May 08 Pine Needle

2009 Raps & Taps are in!

THE PINE NEEDLE Volume XC • Richmond, Virginia

Editor’s note

By JOHN STILLWELL ’09 Head Senior Editor

Last summer as we began to lay out our first paper, we had three goals. One was to actually show up at the publications office on a regular basis. Two was to get the staff to meet deadlines. And three was to completely change the layout of the paper and leave an overall legacy of professionalism.

While our first two goals were unsuccessful, I think that we really came through on our third. Spearheaded

by Christopher Alexander’s artistic abilities, I think that our papers had the most unique and capturing layouts in years.

Although our journalists consistently struggled to meet deadlines, every one took their writing to the next level. Our staff was a diverse group with a wide range of talents and interests outside of writing, and I believe this allowed our paper to cover the whole more fully. Also the leads were more provocative and the quotations gave real substance to the stories. I think much of this is credited to Mrs. Thomas’s stress on face-to-face interviews and the advice we received from professional journalists who Mrs. Thomas brought to campus.

I’m sure that Jason, Pat, Kyle, Titus, Drew and Jack will do a great job next year.

But I have one piece of advice for them that will make next year’s Pine Needle a success and make their year interesting. If any of you have an idea that seems over the top or insurmountable, just run with it. We significantly changed The Pine Needle layouts, but our efforts were only the beginning of a great evolution for this paper. I look forward to returning to campus in the next few years to see where the future editors have taken it.

See Page 2 Editor’s Note

May 2009 • Number 5

Track wins Preps/States

Baseball takes Preps

COVERAGE ON PAGE 7

Shad vs. Nature

By ELLIOT WARREN ’11 Sophomore Contributor

Shad Pospahala is a modern-day Odysseus.

For 83.5 hours, he mountain biked, climbed, paddled and trekked his way through a 275-mile course in the rugged mountains of West Virginia on only 10 minutes of sleep, a feat most mortal men would deem impossible.

Said Coach Pospahala: “I always want to find a way to push myself, to test my limits, and this race provided the perfect background to test my mental and physical toughness.”

The race is called the Odyssey Endorphin Fix 3.5, and it’s known as one of the toughest and most demanding adventure races in the country.

For 3.5 days, racers put themselves through hell both physically and mentally.

In addition to 30-hour bike rides, white water paddling in the dark, and rappelling 250foot rock faces, racers reach the

brink of insanity due to lack of sleep and proper nutrition.

Many reach a point where perception and reality become two entirely different things, where pain ceases and confusion takes its place, and where dropouts and finishers are decided.

To this strength and conditioning coach and other endorphin junkies, this is what it’s all about.

In early August last year, Coach Pospahala began training for the race, but was limited due to shoulder replacement surgery in June. Doctors have told him that despite the replacement, if he ever hurts his shoulder again, he won’t be able to do any of these endeavors for the rest of his life. “I have to be a little more careful, but I’m not going to let it change the way I live my life,” he said.

From November through March, he trained the hardest he had ever trained in his life. He began tapering his training towards the end of March.

The race begins in Pipestem, W.Va. and includes facets that are simply ridiculous. Racers are given maps of the area printed almost 10 years ago and are expected to navigate their way

-Special Double Edition-

See Page 10 Shad

2

THE PINE NEEDLE

MAY 2009

Connect with St. Chris

By DREW PANGRAZE ’10 Junior Contributor

Connect with St. Christopher’s School on Facebook and Twitter and be a part of the conversation!

Recently, St. Christopher’s has set up a fan page on Facebook. The school marketing department is urging all parents, students and teachers to join. “The ultimate goal is to eventually have students, parents and teachers run the page all on their own,” said Mr. Cappy Gilchrist, communications and sports information specialist.

Recently, Facebook has gained popularity among people, businesses and schools.

For example, governors are campaigning on Facebook, and colleges are creating Facebook pages to connect students and alumni to the school.

So why has Facebook become so popular in recent years?

The common reply is “all my friends have one so I felt like I needed to join.” In addition, businesses and schools are inclined to join Facebook to stay connected.

Most kids want to know what their friends are thinking and doing at all times, so they look at their “status.” In addition, Facebook provides yet another way for people to stay connected with pictures, videos and other personal information.

If you join the St. Christopher’s School Facebook fan page, you are able to share any stories or photos of school events. Also, the school cannot see your profile page or pictures because it’s only a fan page.

Alumni are encouraged to join the St. Christopher’s Alumni Fan Page. Students are asked to join the St. Christopher’s School Fan Page, but not the Alumni Fan Page.

What’s with the tank?

By PATRICK DELANEY ’10 Junior Contributor

Where do carnage, dueling and mysterious deaths meet exotic beauty and fragility?

Surprisingly, the object described is the saltwater aquarium in the Gottwald Science Center.

The brainchild of the Marine Biology class, specifically Joey Thompson ’10 and Will Vaughan ’10, the aquarium provides a unique hands-on learning approach to marine life and the saltwater ecosystem.

However, the tank is not a joke. In the words of Thompson, the $2,000 110-gallon tank “is not just a decoration, it’s a hobby.” Yet even the term hobby might be too euphemistic to describe the endeavor undertaken by the Marine Biology class.

According to Mrs. Hurt, who teaches Marine Bio with Mr. McGuire, it took two weeks to develop a plan for a tank that would work and, now fully functional, the tank requires a solid 30 minutes of mainte-

Editor’s note

By TYLER FRANZ ’09 Head Senior Editor

Looking back on this year’s Pine Needle, it’s hard to decide where to begin. If I had to describe the year, I’d say it was a year of progress.

We broke new ground, adding a running faculty athletics feature in every issue and a unique layout to every paper. We had all sorts of stories, from serious interviews to sports coverage to the always entertaining Back Page. Each one of these stories had hours of time and energy invested behind it, and the talented writers that help create the Pine Needle are who truly make it so successful.

As far as articles that I wrote, I had many enjoyable ones, but my favorite was the interview with Mrs. Varner. For the first time, I felt that I was the one getting more out of the story than the person I was interviewing or the readers. The interview with Mrs. Varner, most of which was printed in the story in our first edition, made a lasting impact on my life. Interviews like that one are what journalists seek every day, but so rarely find. I also loved

nance a day.

Thompson points out that 30 minutes is a minimum because “some days you could easily spend several hours keeping things just the way they should be.” Vaughan, who came in everyday of Christmas and spring break to feed the fish, would readily agree.

Yet it took a lot of work to get the tank to the status of fully functional. “Getting the tank started was definitely the most challenging part of this whole project.” Vaughan said. As a matter of fact, once permission was granted and a budget established, Vaughan, Thompson, Si Wofford ’10, Mrs. Hurt and Mr. McGuire spent all day setting up the tank the Monday after Thanksgiving.

After balancing all the water qualities and making sure all the systems were running smoothly, the class decided it was time to start buying the fish. With money low and fish costing anywhere from $6 to $10,000, on average $60, there was little room for error.

“The fish are colorful and fun to look at but they are fragile,” said Mrs. Hurt.

With the successful integration of two cheap “test fish,” a number of more costly fish were added including two clown fish and a puffer fish.

Everything appeared to be in order. Little did they know that the following week Richmond would experience an intense snow storm.

After being vacant for more than just one weekend, the Science Center’s temperature quickly began to plummet from the freezing weather outside. The temperature of the tank, which is supposed to stay between 70 - 80 degrees, fell to 65. This drastic drop devastated the newly introduced fish that were trying to adjust to their new environment, with two fish actually dying as a result.

In quick succession, the tank experienced more major and uncontrollable setbacks, losing two fish to parasites acquired at the store and having another fish mauled to death

by Mr. McGuire’s puffer fish (hmmm maybe some irony there?). The murder was not completely unjustified. According to Vaughan, “fish are

putting together the back page, from look-alikes to Christmas wishes to the Pop Culture Grid. I always feel like there’s added pressure for the Back Page to be good as perhaps the most popular element of The Pine Needle.

Most of all, I loved working with a great group of writers and editors. Ask anyone on Raps & Taps or Pine Needle, working in the publications office is a truly unique experience. As editors, we spend hours working on the paper, so working as a team is crucial. I always say that by the time you’re reading the paper, I’m so sick of dealing with it that I can’t even read it when it’s finally published. We’ve had our fair share of fighting, cramming and above all, laughing, and it’s been a pleasure to work with everyone involved with school publications.

This year’s staff was probably the most reliable I’ve ever worked with, as I didn’t have one or two go-to-guys, but several people whom I knew I could count on to get the job done. Christopher Alexander’s design and layout were exceptional. He really has a talent for it and he is responsible for taking The Pine Needle to another level visually. John Stillwell was great to work with and has the ability to churn out a handful of stories very quickly while maintaining a superb quality of writing throughout his articles. I’d like to thank John for stepping up

usually very territorial,” especially puffer fish because they have an aggressive predisposition.

The combination of territorial aggression and illness within the tank led to a number of mysterious disappearances. Fish such as the Royal Gramma just vanished. “We can only assume that they died and buried themselves in the sand,” said Vaughan. According to Thompson this is a common occurrence in the marine ecosystem. While this sounds interesting, the dead fish created a new hazard because decomposing bodies can release toxic nitrates into the water.

Luckily, due to the size of the tank, the damage was negligible.

Eventually, the tank drama began to subside. The current residents of the tank have finally adjusted and established their own territory which they are not afraid to defend. The territorial tangs, with their dangerously sharp spikes, are a prime example; they will not hesitate to duel a neighbor who gets too close.

Though cost is a major factor, plans for expansion are certainly in the works. Thompson, Vaughan and Charles Haw ’10 have begun a successful fundraising effort in the form of pizza and soda sales. Also, the recently initiated Adopt-aFish Program allows students, teachers and parents to donate half the money required to purchase a fish with the tank budget supplying the other half. This program also provides an outlet through which the St. Christopher’s community can become involved in this awesome project by helping to pick and name a fish.

Though the current maintainers of the tank still have one more year to take care of it, the legacy must live on.

“The tank is not going anywhere,” said Vaughan. “We need young people who actually want to do it.”

Vaughan and Thompson encourage anyone who has an interest in the tank to get involved.

when it counted, particularly when I was busy with basketball in the winter.

Mrs. Thomas is by far one of the most underappreciated people at St. Chrstopher’s. The dedication, time and effort that she puts into the paper are truly remarkable. We often joke with Mrs. Thomas about how stressed she gets around deadlines, but it is this passion that makes The Pine Needle as successful as it is. Her ability to organize and run both the Pine Needle and Raps & Taps simultaneously as well as deal with dozens of high school boys is nothing short of exceptional.

To next year’s editors, I challenge you to design a paper as flawless as Christopher did, although I am almost certain you will fail. Try to be as efficient as possible and make your writers meet deadlines consistently, which is easier said than done. Don’t make Mrs. Thomas have to motivate everyone and get the paper going. Take a little bit off of her plate and take charge, it’s the least you can do for all that she does for us.

Finally, I’d like to thank each and every one of you who took time out your day to read The Pine Needle and hope it was as enjoyable to read as it was to make. Thanks for the memories; it’s been a great year.

MAY 2009

THE PINE NEEDLE

3

Robert Allen: the next Earnhardt?

By JOHN STILLWELL ’09 Head Senior Editor

Every year Mr. Jump talks to the senior class about the importance of finding a passion. Most seniors, myself included, do not even know what they are going to study in college, much less what their career will be in 10 years. But one senior, Robert Allen, not only has discovered his passion but has been pursuing it for years and wants to make a career of it.

Allen is a competitive racecar driver in the National Auto-Sport Association’s Spec E30 class, a road-racing series for older race-prepped BMWs. While this is an amateur series, many highly qualified drivers participate. The Spec E30 class was the starting point for the racing career of a current driver in the Indy Lights Series, the Indy car equivalent to NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.

Not only has Allen competed against top competition, but he has achieved great success. Robert was named the 2008 NASA Mid-Atlantic Rookie of the Year for finishing 5th in the championship that year. He also has poles and several second-place finishes in races with up to 30 car fields. He even earns winnings if he performs well enough on the track. Allen is currently almost halfway through his ’09 season. So far he has achieved a pole, a few podiums, and he is currently in a close race for second in the championship.

“We have contingency sponsorships,” said Allen. “Companies will do things for certain race classes so that if a racer puts the companies’ stickers on his car and finishes well, the companies will pay him a predetermined amount for the position he finished in.”

Allen won more rewards in one race weekend last summer than he earned in his entire summer job.

But the racing world is not all about the glamour. Allen commits an enormous amount of time to practice and car preparation before each race. On average, he spends one weekend a month racing and is from Friday afternoon to late Sunday night.

“The whole weekend is really intense and you have to stay focused all the time,” Allen said. “You are always thinking about car setup and visualizing the turns. The week leading up to the event is also very intense, and I have to constantly do racing errands and physical training throughout the season. A different mindset is required throughout the season whether I’m at a race or not.”

When his classmates try to prove that car racing is not a sport, Allen is quick to dispute them. Car control is the most crucial and most difficult aspect of driving a car at 130 mile per hour around tight curves along a winding course.

This not only requires skill but is also physically demanding because of the g-forces and intense heat inside race cars. Allen has spent years mastering the proper techniques.

“When you drive the car, you want to drive as fast as you can through the turns, but to do that you have to be able to drive the tires at the perfect amount of slip,” said Allen.

“You have to understand how to prevent over steer [when rear tires lose grip first] and under steer [when front tires lose grip first]. You use special methods with the pedals and the steering wheel to keep the car neutral.” The driver must react in a split second to balance a car properly. If his reactions are off, the driver can be humiliated or injured and cause thousands of dollars in

damages.

Car management is another key to a successful race. Allen and his father handle a lot of the car maintenance, but a shop in Richmond called Delta V Motorsports does some of the major work including rebuilding the engine. Allen is also joined by a team of mechanics from Delta V for the longer races that require pit stops. Allen credits them with his car’s excellent reliability last season.

“You have to learn race craft and traffic management,” said Allen. “Also car setup is a big part of keeping a car neutral using an understanding of the mechanical aspect of the car and how that translates to what you feel on track.”

Racing at such high speeds is a definite thrill. Allen has had one small crash, but it’s just a part of racing.

“We trade paint with each other almost every race,” said Allen.

As for a future in racing, the sky is the limit. Allen has already competed in races from Florida to Ohio, and he certainly does not plan to take a break anytime soon.

“I want to race professionally eventually, but it’s not something you jump right into,” said Allen. “My goal is to race in the Grand-Am Rolex series, where teams like Penske and Ganassi race with factory support and top drivers on international television.

But I have a long way to go before I’m ready for that.”

The Office Raps & Taps Edition

By ROBERT ALLEN ’09 Senior Contributor

Most students probably do not think twice about where the annual Raps & Taps come from or who makes them. It is unlikely that many know something called the publications office exists.

However, each year there is a core group of students who not only spend every spare hour of the school day, but also late nights and weekends in this little room above Mrs. Hollerith’s office. They are the dedicated staff of the Raps & Taps.

These few students have a similar passion that you don’t normally see at school. They show a genuine interest in their work that is rare outside of the athletic fields. This year’s staff was no exception. In fact, it was the best in recent memory.

Many students contributed to the making of the book, including seniors Taylor Jenkins, Scott Richardson and Bart Farinholt. But senior editors Christopher Alexander and Alex Strickland were the most dedicated and consistent of all.

“It began as just something that interested me,” Alexander said. “As I became involved I realized what a major undertaking it is each year and I felt that I would be a good person to take charge,” said Alexander. Having been labeled a “superstar” by faculty advisor Mrs. Thomas, Alexander worked as hard as anyone else on the yearbook.

Strickland was equally dedicated. “It was difficult because the countless hours didn’t always seem worth it at the time,” he said.

Both editors persevered through all of the obstacles and challenges that the difficult process of compiling the Raps & Taps threw at them. Students take for granted all of the little details that go into the yearbook and the massive scale of the whole project.

Building a yearbook is as much of a journey as the one it describes in its pages. The attention to detail and dedication required to carefully create every page is something you can not really appreciate without experiencing it firsthand. Every little lower schooler in every picture must be identified and listed in the caption with his name correctly spelled. All of the most obscure clubs have to be rounded up and photographed.

These difficulties are not even the cause of the biggest headaches for the yearbook staff. Alexander says the most difficult part of working on the yearbook is “laying out an entire page and submitting it because it’s always a challenge to figure out how everything fits.”

An even bigger problem can be communicating and agreeing between staff members. There is never a lack of drama in the publications office. However, the disagreements show how much the individuals care about the quality of the yearbook.

Considering all these obstacles, it is difficult to imagine what motivates the staff to put in all the thankless time and effort to produce a yearbook. There are many reasons for the dedication of the staff. Of course, the editors are happy to put their credential on their college applications. Alexander’s favorite part of working on the yearbook is the feeling of satisfaction from completing a section.

But the greatest motivation seems to be the ability to create tradition. The editors enjoy the responsibility of putting memories onto paper. The way we will remember our years at St. Christopher’s for the rest of our lives is greatly influenced by the yearbook, and the staff is dedicated to shaping that memory as accurately as possible.

Strickland summed up the feelings of the Raps & Taps staff when he said, “It’s something that we will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives and no other use of my time that I can think of could be more rewarding than that.”

4

THE PINE NEEDLE

MAY 2009

Hello Mr. Spears Phil Spears replaces Franz as Head of Middle School

By TYLER FRANZ ’09 Head Senior Editor

Farewell Mr. Franz Tom Franz departs to Ravenscroft in Raleigh

By JACK JESSEE ’10 Junior Contributor

Many current students will notice the absence of a familiar white golf cart on campus in the coming school year. The cart and its owner, Middle School Head Tom Franz, will instead be cruising around Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, N.C. Mr. Franz’s departure marks the end of a 21-year career at St. Christopher’s in which he served as a history teacher, Middle School assistant head and head.

Although Mr. Franz modestly claims to have left no legacy, Headmaster Charley Stillwell praised his achievements in a recent email to school families. “From his outstanding work in the classroom with Middle School history students to his exceptional coaching on the basketball court both as long-term and successful head Varsity coach and more recently as eighth grade coach, Tom made a remarkable impact on countless numbers of Middle School and high school Saints,” Mr. Stillwell said.

Mr. Franz was also respected and admired by his peers. “Mr. Franz reserves his highest expectations for himself, as great leaders do,” said assistant head Ken Miller. “I feel privileged to have been his assistant.”

Mr. Franz cited a lack of potential career advancement at St. Christopher’s. At Ravenscroft, he will play a significantly larger role as assistant head for the entire K-12 school. He also hopes to continue coaching basketball at some level, most likely as the JV head coach. Mr. Franz’s wife Stephanie, a Collegiate English teacher, will also teach at Ravenscroft, and their children will attend the school.

According to Mr. Franz, potential challenges in his new job include filling the shoes of his predecessor, and adapting to an entirely new community after spending more than two decades in Richmond.

Filling his position as Middle School head will be Mr. Phil Spears, the current dean of students. He is expected to bring a new perspective to the school, yet also provide continuity due to his previous involvement at the administrative level.

Mr. Franz’s familiar presence will certainly be missed on campus. Mr. Stillwell undoubtedly spoke for much of the school when he said “We are sorry to see Tom, Stephanie and the children depart Richmond, and we are grateful for their many contributions to St. Christopher’s.”

With the departure of Tom Franz, the St. Christopher’s administration has tapped Middle School Dean of Students Phil Spears as his replacement.

Mr. Spears said that he is saddened to see Mr. Franz leave but is excited to take on the challenges of Middle School head.

“We have a terrific faculty and super kids and families,” said Mr. Spears. “Mr. Franz is leaving the Middle School in great shape. It’s my job to keep things rolling.”

Mr. Spears also looks forward to soliciting feedback and seeing if there are ways to improve the Middle School program, and said that one of his challenges will be maintaining the close relationships with students that he has relished in his role as dean.

“Communication is a huge part of the head’s job, too” said Spears, “and hopefully the skills I’ve learned in the Dean’s job will carry over some and help me be an effective head.”

Mr. Franz has cherished the opportunity to work with Spears, whom he describes as the “most outstanding player” on the Middle School team.

“I am thrilled that Phil Spears will be the next Middle School head because I know he will keep the boys’ best interest as his first

priority,” said Franz. “His wonderful ability to connect with kids, faculty and parents will make him a successful leader. St. Christopher’s is lucky to have Phil Spears as the next leader of the Middle School.”

In addition to serving as dean of students for nine years, Mr. Spears is also well known for introducing the seventh grade Forum class to the Middle School curriculum, and he’ll miss teaching it. “I’ve loved facilitating healthy, thoughtful discussion and debate among the boys in Forum but I’ll be team teaching the class this fall with Mr. Hunter and gradually turning Forum over to him. Given his experience instructing the 9th grade Health class and his skillfulness at teaching topics in the social-emotional realm, Mr. Hunter will hit a home run, no doubt.”

Mr. Spears is also founding

director of Saturday Academy in which St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s Upper School volunteers help tutor, mentor and play with inner-city boys grades 3 through 6 during the school year.

The program started off small but has become extremely successful, in large part due to Mr. Spears’s active leadership.

With the expanded workload that comes with the head position, Mr. Spears has handed over the Saturday Academy leadership reins to the program’s assistant director / fifth grade teacher Christie Wilson who has been with the program since its inception in 2005. Spears describes Wilson as “dedicated, organized and talented” and is confident that she will do an outstanding job.

While Mr. Spears may have the same position as Mr. Franz, he admits he won’t do everything the exact same way.

“I’d say the range on my jump shot is about 25 feet shorter than my predecessor’s, and he isn’t much of an eater,” said the new head. “I only shoot from point blank, lay-up range, and I like to show my support for the dining hall staff by helping make sure there are fewer leftovers. Plus, I haven’t been able to convince Mr. Franz to bestow his golf cart to me, so I guess I’ll be hoofing it around campus a lot more than he did.”

Walton visits Middle School

By JOE STANCHINA ’14 Middle School Contributor

In the 7th grade we have a project where we adopted Andrew Walton’s company and sent care packages to soldiers. Our 2nd grade buddies also sent Christmas cards and banners.

During 7th period on March 24, Andrew Walton, Mrs. Anderson’s nephew, came to talk to the Middle School. This 1st lieutenant in the army attended James River High School and then Virginia Military Institute.

In Iraq his company is stationed 200 miles southwest of Baghdad on the Euphrates River, people still drink from even though it is green from pollution.

A normal day starts at 5 a.m. with exercise and ends at 10 p.m. with TV and phone calls. When he arrived at the base there was no plumbing, but there were TVs, phones and wireless internet. He was back from Iraq for only about a week before he left again for another three months.

One student asked if Mr. Walton had been in battle yet. He said that he had, but that it wasn’t like a video game. Another student asked about the weight of his gear, which is about 75 pounds. Another student asked what would be at the top of his list of things the soldiers need. He said air freshener because their hygiene routine slows way down. He also asked for candy, beef jerky, popcorn and other snacks.

Get those packages going!

MAY 2009

THE PINE NEEDLE

5

Ampersand “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Costume design

By JABRIEL HASAN ’11 Sophomore Contributor

When I was offered the opportunity to do the costumes for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in October, I jumped at it. I was especially excited when I was told that the setting of the play was based on the Haight-Asbury district of San Francisco 1967-68. I realized that it was a notably different step for Ampersand, and I was eager to be a part of it.

The experience, little did I expect, would be a challenge until opening night. Tasks such as designing a major production are generally given to upperclassmen and I am a sophomore. I came to the project with little knowledge.

Sure, I admired the era, and I thought that I knew the style; but it was a task that required more than an eye for clothing or basic knowledge of pop culture.

Research was imperative to accurately portray the 1960s. I had to dig for pictures of people during 1967-69. My teacher, Ms. Julie Wilson, informed me that the time period had to be exact or the research would not be accurate. This was the first challenge. The late ’60s was an era that we, as children mainly influenced by the new millennium, don’t always view realistically. We tend to inflate the images that seem cool and interesting and apply them to an entire time period. Naturally, I started with that same mindset. My first sketches were quickly denied, and I was sent back to Google for more specific research. For some characters, I had to look through old crafts books to get a dead-on image, making my table full of pictures amount to nothing but elementary references.

After the research was completed, we spent three days during spring break hunting through the dusty contents of the theater’s costume closet. By the end of that week, I ended up with three racks of vintage clothing possibilities, much of which were deemed

useless weeks before we even started to actually dress the characters. Back to the drawing board.

I quickly realized that this job was exactly that, a job. It required time, creating endless pictorials and an undying will to complete the task well.

My job had no boundaries. I dug through used socks, underclothes and what seemed like endless bins of ancient shoes.

The majority of the items that I selected were rejected with a snappy “Go back to your research!” from my teacher. I was required to dress and redress forms/dummies, and my creations were rejected countless times; but when I finally did get it right, I knew it, and I was gladly met with praise.

I had to learn to work within my own designing world while that of the costume crew continued to buzz around me. I learned to never touch another person’s materials. I had to make a wig from scratch and lay out a template to sew a coconut bra, and I had to learn to understand that rejection did not mean defeat. The costume crew and my teacher helped me walk the lonely road of a beginner.

The show came together in the end. The colors and concepts meshed perfectly. Everything worked. The extraordinary set designed by Nick Marlton and the dynamic actors who took on challenging Shakespearean roles amazed me. I looked back on the show realizing what we could do as an Ampersand team. We could create an accurate depiction of a complicated, turbulent, exciting era.

Although I was not there on closing night to hear the applause and accept my membership T-shirt, I left my post in the costume closet feeling like I was a part of something bigger than myself and my work. I learned two things: know what you can do and do it with all your heart; and most importantly, never underestimate what can be done.

I believe that I succeeded.

Costume Research project by Jabriel Hasan

Bringing a dream to life

By JAMIE RUML ’10 Junior Contributor

I joined the play late. My initial plan for this spring was to take it pretty easy; through the Waterman program I was going to rock climb, canoe, enjoy the great outdoors, and, again, take it pretty easy. But when the part of Bottom, Shakespeare’s gregarious and indomitable weaver, in Ampersand’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” opened up, my heart (with some (a lot of) encouragement from Jonno Marlton ’09) told me that I could not pass it by.

So, with some regret, I told Mr. Green that I would be leaving Waterman, and the next day I showed up to McVey Dance Studio, and started copying cuts out of Rusty Wilson’s script.

I entered the play possibly at the beginning of the most exciting time: staging. The cast had started to get to know each other but had not quite fallen in love with each other yet, or fallen in love with the play.

Staging was the process that would change both of those.

Frantically trying to memorize lines, while getting up on stage and putting them into context, made us begin to realize the hilarity of the play we were about to put on. Through a combination of Rusty Wilson’s stage directions and our own creativity, we started to bring this hilarity to life. When Demetrius (Max Parks ’11) chal-

lenges Lysander (Duncan Lyle ’09) to a duel: “I’ll go with thee cheek by jowl,” the two literally meet their cheeks together and march off. When Flute (Ben Resnik ’11) performs the role of Thisbe in the flowerchild mechanicals’ over-thetop production of “Pyramus and Thisbe,” he tirelessly gallops in place as he is “as true as truest horse that yet would never tire.”

The play brought out the cast’s individual personalities, especially Puck (Harrison Houlihan ’12), who proved to be an insuppressible ladies’ man.

Mary Szymendera ’09 showed off her fierceness as Hermia in her first play ever, and Jonno Marlton ’09 and Liz Rumble ’09 did double duty, each playing two foil characters: Jonno, the proud Duke Theseus of Athens and the conniving king of the fairies Oberon; and Liz the powerful Amazon princess Hippolyta and the rock dancing fairy queen Titania. Meredith Bailey ’09 played with fury the unrequited fourth lover Helena, Keaton Hillman ’12 the shy but wise-cracking Philostrate, and Keenan Thompson ’09 the absurdly proud father of Hermia, Egeus. The Rude Mechanicals, portrayed as hippies in Rusty’s 1968 vision of the play, were played

by Lauren Paige Johnson ’09, Ben Resnik ’11, Tim Huster ’12, Drew Schaffernoth ’12, Audra Cote ’10, and myself. Resnik, Huster, Johnson, and Schaffernoth also doubled fairies.

Titania’s dancing fairies were played by Kristen Luke ’10, Katherine Saffelle ’10, Mary Lowman, and Lauren Hungerford.

Throughout staging, our efforts were inspired as we looked on Nic Marlton ‘10’s truly brilliant set design, as it was brought to life by Ampersand’s devoted tech crew, whose names are so many there probably not appropriate space to list them all. Those who must absolutely be named are, of course, Rusty Wilson, our visioned director, Jabriel Hasan ’11, who designed some of Ampersand’s most incredible costumes ever, and, I think most of all, our stage managers Jabria Craft ’11 and Mariah Young ’11, who do a thankless job with unbelievable enthusiasm and devotion. It’s important to say, that this play was truly a team effort, and would not have been what it was without every single contributor.

On April 30, May 1, and May 2, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was presented to packed houses in McVey Theatre and an overwhelming response. Each night had its own unique energy, bringing hilarity to moments planned (the slapping of Theseus) and unplanned (a flying sword!).

However the play came across, I know that joining it was a choice I will never regret and that playing it was an experience I will never forget. I am honored to have been a part of the Dream.

6

THE PINE NEEDLE

MAY 2009

Sports Faculty Athletes Continued...

Lacrosse star turned headmaster even job opportunities after college. He also noted that academics were traditionally easier for him during the lacrosse season rather than during the off-season -- something that may surprise people.

“Typically, I did better academically in-season than out of season,” Mr. Stillwell said. “It’s easier to waste time when you feel like you have it.”

Aside from his accomplishments at Princeton, Mr. Stillwell was also successful playing for the Brine Club Team in Boston. Mr. Stillwell described the Brine team as an equivalent to the modern-day professional MLL. While playing for the team, Mr. Stillwell captured a championship and was named an All-Star in his final season before tearing his ACL. Mr. Stillwell also had the opportunity to spend a summer traveling to Australia with the USA Eagles, which were more of an international club team than an official national team.

By TYLER FRANZ ’09 Head Senior Editor

When the familiar face of Headmaster Charley Stillwell greats you in the hall or gives a talk with his humble, reserved nature, it’s hard to imagine him being an absolute force on the lacrosse field.

But, when you take a look at some of his accomplishments, it becomes pretty clear pretty fast that Mr. Stillwell was no run-of-the-mill laxer. Mr. Stillwell was not only a three-time high school AllState player and All-American his senior year, but he also led the state in scoring during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons and won a state championship his senior year.

After his prestigious high school career, Mr. Stillwell was recruited by primarily UNC, Cornell and Princeton. At the time, UNC and Cornell were

among the top four teams in the country, while Princeton was ranked between tenth and fifteenth.

Mr. Stillwell said he chose Princeton because it gave him the opportunity to play right away as a freshman.

At Princeton, Mr. Stillwell was both a captain and All-Ivy league during his senior season. He not only cherished lacrosse, but the opportunities it offered and the people it allowed him to meet.

“It was exciting to get to play some of the top teams in the country every year like Hopkins, Cornell, Navy, UMBC, and Rutgers,” Mr. Stillwell said. “The highlights for me were the relationships with the guys on the team. They were not just good lacrosse players but they were smart, interesting, talented people from all over the country.”

Mr. Stillwell said that having teammates and friends from those four years offered advice about not only lacrosse, but classes, social functions and

Athletic director looks back on football career

By JOHN STILLWELL ’09 Head Senior Editor

After playing four years of football and one year of lacrosse with Coach Jack O’Donnell at Comsewogue High School on Long Island, Coach Paul Padalino went to Hobart College as a football recruit. He played special teams in football as a freshman and sophomore and joined the lacrosse team his sophomore spring.

Coach was a wide receiver in football and a long stick midfielder in lacrosse, but beyond the time on the field, Coach Padalino discovered his passion to pursue coaching.

Because Hobart was a lacrosse dynasty, winning 10 Division 3 national championships in a row, Coach Padalino played JV. However the team was no ordinary JV squad, as it included five high school All-Americans.

Coach Padalino credits playing two sports with his overall great academic experience.

“When I did not play two sports freshman year, my grades dropped more than when I played two sports,” said Coach Padalino. “Athletics and academics worked well together at Hobart. Practices never interfered with classes.”

His junior football season, Coach Padalino saw a lot of playing time as a receiver and then started as a senior. Hobart used mostly a running offense

but one career highlight came in the last game of his junior year – his first touchdown in the last game of his junior season.

“Our head coach, Jack Daniels, was recovering from a heart attack, but he was back for the game and saw the touchdown,” Coach Padalino said.

One aspect of his athletic experience at Hobart that Coach Padalino cherishes to this day were the relationships with trainers and equipment people.

Many of these people came to St. Christopher’s last spring while the Hobart team was in town, and it was a great reunion.

Coach Padalino is the perfect example of someone who gained respect by putting his team before himself. Although he was cut from Varsity lacrosse, he committed to JV for the sake of the program as a whole.

“I got cut several times, never made the Varsity lax team at Hobart, but it did not keep me from helping out the program,” said Coach Padalino. “It helped me earn the respect of Coach Dave Urick, who hired me as the lacrosse defensive coordinator at Georgetown.”

The lessons of dedication and work ethic as a two sport collegiate athlete shaped Coach Padalino as a coach and as an athletic director. He has a strong relationship with the trainers and equipments managers just like in college; he can encourage students who have been cut from a team because of his personal experience; and he has experience as a Division 1 coach in two sports.

MAY 2009

THE PINE NEEDLE

7

Sports Thank you Moose

By JOHN STILLWELL ’09 Head Senior Editor

Baseball continues dynasty

By M. FERRAMOSCA ’10 Junior Contributor

Despite losing two star players from last year’s team, the Saints baseball team won the Prep League championship for the fifth time in six years, its third in a row.

The first four games of the season were against arch rivals Trinity and St. Anne’s Belfield.

The Saints split the series with each team and the outlook for the season appeared grim. “We

were still undecided on how our season would go because we played really well for two games and not so well in the other two games,” said standout pitcher Campbell Henkel ’10.

After playing public schools Hermitage, Freeman, Lee Davis and Atlee, the team came together and breezed through the rest of the Prep League competition, culminating in a win over Collegiate for the league title.

The Saints’ tremendous

turnaround came to an end in the semi-finals of the VISAA State Tournament against Benedictine at the Petersburg Sports Complex. The Cadets rallied in the top of the seventh inning to come from behind and win. Although the team’s championship hopes were dashed, Coach Szymendera said, “We got a lot out of our ability and some guys developed more than I thought they would. This team really impressed me.”

Track wins, again

By JACK JESSEE ’10 Junior Contributor

Following in the footsteps of the indoor team, Spring Track won both the Prep League and VISAA Championships, walloping Fork Union and ending its 21-year streak of titles.

In the Prep League Championship at Woodberry Forest, the Saints won a resounding victory over Fork Union, earning 179 points to their 113.

Saints were again victorious in the State meet at Sportsbackers Stadium, winning seven events and placing in nine others for a total of 156 points,

nearly doubling FUMA’s total of 83.5.

Standout performances included MVP Hiter Harris’s victory in the 200m dash, Alex James’ 55’ 9 ¾” throw in the shot put and Jay Weisbrod’s first place finish in the 800m.

Two state records were also broken -- Ben Katz, the field event MVP, high jumped 6’8.5” to secure his place in the record books, and the 4x100m relay team ran a blazing time of 42.98. Narrow defeats in both the 4x100m and 4x800m relays prevented the Saints from winning by an even larger margin.

“We won this week with our

range. We had someone pretty good in almost every event,” said head coach Marshall Ware in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The team has been one of the best in recent memory, with several athletes continuing on to run at the collegiate level. Numerous records, both school and state, have also been shattered.

“We are all really excited to have won Preps and States,” Harris said. “Now we just have to look towards next year. We are losing a lot of key runners, but we hope to have another great season.”

I wanted to take the opportunity to personally thank Moose Hague, a man who from behind the scenes has been a consistent contributor to the experience of every St. Christopher’s football, basketball and baseball player.

Moose has been a fixture in the Saints dugout and at the scorer’s table for eight years, and 2010 unfortunately will be his last. Although Moose may be retiring from his statistician job, he will never retire from being a friend to the school.

“I love St. Chris,” Moose said. “I like Paul Padalino, Rich Hudepohl, Cary Mauck and all the coaches. I love all the students especially the baseball and basketball players I’ve gotten to know so well over the years.”

Moose began his career at the other end of Grove, at Benedictine High School where he was a statistician and equipment manager for the football, basketball and baseball teams. Moose was part of many successful basketball seasons while Coach Rutledge led the Cadets.

Eight years ago Moose began a relationship with Mr. Rich Hudepohl, then head J.V. basketball coach and now math department chairman.

Mr. Hudepohl talked Moose into becoming a Saint and every since Moose has been a great influence on not only the J.V. athletes but the athletic department as a whole.

“He was the scorekeeper at Benedictine for Coach Rutledge for a while, and I got to know him while I was coaching JV basketball,” Mr. Hudepohl said. “Once he came over to St. Christopher’s, he was my bookkeeper for JV basketball for three or four years. It was so good to have him. You could always count on him to do a good job on the book.”

Moose was a part of multiple championship teams and helped lead an example that brought three sportsmanship awards to his teams. The most amazing stat about Moose is that during his 38 years at Benedictine and St. Christopher’s he has taken stats at 1,137 games. While Moose may be retiring as a statistician, he certainly will add to his that number as a fan.

“Everybody here has been really good to me,” said Moose.

“I’m going to still support ya’ll when I come out and root for the guys.”

So the next time you see Moose in the stands at a game this, take the time to thank him because we cannot thank him enough.

Clarke nationally ranked in squash

By WOODY STANCHINA ’11 Sophomore Contributor

Sophomore squash phenom Willy Clarke recently bumped up his national ranking to 78 from 34 after playing in the U.S. Silver Championships in Pennsylvania.

Clarke played five matches in three days, including a match in the second round in which he upset the number one seed in a four-game match. In three out of the four other matches he played, the opponent was ranked higher than he was.

The number one seed he defeated was ranked 41 in the nation at the time compared to Clarke’s ranking of 78.

Squash started for Clarke when he was younger and his dad took him out to hit around. He enjoyed the game and continued to play in clinics and receive lessons throughout Middle School.

Clarke suffered a hip injury in Middle School and had to have surgery the

summer before his freshman year. but was back out on the squash courts in February of his freshman year.

He proceeded to try out for the lacrosse team in the spring where he reinjured his hip and injured his knee.

Soon thereafter he discovered that he could not play any more athletics besides squash, which allowed him to put his focus onto one sport.

August before Clarke’s sophomore year, he spent a week at a squash camp at Williams College where he really developed as a player. Following his return he trained all fall for the winter season, which brought along the tournaments and school team season.

During the school season Clarke faced some tough competition at the number one spot, and he only lost two matches. These two matches were to the number three and the number eight seeds in the country.

After the end of the school squash season, Clarke continued to train for

other tournaments that he would play in individually. He did this at CCV by playing older men such as club champion David Hetherington, playing by himself and doing cardio work in the facilities there.

“I really believe that with Willy’s improvement in his mental game it allowed him to reach a level of performance on the court that you could not believe,” said Coach Russ Sterling.

“The other kids would be falling apart after loosing a point, and he would be able to keep his cool, which got to the other players.”

Clarke said that playing with older men helped. “It taught me that I can’t get really angry on the court,” he said.

“You have to be respectful to older people which helped my mental game a lot.” Clarke plans to continue his training through the summer. He is also planning a trip to Egypt at the end of June where he will receive lessons from a few of the professional players there.

8

THE PINE NEEDLE

MAY 2009

Collegiate Athletes Ben Katz

Alex James

Jeremy Wells

Senior indoor season All Metro in high jump, long jump, triple jump, 4x200, and 4x400; Varsity point leader for the indoor season (scored most points for team individually); All Prep for long jump, 4x200 and 4x400; All State for high jump, 4x200, 4x400

54’11.75”-school record. All Prep 3, All state 3,All metro 2, All Milestat.com 2nd team, Milestat Gold Elite (Indoor), Milestat Silver Elite (outdoor), , qualified for Penn Relays and came in 12th place, #5 shot putter in the state, #1 private school shot putter in the state, team won the indoor and outdoor prep league championships, ,indoor state championship

Ranked 6th best junior golfer in Virginia; 2007-2008 AllMetro; 2008 All-Prep/All-State.

College of William & Mary

“College track is going to be completely different from high school track. Yes, the basics of running, jumping and workouts might be the same, but the attitudes of everyone there will be gun-ho and focused on track.

“I’ve had a great time with our amazing track team this year -- great guys who worked hard to accomplish goals not only for themselves but for the team. It was an honor to be a captain of the team but more so it was an honor just to be on the team.

Aside from high school, I’m very much looking forward to start my college track career as soon as possible. I can’t wait to get college level training in a sport I’ve come to love. It’s been a hell of a ride.”

College of William & Mary

“The competition and the amount of time spent training will increase and become more difficult.I will no longer be at the top of the roster which might take some getting used to, but I am mentally prepared for it.

“I will be lifting and running all summer so that I’m somewhat in shape for the track and field team.

Most likely I will be using a throwers workout from William and Mary, but if not I will use whatever Shad and Coach Blanton give me.

I won’t be practicing form quite as much over the summer because I’m not sure what form the coaches will want me to use when I throw whether its the glide, which I currently use, or the rotational, which the majority of professional and collegiate throwers use.

Taylor Jenkins

Virginia Military Institute Varsity lacrosse captain; Virginia Elite lacrosse team this past summer at numerous tournaments in Virginia and Maryland “College lacrosse will be A LOT more demanding. A lot more will be expected from my coaches and teammates. In high school, some kids are there just because they have to be but at the college level, every player wants to be on the team, wants to succeed, wants to work, and knows what it takes to win. VMI plays against UVA, NAVY, and other very competitive schools whose players are extremely athletic.

“I am looking forward especially to playing in the annual Lee-Jackson Classic in Lexington, VA in which I will be playing against W&L, where my brother plays.”

Nick Molloy

Wake Forest University 500m prep champ (‘08/’09) 1:08.3 --0.3 off of school record; 800m state runner up (‘08 outdoor) 1:59; 400m --0:51; 4x800m school record (indoor/outdoor); 4x800m all metro (‘07 outdoor, ‘08 indoor/outdoor, ‘09indoor/outdoor); 4x800m state champ (‘07 outdoor, ‘08 indoor/outdoor, ‘09 TBD); 4x800m prep champ (‘07 outdoor, ‘08 indoor, ‘09 indoor/outdoor); 4x400m school record (indoor); 4x400m all metro; 4x400m state champ; 4x400m prep champ; team state and prep league champs (‘09 indoor/ “outdoor”=TBD); Captain “I chose Wake Forest for its strong academics and business school. The track team is on the rise and even produced an olympic 4x400 runner in Beijing.

“College track will be tough. and it be harder to balance new social life, academics, and intense workouts.”

Jay Weisbrod Virginia Tech

School record holder in the 1000m, 800m, 4x800m relay, and 4x400m relay “It is a huge step from running for a small private school to running for a huge ACC school against the best runners in the country. The practices will be much harder and the level of commitment will be greater than anything I’ve ever had to do. I’m running for an AAU track team this summer and I’m going to do more distance-oriented workouts “If you want to play a sport in college you need to remain committed and always look for ways to improve yourself on and off the field.”

College of William & Mary

“College golf will be much more competitive than high school golf. The players will be stronger, more expierenced, and more talented than most high school players. I feel that the stronger competition will in turn help me to step my game up over the next four years.

“I will work hard in the gym this summer and will look to fix two key issues in my swing. I’ll be ready.”

Wells’greatest shot ever came at the Country Club of Virginia when he was seven years old. Playing alongside his brother and father, he holed a 7 wood from 138 yards out.

“My advice is to practice as hard as you possibly can and trust your practice in competition.”

Jackson Freeman Brown University

Football (2008 All Prep; 2008 Honorable Mention AllState); Wrestling (2007, 2008, and 2009 All-Prep, 2008 and 2009 All-State, 2009 All-American (6th at national prep tournament), 2009 All-Metro); Baseball (2008 Academic All-State) “I think the level of competition will be much higher. Everybody on the field will have done something special in high school. It will take some adjustments.

I will keep all my same habits that I have now because they have gotten me this far.

My advice is to set your goals high and don’t stop until you achieve them.”

Tyler Spangler

United States Air Force Academy Four-time All- American; won nearly 200 matches Spangler has been one of the most prolific wrestlers in school history, and has garnered numorous awards and honors.

“I enjoyed the visit tp the Air Force Academy a lot and I really liked the idea of a military experience. I really want to become a pilot.”

Tyler is likely to join Air Force’s starting lineup immediately, and he hopes to continue his success throughout his college career.

John Stillwell Davidson College

St. Christopher’s quarterback “As far as football in college, I’m sure it will be a much more physical and faster game. Also the time commitment to not only practice and lift but also to attend long film sessions will be different.

“I really don’t know what next year will be like.

I’m switching positions to probably some sort of tight end who primarily blocks. I have not played anything except for quarterback since eighth grade, so that will be a change. Also, I don’t really know how my hip is going to be, but A-Rod is back from a similar surgery so hopefully I can do that too.

Tre Craig*

Hampton University (Golf)

Carlton Logan* Elon University (Tennis)

Tyler Douglas*

Hampton University (Track) * Did not respond to questions

MAY 2009

THE PINE NEEDLE

9

Class of 2009 College Decisions Christopher Carlisle Alexander Washington & Lee University

Harrison Gordon Frazer Virginia Tech

Austin Baker Pace James Madison University

Robert Bridgforth Allen University of the South

Jackson Lee Freeman Brown University

Samuel James Perry College of William & Mary

Thomas Campbell Andrews Washington & Lee University

Philip Graham Halsey Princeton University

Richard Channing Poole University of Virginia

Nathaniel LeMaster Armistead IV Dickinson College

Travis Quinn Hamblen Hampden-Sydney College

Taylor Magruder Powell University of Virginia

Brent Pierce Attkisson Wake Forest University

Thomas Wagonner Hart City College of New York

Marc Emerson Townes Rasmussen College of Charleston

Samuel Davies Bedinger Hampden-Sydney College

Stuart Franklin Hughes Virginia Military Institute

Scott Gilbert Regester James Madison University

Robert Turner Blake II Hampden-Sydney College

Stephane Irankunze University of Southern California

Thomas Gray Reinhardt Wofford College

Charles Fuller Blanchard Duke University

Dominique Alexander James College of William & Mary

John Spotswood Revercomb University of Virginia

Terrell Wingfield Bowers, Jr. College of Charleston

Charles Taylor Massie Jenkins Virginia Military Institute

Scott Dalton Richardson Wake Forest University

Randolph Scott Boyers George Mason University

Christopher Andrew Johnson University of Virginia

Sterling Edward Rives IV University of Virginia

Fitz-Henry Boisseau Boze Hampden-Sydney College

William Harrison Wood Jumet University of Kentucky

Thomas Lacy Shockley James Madison University

Edward Scott Boze IV University of Alabama

Benjamin Jason Katz College of William & Mary

John Westwood Smithers III Randolph-Macon College

Alexander Heffner Brown University of the South

Christopher Theodore Kelleher, Jr. College of William & Mary

Lawrence Owen Snead II Virginia Commonwealth University

Thomas Rutherfoord Brown, Jr. Hampden-Sydney College

Edward Holmes Lebar University of Richmond

Tyler Michael Spangler United States Air Force Academy

Michael Conrad Bunda University of South Carolina

Carlton Wade Logan Elon University

Joseph Clay Stiles IV James Madison University

Bruce Cameron Cann, Jr. Wofford College

Matthew Gregg Londrey Virginia Tech

John Miller Stillwell Davidson College

Warren Briggs Cooke Miami University of Ohio

Duncan Weisbrod Lyle Drew University

James Alexander Strickland New York University

Leon Dickerson Craig III Hampton University

James Lawrence Lynde III Washington & Lee University

Justin Bennett Thompson Rhodes College

John David Keith Crossen University of the South

Malcolm James Magovern III United States Naval Academy

Keenan Nathaniel Thompson College of William & Mary

Walker McClure Delaney Southern Methodist University

Stuart Jay Mahoney Colgate University

Michael Andrew Towne Hampden-Sydney College

Scott Kimberly DesMarais Furman University

Walter Clarke Manley Roanoke College

Carter Harrison Tucker, Jr. Washington & Lee University

Tyler Millis Douglas Hampton University

Jonathan Palmer Marlton College of William & Mary

Jarratt Glennon Weisbrod Virginia Tech

Barbour Thornton Farinholt, Jr. Denison University

William Dawson Miller Virginia Tech

Michael Francis Welch Washington & Lee University

Brown Rhodes Farinholt Clemson University

Nicholas Patrick Molloy Wake Forest University

Jeremy Wilbourne Wells College of William & Mary

Daniel McRae Farmer Virginia Tech

Henry Ulric Moore University of Virginia

Jack Hardison Wright II Texas Christian University

Tyler Bensinger Franz University of Miami

Aaron Julian Newfield Johns Hopkins University

Carter Spurgeon Younts University of Georgia

David Ross O’Connor University of the South

10

THE PINE NEEDLE

Lack of teen spirit Editorial

By TYLER FRANZ ’09 Head Senior Editor

It’s sixth period on Friday afternoon, and I am in Scott Gymnasium getting some shots up before our upcoming game against Trinity that night.

As I shoot, thoughts about the game constantly run through my head. What advantages do we have? How do we stop Trinity’s center? What’s the crowd going to be like?

Now, any other year I would have no doubt in my mind that on a Friday night game against a city rival, Scott Gym would be packed out the doors and the place would be rocking. This year, however, I was left wondering whether students would actually turn out.

Throughout the year, students have showed an utter lack of enthusiasm for pretty much anything school-related. That goes for football games, basketball games, Student Council events and even Ampersand plays.

Now, when I confront students for not supporting their classmates, I often encounter the excuse that the teams have been poor. The fact is, while this may be true, I believe it is only an excuse and even if our teams were good, fans wouldn’t show up. After all, if we can’t fill the gym for a rivalry game on a Friday night, how can we expect students to show support for games without all of the hype.

As it turned out, only a handful of students showed up for the Trinity game, which ended up being a classic that had to be controversially completed in the field house.

Even worse, Trinity’s student section easily tripled our student section.

At home.

This lack of support goes far beyond sports, however. Student Council has had a disappointing year so far, and I don’t believe that it is soley to blame. While efforts from the SC may not have been stellar, such events such as the flag football tournament had to be cancelled due to lack of participants.

Furthermore, the dodgeball tournament, in which over 150 students participated when I was a freshman (avoid repeating the word ‘year’) only included about 90 kids this year.

Additionally, events hosted by school clubs such as French Club, M.A.D.E., and Spanish Club have been few and far between.

These numbers beg the question: why the apathy?

It starts at the top with the senior class.

As seniors, we have failed miserably to lead by example. Seniors are almost always far outnumbered by juniors and sophomores at sporting events, don’t participate in Student Council activities or clubs, and are even currently in last place in the Class Cup, a challenge designed for seniors to have a clear advantage. Furthermore, with so many seniors dropping out of athletics for endeavors like community service, it’s no wonder the teams they fail to support have been poor.

When underclassmen walk into the stands at Knowles Field and notice that there are only a few seniors present, it sends them the message that supporting their classmates is unimportant. This was perhaps best demonstrated at a basketball game where the sophomores, juniors, and seniors stood and cheered while the freshmen sat down during the entire game and barely paid attention.

While the blame falls largely on the seniors, they are not the only ones to blame. Underclassmen should understand that just because others around them may be apathetic doesn’t mean they need to be or should be.

As we enter the final months of school, I encourage students, regardless of their class, to actively support their peers.

Go out and watch a baseball game. Go cheer on the laxers or the track team. Just because spring sports are not typically spectator sports doesn’t mean you shouldn’t support your classmates. If Student Council holds more events, attend them. It’s the least you can do to show some appreciation for your officers’ hard work.

At a school like St. Christopher’s that places such a high value on brotherhood and unity, it is essential that we show respect and loyalty to our friends, and supporting schoolsponsored events is a perfect way to do so.

After all, community is supposed to be St. Christopher’s greatest strength.

Shad Continued from page 1 using only map and compass.

(GPS use is illegal.) The race also includes a 30-hour bike ride, multiple 25-mile paddling legs, more than 80,000 feet in elevation gain and loss, and whitewater paddling in the dark.

At one point, Coach Pospahala felt so endangered during the midnight paddling that when he saw the race director, Ronnie Angell, at a checkpoint he told him that he couldn’t see anything and if he hit a rock his boat could capsize and he would lose over $7,000 in gear that he had with him.

Mr. Angell responded, “Well, if that happens, you’re going to have one hell of a story when you come back here in the morning. That’s adventure racing” Despite the obvious physical aspect of the race, mental toughness is just as, if not more, important.

“The most difficult part was navigating when you’re so nutritionally and mentally deprived you’re not thinking

MAY 2009 strait,” St. Christopher’s extreme athlete said. “If you got lost, 10 miles could turn into 20, it’s easy to put your head down and race, but this type of race requires a mental aspect as well.”

Coach Pospahala’s nutrition during the race consisted solely of liquid electrolytes, energy pastes and gels, mac ’n cheese and water.

He had originally planned to sleep from 5 to 6 a.m. every day, but in the freezing night temperatures, he found sleep impossible. About 28 hours before the finish line, Pospahala began to experience the hallucinations that are considered par for the course.

“You’re pushing yourself so hard and expending so much energy, you can’t put calories back in your body for such a long period of time, you start hallucinating and seeing people and animals that usually turn out to be trees of bushes, you see things that aren’t there.

I thought I saw a little girl running in a red dress, then she just disappeared.”

The final leg of the race was a 13-mile hike up a mountain that rose and dropped the

whole way. Coach Pospahala grew tired of going down so he decided to scale the mountain straight up. When he got to the top, he discovered that the finish line was in fact not at the top of the mountain but 1.5 miles down the road.

When he finally finished, all he wanted was a beer and a barbeque sandwich. When he sat down with his meal, he was so delirious he couldn’t figure out how to eat his sandwich.

He promptly fell asleep on his food.

By the end of the race, Pospahala had lost more than 10 pounds, much of which was muscle tissue. It took him almost a week to be able to think clearly. And he still has trouble remembering things that happened during the race.

“It’s about pushing my personal boundaries” said Pospahala, “From a coaching standpoint, if I’m going to demand that the student athletes be tough, I have to push myself to do the same and hold myself accountable to the same standards.”

Mr. Winn in Russia

By BEN RESNIK ’11 Sophomore Contributor

There are very few people who know what it’s like to go from sitting in a steam room with 100-plus degree temperatures straight into a hole in the ice of a Siberian lake.

Mr. Mr. Winn is one of them.

John Winn, St. Christopher’s jazz teacher, player, and singer, recently returned from a musical tour to Vladivostok, located on the east coast of Russia close to the Chinese border.

Mr. Winn made the voyage with his band, Neighborliness, for the second time, in a return trip from a stay of five weeks in places throughout East Asia, including countries such as Cambodia, on top of their stay in Vladivostok.

Besides spreading American spirit, Neighborliness also went on tour to make some good, old-fashioned money.

The band put together a CD for their most recent trip to Vladivostok. This album, “Let Be the Realists,” is a combination of “some rock items and original tunes.” It includes studio-recorded pieces as well as songs from their last trip, including “Moanin’” and “T’aint What You Do.” Mr. Winn’s description of the style was apt. The CD opens up with a rock adaptation of what was originally a piece by Gershwin. After several minutes of foot-tapping beat, the

song segues smoothly into a stunning saxophone solo by Mr. Winn himself. The combination of strong rhythms and cool-jazz feel reflects Mr. Winn’s own, worldly personality.

Neighborliness started up several years ago as a project between Mr. Winn and a group of Virginia Commonwealth University students, and has gained significant respect in the musical community. Neighborliness’ style, Mr. Winn says, is “taking old jazz tunes and bringing them more in line to the tunes of pop and rock music.”

The arrival of the band was a big deal for the natives of Vladivostok.

“They don’t get a lot of the big entertainment acts that Moscow would get,” explains Mr. Winn, “so they make a big deal of it. They always have local TV interviews.”

A lack of visiting talent isn’t the only difference between Vladivostok and the rest of the world. Major cultural differences can crop up.

Vladivostok is a relatively new city, founded in the mid19th century, and located on Russia’s Pacific coast. It’s been the frontier territory of Russian pioneer’s, like America’s Pacific Northwest.

Vladivostok, while a major metropolitan center of the Russian Pacific, has a different aesthetic from the port towns here. Amid the shops and streets stand gigantic, square, concrete buildings, leftovers from the Soviet era. Despite these monolithic reminders, though, natives of Vladivostok manage to keep an optimistic point of view.

“Russians are kind of bleak, personality-wise, [but] they are truly very bubbly, warm people. The bleakness comes out only on the street…They’re suffering from 400 or 500 years of very bad leadership,” says Mr. Winn.

“People are people is the message,” he concludes. And people being people is the feeling Mr. Winn brings out through his music.

We will miss you Mrs. Boon.

Thank you for bringing us Battle of the Books and yoga.

BEST WISHES

MAY 2009

THE PINE NEEDLE

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Mr. Abts will be missed

By STEPHEN WOOD ’11 Sophomore Contributor

When speaking of Mr. Abts, who leaves for upstate New York after this year, it is hard to know where to begin. Everyone seems to have the same response when asked about him: they stop for about five seconds to collect their thoughts, then spend a good five minutes describing his talents, intelligence and passions. As Mr. Steed put it, “He’s a true Renaissance man.”

During his tenure here, Mr. Abts has been a kindergarten assistant and Middle School English and Latin teacher. He has coached sixth graders during PE and Varsity wrestlers during their amazing streak of championships. He has organized Middle School lock-ins and done stand-up comedy in the Faculty Talent Show.

He has become infamous for forgetting about faculty meetings, and he has won the Andrew Jackson Bolling III Faculty Award.

He and his wife are expecting their first child in early June. As he prepares for a new role, that of a father, Mr.

Abts will leave our community to be closer to his wife’s family.

However, he will still be teaching. “I have been somewhat amused at how many people have asked what I’m going to be doing for a job,” he said, “I see myself as a teacher and coach regardless of location, but apparently I come off as having great potential in the field of used car sales or dog grooming.”

All of Mr. Abts’s colleagues compliment his love of coaching and his constant desire to learn. Mr. Abts has been a very successful coach and has enjoyed almost every minute of it (the few moments he has not enjoyed include the long bus rides back from Norfolk and driving a van through the snow in Bethlehem, Pa.) He enjoys working with students as well as fellow coaches. “I have been very blest to spend time with many skilled coaches on some beautiful afternoons,” he said. As he coaches and teaches, Mr. Abts is always eager to learn. I think it would be hypocritical of me not to,” he said. The work that Mr. Abts has put into improving himself and those around him has paid off. “He’s a Pied Piper for the kids,” said Mr. Franz, “and certainly for the wrestling program.”

Mr. Spears called Mr. Abts “inspiring to be around.” But

he’s more than a dedicated teacher and coach -- he’s also a comedian with a great sense of humor. That characteristic helped deflect the many jokes that were made about the long, flowing hair he grew for a charity that donates hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Mr. Abts admits that he looked ridiculous, but says that the fact that it was for a good cause is “an O.K. excuse.” He plans to keep his hair short in the future. “I am happy to have short hair again,” he said, “and I imagine I’ll keep it short for the rest of my life. Or at least until I go bald. Then it won’t even be short.”

And we know at least one person is a fan of the short hair. “I am a happily married woman, but I have a crush on Mr. Abts,” said Mrs. Thomas, The Pine Needle’s faculty advisor. “It’s not just that he is intelligent, well spoken, or has a million dollar smile; it’s his attitude and his willingness to help others, no matter how menial the task.” Everyone who has worked with Mr. Abts agrees. As Mr. Steed said of all the extra help his departing colleague has given the school and its students, “He’s not doing it to stick out, he’s just doing it to help.”

There is plenty about Mr. Abts that does stick out.

What matters most to him, he

First Lower School spelling bee

By WILLY CLARKE ’11

This year, for the first time, grades 3-5 in the Lower School participated in a spelling bee.

After countless words and spelling using the procedure “say it, spell it, say it,” two winners emerged from each class, making eight for each grade.

The winners then proceeded to the next round which was held on Good Friday.

The 24 boys gathered in the auditorium at 11 a.m. on their half-day for the final round.

“After 45 minutes and 11 rounds of spelling, we had to skip to some harder rounds,” said Mrs. Jen O’Ferrall, a fourth grade teacher who organized the event. A few of the

difficult words included nuisance, strenuous, masquerade and conscientious.

The boys took the spelling bee very seriously, and many would pretend to write the difficult words out in the air, or on the ground to try to figure it out. As incentive, the winner took home a $20 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble and the finalist was awarded a $10 gift certificate. The competition fell out with fifth grader, Pierce Walmsly winning nd fourth grader Hunter Greenwood taking second place.

The Lower School expressed enthusiasm about the event and plans to possibly expand to a regional Spelling Bee next year.

Career Day With the future on many of the juniors’ and seniors’ minds, Career Day served as a perfect opportunity to present accomplished individuals and their path towards success.

Mr. Ward McGroarty ’03 emphasized the significance of connections and being personable and confident in the business world to advance. Above all, he said, “Be your own man.”

He advised not to let others influence what you truly are passionate about and to not be swayed by other people’s negative comments.

This Gettysburg College graduate now lives in Washington D.C. and works at Georgetown University Hospital in career recruitment.

--Ian Maclean ’10

Mr. David Pangraze, a corporate sales manager for Nike Golf, focused on the need to have goals and to incorporate what you love in your work. An avid sports fan and golfer while at University of Notre Dame, Pangraze knew he wanted to work in sports business. He said that the job you ultimately want does not present itself right away but requires a lot of experience working other jobs.

Nowadays, Mr. Pangraze, father of Drew Pangraze ’10, has the opportunity to travel to sporting events like the Masters where he meets with representatives from big corporations and often also gets to meet pros such as Tiger Woods.

--Ian Maclean ’10

Mrs. Sandra Martin advised students to make a positive difference and to give back to the community in which you live. Martin noted that one’s initial work plan may change over time. After a life-changing incident where her sister was hit and killed by an underage drunk driver, Martin changed jobs from physical education teacher to law.

Mrs. Martin, who went on to earn a master’s in juvenile justice at Virginia Commonwealth University, now works in the Department of Juvenile Justice of Richmond City.

--Ian Maclean ’10

“You have all kinds of opportunities for your passion, you just need to look for them.”

So said Mr. Gordon Valentine, a professional photographer who specializes in portraits and sports.

Looking back at his St. Christopher’s career, Mr. Valentine said that he has “recurring nightmares of being late to chapel,” something all students here still dread.

At age 8 he began taking pictures with old cameras. “It really attracted me,” he said. “I love art, and I was always gravitating toward the visual, and I loved the smell of technology.”

In 1973 Mr. Valentine said that the arts at St. Christopher’s were woefully weak, so the school decided to hold an art symposium. Once he saw the technology for picture making, “I was over,” he said.

His favorite type of photography is sports because of the intense action.

These include pictures of football, lacrosse and field hockey. At one sport-

ing event, he said, “I take a lot of pics, usually from 700 to 800.”

--Jason Pacious ’10

Dr. Marc Katz stressed the importance of choosing a job that follows your passion.

While driving an ice cream truck, Dr. Katz felt that he had a greater calling. After receiving a degree in biology at Adelphi College, Dr. Katz wanted to excel in his passion, one of which included helping the less fortunate. His profession as a cardiosurgeon contains his love for robotics and technology and his desire to help others.

Dr. Katz, father of Ben Katz ’09, got his medical degree from Tulane Medical School and later received a master’s in public health.

In the talk, Dr. Katz provided a quote from Confucius, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

--Titus Matthews ’10

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THE PINE NEEDLE

MAY 2009

Minimester Seniors lead service trip to Mexico

By JASON PACIOUS ’10 Junior Contributor

The seven St. Chris seniors seemed to be the only light-haired, Caucasian, English-speaking people around, but “When the boys began speaking Spanish with the residents of the town, those physical differences washed away.”

During the 2009 minimester seven seniors, accompanied by Senora Varner and Senora Mayer, took a trip down to Yunkú, Mexico. This trip was designed to help broaden the horizons of the students, giving them the opportunity to experience some meaningful community service projects while learning Spanish and getting to know an incredibly warm and welcoming community of Mayans.

A few years ago, John David Crossen’s family proposed a partnership between the little Mexican town of Yunkú and STC, naming the proposed venture “Santos Sin Fronteras.” The Crossens know a family that owns a lovely hacienda in the town, and Dr. Laura Vick from Peace College in Raleigh, NC even teaches a summer program based out of this hacienda.

One part of the trip Mrs. Varner clearly remembers is “When one of our two minivans broke down one day as we were touring the Yucatán’s capital city of Mérida, we were forced to pack seven beefy seniors and the two adults with multiple bags of donations in a vehicle meant to seat seven on a good day.”

Each person contributed perfectly to the group, whether it was Briggs Cooke’s tireless work ethic, Phillip Halsey’s immediate connection with the children, or Christopher Alexander’s quirky observations that always resulted in laughter.

The seniors were also greatly changed during the trip. In one instance the seniors were cleaning up an area of Yunkú. They did not understand why they should be cleaning this up when surely the residents would return to throwing trash on the ground as soon as we left.

A young mother came out of her house and approached them, however, asking what they were doing and why. They told her that we were there to help her community however they could, and she responded, saying that she and her friend had been watching them and wanted their children to see what they were doing and help in the cleanup efforts.

This left a positive influence on the students, realizing that every little thing they did was important.

“It not only opened their eyes to the world outside of our little STC/Richmond bubble, the huge impact that even small gestures can make, but I believe it also made them think a little about what they so

often take for granted in everyday life,” Mrs. Mayer said.

Mrs. Varner said “To be honest, small-town people in Mexico are like small-town people in America.

There is an intense bond they feel with one another, and they protect and support each other to the end.

It was astounding to hear that those that had the least enjoyed life the most. That is one of the lessons I hope we will all keep with us forever.”

Mrs. Mayer’s one word to describe the trip was “AWESOME! – From the experiences we had, to the way the boys conducted themselves – there is no other word for it. I am proud of all of the boys that we took and impressed by them.”

Richardson, Brown to Peru

By KYLE WITTENAUER ’10 Junior Contributor

Imagine being some 4,000 miles from home.

Imagine that a landslide stops your train dead in its tracks for seven hours. Imagine all of this happens during a transportation strike. Once your train starts back toward the city, the strike incites roadblocks and riots along the tracks.

St. Christopher’s seniors Scott Richardson and Alex Brown (along with seven students from St.

Catherine’s and their chaperone, Mrs. Laura McCutcheon) know exactly what it is like because that is what happened to them during minimester in Peru.

The adventure did not end there. On the their return to the United States, they boarded a flight from Lima to Miami, and a man died of a heart attack en route.

“The purpose of the trip was to explore and appreciate Incan culture,” said Mrs. McCutcheon, St. Catherine’s Upper School librarian. She made sure everyone had read up on Peru, its customs and some history before they left. Mrs. McCutcheon also made sure they packed the right clothes and got the necessary inoculations.

Once the contingency arrived in Peru, they encountered a very different culture. “The poverty is overwhelming and [the] driving [is] harum-scarum,” Mrs. McCutheon said. “People are more relaxed about time, so punctuality is always relative.”

“The landscape was unbelievable, the country a well-oiled machine, and the culture fascinatingly different,” Richardson said. “The city of Cuzco was going full speed by six o’clock every morning.”

The group spent the first week in Cuzco, touring the city, helping at a school, and taking day trips to ruins and historical sites outside the city. “Then we went to Machu Piccu, spent two days there, then returned to Cuzco before flying to Lima for our last day of the ten day trip,” Alex Brown said.

Driving presented some interesting challenges.

Brown described the crazy Peruvian drivers. “Passing on two lane roads with cars coming towards us was simplified by our bus driver by [his] blowing the horn a few times, then going for it,” he said. “And pedestrians do not have the right of way.”

All travelers concur that the highlight of the trip was

their visit to the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu (known as “The Lost City of the Incas”), which is built on a mountain ridge 8,000 feet above sea level overlooking the Urubamba valley.

They were amazed at what the Incas accomplished when they built this city out of stone more than 500 years ago. Their motto was: “Manan sua, manan lluclla, manan quella” (“Do not steal, do not kill, do not be lazy”).

“The Incas had remarkable physical strength and strength of character,” Richardson said.

The architectural designs of the buildings in Machu Picchu were advanced. “The stone was carved so that the walls would be leaning slightly inward so that the buildings could withstand earthquakes,” Brown said. “Also, the city was acoustically designed in such a way that the ruler could address the people from one point, and be heard throughout the city.”

The ancient Incans were ingenious farmers. “All the city’s food was grown on the side of the mountain in stone terraces, which allowed the city to be self sufficient,” Brown said.

“As with most famous historical landmarks that you have always seen in pictures,” Brown said, “it’s a surreal feeling to actually be there.”

Being there was one thing. Leaving was another.

Leaving Machu Picchu launched these travelers into their interesting train ride, riddled with landslides, roadblocks and riots, strikes and death.

In short, their trip to Peru is a minimester adventure these two seniors will not soon forget. “Alex Brown and Scott Richardson were incredible travelers,” McCutheon said. “They have exactly the right mix of curiosity and adventure and tolerance and intelligence to get the most out of what travel has to offer.”

MAY 2009

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Minimester Jack Wright and Harrison Frazer took the opportunity to help out at a growing elementary school during their two week minimester.

The two seniors volunteered to work at E. S. H. Greene, a Southside elementary school. Out of the safety net of West End Richmond, both were exposed to the challenges and differences of a school less fortunate than their own. They worked as teachers’ aides in third grade class, answering questions and keeping kids under control so the teacher could teach, instead of having to constantly reprimand students.

Wright and Frazier both thought their experience was positive, but were saddened by the attitude of the kids. They were extremely difficult to control, and the teacher had to make multiple phone calls home each day; but the parents only got mad at the teachers for bothering them. As Jack Wright said, “Since their parents don’t care, they don’t care.”

They enjoyed the job, gathering a new found appreciation for St. Christopher’s, and a better understanding of how lucky our community is.

--Willy Clarke ’11

While the majority of Upper School students enjoyed coasting through minimester with a lightened exam load, seniors Tyler Franz and Channing Poole took learning to the next level through an interactive internship with the Tampa Tribune.

Their two-week internship included engaging activities such as shadowing sports reporters and discussing the state of journalism in the 21st century. Franz was intrigued to discover the amount of news now transmitted through the internet. “Most of the sports reporters posted blogs online before they even started writing the hard copy for the newspaper,” Franz said.

Franz and Poole also had the opportunity to follow the reporters in action. Franz, a basketball fanatic who is considering pursuing broadcast journalism, was excited to cover the Florida High School State Tournament. Franz said that trailing Nick Williams, an up-and-coming journalist for the Tribune, was one of the best parts of the internship.

Franz said that it was neat to observe reporters’ crazy and flexible schedules. “Williams could come into the office whenever he wanted, as long as he had his article done by 12,” Franz said.

Throughout their stay in Florida, both Franz and Poole gained valuable experience through observation and interaction, with Poole even having the opportunity to publish an article.

“Any time you get an opportunity to do an internship in an area you might be interested in, you should try it.,” Franz said.

--Pat Delaney ’10

Cameron Cann spent a week talking to and learning stories about homeless people. He went to Charlotte, NC to work for a week at a homeless shelter known as the Urban Ministry Center.

He got the idea for this from his cousin, Rob Cann, who spends a lot of time working with the homeless.

Cann sat in on counseling sessions where he learned about day-today problems that homeless people face. He interacted a lot with the homeless by hearing their stories, how they came to be homeless and what it was like. Most people had problems that prevented them from getting jobs, such as disabilities like mental illness or being in a wheelchair.

Counseling sessions included discussions on how to do away with homelessness. One way is to offer better accessibility to health care, Cann said.

Cann greatly enjoyed the week at the shelter and talking to all of the people about their life experiences. He has a great interest in helping problems with homelessness and preventing it from happening. “I would like to encourage more people to get involved with homeless people because homelessness is a huge problem that is overlooked in many cities,” he said.

--Woody Stanchina ’11

While many seniors wanted to travel abroad for minimester, Clay Stiles decided to stay in Richmond to do something that has truly impacted his life.

Last July Stiles was diagnosed with a rare disease, called fibrous dysplasia, which causes lesions to grow on the bones and weaken them.

In Stiles’s case the affected bone was over his right eye, and the thicker it got the more it pushed the eye towards his brain. He suffered constant headaches, so he consulted with Dr. Gary Tye, a MCV neurosurgeon. As expected, the doctor had to incise his head, remove the entire bone, and replace it with some bone from his left side. “After this, I realize that I should appreciate life and live it to the fullest.

I have been blessed, because it could have been a lot worse,” Stiles said.

Consequently Stiles chose to shadow his previous doctor to see how exciting medical life really is. He participated in craniotomies, in which the bone flap is removed to access the brain to extract a tumor or lesion or to implant a stimulator. Stiles, already being a member of the rescue squad, believed that his favorite parts of the experience were being able to talk to the patients and taking part in the operating room. He knows how patients feel because he was once in their shoes. “I have always wanted to help others. It’s really exhilarating to hear the beeper go off and then to run to the Emergency Room to operate on someone in need.”

Clay Stiles has had a passion for the medical field for a long time. He yearns to help others even more because of his battle with fibrous dysplasia. “I wanted to pursue being a doctor, and this experience has only added to my desire. I have learned a lot from being on both sides of operating table, and will definitely consider being a surgeon.”

and the Garden District, which display amazing architecture and preserve mush of the famous cultural aspects of New Orleans.

John Stillwell and Moore stressed the need for more work groups and projects to continually help New Orleans. John Stillwell said that the people feel “a little bit forgotten,” and Moore was affected by the vast amounts of wandering people with nothing to do because of destroyed property. “There is a unique spirit of New Orleans; so, if anyone’s going to get through it they will,” John Stillwell said.

Hopefully, future Saints will take up a similar initiative to speed the city’s recovery.

--Titus Matthews ’10

--Robert Allen ’09

In two short weeks, Alex James may have found his future passion.

During minimester, James participated in an athletic medicine internship under Dr. Katherine Deck.

He said she was a great doctor who “knew every movement of the body.” James also learned many things about human body physiology, its functions and injuries. The worst part of the doctor’s job, James determined, was files and dictations. James also learned about physical therapy and heard riveting stories of some athletes’ injuries. “I love sports and I love hearing the stories,” James said.

--Cameron Barlow ’11

Uninhabited neighborhoods, enormous amounts of debris and waste, destruction and hopelessness at the most extreme levels: could such things occur in our advanced and productive country?

After almost five years since Hurricane Katrina, the vivacious and cultural city of New Orleans should be well on its way towards recovery and return to normalcy; unfortunately, surrounding parts of the city are in shambles and still combating the devastation that swept through its borders. Two seniors, John Stillwell and Henry Moore, recognized the need for their service during minimester in New Orleans and helped promote the word for continual support in a seemingly forgotten mission.

During the second week of minimester Headmaster Charley Stillwell and Mrs. Stillwell, John Stillwell and Moore devoted their time to cleaning and fixing up a home in and area in New Orleans called Hollygrove. The project was organized through the Dioceses of New Orleans. A typical work day consisted of building tables, cleaning mildew and mold caused by water damage and painting the exterior of the house. Both John Stillwell and Moore commented after working in such conditions that both felt an extreme sense of accomplishment and appreciation for the current conditions of where we live.

Not all of the trip was completely restricted to work though. Both Moore and John Stillwell got a taste of the culture of New Orleans through the renowned Cajun dishes like catfish, crawfish and even turtle soup. Also, both visited the French Quarters

--Ian Maclean ’10

Matthew Londrey served as an intern with Three Oaks Equine, a horse veterinary office in Goochland.

He worked with a vet and an assistant, helping to treat horses. He was even trusted with giving injections and drawing blood. The internship was not easy. “We would do the same thing for the whole day, so I would get bored of that,” said Londrey. He often worked 13-hour days, travelling from barn to barn to treat unhealthy horses.

However, he reckons that his experience was worth it despite the difficulties. He learned many specific procedures and the anatomy of horses, as well as the work habits of a vet. This was an opportunity for him to experience his planned career path first hand. Londrey will major in equine animal science next year at Virginia Tech, and hopes to eventually dedicate himself to helping animals, whether as a vet or not. Londrey liked his experience so much that he has kept in touch with the vet and will even return occasionally. “I enjoyed it a lot and they call me whenever they have a cool procedure to watch.”

Michael Welch didn’t tutor underprivileged kids during his minimester. He didn’t go to Mexico either.

Instead, he chose to go with something unconventional: bike maintenance. Michael worked at 3Sports, a local triathlon specialty store helping to fix and upgrade bikes. He worked alongsideowner Ben Johnson on bikes costing upwards of $6,000. “The best part.” said Welch, “was that I didn’t break anything.”

Johnson and his wife and co-owner Jennifer were so impressed with Welch’s work that they offered him a part-time job on Saturdays. “Working at 3Sports was rewarding and useful, now I can repair my own bike as opposed to paying someone else,” Welch said. “I really got a lot out of it.”

--Elliott Warren ’11

After hiking for half an hour on a rough trail, a group of ten St. Christopher’s and St.Catherine’s students arrived at a Mayan religious ceremony in rural Guatemala. Over the next hour, the group listened to a Mayan priest in the native Mum language bless ancestors that had passed away.

This was just one activity the students experienced during their trip to Guatemala.

St. Christopher’s participants Jonathan Marlton and Alex Strickland knew they wanted to make a positive difference in an underprivileged community over minimester, but they didn’t know where to go.

Eventually, the two decided on Guatemala, and they were pleased with their decision.

After a 10-hour trip from Richmond to the small village of Xela, the group of students unpacked their bags at El Refugio.

During the trip, the students taught at schools, built stoves for roof ventilation and took part in a reforestation project. The locals were extremely thankful for all the help. “Everyone was so happy to see us and they cherished all the work we did for them,” said Marlton.

The trip was fulfilling and the two seniors highly recommend it, even to those you don’t speak Spanish. After all, Strickland said, “A smile is universal.”

--Drew Pangraze ’10