Solebury School Magazine Winter/Spring 2015 by Solebury School

Solebury Magazine Winter/Spring 2015

2014-2015 Solebury School Winter/Spring Magazine Editor Jennifer K. Burns, Director of Advancement

On the Cover: Physics in action for Lorenz Markhoff ’18, and Michael Wolman ’17.

Associate Editor, Magazine Beverly Berkeley, Director of Communications Associate Editor, Alma’s Renee LaPorte Director of Alumni Relations and Gift Planning Contributing Writers Gail Acosta, Beverly Berkeley, Lauren Eckstein, Renee LaPorte Design & Production EnForm Graphic Productions, Inc. Photography Beverly Berkeley Please send change of address to: Solebury School 6832 Phillips Mill Road, New Hope, PA 18938 Phone: 215-862-5261 Fax: 215-862-3366 E-mail: alumni@solebury.org Web Site: www.solebury.org Copyright 2015 Solebury School BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2014-2015 Scott Bolenbaugh (PA) Chairman Tom Hunt ’74 (NJ) Vice Chairman Elizabeth Wavle (NJ) Treasurer Alan Sheriff (PA) Secretary Jay Abbe ’59 (CA) Bette Jane (BJ) Booth (NJ) David Christiansen (PA) Dan Cohen ’63 (FL) Jonathan C. Downs ’71 (PA) Andrée Newsome Falco ’63 (NJ) Dr. Ellen Faulkner (PA) Barbara Fordyce (PA) Stan Jablonowski (PA) Josh Perlsweig ’03 (PA) John Petito (PA) Mike Sienkiewicz ’56 (PA) Brett Webber ’85 (PA) Navarrow Wright ’88 (NJ) Head of School Thomas G. Wilschutz HONORARY TRUSTEES Bill Berkeley ’49 Chris Chandor ’60 Alan Donley ’55 Betsy Bidelman Meredith ’54 Richard Moss ’48 Eric Shaw ’55 Jean Shaw ’53

Sasha Scudder ’15 and Ben Roxey ’18 in the musical, Curtains.

What’s Inside Student Safety

A New Look for Solebury School 14 Alumni News

Alma’s

Auction Special Appeal

A Note from Tom Wilschutz Head of School

An Unfinished Journey At times, institutions are like people – they make journeys and often embedded in the “big journey” of their lives are a series of smaller, discrete journeys, ones with a defined starting point and, perhaps, a defined end point, though the latter may be less clear. On the average day, my journey at Solebury School is an expected one. For example – it is March, which means that the winter trimester is nearing its conclusion, a number of our seniors have already made decisions about their next step beyond Solebury (this year, schools such as Emory, Brown, Eckerd, Dickinson and many others have already made offers of admission for the Class of 2015) and we are all eager for the snow and ice to end so that we may once again enjoy this beautiful campus. However, I found myself embarked on another journey beginning in in early 2013. I received a letter from one of our alums, detailing her sexual abuse as a young girl by Robert Shaw in the 1950s. Months later, I received another communication, this time from three classmates in the early 1970s, describing abuse by Solebury faculty during their time as students. I reached out to them, offering to meet with them in person and to talk. After a number of conversations, it was clear that each of them believed it was time for Solebury School to publicly own its past. I agreed. The rest, as someone must have said, is history. A great many preparatory steps were needed to enable us to send our initial communication (July 29, 2014) to the Solebury School community – more than 4,000 individual letters to those for whom we had accurate addresses and have indicated they wanted to receive mail from us, in addition to posting on our website. The intent of the letter was to inform the community and invite any other victims or those with information they wished to share to come forward to law enforcement or talk with me directly. Any information I received was provided voluntarily to the Bucks County District Attorney’s office. As I write these words, it is March 2015. In recent months, there has been news coverage and social media discussion of the reported convening of a Grand Jury by the District Attorney’s Office. Of course, Grand Jury proceedings are secret and there is no indication of the nature and scope of the inquiry, the timing for the completion of the review, or what the possible outcomes might be. I have kept the community updated when there is news to share and remain committed to communicating with you directly. Additionally, we have spent these past months (continued on page 11) 3

Student Safety Solebury School has several principles that guide its core philosophy: to value learning, celebrate curiosity, respect diversity and appreciate individuality. Yet there is another tenet that is just as crucial: safety. “Safety is critical,” said Tom Wilschutz, Solebury School’s Head of School. “Before we can educate a young man or a young woman, we have to make sure they are safe. And that means safe in as many ways as possible – safe from bullying, drugs, harassment and abuse. There must be a safe environment where they can focus on the real task at hand: learning.” One crucial part of Solebury’s safety policy means that there are clear guidelines, procedures and practices around preventing and responding to allegations of sexual abuse. Every new employee must undergo a thorough background check, and that check is repeated on a periodic basis throughout their employment at Solebury School. Every employee receives ongoing training from the Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA), a Bucks County non-profit organization that offers training in preventing and responding to abuse allegations. Solebury’s entire staff is trained to be mandated reporters, who are required by law to report suspicions of child abuse. The school also holds information sessions with students and parents about healthy relationships. “Solebury has been very proactive rather than reactive,” said Mandy

Mundy, the director of education and training at NOVA. “The policies, training of staff, parents and youth – each are protective factors that are setting the stage for long-term safety of students.” Solebury School’s longstanding relationship with NOVA has helped the staff at the school become more informed, educated and aware. “What Solebury has done is very intentional,” said Mundy. “They are creating an environment and a culture where people know what is acceptable and not acceptable. The trainings we do help the staff understand clearly the policies and procedures, and empower adults to look out for signs and symptoms and learn how to respond correctly.” Taking proactive measures and bringing awareness to the issue of sexual assault is not unique to Solebury School. Many schools are shining a new and vital light on this topic. In fact, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), a non-profit organization that conducts research on and offers guidance to private schools, chose to focus on the topic of preventing sexual abuse in their 2014-2015 Trendbook. “Every year, we select the issues that are most likely for schools to encounter in the coming year,” said Myra McGovern, the interim vice president of media at NAIS and one of the authors of this year’s Trendbook entitled “The Child Safety Outlook.” McGovern said that after the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal at Penn

State University emerged several years ago, the ensuing media attention prompted many schools to examine their own policies, and also triggered some allegations of historical sexual abuse. “We have had more schools contacting us with reports of cases that have reemerged after many decades,” said McGovern. “Because of what happened with Mr. Sandusky, it made some victims from the past realize, ‘I’m not alone and this is okay to talk about.’ There are so many historical allegations coming out now in schools of all types. We want to focus more attention on the subject.” McGovern said the NAIS recommends training for school communities and encourages awareness and transparency. “These are very tough conversations to have, especially in schools,” she said. “No one wants to think that they ever did not protect students, but transparency and discussing these issues as much as possible helps and will help reduce the number of students who ever have to experience it again.” That kind of openness and awareness is exactly the kind of environment Solebury School hopes to foster through discussions, training sessions and candid conversations. “I am as confident as I can be that we are doing everything we can to create a safe environment,” notes Wilschutz. “And if there are practices out there that are evolving that reflect best practices, we will incorporate them as well.”

Go to http://www.solebury.org/feedback/index.aspx with any questions or to request more information on Solebury School’s safety practices. 4

Three Seniors Earn

National Scholar Recognition Solebury School is pleased to announce that senior Lucas Santiago ’15 of Pipersville, PA has been named a National Hispanic Scholar. The College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) identifies academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students. Each year, the NHRP honors about 5,000 of the highest-scoring students from over 250,000 Hispanic/Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT. These students are from the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands, as well as U.S. citizens attending schools abroad. Approximately 200 of the top-scoring PAA™ students from Puerto Rico are also included. “The faculty of the Foreign Language Department are so proud of Lucas’ accomplishments, and especially the achievement of being named a National Hispanic Scholar,” said Helen Matthews, Head of Foreign Language. “His hard work, dedication, and cultural perspective add a lot to our community and enrich our language classes.” Lucas Santiago ’15

Congratulations to Abigail Mott ’15 of Ringoes, NJ for being named a Finalist in the 2015 Competition for National Merit Scholarships. In February, the National Merit Scholarship Program determined which of the 16,000 Semifinalists named in September 2014 have met all requirements to advance to Finalist standing in the competition. All Finalists will be considered for National Merit Scholarships to be offered in 2015. The selection of some 8,000 Merit Scholarship winners from the group of 16,000 will be announced this spring.

(continued on page 10)

Abby Mott ’15 with Tim Gallen, Director of College Counseling 5

Senior Wins Local

Chamber’s Young Citizens Award One of Stasia Babicki’s ’15 goals in life is to make the world a better place. Stasia is passionate about the enviStasia Babicki ’15 ronment and has earned that passion more than 500 translates to achours of community tion. She has service. recycled every material she can throughout her life. She has not purchased anything new in the past two years, opting to recycle and reuse. She buys her clothes and electronics second-hand, and makes donations of her possessions to charitable groups whenever she receives something new as a gift. With over 500 hours of community service amassed while working on projects to help the environment, it’s clear why Stasia was nominated and won the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce’s Young Citizens Award. The Young Citizens Awards recognize citizens, 20 years or younger, who have been nominated by the community for demonstration of exceptional commitment to the principles of good citizenship and community involvement. Stasia, along with nine other winners, was honored at an awards luncheon in November at The Waterwheel in Doylestown, PA. Stasia has been one of the cornerstones of Teach2Serve, an entrepreneurship program for high school students for which Solebury was a pilot school. Through Teach2Serve, students work with leaders in the not-

for-profit industry, learn the fundamentals of fundraising and service and put both into action. Each student’s experience in Teach2Serve culminates in a capstone project in developing a sustainable not-for-profit to help make the world a better place. For Stasia, her capstone project focused on restoring endangered keystone trees in La Concha, Nicaragua, where she has traveled on two community service trips and on her own during spring break. While there, she observed that many species have disappeared because most of these native trees have been cut down. She is devising a program educating the local population about the importance of biodiversity and protecting these trees and then compensating landowners to plant and take care of the trees. Ulti-

mately, she hopes to buy land for a tree preserve and also run an organic farm that would provide a diverse diet and jobs for the local population. Last May, she presented her project as a TEDx conference on our campus. Stasia returned to Nicaragua this past summer, spending four weeks at La Mariposa, the Spanish School and Eco-hotel, and helped to create a wetland by digging out and lining a stream and two ponds. Stasia plans to return to Nicaragua again this spring to check on the wetland she created. Here at Solebury, Stasia is a co-president of Solebury’s Environmental Club (SEAC), and this year, the club is planning environmentally friendly activities around campus. One that will include – yes - you guessed right…planting trees.

Stasia Babicki ’15 (second from left), with Head of School Tom Wilschutz, Teach2Serve Director Diane Downs, and her parents, Paul and Laurie Babicki. 6

One of several #LOVEsoleburyschool campaign banners.

Social Media Campaign On February 16, 17 and 18, Solebury School launched its first ever social media campaign – #LOVEsoleburyschool, a 72hour challenge for alumni, current students, current parents, and faculty to support scholarships through Solebury’s Annual Fund. Our constituents answered the call by “liking,” “following,” and “sharing” the school’s social media pages that include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Some LOVE(d)soleburyschool by making a gift those gifts were matched by an anonymous donor, resulting in more than $12,000 raised for Solebury. This was a great team effort. Students and staff posed with #LOVEsoleburyschool posters for photos and a few made videos to support the cause and help build awareness about the school over social media.

Students and staff were asked to write down “what they loved about Solebury School.” The sticky notes were posted in a giant heart painted on the dining hall window.

From left: Foreign Language Dept. Head Helen Matthews, Marta Hooijberg ’16 and Counselor Julie Laing show their support for the #LOVEsoleburyschool social media campaign.

For more information about the campaign, visit http://www.solebury.org/giving/lovesoleburyschool/index.aspx 7

Discover Spart

SpartanBuilders advisor Dan Perez works with Afrah Boateng ’16.

The average person might peer inside the small box that sits on a shelf in Solebury School’s science office and see junk – short rods of PVC pipe, various rolls of electrical tape, wire, two pool noodles in a particularly vibrant shade of pink and three mini motors about the size of spools of thread. When Gabe Kass ’15 looks inside the box, he sees the makings of an underwater robot. That’s the difference between SpartanBuilders and the rest of us. A SpartanBuilder looks inside a shoebox full of

what looks like random items from a disorganized basement and sees possibility. Kass is the student president of SpartanBuilders, a new engineering club for students at Solebury School led by the school’s new chemistry teacher, Dan Perez. Perez started the club to expand the school’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum. “The idea behind SpartanBuilders is to introduce and reinforce STEM principles,” said Perez. “I don’t want to just teach chemistry. I want to lead the students to design their

own products using chemistry and other fields of engineering.” So far this year, the SpartanBuilders have hosted a paper airplane activity that explored aerodynamics, joined the global movement, Hour of Code, to promote computer science and coding, and attended a lecture at Princeton University about animatronics. Now the group is working on using that mysterious Science office box to design an underwater robot to compete in the Sea Perch Challenge at Drexel University in April. As part of

rtanBuilders the competition, students must design and create a robot that can travel underwater, go through a hula-hoop obstacle course, and simulate the detection and retrieval of a black box device. Perez said that SpartanBuilders’ projects combine elements of technology, science, engineering and design. He sees the club as an innovative way to show students how arts and sciences work together. “The arts education is very strong at Solebury,” said Perez. “So this fits right into our strength as a creative school. It’s a forum for students to do projects that combine design along with engineering principles. It’s a STEM concept, now called STEAM, including the arts.” Cari Nelson, Chair of Solebury School’s Science Department, agrees that SpartanBuilders dovetails seamlessly with the goals of the Science Department. “We have always emphasized inquiry-based learning and being very hands-on in classes,” said Nelson. “As we evaluated the direction in which the Science Department was heading, we wanted to incorporate STEM into our curriculum and have it be more visible.” (continued on page 10)

When a snow day closure was called one frigid morning in February, Dan Perez, like many people in the Solebury School community, was psyched, but not for the obvious reasons. “Because of the snow day, I got to go to a lecture on nuclear engineering,” he said, his face cracking into a wide, twinkly-eyed grin. That’s right. Perez, Solebury School’s new chemistry teacher, was jazzed up to drive down to Philadelphia in the snow to attend a science lecture. Dan Perez That’s the kind of teacher he is. That’s the kind of guy he is. Perez teaches Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Chemistry in the Community, runs the Chemistry labs, and started a new engineering club for students called SpartanBuilders. His teaching philosophy is built around one three-letter word: a-n-d. That means a broad, comprehensive, hands-on approach to learning. “It’s very important to do basic problems from the textbook, but also apply them in a practical way,” said Perez. “Equal weight should be given. If you’re just learning from a book, but you can’t figure out how to put the ingredients in the beaker, you’re not learning. It’s an ‘and’ mentality.” Perez joined the staff at Solebury School last year. Originally from Philadelphia, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in material science and engineering and went on to work at several companies, making computer chips for cell-phones and night vision cameras. He attended graduate school at Pennsylvania State University to study material sciences, and then moved along with Jen, his wife and veteran math teacher at Solebury School, into Solebury’s boys dorm for several years. Perez brings a genuine passion to his teaching. Every day, he shares his infectious enthusiasm with his students, encouraging them to get involved in science in an interactive way. “Actually doing it themselves teaches students the ability to ask questions and to think,” said Perez. “That’s something I try to emphasize. If you’re just getting by and following the cookbook procedure, you’re not thinking about it.”

SpartanBuilders continued from page 9 This spring, the SpartanBuilders will be busy creating their underwater robot and working on another project called Makelangelo – building a robot that can draw. Perez also hopes to take his club to visit the NextFab workspace in Philadelphia, where artists, inventors, engineers and entrepreneurs gather to build and innovate. Looking ahead, Solebury School is exploring engi-

neering electives as part of the academic curriculum. In the meantime, SpartanBuilders satisfies the needs of students who like to think, create, design and invent. “Since a very young age, I’ve always liked tinkering with things, so I’m very much enjoying my time with SpartanBuilders.” said Kass. “I think it makes Solebury a better school.”

And as for that shoebox full of junk that Kass and his fellow SpartanBuilders must transform into a competitive underwater robot by April? The SpartanBuilders are ready. “It seems very doable,” said Kass with confidence. “I personally believe we can win.”

National Scholar Recognition continued from page 5 Kudos also go to Ben Gabinet ’15 of Providence, RI for having been named a Commended Student in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students test in the top three percent of PSAT scores.

Ben Gabinet ’15

An Unfinished Journey continued from page 3 reviewing our policies and protocols to ensure that the Solebury School of 2015 has established procedures that can be considered best practice for schools (see page 4). These documents were reviewed, first by us, then by our colleagues at NOVA (Network of Victim Assistance), then by two child abuse professionals who are attorneys with the Pepper Hamilton law firm, and finally, once again by NOVA. As you will read, Solebury goes above and beyond what the law requires, as we attempt to do everything within our power to ensure the school is a safe place for all students. And we have remained current, most recently receiving training from NOVA on the significant changes in Pennsylvania law regarding mandated reporting responsibilities for those who work with children. As the title of this article suggests, our journey through this moment is unfinished. We knew last spring and summer that with our decision to acknowledge and accept this part of our history in an open and forthcoming manner, that we did not know what would come next. Every action we have taken has been measured against our goals of supporting the victims and survivors of sexual abuse, remaining open and forthcoming throughout this process, and caring for the Solebury School community. I cannot change the past but I can affect the present. And, I can chart a future path that seeks to never betray the trust our students place in the adults who teach them. Solebury School may face more difficult moments as this process continues to unfold. I am confident we are strong enough to weather whatever comes our way, and equally confident that Solebury School will be a better, stronger and healthier community for all of its members, past and present, for acknowledging and accepting this part of our past. And what an important lesson for our students, to see that consequences follow actions, even if some of those actions date to more than half a century ago. Institutions, like individuals, are the sum total of all their experiences, good and bad. On many occasions I have said what I believe to be a simple truth: healthy institutions must own all of their history, not just the shining moments. Based on the supportive feedback Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received from many of you, that sentiment is a shared one. I welcome your continued support of Solebury School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as well as your constructive suggestions for improvement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and I am always here to listen as we make our journey together.

Many M

Coach Cleve Christie huddles with his players during a game against the Coral Academy of Science.

Basketball Coach Cleve Christie’s career at Solebury School began with a dream. Give young men and women an opportunity to attend a small independent school that offers a top-notch education, nurtures them as human beings and gives them the chance to showcase their athletic skills through basketball. Thirty years later, Christie’s dream has surpassed his expectations with more than 100 students who have participated in a competitive basketball program that has topped 450 wins under his leadership. “Coach Cleve Christie is an asset to Solebury School in so many ways,” said Rob Eichem, Solebury’s Athletic Director. “On the

court, Cleve has amassed more than 465 career wins over 32 seasons. He has a .593 career winning percentage, coached seven 1000point scorers, and helped many young men realize their dream to play basketball at the next level.” Christie’s desire to build community and nurture talent was strengthened early in his career when he served as Director of Community Service with the Trenton Housing Authority and as coach and founder of the first athletic program for public housing. Cleve retired from the Housing Authority in 2012 but continued to work with talented athletes. With Christie’s knowledge of basketball and his mantra of good

sportsmanship, athletic and academic excellence resounding in every team he leads, it’s no wonder he’s had this kind of success. “I tell my players that being able to put the basketball in the hole does not make you special,” said Cleve. “What makes you special is to be able to go into the classroom and excel, walk around the campus and socially be one of the best, and then put the ball in the basket. With those three qualities, you become someone special on and off the court.” In the eyes of Malcolm Ingram ’10, Cleve Christie is a legend. Malcolm amassed 1,015 points in just two seasons with Solebury and then went on to

y Milestones for Coach Christie score 1,768 career points at Philadelphia University, ranking as their #9 all-time leading scorer. It doesn’t stop on the court for Malcolm as he earned a Fulbright Scholarship in his senior year at college and he currently attends law school. “He is always available when you need him regardless of the hour. During my time at Solebury he challenged me to work harder and more efficiently than I ever had. I will forever be indebted to him.” Justin Berger ’16 has played basketball for three years, earning 615 career points. He averages 9.9 points/game for his career and has made 141 three-pointers. “Coach Cleve has been a huge influence on me,” said Justin. “He has encouraged me and helped me keep working hard in everything I do. He has also helped me realize my potential and we are in the process of reaching it. He has done so much for me and I don’t know where I would be without him.” “On and off the court, Cleve has been a mentor and role model. He has been the catalyst for countless many young men and women to attend Solebury, not only to play basketball but to get an education that has served them long after their playing days are over.” summarizes Eichem. Coach Cleve finds each player’s strength and helps them become well-rounded athletes.

A New Look for Thanks to the generosity of many Solebury families, alumni and friends, the campus has seen many wonderful changes over the last few months. A completely renovated Carriage House is about to become the new home for the Advancement, Communications and College Counseling offices. While much is new in this space, care was taken to preserve the original wood ceiling beams and brick walls.

Carriage House Conference Room features preserved fireplace and wood beam ceilings.

Carriage house has been completely renewed inside with new flooring and fresh paint.

The Carriage House exterior. 14

Solebury School

Spartan Logo painted on center court.

Thanks to the Class of 2014, we now have our first hydration station installed in the John D. Brown Athletic Center hallway. This station allows the community to refill water bottles and helps get us a step closer to being a plastic water bottle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; free school. You will also find the new Spartan athletic logo featured at center court.

The Hydration Station donated by the Class of 2014. 15

A New Look for Solebury School continued The Barn Theater The Barnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s black box theater has been transformed both within the theater and the quiet lounge, just outside of the theater. The theater building exterior received a lobby face lift with new doors, new energy-efficient windows, and a fresh coat of red paint. The lounge now has two new bathrooms and is completely updated with new floors, walls, and new comfortable furniture for our students to relax and enjoy.

The Quiet Lounge lobby.

Theater seating is retractable to make room for set building and rehearsals.

The Barn Theater - After.

The exterior space near the theater received landscaping. 16

The Art Room.

The Visual Arts Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large art room received some extra care with a new floor, new art tables, storage, sinks and more. The exterior of the art room is now sheltered, protecting the entrance from the elements and highlighting its location on campus.

New Visual Arts Center Awning. 17

Alumni in Service

Alexis (Davis) Thom ’09

When Alexis (Davis) Thom ’09 lived at Solebury School, the spirited dorm proctor, Diversity Club president, peer leader and Community Council copresident could not have predicted that she would end up in a small mountain town in Morocco providing services to youth in need. Yet looking back, it seems clear to her that her experiences at Solebury School led her to where she is today. “I know it sounds corny, but I really do attribute almost all of my drive to Solebury,” wrote Thom in an email from Dar Chebab, Morocco, where she will spend the next 27 months in the Peace Corps. “The people that I met at Solebury helped me figure out who I am, and it was the relationships I built with the whole community that led me down this path.” Thom is just one of many students who have graduated from Solebury School and pursued careers in public service and non-profits. The school has a longtime commitment to service, of-

fering students varied opportunities to random table and take a trip to D.C. volunteer, making social entrepreneurSolebury was a welcoming space to exship classes an academic option, and re- plore my interests. It was a supportive quiring service hours for graduation. space that definitely led the way to Students have demonstrated their dedi- what I do now.” cation to service in countless ways, inMandel now works for Project Ten, a cluding traveling to Washington, D.C. social justice organization that runs to protest the Iraq War, raising money service learning programs around the for AIDS orphans in Africa, and travel- world. Mandel said she enjoys introing to Staten Island to help victims of ducing others to service opportunities. Hurricane Sandy. “The most gratifying thing is watch“I think the fact that we are a school ing how these learning travel experithat values diversity and helps students ences are transformative for young learn to see who others are as people in- adults,” she said. “Being able to facilifluences them to pursue jobs in public tate that transformation has been inservice,” said Diane Downs, Chair of credibly rewarding. I feel like I’m the English Department and spreading that hunger to do service. I Teach2Serve, Solebury’s social entrepre- love what I do.” neurship program. “I also think that we Other alumni who work in public foster an environment where many stu- service seem to share this passion for dents come to believe that they can efwhat they do. Yoav Peck ’64 has lived fect positive change.” the last 43 years in Israel working for Indeed, some alumni say that their peace organizations. He currently service experiences at Solebury School works with Sulha (the Arabic word for sparked an interest that lasted. Alex reconciliation), an organization whose Mandel ’08 recalled how she launched goal is to bring Israelis and Palestinians a campaign to help stop the genocide together to talk, connect, and listen. in Darfur when she was at Solebury. She set up an information table in the dining hall and took a school trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a rally. “Solebury gave me the space to do that,” said Mandel. “It was not a given that I would be allowed to set up a Zeke Jenei ’07 works with the Mural Arts Program, providing arts education to underprivileged students through large scale mural projects.

Here, Alex Mandel ’08 (far right) with a group of village women in a village outside Jaipue, Rejasthon, India.

Peck said he feels gratified by his work and recalled when two 19-yearold young men, one Israeli and one Palestinian, exchanged a hug. “The human connection gives hope that one day, sooner or later, we have to cooperate with each other before more blood is spilled,” he said. “That’s just a glance at what can happen when two people talk to each other.” Peck said he grew up in a family that valued community service, but that Solebury helped encourage him. “Not until I got to Solebury did I have a way to express my social conscience,” he said. “Solebury gave me an expression. I felt I had the wind behind me.” Other alumni who work for nonprofits said it almost happened by accident. “I needed a job, then I fell in love with it,” said Zeke Jenei ’07, who works in Philadelphia, PA, with the Mural Arts Program, providing arts education to underprivileged students though large scale mural projects. Jenei said he looks back on his time at Solebury as almost a utopia, and sees his

work as a way to bring that kind of utopia to diverse communities in Philadelphia. “It is important for everyone to understand how to think, learn, and create for their communities,” he said. “Giving people their communities back is why I love what I do now.” Solebury alumni who have pursued careers in public service and non-profits champion many different causes. Yet they all agree that the work is rewarding. For Thom, whose journey after graduation took her to many volunteer opportunities – to President Obama’s

2012 reelection campaign, to Americorps VISTA to train middle school mentors, and finally to the Peace Corps in Morocco – her experiences have made her feel appreciative. For her, giving led to gratefulness. “I’m inspired by the people in my life,” said Thom. “I’ve been given tremendous opportunities throughout my life and I feel like every time I can help another person, it’s a quiet ‘thank you’ to everyone that was there for me.”

Yoav Peck ’64 has lived the last 43 years in Israel working for peace organizations.

Solebury Alumni – Are you making a difference in the world through nonprofit work? Have a career in education? Help to create, define or uphold the law of the land? Are you an artist, poet, actor? How did Solebury help you prepare for the career you love? Let us know at alumni@solebury.org. 19

Alma’s Update Winter 2015 HOLMQUIST SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 1917-1949 No news submitted. SOLEBURY SCHOOL FOR BOYS 1925-1949 No news submitted. SOLEBURY SCHOOL 1950 TO PRESENT Class of 1950 Benjamin LaFarge wrote The Logic of Wish and Fear: New Perspectives on Genres of Western Fiction. This is his first book and was published by Palgrave Macmillan. Erica Child Prud'homme’s 8th solo show at Blue Mountain Gallery in New York City will showcase her watercolors which focus on details of nature during the annual cycle of Earth around Sun. Erica studied at the Art Students’ League and learned much by working with curators at The American Museum of Natural History as an exhibition designer. She also studied with Anna Walinska and Leigh Hyams and learned some of the basics from her artist father and his brother, Charles and Paul Child.

watercolor, Winter Afternoon Class of 1951 Ray Fogelson retired as Professor Emeritus in Anthropology at the University of Chicago. He now spends half the year in the North Georgia Mountains and the other half in Chicago. Class of 1958 Bob Stockton’s Stories from the US Navy: I A Suicide in the Mediterranean, the first of

his three Navy-themed novellas, is now available from Amazon. Class of 1959 Mira Nakashima reports that the Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia recently awarded the Cultural Ambassador Award to George Nakashima Woodworkers, S.A. Class of 1961 Sandra Mason Coggeshall recently spent three years studying classical painting with Ron Frontin and completed her first book, An Island for Sam, which is a coloring book about her daughter’s pony arriving on Monhegan Island, Maine.

Class of 1968 Robby Kenner has made a new documentary film, Merchant of Doubt. The film was inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway. The film is about professionals who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities yet have the contrary aim of spreading maximum confusion about well-studied public threats ranging from toxic chemicals to pharmaceuticals to climate change. Class of 1971 Mark Laporta recently published a book titled, Heart of Earth (The Changing Hearts of Ixdahan Daherek #1). This is a young adult science fiction novel centered on a group of teenagers doing their best to save Earth from invading aliens. Class of 1973 Laurie Rosenwald was recently a guest speaker on episode 42 of The Busy Creator Podcast. The conversation focuses on her origins in the creative fields, her working style, and her new workshops.

Class of 1962 Katherine (Kakie Siebel) Kunhiraman, and her late husband Kunhiraman, received the Malonga Casquelourd Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. The picture is of her and her husband from the 1978 festival. Kakie runs the dance school and teaches most of the classes. She spends two months a year in India and credits joining Solebury’s drama club in 1959 for her love of dance and music.

Class of 1982 Gabrielle Hamilton is the bestselling author of Blood, Bones & Butter. Last November she published her eagerly anticipated cookbook, Prune. It is filled with signature recipes from her celebrated New York City restaurant of the same name.

Class of 1963 John Funk is still practicing law in New Hampshire but planning to retire to Portland, Maine. He trekked in the Sikkim region in India last spring and had a great experience.

Rev. Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn started a new job at the Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Pennsylvania. Julie-Ann would love to hear from folks and is happy to have reconnected with some people via Facebook.

Class of 1977 Rachel Simon’s first literary book, Little Nightmares, Little Dreams was re-released as an e-book. The collection includes four new stories as well as a new introduction describing how Rachel became known in the literary world.

Class of 1983 Fern Brodkin wrote an online article about US Rails, a band which features Joe Parsons ’81. US Rails, despite the band’s name, is known predominately in Europe. Class of 1991 Todd Robinson and Jemel Buck both coach the Coral Academy basketball team (Las Vegas, Nevada). Their team travelled to New Hope and competed against Solebury’s basketball team this winter season. Todd’s son and Jemel’s son are players for Coral Academy. Josh Wick has produced two films which have played in some big film festivals this year. Wendell and the Lemon, directed by Lawrence Krauser, just played at Slamdance and Out of My Hand, directed by Takeshi Fukunaga, had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Class of 1992 Renee Bostic is the first female Athletic Director at Medgar Evers College. Renee is an active member of the Women’s Basketball Coaching Association, Black Coaches and Administrators Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Before arriving at Medgar Evers, she took over at the West Virginia State University Women’s Basketball program. Her tenure at WVSU was highlighted by posting consecutive winning seasons which was the first time in 26 years for the Yellow Jackets. Class of 1993 Allegra Sleep is the Director of Taos Artisans Gallery in Taos, New Mexico. The gallery was renovated last November with a grand reopening in December. Allegra is also showing work in Albuquerque at Park Fine Art. Jennifer Tilden was recently promoted to the Director of Business Development/ District Office Assistant District Director for the State of Georgia. She lives in North Druid Hills, Georgia. Matt Wahrhaftig was recently appointed as the Vice President for College Advancement at Wilmington College. Matt re-

turned to his college alma mater to head up the fundraising activities and manages their $21 million dollar capital campaign, the largest in school history. In addition to this appointment in December, Matt earned his MBA in Strategic Leadership from Ohio University. He lives in Kettering, Ohio with his wife of 21 years, Shannon, and two their daughters, Bailey (18) and Maya (15). Class of 1995 Shaughnessy Naughton ran for U.S. Congress in the Democratic primary and despite being outspent 2:1 came up just a couple of hundred votes short. She intends to run again for the nomination in 2016. Class of 2005 Allison Stoklosa finished her Master’s in Forestry from Mississippi State and is working as a staff scientist at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.

Class of 2007 Paige Stewart, and her yellow lab Koni, competed in the DockDogs competition last November. Koni competed in three events, Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve at the 2014 Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland. Class of 2008 Alex Mandel has been promoted to Marketing and Recruitment Manager for North America for Project TEN. She is based out of Oakland, California. She was working in India with Project TEN, the Jewish Agency’s social justice service-learning program, where she designed and taught the curriculum and helped manage daily operations. She recently returned from a trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe where she petted lion cubs.

Inga Noll is finishing her master thesis and will start working as a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Textile Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. This summer she plans to compete in her first triathlon. Class of 2010 EJ Lewis is coaching basketball at Penn State Abington. EJ graduated from Oberlin College where he played for four years and was a co-captain and starting point guard for both his junior and senior seasons. Rachel Tafoya and her father taught a sixweek course on writing the young adult novel. The class covered how to write memorable characters, realistic dialogue, the importance of place, point of view, and the conventions and themes of Young Adult fiction. Rachel recently published her first book, Night House, a vampirethemed Young Adult book.

Class of 2011 Blake Bozeman was recently named to the 2015 Allstate and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Good Works Team, an honor that goes to a select group of basketball student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service. Blake is a senior at Morgan State University, leads his team in scoring, and made the All-Tournament Team at the Cancun Challenge last November. Sam Faulkner is a Nationally Certified Emergency Medical Technician for the American Medical Response Company. Class of 2014 Julie Meisinger-MacDonald is an outside hitter for the Widener University Volleyball team. Julie majors in engineering.

Marci participated in Cheerleading, Yearbook, Dance and Drama.

BIRTHS

Clover Stieve has a great new album out called Beginning. Clover is a freshman at Bard College. WEDDINGS

Katie Kuhl-Adorno ’02 was married to Adrian Adorno on November 20 at the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office. They celebrated their marriage with family and friends at the Trenton Country Club. In attendance were Solebury alumni Duncan Niederer ’95, Alicia Haines Davis ’02, former faculty Mae Sakharov and Board member Barbara Fordyce. Dara Gross ’07 married Jonathan Napoli on October 12, 2014.

Christina Sinclair Brigdon had a baby boy born on November 25th, 2014. Henry Kye Brigdon weighed in at 7 lbs. 3 oz. Ali Ludington and Tim Rosenblum are the new parents to Winifred Ludington Rosenblum born February 7th at 3:49 pm, weighing in at 7.1 lbs.

Tom and Rebecca Wilschutz welcome their newest grandson, Layne Asher Vagefi, born on February 21, 2015. Tom reports he is a good sleeper. DEATHS Judith B. Lippa ’65 9/21/1948 – 8/20/2013 Judith passed away after a brief illness. She shared life with her partner, Florence, for 30 years. Judith grew up in Dumont and Loveladies Harbor, New Jersey. She earned her MSW at NYU and practiced clinical social work for 35 years. She later moved to Green Valley, Arizona where she loved the mountains, big sky, and peace and quiet of the desert. She also loved horseback riding and her rescue dog, Chia. Marci MacNeur ’68 3/15/1950 - 10/23/2014 Marci passed away unexpectedly at her home. Marci’s wishes were to have no formal funeral service. While at Solebury,

Fred Pickett, Jr. ’72 11/8/1953 10/29/2014 Fred Pickett, a longtime boys’ basketball coach at Chester High, died after a battle with cancer. Leading the Chester Clippers from 1995 to 2008, Pickett compiled a record of 331-80, earned eight Class AAAA championships, and won three state titles. Fred first became involved with Chester basketball in 1979 as a volunteer assistant coach. In 2007-08, Pickett’s final season, Chester went 33-1, won the District 1 championship, and claimed the state crown. Frederick Riley ’58 4/18/1937 - 6/5/2014 Fred passed away peacefully at a Hospice Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. Fred had worked in sales with Bethlehem Steel in Pennsylvania and Illinois for over 23 years before retiring in 1981. He then went on to work for Western & Southern Insurance in Valparaiso. Fred was a member of the Valparaiso Nazarene Church, an avid New York Yankees and Giants fan, was very keen on current events. John A. Silver ’58 1/3/1939 - 9/25/2014 John Archer Silver of Morganton, North Carolina, passed away following a period of declining health. After graduating from college, John pursued a career in insurance and real estate in California. He later became a farrier. John enjoyed traveling and being with his dogs.

Important Information Please check out Solebury’s website www.solebury.org. On this site you can send class notes, update your contact information, register for reunions, make a gift to Solebury, and more. You can stay connected to Solebury via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, RSS Feeds, Flickr, and YouTube. Please join us. You can find us via the website.

Reunion Weekend 2015 Schedule of Events visit www.solebury.org to register

FRIDAY, MAY 1 3:00-4:00 pm Registration, Carriage House School memorabilia available for purchase. 4:00 pm Varsity Girls Lacrosse, vs. New Hope-Solebury School 6:00-8:00 pm Alumni Reception and BBQ, Hosted by Brett Webber ’85 30 Permanent School Rd. Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972 Entertainment by The Blue Wave Ramblers Complimentary; reservations a must. SATURDAY, MAY 2 8:30-11:30 a.m. Registration, Carriage House 9:00-10:00 am Planned Giving Breakfast, Founders Library 10:00 am Memorial Service, Alumni Memorial Garden (behind Founders Library) Rain Location, Abbe Science Building Honor the memory of alumni and friends who are recently deceased 10:45 – 12:00 State of the School, Performance Art Center Come hear Tom Wilschutz discuss the State of the School 12:00 – 1:00 Reunion Lunch and Class Photo, Boyd Dining Hall, enjoy a complimentary lunch 12:00 – 1:00 pm African-American and Hispanic Affinity networking luncheon Solebury Students and Alumni gather to network 1:00 pm Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony, John D. Brown Athletic Center 3:00-5:00 pm Alumni Burger and Beer Bash, Home of Tom & Rebecca Wilschutz, Head of School $10 per person 6:00-10:00 pm Solebury’s Annual Dinner & Auction, John D. Brown Athletic Center La Dolce Vita, The Sweet Life $75 per person, reservations required SUNDAY, MAY 3 10:00 am Farewell Brunch, Boyd Dining Hall Join your classmates for a complimentary farewell brunch

Each year, alumni gather to remember fellow alumni who passed away. Here, Head of School Tom Wilschutz welcomes alumni at last year’s Memorial Service. 23

Solebury School Athletic Hall of Fame Please join us for the induction ceremony on Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. John D. Brown Athletic Center Class of 2015 George DeSilver ’65† Melissa Hamilton ’78 Terrane S. “Terry” Polnitz ’80 Patrick Hernandez ’95 † in memoriam Courtney ’00 and Shannon Clarke ’00 took home twin trophies for their induction into the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame. Their father presented them with the awards.

Pictured here are Bill Berkeley ‘49 and Hank Brooks ‘64 holding photos of classmate Paul Prinzhorn ‘64 and his award.

La Dolce Vita, the Sweet Life This year, you can enjoy the fabulous food and fun of La Dolce Vita – the Sweet Life, complete with a wine tasting, live entertainment, a delicious dinner menu and our vibrant silent and live auctions with many great items for bid. Guests will also have the option to purchase the Premium Wine Tasting, with access to a selection of memorable premium Italian wines, including tasting notes and full pours. In addition, Premium ticket holders are welcome to arrive at the auction at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy wine, music and silent auction bidding ahead of the crowd. Solebury’s annual auction continues to be the school’s biggest fundraising event and helps fund educational programs, student activities and facility improvements. Check your mailbox for your invitation or go to solebury.org/auction to register and see a sneak peek of auction items. Want to help make the night great? There are lots of ways to be involved. For more information, go to www.solebury.org and click on Auction 2015 or contact Holly Victor, Auction Coordinator, at hollyv@solebury.org or (215) 862-5261.

Auction Special Appeal

Creating the Sycamore Patio

Soon to be the Sycamore Patio.

This year’s Special Appeal offers the opportunity for Solebury families and friends to impact one of the most used outdoor spaces on Solebury’s campus. With your support, the picnic area between the Herbert S. Boyd Dining Hall and the Main Office will be transformed into a thoughtfully designed gathering space for dining, socializing and learning. Native and woodland plantings will activate the senses and complement the installation of a permeable paver patio that reflects the beautiful natural vistas that surround it. The majestic beauty of the mature Sycamores will be retained, providing a natural canopy for students and faculty to dine outdoors or discuss literature and other topics in this outdoor classroom on sturdy, weather-resistant seating. Subtle lighting and easily accessible power sources will provide additional evening space options for student-centered performances like CribNotes or poetry readings. An open fireplace will be the highlight of the patio, providing warmth for gatherings on chilly autumn nights as well as a place for our campers to roast marshmallows for s’mores during the summer sleepover. Solebury students will influence the design of this space, with installation expected during summer 2015.

What is a Special Appeal? During the annual Dinner Auction, we seek donations to enhance a specific area or program each year. Previously, the Special Appeal has raised funding for initiatives like renovating the Crib and Visual Arts spaces. Last year’s Special Appeal was our largest ever, resulting in a transformation of the Barn’s Black Box Theater.

How can I contribute to the Special Appeal? If you attend the Auction, please donate during our Special Appeal, which will be featured during the Live Auction. If you're not able to attend, you can make a contribution by visiting the Auction section of Solebury's website. Solebury School is a 501(c)3 corporation and all Special Appeal contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you for your generous support of Solebury School!

Educational Improvement Tax Credits

for PA Businesses The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officially ratified Solebury School as a Scholarship Organization under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). What is EITC? In 2001, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made history by becoming the first state to pass an education tax credit aimed at corporations. Pennsylvania’s EITC program offers businesses an incredible opportunity to direct a portion of their state tax dollars to scholarship support at educational institutions such as Solebury School. What does this mean for my business? Participating businesses can receive a tax credit equal to 75% of its contribution to a Scholarship Organization like Solebury School, up to a maximum of $750,000 per taxable year. Of course, each company’s tax situation is different, please consult with your company’s financial advisor to determine the best strategy. What types of taxes can be offset by this credit? “S” and “C” corporations must be subject to one of the following Pennsylvania business taxes to participate: • Corporate Net Income Tax • Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax • Insurance Premiums Tax • Capital Stock Franchise Tax • Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax • Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax • Personal Income Tax of S corporation shareholders, or partners in a limited or general partnership How does my donation benefit Solebury School? Donations received from approved EITC Pennsylvania businesses benefit Solebury students in need of financial assistance in the form of scholarships. Eligible students must be school age, a resident of Pennsylvania and demonstrate financial need. How can my business participate? Pennsylvania businesses can begin applying for EITC credits through DCED’s electronic single application system at http://www.newpa.com/eitc Tax credit applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and approved until the amount of available tax credits is exhausted. Interested in partnering with Solebury School for scholarship opportunities? Contact Gail Acosta at (215) 862-5261 or gacosta@solebury.org for more details.

Last year, thanks to our generous partners, EITC funding provided scholarships to Solebury students from Pennsylvania. 27

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