Peddie Chronicle: Back to the '90s

Peddie

CHRONICLE

HEADLINES, TRENDS AND MOMENTS PEDDIE ALUMNI WILL NEVER FORGET

OPENING COLLAGE BY MAX-O-MATIC

Peddie swimming ruled, students signed on to the information superhighway and Walter Annenberg ’27 transformed the school with a historic $100M gift. In national news, the O.J. Simpson trial had us glued to our TV sets, and Y2K predictions had us on the edge of our seats. There was Seinfeld and Beverly Hills 90210. Madonna. Nirvana. And Titanic, Forrest Gump and Reality Bites.

Here we feature the pop culture trends and significant events – on campus and worldwide – from the best decade (Like, EVER!). Plus, dozens of former alumni who attended Peddie during this era share their favorite memories.

So throw on a flannel, put on a rerun of Friends and get ready to read about all things ’90s. Whatever!

The 411

Due to space constraints, it was impossible to include all headlines and outstanding accomplishments.

PEDDIE THEATER PRESENTS …

1990-91

“Inherit the Wind”

“Anything Goes”

1991-92

“Look Homeward, Angel”

“Bye Bye Birdie”

1992-93

“The Diary of Anne Frank”

“No, No, Nanette”

1993-94

“Dark of the Moon”

“Godspell”

1994-95

“Brighton Beach Memoirs”

“Once Upon a Mattress”

1995-96

“The Miracle Worker”

“West Side Story”

1996-97

“The Children’s Hour”

“Fiddler on the Roof”

1997-98

NEWSMAKERS

AROUND THE WORLD

Along with the growing power of the internet and advances in technology, the ’90s gave us a lot of people and events to talk about, like Michael Jordan, Bill Clinton, Waco, Nelson Mandela, Oklahoma City, Princess Diana and much more. Here are some of Peddie alumni’s most memorable headlines.

Top 5 most memorable national and world events from the 1990s

1. O.J. Simpson verdict (October 1995)

2. The Gulf War (1990-1991)

3. Princess Diana dies in a car crash (August 1997)

4. The collapse of the Soviet Union (December 1991)

5. Y2K (1999)

This year, we begin a new decade, and at the opening of school, I challenged the community to be a generation of moral and concerned people and to leave behind us a decade in which too often the world seemed characterized by greed, arrogance and self-indulgence.

HEADMASTER THOMAS A. DEGRAY, PEDDIE CHRONICLE (NOVEMBER 1990)

athletics

PEDDIE SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDIVIDUALS

Brad Barket ’95, Track

1992

PEDDIE SENDS FOUR SWIMMERS TO THE OLYMPICS IN BARCELONA

–

Nelson Diebel ’90, Royce Sharp ’90, Andrew Rutherfurd ’90, Jen Smatt ’92 and coach Chris Martin. Diebel wins the gold medal in the 100 breaststroke.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

WINS FOR GIRLS’ SOCCER

1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998

1993 The ManleyLaChapelle Fitness Center opens.

Barbara J. Bedford ’90, Swimming

Sarah F. Bergeron ’90, Rowing and Soccer

Lesia Bilak ’94, Tennis

Raymond H. Cabot, Girls’ Soccer Coach

Sean Casey, Girls’ Basketball Head Coach

Steve Collis, Boys’ Soccer Coach

Bradley Daggett ’90, Baseball

Margo Diamond ’96, Swimming

Nelson Diebel III ’90, Swimming

Foley Dowd ’99, Wrestling

Amy Balcerzak Field ’96, Swimming

Nick Kaschik ’98, Swimming

Lauren Kokotajlo ’99, Basketball

Laura A. Kunak ’99, Cross Country & Track

Bryon Magill ’91, Wrestling

Christopher Martin, Swimming Coach

Danielle Maschuci ’96, Lacrosse

Jodi Navta ’93, Swimming

Barbara J. Paul ’90, Golf

Shaunette Richards Barnett ’94, Soccer

Lauren Sellers ’96, Soccer

1996

Girls’ crew wins at Stotesbury and the Scholastic National Rowing Championship. Field hockey wins its first-ever Mercer County Championship.

Tara Shingle ’95 is the first girls’ basketball player to score 1,000 points. Lacrosse undefeated.

1997

Ian H. Graham ’50 gives $1.5 million for a new athletic center.

Susan Cabot is appointed the first woman director of athletics. Boys’ track wins Prep A Championship.

1998 The Caspersen Rowing Center is established at Mercer County Park. The Mid-Atlantic Prep League begins its inaugural season (and seven Peddie teams win championships). Baseball wins the State Championship (they repeat in 1999.)

1999 Girls’ basketball wins third-consecutive Prep A State championship. Wrestling and golf win Mercer County Team Championships. Boys’ and girls’ lacrosse win New Jersey Lacrosse League Championships. Baseball wins the Mercer County Tournament Championship for the first time ever. Boys’ and girls’ track go undefeated in dual competitions. Girls’ track athletes are state champions.

James Royce Sharp ’91, Swimming

Jane Skillman ’91, Swimming

Jon Speck ’92, Wrestling

Christopher Totten ’93, Track

Steven Totten ’93, Soccer

Jim Wells ’92, Swimming

Courtney Wood ’95, Soccer

TEAMS

1990 Boys’ and Girls’ Swim Teams

1992 Boys’ Midweight Varsity Crew

1993 Girls’ Soccer Team

1994 Girls’ Soccer Team

1995 Girls’ and Boys’ Swim Teams

1996 Boys’ Lacrosse Team

1997 Boys’ Track Sprint Medley Relay

PEDDIE DOMINATES

BLAIR DAY

1990 Win (Away)

1991 Win (Home)

1992 Loss (Away)

1993 Win (Home)

1994 Win (Away)

1995 Win (Home)

1996 Win (Away)

1997 Tie (Home)

1998 Win (Away)

1999 Loss (Home)

clothing and flannels dominated campus fashion. As did athletic shorts, Polo shirts and scrunchies (and fanny packs, but we won’t tell).

The fashion trends I most remember seeing on the Peddie campus are:

Fashion XL

1. Preppy (think Ralph Lauren Polo, Hilfiger or Abercrombie)

2. Grunge look

It’s 1990-something.

Always a scrunchie in my hair.

Doc Martens, baggy cords and a boxy wool crewneck sweater from J.Crew.

A very oversized plaid flannel shirt. The pants don’t matter because you can barely see them.

Cargo pants and t-shirt.

Umbro soccer shorts, t-shirt, Wigwam socks.

WENDY MCTAMMANY ’91

MICHAEL KOVACS ’93

ALISSA MACMILLAN ’91

SARAH ZOLL ’98

IAN PERRY ’98

What are you wearing today?

Birkenstocks with wool socks, cut-off jean shorts, a toobig flannel shirt and Peddie hockey hat on backward.

Overalls, turtleneck and black patent shoes with ribbons as the laces.

Ripped jeans, Birks with thick ‘oatmeal’ socks, concert t-shirt, flannel tied around the waist.

Plaid.

Oversized sweater over a white turtleneck with the collar scrunched, not folded. Khakis pegged at the cuffs. No socks. Bluchers. L.L. Bean backpack slung over one shoulder.

one-strap backpack

KATIE WHALEN ’97

NDIYA NKONGHO ’95

ELIZABETH STURGES HOFFMANN ’91

LAURA-LEE HENSLE RADTKE ’92

AMY ELKES-SIMON ’95

POP CULTURE

As if!

Must See TV

Before there was Netflix and Hulu, the ’90s brought us TGIF and Must See TV. Here are the shows alumni remember the most.

Music

Rolling Stone magazine called the ’90s a “decade of music explosion.” With a wide variety of genres dominating the charts – grunge, hip-hop, pop, electronica and more – this era in music had something for everyone.

Tracklist

The Totally ’90s Peddie MixTape (based on your votes)

“Vogue” Madonna (1990)

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana (1991)

“Under the Bridge” Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)

“I Will Always Love You” Whitney Houston (1993)

“Waterfalls” TLC (1994)

“You Oughta Know” Alanis Morissette (1995)

“Killing Me Softly” The Fugees (1996)

“Mo Money Mo Problems” Notorious B.I.G. With Mase and Puff Daddy (Tie 1997)

“Bitter Sweet Symphony” The Verve (Tie 1997)

“Doo Wop (That Thing!)” Lauryn Hill (1998)

“No Scrubs” TLC (1999)

To ly x pe

be kind. Rewind.

Movies

The ’90s saw the rise of independent cinema (Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting), animation (The Lion King, Toy Story), disaster blockbusters (Titanic, Independence Day) and satirized slashers (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer). We asked Peddie alumni to recall their faves.

You can only record one of these hit films from the ’90s on a VHS tape:

14.5% Clueless

11.8% Dazed and Confused

10.5% Pretty Woman

21.1% Pulp Fiction

10.5% Boyz N The Hood

Silence of the Lambs

Listen to the Totally ’90s Peddie Mix on Spotify.

[’90s SPOTLIGHT]

ON FATHER’S DAY 1993, Walter H. Annenberg ’27 gave $100 million to Peddie as an endowed fund designed to expand financial aid, institute innovative programs and recruit exceptional faculty. It was the largest cash gift ever given to an independent school, bringing instant fame to Peddie.

Overnight, the school’s endowment catapulted. Applications soared. Students who previously had never considered Peddie because of financial circumstances were given an opportunity to receive a world-class education.

By now, you all have seen or heard of Ambassador Annenberg’s incredible gift of $100 million to his alma mater. Never before in the history of independent school education has there been a gift to rival this one.

When I think of

’90S NEWS FROM PEDDIE

Community service requirement, afterschool physical education program and half-credit courses introduced (1990)

Campus-wide recycling program launched (1990)

Listening to cassette tapes.

Potter dorms dedicated (1992)

Walter Annenberg Library opens (1993)

Principio Project begins (1994)

First Peddie website launched (1995)

The Blizzard of ’96 results in two snow days (1996)

Caspersen Campus Center dedicated (1996)

Every student is issued their own laptop computer (1998) ★

NAPPER TANDY ’95

Sitting in the senior lounge watching the O.J. verdict come in.

GWYNETH

CONNELL ’96

No technology. No phones. We made plans.

MEG KUSER CRITCHELL ’93

Colin Powell’s chapel speech.

AMIR INGRAM ’98

The winter storm of ’96 when we were stuck on campus, but were still able to order Domino’s.

KEVIN SHANE ’99

PEDDIE CHRONICLE (JULY 1993)

Let's meet up

the ’90s at Peddie, I think of …

Center Campus beautiful spring days. Music, Hacky Sack, frisbee, socializing.

T’s Falcon Call.

Everyone packing into the senior lounge to watch MTV debut videos.

The senior sleepout on the football field. That trend could come back stronger than fanny packs!

Ambassador Annenberg’s gift.

Years from now, when your kids find this in a dusty box in the attic, you’ll get the opportunity to tell them what made ‘Pretty Woman’ so great, the line, ‘Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy jeans you’re wearing?’ so popular, and the tune ‘Ice Ice Baby’ so hot. Or will you have forgotten by then?