome to the Great Masters club, a farewell and new teachers

Alumna gives destitute girls a future

20 The Arts 38 Class Notes chronicleXtra

To read about the latest books published by Peddie alums, go to www.peddie.org/chronicle

Chronicle Vol. 138, No. 1

On the Cover Michal Petrzela ’94 and other early beneficiaries of the Annenberg gift. Page 26.

Peddie School 201 South Main Street Hightstown, NJ 08520-1010

Editor: Steve Kelly Copy Editors: Assenka Oksiloff and Patricia O’Neill Design: Carter Halliday Associates Photography: Jim Inverso, P.J. Morreale Cover Photo: P.J. Morreale Printing: Franklin Communications

Tel: 609.944.7501 Fax: 609.944.7902 skelly@peddie.org www.peddie.org

This report was printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper. Fall 2009 1

Finn M.W. Caspersen: 1941–2009

Dedicated Board Chair Dies Finn M.W. Caspersen ’59, a devoted alumnus whose generous spirit and strong leadership over four decades helped establish Peddie as one of the nation’s finest boarding schools, died on Sept. 7. He was 67. “We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend,” said Head of School John Green. “Finn was a pillar of this community, a stalwart; someone whose deep loyalty and love for Peddie were boundless. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Barbara, and the entire Caspersen family.” Mr. Caspersen visited campus as recently as June when he joined classmates for their 50th reunion. He was honored for his “unswerving dedication and vision” with the Thomas B. Peddie Award, the school’s highest alumni honor. A member of the school’s board of trustees since 1970, Mr. Caspersen became board chair in 1976. Under his leadership, which was bolstered by the historic $100 million gift from Walter H. Annenberg ’27 in 1993, Mr. Caspersen spent countless hours guiding Peddie’s ascent to the upper echelon of boarding schools. Much of the progress the school made under Mr. Caspersen’s stewardship can be attributed to a staying-ahead-of-the-curve philosophy he shared with Green shortly after he was installed as the school’s new head in 2001. “I remember the day in my office when Finn first said to me, ‘If you’re not moving forward, you’re going backward.’ It’s a belief he lived by,” said Green. Following in the footsteps of his father, who provided the capital for the Caspersen Science Center in 1964, Mr. Caspersen was the driving force behind four buildings that bear the family name: the Finn Caspersen Campus Center, the Freda Caspersen Dormitory, the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center in

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Mercer County Park and his most recent achievement, the Caspersen History House. Mr. Caspersen’s contributions, however, went far beyond bricks and mortar. He was a visionary, leading the transformation of Peddie’s academic programs and establishing the ’59 Information Network at the Annenberg Library. In 1995 when asked which of his gifts to Peddie he was most proud of, Caspersen said, “My time, the time I’ve put in. Peddie is a school on its way.” He had a wide range of philanthropic interests, but none were closer to his heart than education. “If there’s any one area of charitable endeavor that should be highlighted, it is education,” Mr. Caspersen told the Harvard Law Bulletin in 2008, “because it’s an investment in the future — an investment in human capital. I’ve been active in a range of other things, but education’s always been my particular love.” Mr. Caspersen, a 1966 alumnus of Harvard Law School, spearheaded the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of legal education for HLS. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brown University, where he later served as a trustee. Other institutions that benefitted from his dedication to education include the Hodson Trust, Drew University and the New Jersey State Board of Higher Education. He was also a passionate supporter of U.S. Rowing. In November 2003, Peddie School became the beneficiary of Mr. Caspersen’s love for the sport with the completion of the Caspersen Rowing Center, which serves as the training site for the national team, as well as Peddie crew athletes. Mr. Caspersen, who graduated cum laude and earned a National Merit Scholarship, credited the school with giving him the tools necessary to excel in college and beyond. “Peddie gave me the confidence to really achieve,” he said in 1999. “I really felt that after three years there, I could tackle almost anything.” He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and four sons.

“ We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend. Finn was a pillar of this community, a stalwart; someone whose deep loyalty and love for Peddie were boundless.” —Head of School John Green

1. Sporting his trademark bowtie, Caspersen making a speech at Ayer Memorial Chapel. 2. A youthful Caspersen in the Old Gold and Blue ’59 yearbook. He graduated cum laude and was a National Merit Scholarship recipient. 3. Caspersen, with former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who addressed the community in April 1995.

5. Finn M.W. Caspersen ’59 accepting congratulations from Head of School John Green in Ayer Memorial Chapel on June 6 after receiving the Thomas B. Peddie Award, the school’s highest alumni honor. 6. Caspersen and Walter H. Annenberg ’27 sharing a laugh in November 1995 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where school supporters joined the Peddie icons for a fundraising event.

4. Caspersen, his wife, Barbara, and family members strolling in the colonnade outside the dormitory dedicated to his mother, Freda, in October 2000.

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Joining in the Tradition. We are excited to now be Peddie Alumni. Like those who came before us, members of the class of 2009 will benefit from our Peddie experience for years to come. 112 seniors honored this experience and the difference Peddie made in our lives by making gifts to the Peddie Fund. We are proud to continue Peddie’s strong tradition of giving. Ala viva, Taylor O’Hare & Brian Reilly Co-Chairs, ’09 Senior Legacy Gift Campaign

Continue the Tradition Every gift matters. All gifts make a difference. Give online at www.peddie.org/give

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Freshmen Factoids Here’s the lowdown on the Class of 2013: If they look familiar… Among the 117 are six faculty/staff children, four legacy and 19 younger siblings. Somebody’s Perfect Five incoming freshmen had perfect SSAT scores, 28 scored 90 percent or above and their median score was 76 percent. What, no Mars? They come from Belgium, Croatia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and China, not to mention as far west as California, as far south as Florida, as far north as Idaho (yes, it reaches the Canadian border) and as far east as Massachusetts (which is more east than Hightstown).

But they’re all unique There are two of each with the following names: Alexander, Alexandra, Amanda, Andrew, Benjamin, Caroline, Christopher, Jenna, Justin, Katherine, Mackenzie, Matthew, Samantha, Stefan. There are three girls named Sarah. There is one Conor and one Connor, and there is one Hanna and one Hannah. The rest have their names all to themselves! One new frosh… started playing golf at two years old and is now a scratch golfer. … has a standing date every year for the Fourth of July as well as a number of Revolutionary War battle reenactments; he plays the drums for the Old Barracks Fife and Drum Corps! … has the position of first violin in the Youth Orchestra of Central New Jersey, but at five years old, she ran away from her violin and said she never wanted to play it again. … is the oldest of six boys, each of whom has the middle name McManus.

It’s a Fulbright for Petruniak Heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, university presidents, artists and professors. You can now add Roman Petruniak ’02 to the list of people who have earned Fulbright scholarships.

Petruniak landed the prestigious and highly selective Fulbright last spring as he was completing his studies for two Master of Arts degrees — one in art history theory and the other in arts administration — at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he also founded InCUBATE, a research institute and artist residency program dedicated to exploring new approaches to arts administration and funding. For his Fulbright, Petruniak will be studying the arts in Ukraine. “I intend to research how young contemporary artists manage to support themselves financially, especially those artists whose work is socially or politically challenging and critical, and also more ephemeral, performative or non-objective in nature,” said Petruniak, whose family tree traces back to Ukraine. Petruniak, who also earned a B.A. in art history at Penn, recognizes the important role Peddie played in his development.

enough said

FALCON 411 “I’ve been a science nerd since way back.” —Physics teacher Nick Guilbert (see story on page 32)

Falcon Call The Peddie Alumni Office is now on Facebook. You can join more than 1,700 fellow alumns who have already “friended” the Falcon simply by going to www.Facebook.com and “friending” the Falcon. Hey, you never know who you might reconnect with.

“While a senior, I took AP Art History with Mr. McClellan. That’s where it all started for me. I think it’s pretty safe to say I wouldn’t be embarking on this adventure to Ukraine if it weren’t for that course,” he said last summer. “I’m lucky to have learned early on that a nuanced understanding of artistic production and human creativity helps illuminate the character of our time in a critical manner.” He joins a list of previous Fulbright scholars from Peddie that includes Jared Daugherty ’99, a Dartmouth ’03 grad who studied in Taiwan for a year, and Lauren Bonilla ’01, a Macalaster College ’05 grad who studied in the Republic of Mongolia. The Fulbright Program, created in 1946 to foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchanges, is the U.S. government’s premier scholarship program. Thirtyseven Fulbright scholars have been awarded the Nobel Prize.

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COMMENCEMENT

2009 6 Peddie Chronicle

“While Peddie may provide you with an elite education, Peddie does not graduate elitists.”

Excerpted from the address by Head of School John Green

Peddie, the Best of Both Worlds We are terribly proud of you, my friends, but I cannot resist a few last words of advice as you leave us today. Recently, I read an article written by Dr. William Deresiewicz, a professor at Yale, titled “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education.” I was struck by the title. How can an elite Peddie education be a disadvantage? After all, you earned outstanding grades, studied to all hours in the evening, won varsity letters, performed on stage and in studios, and donated hours and hours of community service. You impressed all of us with your intellectual and extracurricular achievements, your moral and social growth, and your loyalty to each other and your school. You have been advantaged and certainly seem to me to be the better for it. You also went to Peddie — a school that has worked just as hard as you to deliver an elite education and to establish itself as one of the premier secondary schools in the nation. You attended a school with the best faculty. You attended a school with state-of-the-art facilities. You attended a school with the highest Advanced Placement scores. You attended a school that sends its graduates to the most competitive colleges and universities in the world. So, I ask again, “What are the potential disadvantages of an elite education?” Deresiewicz cites several, but I wish to discuss only two.

First, Deresiewicz argues, “An elite education makes you incapable of talking to people who are not like you.” He recalled a day when the pipes in his home needed fixing, and a plumber was standing in his kitchen. So alien was his plumber’s experience, so mysterious his very language that Dr. D. couldn’t succeed in engaging him in a few minutes of small talk. With 14 years of higher education, Deresiewicz was capable of carrying on conversations with people in different languages and different countries, but in his kitchen that day he was, as he admitted, struck dumb by his own dumbness. Though I am not certain Dr. Deresiewicz can blame his inability to speak with his plumber on a Yale education alone, I am afraid I know far too many of his pedigree from similar walks of life who suffer from this same form of stage fright. So, I asked myself: Will you graduate from Peddie and not be able to engage in small talk with a plumber or any other person who works with his or her hands? I’d like to think not. While Peddie may provide you with an elite education, Peddie does not graduate elitists. What is our secret? I would argue that it is our culture, and it is intentional and worth preservation at all costs. At Peddie, we have not only learned how to talk with a plumber and treat him with respect and affection, but we have learned how much those who are invisible to the elite do for all of us on a daily basis. Continued on page 8

Left The Class of 2009 gathers for their graduation photo with Student Body President Fernando Maldonado in blue and Senior Class President Elsie Sowah in gold.

chronicleXtra

To see a slideshow from Commencement, go to www.peddie.org/chronicle Fall 2009 7

It is not an accident that the first sentence of our school’s statement of philosophy reads: “We believe in the dignity and worth of all individuals” — not “educated” individuals or “talented” individuals but all individuals. It is not an accident that Peddie is known for its commitment to socio-economic diversity — a commitment sadly waning at most other elite colleges and preparatory schools. It is not an accident that Peddie students teach English as a Second Language to our Spanish-speaking employees. It is not an accident that you made your senior gifts in honor of Kate Higgins, a member of the faculty who will leave us after 21 years of service, but also to Frannie Laue, who has worked behind the counter in our Peddie grille even longer. It is not an accident that Peddie alumni come back and visit their former teachers and coaches but also Loretta Jaccoma in our bookstore and Tim Desmond in security, Cheryl Jamison and Richie Starcher in food service, and so many others. And, lest you think Peddie might simply be better than our peers at practicing a form of “noblesse oblige,” I believe that you will respect others not only because you should be kind — though you should — but because you know that you will need loyal followers in order to lead, as you must, or to achieve your professional aspirations. As headmaster, I learned long ago that I am at the mercy of those with whom Deresiewicz cannot relate as to whether our plans are executed and our progress assured.

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“An elite education inculcates a false sense of self-worth,” is the second disadvantage, Deresiewicz argues. “From orientation to graduation, the message implicit in every tone, every tilt of the head, and every tradition is clear: ‘Welcome to the club. You deserve everything your presence here is going to enable you to get.’” He says, “Elite schools encourage their students to flatter themselves for being there and that the elite students of today, as their institutions never tire of reminding them, are the leaders of tomorrow.” Given our disproportionate investment in your education, yes, Peddie expects that you will be the leaders of tomorrow, but not only because of your elite education or your name, or your birthplace. You should know better than that. You went to Peddie. You have had the best of both worlds. Peddie provided you with an elite education but does not tolerate smugness. In this sense, I believe that you are different from those students who enjoyed an equally elite education. You will be unique on those elite college campuses of yours — trained to excel but without that “attitude” to go along with the training. You went to Peddie. You will come from a school that has not always been considered by others as elite. You will come from a school that learned long ago to do more with less. You will come from a school grateful, of course, for its good fortune and ample resources, but whose spirit is not dependent on them.

“Our experience at Peddie has prepared us for the challenges ahead… We may take different directions in life, but we will share a special fellowship whenever we meet again.” —Cathy Xu, 2009 Valedictorian

You went to Peddie. Our school and other institutions and families have suffered as a result of the global economic downturn. We are, first and foremost, genuinely concerned for those who are suffering. We consider ourselves a nimble, tough-minded group that has been there and in fact seen worse. We saw our downturn as an opportunity to focus on what is most important — each other. I was often asked over the course of the school year whether Peddie is teaching its students enough about finance. Perhaps our inquirers had a point. Perhaps we should, as a result of the lessons learned over the last year, add finance into our

curriculum. That said, I believe that Peddie inculcated in you most that is enduring and all of what you will need to excel and eventually lead fulfilling lives of influence. Next year, tell the Dr. Deresiewiecz’s of the world through your words and, more importantly, your deeds, who you are and where you came from. Yes, you are the beneficiary of an elite education but you went to Peddie — the best of both worlds — and, therefore, you can talk with anyone and you, of all people, have no false sense of self worth. You are uniquely prepared to lead and make a difference. And lead you must. After all, you went to Peddie.

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Answer Peddie’s Call Excerpted from the Baccalaureate address by Jan Denise Loughran ’77 Several years ago I was sitting where you are sitting: excited, a bit nervous, and looking ahead to graduation. I am sure that I thought then that my Peddie career was drawing to a close — and for me, who had absolutely loved my time here, this idea was bittersweet. I am sure you are familiar with the following phrases from Peddie’s alma mater: “What’er befalls, when Peddie calls / We all shall come to thee.” Well, I have a few calls to tell you about. For several years, my only contact with Peddie was receiving the Chronicle and a thank-you note for my consistent but small donations to the Peddie Fund. Almost four years after my graduation, I received a call from my Peddie swimming coach, Jeff Lowe. He offered me a position that involved teaching English, coaching, living in a dorm and working in the Admission Office. I accepted the job. I was lucky enough to work with Mr. McMann, Ms. Gleeson, Mr. Roby McClellan and Mr. Erik Treese’s dad. I left Peddie at the end of that year to get married and move to Colorado. Around 10 years later, after returning to the area and starting a family, I received another call from Peddie. This time, it was Mort Goldfein, a member of the Committee on Trustees,

REUNION PEDDIE SCHOOL

2010

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inviting me to join Peddie’s Board of Trustees. I was the first alumna to serve and was privileged to be on the board when Ambassador Annenberg made his historic $100 million gift. The school was invigorated with new academic programs and goals. Yet the focus was not on the changes that were possible. Rather, we spent hours discussing how to maintain the essential character of the school — the “heart part.” I think we succeeded. This brings me to another Peddie phone call. In the fall of 2004, the school nurse contacted me to ask if I was aware that our youngest son, David, a first-grader, did not run. I agreed that he just “power-walked.” As he is the youngest of four, I had just assumed that he was not as athletic as the others. In December 2004 we learned that David has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was devastating news. A week or so later, the phone rang. It was Ms. Gleeson inviting my family to Vespers. I was touched, well aware of the caring spirit that is so much a part of Peddie. I came to Vespers with my family, comforted by all of the support that this community gives so readily. It reaffirmed my commitment to Peddie and my decision to have Rory apply. Rory began at Peddie the following September. And in less than a year, there was one more call from Peddie. This time it was Mr. McMann offering me a job in the English department. I accepted. Several of the faculty members joke with me every time we sing the alma mater because I really have answered Peddie’s call many times — for all of the right reasons. This is a wonderful school filled with people who care about one another. So here is my message to you, the Class of 2009: Share what you have learned here about community in the communities you will join; keep in touch with those who have made a difference in your lives; and, finally, remember to answer Peddie’s call. You’ll be glad you did! “Ala viva!”

Save the Date!

Reunion Weekend is June 4-5 To help Peddie plan the event, please contact Reunion Director Karin Morse (kmorse@peddie.org).

What’er befalls, when Peddie calls, we all shall come to thee.

Q&A Ask the Expert on College Counseling Peddie’s Director of College Counseling Ted de Villafranca, who last spring answered readers’ questions for the New York Times’ blog, The Choice, offers advice to parents and students. Q: What advice do you have for the parents who are just getting started in the college process? A: Never listen to your neighbor! I know that sounds odd — and it is meant a little tongue in cheek — but everyone’s college process is unique to their set of circumstances, and therefore unlikely to be repeated. Remember that people create mythologies around a certain set of experiences that may or may not be wholly accurate. What’s essential here is that the process encourages valuable

lessons, and important conversations with your child—times when you get to find out what’s really important to them and talk to them about how decisions are made, and more. More strategically, think about places that are out of your home region. I bet Grinnell College in Iowa gets fewer apps from the midAtlantic than does Colgate University in New York, which, if you are focused on rankings, shares almost the same rank. What advice do you have for younger students and their parents? For younger students, think about the courses you take and want to take, and the reasons you are taking them. Also, plan your summers carefully, but in that planning include a time just to “hang out.” We need to remember that everyone should have the chance to rejuvenate and recharge. For parents, watch your child’s growth

and development. Look at the clues of where success is coming and offer the support accordingly. Plan the academic schedule so your child can achieve successfully while also being challenged appropriately. It does no good to take the most rigorous courses if the student is not going to be successful in them. How soon is too soon to visit colleges? If you are on a family holiday and you pass a college — check it out. Keep in mind certain questions about language… how do they describe themselves, etc. Check out the different kinds of colleges from urban to rural, big to small to see what “fits and feels” best. Hint: while on a tour look at deferred maintenance. Are the buildings being kept up? That could be a sign of other issues. And ask about the graduate school placement. Where are the kids going after they graduate?

College and University Destinations for the Class of 2009 (one student unless otherwise noted) Allegheny College (Trustee Scholar) Auburn University Babson College (Randolph S. Hicks Peddie ’83 Scholar) Bard College Bentley University (Presidential Scholar) Berklee College of Music Boston College / 2 Boston University (Trustee Scholar) Bowdoin College / 2 Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University / 3 Case Western Reserve University Chestnut Hill College Clemson University Colgate University / 3 College of Charleston College of William and Mary Columbia University / 2 Connecticut College Cornell University / 4 Davidson College / 3 (Belk Scholar) Denison University Elon University / 2 Emory University Fordham University (Loyola Scholar) Furman University Georgetown University / 3

Gettysburg College (Dean’s Scholar) Hamilton College / 2 Harvard University / 3 Haverford College Hollins University Indiana University Johns Hopkins University / 3 Lafayette College / 2 (Marquis Scholar) Lehigh University / 2 Mount Holyoke College New York University / 2 Northeastern University (Excellence Scholar) Princeton University / 3 Quinnipiac University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Leadership Scholar) Rhode Island School of Design Rider University Salisbury University Seton Hall University Smith College / 2 Stanford University Stevens Institute of Technology / 2 (Presidential Scholar) Swarthmore College / 2 Syracuse University The College of New Jersey The University of Arizona

The University of North Carolina Trinity University (President’s Scholar) Tufts University / 2 United States Coast Guard Academy United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy / 4 University of California at Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Connecticut University of Notre Dame / 2 University of Pennsylvania / 6 University of Richmond / 4 University of Rochester / 3 (Dean’s, Meliora and ROTC Scholar) University of Toronto University of Virginia / 2 Villanova University / 3 Virginia Polytechnic Institute / 2 Wake Forest University Warren Wilson College Washington College Washington University in St. Louis / 4 (Thomas H. Eliot Scholar) Wellesley College / 3 Williams College Wofford College (Wofford Scholar) Yale University / 2 Fall 2009 11

REUNION WEEKEND A Celebration Fit for a Peddie Icon

Generations of graduates, nearly 500 in all, descended on campus last June under Peddie blue skies for the school’s annual Reunion Weekend to reminisce with friends, rejoice in their alma mater and recognize the extraordinary service of a legendary alumnus. The late Finn M.W. Caspersen ’59, whose “unswerving dedication and vision” have driven Peddie to the upper echelon of the preeminent college preparatory schools in the nation, was presented by Head of School John Green with the school’s highest honor, The Thomas B. Peddie Award, during a dignified ceremony in Ayer Memorial Chapel on the board chairman’s 50th reunion. Alumni of all ages, including an impressive showing by the Class of 2004

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in its first reunion year, flocked to campus from far and near to make new memories and enjoy the activities planned by Reunion Director Karin Morse. “It was gratifying to see so many alums return to campus for the weekend. It’s a great reminder of the many longlasting friendships that have been made during the years here at Peddie,” said Morse, who credited Reunion Co-Chairs Mort “Skip” Goldfein ’59 and Mary Tennyson Mahoney ’94 and all of the reunion volunteers with making the weekend a success. The weekend got off to a soggy start as the annual Thomas DeGray Classic Golf Tournament was played in a drenching rain, but participants

warmed up at a Friday evening barbeque and clambake. When more alumni arrived for Saturday’s festivities, bright skies prevailed. Alumni gathered for lunch under the big tent on Center Campus, enjoyed an alumni lacrosse game, then reconvened under the tent for a dance party featuring a Bruce Springsteen tribute band to cap off the day. Earlier in the day, six athletes and a team were inducted into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame. (See story, Page 14) chronicleXtra

To see a slideshow from Alumni Weekend, go to www.peddie.org/ chronicle

Fall 2009 13

SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Former Falcon Greats Join the Club By Doug Mariboe ’69

Six outstanding athletes and citizens plus a World War II-era Falcon basketball squad that defined teamwork were enshrined in Peddie’s Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies held during Reunion Weekend at the Walter H. Annenberg Library. Soccer and wrestling standout Yusuf “Joe” Javeri ’54; triple-threat H. Fletcher Bedell Jr. ’59 for cross country, indoor and outdoor track; speedster L. Deckle McLean ’59 for football and track; soccer and golf captain Jim Schmutz ’79; diver extraordinaire Keith Harris ’84; basketball stalwart Lauren Kokotajlo ’99; and the 1944 Basketball Team joined 89 other Falcon luminaries in Peddie’s Sports Hall of Fame. Dick Joslin ’60 of the Hall of Fame staff moderated the 22nd annual celebration ceremonies.

Yusuf “Joe” Javeri ’54 Wrestling and soccer | Presented by Palmer McGrew ’54 Almost from the moment he arrived in Hightstown from Karachi, Pakistan, at age 13, everyone knew that this was no “average Joe” among Peddie student-athletes. For starters, Yusuf “Joe” Javeri pinned his first wrestling opponent in 20 seconds, won two varsity letters and a valedictory prize, and got himself elected president — all before even finishing junior school. Once an upperclassman, Yusuf set the unusual and strenuous goal of graduating in three years instead of four and succeeded in doing so by devoting his summer vacations to Peddie summer school. His remarkable self-discipline also produced a long list of athletic accomplishments in wrestling and soccer during his abbreviated high school career.

H. Fletcher Bedell ’59 Cross country and track | Presented by Mort Goldfein ’59 While there have been a number of three-sport captains in Peddie‘s long athletic history, only a few could match the record of H. Fletcher Bedell ’59. At the core of Bob Lawson’s successful program, “Fletch” was truly a man for all seasons,

ABOVe Sports Hall of Fame 2009 inductees, from left: Keith Harris, Jim Schmutz, Lauren Kokotajlo, Deckle McLean, Fletcher Bedell Jr. and Hampton Corson, representing the 1944 basketball team. Yusuf Javeri was unable to attend due to illness. 14 Peddie Chronicle

excelling on the pavement of Etra Road in the fall, the groaning icy boards in the winter and the cinders of the Annenberg Track in the spring. On Prize Day 1959, Fletch won both the Osias Honor Plaque for most improvement in track and field and the Weed Honor Trophy, awarded to that member of the cross country team “who proves himself to be outstanding in qualities of sportsmanship, leadership and ability.”

Editor’s Note: H. Fletcher Bedell passed away on Sept. 16.

L. Deckle McLean ’59 Football and track | Presented by Geoff Harlan Deckle epitomizes the “scholar-athlete.” His exploits on the gridiron and the track as well as his conduct as a student and leader in the Peddie community make him worthy of induction. Six varsity letters in football and track are evidence of Deckle’s success wearing the Old Gold and Blue. Starting as a 165-pound halfback for Coach Mickey Shuman, the man he credits with teaching him how to carry the ball and carry one’s self in life, Deckle’s achievements are recorded in stirring news accounts of multiple long touchdown runs. In three years on the Annenberg Track, Deckle was rarely defeated at 60 or 100 yards. As a senior, he qualified for the national indoor meet. In the state spring meet, he won both the 100 and 220.

Jim Schmutz ’79

Lauren Kokotajlo ‘99

Soccer and golf | Presented by Barb Grudt

Basketball | Presented by Sean Casey

Jim Schmutz was possibly the best “keeper” in New Jersey his senior year. He was overwhelmingly voted captain of the soccer team for his “cool-headed” leadership. Receiving honorable mention All-Prep accolades as a junior, Jim was an integral part of the “diamond defense” executed by the team, which ranked third in the state that year. His soccer trajectory began as a sophomore on the varsity squad when he recorded two shutouts.

Lauren will forever be remembered for setting the girls’ basketball program on a course from relative obscurity to national prominence with her skill and relentless determination. “Kooks”— as she was affectionately known by her classmates — spent countless hours perfecting her game.

On the golf course, Jim was just as skilled. Jim captained the golf team as well, earning honors such as the Golf Trophy for “ability, loyalty and sportsmanship” and a berth on the Blair-Stowe team that traveled to England.

Keith Harris ’84 Diving | Presented by Doug Mariboe ’69 A four-time Eastern Inter-Scholastic diving champion, Keith Harris ’84 set the bar in his sport. He reigned undefeated over all his competitors, and 25 years later he still ranks first in the Falcon record books on the one-meter board for the six and 11 dive categories. Despite the saying “records are meant to be broken,” the standards set by Harris may stand the test of time. Keith went on to become a four-year letter winner for the Texas Longhorns and earned All-America honors on both the one- and three-meter boards at NCAA Championships.

During her sophomore year, Lauren cemented her name in Peddie athletics lore by making “the shot.” In the waning moments of the state finals against Mt. St. Dominic’s, Kokotajlo came off a screen and connected on a game-winning threepointer that earned Peddie its first state title in 11 years and launched a 13-year title streak that lives today.

1944 Basketball Team Presented by Bob Tucker ’44

Imagine the odds of not just one … not just two … but three Peddie Sports Hall of Fame basketball teams in the span of just four years. Now imagine it happening during the daunting and disruptive years of World War II, when team schedules and transportation were in disarray, and scores of Peddie’s athletes volunteered for military service prior to graduation. Led by captain Hampton “Ham” Corson, the 1944 Peddie basketball squad was one of the teams that gloriously defied those odds, thanks to the sparkling performance of an outstanding lineup that included Fred A. Scheidig Jr. ’45, Charles R. Ludman ’44, Joaquin Molinet Jr. ’45, Raymond C. Forbes ’45, and Johnny W. Arbogast Jr. ’44.

Show Your

Pride

ARTWORK TO COME FROM FRANKLIN Just Click ’n’ Buy Plus, hats, jackets, coffee mugs, book bags, blankets and more. Visit the School Store website at www.peddie.org or call 609.490.7537 Fall 2009 15

SPRING

SPORTS WRAP

Girls’ Crew Shines on Both Sides of Pond By Doug Mariboe ’69 It was a memorable spring for the Peddie girls’ crew team. After capturing another national championship, they crossed the pond and reached the finals of the Henley Regatta in England in their first appearance in the famed event. For the third time in four years, the girls’ four with coxswain won the grand final at the USRowing Youth National Championships on Harsha Lake in Ohio. Senior stroke Shelley Pearson, senior three-seat Reva Geier, senior two-seat Erica Lockard, sophomore bow Sarah Libfraind and senior coxswain Emily Boudreau powered to a 9.49-second victory over the 2,000-meter course, clocking 7:24:98. After catching their breath, the girls crossed the Atlantic (in a jet) and cruised into the finals against England’s school-girl champion, Lady Eleanor Holles School. They entered the final

16 Peddie Chronicle

as the favorite based on their qualifying time, which set a course record and topped the field by 10 seconds. The Falcons’ journey ended in disappointment, though, when a “crab” (when an oar gets caught in the force of the water and comes out of the rower’s hands) forced them to settle for second place. “If we had lost to a better crew, it might almost be easier to take,” said Coach Barb Grudt. “There is no question this loss hurts more knowing what might have been. But that’s part of racing. I’m proud of everything the girls have accomplished this year.” The girls’ quartet, with sophomore cox Avery Steele, also took gold at the Scholastic Nationals on Mercer Lake in the spring. On the boys’ side, the cox four team of senior coxswain Laura Wyrick, junior stroke Aidan Wojtech, junior three-seat Jonathan Hornyak, sophomore two-seat Andrew Lahr and junior Tyler Nebel at bow, reached the semifinals, but fell short in their bid for a grand finals spot in Ohio.

Girls’ Lax Nets Another Banner Year Junior attack Gabby Horner and freshman midfielder Taylor Pennell each scored four goals as the Peddie girls’ lacrosse team captured its second consecutive Mid-Atlantic Prep League Lacrosse Championship with a 19–7 thumping of Lawrenceville. Both teams came into the contest with 4–0 league marks, and the Falcons ended things early by jumping out to a 9–0 advantage. Coach Allison Treese’s squad concluded another banner campaign at 13–2. Senior Carolyn Gorajek closed out a marvelous four-year career with two goals and four helpers to put her final numbers at 158 goals and 59 assists for 217 points. Her sister Lauren, a freshman, also sparkled with a hat trick and an assist. In five league games the Falcons outscored their rivals, 92-31. The defense was led by seniors Claire Engelman, Bridget Lang, and Katrina and Lauren Smedley. Senior keeper Neha Sobti was stingy in goal. The two losses of the season came against Oak Knoll, 15-13, in the state finals and perennial national powerhouse Moorestown High School. Horner and Lang were recognized as US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans at season’s end.

A sudden-death team playoff brought the annual NJISAA Prep ‘A’ Golf championships to a gripping conclusion at the Peddie Golf Course as senior Warren Taylor sank a birdie putt on the ninth hole to give his Peddie teammates a dramatic win over Lawrenceville. In another exhilarating finish, Connor Monaghan ’09 claimed his first-ever individual title on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. At the MAPL, Taylor and Monaghan crafted a magnificent 33 playing alternate ball on the front nine en route to a tournament best 70. Following close behind were sophomore Conor Pocino and freshman Nitis Udornpim, who earned a 75 to secure third place.

Girls’ Golf Cruises to MAPL and Prep Titles Under the tutelage of Coach Roby McClellan, Peddie’s girl golfers rolled to impressive victories in the post season. The Falcons won the inaugural MAPL by nine strokes over Hill School as senior Lisa Lebak carded a nine-hole 41 at Blair Academy’s par–35 course.

Classmate Joyce Suh and sophomore MaryRose Croddick Molyneaux each chipped in 44s. Peddie won its third consecutive NJISAA Girls State Golf Championship by a commanding 10 shots on Peddie’s par–37 front nine. Suh and Croddick Molyneaux finished in third and fifth place, respectively, to lead the Falcons.

Boys’ Tennis Sets High Marks Peddie School boys’ tennis team was dominant at the 2009 NJISAA Prep ‘A’ Tournament as they swept all three singles and the No. 1 flight doubles. Taking home the No. 1 singles title was senior Chris Rosensteel with a comefrom-behind victory. Sophomore Tim Rosensteel captured top honors in second singles, and junior Aaron Lau wrapped up the sweep with a straight sets triumph. In No. 1 doubles action, seniors Austin Belcak and Nikhil Lakhanpal claimed the title by defeating a Lawrenceville pair in a three-set nail-biter.

Lots of Hardware and Good Sports, too Peddie athletes piled up the trophies last year, bringing home 11 MAPL championships in eight sports, but none were more impressive than the honor they received at season’s end from their competitors.

Boys’ Golf Drives to Perfect Record

Falcon student-athletes, coaches and fans were chosen as the winner of the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Prep League Headmaster’s Cup for Sportsmanship.

Armed with depth and talent, the Peddie golf team tore through their dual-meet season unblemished at 14–0, retained the Jeffrey Leibovit Cup against Lawrenceville, captured the prestigious Garden State Cup and for good measure, added the MAPL and Prep ‘A’ to its winning résumé.

“Sportsmanship is a core value of the MAPL,” said Head of School John Green, “and winning the award is a real tribute to our student-athletes and coaches who perform with pride and distinction. Anytime you are recognized by your peers, it is truly an honor.” Voting was conducted after each season and tabulated in the spring to determine the winner of the Headmaster’s Cup.

Fall 2009 17

Undefeated in league play during the regular season, the Falcons won the first-ever MAPL tournament and its first conference title since 2000.

Boys’ Lacrosse Takes Down Trio of Top Teams Playing a ramped-up schedule, Peddie’s boys’ lacrosse team knocked off top 10 New Jersey opponents Cherokee, Immaculata and St. Augustine. The Falcons ended the season at 11–7, the second double-digit win season in a row for Head Coach Ross Turco ’96. Peddie’s 7–6 win over No. 2 St. Augustine was arguably the biggest win in Turco’s career. Senior Sam Garrabrant netted three goals and classmate Rory Loughran added two scores and three assists in the upset. Sophomore goalie Ethan Kibrick made several spectacular stops among his 14 saves. Senior captain Kyle Stiefel netted 100 goals his last two seasons and garnered the 2009 Outstanding Player Award.

Baseball Topsy-turvy Season a Thrill Ride Incredible thrills highlighted a roller coaster 7-10 baseball season that came to an end with an 11-6 loss to Blair in the semifinal round of the

New Jersey Independent Schools Athletic Association Prep A Tournament. In April, senior Brandon Yarusi cooled off the bats of West WindsorPlainsboro North en route to his first career no-hitter. William Thompson Field has witnessed some bizarre finishes, but a game played in steady drizzle against Princeton Day School ranks near the top of the unlikely list of wins. The Falcons entered their final at bat trailing 6–3. Navy-bound Ryan Dishman started the miracle finish with a one-out, tworun homer to make it 6–5. A double, an error, and fielder’s choice set up the winning run on third with two outs. Pinch runner Tosin Kazeem was on third when the umpire yelled balk for a “balk-off ” 7–6 win.

Softball Looks to Rebound in 2010 Losing for the first time in the NJISAA Prep “A” tournament since 2004, Peddie was denied a chance to defend their four-year reign as The Hun School of Princeton defeated the Falcons 3–1 in the semifinals. Eve Clausen pitched well enough to win, striking out 12. Fouryear veteran Lisa Faraci, the lone senior, was the sparkplug for the Falcons, who finished at 8–9.

With a core of players returning next year, Coach Tim O’Reilly is optimistic that the Falcons will return to form.

Two Excel at Track and Field Championships Sophomore Jon Astemborski and junior Bridgette McKnight stockpiled medals at the NJISAA Prep “A” and MAPL championships. Astemborski finished first in the javelin at states and was Peddie’s only double winner in the MAPL, where he launched the javelin 167–7 and the discus 137–0. Senior Daniel Santos claimed silver in the triple jump, while freshman John Martin took third in the high jump at the NJISAA championships. In the running events, junior Stef Valle had the top placement for the Falcons with a bronze in the 1,600 meters (4:28.04). The boys’ team finished fourth at states and third in the MAPLs. McKnight took the gold in the shot put and placed third in the discus in the girls’ states and MAPLs. Her best throws were 35–9 ½ in the shot and 84–11 in the discus. Sophomore Sarah Newberry finished second in the 800 meters at states. The Peddie quartet of freshman Kelly Bailey, Newbury, senior Alex Von Arx and senior Jackie Wang ran away from the field in the 4x800-meter relay at the MAPL championship.

Falcon Feats / Peddie Athletes in College Action By Doug Mariboe ’69

Cornell University

Georgetown University

Gettysburg College

Ben Perry ’08 helped Big Red’s frosh eight boat win impressively at the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges in Worcester, Mass. The EARC Eastern Sprints are considered the premier rowing event for collegiate rowing on the East Coast. Perry, who earned Outstanding Rower honors at Peddie in ’08, was inducted into the school’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society, an organization dedicated to honoring scholarship in secondary schools.

Former Peddie Falcon three-sport standout Stevie Bauer ’05 was selected by the Chicago Machine in the fourth round of the Major League Lacrosse collegiate draft held in May. A leader on the Georgetown defense, Bauer was often assigned to defend the opposition’s top offensive player. He earned second team All-ECAC honors and was selected as an honorable mention All America by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.

Hollis Stahl ’06 capped an outstanding season by being named Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA)/US Lacrosse Division III All-America First Team. Stahl finished fourth in the conference in goals with 64 goals. She also finished among the team leaders in ground balls, draw controls, and caused turnovers. She was selected as Centennial Conference Player of the Year. The junior netted 11 goals in three NCAA Tournament games.

Men’s Crew

18 Peddie Chronicle

Men’s lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse

New-Look Lineup for Athletic Dept.

Douthett ’03 Golden in World Cup Lax

As Peddie ushers in a new era with its versatile turf field and soon-to-be-open pool, a dedicated new Athletic Department lineup is in place. Susan Cabot has returned as the leader of the Athletic Department in the role of interim director of athletics, a post she held for nine years from 1997-2006. She replaces Geoff Harlan, who, after three years as athletic director, decided to return to New England with his family and serve as the director of the annual fund for the Hillside School in Marlborough, Mass. “I am so pleased that Sue was willing to return to this role and guide the department as she has done so capably in the past,” said Head of School John Green. “With as many moving parts in our athletic program as there are today, including completing the renovation and expansion of our athletic center, there is no one who knows this area of the school better.” In addition, Peddie has also named Marc Buchner ’92 assistant director of athletics. A member of the Peddie mathematics department since 2004, Buchner has coached lacrosse, basketball and tennis at the junior varsity level. The departure of Harlan also left a head coaching vacancy in the Peddie football program, which will be filled by Frank deLaurentis. No stranger to the role, deLaurentis walked the Peddie sidelines as head coach of the football program from 1996-2005 and as defensive coordinator the past three seasons under Harlan. “I was honored to be asked by John Green if I would consider returning as head coach,” said deLaurentis. “I stepped away because I needed time away from the responsibilities of being the head coach. I learned a great deal the past three years and have been able to recharge my enthusiasm for the game.” Another new member of the team is Mike Volkmar, Peddie’s new strength and conditioning coach. Volkmar spent the last three years at Apex Academies, the International Performance Institute in Bradenton, Fla.

Whitney Douthett ‘03 and an untested group of World Cup lacrosse rookies journeyed to Prague, Czech Republic, and came away with gold. A defensive midfielder, Douthett helped Team USA capture the FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup 2009 Championship with an 8–7 victory over defending champion Australia in June, capping a 7–0 run through the tourney that included two one-goal wins over the Aussies. The victory avenged a defeat at the hands of Australia, which beat the U.S. in the 2005 final in Annapolis, Md. Douthett, the former Dartmouth All-America who played in two NCAA Final Fours with the Big Green, was part of a unique, 18-woman U.S. National Team, as it was the first World Cup for every player on the squad. She scored five goals, added an assist and collected 11 groundballs in the tourney. She is a sales associate for Majestic Research, an equity research company in New York, lives in New York City and plays lacrosse with the New York Athletic Club. “It’s much harder to train once you are out of college,” she said. “When I was in school, training was built into my schedule, but now that I’m out and have a full-time job, it’s a big commitment, and there were times when it was difficult. It took a lot of time and work, but making the World Cup team has made it worth every minute of effort I put into it.” During her four-year career at Peddie, Douthett led the soccer and basketball teams to four consecutive state championships and guided the lacrosse team to its last state title in 2003.

University of Pennsylvania

Union College Baseball

Wellesley College

Softball

Jamie Boccanfuso ’08 had an impressive rookie campaign at shortstop as she registered a team-high 49 hits in 44 games for the Quakers’ softball team, including two home runs and six doubles, for a .353 batting average. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Ivy second team. The freshman’s 49 hits ranked her sixth in the Ivies this season and the most by any freshmen. For Peddie, she registered a career average of .560 with 15 home runs.

A jack-of-all-trades on the baseball diamond, Shawn Johnston ’05 played the outfield, caught and played third base. In 2007 he was named to the Liberty League All-Academic team. He hit .325 his junior year and closed out his senior year with a .317 average, including four home runs and 21 RBI. His Peddie teammate Ryan Bowes ’05 started 78 games behind the plate for the Dutchmen and batted .297 his senior year.

Capping a stellar pitching career for the Blue, Barbarajean Grundlock ’05 was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association All-New England team. The senior pitcher and captain finished 2009 with a 14–9 record and a 2.20 ERA. She also racked up 192 strikeouts, while opposing batters hit only .220 against her. Grundlock, an economics/anthropology major, ended her career at Wellesley with a 31–17 overall record and two no-hitters.

Softball

Fall 2009 19

THE ARTS

Shining Moments Peddie students showcased their extraordinary array of talents in shows last spring for the Peddie community. Performing music ranging from Coldplay, Mozart, Miles Davis, the Beatles and Leonard Bernstein, the Music Department’s concert under the musical direction of Alan Michaels and choral direction of Marisa Green included something for everyone, with the Symphonic Orchestra, acaFellas, Chamber Orchestra, Treblemakers, Concert Bank, Peddie Singers, The Pulse, String Orchestra and the Chorus all shining. Pianist Joo Hee Park ’09 dazzled the appreciative audience with her solo piece. Also on the William Mount-Burke Theatre stage, the Underclassmen Players brought Charles Dickens’ classic tale Nicholas Nickleby to life. Ten freshmen, 11 sophomores and two juniors portrayed 37 different characters under the direction of drama instructor Harry Holcombe. Applying a myriad of styles and perspectives, visual art students filled Swig Arts Center with an impressive collection of works displayed during two vibrant shows, the Honors Visual Arts Thesis and Spring Visual Arts exhibitions, to close out the 2008–09 school year.

Henry McCarthy ’12, who played the lead role in the springtime Underclassmen Players’ production of Nicholas Nickleby, and, from left, Ande Sabo, Lindsay Spring, and Julia Dodds, all ’12, performing at William Mount-Burke Theatre.

2009–10 Campus Arts Calendar

Pianist Joo Hee Park ’09 performing concerto in A minor from Edvard Grieg’s first movement.

November

Artwork by Cathy Xu ’09.

Peddie Singers, from left, Isaac Kim ’11, Damiano DiFlorio ’11 and Zachary Kaiser ’10 belting out a song in style.

Artwork by Alexandra Bellows ’09.

Joo Hee Park enjoying the audience’s response to her brilliant performance.

Artwork by Jacob Greenberg ’09

Harry Gensemer ’12 playing the trombone in Peddie’s jazz ensemble, The Pulse.

5-7 11 12

Upperclassmen Play The Children’s Hour, 8 p.m. Student Fall Art Exhibit, 6:30–8 p.m. Student Fall Music Concert, 7:30 p.m.

December 4-17 Mariboe Gallery: Cathy Watkins opening-night reception, 6:30–8 p.m. 5 dre.dance beyond words, 8 p.m. 10 Declamation Contest, 7:30 p.m. 16 Vespers Holiday Concert, 7:30 p.m. January

8–27 Mariboe Gallery: Sculptor Jim Clark opening-night reception, 6:30–8 p.m. Falcon Follies: Faculty/Student variety show, 9 7:30 p.m. 29–Feb. 17 Bezalel Exchange Artist opening-night reception, 6:30–8 p.m. 29 Festival Coffee House Concert, 7:30 p.m. Featuring alumni Lindsay and Alexis Powell February

18–20 Winter musical Grease, 8 p.m. 21 Art Space at Homefront opening-night reception, 6:30–8 p.m. Student Winter Art Exhibit, 6:30–8 p.m. 24 26 Student Winter Music Concert, 7:30 p.m. March 26–April 14 Mariboe Gallery: MAPL Art Competition opening-night reception, 6:30–8 p.m. April 8 14 28–30 30

Reeves Speaking Contest, 7:30 p.m. Paul Watkins Annual Reading, 7:30 p.m. Honors Theater One-Act Plays, 8 p.m. Honors Thesis Art Exhibit, 6:30–8 p.m.

8 May 2 Student Music Recital, 2 p.m. 14–15 Underclassmen Play The Man Who Came to Dinner, 8 p.m. 17 Better Beginnings second annual Art Exhibit, 6:30 p.m. 20 Student Spring Music Concert, 7:30 p.m. 25 Student Spring Art Exhibit, 6:30–8 p.m.

Fall 2009 21

center campus Students posing with each other and some of the island’s natural inhabitants.

Students’ Summertime Classroom:

The Galapagos Islands For 13 students who studied field ecology last spring in Hightstown, Peddie’s extended classroom reached all the way to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands during the summer. While hiking atop volcanoes, crawling through lava tunnels and swimming with penguins, students utilized the field research skills and ecological principles they studied in the classroom. “Reading about a place is never the same as actually going and experiencing a place for yourself; just like seeing a picture of an animal is not the same as standing right next to it,” said senior Jenna Zhang, who listed iguanas, sea lions and tortoises as just a few of the species they encountered up close. “The trip was just so much more than you could ever learn in a classroom.” Exploring the islands was Zhang’s favorite aspect of the adventure. “You could be walking the beach one minute, then driving through a cactus forest the next, and then move into a rainy forest of banana, orange and papaya trees,” she said. Science teacher Scott McCormick led the journey. “The kids got a great opportunity to see how seemingly small changes in geography and climate can make huge differences

Peddie Students Sparkle in AP Testing Thanks to a faculty dedicated to helping students achieve their intellectual potential, Peddie students have yet again produced impressive Advanced Placement test results.

in the type of ecosystem and the wildlife found there,” he said. “The students also were really made aware of the connections between our actions as tourists and the environment we visit, and how we can practice responsible travel to lessen our impact.” The two-week trip included a service component. The students collected more than 30 bags of recyclables, helping to promote greater awareness among the locals about this important issue. And they cleaned and painted classrooms in a school on Isabela Island.

Green: Enjoy the Ride “Are you prepared to ride uphill this year in order to enjoy the ride down?” That was the question posed to Peddie students in September by Head of School John Green, whose Convocation speech was inspired by an “exhilarating” summertime ride he took on one of the country’s oldest roller coasters, the Cyclone on Coney Island. Green compared the necessary, but “painfully slow” climb up the coaster’s steepest hill to the hard work students will have to put in if they wish to reach their goals and have the opportunity to throw their arms up in the air in joy the way he did — however slightly — on the way down that day in Brooklyn. Green noted to students a major difference between his coaster ride and their ability to achieve their dreams this year:

for the second consecutive year. For students of AP Art History, the course lasts a lifetime. A 1990 Peddie graduate wrote, “his AP Art History class and his enthusiasm teaching it made me fall in love with fine art and it has been a passion of mine ever since.”

80%

Eighty percent of Peddie’s test-takers earned a “4” or “5” on the exams, the highest scores possible. By comparison, the national distribution of 4’s and 5’s is only 34 percent. More than 90 percent of Peddie’s test-takers earned a “3” or better.

Setting the Standard

34%

In all, 359 exams were taken, with 92 percent attaining passing scores (3 and above) and 53% scoring a perfect “5” on the 1–5 point scale. Particularly impressive were student performances in history, science, and mathematics. Longtime Peddie art history teacher Roby McClellan saw 100 percent of his students earn 4’s and 5’s

22 Peddie Chronicle

Peddie

National

In 2009 Advanced Placement exams, the percentage of Peddie students earning a “4” or “5” was more than double the national average.

In Ayer Memorial Chapel, John Green describing his roller-coaster ride.

Drama teacher Jeffrey “Harry” Holcombe, a chaperone for the trip, taking a much-deserved break.

Students soaking in a Gettysburg battlefield.

“I knew I would be rewarded for my patience and courage and go down the hill. You can’t be so certain.”

Washington, D.C. in June, though, it may be the lessons they learned about themselves that will prove most valuable.

Some students will be rewarded for their determination, discipline and courage, but many others, he said, may not achieve their dreams, at least not this year.

“I came to a realization that no matter what kind of situation or circumstance I was in, if I put my mind to it with great determination, I could get the job done … I was able to get to know ‘me’ better,’” said Isaac, who while at Gettysburg found himself envisioning how the historic site would have looked during the battle.

“Whether or not you achieve your dreams, you will be a stronger person and your life richer for having gone up hill — for having tried,” he said. “Crowning achievements last a few moments. What you learn from your journey will last a lifetime.” chronicleXtra

Jill added, “I learned that I should not judge people too quickly because after going on this bike trip I have made some of the greatest friends that I will keep forever. I also learned that I should not complain about something before actually doing it because each event the day brings is a new adventure.”

To view a video of John Green’s Convocation speech, go to www.peddie.org/chronicle

At the outset of the trip, Isaac said, trip leader Pat Clements told the students to embrace this attitude: “It is not about me because it is about us.”

A History Lesson — and Then Some — on Wheels

Over the next 10 days, students did everything with and for each other, including shopping, cooking, setting up camp and encouraging each other as they scaled a healthy dose of challenging hills. Existing outside their comfort zone all the while, Isaac said, “was living life without the icing and the sprinkles.”

Whether it’s the farmland of Amish Country, the battlefields of Gettysburg, Harper’s Ferry, the Capitol or points in between, opportunities to learn about the lifestyles and history of the changing landscape roll by one after the other over the course of cycling 210 miles along the back roads of America. For Isaac Kim, Jill Skipper and the other 24 now juniors who made the annual sophomore bike trip from Peddie to

Much like the students of art history, students of U.S. History learn more than a sampling of facts. “Erik (Treese) and I feel good that the students are getting a thorough background in U.S. history and are learning to write well, read documents carefully and appreciate their nation’s past,” said Peter Kraft, History Department chair. Peddie students continue to excel on AP science exams as well. Ninety-six percent of Peddie’s AP Biology students earned a “4” or “5;” a remarkable 75 percent finished with a 5. AP Biology teacher Kevin Brown credited his colleagues with preparing the students for the course. “The students need to come into the course with a good base of fundamental knowledge so that we can spend the year layering detail and complexities onto that initial framework,” he said. Peddie’s Mathematics Department recorded a set of AP scores on a par with last year’s record-breaking results. In all, 77 tests

were taken in Calculus and Statistics, with 100 percent

Clements’ team of trusty chaperones included none other than longtime drama instructor Jeffrey “Harry” Holcombe, who cycled for about 35 miles of the journey, including an impressive 14-mile stretch along the Potomac River. When he wasn’t pedaling, Holcombe drove the support vehicles. He especially enjoyed the camping, thanks to his “comfy three-inch thick air mattress.”

scoring 3 or above, and 84 percent scoring 4 and above. “Nearly 50 percent of the graduating seniors will have successfully completed an AP mathematics course,” said Tim Corica, Mathematics Department chair. Nineteen of the 20 students who took the AP Calculus BC exam scored a “5,” with one earning a “4.” Andrew Caglieris, who teaches that course and AP Statistics, remarked that “a spirit of cooperation, not competition dominates the class.” This does not happen by chance. Caglieris crafts his classes to teach students to work together. “If a visitor stepped into any one of these classes, he or she would see students participating in and enjoying some of our most rigorous courses. These are not ‘grinds;’ there’s laughter, there’s serious play, and there’s celebration of the talents of each student,” said Catherine Rodrigue, assistant head for teaching and academic programs.

Fall 2009 23

Firsts in Peddie History 23. 17.

6. 20. 16.

Put your Peddie thinking cap on again. Match these moments in the school’s history, researched and compiled by Peddie historian Dr. David “Doc” Martin, with the year in which they occurred (see list on opposite page). The answers appear at the bottom of the next page. 1.

Manuel Amador, from Cartagena, Colombia became the school’s first international student, and Alice McChesney became the school’s first female graduate. _____

The inaugural Declamation Contest was held. _____

A telephone was installed on campus. _____

Peddie’s first interscholastic football game was a 10–0 loss to Pennington. _____

5. 6.

First valedictory address spoken in English (they were given in Latin before then). _____ The first classes were held in the old Baptist Meeting House on Main Street (now the Sunday School wing of the Hightstown Baptist Church). Tuition was $54 a year. Edgar Haas (right) was principal. Five months later his twin brother Edwin joined him as co-principal. The Haas brothers helped the school off to a fine start before leaving unexpectedly in early 1868 to found a new school in Bordentown, which did not last very long. _____

Electric lights were installed on campus. _____

Samuel V. Hulse became Peddie’s first graduate. He went on to attend Harvard. Later that year, Wilson Hall, which was demolished in 1978, was the first building dedicated. _____

The Winters Prize Speaking Contest (now the ReevesSpeaking Contest) began. _____

10. The Peddie Chronicle debuted. _____ 11. Peddie played Freehold in baseball, the first interscholastic athletic contest. _____ 12. First student from the Far East, Chu-bain, from Canton, China. _____ 13. For 3 cents you could buy the first edition of the Peddie News. _____ 14. Laptops made their debut on campus as part of the innovative Principio Project. _____ 15. A moving picture was shown on campus for the first time by Walter Reeves. _____ 16. The student body selected our first official school mascot, the Falcon. _____

BeLOW A beaming Kerry Fitzpatrick with the clue to No. 12 across, Fernando Perez ’00.

Fitzpatrick reigns supreme All hail, Kerry Fitzpatrick ’57, the Peddie crossword kingpin. Fitzpatrick was the first participant to submit a complete and correct entry for the crossword puzzle that appeared in last spring’s Chronicle. With his winnings — a $25 credit at the school store — Fitzpatrick, a former captain of the baseball team, “purchased” a new Peddie cap.

( First in Peddie History continued ) 17. Students took classes in newly constructed Memorial Hall, which was later renamed Annenberg Hall. _____ 18. Cum Laude Society inducted its first members. _____ 19. E-mail became available across the entire campus. _____ 20. Computers were introduced to Peddie’s classrooms, business office and alumni office by “Mr. Von.”_____ 21. First football game with Lawrenceville. We lost 42–0. Our first win against the Larries did not come until Oct. 18, 1919 (15–0). _____ 22. Pot Pourri, Peddie’s initial yearbook, was published. _____ 23. First football game with Blair. We lost 17–6. Our first win came the next year by a score of 32–0. _____ 24. Anne Seltzer became Peddie’s first female head of school. _____ 25. Horace Brown became our first African-American graduate. _____

1864 1869 1870 1871 1872 1876 1885 1886 1890 1891 1895 1896 1903 1905 1905 1912 1920 1921 1925 1951 1960 1969 1988 1993 1994

“It looks like my driving over to the post office to mail the puzzle on a Saturday afternoon paid off,” said Fitzpatrick, who does the New York Times’ puzzles regularly, “except the easy ones on Monday and Tuesday.” He knocked out Dr. David Martin’s puzzle in under an hour, drawing on his memory, Google, Carl Geiger’s history of Peddie’s first 100 years, back issues of the Chronicle and the Peddie website. No. 37 across, Thomas B. Peddie’s middle name (Baldwin) presented the toughest challenge, he said. Former Head of School Tom DeGray finished a close second, but in submitting his puzzle wrote that he suspected he wouldn’t be eligible to collect the prize. In submitting his entry, Charlie Clark ’66 lamented that struggling to find the answer to No. 26 down, the school’s first female football players (Latchford), cost him valuable time. Thanks to all who participated.

Answers: 1) 1872. 2) 1876. 3) 1885. 4) 1886. 5) 1890. 6) 1864. 7) 1905. 8) 1869. 9) 1891. 10) 1871. 11) 1870. 12) 1905. 13) 1912. 14) 1994. 15) 1920. 16) 1960. 17) 1925. 18) 1921. 19) 1993. 20) 1969. 21) 1895. 22) 1896. 23) 1903. 24) 1988. 25) 1951.

Fall 2009 25

The Annenberg Effect When Ambassador Annenberg bestowed his historic gift on Peddie, the transformative power of his generosity was immediately clear to the school. He provided an endowed fund expressly designated for financial aid, allowing the brightest minds from any walk of life to receive a Peddie education. The gift brought instant notoriety to the school, and students who previously had never considered Peddie were given an opportunity at a world-class education. And now, 15 years later, the value and virtues of the Peddie experience are coming into focus for some of the earliest beneficiaries of the Annenberg gift. They are teachers and doctors, social workers and parents, businesspeople and students, touching lives, building futures and, in the late ambassador’s words, striving for the highest quality of citizenship. And they’re grateful for the lessons they learned from our dedicated teachers in our classrooms, on our playing fields and in our art studios. Here, in their own words, are 10 of their stories.

chronicleXtra

To read more stories from alumni, go to www.peddie.org/chronicle

Today, more than 40 percent of Peddie’s student body receives assistance from a financial aid budget that tops $5 million — or $4 million more than the year preceding the Annenberg gift. 26 Peddie Chronicle

Jared Daugherty ’99 Nonprofit Program Officer B.A., Dartmouth College

Nikki Semenetz Dunigan ’99 Private equity product specialist A.B., Princeton University

The virtues of barking for cupcakes

A rich palette for the future

I have yet to meet anyone who has barked like a seal to obtain a Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll and I doubt I ever will. However, on countless occasions during my junior and senior years at Peddie, I found myself sitting at an old desk in Annenberg Hall, reciting lines from a textbook during Doc Martin’s Latin class, arms waving and barking with the hope that Doc would throw a cream-filled chocolate cake my way.

The diversity of the Peddie community guaranteed that I had no shortage of “teachers.” I learned so much from faculty and students from so many different backgrounds. But perhaps the most influential aspect of my Peddie experience was my involvement in the fine arts.

Latin may not be the most fascinating subject to study, but Doc epitomized the type of faculty member that makes Peddie so unique. Doc understood how to connect with his students, and his approach to teaching fostered an enjoyment of learning. I found that Doc was not the only faculty member who was able to impart their passion for the subject matter they taught or the sport they coached. Whether it was on the athletic field or in the classroom, the faculty’s ability to interact with students left an indelible impression on me and prepared me to succeed following graduation. Peddie helped me discover the importance of building dynamic relationships. The faculty were not only teachers and coaches, but also friends and mentors. And they weren’t simply reciting passages or formulas from a textbook. They were thoughtful and inventive in their approach to communicating their message in attentiongrabbing ways. Attempting to follow their example has benefited me not only through college, but also in my career in sales and marketing. I may not be able to toss Swiss Cake Rolls to investors, but I am able to effectively connect with people by delivering messages in a creative way. Such experiences would not have been possible without Ambassador Annenberg’s gift. It attracted some of the region’s finest faculty to Peddie, nurturing a collegial atmosphere between teachers, coaches and students that has benefited countless alumni long after graduation day.

Since Peddie, I have rarely seen the respect that the faculty in Swig Arts Center showed toward all kinds of art: classical, avant-garde and popular styles from anywhere in the world. I would still credit this respect, and the ability to find “worthwhile” art everywhere, for giving me the ability to think critically about the world around me. I still remember how frustrated I was when my Foundations Art class taught by Mr. Trelease forced me to make sense of Claes Oldenburg’s giant clothespin, and how, by the time I finished AP Art History my senior year (taught by Mr. Trelease and Ms. Watkins), I was finally able to make sense of and appreciate the same work. Courses like AP Music Theory (taught by Ms. Acker) enabled me to analyze Beethoven and the Beatles alike and think about what was uniquely good and skillful about both. Moreover, faculty didn’t confine art to one venue but encouraged theory and practice, excellence in analysis and performance. I remember the difficult process of perfecting a musical, choral piece, and art critique. (I’ll never forget Harry and Mr. Rund’s unending patience with the “Music Man’s” barbershop quartet.) The number of avenues for creative expression and the quality of the faculty were unbelievable. I now work as a program officer at a Christian organization that promotes “sustainable environments for religious freedom worldwide” — for people of all faiths and without faith — through engagement, analysis and education. My time spent in the Swig Arts center gave me invaluable tools for creative problem-solving, analysis and expression, tools I frequently use in my current work. It also engendered a lot of patience and hope in practice not necessarily making “perfect” but making something that is enduring and beautiful, and in the potential for people from different backgrounds to come together and cooperate across the deepest of differences. This experience would have been impossible without Walter Annenberg’s gift, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.

Fall 2009 27

Michal Petrzela PG ’94 Investment banker B.S., Syracuse; M.B.A., Stanford

Catie Perez ’99 Attorney B.A., University of Pennsylvania; J.D., Georgetown University

A single year transforms a life

An extended family and moral compass

I woke up at 5:15 in the morning in Austen Colgate and walked to the swimming pool for the first of two grueling daily swim practices. Joining a team full of aspiring Olympians, I found the two-hour workout tough, both physically and mentally, even in comparison to the rigorous athletic training I had experienced growing up behind the Iron Curtain in communist Czechoslovakia. After a breakfast with my ravenous teammates in the Peddie cafeteria, I was off to English with Ms. Gleeson, a nearly impossible class for someone who had arrived in America only two months earlier. Ms. Gleeson handed me the results of our first quiz, on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Twenty-seven percent. I felt as though I was living my own Shakespearean tragedy, but Ms. Gleeson’s note, “Michal, don’t give up!” gave me a glimmer of hope.

I went to college with Kate Murray ’99, another beneficiary of the Annenberg endowment. In our college dorm room we had a picture of Ambassador Annenberg hanging on our wall. Every single day was a reminder that attending the University of Pennsylvania would likely not have been possible had it not been for the tremendous generosity of the ambassador 15 years ago.

Hailing from the town of Olomouc in the Czech Republic, I knew that attending Peddie as one of the beneficiaries of the Annenberg gift was an invaluable opportunity for me. The 27 percent score and the demanding swimming workouts were only some of the challenges I faced, but with the support of my Peddie teachers and teammates, I managed to learn English, competed successfully at Eastern Independent Schools Championships and earned a full athletic scholarship to Syracuse University. Since that difficult but defining year at Peddie, my first in the United States, I have gone on to graduate cum laude from Syracuse University, to pursue a career as an investment banker in New York and London, and to earn an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Today I am a vice president at Lightyear Capital, a private equity firm based in New York City. As a happily married father-to-be, I am tremendously appreciative of the doors the Annenberg gift opened for me and my family. Fifteen years later, I know that my single year at Peddie has shaped my whole life.

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I can find a way to trace most of my academic and professional successes to the head start I received from Peddie. The work ethic and drive instilled in me there gave me the foundation I needed to successfully complete college and graduate law school. But of course, there are times when life presents you with challenges that even the best education cannot prepare you for. In these moments it is not the exam grades and college acceptance letters you remember. Rather, it is your friends and family that you value most. This is what is truly astounding about the Peddie experience. Classmates, former roommates and teammates — these are many of the people I still talk to on a weekly basis. It is not just friends either; it is friends’ parents, former teachers, advisors and dorm supervisors. These are the people with whom I shared the most formative years of my life. Some helped me grow up, others grew up with me, and through it all we forged a bond that I do not think can ever be broken. Sometimes I wonder if Ambassador Annenberg knew this about his gift to Peddie. Of course, he contemplated providing a superior educational opportunity to families that would never otherwise be able to afford such a thing. But did he know that the people I met at Peddie would be the same people who helped me survive the biggest challenges I would face in my adult life, the same people who would celebrate my successes alongside me and support me when I was failing? The Peddie community gave me an education not only in school but also in life, an extended family and a moral compass, all of which will guide and steer me throughout my life no matter what lies ahead. For this I am forever indebted to Peddie and Ambassador Annenberg.

Megan Colpitts Miranda ’99 Former teacher / mother of two B.S., Mass. Institute of Technology

Amir T. Ingram ’98 U.S. EPA attorney B.A., Boston College; J.D., Howard University

Dominoes fall and prospects rise

Passionate about teaching and life

Like countless others throughout the better part of two decades, my life was forever changed by the generosity of Ambassador Annenberg. Unbeknown to me when I first got off Exit 8A with my mother to attend my interview with Mr. Quinn and Mrs. Potter, the ambassador’s historic act of philanthropy would completely alter the course of my life by setting in motion a domino effect.

My parents never planned on sending me to private school, but Ambassador Annenberg changed their thinking. His gift granted me the opportunity to enroll at Peddie, receive the highest quality education, and eventually gain admittance to MIT.

As a direct result of my life experiences at Peddie and the first-class education it provided, I was able to gain admission to nearly all of my top undergraduate choices. Five years of an exceptional curriculum, T’s annual Falcon call to get us fired up for Blair Day, family-style dinner where I constantly got placed with the DeGrays, Saturday classes, and everything in between fully prepared me for the academic rigors of undergrad and double majoring in political science and economics, while allowing me to thrive 250 miles away from home in a new city, surrounded by 12,000 new faces on campus and unbearable Red Sox fans. My five years at Peddie also afforded me the strength, endurance and diligence to work full time while also attending law school full time for three tough years, and still finding time for family, friends, my fiancée, God and establishing a happy, rewarding life and career in Washington, D.C., along the way. All of these achievements are a direct result of attending Peddie. Coming from a middle-class working family, attending a high school where tuition, room and board, and expenses together cost more than the family car, was not a fathomable option, and simply was not in the cards for me. However, the rules of the game completely changed on that historic day in 1993, and subsequently, the course of so many lives have been changed, all thanks to one man and his alma mater.

It was not surprising to anyone who knew me outside of Peddie that I eventually became a scientist. It was surprising, however, that I eventually became a high school science teacher as well. But then, they didn’t have the privilege of learning from the teachers at Peddie. And that’s a shame. During my five years at Peddie, the teachers did more than just teach. They published works of fiction, nonfiction and academic textbooks. They ran mini-labs, consulted in technology, coached teams and led us in community service. They didn’t just say they were passionate about the subjects they taught; they lived their passions. It rubbed off. I entered Peddie with a strong, yet undefined, interest in math and science. I left Peddie with a passion for biology, literature, Latin and writing, just to name a few. Each fall, I conduct admissions interviews at the local high schools for MIT. They are great kids, smart kids, driven kids. But I often find myself thinking, “If only they had been given the opportunity to attend Peddie. Imagine what they could have become.” Peddie forced me outside my comfort zone and exposed me to many facets of academia and extracurricular activities that I’d never considered. I also learned that there are many ways to give back to the community. Which is why, after graduating from MIT and working in biotech for several years, I became a teacher at a local public high school. I wish I could say that I was as great a teacher as Mr. Oram or Doc Martin, but those are some pretty big shoes to fill. I can say, however, that I was passionate. And I hope it rubbed off. At Peddie, I learned that it is acceptable, perhaps even essential, to have more than one passion in life. I was a scientist. I was a teacher. I am currently indulging a new passion — raising my children. I’m not sure what I’ll do next when my kids go off to school, but my Peddie experience ensured that the future possibilities are endless.

Fall 2009 29

Chavon Sutton ’99 Business journalist B.A., University of Pennsylvania

Shun-ning Wong ’97 Research associate B.A., Princeton University; M.B.A., NYU

A shot of courage, then confidence

A risk that keeps paying dividends

I was among thousands of kids who grew up in poor singlefamily homes in Newark painfully aware of my chaotic surroundings and my place in them; I was eight years old when I began to feel like an outsider.

If you had asked me to risk a comfortable life in public high school to plunge into a new existence in a boarding school hours away from home, I would have immediately said, “Never!” Yet, that was what happened in the summer of 1994 after the Annenberg gift actually made this a possibility, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to take what would be the first of many life-changing risks.

I burned with an intellectual curiosity that led me to play three instruments by the age of 11, sing in city-wide choruses and to charge to the top of my middle-school class. But, encouragement was only found in my home. Instead of being admired or even just ignored, my peers often penalized me for not “keeping it real” or for “acting white.” Soon, it felt as if Newark itself was preemptively moving to thwart my success. Fate had different plans. At the age of 13, I earned one of the first scholarships funded by Walter H. Annenberg’s historic $100 million gift to Peddie and left the only home I had ever known to live among strangers. Annenberg’s gift afforded me many “firsts.” For the first time, I was intellectually challenged and taught how to analyze problems rather than to simply complete tasks. I now lived among people from all walks of life. I was introduced to and excelled in team sports. I owned my first laptop and boarded planes for the first time, via the Principio Project, for international study. I became the first in my family to attend an Ivy League college. Most importantly, my myriad Peddie experiences gave me a confidence and perspective that I would not have gained if I had not taken a leap of faith. It took courage beyond my years to leave home, but it required even more to fully capitalize on Mr. Annenberg’s generosity. One of my most vivid memories is that of Pat Clements and Peter Kraft telling me I’d be a kick-ass woman of the 21st century. Today, as a former investment banker, graduate student, journalist, singer, mentor, and volunteer, I am eternally grateful to them and to Peddie for starting me well on my way.

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Former Headmaster Tom DeGray described Peddie as a school that measured success by “how far kids come, not by where they end up,” and as such, it was a world unlike any other for both students and teachers to demonstrate creativity, passion and guts. In a span of three short years, I (plus 29 other brave souls) had the opportunity to redefine the traditional curriculum through the Principio Project, study abroad in Spain, start a student campaign supporting war-torn Bosnian children, give a Chapel speech, conduct project research in the Nevada desert (i.e., today’s “Signature Experience”), and test the limits of a 5-foot, 7-inch, 130-pound body on a football field while singing and dancing on stage in the off season. Peddie, above all, was a place that allowed me to embrace life in its full potential and carve my own path. That spirit of enterprise developed at Peddie defined the young man I was, as it defines who I am now. It enabled me to pursue a major in philosophy without having to worry about career prospects. It prepared me for a newly created seat on the trading floor of Goldman Sachs with minimum supervision. It provided me motivation to try out a lingering musical passion, leading to an amateur career as a club deejay. It gave me courage to leave a comfortable position on Wall Street to join a technology start-up. And, most recently, it has sustained me through my M.B.A. studies and restarted a career in a financial sector decimated by job and capital losses. I have received much more from Peddie than I have been able to describe here. The lifelong friendships built at Peddie remain my source of strength and inspiration today.

Cezary Pietrzak ’00 Entrepreneur B.S., University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Katie Whalen ’97 Anesthesiologist B.A., Holy Cross; M.D., UMDNJ Medical School

A door opens — to a world of opportunities

Knowledge, compassion and will

Waking up at 5 a.m. for crew practice was never easy, but it was worth it. While Peddie slept, I was in a racing shell with my brother and three teammates, pulling my port oar so hard it hurt. As the sleek boat cut through the still waters of Mercer Lake, I had only a faint idea of how incredibly my life had changed.

“Wow! Thanks, Walt!” I remember seeing the sign hanging from the Peddie gate after Ambassador Annenberg’s donation to the school. It is a gift that has benefited so many, including myself, as I received financial aid to attend Peddie. There are dozens of people and experiences at Peddie that help me excel in my career as a physician.

I was a sophomore when my older brother Maurycy and I transferred to Peddie in the fall of 1997. My family lived in a small town in Maine, having emigrated from Poland nine years earlier. As we gritted our teeth and worked hard to excel, I never imagined attending one of the finest prep schools in the country. When, out of the blue, the opportunity to attend Peddie presented itself, it was Ambassador Annenberg’s gift that made it possible.

I was always interested in math and science, and this interest blossomed when I took Honors Biology. Mr. Oram was an outstanding teacher, and I was thrilled when he asked me to participate in a DNA lab. We performed electrophoresis, Western Blots, as well as other techniques that piqued my interest in medicine.

I had never even heard of crew before my first campus visit, but a few weeks after moving to campus I was in the water practicing my stroke. And so began three of the most challenging and marvelous years of my life. Thanks to Peddie, I vaulted into the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in Philadelphia, where I earned my business degree in marketing and management. I then joined an advertising agency in New York before striking out on my own. In the past year, I cofounded a digital marketing consultancy and an online travel startup with several friends, and I’m constantly plotting new ventures with my brother. As I reflect on my new life as an entrepreneur, my thoughts turn to Peddie. I’m still amazed by the boost that it gave me and the doors that it opened. I recently returned to Hightstown with Maurycy for his 10th reunion. It was bright and hot outside, and the campus was green and beautiful. I recalled how hard we had both worked at Peddie and how much we loved it there. As my own 10th reunion approaches, I look to the future, mindful of the past. The world awaits.

Peddie is truly a community, with chapel gatherings, community meetings and family-style dinners. But I don’t know if anyone could have made it through Peddie’s rigorous schedule without their advisor. Week in, week out, my advisor, Mrs. Tennyson, was always there to listen, help me figure out my schedule, champion my causes and, most importantly, indulge my sweet tooth. Mrs. Tennyson was more than just a guidance counselor; she was a surrogate parent and friend. Whichever hat they’re wearing, Peddie’s talented faculty members are enthusiastic and devoted to students. I made the basketball team as a freshman in what was Mr. Casey’s first year as coach. No matter how many shooting or ball-handling drills we did, he always wanted us to push ourselves to the limit. All the hard work paid off, as we went from a sub-.500 team our first year to winning the state championship our senior year — a title the team has yet to relinquish! Today, I am an anesthesiologist. I take care of patients as they are undergoing surgery, often a scary time for them and their families. Without the inspiration to constantly pursue scientific knowledge I gained from Mr. Oram, the compassion I learned from Mrs. Tennyson, and the will to succeed I learned from Mr. Casey, I would not be as good a physician as I am today. I am grateful to Peddie. I, too, am delighted to say, “Wow! Thanks, Walt!”

Fall 2009 31

The Glad Scientist Nick Guilbert, architect of Peddie’s community service program, part-time physicist, and the newest member of the Great Masters honor roll, is happiest in the classroom. By Steve Kelly, Chronicle Editor

enior citizens delighting in the sounds of Peddie musicians. A mother stocking her kitchen cupboards with food for her family. A small child discovering the joys of learning. The Peddie community has been making a difference for others as part of an organized effort since 1984, or, not coincidentally, since physics teacher Nicholas Guilbert set foot on campus. Within weeks of his arrival from North Carolina State University, Guilbert launched the school’s community service program. Under his 20-year leadership, a community service requirement for students was adopted in 1992. There’s no telling how many people have benefitted from this program or how many Peddie students have come to understand the value of giving back. It’s a chain reaction the physics teacher takes satisfaction in.

32 Peddie Chronicle

“I am incredibly proud of the contributions Peddie students have made to the local community while they have been students here, and many go on to serve in similar ways in their college years and beyond,” said Guilbert, who was hired by former Head of School Ed Potter, in part, to launch the service program. Today, students volunteer their time to many organizations — Better Beginnings, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, and English as a Second Language programs — that were first linked to Peddie by Guilbert. Last spring, Peddie said “thank you” to Guilbert for his 25 years of service to the school and the countless contributions he has made in and out of the classroom during his quarter century on campus. His name now appears on the honor roll of Great Masters at Peddie. Although originally hired to teach math and computers, Guilbert’s first passion has always been science. He recalls a few seminal moments when he was young, including receiving a book on the planets from his parents when he was 5 years old. “I’ve been a science nerd since way back,” he says with a smile. Wisdom beyond his years set him on a path toward physics — or maybe it was always in the stars. “I wanted to be an astronomer, and I don’t know how I had this much insight when I was 17, but I decided to major in physics because I thought astronomy was too narrow a major,” said Guilbert during an interview in The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Science Center. “As I look back on it, that was a really good choice. I fully intended to get educated in physics but get back into astronomy. “ Ultimately, it turned out to be a good decision for Peddie, too. After earning a bachelor’s degree at Wesleyan University and then a master’s in physics at North Carolina State University, Guilbert applied for teaching positions at a handful of schools, including Choate, but opted for Peddie, which offered a higher salary. “I didn’t know much about Peddie, but Peddie had an energy and spirit about it that I really liked,” said Guilbert, who served as Science Department chair from 1999 to 2007. Former Science Department Chair Ray Oram, a legendary figure on campus, knew what Peddie was getting when it hired Guilbert, who in 1998 won The Princeton Prize — awarded annually to the top middle or high school-level teacher in New Jersey. “We were certain he would strengthen our physics curriculum,” Oram said. “Our optimism was immediately justified. He proved to be a dedicated, diligent, and talented teacher who made physics understandable and enjoyable to students at all levels. “He was an innovator. He implemented advanced courses in which his students actually did physics; they carried out research, obtained and designed equipment, and completed year-long projects.” In the 25 years since Guilbert was hired by Oram, he has taught physics at all levels, as well as astronomy, Algebra II, calculus and computer programming, earning two Peddie Excellence in Teaching awards along the way. Guilbert credits his mother for contributing to his longtime success.

“She asked me, ‘What are you doing differently with your course this year?’ I had to think about that for a moment before I could give her an intelligent answer. That question has stuck with me. So whether I’ve been here two years or 25, I always want to keep my teaching fresh,” said Guilbert, whose students last year worked on a golf-swing analyzer and a wind turbine and investigated the incidence of cosmic rays on campus. “I don’t want to recycle material. I like to be constantly exploring new territory. “I still love a good physics lecture, but I try to keep the number of classes I teach that way to a minimum. “I think when a non-scientist comes into a physics classroom they’re already intimidated. I hope that when they leave they appreciate physics, that they’re not intimidated by it any more, that they will be able to use at least some of what they’ve learned later on in life.” His formula must be working. “Mr. Guilbert goes out of his way to make class fun and interesting. Physics, a class I initially thought would be a drag, was one of my favorite classes,” said Will O’Connor ’10. Linda Blue Olafsen ’87, a physics professor at Baylor University, recalls how Guilbert turned a morning storm into a lesson. “I loved it from the first day when he explained physical aspects of the thunderstorm through which we had run to get to class on time,” she said. “He always did a great job of relating what we were learning in class to the ‘real world.’” Christina Behrend ’03, who earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at Dartmouth College and has started in an M.D./ Ph.D. program at Duke University, offered more proof of the physics teacher’s ability to communicate in the classroom. “He didn’t just regurgitate formulas and Newtonian theory from a textbook. He showed me how these laws and equations were my reality,” she said.

uilbert came to realize that he wanted to be a teacher while he was at Wesleyan, but he hit some roadblocks in an Electricity and Magnetism course. His professor, Tom Morgan, “basically salvaged my physics career singlehandedly,” said Guilbert. “To his great credit, he figured out that my struggles were not because I was a complete idiot, but because of Grand Canyon-sized gaps in my background.” A generation after a professor’s extra attention made the difference for Guilbert, he is always there for his students. “Physics is a very conceptually difficult subject,” said Behrend. “Mr. Guilbert was exceedingly patient and encouraging as I struggled to master the basic concepts. I laugh now as I remember all of the afternoons during which his patience must have hung by a thread as I asked him to explain a concept for the 500th time.” Another element of Guilbert’s success is spending part of his summers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he does research and shares his expertise with other physics teachers who come from across the country to learn from him. “Nick is one of a kind, and Peddie is fortunate to have a teacher that is in a professional laboratory year after year working on cutting-edge projects,” said Dr. Andrew Zwicker, who heads the lab’s Science Education Program. “Teachers as

“I don’t want to recycle material. I like to be constantly exploring new territory.” students are one of the hardest groups you can teach, and Nick is a master.” It’s all a labor of love for Guilbert. “The physics that I still do — that keeps my fingers in physics, but I realize I wouldn’t be happy doing only the research stuff,” he said. “It’s not that I don’t like it, but I like teaching more. “The kids are fabulous here, and it’s not that the kids are all going to be rocket scientists. They’re just good kids, fun to be around. They keep me young. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Guilbert, whose children, Hannah ’04, Stephen ’06 and Sarah ’07, attended Peddie. “I love what I do.” And it’s not just the teaching that Guilbert loves about Peddie. “I’ve been a coach, I’ve led the community service program, and I love seeing the kids from a different angle. So the kid who struggles in my physics class because math can be so challenging, can be the soccer goalie. I see him after a lousy test making a great save,” said Guilbert, himself a product of public education. “I love seeing the kids from varying perspectives, which you can get at a boarding school.”

When he isn’t in the classroom, Nick Guilbert, an avid photographer, can often be seen capturing scenes from Peddie’s campus. “It’s a good workout for the right side of my brain,” he says. LEFT One of his photos of the building he was instrumental in designing, the Annenberg Science Center. “I find it almost cathedral-like,” Guilbert says of the structure.

chronicleXtra To see a slideshow of some of Guilbert’s favorite campus photos go to www.peddie.org/chronicle. In addition, Guilbert’s work can be found on the back inside cover of this issue.

Fall 2009 33

Kate is Peddie A beloved longtime teacher, Higgins called the school home for 21 years before returning to Connecticut. By Patricia O’Neill Ask Kate Higgins what jobs she has held at Peddie since her arrival in 1988, and she’ll breeze through the list: dorm supervisor, director of residential life, history teacher, advisor, admissions officer, coach — those are the obvious ones. Here are just a few of the not-so-obvious: graduation coordinator, prefect program co-coordinator, faculty party organizer and, perhaps most often, unofficial advisor to students, faculty and administrators. below Kate Higgins, mingling with students on Headmaster’s Day last May, had an easy way about her that endeared her to members of the entire Peddie community.

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As numerous as her roles were, none of them meant much to her on their own — their impact lay in the relationships she developed while fulfilling these roles. Admittedly, this is what Higgins, who left the school in June after 21 years, said she will miss most about Peddie. “Those personal, casual relationships with kids this age — that’s something I’m not sure I can find somewhere else,” she reflected. Feeling the need to be closer to aging parents, Higgins made the difficult decision to move back to Connecticut. It’s hard for Peddie to lose Kate Higgins. Biking across campus, hanging out in Potter lounge, walking black labs Rosie and Toby, teaching in the History House — she was such a part of the fabric of this community that it’s difficult to get used to campus without her. “Kate is Peddie,” said Erik Treese, former student and colleague. “Peddie is not about buildings, academic programs or signature experiences — it is about the people who work here. Kate epitomized what makes Peddie special.” It’s hard for Higgins to lose Peddie, too. In many ways, they have grown up together. Accepting the job shortly after completing her master’s degree, Higgins began her career at a Peddie that was in something of a state of turmoil. Hired by former Head Ed Potter the previous April, she was greeted upon her arrival by interim Head Anne Seltzer, who filled in following Potter’s sudden and shocking death in July 1988. Jumping into her first boarding school experience, Higgins served as dorm supervisor in what was then Longstreet dorm. Though the job was challenging from the start, she soon grew attached to the residential component of boarding school life and has been involved in it in some capacity ever since.

“Having Kate as dorm faculty was like getting the firstround draft pick for your team!” said Lisa McClellan, former dorm supervisor in Potter North. “She had such amazing instincts, and students so clearly loved and respected her. Nearly every night students would be lined up to see her, whether it was an advisee choosing classes, a student requiring extra help, or a girl in the dorm just looking to chat.” Of all of the roles Higgins had, teaching history remained the constant throughout her tenure. “Ms. Higgins’ enthusiasm and passion for history is obvious,” shared Will O’Connor ’10. “However, even more apparent is her respect and genuine caring for every student in her class.” Natty Pantawongdecha, Peddie’s ’09 Thai scholar, tells the story of her first class with Ms. Higgins. “I must admit that I’m not a history lover,” she said. “I want to study history, but I know it will be difficult, especially because I know nothing at all about American history and struggled with a new language and culture. “Our first homework assignment was to read a primary document. Others finished in 20 minutes, but it took me two-and-a-half hours and still I did not understand it. I went to see Ms. Higgins during study hall, and asked her what each sentence meant. Surprisingly, she patiently answered every single question I asked. I ended up going to see her during study hall every Thursday. I asked lots of questions, and, even though sometimes I didn’t really have questions, I went to see her anyway. “She is one of the most caring people I have ever known. Taking her class is the best decision I ever made at Peddie.” This genuine concern for people is what drew students to her over the years. It’s not surprising, then, that there was always a long list of kids who requested Higgins as an advisor, and who continue to seek out her advice well beyond high school. “She just ‘gets’ me,” explained Sara Gunther ‘01, “And I remember even in high school, I was acutely aware of how really lucky I was to have that. She is very much someone I look up to, admire and depend on to keep me in check.” “Higgs used to quote Hamlet and say, ‘There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,’” recalled Margo Diamond ’96. “I have reflected on that piece of advice many times since high school. Kate’s guidance and generous support are one of the main reasons I loved Peddie.” Erik Treese has a particularly unique relationship with Higgins, having been a student of hers his senior year, and then returning to Peddie and the History Department to teach with her in 1997. “With Kate’s leaving, a little bit of what makes Peddie special to me goes with her,” Treese explained. “I had her for America Since 1945 when I was a senior. That class, and specifically her teaching, made me love history. It is not an understatement to say that she helped inspire me to want to teach, work in a boarding school and have the same impact in class and on students that she had on me. She is an extraordinary teacher in the classroom and mentor/advisor outside. She was always able to take seriously her job and her passion for dealing with kids and combine that with the realization that this job is supposed to be fun!”

New Teachers for 2009–10 Anne Xu | Mathematics At age 12, Anne moved from Paris to the Boston area, where she excelled at Newton North High School. She is a native speaker of Chinese, French, and English. She has worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and at Boston Children’s Hospital. Anne holds dual degrees from Yale in science and history. She is President and Founder of the Yale Classical Music Society. One of Anne’s references wrote: “Anne is one of those individuals who excels at almost everything.” Jason Keefer | Mathematics Jason comes to Peddie from Deerfield Academy, where he was awarded the Edwin T. Meredith III Junior Teaching Chair in 2006. A 1998 graduate of HampdenSydney College, Jason earned a degree in Mathematics and Economics. He also hit over .400 for the baseball team. Jason has worked with TEAK, helping underprivileged students prepare for high school. He will coach baseball and football. Laurel Wickberg | Biology/Chemistry A 2009 Middlebury graduate, Laurel has studied molecular biology, biochemistry, and French. She spent one term in Paris, and while taking a course on Woody Allen movies at the University of Paris, she found her fellow French students knew more about Woody Allen than any Americans. She served as a teaching assistant in a general chemistry lab in the falls of 2006 and 2008. Laurel rowed for Middlebury’s girls’ crew team. She will join Peddie’s crew program. Jean-Paul Woodroffe | Mathematics A 2008 graduate of Dickinson College with degrees in Mathematics and Economics, Jean-Paul earned recognition for making “the greatest contributions to the good of the college during his undergraduate years.” A native of Trinidad, Jean-Paul has a passion for karate and violin. One reference calls Jean-Paul “smart, patient, talented, organized, friendly, genuine and dedicated.” Matt Roach | English/History A graduate of Williams College, Matt garnered several academic awards during his four years there. He also worked as a teaching assistant for a course called “Words and Music of the 1960s and 1970s.” While a student at St. Andrew’s in Delaware, he earned the Outstanding Service to the School award. He played baseball at Williams and was Williams’ play-by-play announcer for football and basketball. Fall 2009 35

LEFT Liz Burns ’89 and Stuart Tyson posing with their “family” outside Acacia House in Nairobi. RIGHT Acacia House resident Milka playing.

A Second Chance at Childhood Liz Burns ’89 is giving destitute girls in Kenya a home and hope. By Steve Kelly, Chronicle Editor

lizabeth Burns ’89 had it all scripted, however loosely. She would fulfill a lifelong dream — to travel through sub-Saharan Africa, exploring cultures and places such as Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia — that she had ever since childhood, volunteering at various stops along the way. She’s not sure what inspired her. A friend says it was the unit on Africa she studied in third grade. Maybe it was Live Aid, which brought to light the human sufferings in Africa at about the same time she enrolled at Peddie. “I do believe that life leads you to where you’re meant to go,” said Burns, who worked as a graphic artist in New York City for nine years before going to Africa. On May 28, 2008, a scant 12 hours into her year-long dream journey, everything changed. Dissatisfied with her accommodations in Nairobi, Kenya, (it wasn’t “Africa” enough), Burns accepted an invitation from a fellow volunteer, Australian Stuart Tyson, to join him at an orphanage on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital. “As I’m walking up the hill to the orphanage the kids see us and come running a million miles an hour down the hill and I’m thinking they’re going to throw themselves at Stu because they knew him,” said Burns. “They divided, and the next thing you know I’m just covered in all these wonderful smiling faces.” Volunteering at an orphanage was never in her thoughts. “I don’t feel it is right to walk into children’s lives and then leave,” said Burns. But there she was, and what she witnessed over the next nine weeks was an orphanage being run by a pastor solely for his own benefit. Kids were fed spoiled food, denied critical medical care, and all were woefully behind in school, she said. Water

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and electricity were in short supply, and the children spent more time cleaning and cooking for the pastor than being kids and working on schoolwork. “Through all of this the kids were amazing; 25 of them, sharing one bathroom you couldn’t even walk past,” said Burns. “I used to sit there and look at these incredible children and think: ‘Their lives are over and they’re babies.’ ” Quietly, Burns and Tyson began “plotting” how they could give these children a chance at a future. Finally, after an all-night discussion, neither of them could come up with a good reason not to go full bore in their efforts to help the children. They would work with authorities to shut down the pastor’s corrupt home and open their own refuge in a country they knew little about. “We didn’t even know if foreigners could open a home. We’re at, like, negative information,” said Burns. The pair left the pastor’s orphanage in July 2008. In the following weeks, Burns, a native New Yorker accustomed to the breakneck pace of city life, learned that

Burns at Peddie, etc. •

Hands down Burns’ favorite activity was serving as one of 24 seniors chosen for the Peer Leadership program to assist underclassmen.

•

As part of her senior project, she worked at a Hightstown day-care center three times a week.

•

She went on to earn a B.A. from the New School of Social Research in New York City.

in Kenya — where more than half of the country’s 31 million people live in poverty — “every single thing is hard and happens so slowly.” A chance meeting with a woman who ran a home for children proved to be pivotal for Burns and Tyson. She supplied them with invaluable information and even found temporary housing for the pair as they secured permits, established a charitable organization, reached out to friends and family for financial support, and searched for a home suitable for up to 25 girls. Four-and-a-half months after leaving the corrupt shelter, Burns and Tyson leased a house on half an acre that offered six bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a “shamba” (garden) and a chicken house. (“I don’t know a thing about chickens, but I’m learning,” said Burns.) Acacia House would supply basic needs — clean water, food, shelter and education — for girls ages 5 and up who are orphaned, destitute or abandoned. In all likelihood, they would come from abusive homes and AIDS-ravaged families, and their parents might be drug addicts or involved in prostitution. Now Burns and Tyson had to fill Acacia House with furnishings, supplies, an employee or two and, most importantly, children. They were determined to locate the children displaced by the closure of the pastor’s home and invite them to Acacia. Little came easily. Without running water for the first month, Burns and Tyson were relegated to bathing with buckets of water. A welder was hired to construct beds. “There is no IKEA nearby to furnish a house,” she said. Burns and Tyson hired three staffers — a “house mum,” a “fundi” (your basic jack-of-all-trades), and a night guard, which is required by law. In January, Acacia welcomed its first two girls, Milka, 8, whose mother is a prostitute, and Carina, 5, whose mom died of AIDS. “They’re wonderful,” said Burns, with a broad, lasting smile. “Milka is amazing. Her desire to learn is incredible.” Faith, 5, and Lavender, 9, followed soon thereafter; then came Purity, 9, Shiko, 6, and Susan, 17, all of whom had previously lived in the pastor’s house, which was shut down by authorities in April. (Other occupants of the pastor’s home were sent to live with relatives.) “These kids need a family. That’s what they don’t have. That’s the whole point: to give girls who don’t have a home a home. They need to get to be children — skip rope, play with a ball — which is something they didn’t have before,” said Burns. In Kenya, where almost half of the people are under 15 years of age, females are particularly vulnerable because they do not have equal access to social and economic assets. Subsistence farming is the primary source of livelihood for 70 percent of Kenyan women. Those even less fortunate turn to prostitution. Others die prematurely of malnutrition. Education can be the antidote for the next generation. “How do you get out of this situation if you’re not educated?” Burns asked rhetorically. “The best we can hope for is that our girls will get into a good high school and get into a university,” she said. “And they can become doctors and lawyers if they apply themselves. Or they can go to a trade school. Our goal is that the girls all

complete high school. There is a developing middle class in Kenya, and they could also find work for a company.” Primary education (through eighth grade) in Kenya only became compulsory in 2003. A public school lies within view of Acacia House, but with class sizes ranging from 70 to 90 students per class, Burns believed the Acacia girls required a better alternative if they were to overcome their harsh beginnings. In stepped the headmaster of the nearby Calvary Academy, a private school in the Nairobi region that limits class sizes to 25 pupils. “He said, ‘I applaud what you’re doing and I want to help.’ He’s giving us a discount. We’re very lucky,” said Burns, who is grateful for the education she received at Peddie.

“They need to get to be children — skip rope, play with a ball — which is something they didn’t have before.” — Liz Burns ’89 Tyson credits his partner with making much of their early success possible. “Liz has an undeniable and unwavering commitment to achieving her goals,” he said. “This, along with her ability to communicate with and relate to all people, has allowed us to come so far in this challenging endeavor. There is nobody I know who is more suited to this task.” While Acacia House has supplied some stability and normalcy for the girls, there is still much to be done, and everyday life is unpredictable and hectic. Meanwhile, securing Acacia House’s long-term existence is paramount. Buying a home with more land suitable for farming would go a long way toward fulfilling that goal. A vehicle also would help. “This whole thing has been supported just by people we know and word of mouth. We’re grateful for their support,” said Burns, who returned to New York last May for a fundraiser. “I think if you do the right things for the right reasons, the support will come. “It’s amazing to be able to have done this. You just don’t know. You just hope you can set out and do something good, to try to save these children. There have been so many incredible moments.” To learn more about Acacia House, go to www.acaciahouse.org. Fall 2009 37

OBITUARY

Horace Brown ’51, First African-American Graduate of School Horace Brown ’51, the first African-American graduate of Peddie School, died on June 27 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the age of 76. A former resident of Hightstown, Brown was one of a small number of day students at Peddie in the early 1950s, and his father worked at Peddie for over 25 years as a member of the buildings and grounds department. Popular among his classmates and elected senior class secretary, Brown was also a three-sport standout in soccer, basketball and track. In 2001 he was inducted into Peddie’s Sports Hall of Fame. After graduating from Peddie, Brown attended Rutgers University and earned a degree from what is now Monmouth University. He worked as a registered nurse in several hospitals in New Jersey for 20 years, then worked for Xerox for 23 years until retiring in 2004. On Inauguration Day 2009, Brown spoke to Peddie’s current student body about the atmosphere of Hightstown while he attended Peddie, encouraging them to have a positive impact on their communities through the personal choices they make. Brown was also a member of a committee of African-American graduates who met with Head of School John Green a few years ago to discuss issues of importance to minority students. “As both a student and an alumnus, Horace Brown was a devoted member of the Peddie community,” said Head of School John Green. “Throughout his career, he served as a dignified but forceful advocate for civil rights, and against inequality of all kinds. We extend our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

“Throughout his career, he served as a dignified but forceful advocate for civil rights, and against inequality of all kinds.”

DEATHS Edgar Dannenberg ’29 8/3/09

John H. MacMillan ’43 4/6/2009

Ronald S. Metzger ’51 1/10/2009

Lee Claﬂin ’70 5/22/2008

Thomas H. Gosnell ’38 4/27/2009

Boris S. Nekrassoff ’43 6/14/2009

Richard A. Kates ’52 5/6/2009

Robert C. Scheller ’72 3/24/2009

Robert I. Brown ’40 8/7/2008

Dr. Robert F. Church ’47 1/20/2009

F. Richard Martin ’53 4/15/2009

Stephen R. Bull ’73 5/30/2009

Harrie G. Schimmel ’40 5/31/2009

I. Samuel Lape, Jr. ’47 7/14/2009

Louis W. Bainbridge ’55 8/19 /2009

Frank A. Clair III ’73 3/30/2009

Herbert H. Muir ’41 4/6/2009

James E. Schierloh ’47 4/11/2009

Daniel Milsom III ’60 1/12/2009

Finn M.W. Caspersen ’59 9/07/2009

Daniel J. Herbert ’42 7/22/2009

Thomas Q. LeBrun ’49 10/23/2008

Paul R. Comegys, Jr. ’62 1/28/2009

Robert M. Krudener ’43 2/10/2009

Herbert R. Keech ’51 2/23/2009

Jeffrey R. Witte ’66 4/3/2009

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Attention, All Alumni:

Saturday, November 14 - Blair Day 2009 at Peddie* Football kickoff 2 p.m. Food and refreshments courtesy of the Peddie Parents Association

* Blue and gold attire strongly suggested www.peddie.org

In case you missed it…Physics teacher Nick Guilbert captured this June rainbow that spanned Annenberg Hall — or did it? A rainbow does not actually exist at a particular location in the sky. Its apparent position depends on the observer’s location and the position of the sun. Incidentally, if Guilbert found the pot of gold, he’s not telling.

PEDDIE SCHOOL 201 South Main Street Hightstown, NJ 08520-1010

NonproFIt organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 6737