Peddie Chronicle, Fall 2010

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Fall 2010

Back to the Future Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Peddie’s return to coeducation

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Calling all new students!

Taina Spicer ’11 gathers new students for POCO activities.

Fall 2010

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Reunion Weekend

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Back to the Future

Celebration of 100 years of Peddie swimming one of weekend’s highlights The 40th anniversary of Peddie’s return to coeducation

Falcon 411 A chess player, a mysterious writer, a fond farewell and more

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Commencement 2010

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Q&A with Ray Cabot

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New Faces on Campus

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Sports Wrap

Valedictorian Haley Peters urges fellow graduates to follow their passions The present and future of Peddie’s admission process

Jason Honsel Joins Peddie “He’s down to earth, witty, and cares deeply about kids.” — Martin Mooney Welcome to new faculty and administrative staff

An Historic Visit Henry Kissinger speaks in Ayer Memorial Chapel Girls LAX and boys golf shine

28 Sports Hall of Fame 30 The Arts 32 Class Notes

Chronicle Vol. 139, No. 1

On the Cover Peddie student body, 1893-1894.

Page 4.

Peddie School 201 South Main Street Hightstown, NJ 08520-3349

Editor: Deanna K.G. Ferrante Assistant Editor: Patricia O’Neill Copy Editor: Assenka Oksiloff Design: Carter Halliday Associates Photography: P.J. Morreale, Jim Inverso, Bob Handelman Printing: Franklin Communications

Tel: 609.944.7501 www.peddie.org/chronicle We welcome your input: editor@peddie.org

This magazine was printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper.

Reunion 2010 A weekend to remember Clear blue Peddie skies and warm weather provided the perfect backdrop as close to 600 alumni and guests returned to campus for a Reunion Weekend filled with remembrances, fun, laughter and camaraderie. Highlighting the weekend was a mega-successful celebration of 100 years of Peddie swimming attended by 150-plus former team members spanning over seven decades.

Peddie swim coach Greg Wriede ’95 orchestrated the firstever alumni swim meet for a little “friendly” competition in the new Aquatic Center.

“It was wonderful to reconnect and meet so many people who had come to truly appreciate our Peddie experience and the history of the swim team,” said Wriede, a key member of the 1994-95 national championship team. “We are very proud of our tradition of excellence and friendship. Everyone had a great time, had great swims, and enjoyed getting back into the pool to race.”

At the post-meet reception, Jane Skillman ’91, Diana Caskey ’81 and Tom Fairhurst, captain of the 1947 squad, each reflected on their unique experiences and fondness of the sport.

Fairhurst, whose father, William, was the first president of the swimming club formed in 1909, reminisced about swimming in the former pool dubbed “the big bathtub,” which was located in the basement of Geiger Reeves Hall.

Saturday morning activities included the Sports Hall of Fame and a tree planting in tribute to the beloved

Dietrich von Schwerdtner, followed by a Memorial Service in the Ayer Memorial Chapel to pay respect to those graduates who have passed on since last year’s ceremony.

In the afternoon while swimmers were cooling off in the pool, lacrosse alums from as far back as 1980 suited up in blue and gold to play a game on the new turf field.

Capped by the 50th Reunion and Gold Guard DinnerDance in the Caspersen Student Center and the fifth through 45th reunion parties reveling under the big tent, the weekend was truly alive with the Peddie Ala Viva spirit.

The Tom DeGray Alumni Golf Outing was held Friday afternoon at the Peddie Golf Course; alums played to varying degrees of success during the annual classic. Friday also included a private tour and tasting at the Laurita Winery. An all-alum barbeque and clambake held outside the Swig Arts Center completed the day.

Special kudos to co-chairs Suzy Caldwell ’80 and John Pyfer ’65 and all the class captains for their combined energy to make the weekend a success.

“It was gratifying to see so many alums return to campus for the weekend,” said Reunion Director Karin Morse. “It’s a great reminder of the many long-lasting friendships that have been made during the years here at Peddie. I would like to personally thank Suzy and John and the entire Reunion Committee for their outstanding leadership and tireless efforts to ensure a diverse program and large turnout.”

“It was gratifying to see so many alums return to campus for the weekend. It’s a great reminder of the many long-lasting friendships that have been made during the years here at Peddie.” chronicleXtra To view more Reunion Weekend photos go to www.peddie.org/chronicle

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Fall 2010 3

BACK TO THE FUTURE Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Peddie’s return to coeducation

by Dr. David “Doc” Martin, Peddie Historian This fall marks the 40th anniversary of Peddie’s return to coeducation, one of the most significant events of the school’s recent history. For us today in the 21st century it is difficult to imagine the school without female students, yet for many of our alumni that is the only way they knew the school when they were students here. Despite a large alumni base who knew the school as all-boys, the school can trace its roots back to its founding as an all-girls institution.

Peddie has not always been coeducational; the school has changed its student composition three times over the course of its long history. The school’s original roots lie in the Hightstown Female Seminary, an all-girls school established in May 1864 in an upstairs room at the Baptist Church on Main Street. This school was reorganized that summer to become coeducational and opened business on August 23, 1864, as the New Jersey Classical Institute.

The school had its ups and downs over the next twentyfive years, enduring hard financial times as well as a few name changes until it emerged as the Peddie Institute in 1872.

By 1890, it was thriving as a coeducational institution averaging 200 students a year. Female students formed an active and vibrant part of the community, especially with their literary societies, Kalomathia (founded in 1869) and Erosophia (1891).

Even so, their interaction with male students was restricted and closely monitored. The two sexes were permitted to mingle freely only in the classroom, chapel and dining hall.

By the early 1900s, however, coeducational boarding schools were passing out of vogue. In 1907 only 58 of the school’s 181 students were female, and only 80 students were slated to return that fall. These harsh statistics persuaded the school’s headmaster (Roger W. Swetland) and trustees of the need to change their admission policy and become an all-boys school.

The end of coeducation in 1908 was much lamented by the students in their school publications, but the move proved to be a wise one economically. Enrollment jumped to 207 boys when the school opened in the fall of 1908 and within a few years reached capacity.

Headmaster’s Newsletter, excerpted Albert L. Kerr Chronicle, Fall 1970

The final decision, as of June 22, 1970, by the Board of Corporators to admit girls to Peddie as day students was quite late to allow for many applicants for this year, but we will have over twenty girls attending Peddie in September … as Peddie returns to coeducation after a lapse of 62 years.

All of us at Peddie who have primarily dealt with boys previously feel a sense of both pleasant anticipation and mild apprehension as we await the influx of our first female contingent….

The decision to accept girls again at Peddie was made on the basis that their presence would strengthen the total educational quality of Peddie as well as providing a more natural atmosphere in the classroom. Another year is likely to see at least fifty girls in attendance.

The more I have reflected on the matter, the more certain I am that this new direction for Peddie is both right and inevitable.

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Senior class, 1891 Kalamathia Society,1893

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Nearly all the girls enrolled at Peddie because they were dissatisfied with their old schools.

The reasons were usually over-crowded conditions, racial tensions, or inadequate teaching.

As far as expectations go, one young innocent co-ed did not think that the girls would be accepted into the Peddie community as easily as some found themselves to be. Another girl did not anticipate much freedom at Peddie.

“Peddie News,” October 2, 1970.

The school remained all-male for the next 60-odd years, surviving the Great Depression and two more name changes (dropping “The” and becoming Peddie School a few years ago).

Evolving social customs and increasing economic pressures forced another rethinking, and the school’s trustees voted in June 1970 to accept girl day students for the school’s fall session.

Headmaster Albert L. Kerr announced that “their presence on campus will strengthen the total educational quality of Peddie as well as providing a more natural atmosphere in the classroom.” Due to the lateness of the decision, only 21 day student girls (six of them faculty children) applied by September. They joined 395 boarding and day boys, again changing the face of campus.

The change went generally well, though not without awkwardness in some areas. Reportedly one senior math teacher who did not like having girls in his class refused to call their names during class roll call. Some girls rightfully felt embarrassed when they were the only female in their class. Most boys liked having girls on campus and in their classes, although one complained in “Peddie News” that they “distracted him from his studies.”

The transition to coeducation in 1970 went so well that the school’s trustees voted in February 1973 to accept girl boarders starting that fall. School opened in September with a total of

14 girl boarders, four in Octagon House and ten on the second floor of Avery House. The girls ranged from ninth grade to post graduate; two were former day students and four came from alumni families.

Jan Denise Loughran ’78, who has been a Peddie student, parent, teacher and trustee, had looked to enter Peddie in 1972 as an eighth grader because the school offered honors classes (something not available in her local school), but she decided to wait a year because there were only three other girls in that grade. She instead came as a “day girl” in 1973. “For the most part, I felt very welcome as a girl at Peddie in the early-to-late seventies but was generally aware of the large ratio of boys to girls (except in the honors classes, where the ratio was quite even).”

Equal athletic facilities and opportunities for the two sexes posed a particular problem. In 1970 the much-delayed new Athletic Center was slowly nearing completion. Its plans had been drawn up when the school was all-boys, so measures had to be improvised to provide for the new female students.

Revised plans converted part of the visitors’ locker rooms into space for the girls, though confusion remained and all too often boys found themselves entering the girls’ locker room by accident.

Class Notes, excerpts Chronicle, Fall 1970

From the Class of 1905: The news of Peddie’s return to coeducation awakened in my mind vivid memories of long ago. … (In a recent visit to campus) I noticed that many trees turned the campus into a shady grove. In our day, trees weren’t allowed in the center, thus keeping a clearview [sic] from the windows of the watchful lady principal lest some boy should stray over to the girls’ side. … I should like to talk with some of the new co-eds. Since that is impossible at such long range, I’ll just send my best wishes for abundantly happy and worth-while years at The Peddie School.

-- Mrs. Vera Bronson O’Neill ’05 From the Class of 1908: Congratulations to The Peddie School for returning to coed. For the Class of 1908 may I say Three Cheers, and good sailing to the girls sharing their school days at Peddie. As for me, after these fifty-one years I consider it a privilege to hear from so many good Peddie friends.

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Girl “Firsts” since 1970 First Graduates Jan Franklin, Heidi Keller, Sara Naiman and Randi Petterson (all in 1971) First winner of Wyckoff Prize Deborah Tifft ’72 in 1972 First Head Editor of “Peddie News” Cathy Kozinski ’75 in 1974-75 Erosophia Society, 1902

First Valedictorian Pamela Marks ’76 First Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Diana Caskey ’81, inducted in 1990 for swimming

It also took time to enroll enough girl athletes to start fielding girls’ teams. In the first two years, before the athletic center opened in spring 1972, most girls had calisthenics classes at makeshift locations. Girls’ teams were fielded in most sports for the first time in the 1973-74 season, with faculty spouses Debbie Creeden and Debbie Monahan in charge of the girls’ athletics program. Girls’ lacrosse started in spring 1974, and girls’ teams were later added in ice hockey and volleyball (both now discontinued) as well as in golf. The girls’ swimming team proved very successful almost from the start. Swim coach Jeff Lowe brought in some talented girl swimmers from the Princeton area, and the girls won their first Easterns championship in 1980.

The return of female students provided a great boost to the school’s theater department. Beth Kalikoff ’73 and Liz Clark ’72 were among the stars of a rousing production of Guys and Dolls, which opened on December 4, 1970, the first school musical presented in almost four years. One reviewer noted that their performance “makes you wish that coeducation had come ten years earlier.”

The presence of girl students also brought about an increase in female membership in the faculty. The school always had female secretaries, nurses, librarians and housemothers but was slow to hire female teachers in the “new era” of coeducation.

Dora Jean Witner served as Girls’ Dean from 1970-75, but there were no female teachers until 1973, when Katie Mitchell Graham (Art) and Betysdiane Umfrid (Spanish) were added to the staff. As the number of girl students has grown from five percent of the student body to 50 percent today, the school’s female teaching staff has likewise grown. Now, 50 percent of the teaching staff is female, as is about half of the administration.

There has also been one female head of school, Anne Seltzer in 1988-89.

Today, girl students are such an integral part of school life as students, athletes, artists, musicians, and school leaders, that it is difficult to imagine what the school would be like without them. We can only wonder, as the “Peddie News” did in 1970, “how Peddie ever existed without girls.”

Varsity captains, 1929-1930

Cheerleaders, 1945-1946

Cheerleaders, 1974–1975

Assembly, 1964

Eighth grade class, 1976-1977 Fall 2010 7

FALCON 411 Chess, anyone?

Secret Identity

Junior Grant Oen is the 2010 U1600 Northeast Open Chess Champion. Last spring, he and his teacher, international master Jairo Moreira, organized a simultaneous exhibition in Princeton.

With a dozen boards set up, Oen and Moriera simultaneously played about six games each.

If you’re looking for writer in residence Paul Watkins’ latest book, you may have to do a bit of detective work.

Beginning last year, Watkins began writing under a pen name: Sam Eastland.

“I love the game, and want to share the experience I’ve had with other players in the community,” says Oen, who has played in over 75 tournaments nationwide.

Taking it one step further, Oen volunteered this summer to teach chess lessons to younger kids at his local library. “It’s definitely the limitless possibilities of the game that attract me,” he explains. “There are an infinite amount of positions; it’s very complex and difficult to master.”

Peddie is talking about . . .

Henry Kissinger Delhi, India

House

summit

Volkmar’s Fitness Ice

One Acts

Guard

Modern School, New

Reunions Gold

Retirements

global leadership

100 Years of Peddie

Swimming Mia Hamm “Year of the Falcon” EXP program Botball Sports Hall of Fame

Battle of the Heads

Sophomore Bike Trip tour

alumni winery

Mr. Michaels in West Side Story

POCO Dorm Softball The Man Who Came to Dinner Class of 2010 EFZ exchange, Shanghai, China

“A fantastic premise, frenetic action sequence and a stellar setting…” Thus begins the Kirkus Review of Eye of the Red Tsar, the first in the Sam Eastland series.

The thriller centers around Inspector Pekkala, a disgraced detective who is called back from a lifelong prison sentence to solve the most famous murder mystery in Russian history: that of the Romanov family.

“The best things that ever happened to me happened when I wasn’t expecting them,” begins Watkins, explaining how the series came into being. “I never expected to live in New Jersey. Nor did I ever dream I would come to Peddie, or that teaching would become such an important part of my life.”

“Writing this detective series is also one of those things I never expected to do. I had written a book set in Russia in the 1930s. My editor had signed off on it. It was done. I thought I could sit back and relax, at least for a couple of weeks, until I started a new book.”

Then Watkins received a phone call from his publishing company, advising him that the novel should not be just one book, but rather a whole series of books.

“This meant that I would have to break apart the book I had just spent almost two years carefully piecing together,”

explained Watkins. “At first, I said absolutely not. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it began to make. So I took a sledge hammer to the book, smashed it up into little pieces and started writing the series.”

“The past two years have been pretty much non-stop for me. I have written the first two of the series and am about halfway through the third. I have the fourth and fifth book already planned out. So far, thank goodness, everything is going very well.”

“Sometimes, when I shut down my computer, leaving behind Stalinist Russia and all the intrigues of detective work, and I head over to the history building to teach my classes, I find myself thinking — which one of these worlds is real?

The answer is — they both are.

And even though I never expected to end up in either of them, I’m very glad I did.”

Ala Viva!

“My hope for our class as we leave here today, is that we take those gifts, combine them with the knowledge and passion gained here at Peddie, and enter the world primed to make a difference in whatever way, small or large, that we choose.”

— Haley Peters ’10, Valedictorian

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Mystery man Paul Watkins

(full story on Commencement, page 10)

Stepping up training at Peddie Prepare to be amazed — Peddie’s new fitness center, opened this past summer, is a sight to behold. Installed in the Ian H. Graham Athletic Center, in what was once the natatorium, the room holds something for everyone.

First-time users, athletic teams and gym rats alike are encouraged to make use of the top-of-the-line equipment.

Mike Volkmar, strength and conditioning coach, welcomes students, faculty and staff to the new facility.

“This fitness center was designed with the entire Peddie community in mind,” Volkmar explains, “Our goals are to encourage health and wellness among the students, faculty and staff; to enhance sports performance for student-athletes; and to assist the athletic trainers in facilitating rehabilitation for athletic injuries.”

Start Volkmar talking about the new equipment, and you’ll see him light up. Always willing to educate, train and advise on all levels of strength and conditioning training, he gave us a few select highlights of the center:

Mike Volkmar’s fitness center fun facts 7,800 square feet (the size of the old pool and deck area combined) > 6,900 square feet of free weights and aerobic equipment > 900 square feet of turf for speed/agility workouts Equipment highlights > 3 free motion “health club style” strength machines > 4 abdominal/lower back benches >

1 TRX “Swing Set” which allows up to 24 people to perform body weight training simultaneously (the first of its kind in the Northeast)

> 6 cardiovascular units, including a step mill

Strength and conditioning coach Mike Volkmar with Peddie athletes in the new fitness center.

A Peddie stalwart retires As sure as meals were served up in the dining hall, you could count on Richie Starcher to be standing by to help with the dishes — until this September. After 40 years of service to Peddie, Starcher retired over the summer, and his familiar face and witty conversation will surely be missed.

“As a student, I almost always arrived at breakfast when it opened, so Richie and I would have a short conversation about whatever was going on that day,” remembers faculty member Mark Gartner ’84. “When I returned to Peddie as a teacher, Richie was one of the first people I bumped into. Upon seeing me, he exclaimed, ‘Oh, no!

You’re back?’”

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1 Keiser Triple Trainer — an air-loaded machine which includes three individual stations featuring computer displays for instant feedback on workouts.

This machine alone will change the way Peddie trains.

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4 Keiser Spin Bikes: Yes, this is the start of Peddie’s own spin program! Typically found in university and professional team facilities, these bikes also provide air-loaded resistance training, with very simple gear shifts and a computer display.

On Starcher’s first day of work in 1967, Albert L. Kerr was head of school, Masters House had just opened, and female students were not yet admitted to Peddie. Having seen scores of students and faculty come and go, faculty children born, raised, graduated and some even back again as faculty themselves, Starcher says he’ll miss his work and the community.

Robin Wojcik, director of food service, has worked with Starcher since 1994.

“He’s long been Sonny to fellow worker Cheryl Jamison’s Cher, and has special nicknames for all of us,” Wojcik says.

“We’ll miss his terrific dancing in the dish room!”

shares Pete McClellan, Peddie faculty member who was born and raised on campus. “Even now, former classmates of mine ask about how he’s doing, wondering if he will ever retire. Regretfully, I report that he has.”

“Rich has been putting smiles on the faces of Peddie students for decades,”

Fall 2010 9

COMMENCEMENT

2010

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The Class of 2010: Unique individuals forming a united class Excerpted from the address by Head of School John Green

My friends, congratulations!

We wish to recognize and applaud your legacy of accomplishments, achievements and contributions. Yours is an interesting class in that you were, first and foremost, distinct individuals who formed groups within your class of the closest friends I have observed.

You were also a united class when the occasion called for it. That you honored and perpetuated our traditions is evidence of that. You met and oriented our new students with enthusiasm and opened our new turf playing field. You served more food at fall athletic contests — thanks to Mrs. Bickford — and raised more money than any Peddie class in memory. You led as spirited a Blair Week as ever and then proceeded to win more games on Blair Day than any class in memory.

With grace and sportsmanship, more importantly, you accepted the Potter-Kelly Cup. You impressed and scared me with your joyful caroling at the bell in Annenberg. You christened a new Aquatic Center with a victory over rival Germantown but also with a community swim for the ages. You organized, perpetuated and strengthened our Headmaster’s Day competition. Yours will be the class that heard from Dr. Henry Kissinger. You will remind me of that event years from now.

You are off to excel at 70 of the finest colleges and universities in the world — representing over 20 states and four countries. You won recognition for your academic achievement and were invited to join the Honors Programs at places already known for educational vigor. You are Presidential, National Merit, Dean’s, Bloustein and Alumni Scholars. You earned $5 million of merit scholarship money.

You won scholarships based on service and commitment to your community and, honorably, seven of you earned appointments to serve our nation and even more earned nominations to do so.

Talented and dedicated scholar-athletes, 100 of you have been awarded at least one varsity letter and you collectively accumulated 427. You played a part in 23 MAPL Championships, 19 State Championships, three Eastern Swimming and Diving Championships; you’ve garnered individual State and MAPL championships in golf, swimming, track, cross country and tennis; and you have earned national recognition as members of our girls’ basketball and crew teams, and as track athletes, wrestlers, and swimmers. Ten of you are All Americans.

You demonstrated a committed passion for artistic expression. You put your brushes to canvas, pencils to music staff, imaginations to script while lifting our community with your ingenuity. Your visual artwork has graced the Swig Art Center and Mariboe Gallery in more than a dozen inspiring exhibitions.

You demonstrated musical growth and excellence throughout many performances, including those of award-winning caliber in a recent music competition in Boston. You have taken us on theatrical journeys in triumphant performances such as You Can’t Take It With You, The House of Blue Leaves, The Children’s Hour, Working, and Grease.

You were organizers, activists and volunteers and with your service you touched peoples’ lives, leaving a lasting impression on many. You gave over 6,800 hours of service to our Peddie community, our neighbors, your communities at home and communities around the world. That amounts to an average of 50 hours per senior — twice the hours necessary to fulfill your collective graduation requirement.

In short, you are a wonderful example for your young friends sitting behind you. That may be your greatest legacy of all. chronicleXtra For the complete text go to www.peddie.org/chronicle Fall 2010 11

“Do What You Love, Love What You Do” Haley Peters, Valedictorian

To my classmates, the class of 2010: WE’VE MADE IT!!

We did it, and after four or five years, we’ve reached the end of our high school careers, forever done with SATs, ACTs, APs, MOs, IVs, and PA. Thank you for an incredible four years together; they’ve included freshman year Humanities and the Ellis Island trip; bike trips, service trips and Target trips; four years of Blair Days and MAPL tournaments, games, practices, concerts and art shows. Today is our day, today is your day.

Enjoy it, sit back and relax, because for now, there are no papers to write and no exams to study for.

Like most of you, I came here four years ago a much smaller version of myself — though not that small — a bit timid, and uncertain about the days to come. I knew nothing about boarding school life and wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the people I’d find here — teachers, coaches, roommates, classmates, teammates. I jumped blindly into the whirlwind of life at Peddie, unsure of myself, the people around me and the school itself, but hopeful that all three could be exceptional.

As each year passed, and I’d spend time at home or away from campus, meeting people from other high schools, or talking to my brothers and their friends, I began to appreciate more and more my time at Peddie. And as I have grown here, I’ve found that what makes Peddie special is the passion and enthusiasm of its people.

What has defined and will always define our time together is seeing the friends we call brothers and sisters excel in what they love to do: hearing Sharif Labban on the piano or Louisa Borden on the mic, watching Halley Gartner break a tackle or Carolyn Horner in the net. It is being able to talk with Zach chronicleXtra To view more Commencement photos go to www.peddie.org/chronicle

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Kaiser about “Lord of the Rings” whenever you want because you know just how passionate he is about it.

Over four years, we have learned to seek our passion through the example of those who surround us. From Mr. McClellan, who through four decades of teaching and coaching, remained energetic, enthusiastic and passionate right through to his last day; from the unencumbered, easy smile of Mr. Schwieger, who greets every student with a “Hey kiddo”; from the fervor of T’s falcon call before every Blair Day, and the energy of a Paul Watkins lecture, we have seen an example of the passion that defines a successful life.

When I remember my four years here, it is that passion I’ll remember most. I’ll remember how on the final night of a service trip to the Dominican Republic, Mr. Harris bawled as he told 15 of us what he’d learned, about us and himself, and shared the pride he had for his advisee, Kokie.

When I remember Peddie, I’ll remember Mr. Casey, screaming on the sidelines, as Gus tried to level his emotions: “Sean, Sean, calm down.” I’ll remember Mr. Casey picking up a technical or breaking his clipboard anyway because he was so passionate, so fervent. I’ll remember how he opened up his home to my teammates and me, made us part of his family, trusted us, and shared his success and sorrow with us.

I’ll remember how it felt to be a part of something larger than myself, and how his example of commitment and passion made me better.

“Over four years, we have learned to seek our passion through the example of those who surround us.”

I’ll remember how I laughed until my stomach hurt with my friends. I’ll remember how comfortable I felt with them.

Mr. Treese’s passion for a good 1950s bomb raid video, Mr. Bates’ obsession with the lottery, Mr. McClellan’s loathing for Aristotle, and our security guard Tim’s unceasing support. In each of these things, people’s passion and enthusiasm inspired me and reminded me of what I could achieve.

That’s what makes Peddie special. That’s the common thread. Peddie people are passionate people. They care deeply about each other, about what they do, and about what Peddie represents.

Maya Angelou once said this: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Long after I throw away Joe Fontana’s Guide to Remembering Humanities or his Ultimate Humanities Study Guide and I don’t remember any of Mr. Mooney’s bagpiping lessons; when my memory of Latin class fades, or that of Zak Mayo’s chapel speech; when I can’t remember the songs Hayley Klein sang, or the score of the boys basketball state championship game, I will always remember this: Whenever I watched or heard someone here, it always felt like they cared — about what they were doing, about their goals and passions. Peddie is beautiful in that way. Passion exudes from everyone here. That feeling will never fade in my memory.

To me, then, there is no better lesson to take from our time here, and no better way to honor those who’ve spent their days and nights with us over the past four years, than to move on with this: Do what you love, and love what you do. Do not be indifferent. Indifference can be tempting, even seductive, but it is an attitude that offers nothing to anyone who surrounds you, and, ultimately, nothing to you.

We’ve all been blessed with so many gifts — whether athletic, musical or academic — and twice as blessed to have

been around people equally, but uniquely, talented. My hope for our class as we leave here today, is that we take those gifts, combine them with the knowledge and passion gained here at Peddie, and enter the world primed to make a difference in whatever way, small or large, that we choose.

So A.J. Helfet, even if Henry Kissinger promises to shoot you for becoming an actor, or you can’t pay the rent for a while, follow your passion. It may be worth the risk, though that’s easy for me to say.

The optimism I feel for us today as we celebrate the completion of our four years may soon fade as the real world comes calling. Then, it will be easy to forget the example of passion that Peddie has given us — Mr. Clements’ enthusiasm for the Bike Boogie, Señor Middleton’s chapel talks, Mr. Campbell’s stories of scaling Mount Everest, his fasting with Jesus in the desert, prediction of the world’s oil crisis, and appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals, will all seem anecdotes of unrealistic idealism. There will be more papers to write, obligations to meet, laundry to do, things to pay for. When we get there, it will be tempting to become indifferent; to neglect what you love to do and resort to doing only what is necessary.

Don’t. Let what you’ve learned and seen here prevail. You may not be able to do anything you set your mind to, you may not be able to scale Mount Everest, but you can still climb mountains.

Regardless of the situation you are in, exude passion and never stop until you are doing what you love to do. The world needs more people to do that, and the world needs more people like the classmates I’ve gotten to know over the past years, months and weeks.

As we leave behind Peddie, and move on to a new chapter, remember this: whatever you do, do it because you love it, and do it as if it matters. If you do, it will.

Ala viva.

Fall 2010 13

Q&A with Ray Cabot, Director of Admission How has the admission process changed since you’ve been at Peddie?

The fall of 2010 marks the start of my 25th year at Peddie, so the school has changed dramatically during my time here. When I moved into the role of director of admission in the summer of 2005, a shift in the landscape of admissions was already underway. In my opinion, one of the most significant changes is the nature of the schools with whom Peddie now competes for students. One illustration of this change is found in the schools that families are considering in addition to Peddie as indicated by the SSAT score reports. Applicants for independent boarding schools take the SSAT and each family sends the score report to all the schools to which they plan to apply. In 2003-2004, candidates who sent scores to Peddie overlapped with the following schools: Lawrenceville, Hun, Pennington, Blair and Princeton Day School, in that order. By 2008-2009, that list of shared candidates had shifted to read: Lawrenceville, Hotchkiss,

Admission facts, figures, fun Of the 118 freshmen entering in the fall of 2010, there are: 26 Siblings 24 Legacy 8 Children of Faculty/Staff 3 Daniels and 3 Emmas 2 Abigails, Andrews, Benjamins, Elizabeths, Jennas, Justins, Matthews, Melissas, Morgans, Samanthas, and Seans 2 from California 6 from China 2 from South Korea 1 from Ukraine 1 from Taiwan Total SSAT 99% – 2 90% and above – 33 Average was 74% Most popular foods: pizza and pasta Other favorites: stuffed grape leaves and sushi One student cannot live without Cookie Crisp cereal.

She must have two boxes in the pantry at all times!

Pets: one boy has 30 reptiles and another has a donkey, goat, chickens and three dogs.

A sibling thinks we need a cheerleading squad and would like to organize it.

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Deerfield, Choate and Blair. This evidence suggests that as families think about independent boarding options for their children, Peddie is entering into the conversation alongside many of the most well-known schools in the country. Of course, I believe Peddie deserves to be in that conversation and among that company because we are one of the nation’s top boarding schools. However, we are competing with the best schools for the strongest students from around the world, and the marketplace is competitive.

What is the greatest challenge in admissions now?

A familiar refrain we hear in the admission office goes something like this: “We knew Peddie was a good school but we had no idea how many great things you had to offer.”

While it may seem like an oversimplification, one of our greatest challenges in the admission office is telling the Peddie story. We spend a lot of our time demonstrating how great Peddie really is and we have a great story to tell. Once families take a close look or come to visit our campus they are frequently awestruck by the strength of our curricular offerings, the impressive facilities, the expertise of our faculty and the depth and breadth of the extracurricular programs we offer. By nearly any measurement — AP scores, college placement, results of interscholastic competitions (academic, athletic and artistic) — Peddie is an elite independent boarding school, and we want to spread that word. I imagine that few people who visit schools like Andover or Exeter are surprised by the academic strength of those places. I look forward to the day when nobody is surprised to learn about the strength of Peddie.

With an increasingly large and increasingly competitive applicant pool, how do you decide which applicants to accept?

The Peddie mission statement reads “Remarkable for the range of their talents, abilities, interests, and backgrounds, our students distinguish themselves through their excitement, curiosity, and character.” The students of Peddie quite literally embody these sentiments, and the admission office is guided by this language in all that we do. Our admission process considers each candidate’s academic, extracurricular and personal profile. As we review over a thousand applications, we look for evidence of each candidate’s intellectual curiosity. Peddie is a school where we expect students to become fully engaged in the life of the school, so we want students who are excited not only about learning but also about the life of the community.

As a residential school, character is paramount and we look for students who will make good roommates, good teammates and good classmates. Throughout the process, we hope to enroll students who will embrace the philosophy of Peddie and embody our values during their time with us.

Jason Honsel joins Peddie as director of college counseling

by Dean of Faculty Martin Mooney

I first met Jason Honsel in the fall of 1995. He was a grad student at NYU, also working as an admissions officer, and I had just started as a college counselor at The Hill School. Jason was the first admissions rep I had ever met, and Hill was among the first schools he had visited in his role. After 15 years and a number of job changes we find ourselves back together again, this time on the same side of the desk. His experience at NYU, Lehigh University, Harvard-Westlake and The Taft School have both broadened and deepened his knowledge of the business since those days, but the years have not changed much else about Jason. He retains the same qualities as when I first met him: He’s down to earth, witty, and cares deeply about kids.

After earning a B.A. from Penn State and a master’s degree in cinema studies from NYU — coupled with his admissions work — Jason moved closer to his hometown of Nazareth, PA, in 1996, as an admissions officer for Lehigh University. During the next seven years, he moved up the ladder to become senior associate director before leaving in 2003 to become Upper School dean at Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, CA. The dean’s position at HWS is a distinctive one in that the dean is responsible for many aspects of a student’s life at the school: discipline, college counseling, as well as academic and personal advising. “This work gave me a broad perspective,” Jason noted, “and allowed me to really get to know the students well.” In addition to the dean’s office, Jason coached JV basketball and worked with the school’s Honor Board, student government organizations, and film festival.

Moreover, Jason added that “working in Los Angeles had its perks too — movie premieres, lectures with parents who happened to be ‘A-list’ actors, and back stage passes to concerts were some of them.”

The college counseling position at Taft brought him back to the East Coast in 2008, after five years out West.

It was not an easy move, but he felt it was one he needed to make, for two reasons: one, to be closer to home and family; and two, to work in a boarding environment. In only two years in the office at Taft, Jason made a huge impression on the place. Andy McNeill, who hired Jason to work in the College Office said that Jason is “enormously respected on campus.” He went on to say that Jason “knows kids; he gets them, and they are drawn to him as well.” Noting that Taft widened Jason’s responsibilities to include admissions, teaching, and coaching, McNeill said, “Everyone at Taft wants a piece of this guy. … He’s magically good with kids.”

Having worked at two independent schools and having visited hundreds more as an admissions officer, Jason shared his first impressions of Peddie just after moving onto campus in July: “While Peddie is every bit as strong academically as its peer schools, there is a sense of appreciation among the students and the faculty that I have not felt at those other schools.” Jason said that his goals for the office begin with continuing “the great work that Ted, Leigh, and Joe have done, especially building strong relationships with students, parents, Peddie faculty, and the colleges.”

In replacing long-time Dean of College Counseling Ted deVillafranca, the school’s challenge was to find a person with extensive college admissions and school counseling experience coupled with a sense of the School’s culture and values. Head of School John Green said, “When you’re looking at candidates for this position, you find people who have a long track record in either college admissions or school counseling. Not only has Jason done significant work in both areas, but he has also coached, taught, and advised clubs and organizations. You don’t

find candidates out there with both the depth and breadth of his experience.

We’re very fortunate not only to have Jason take over the reins in the College Counseling Office, but also to have him and his family join the Peddie community.”

Honsel’s thoughts on…

NYU: “It was great place to start because the combination of volume (30,000 applications) and selectivity showed me how tough decisions were made.”

Lehigh: “The place where I really grew as a professional. Throughout my seven years I ran the on-campus programs, the tour guide program, and was the athletic liaison. I became a huge Lehigh sports fan and towards the end of my tenure was doing color commentary on the radio broadcasts for Lehigh basketball.”

College counseling philosophy: “As we educate students and parents about colleges and the application process, we ultimately want to help the students get to know themselves so that they can be empowered to make, what for many, is their first big life decision.”

Penn State: “My mood in the fall is directly correlated to how PSU football is doing.”

Lehigh wrestling: “Wrestling is huge where I grew up, and I’ve followed Lehigh ever since.”

Oakland Raiders: “Embarrassing to admit that they’re my favorite team, given how awful they have been, but they won the Super Bowl when I was six.”

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New Faculty and Administrative Staff for 2010-11 Michael Agosto | Admission Office Agosto is a graduate of Bates College and St. George’s School in Newport, RI. He most recently served as education program associate at The Boys’ Club of New York, where he was the primary liaison to over 25 schools. At St. George’s, Agosto was the equivalent of student body president, served as a prefect, and captained multiple athletic teams. While at The Boys’ Club, Agosto organized student summits and developed themespecific workshops on identity, culture, change and transition.

Agosto will assume the role of assistant director of admission and coordinator of multicultural recruitment.

Meghan Collins | History Collins has joined the history department for the 2010-11 school year. Collins studied political science and economics, with a minor in Asian studies, at Loyola University. She then spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. On her return, Collins earned a degree in comparative religion from the University of Washington, which included study in Arabic.

Last year, she served as an intern for the Moroccan American Center for Policy in Washington, D.C. Collins spent a term at the Beijing Center Study Abroad Program in 2002. Her references praised her persistence, intelligence, humility, and energy.

Sarah Crider | Science Crider received her Ph.D. in chemistry at Duke University in July 2010. She has taught or worked with Duke and Randolph-Macon undergraduates over the past seven years. In 2007-08, Crider was awarded the Pelham Wilder Teaching Award and has received awards for outstanding work in chemistry at both Duke and Randolph-Macon. An avid basketball fan and former collegiate player, Crider was a four-year letter winner and team captain her junior and senior years at Randolph-Macon.

Lindi Davis | Mathematics A 1994 graduate of the University of South Florida, Davis served as department chair in the Blaine County School District in Hailey, Idaho. She taught ninth through 12th grades in courses ranging from refresher mathematics and geometry to calculus AB, BC, and linear algebra.

One colleague spoke of her “great sense of humor” and “infectious presence in the classroom.” Another colleague said, “You would be crazy, nuts, not to hire her.” Davis was very active in her school

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community, coordinating community service, timing basketball and football games, and staying late to offer extra help.

Hal Ebbot | English A 2010 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Ebbot studied public policy and law, and writing and rhetoric. While at Trinity, Ebbot captained Trinity varsity rowing, served on the Honor Council, and founded and contributed to the humor section of Trinity Tripod. He was named to the NESCAC All-Academic team for outstanding academic and athletic achievement and received the Robert S. Morris Scholarship, awarded to those who exemplify the values and ideals of Trinity College. He was also awarded the Samuel and Clara Hendel Memorial Book Prize and was named the President’s Fellow of Public Service and Law. Ebbot will also coach crew.

Deanna Ferrante | Marketing and Communications Office Ferrante has assumed Sean Casey’s role as director of marketing and communications. Ferrante comes to Peddie from The Pennington School, where she has been director of communications and marketing since 2008. A 1992 graduate of George Washington University, Ferrante graduated with a concentration in international politics, with secondary studies in German language and literature. As a Fulbright Grantee, Ferrante studied in Bonn, focusing on U.S. and German foreign policy. She went on to earn an MPIA in international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. Ferrante’s communications experience has included work at Princeton and Rutgers.

One colleague calls her an expert “connector,” someone able to distill ideas from a seeming cacophony of voices.

Nellie Gaynor | Admission Office Gaynor has been serving as associate director of admissions and marketing at The Wharton School/Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. In that role, she has been responsible for all aspects of the recruiting process and developed an integrated marketing and communications plan for the school. In particular, she increased the Institute’s presence on social media networks. She also prepared, maintained and analyzed statistical data for the admission office at the Lauder Institute.

In addition, Gaynor worked with alumni volunteers involved in admissions functions and coordinated special events. Gaynor graduated with a Master of Education degree from Rutgers Graduate School of Education.

Lauri Lewis | Mathematics

Jason Park | Science

Lewis is a 1983 industrial engineering graduate of Georgia Tech, and has taught in a public and private school in Louisiana. Last year, she taught mathematics at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge.

She previously worked at Crestworth Magnet School, also in Baton Rouge. Lewis has her National Board Certification and Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adults Certification. Lewis’ colleagues, both faculty and staff, praise her for her intelligence, organization and flexibility, especially her willingness to take on additional work. Lewis’ background in engineering and industry, her peers say, has enabled her to help students see relevant applications for the mathematics she teaches.

Park is a 1998 graduate of Duke University and has taught in New Jersey public schools for six years, first at Linden High School and then at Monroe Township. Park’s colleagues call him a “fantastic” teacher, and he demonstrated some of his classroom talent when he taught a biology lesson here at Peddie. While at Linden, Park taught in the Advanced Placement and International Bacalaureate programs. He also coached varsity volleyball. From 1998 to 2001, Park worked in the Department of Biochemistry at Duke. He soon realized he wanted very much to teach and started out as a substitute teacher at Palisades Park Jr./ Sr. High School.

Rebekah Sandefer | Language

Chris Mixon | English Mixon spent last year as a humanities intern at Culver Academies and is a graduate of Wesleyan. Mixon concentrated on the Classical and Medieval period while in college and spent a summer term studying Shakespeare and Dickens at Oxford University. He has worked with kids at camps in North Carolina, Minnesota, and New York, and with female inmates at York Correctional Institution in Connecticut, where he developed connections between their life and Shakespeare’s Tempest. Mixon played varsity football and varsity wrestling while at Wesleyan.

Familiar with boarding schools, Mixon served as a coach, in-barracks supervisor, and teacher at Culver and is a graduate of Episcopal High School in Alexandria.

Olivia Newhouse | English A 2010 graduate of Georgetown, Newhouse finished with a degree in English. Newhouse’s Georgetown English courses include everything from Shakespeare and Milton to Hollywood Horror Film. At Greens Farm Academy, Newhouse was elected president of the Student Council and captain of the field hockey and softball teams.

A Georgetown reference refers to her accomplishments and humility. At Georgetown, Newhouse played outfielder/pitcher for the varsity softball team, playing 60 games each season while earning Dean’s List status. She was named NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete in Spring 2007. She has worked with Grassroot Hoyas since Fall 2008, educating at-risk youth in Washington, DC, about HIV/AIDS.

Sandefer is a 2006 graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sandefer previously taught at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. Raised in France, Sandefer attended French public schools until high school, when she attended an international boarding school in Germany.

Her colleagues at Christian Brothers call her “remarkable” and highlighted her volunteerism within the school community. Sandefer has been active in mission work in the Czech Republic, Romania, and Italy.

Eva Shultis | Science Shultis, a 2010 graduate of Brown University, will intern in our Science Department. Eva earned a Sc.B. with honors in human biology. She attended Falmouth Academy in high school and went back to Falmouth last February to spend a week substitute teaching. As a student at Falmouth, Shultis garnered the faculty’s respect and was awarded the Bruce Buxton Award for Imagination. She was admired as a strong student and school leader. In 2009, Shultis spent a term in Australia, where she studied public health issues associated with Dengue Fever.

She was a member of Brown’s varsity fencing team from 2007–09 and earned a third-degree black belt in karate.

Mikael Yisrael ’06 | Admission Office Yisrael returns to Peddie as an admission officer. A 2010 graduate of Cornell, Yisrael finished with a degree in policy analysis and management. Yisrael hopes to combine his policy analysis and management background with his work at Peddie. The past two summers Yisrael has worked with young people: last summer as teen program counselor at Cornell’s Adult University; the summer before as a residential and teaching assistant at LEAD Summer Business Institute. Yisrael served as president of his chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and as peer mentor in Cornell’s Office of Minority Educational Affairs.

Fall 2010 17

An Historic Visit Dr. Henry Kissinger speaks in Ayer Memorial Chapel The Chapel was full to capacity, yet completely silent. As the side door opened and Dr. Henry Kissinger made his way to the podium, the import of the moment was palpable. Though the students in the pews had not even been alive during his most active years of service, there was a clear understanding of being in the presence of an American icon, and the assembly rose, applauding, as Kissinger waved his greeting.

Based on a long-standing friendship with the Helfet family (A.J. ’10), Henry Kissinger addressed students and faculty in the Ayer Memorial Chapel on May 21, 2010.

Nearly 87 years old (his birthday was the week following his visit), Kissinger served as assistant to the president for national

between policy makers and academics, he explained, is that policy makers do not have the luxuries of choosing their area of focus or changing their minds.

“Something presents itself and must be dealt with in a constrained period of time,” he explained. “If you are a professor, you may write something, and later, if you change your mind, you have the opportunity to rewrite it. Policy makers don’t have that privilege; a decision is made once, and, if it’s wrong, they have to live with the consequences.”

Kissinger added that, despite the constant pressures, there is a great deal of satisfaction working in public service and knowing that there is nothing more important you could be doing, and

security affairs from 1969-75 and as secretary of state under Richard Nixon from 1973-77. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his efforts towards bringing an end to the war in Vietnam, his opinion on diplomatic affairs continues to be sought out by subsequent administrations.

“We were honored to have a person of Dr. Kissinger’s stature and historical significance speak to our student body,” remarked Head of School John Green. “It was incredibly exciting to give our students a first-hand account from someone who has so greatly influenced our country. We are grateful to the Helfet family for making this opportunity possible.”

After a brief welcome from Green, A.J. Helfet introduced Kissinger — an admittedly daunting task for a high school senior. Briefly entertaining the audience with a story of an encounter with Kissinger when Helfet was a young child, he continued, “We are honored to have Dr. Kissinger address us on good citizenship and diplomacy. I can think of no one better — having served his country in many capacities for over 60 years.”

The focus of Kissinger’s talk was on the realities of high-level decision making and the qualities of leadership. The difference

that what you do makes a difference.

Becoming a successful leader, Kissinger said, requires more than knowledge and intelligence. “When making decisions at a high level, they are usually those in which the pros and cons are fairly evenly divided, so there is no simple answer. In addition, at the time the decision is being made, there is no way to know definitively what the consequences will be.”

While a good leader must certainly have the knowledge and experience to see an issue from all angles, Kissinger noted, he ultimately must have the ability to make a moral choice.

“What is it that you are trying to accomplish that gives you the assurance — the courage — to face the consequences?

In all of policy, the goal of leaders is to take their people from where they are to where they have not been. It takes vision and courage; intelligence alone cannot do it. Churchill, FDR — both had vision that their societies could not immediately grasp.”

Following his speech, Kissinger invited students to “… feel free to ask any question you want — they don’t have to be friendly!”

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As always, Peddie students rose to the occasion, asking pertinent, in-depth and potentially controversial questions on a range of topics including the two-state settlement solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the bombing of the Ho Chi Minh trail, personal regrets, the effect of public opinion on decision making, and the significance and future of United States/China relations.

Leaving the chapel to tremendous applause, Kissinger then headed to the Caspersen History House for a luncheon with the Helfet family, John Green, faculty representatives Peter Kraft, Ray Cabot and Sarah Somers, and student representative Chris Anastasio ’11.

Invited by the History Department because of his keen interest in politics and history, Anastasio participated in the Asian Studies program in both China and India.

“It was an amazing experience to sit next to Dr. Kissinger and listen to his stories,” shared Anastasio. “I left with a better understanding of how decisions at the State Department are made, and of how the government functions and makes decisions at the highest level. It will be an unforgettable

A titan of 20th century foreign policy talks about the realities of high-level decision making and the qualities that define a leader.

memory, especially because I am interested in pursuing politics one day.”

“It was so gratifying that our students grasped the magnitude of Dr. Kissinger’s visit,” shared AP U.S. history teacher Peter Kraft. “Their rapt attention, superb questions and the general buzz on campus were clear evidence that our kids understood they were witnessing one of the titans of 20th-century foreign policy. It was a great day for Peddie in every sense of that word.” chronicleXtra Find complete questions and answers at www.peddie.org/chronicle

A History of Distinguished Speakers Date: February 12, 1903 Thomas Woodrow Wilson 28th U.S. President

Date: May 23, 1980 and May 20, 1984 Gerald Ford 38th U.S. President

Then president of Princeton University, to be named governor of New Jersey in 1910 and president of the United States in 1913, Woodrow Wilson was the Founder’s Day speaker in 1903. An article in the Chronicle named it a day that “will long be remembered as one of the grandest events in the history of the school.”

Peddie was fortunate to have Former President Gerald Ford speak at Peddie twice in the eighties. The former president had never given a public address at an independent school prior to his first Peddie visit. Ford then returned to campus four years later for a special Baccalaureate service which paid tribute to Ambassador Annenberg for his then-unprecedented gift of twelve million dollars to the school.

Date: June 7, 1916 William Howard Taft 27th U.S. President

“Frequently I hear sharp criticism of the high cost of education,” Ford said.

“My response is firm and to the point — the cost of ignorance is far greater.”

Former President Taft addressed the school as part of Peddie’s 50th anniversary celebration. Titled “Our World Relations,” Taft spoke of the benefit of forming alliances with other countries around the world.

Date: April 12, 1995 Colin Powell Former Secretary of State

“I do not know whether your Jersey farmers use the expression, when rain is foreshadowed after the meadows have been cut, ‘he has a good deal of hay out,’” Taft explained. “This is what we have; we have, throughout the world, ‘a good deal of hay out,’ which every world storm threatens, for we have come into business relations with the world.”

Introduced by Board Chairman Finn M.W. Caspersen ’59, Colin Powell addressed students in Ayer Memorial Chapel. During his short speech, Powell voiced strong support for military intervention with clear political objectives, admitted that the war in Vietnam had been a mistake and refused to comment on whether he would seek the presidency.

Date: February 20, 1957 Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Leader Speaking from the podium in Ayer Memorial Chapel, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lecture was titled, “Philosophy of Non-Violence.” Just 28 years old at the time, King directed his talk to the topic of resolution of segregation issues in the South.

“We hate the evil deed rather than the people connected with it,” Dr. King remarked. “The contention is between justice and injustice, light and dark, and evil and good.”

“Look within yourselves,” Powell told students, “And always do your best — to do your best.”

Date: February 16, 2009 Abraham Lincoln 16th U.S. President Yes, Honest Abe graced Ayer Chapel. Well, truth be told, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator came to Peddie on the occasion of his 200th birthday.

Organized by our own Doc Martin, who had recently been appointed to the New Jersey Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, “President Lincoln” addressed students on the virtues of good citizenship.

Fall 2010 19

center campus Peddie musicians, singers shine at Heritage Festival The voices and music of more than 100 Peddie students resounded clearly at the Heritage Music Festival in Boston this April as soloists, vocal ensembles and instrumental groups collected several top honors. Heritage Festivals, founded in 1980, specializes in organizing music festivals across the nation and around the world.

Under the directorship of Alan Michaels (instrumental), Marisa Green (choral), Megan Smith (Treblemakers) and Kelly Bixby (acaFellas), the talented Peddie contigent contributed to the tradition of excellence that is a hallmark of these festivals.

Maestro awards for Outstanding Musicianship were presented to four Peddie students for their solo performances: Corbyn Yhap ’12 (voice), Zachary Kaiser ’10 (voice), Young Joon Joo ’13 (violin) and Sami Labban ’12 (viola).

Peddie chorus merited a first place gold medal for Concert Choirs, while the all-male a cappella group, acaFellas, also captured the gold.

Silver medal accolades went to Orchestra, Concert Band, Strings and Peddie Singers (Chamber Choirs).

In addition to the individual category honors, Peddie garnered the Choral Sweepstakes Award for highest score across all categories and the Festival Sweepstakes Award for highest score for instrumental and choral combined at Festival.

Silver and Gold awards represent a national ranking across all festival sites across the country.

Gold Winners received an invitation to perform in the National Youth Choir Festival at Carnegie Hall during the 2010-11 academic year.

Peddie singers perform at Heritage Music Festival in Boston.

Peddie botball team wins it all at regional competition The Peddie robotics team swept the competition at the New Jersey/New York Botball regionals on May 15 at the Ian H. Graham Athletic Center.

Charles Mai ’11, Dillon Torno ’10, Halley Gartner ’10, Khari Motayne ’11, Kokie Imasogie ’10, and Mason Quilty ’11 of the Peddie “A” team received first place overall (out of 17 teams) with 236 points. Their score was second highest of the 320 teams competing in 13 regions across the country.

The Peddie “B” team (Alex Lee ’10, Gary Sharp ’10, Pasu Porapakkham ’11, Tom Hrabchak ’10, Dillon Torno ’10 and Halley Gartner ’10) posted the second highest score of the day with 150 points and finished in the runner-up position behind Peddie “A” in the seeding performance rounds and the head-to-head all-Peddie final.

Botball is a robotics competition where students make use of practical applications of science and math to construct robots that complete various tasks on a gameboard in a limited amount of time. The challenge this year was to create robots under the leadership of “Botguy” to help rescue ducks and frogs from an oil spill disaster. Each competing team receives a kit containing exactly the same LEGO parts.

“Botball’s educational goals include technology awareness, engineering, computer programming, Internet research, design skills, and creativity,” said robotics coach and science teacher Martin Patt. “Our teams worked extremely hard over the past seven weeks to produce such high-quality robots. It was nice to see their efforts pay off.”

In the morning, teams competed unopposed on the game board as robots attempted to score as many points as they could. The action heated up in the afternoon as teams went head-to-head in the double elimination rounds. Robots from two different teams compete on the game board simultaneously in an effort to score as many points as possible, but also to keep their opponent from scoring.

“For Peddie’s score to be one of the highest in the nation is pretty incredible considering the caliber of some of the other schools that compete,” said Patt. “There are lots of scores of zeros at these competitions. Other teams were amazed how we were able to get our robots to perform so many tasks in such a limited time.”

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The New Jersey/New York Botball regionals took place at the Ian H. Graham Athletic Center. Peddie teams swept the competition.

Principal Lata Vaidyanathan of the Modern School in New Delhi and Head of School John Green formally created a sister-school partnership in May.

Global leadership summit and faculty exchange As part of its new sister-school partnership with the Modern School in New Delhi, four students and two faculty members will attend the Community Development and Leadership Summit ’10 (CLDS) this November.

Hosted by the Modern School, CLDS is an international gathering of young minds, bringing together students from eighteen countries around the world. The summit fosters leadership qualities and a sense of social responsibility toward the global society among its delegates, and aims to help students recognize the role of leadership in community development.

Titled “Ideas, Innovations and Designs,” this year’s summit places particular emphasis on the exchange of knowledge, skills and experiences. It fits perfectly into Peddie’s Asian Studies program, which, according to coordinator Brad Nicholson, “…is committed to developing a comprehensive curriculum which provides students with a clear understanding of the geo-political, economic and cultural issues in a wide variety of Asian countries.”

During a visit in May, Principal Lata Vaidyanathan of the Modern School signed an agreement with Head of School John Green formally creating a sister-school partnership. An academically intense school, Modern School was deemed the best suited for Peddie as it expands its Asian studies program into India.

“India in the past few years has been changing rapidly,” Nicholson said. “The contrasts and contradictions of the country are very powerful. This is a great opportunity for both schools to exchange ideas and develop deep bonds of international cooperation.”

EXP Research Science Program launches a pilot program this fall.

EXP Research Science Program pilot underway Students with a passion for science have a new outlet: EXP Research Science Program @ Peddie. Launched this fall as a pilot program, EXP is a year-long program designed to develop students’ enthusiasm for research and to encourage eventual careers in science-related fields.

Starting in junior year, selected students will begin the program by meeting weekly, and informally, with a teacher, and will be introduced to pertinent literature, lab expectations and common laboratory techniques. After a trip to “available” labs, students will then be matched with their lab by late winter or early spring.

During spring term, students will begin preparing for their projects in the lab. Meeting with the primary investigator as well as their day-to-day mentor, they will gather background information, read in their respective fields, and write a proposal for their research. In this way, the lab will understand the scope of the project and materials needed, and students will understand their goals and how they fit into the lab’s greater mission.

In the summer between junior and senior years, students will be expected to spend five weeks, or approximately 200 hours, in their lab.

Finally, during fall term of senior year, students will prepare both a poster and presentation based on their experiences to be displayed in the Annenberg Science Center, presented to an audience and potentially entered into science contests.

In addition, students will act as mentors to incoming program participants.

“It’s exciting to offer this opportunity for our students to engage in research at the highest level,” said Shani Peretz, Ph.D., science department chair. Since the opening of our new science center, we have enrolled an increasing number of students with an interest in and aptitude for science.

This program will enable them to experience how and why scientific research occurs.”

Fall 2010 21

SPRING

SPORTS WRAP

Girls’ Lacrosse tops in the Preps, MAPL

Boys’ golf wins another Prep A thriller

The top-seeded Peddie girls’ lacrosse team captured its second-ever Prep A championship, following its first in 2003, with an 11–9 win over Princeton Day School at home on the new turf field. Senior Gabby Horner scored four of her team-high five goals in the first half as the Falcons jumped out to a 7–4 halftime lead. The win capped off a spectacular season with a 17–1 mark and the Mid-Atlantic Prep League crown. The Falcon laxers reached the finals by rolling past Lawrenceville, 21–13.

In the last two years, Peddie reached the state title game only to fall to Oak Knoll in two close contests, but this game was not going to slip away.

“We’ve worked so hard and all the seniors have been pushing everyone since March and this has been our final goal and we achieved it,” said Horner who finished the season with 59 goals. “There is no better feeling than winning a championship, and I can’t think of a better group of girls to win it with.”

Classmate Jenna Petrucelli tallied twice, including a key goal at the 18:39 mark of the second half that sparked a fourgoal burst to cushion the Falcon advantage to 11–5 with 11:27 remaining.

“This means everything. We worked so hard the past three years to get to this point,” said Petrucelli, the team’s leading goal-getter with 65. “This year it was our time.”

First-year head coach Katie Schwizer lauded the senior leadership.

“The seniors have been great and this is special for them to go out like this,” said Schwizer. “Gabby (Horner) and Jenna (Petrucelli) I remember as freshmen and they’ve come so far in their development in four years. When I was the trainer, they seemed like little kids with lots of potential and now both are off to play lacrosse in college.”

For the second year in a row, 18 holes were not enough to settle the NJISAA Prep A Golf Championship held on the Peddie Golf Course. In another nail-biter, junior Max Klein (fourth-place medalist) and freshman Max Greyserman (runner-up) needed just one extra hole of the sudden “victory” playoff to edge Seton Hall Prep. Greyserman sank a five-foot putt to par the 350-yard eighth hole and clinch Peddie’s fourth consecutive title and fifth in the past six years.

Last year, Warren Taylor ’09 (Trinity University, TX) drained a birdie putt on the second sudden-death hole to give his playing partner, Connor Monaghan ’09 (Denison University, OH), and the rest of his Peddie teammates a dramatic win over Lawrenceville.

“We have had an up-and-down season,” said head coach Benjamin Bickford. “We lost two matches by one stroke over a three-day period. I am so proud that the guys never gave up — during the entire season.

“Despite being so young, they showed a lot of determination and maturity being able to battle down to the last stroke. The first day of practice we discussed the need to play as a team together, and that every stroke counted. They realized that with a great victory for the Prep A title.”

Earlier in the season, the Falcon linksters retained the Jeffrey Leibovit Memorial Cup for the fourth consecutive year over Lawrenceville with a two-day aggregate score of 424–441.

The Falcons drove to an insurmountable lead after the opening match, 216–236, but dropped a 208–205 decision to Big Red in the second round.

22 Peddie Chronicle

Boys Lax finishes 2010 campaign at 11–8 The Peddie boys’ lacrosse team played a tight contest with perennial power Lawrenceville, but in the end Big Red prevailed, 9–6, despite a gritty second-half comeback bid in the NJISAA Prep A championship game. Junior Brendon Boccellari led the Falcons with four points on the afternoon, recording a hat trick and adding one assist.

“We had a really slow-starting game,” said Falcon coach Ross Turco. “You’ll struggle if you have a slow-starting game, especially against a team like Lawrenceville. I’m proud of my kids because they played hard. It’s a shame to not come away with a win as hard as they played in the second half. Having this experience this year is something that these guys will hopefully build on for the future.”

Playing in the semifinal match-up against Hun School and Peddie’s final home game of the 2010 season, sophomore Chris

No. 2 chalked up a team-best three wins as Peddie secured a fourth-place finish in the tightly contested team standings.

“It was a great day and great fun for all the participants and coaches,” said Dubrule. “We’ll look to find a date next year and hopefully make this an annual competition.”

Track teams stellar in field events

Allen made certain it would be a memorable afternoon. Allen notched five of his seven goals in the second half to carry the Falcons to an 11–7 win over the Raiders.

Playing with a dual goalie system for more than half the season, senior Kyle Mariboe and junior Ethan Kibrick consistently gave the Falcons a chance to win.

In arguably the most exciting contest of the season, junior long-pole defender and team MVP Tim Wilt scored a dramatic golden goal 19 seconds into overtime to lift the Falcons to a thrilling 6–5 victory at Rumson-Fairhaven.

Head coach Ross Turco captured his third 10-win season in a row.

Junior Jon Astemborksi led the way for the Falcons, capturing the discus, javelin and shot put at the NJISAA Prep A Championships at the Lawrenceville track. The girls’ team finished in second place, improving significantly on last year’s sixth-place finish, while the boys moved up one notch to third. Astemborski won his third straight javelin title with a throw of 163–00. He landed the discus a 140–02 and shot put at 47–08 to complete the impressive triple. For the girls, senior Bridgette McKnight earned her third consecutive shot put gold and was runner-up in the discus.

Several Peddie runners had solid performances in the championship.

On the boys’ side, senior Brendon Albaugh ran a gutsy race in the 800 meters, hitting the wire in second place for a personal-best time by two seconds. Classmate Brian de Leon took second in the grueling 3200 meters and sophomore Tom Hennessy legged out a fourth-place finish in the fast-paced 1600. Sophomore Kelly Bailey recorded her best time in the

Tennis places second in MAPL Led by sophomore Ryan Clancy, the No. 4 singles champion, the Peddie tennis team scored a second-place finish in the MAPL tournament held at Lehigh University. The Falcons, under head coach Brian Dubrule, recorded 24 team points, which placed them two behind team champion Blair and one point ahead of third-place Lawrenceville. Senior Aaron Lau and freshman Jonathan Ku recorded runner-up finishes in the singles bracket.

With only four schools qualifying for Prep A designation, the long-standing state tournament was replaced by the inaugural Doubles Only Tournament where Lau and Ku at Fall 2010 23

1600 by a whopping nine seconds (5:17.47), which rewarded her with the silver. Junior Sarah Newbury placed third in the 800 and sophomore Tatiana Turin scored for Peddie with a fourth in the 100 hurdles.

Competing in the 4 x 1600 meters at the East Coast Relays, the quartet of senior Brendon Albaugh (4:30.6), sophomore Tom Hennessy (4:34.6), senior Brian de Leon (4:36.60) and senior anchor Stefano Valle (4:33.2) placed sixth in 18:15.00, setting a new school record.

“We had a very good day at the relays,” said coach Mark Gartner. “It’s a prestigious meet with some of the best programs entered. There were 17 teams in our event, so I am happy with our sixth-place finish.”

Softball ends season at 8–8 In the MAPL final, the Falcons dropped a 4–0 decision to Blair, but getting there took a masterful pitching effort from junior Claire Haeuptle. In the first round, Haeuptle scattered five hits, surrendered one walk and struck out three en route to a thrilling 1–0 victory over Hun School.

Despite a roller coaster season, head coach Tim O’Reilly reached the 100-win milestone on April 23 at The Hill School.

Junior Eve Clausen pitched a complete game and hit two home runs to pace the 13–1 victory. Since O’Reilly took over the reins in 2003, the Falcons have won a host of games, including

four straight Prep A State and MAPL championships.

The string of titles from 2005-08 produced an eye-popping 67–9 mark.

“The milestone is important because it really belongs to all my players past and present,” said O’Reilly. “Their dedication, hard work and willingness to help our team in any way needed is the main reason for this achievement. The outstanding qualities that these young ladies display makes my success as a coach an easier task. The support of the entire Peddie community has been tremendous and I look forward to the next 100. I love what I do and where I do it.”

Falcon Feats / Peddie athletes in college action Brown University Women’s Crew Rowing on the most successful women’s crew in NCAA Division I Women’s Rowing history, senior Lauren Libfraind ’07 garnered Spring Academic All-Ivy recognition and helped her team to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division I Women’s Rowing Championship, on Lake Natona, outside of Sacramento, CA. As a freshman, she was a member of the varsity eight that catapulted the team to the national crown and earned a trip to the White House for a presidential ceremony. Libfraind was a two-time US Rowing Youth National champion in the Peddie women’s four.

Gettysburg College Women’s Lacrosse Hollis Stahl ’06 will need to build another room to house all the awards she earned over the last four seasons, including the most recent honor from the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). Stahl was lauded as the NCAA Division III 24 Peddie Chronicle

Midfielder of the Year at the IWLCA All-American Banquet held on June 12.

Among her many accolades in 2010, she was named IWLCA All-America First Team and WomensLacrosse.com All-America First Team. Stahl topped the list of Centennial Conference honorees as well, becoming the first back-to-back Player of the Year in the 17-year history of the organization.

Stahl capped her career second on the Bullets’ all-time list for goals with 192.

Hamilton College Women’s Lacrosse Lauren Sokol ’08 was chosen as a 2010 Division III First Team All-American by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. Sokol is the first player in Hamilton’s program history to make the All-America team as a sophomore.

She led a defense that ranked No. 1 in Division III with 5.95 goals against average. She posted 41 ground balls, 31 draw controls and 26 caused turnovers.

Edged 7–6 by Salisbury University in the 2010 Division III national champi-

onship game, her team finished with a record of 21–1. The 21 wins tied a team record that was originally set in 2008. Sokol won the Outstanding Player Award trophy during her senior year for the Falcons. Lacrosse honors run in the Sokol family as Lauren’s sister, Ana ’05, garnered a second-team All American selection for defense in 2008 and a third-team spot in 2009 for Dickinson College.

Rider University Baseball

Two former Peddie standouts have made the grade for the Division I Broncos. Senior outfielder Karl Johnston ’07 batted .313 in 59 appearances (54 starts) and stole a team-high 21 bases in 27 attempts.

Besides his speed on the basepaths, Johnston committed just one error to record a .992 fielding percentage. On the mound, sophomore Mike Murphy ’09 proved durable with 22 appearances for 58 innings of work and a 4–5 record during his rookie campaign. He pitched seven innings, allowing three

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earned runs while striking out seven and walking two in a pivotal 10–5 win over Canisius in the winner’s bracket of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship tournament. “We made a decision in mid-April to start him,” said head coach Barry Davis. “We knew he was one of the best pitchers on the team. Every week he has gotten better. Tonight he really stepped up and pitched with confidence and he basically shut them out until the fifth inning.” Rider (36–23) went on to capture the 2010 MAAC Baseball tournament and claim the automatic bid for the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

Stevens Institute of Technology Men’s Tennis Named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and first-team singles honoree, Chris Rosensteel ’09 enjoyed a tremendous rookie season in his first year on the Hudson, putting together a 27–1 mark at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. The East Windsor, NJ, native set the Ducks’ single-season, singles wins record with

27 victories and doubles mark with 20 wins, while helping the Ducks to their second Empire 8 Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. In addition, he enjoyed a remarkable run through the United States Tennis Association Middle States US Open Sectional Qualifying Tournament, advancing to the finals of the five-day championship held at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, NJ. Rosensteel scored a 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, come-from-behind semifinal victory over Michael Zhu, currently the nation’s 13th-ranked prospect according to the Tennis Recruiting Network, before dropping the tournament final against 31-year-old Punch Maleka, a former South African Davis Cup team member.

Wesleyan University Baseball After helping put Wesleyan in the NESCAC tournament for a second straight year, junior pitcher Brett Yarusi ’08 was named to the all-New England Small College Athletic Conference firstteam. Yarusi recorded a sparkling 7–3

mark, logged a 3.81 ERA in 59 innings of work and struck out 47 batters, both good enough for top-ten finishes in the conference. In his final outing of the regular season, Yarusi posted a six-hit shutout against Trinity, the first blanking by the Cardinals against the Bantams since 1984. A year ago, Yarusi had an outstanding rookie campaign with a 3–3 mark and 3.50 ERA as he posted 44 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. Yarusi secured a temporary spot on the Wareham Gateman roster in the prestigious Cape Cod League for portion of the summer.

Wofford College Baseball

Brett’s brother Brandon Yarusi ’09, a sophomore at Division I Wofford College, was named one of the top performing relief pitchers in the Southern Conference during a two-week stretch in May, while holding down a 3.75 GPA during the second semester. Brandon played summer ball for the Monmouth Monarchs of the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League.

Fall 2010 25

Mia Hamm motivates soccer players to lead on and off the field The Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy (JFSLA) returned in the summer of 2010 for its fifth year, this time with soccer great Mia Hamm at the helm. Equal parts soccer and leadership training, JFSLA emphasizes skills that can be cultivated for life. Foudy, thirteen-year captain of the USA Women’s Soccer Team, two-time gold medalist and two-time World Cup Champion, founded the camp with husband Ian Sawyers.

skills the athlete can apply off the field,” explains Foudy.

“By the same token, individuals who develop leadership skills off the field often are able to bring those skills to the field to draw out the best in themselves and their teammates.”

Sitting on the edge of the stage in the William MountBurke Theatre, Hamm shared her story with the campers.

Excelling at soccer at an early age, Hamm was selected by the national team at age 15. Ironically, this is where she first

“We all have a gift and tremendous potential.

Know that you can make a difference — no matter what your circumstances are.” — Mia Hamm Hamm, also two-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist, and the youngest woman ever to play on the United States National Team, took Foudy’s place at this year’s camp to continue to promote the camp’s message of “choosing to matter.”

The former teammates share a common motivation; grateful for the game, their team and their experience, they are committed to giving back. JFSLA emphasizes the strong connection between sports and leadership, encouraging girls to be leaders both on the field and in their communities.

“The lessons an athlete learns on the field of striving for goals, motivating others and problem solving translate into leadership 26 Peddie Chronicle

experienced feelings of failure, and from those, began to learn how to be successful.

“Up until this point, for me, everything had come easily — I had experienced success without much hardship. Now I was sitting on the bench. I realized that I wanted more than anything to be a part of this team — but in order to do so, I had to fully commit myself. Once I learned to do that, I took off. I set my own bar instead of trying to reach for one set by others, and made my expectations for myself higher than the expectations others had for me.”

Hamm began playing to her potential, but soon faced another obstacle in trying to establish her role on the team.

“As girls and as women, I think we often concentrate on the things we’re not — ‘I’m not as pretty, not as funny, not as smart’ — instead of focusing on what we are,” she explained.

“Surrounded by all of these incredible women, I spent time thinking, ‘Why can’t I be more like her?’ Finally, though, I decided this is who I am. I play as hard as I can, I come prepared, I’m loyal, honest and committed. That’s how I found my leadership style.”

“What Julie wants to give you from this week is a feeling of empowerment,” Hamm said. “You need to find your own way — your own leadership style. We all have a gift and tremendous potential. Know that you can make a difference — no matter what your circumstances are.”

Kayla Roca ’14 heard the message loud and clear. A four-year JFSLA alum, Roca has long been inspired by the camp staff.

“So many of them have these amazing stories,” she says. “There is a staff member who was originally a camper and is from Afghanistan, and grew up struggling to be able to play soccer because of the Taliban rule. She was able to use the leadership skills and confidence she learned at camp to help start a national team, and is now the team captain.”

Roca was thrilled to have Hamm working with campers this year. “Her dedication to the game is so motivating. The work she put in to earn her place on the national team, of committing to striving for the perfect touch every time she came in contact with a soccer ball, is something I won’t forget.”

“We support Peddie so that the school's traditions and excellence continue, and believe it is important to give back because the school has given so much to us. We received a superior education, had amazing life experiences and formed lasting friendships.

We give so that current and future students have the opportunity to learn and grow within this exceptional community.”

Kurt & Heather Drstvensek ’97 Peddie Fund Chairs

Continue the Tradition Every gift counts. All gifts make a difference.

Give online at www.peddie.org/give

Fall 2010 27

SPORTS HALL OF FAME A day of celebration and remembrances Four former student-athletes and three legendary teams were inducted into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame in ceremonies held at the Walter H. Annenberg Library during Reunion Weekend. Head of School John Green and moderator Dick Joslin ’60 honored Terry Hensle ’60, William Saul ’60, Mark Boillotat ’80, Mark Nesbit ’80, the 1940 golf team and the 1990 boys’ and girls’ swim teams.

Twenty-three years ago Edward “Skip” Masland ’49 encouraged the alumni office to create a Peddie Sports Hall of Fame as a lasting tribute to the school’s athletes and coaches for the pursuit of excellence, good sportsmanship and exemplary leadership. Part of the hall’s mission is to strengthen the links between past, present and future athletes.

1940 Golf Team Led by its top three players — Bill Goldthorp ’40, former captain Monte Norcross, Jr. ’40 and Captain Jim Thompson ’41 — the 1940 Golf Team was arguably the finest in Peddie history. With Jim Clark ’42, Don Kling ’41 and Bill Winant ’41 also on the roster, the squad was undefeated and untied, recording three ‘whitewash’ 9–0 victories in the spring of 1940, and then capping their championship season by winning the most important contest in secondary school golf, the Eastern Interscholastic Tournament at Greenwich, CT. This accomplishment, matched only by Peddie’s 1935 team, conferred bragging rights as virtual national prep champions.

Terry Hensle ’60 Football A fearsome Peddie defensive tackle and “bulwark on the line,” Terry Hensle achieved the remarkable by winning the Maxwell Trophy for his exceptional play at the University of Pennsylvania. The Maxwell Trophy is the Division I-AA equivalent of the Heisman Trophy and is awarded annually to the best college player in that division. With this achievement, Terry joined Heisman winner Larry Kelley ’33 as one of the most highly honored players in the history of Peddie football.

Elected captain his senior year, Terry received the Frank L. Bradley Football Award given to “that member of the football team who has shown the best qualities of sportsmanship, courage, spirit, loyalty and teamwork on the playing field and in the school.”

William Saul ’60 Basketball, Soccer When he wasn’t defending the net on the soccer pitch as the varsity goaltender, Bill Saul was regularly stirring the nets as the leading scorer for the Peddie basketball team. As a senior, Saul captained both teams during the 1959–60 seasons and played a major role in the success of these two programs.

Saul’s performance in goal for Peddie’s 1959 soccer squad helped that team capture the Prep State Championship.

A tenacious defender on the hardwood floor, Saul won the Molinet Plaque as the most valuable basketball player.

Mark Boillotat ’80 Football A big, strong, fast lineman, Mark Boillotat is remembered for his athleticism, willpower and leadership. He was named All-County three times, All-State twice and was the winner of the Robert Roberson Award his senior year “for use of talents and concern for others.” His individual skills as an athlete were exceptional; his ability to lead and make all those around him better was the material of legend. A four-year starter in lacrosse and captain of the 1979 football team, Boillotat went on to play both sports in college.

Mark Nesbit ’80 Tennis Mark Nesbit set a standard of excellence and achievement during his Peddie career that only a select few could approach. Exceptional in tennis as the number-one singles player all three years at Peddie, Nesbit also excelled as an offensive lineman on the football team and top goal-scorer on the hockey team. His teammate and roommate, Dave Armellini, described him as “the greatest natural athlete

28 Peddie Chronicle

I’ve ever met.” The 1980 recipient of Peddie’s coveted Winant Cup “for academic and athletic excellence,” Nesbit maintained the highest standards of commitment, achievement and sportsmanship.

1990 Boys’ and Girls’ Swim Teams Swimming is a race against time in which the fastest person to the wall wins. Contending for two national championships in which every one-hundredth of a second counted, no one could touch that wall faster than Peddie’s 1989–90 boys’ and girls’ swim teams. In their accomplishments, the girls’ and boys’ teams mirrored each other as they dominated archrivals Germantown and Mercersburg Academy, won Easterns and swept mythical high school national titles (1990 and 1991).

Led by elite swimmers Nelson Diebel ’90 (two gold medals, 1992 Olympics), Royce Sharp ’91 (1992 Olympian) and Jim Wells ’92 for the boys, and Barbara “BJ” Bedford ’90 (gold medal, 2000 Olympics), Jane Skillman ’91 and Jodi Navta ’93 on the girls’ side, Peddie Aquatics captured second place at U.S. Nationals in 1990. Beyond Peddie’s lane lines, our

Photos left to right, above: 1990 Boys’ and Girls’ Swim Teams, Terry Hensle ’60 and Tom Shuman ’60, William Saul ’60 and Barb Grudt, Mark Boillotat ’80 and Jim Truslow, Mark Nesbit ’80 and David Armellini ’80.

swimmers earned medals from every major international competition including Pan-Pacs, Pan-American Games, World Championships, World University Games, Goodwill Games and the Olympics.

Kay Hansen A Special Tribute For decades, Kay Hansen was the quiet rock supporting the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame. Graciously and thoroughly researching records of past and future honorees, Kay used her expertise with Peddie’s databases and her personal knowledge of so many Peddie alumni to help ensure that each honoree received the recognition they so richly deserved. Always patient and thinking of others, Kay will always be remembered as a strong advocate of the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame.

Remembering “Von” In the opening remarks before the Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, the Peddie community paid respects to the passing of the beloved Dietrich von Schwerdtner (“Von”), legendary teacher, lacrosse coach and director of the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame. Von was a driving force behind the creation and development of the hall of fame and cared deeply about “all things Peddie.” Most notably, Von cared about Peddie people: students, faculty, staff and alumni.

In honor of Von’s legacy and his commitment to the highest ideals of athletics, a celebratory tree planting followed the event. (See full obituary at the end of Class Notes.)

Left: Dietrich von Schwerdtner (“Von”) coaching the 1966-67 varsity lacrosse team. Right: Von joined the 2009-10 varsity lacrosse team in April 2009 when they played at Mercersburg Academy.

Fall 2010 29

THE ARTS

A new start for the Cultural Arts Program Launched in the fall of 2009, Peddie School’s Cultural Arts Program facilitates a host of performing and visual arts initiatives, designed to serve both students and the wider community. Under the stewardship of John Bates, in his first year as programming director of cultural events, Cultural Arts has become the public face of an important school mission to stimulate arts education and community participation.

A concert organizer and commentator for “Outta Sights & Sounds,” a popular local radio show, Bates selects artistperformers based on their unique contemporary craft and integration into the school’s interdisciplinary academic studies.

“What makes this program most The Bobs exciting is that the focus of the arts programming has returned to the Peddie campus to serve our students, faculty, staff and the rest of our community,” Bates said. “The program will reflect the social and academic spheres of the Peddie community more so than it has in the past. In addition to the diverse offering of performances, exhibitions, and concerts, many of our guests will give workshops for students granting insight into their profession with an emphasis on group interaction and an appreciation and respect for the perspectives of others.”

This year’s line-up kicked off in September with The Bobs, an a cappella group known for performing original compositions and innovative renditions of iconic rock standards, including “Purple Haze” and “In A Gadda Da Vida.”

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Peddie acaFellas serenade the audience at the Spring Concert

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Grace Lloyd ’12 prepares backstage for her role in The Man Who Came to Dinner

2010–11 Campus Arts Calendar

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Harry Gensemer ’11, Lindsay Spring ’11 and Mason Quilty ’11 in The Man Who Came to Dinner

November

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Lindsay Spring ’12 in The Man Who Came to Dinner

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Samplings from the first annual Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) art show held in Swig Art Center

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Devon Nir ’13, Isabel Wittman ’13 and Jenna Postiglione ’13

December

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More works of art on display for the MAPL art show

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Senior Sharif Labban conducts the orchestra as they play his original composition at the Spring Concert

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Harry Gensemer ’12 and Emily Herman ’13 in The Man Who Came to Dinner

January 7

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Upperclassmen Play, The Winter’s Tale, 8:00 p.m.

Fall Student Music Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Fall Student Art Exhibition, 6:30 p.m.

Freshman Musical, TBA, 7:30 p.m.

Mariboe Gallery Opening, Peddie Arts Faculty, 6:30 p.m.

Kurt Sutton, An Evening with Mark Twain, 8:00 p.m.

Declamation Contest, 7:30 p.m.

Vespers in Ayer Memorial Chapel, 7:30 p.m.

Falcon Follies, Student/Faculty Variety Show, 7:30 p.m.

Mariboe Gallery Opening, Naomi Reis, 6:30 p.m.

Susan Stein, Etty, 8:00 p.m.

Frank Vignola’s Hot Club, 8:00 p.m.

February 17–19 22 23

Winter Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, 8:00 p.m.

Winter Student Music Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Winter Student Art Exhibition, 6:30 p.m.

March 25 8

Mariboe Gallery Opening, Steve Budington, 6:30 p.m.

April 1 7 13 27–29 29

Tim Erikson, 8:00 p.m.

Reeves Speaking Contest, 7:30 p.m.

Paul Watkins Annual Reading, 7:30 p.m.

Honors Theater Ensemble, One-Act Plays, 8:00 p.m.

Honors Visual Arts Thesis Exhibition, 6:30 p.m.

May

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Student Music Recital, 2:00 p.m.

Underclassmen Play, Our Town, 8:00 p.m.

Better Beginnings Third Annual Art Exhibition, 6:30 p.m.

Spring Student Music Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Spring Student Art Exhibition, 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Peddie School Swig Arts Center at (609) 944-7550 or email arts@peddie.org.

Fall 2010 31

Beloved teacher and coach Dietrich von Schwerdtner (“Von”) dies at 79 Dietrich von Schwerdtner, a devoted teacher and coach for over four decades, died on April 30 in Chambersburg, PA. He was 79.

“We are saddened by the loss of a dear member of the Peddie family,” said Head of School John Green. “Von was a fixture in this community for over forty years.

Even after he moved away from Hightstown, he remained steadfast in his commitment to our school and our alumni. We will miss him dearly and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Anne and his entire family.”

Even after his retirement, the beloved faculty member and coach maintained a close connection with the school as director of the Sports Hall of Fame and as an assistant lacrosse coach under Bob Turco ’70.

Mr. von or Von, as he was respectfully and fondly called, arrived at Peddie in 1965 to join the math department. Called the father of Peddie computing,Von attended special courses in computing at Dartmouth in the summer of 1968 in order to develop Peddie’s first computer program and courses. In 1979, he left Peddie to pursue business interests while living in Hightstown, but remained connected to the school as a coach and technology consultant until his return as a full-time teacher and coach in 1990.Von was instrumental in developing the campus-wide network at Peddie in 1991 and his enthusiasm for exploring ways that technology could be used to the advantage of Peddie students continues as a basic tenet of the department’s philosophy today.

Outside the classroom,Von was passionate about the game of lacrosse. He was instrumental in raising New Jersey lacrosse to new levels as one of the truly great ambassadors of the game. But it was always Peddie that had first claim on Von’s interest and passion. In 15 years, he garnered an impressive 99–63 record, taking his team to the 1969 and 1976 Pitt Division Championships.

What marked Von as special to many Peddie students was that — as enthusiastic as he was about computing and lacrosse — he considered himself, first and foremost, “in the kid business.”

Whatever challenges a Peddie student faced,Von’s door was always open and he was ready to listen with an empathetic ear. Whether one sat in his class, lived on his hall or was one of his many advisees, Von was always there to lend a word of encouragement. Famous for giving nicknames to everyone he met, he would say, “Step into my office,” guiding a student in need to his classroom, an empty table in the student center or a seat in the baseball bleachers to share his sage advice.

Von graduated from Towson State University in 1953. After a brief stint coaching college lacrosse at Towson,Von entered the high school coaching ranks in Maryland, assisting with the St. Paul’s varsity program in 1961. He would teach and coach there until his arrival at Peddie in 1965.

A teacher, coach and friend,Von made a career of caring for others.

He is survived by his loving wife Anne, who partnered with him in all of his endeavors, and his son Fred. He was predeceased by his son Steve in 2009.

Peddie mourns passing of security guard Tim Desmond Tim Desmond, who served for 21 years as a security guard at Peddie, died on August 5 at the age of 70. Although he officially retired in the spring, Desmond continued to work at special events and looked forward to catching up with Peddie families and alumni during both graduation and reunion weekends.

Desmond was always more than a security guard at Peddie — he was a personality.

“Tim will be dearly missed by his Peddie family,” said Head of School John Green. “He was often the first person visitors met upon entering our campus and his friendly greeting made one feel instantly welcome. Tim genuinely cared about our community.” chronicleXtra

Extended obituaries for Von and Tim can be found at www.peddie.org/chronicle

DEATHS Dr. Eugene Greider, Jr. ’37 Mr. Bernard J Chubet ’38 Dr. Robert P. Masland, Jr. ’38 Mr. Leland J. Stacy, Jr. ’39 Mr. Richard J. Zellers ’39 Mr. Harry G. Gooding, Jr. ’40 Mr. W. Dale Brougher ’40 Mr. William R. Goldthorp ’40 Mr. Leland J. Stacy, Jr. ’41 Mr. Raymond M. Hicks, Jr. ’41 Mr. Stanley L. Roggenburg, Jr. ’41

Dr. George F. Coons ’42 Mr. Alton S. Rowe ’43 Mr. George R. Knight, Jr. ’43 Mr. Charles W. Howell ’45 Mr. Clement M. Keys ’45 Mr. H. James Pratt, Jr. ’45 Mr. Gordon J. Wagner ’45 Mr. Frederick D. Haulenbeek ’46 Mr. Lawrence L. Stamen ’46 Mr. Carlton L. Steele ’47 Mr. J. Bedford Wooley ’48

Mr. Fred K. Bailey ’49 Rev. Charles C. Burdan ’50 Mr. Andrew W. Morrison ’50 Mr. Charles M. Ash ’51 Mr. Ralph K. Graves ’51 Mr. William H. Snyder ’51 Mr. Frederick J. Maguire, Jr. ’52 LTC Robert S. Russell ’53 Mr. Walter B. Gelfman ’55 Mr. Charles A. Peters ’55 Mr. Vincent P. Braun ’58

Mr. Francois R. Gros ’60 Mr. Floyd L. Leonard, Jr. ’60 Leonard A. Shapiro, Esq. ’60 Mr. Barry P. Simon ’60 Mr. Peter Dyal ’67 Mr. Brian P. Schmitt ’75 Mr. John D. Moore ’81 Mr. Arjhan M. Bagheri ’02 Mr. Erik W. Skirkanich ’05 Mr. Marcus K. Craig ’07

Fall 2010 55

Coming Up Watch your mailboxes in January for a copy of the new Peddie School admission viewbook for a closer view of Peddie today.

PEDDIE SCHOOL 201 South Main Street Hightstown, NJ 08520-3349

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

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