Hill Ties: Summer 2012

Page 1

VOLUME 92, NUMBER 2 • SUMMER 2012

HILL TIES

ILL H Welcoming Zachary G. Lehman, TIES The Hill School’s 11th Headmaster

HILL TIES


HILL DOER

CHRISTINE “CHRISTI” E. WIEAND ’06 EDUCATION: B.A. Elon University HOMETOWN: Pottstown, Pa.; currently lives in Arlington, Va. HILL TIES: Brother, Jeffrey Wieand ’04 CAREER: Web Manager at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. FONDEST HILL MEMORIES: My dearest memories seem to have all happened at the front right corner table of the Dining Hall. Whether it was a Wednesday buffet dinner or Sunday brunch, my friends and I always ended up staying for hours telling stories, laughing at each other, and making promises that we all honor to this day.

ON HER HILL EXPERIENCE: The Hill taught me the importance of forging relationships with my teachers and mentors and just how vital those relationships are in order to succeed. I would not have survived my time at Hill without the guidance of Ms. Mather, Mr. Ralston, and Ms. Morrison. In my current role at Episcopal, I’ve found that my boarding school experience allows me to relate better with students on a deeper level. HILL VOLUNTEER EFFORTS: Class Secretary for the Class of 2006; led her class to victory in the first-ever March Madness Hill Fund tournament in 2012, increasing class participation from 5.77% to 24.36%, and raising $896.12 during the challenge; Hill Fund supporter; appointed a member of The

Hill School Alumni Association Executive Committee in June 2012. WHY SHE INVESTS IN HILL’S FUTURE: My Hill experience was so incredibly formative to the person I am today. My parents always taught me to leave a place better than when you arrived, so by investing in Hill’s future, I feel I am doing my part to pass on a Hill experience as wonderful as mine — if not better. And every bit counts — even a gift to The Hill Fund of five dollars can make a difference. Also, the gift of your time can make a meaningful impact as well. You will not regret your decision to help. Z


HILL TIES • VOLUME 92, NUMBER 2 • SUMMER 2012

2 4 4

The Headmaster’s Table Board of Trustees Hill Views

HILL STUDENTS AT THE LION GATE — PAGE 9

Bringing the community together: Jaron Lanier and Jonathan Bloom Other activities support the Pottstown Cluster Revell Awards presented to talented student writers This year’s Revell award winners My Linh Luu ’14 receives “Gold Key” for writing Celebrated historian and Stanford University professor David Kennedy visits Hill classrooms as Dougherty Fellow Students excel at national DECA competition THAIS THAT BIND: Students from Thailand share perspectives on their Hill experiences

Cresting The Hill

Getting to Know Our Headmaster

Up Close with Zachary G. Lehman

Keepers of The Hill

INTERVIEW WITH THE HEADMASTER — PAGE 10

Alumni Scrapbook: The Dougherty Farewell Tour Retirement Celebration honors David and Kay Dougherty Leadership and Career Summit David Paton, M.D. ’48 becomes 14th recipient of the Sixth Form Leadership Award Mathematics Chair and Scholarship Fund honor George Senter’s legacy... The Student Philanthropy Council: Giving is winning Three alumni SPC participants reflect on their involvement The foundation of future growth, The Hill School’s endowment Donor Docket: Kathryn W. Hauch ’05 Save the Date: The 1851 Society & The Matthew Meigs Society Recognition Dinner Hill Alumni: Get Connected

Athletics

CELEBRATING THE SENTER LEGACY — PAGE 22

ABOUT OUR COVER: Welcome to our school’s 11th headmaster: Zachary G. Lehman. Read more about Zack in a special interview with him on page 10. Z

Winter & Spring season highlights Quinn Davis ’12 breaks school record Girls’ basketball celebrates amazing season Hill takes on L’ville at the NHL Winter Classic Save the Date: Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Alumni Red Meat Dinner “Pitching” Hill baseball with facility dedication

Class Notes

4 5 6 6 7 7 7 8

9 10 13

16 16 18 20 21 22 24 25 25 27 27 27

28 28 29 29 30 30 31

32

Frank Bissell ’33 inducted into Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame 33 Tobias Wolff ’64 visits his ‘Old School’ 38 Along the fairways and in the rough with Mickey Herron ’71 of the PGA 41

Faculty and Staff Notes Retiring tributes: Henry V. Bender, Ph.D. and Donna L. Rudnick

48

Commencement 2012

50 54

In Remembrance

Remembering Judy Tuttle

49

64


Th e H ea dmaster’s Table

I am delighted to welcome you to this issue of Hill Ties! Not that long ago, during the headmaster search process, I recall combing back issues of Hill Ties for every bit of information I could find related to the School. Among other things, I discovered that The Hill differentiates itself through an unwavering commitment to a number of cherished traditions. Even though I have only been a part of The Hill community for a relatively short time, I take great pride in those traditions and pledge to do my very best to promote and celebrate them. At the same time, I believe we must mindfully reflect on ways to enrich, enhance, and evolve our customs to address the times in which we live. Seated meals are central to “The Family Boarding School” experience at The Hill School. Given the fact that headmaster John Meigs and his wife had five children of their own, it comes as no surprise that Meigs first instituted family-style meals for faculty and students at Hill during his tenure from 1876-1911. Although there have been changes to the format, schedule, and frequency of seated meals at Hill, the purpose and impact of this tradition endures. Just last year, 538 Hill students and faculty members enjoyed a total of 195 seated meals.

“Although there have been changes to the format, schedule, and frequency of seated meals at Hill, the purpose and impact of this tradition endures.” — HEADMASTER ZACHARY G. LEHMAN

Some time after Headmaster Dwight Meigs constructed our legendary Dining Hall in 1914, the “Headmaster’s Table” came to exist and was first located on the south end of the Dining Room, facing out to provide an unobstructed view of the entire room. When enrollment expanded, the Headmaster’s Table was moved to the raised alcove that was added to the Dining Hall in the early 1960s. For the last 40 years, my predecessors, Chuck Watson and David Dougherty, have used the Headmaster’s Table as an opportunity to connect daily with student government leaders, sixth form students, and special visitors to the School. In addition to developing the leadership skills and intellect of hundreds of Hill students who enjoyed one of the 12 seats at this table, Mr. Watson and Mr. Dougherty welcomed luminaries such as acclaimed author Tobias Wolff ’64, former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker ’48, and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone ’64, to name just a few. As I begin my tenure at The Hill, I intend for the Headmaster’s Table to remain a node for communication between Hill students, the School’s faculty, and our guests. I am, however, hopeful to expand the reach of the Headmaster’s Table in a number of ways. First, I invite you to share your questions and thoughts for discussion at the table with me by

2

H E ADMASTER S MES S AGE

email at zlehman@thehill.org.


UE

AT

TR

WH SO

EV

R ER THINGS A

E

THE HILL SCHOOL POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUME 92 • NO. 2 Summer 2012

Second, I will devote this space in Hill

Ties and my headmaster’s blog to keep you

current on the “table talk.” Lastly, if you find yourself in Pottstown looking for a stimulating conversation over a

family-style meal, please do not hesitate to invite yourself to dine with us!

Please join me, Amy, and our children in wishing our students, faculty, and staff all the best as The Hill begins its 162nd year of rigorous academic preparation, building character, and honoring our traditions. Warm regards,

Zachary G. Lehman, Headmaster Follow Zack’s blog “whatsoever things are...” at http://whatsoeverthingsare.org and on Twitter @zacklehman

Hill Ties is published bi-annually. Issues are mailed free of charge. Hill Ties strives to instill enthusiasm about life at The Hill and encourage constituents to be engaged with the School on many levels, ensuring The Hill’s continued success in providing an excellent, character-building educational experience for our students. The Hill School admits young men and women of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin. The Hill School does not discriminate against any person in admission or employment because of these considerations. The School also adheres to existing state and federal law and regulations regarding disability, sex, and age. EDITORIAL BOARD

Zachary G. Lehman, Headmaster Cathy L. Skitko, Director of Communications Denise A. Spatarella, Hill Ties Editor Jennifer L. Bechtel, Website Editor Nathaniel T. Yinger ’05, Assistant Director of Communications Thomas Eccleston IV ’87, Assistant Headmaster for Admission and External Affairs Christian P. Sockel, J.D., Director of Advancement and Capital Giving John Dollhopf, Interim Dean of Academics Henry V. Bender, Ph.D., Elizabeth B. Blossom Chair of Humanities Emeritus David B. Allain, Dean of Students Amanda T. Dougherty, Associate Director of Admission Anthony Reid ’75, Director of the Humphrey Family Writing Center Mark Nelson, Instructor of Science Bill Robertson ’92, Director of Alumni Relations PHOTOGRAPHY

Jen Lebo Photography, Charles L. Garrettson Ph.D. ’71, C.C.F. Gachet ’81, Dan Devine Photography and alumni, parents, and friends DESIGN

circle S studio Send address changes to The Hill School

717 East High St., Pottstown, PA 19464-5791 www.thehill.org ©2011, THE HILL SCHOOL.

Please recycle our publication.

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

3


BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2012

Thomas McN. Millhiser ‘67, Chairman Preston G. Athey ‘67, Vice Chairman Jay S. Berman ‘59, P ‘85, ‘87, GP ‘11, ‘13 Douglas J. Bouquard III ‘00 Walter L. Boyer ‘74 Omar A.S. Brown ‘86 D. Scott Detar, Jr. ‘97 H. Landis Gabel, Ph.D. ‘61 Keith B. Geeslin ‘71, P ‘10 Michelle A. Gyves ‘02 Peter G. Humphrey ‘72, P ‘02 George O. Knapp III ‘59, P ‘84, ‘85, GP ‘13 David K. Leinbach Hans S. Maentz ’89 Jeanne G. McAnaney P ‘87 James P. O’Mealia ‘76, P ‘03, ‘07, ‘08, ‘11 Sung Bin Park ‘86 John Pflieger, Jr. ‘77, P ‘07 Geoffrey A. Richards ‘88 Elizabeth B. Rufe P ‘06, ‘08 Andrew D. Soussloff ‘71 Eric F. Trump ‘02 Marshall F. Wallach ‘61 Daniel W. Whalen ’75, P ‘06, ‘08

BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER: Jaron Lanier and Jonathan Bloom On Thursday, February 16, Jaron Lanier, named one of Time magazine’s “100 most influential people” in 2010, spoke to Hill students, faculty, and community guests in a free-flowing presentation that touched upon world history, human rights, and contemporary culture – all with an emphasis on the impact of technology on the lives of ordinary people. He urged the audience not to be passive about their use of online networks, and encouraged people to be cautious about sharing information online. A few of the historical observations he shared involved Karl Marx, whose career included writing about the technology of the day and who first raised concerns about what would happen to society when machines became

so good at achieving key tasks that people could, in some cases, become obsolete. Lanier also referenced a short story, “The Machine Stops,” written by E.M. Forster in 1907, which in many ways describes the Internet as we know it today, including Facebook and its social networking phenomenon. Lanier urged the audience not to be afraid to be different, whether that “difference” involves being a “nerd,” or having the fortitude to defy social pressures. He concluded his talk by complimenting the Hill students, with whom he had met throughout the day. “Watching you makes me feel very optimistic,” he said.

Honorary Trustees James H. Claypool ‘40 Junius T. Moore, Jr. ‘41, P ‘71 Everette C. Sherrill ‘60 Charles A. Frank III ‘59, P ‘88, ‘90 Alumni Association Executive Committee Duncan S. Banfield ‘91, President William J. Robertson ‘92, Secretary, Treasurer, ex-officio\ Bernard Chan ’83 Kent W. Davis III ’79 Catherine J. Detering ’04 Kathryn W. Hauch ’05 Paul S. Lee ’91 Ward S. McNally ’90 Justin W. Newton ’91 James L. Spencer IV ’84 Donald J. Stewart ’94 Robert E. Walley ’88 Christine E. Wieand ’06

4

H IL L VIEWS

Jaron Lanier

The 2012-2013 academic theme is “What can I do?” Forms will explore different ways of giving back to their communities.


Jonathan Bloom, center, with members of The Green Initiative, as well as Ellen O. Nelsom, chair of the arts department and coordinator of activities related to the Community theme.

On Thursday evening, April 12, The Hill School welcomed author and journalist Jonathan Bloom as the year’s third guest speaker on the 2011-12 school-wide theme of Community. Bloom is the author of American Wasteland, a book about food waste. In conjunction with Mr. Bloom’s visit, the School participated in a food drive spearheaded by Mary Kate McArdle ’15 and Student Activities Administrative Assistant Karen Weil. A total of 319

pounds of food and 21 bottles of laundry detergent were donated to the Pottstown Cluster. Bloom began his talk with a startling fact: every day, people in the United States waste enough food to fill the 90,000 seat Rose Bowl stadium. That translates to $240 million per year wasted on food, or $2,200 for a family of four. He also spoke about the environmental impact of food waste. Wasted food accounts for two percent of United

States energy consumption, as producing food requires energy, which wastes oil. There are 40 trillion liters embedded in the food we waste, and 80 percent of the annual water usage in the United States is used agriculturally. Finally, food waste that is sent to landfills is the second leading source of methane emissions—a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to global warming. Z

Other activities support the Pottstown Cluster In addition to the food drive that was held to coincide with Jonathan Bloom’s visit to campus, The Hill community supported the Pottstown Cluster, an interfaith group of religious communities which helps local families meet their basic needs and move from dependence to self-sufficiency, with other activities as well. A winter clothing collection was held in January, and was run by The Green Initiative and the

community service program. As typical for the season, the Cluster was especially in need of warm coats and toiletries at the time. Altogether, The Hill community collected and donated 315 pounds of coat, scarves, and winter gear and 125 pounds of toiletries. Also, the Women of The Hill donated the proceeds they made selling homemade strawberry shortcakes during the annual Strawberry Festival. The women raised more than $1,200 to support the Cluster. Z

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

5


Revell Awards presented to talented student writers Eight students were honored during the third annual Alexander H. Revell III ’43 Writing Contest awards ceremony which took place Friday, May 18, 2012 in the Humphrey Family Writing Center. The contest honoring the late Alex Revell ’43, Hill English instructor emeritus, included three categories: nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Thanks to the generosity of several Hill alumni and friends, the prizes were named in honor of Hill School English and writing icons: The Gardner Prize for Nonfiction is named in memory of Bon Gardner ’64, former Hill instructor of English; The Marshall Prize in Poetry is named in honor of Ann Marshall, instructor of English emeritus;

and The Wolff Prize in Fiction is named in honor of Tobias Wolff ’64, acclaimed author and Stanford professor. Student entries were read and critiqued by professional writers who then selected the top three winners for each category. Z Winners of this year’s Revell Awards celebrate with honored guests, Jean Gardner (far left), wife of Bon Gardner ’64, and Cita Revell P’66, ’68, Gp ’96, ’01, ’03, wife of Alex Revell ’43, and daughter, Amy Revell P ’01 ’03 (far right). Seated are: Zak Hudak ’13, Tony Zhang ’15 Noah Drauschak ’12. Standing: Cassie Borelly ’13, My Linh Luu ’14, Ivie Eweka ’13, and Caitlin Stouvenot ’12, with Tony Reid ’75, Director of the Humphrey Family Writing Center.

THIS YEAR’S REVELL AWARD WINNERS INCLUDE: The Gardner Prize for Nonfiction:

The Marshall Prize for Poetry:

FIRST: Zachary Hudak ’13 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (The Great American Sports Failure)

FIRST: Caitlin Stouvenot ’12 (Collegeville, Pa.) FIRST: Eszter Veto ’13 (Glenn Mills, Pa.) (Untitled) (Scars)

SECOND: Noah Drauschak ’12 (Pottstown, Pa.) (Lunch with Matthew)

SECOND: Ivie Eweka ’13 (Lynbrook, NY) (On the Train)

SECOND: Noah Drauschak ’12 (Pottstown, Pa.) (The Pit)

THIRD: Cassandra Borelly ’13 (Phoenixville, Pa.) (My Tattoo)

THIRD: Tony Zhang ’15 (Collegeville, Pa.) (Allow Me to Show You)

THIRD: My Linh Luu ’14 (Hanoi, Vietnam) (Cur Viximus in CB-04)

Read more on our website at www.thehill.org. 6

H IL L VIEWS

The Wolff Prize for Fiction:


My Linh Luu ’14 receives “Gold Key” for writing

Aaron Hamburger ’12 (Chester Springs, Pa.), Erik Schmidt ’14 (Chester Springs, Pa.), Ronuk Modi ’12 (Sinking Springs, Pa.), and Alex Evans ’12 (Chester Springs, Pa.).

My Linh Luu ’14 (Hanoi, Vietnam) received a Gold Key from the 2011-12 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for her short play, The Zoo Story. The Gold Key is the highest level of recognition at the regional level, as only five percent of the nearly 450 entries from the Philadelphia region are bestowed the honor of a Gold Key. My Linh was recognized for her achievement at an awards ceremony and reception hosted by Scholastic and the Philadelphia Arts and Education Partnership (PAEP) the University of the Arts in April. Z

Students excel at national DECA competition

Celebrated historian and Stanford University professor David Kennedy visits Hill classrooms as Dougherty Fellow The Hill School welcomed David M. Kennedy, Ph.D., Stanford University’s Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History emeritus, to campus as the 2012 Dougherty Fellow from January 31 through February 2. While on campus, Professor Kennedy immersed himself in our academic day by meeting with students in our history, economics, and journalism classes. The highlight of his visit was a lecture in the Memorial Room on the evening of Thursday, February 7 about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his attempts to address the Great Depression. Dr. Kennedy asserted that President Roosevelt’s success came from his “second class intellect in a first class temperament” and spoke about his “sunny” and “avuncular” communication style that helped calm the nation during its darkest hour, while brilliantly making the press feel like they were his allies. “He was not a revolutionary,” Dr. Kennedy concluded, “he was a reformer.” Z

Four members of The Hill School’s newly formed DECA chapter advanced through the district and state competitions to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference which was held in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 28 through May 1. Alex Evans ’12 and Ronuk Modi ’12 competed in the “Buying and Merchandising Management” team event; Aaron Hamburger ’12 competed in the “Business Finance” event; and Erik Schmidt ’14 competed in the “Principles of Business Management and Administration” event. The DECA organization’s mission is to prepare emerging high school and college leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. The competitions took place on Sunday, April 29 and Monday, April 30, with dozens of events and some 200 individuals or teams competing in each event; all participants were the best in his or her state or province. On Tuesday morning, 20 finalists were named for each event, and those finalists had one more round of competition to determine the top 10 (who would go on stage that evening at the Grand Awards ceremony), and the top three (to receive trophies). Erik Schmidt made the finals in his event, a tremendous accomplishment considering the fact that most of his 200 co-competitors come from schools with business programs and DECA programs that practice year-round. Z

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

7


THAIS THAT BIND: Students from Thailand share perspectives on their Hill experiences ABOVE: Sith Domrongkitchaiporn, Matt Windsor, Poom Khunsriraksakul

When Methee “Matthew” Windsor arrived at The Hill School in the fall of 2008 for new student orientation, more than 8,700 miles from his homeland of Bangkok, Thailand, it was the first time he was on campus—ever. He had met with Kay Dougherty during a school fair held in Thailand that past fall, and was able to get a glimpse of what life at Hill was like through photos and information on our website, but he didn’t really know what lay ahead of him. During the course of his four years at The Hill, Matt learned a lot about himself and his abilities. He walked across the stage on Commencement day with confidence and sense of accomplishment that he will always carry with him. “Striking a balance between the Thai and American cultures was one of the biggest challenges for me,” says Matt. “You need to find the right balance so you don’t lose who you are.” For Matt, participating in new activities, finding a group of friends who accepted him for who he is, and the support of Hill faculty members helped him strike that balance. By his sixth form year, Matt had become a leader among his peers, playing varsity tennis and squash (a sport which he had never tried prior to Hill), serving as a prefect, and president of the Big Brother/Big Sister program at Hill. He is especially grateful to Morgana Schlick, his adviser and director of testing, and Tom Hutchinson, instructor of physics, for their encouragement and positivity. For Matt, the most important thing he learned at The Hill is the value of hard work. 8

H I LL VIEWS

“You earn respect by working hard, even though you may not always be the best.” And, earning respect is important to Matt, who hopes to pursue a career in business and finance one day. His hard work earned him admittance to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business where he will matriculate this fall, and also secured the vote of his classmates in the Dial as “the first to work on Wall Street.” Similar to Matt, Sith Domrongkitchaiporn, also from Bangkok, arrived at The Hill for the first time in 2009 as a fourth form student. Sith, reflective and reserved with a passion for math, art, and engineering, notes that it was the School’s academic rigor which first impressed him about the School. At Hill, Sith found opportunities that allowed him to pursue his interests: his talents in design and woodworking led him to help reconstruct the arches which support the Victory Bell on Hill’s campus; he contributed to the School’s instrumental program as a cello and piano player; and he excelled in math competitions and participated on the School’s Science Olympiad team. During his sixth form year, Sith earned second place in the senior engineering division of the Montgomery County Science Fair Competition and advanced to the DelVal Regional Science Competition where he earned an Honorable Mention. He designed and created E.A.L.S (Electronic Aquatic Lifesaving System), a radio frequency transmitter-receiver electronic system that helps to prevent drowning, unfortunately a tragedy that Sith witnessed at crowded community pools in Thailand. Sith explains that a child wears the

small transmitter device while playing in or near a pool while the parent holds the receiver: when the child is in danger it sends a signal to the receiver which emits a visual and audible signal to the parent. Sith intends to continue tweaking his invention and hopefully secure a patent once he begins his freshman year at CalTech. Chachrit “Poom” Khunsriraksakul came to The Hill for his sixth form year as the School’s Thai Scholar. The program, originally established 1897 by King Rama V of Thailand as the King’s Scholarship program, allows young people to go to Western universities and schools to gather skills and knowledge and bring back their learning to Thailand. Through the years, this program has evolved; now students achieve this honor based upon merit and excellent achievement earned on national exams administered by The Civil Service Commission of the Royal Thai government. Due to his outstanding performance on the exams, Poom was one of 35 students selected to participate in this highly competitive program that led him to The Hill as a member of the class of 2012. “I learned independence and confidence,” says Poom with gratitude for the amazing experience he had here, as well as for Hill’s caring faculty. His reading skills have improved greatly since his arrival at The Hill, and he has enjoyed the chance to try out new activities, such as singing with the Glee Club and helping with the community service program. Poom is ready to take on the challenges of Johns Hopkins University this fall where he will focus his studies on biomedical engineering. Z


CRESTING THE HILL Dr. Henry Bender’s Humanities Tour of Italy and Greece has become an annual trip each spring for the last 14 years. Above, sixth formers stand on the ramp which leads to the back of the Lion Gate, the ancient entrance to Mycenae, the city of Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks when they invaded Troy in the 12th century BCE. Dr. Bender has led more than 120 trips of this kind throughout his career. To read special tributes to Dr. Bender, and also Mrs. Donna Rudnick, for their service to the School, turn to page 49. Z

Dana Kim (Seoul, Korea), Vivek and Anita Venkatesh (Conshohocken, Pa.), Nicole Kwon (Seoul, Korea), Raye Sosseh (Cklarksburg, Md.), Alex Young (Center Valley, Pa.), Will Green (Bay Head, N.J.), Mary Mac Jones (Somerville and Jackson, Tenn.), Seth Reinhart (Pottstown, Pa.), Blair Bellis (Bedminister, N.J.), Monica Patel (Pottstown, Pa.), Katharine Quain (Royersford, Pa.), Mala Sharma (Pottstown, Pa.), Eliza Jorn (Rumson, N.J.), and Addy Colona (Glenmoore, Pa.)

WHERE IN THE HILL IS THIS? Welcome! This doorbell was “pushed” more than 900 times last year. Flip through the issue to find out where this doorbell belongs and its connection to a record-breaking Hill year.


GETTING TO KNOW OUR HEADMASTER Tony Reid: What defines The Hill for you? You’ve often said that you and your family fell in love with The Hill immediately. What caused that to happen? Zachary Lehman: For me, the warmth of the community defines The Hill: that was very obvious to us when we arrived on campus. Hill students, faculty, and staff — all do their best to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome, but at the same time, the formality and intentionality of everything is also striking. It is obvious that everyone takes their roles very seriously. So it was a combination of warmth and formality that was appealing. And, Hill reminded me a lot of places where I went to school. Tony: Can you compare Hill to any place else? Zack: Gould Academy is an incredibly warm place, while Exeter and Harvard Law are very formal. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a place before that has a perfect combination of both. Hill has that balance. It has the resources and formality of a large school, but that warmth and close-knit feel of a small school. Tony: So, for you Hill already has a balance of warmth and formality. Is there anything that you will tinker with?

Headmaster Zachary G. Lehman sat down with Tony Reid ’75, director of the Humphrey Family Writing Center and former editor of the Washington Post, to discuss the future of The Hill. What follows are highlights from their discussion.

Zack: I want to live The Hill life before jumping into anything. One of the things I am trying to tackle right away is technology. That is definitely an area where I feel the School is behind and needs to catch up. My goal is to maintain the traditions, formality, and wonderful history of the School, but bring the curriculum into the 21st century. Tony: But, doing that must have to do with more than just technology... Zack: Yes, that is just part of it. Our students need to use technology and be “technologists,” but it is also about pedagogy. It’s our schedule, and the opportunities we offer to our kids, and the depth that we allow them to delve into a subject or discipline. Do we have 40-minute classes or 90-minute classes, do we use the concept of flipping classrooms?* Do we want to teach Hill students to be innovators and creators, or do we want to teach them just to be scholars? So much is going on in education right now, but in many ways we are still teaching the way you were taught when you were a student here—with some differences. *Flipped classroom is a reversed teaching model that delivers instruction at home through interactive, teacher-created videos and moves “homework” to the classroom. Moving lectures outside of the classroom allows teachers to spend more time with each student. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and work through problems with the guidance of their teachers and the support of their peers — creating a collaborative learning environment. Source: http://www.TechSmith.com

10

GETTING TO KNOW O U R HEA D MAS T ER


LEFT: Zack with one of his players from the MetroLacrosse organization for which Zack served as founding executive director from 2000-2006. BELOW: In his high school years, Zack and his brother, Nick, with their parents, Pam and Arnold Lehman. Zack’s father is the director of the Brooklyn Museum, while his brother, Nick, is the president of digital for NBC Universal’s entertainment and digital networks and integrated media division.

Tony: Yeah, I don’t think they have a hammer and chisel anymore (laughing). You went to private schools throughout your life — first, Gilman, a well-respected day school, then onto Exeter, perhaps the most revered boarding school in the nation — and you have worked as an administrator at a boarding school. How does boarding school fit into the educational system of today? Why is boarding school still relevant? Zack: Boarding schools are still extremely relevant. They offer two things you can’t really get anywhere else: one, a built-in community and, two, something you can’t get at home — whether it is about location, or a specific opportunity. These days many classes are being taught online and in the future schools may offer all of their classes online. However, students will still need to learn how to live within a community and about the hard work, discipline, and character development that is fostered within that community — skills that will benefit them in college and for the rest of their lives. Boarding schools will remain relevant, but we can’t just assume that because we have the name The Hill School that we will remain relevant. We have to evolve and be ahead of the educational curve, so that when a parent invests nearly $50,000 per year in the education of his or her child at The Hill School, there is a real value to that financial sacrifice. Tony: Since you mention college, let me ask you this. Not a year goes by when some parents are not upset that their children didn’t get into their first choice Ivy colleges, and Trustees and alumni ask “what happened here?” People seem to remember the day when in a class of 80 students, 25 went to Princeton and 25 went to Yale.... Zack: Yes, in the days when the headmaster would write a letter to Harvard’s president and say, “here are the 12 students who will be coming next year.” I’d like to bring back that practice (laughing). This issue is not unique to The Hill, it’s happening everywhere. I think Harvard saw 35,000 students apply last year, and it was about the same number of applications at other Ivies, with an acceptance rate of 3 percent. At some public universities, they are receiving 60,000 applications annually. The college admissions landscape is always changing. In general, more students from all around the world are applying to college, and the

amount of financial aid is being reduced, making it more difficult for students from anywhere to get into their first choice university. At the same time, universities and colleges are not going to take 30 applicants from the same school, including The Hill. That being said, I think we have to be vigilant about our college counseling process. We have to make sure we are supporting our students in every way possible ranging from having a highly-evolved curriculum to doing things so our students’ passions and talents stand out, and encouraging their creation of digital portfolios. We need to teach our students great language and math skills, so they can perform well on standardized tests. We have to work hard with families and educate them about what is a good fit for their son or daughter. Also, important is that we dispel the idea among parents and students that you come to Hill to get into a particular college or university, that Hill is some sort of guaranteed ticket. If that is the case, then you have missed an important point. Coming to Hill to get a Hill education — which I think is an unparalleled foundation for success in college, career, family, and life — is more important than admission to a brand name college. I truly believe we are still doing an excellent job of sending Hill graduates to some of the most selective schools in the country. That list is constantly changing; a college or university that wasn’t considered selective five years ago may now be very selective. g

Tony Reid ’75 with Zack Lehman in the library of the Widener Science Building

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

11


GETTING TO KNOW OUR HEADMASTER

LEFT: The Lehman Family

Tony: You said you want to get to know the campus, our students and faculty first, before heading out on the road. Have you thought about how much time you’ll be away versus how much you’ll be here? Zack: I think it will change over time. As the School moves toward a campaign my travel schedule will ramp up, but I am used to being on the road and traveling. I’m sure I will find a balance of time spent on and off campus. And, I hope that our donors will come to campus— there is nothing better than seeing in action what you are supporting. Tony: So there is fundraising and then the more general side of alumni relations. What do you see in terms of that field? Zack: The launch of social media has helped tremendously in that field. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn present many opportunities for alumni engagement with the School and each other. We want to make sure that we are helping our alumni connect; your education at The Hill ensures a lifetime of career networking opportunities and association with the brand name “The Hill School.” In terms of events, I’m not a huge fan of traditional meet-and-greet cocktail receptions, but I do look forward to shaping more events around regional activities and/or activities with a community service goal in mind. Tony: You mention a capital campaign, which is included in the School’s 2012-2017 Strategic Plan. What are your thoughts on the Strategic Plan?

Tony: One of things that made you stand out among the candidates for headmaster is your experience in fundraising. Through the years the School has struggled with fundraising and alumni participation. The School has extremely loyal alumni and parents, but participation rates in campaigns, especially our annual giving campaign, The Hill Fund, have been relatively low—around 19 percent. What are your thoughts about this and how do you plan to address this issue? Zack: Fundraising has become an essential role for a head or president of educational or non-profit institutions. My father is a fundraiser, and I am a fundraiser — I enjoy fundraising. It’s always about building relationships and meeting the donor’s interests. My job is to work very hard to get to know our alumni and parents and match their interests with the needs of the School. I am passionate about asking for support in the name of our students and faculty, so that is easy for me. The key is you have to ask: It’s very rare that an individual is going to knock on your door and put piles of money in your lap.

12

GETTING TO KNOW O U R HEA D MAS T ER

Zack: It is ambitious, and I am glad to have that road map, but I appreciate the flexibility received from the Trustees allowing us to tweak it. The Plan clearly sets out the initiatives and we will rely on the campaign to support and fund those plans. One key priority is faculty development and growth — ensuring we have the premier faculty of any institution like ours. We do have great teachers and we need to keep them here by making sure they have great students to work with; that they have the resources and facilities they need; that they are paid fairly and competitively; and that they have a wonderful place to raise their families — a place where they want to remain and a place where they feel a sense of great purpose. That is of paramount importantance to me: If we have a great faculty, then everything will fall into place. Another priority is a comprehensive review of our curriculum examining the question: “How do we reimagine and revamp our curriculum so it matches the demands of the 21st century?” Also, I’m excited about our commitment to the revitalization of Pottstown — that need was apparent to me the first day I visited campus. We can’t wait for someone else to do it and we can’t do it alone; we need to be a leader in that effort. It is our responsibility to be active and do what we can to support Pottstown. Another key priority is to keep a Hill education affordable. Successful completion of a capital campaign will help us achieve our goals. Tony: Speaking of affordability, Hill is going to soon approach a boarding tuition of $50,000 for room and board. When I was a student the cost was $3,200....


Zack: The $50,000 price tag is a staggering number. Tuition has gone up more quickly than the price of inflation. If you look at the numbers, a family likely has to have an income of $300,000 to afford the full tuition price to attend The Hill, and that is astonishing. We are not serving as many qualified students as we should, as they simply can’t afford to come here. Some of the possible ways to solve this problem are challenging. The only real way to control costs is to change the model. We could cut teachers; not pay faculty very well or give them inadequate benefits; let the physical plant go; or take away programs, but no one wants to or should accept these things. So, really, the only solution is to raise more money, find alternative revenue streams, increase the endowment, and increase The Hill Fund. The actual cost of educating each student is closer to $75,000 per student, even for those families paying the full tuition amount. We need to be mindful of potential cost savings, though there really is no easy fix, and we are not alone in this. Tony: Where does it end, how high can it go? Zack: Tom Eccleston and his team have done a tremendous job this year. We will likely have over 514 amazingly talented students entering and returning to the School in the fall. It’s been the most highly selective year ever in Hill admission — all during one of the worst economies in history. I really would like to make a Hill education more affordable to middle class families, but that goes back to raising money. Tony: How about your children? Are they excited about coming to Hill? Your oldest son will be a third former. Zack: Amy and I have three children: Mitch (14), Griffin (12), and Avery (9), and they are very excited about The Hill. Mitch will be in the third form —he’s smart and athletic but It’s hard to be at a new school and also be the son of the headmaster. He’ll be living in our home in Feroe House as a day student, so it will be important for us to protect that family time. But, I do look forward to handing him his diploma four years from now—that will really be special and a unique time for me and my family. Our family is excited to move into Feroe House. Our children have already been to campus several times and have made some Hill friends — there are approximately 90 children of faculty under the age of 18 living on campus. I understand the challenges of having a young family coupled with the demands of being in a 24/7 boarding school and finding that balance. I can relate to our faculty. It’s the family boarding school, so why not? Tony: How about Amy? Zack: Amy is the ultimate community person. She is looking forward to being involved both on campus and off campus. Also, we are going to reach out to the faculty and students, welcoming them into our home at various times throughout the year. She definitely will be involved in organizations in town and will be involved g

Up Close with Zachary G. Lehman Zachary Gimbel Lehman, The Hill School’s 11th headmaster, and his family arrived on July 1, 2012. Zack came to The Hill after serving for six years as the assistant head of school for advancement at Gould Academy, a coeducational 9th through 12th grade and postgraduate year boarding school in Bethel, Maine. At Gould, Zack also taught filmmaking, was the head coach for the boys’ varsity lacrosse team, was an academic student adviser, and worked in the dormitories. From 2000 to 2006, Zack was the founding executive director of MetroLacrosse, a not-for-profit community organization that provides integrated lacrosse and character education programs to youth from underserved urban communities in Greater Boston and today has a national presence. Prior to leading MetroLacrosse, Zack was an attorney at Ropes & Gray and previously clerked for the chief judge of the United States District Court in Boston. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Zack also distinguished himself at Dartmouth College, where he earned a B.A. degree in geography, with cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa distinctions. At Dartmouth, Zack played varsity lacrosse and football; was an Academic All-American in football; and, as a Senior Fellow, produced an animated film that earned a Student Academy Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Prior to Dartmouth, Zack attended Phillips Exeter Academy for four years, where he played three varsity sports, was a prep school All-American in wrestling, and was graduated with high honors. Zack’s wife, Amy Cassidy Lehman, is an equally outstanding and charismatic individual. She earned an M.B.A. from Boston University and a B.S. degree in biology from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. The Lehmans have two sons, Mitch ’16 and Griffin, and a daughter, Avery, all pictured opposite page left. Z ABOVE: Amy and Zack watch a Hill lacrosse game during an April campus visit. TH E H IL L SCH OOL

13


GETTING TO KNOW OUR HEADMASTER

at Wyndcroft where our younger children will be enrolled. Amy grew up in a small town with a large family, attended public schools, and she didn’t know what boarding school was until she met me, and now she has fully embraced this lifestyle. She’s my moral compass, my partner in everything, and a wonderful mother. Tony: Interestingly, you have been appointed headmaster without the “typical headmaster’s background” that one may expect. What would you say to those who might be concerned about that? Zack: The job of a 21st century boarding school headmaster is very different than it used to be and probably one of the most complex jobs out there. Leading a school has a lot to do with education, but also with financial issues, managing budgets, campus development, and personnel. I actually

Zack (front row, second from right) was a New England Prep School Champion and Prep School All-American wrestler at Phillips Exeter Academy.

think my law degree is quite applicable. I use my legal skills every day, not to go to court, but to solve problems and advocate for students, faculty, and staff, as well as view issues from different perspectives. Tony: What compelled you to leave practicing law? Zack: I never will regret going to law school. I didn’t have a problem with practicing law. A better offer came along: working with kids. I had the fantastic opportunity to start MetroLacrosse. I had appreciated my teachers and coaches and loved being around sports. I’ve always been driven toward things I am passionate about, rather than climbing the typical ladder of success. It has led me here. Tony: When I was living in Baltimore, your father was the director of the Museum of Art and a revered figure in the art world. How did your father’s job inform you or affect you growing up and as adult? Zack: In many ways, my father has been a great role model. He is a leader and as a father he has always taught me to pursue my passions. Art has always been in my life; in fact, I am very interested in filmmaking. Also, my father has always worked for and understands non-profits. He’s bold, articulate, and he loves people as do I.

During their time at Gould Academy, Zack and Amy immersed themselves in the boarding school life. In addition to his role as assistant head of school for advancement, Zack taught filmmaking and coached lacrosse. Together, Zack and Amy enjoyed opening up their home to students and spending time with their advisees. Here they are with their advisees during a community service day.

14

GETTING TO KNOW O U R HEA D MAS T ER

Tony: One more thing I’ll ask you about, because many important aspects of Hill life center around the Chapel. As far as I know, you are the first Jewish headmaster at The Hill. I know Amy is Roman Catholic. Have you thought about the Chapel program and what you will do?


ANSWER TO “WHERE IN THE HILL?” In April, Zack and Amy visited campus. During the event, Zack held a well-received and interactive forum for parents, which included text polling and web casting for those parents unable to travel to campus.

Zack: I think the Chapel program is not really about a particular religion; it’s more about spirituality and faith. We have students here from many different faiths, and I want The Hill to be a welcoming and supportive place where students feel comfortable expressing their spiritual views. I’ve been to Chapel a number of times at The Hill, and I enjoy that time of quiet reflection, and listening. We just need to ensure that the Chapel program, like everything we do here, is relevant to all of our students. Z

The doorbell can be found as you enter the Meigs House, home to the School’s Admission Office. Tom Eccleston ’87 is pleased to announce a record-breaking year in Hill admissions this past year. The School will open in September with an overall enrollment of 514 students. The Admission Office saw a 14 percent increase in applications and 16 percent increase in total interviews from the previous year. “We are thrilled to introduce our new class to The Hill community,” Tom said. “It is a testament to the great legacy of The Hill School to

Do you have your own questions for Zack?

have experienced another successful admission campaign in a very competitive boarding school market. Our current and new families believe in Hill’s close learning community, academic excellence, meaningful structure, character development, and special traditions. Our families’ appreciation for our mission—and for how well we

Please feel free to email him at zlehman@thehill.org or follow him on Twitter @zacklehman.

prepare our students for ‘college, careers, and life’ —is reflected in our enrollment picture.”

Z

175 new students (107 boys and 68 girls), from 20 states and 18 different countries Students of color will make up 34 percent of the new class 30 percent of the new students have a legacy connection 2107 average SSAT score for new students TH E H IL L SCH OOL

15


KEEPERS OF THE HILL

T H E FA R E W E L L T O U R

Throughout the winter and spring, the Doughertys’ Farewell Tour continued as hundreds of alumni, parents, and friends gathered at receptions held across the country honoring David and Kay. The Tour culminated with an on-campus retirement celebration which took place during Reunion Weekend 2012 with more than 750 people in attendance. (More coverage of Reunion Weekend activities will appear in the winter issue of Hill Ties.) Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz. Mr. Thomas Ruth, faculty emeritus, and Mr. David Dodge ’56 hosted a reception at the Hermosa Inn for Hill family and friends on February 4. The following evening Mr. Oliver Transue ’64 hosted an evening at the Arizona Inn.

Los Angeles, Calif. Hill alumni and friends enjoyed spending time together at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 9. The evening was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Heath M. Binder ’95, Mr. and Mrs. David W. Hopper ’89, and Mr. and Mrs. Devin D. Daly ’89. 1

Todd McFarland ’87 and his wife, Rachel, with Trustee Hans Maentz ’89

New York City, N.Y. Close to 200 New York City area alumni, parents, and friends gathered at Trump SoHo. The night was generously hosted by Trustee Mr. Eric Trump ’02 and the New York Chapter of The Hill School Alumni Association. 2

Amanda Listfield ’03, Moriah Scott ’04, Heather Ribas ’04, Kate McAleer ’05, Emily Kerschner ’03

Phillies Spring Training/ Clearwater, Fla. On March 5, close to 3

K EEPER S O F TH E HI LL

2

60 guests enjoyed a gorgeous spring day in Clearwater while watching the Phillies beat the Yankees 9-3 in exhibition play. Alumni spanning the years of 1948 to 2009, parents, current students, and friends of The Hill all gathered at Bright House Field for the special event. Bob Jeffrey ’50, Ferg Alleman ’48, and Harl Graham ’48

3

Naples, Fla. More than 40 Naples area alumni, parents, and friends gathered on March 7 at THE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL GOLF CLUB. The night was generously hosted by Honorary Trustee Mr. Charles A. Frank, III ’59 P’88 ’90, and his wife, Betty, along with The Hill School Alumni Association. 4

Maureen and Michael Sullivan P ’00 ’09, Joe Sullivan ’09, Jimmy Sullivan ’00 along with Betty and Charlie Frank ’59 P’88 ’90.

4

Jupiter Hills, Fla. On March 11, Meg and Hap Esbenshade ’74 P’07 ’09 ’09 ’13 hosted a reception at the Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla. 5

David and Kay Dougherty with members of the Esbenshade family: Meg and Hap Esbenshade ’74, with daughters, Molly ’13, Kate ’09, and Rachel ’09

16

1

5


7

6

6 Houston, Tex. On May 10, close to 50 Houston area alumni, parents, and friends gathered at The Bayou Club for an event hosted by Susan and James A. Baker III ’48 P’72 GP’04 ’08, Secretary of State from 1989-1992, along with the Houston Chapter of The Hill School Alumni Association. Alumni and friends at the Bayou Club

Philadelphia, Pa. On April 18, Philadelphia area young alumni met for lunch at Water Works Restaurant with David and Kay Dougherty. 7

Seated: Melody Chang ’09, Lilian Chen ’09, Mary Beth Scott ’07, David Dougherty, Lauren Saltzburg ’04, Bianca Grecu ’03; Standing: Drew Trefsgar ’06, Andrew Donald ’10, Kay Dougherty, Jennifer Kang ’10, Ekta Sem ’02, Danielle Arnold ’02

8

Charleston, S.C. On March 19,

Charleston area alumni, parents, and friends gathered on the rooftop of the Market Pavilion Hotel. The evening was hosted by Clayton P. Boardman III P’13 and Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hutson, Jr. ’75, along with The Charleston Chapter of The Hill School Alumni Association. Clay Boardman P’13 introduces Kay and David Dougherty

Atlanta, Ga. On March 18, Mr. and Mrs. Halsey G. Knapp, Jr. ’73, Mr. and Mrs. Scott R. Prigge ’88, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rodgers ’88, along with The Atlanta Chapter of The Hill School 9

Alumni Association, hosted a lovely reception at the Capital City Country Club. Merideth and Mike Rodgers ’88 and Brittain and Scott Prigge ’88

Boston, Mass. On April 19, more than 70 Boston area alumni, parents, and friends gathered at The Union Club for an event hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Loring III ’62 and Mr. and Mrs. David Loring ’64, along with the Boston Chapter of The Hill School Alumni Association. The following day, Boston college-age alumni gathered at Maggiano’s for a study break and lunch with the Doughertys. 10

Jan and Dave Loring ’64, along with Gerolf Pikl ’64

8

9

Chicago, Ill. Close to 50 Chicago area alumni, parents, and friends gathered at The Racquet Club on May 1. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew “Sandy” McNally IV ’58 P’86 ’90, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McNally V ’86, and Mr. and Mrs. Ward McNally ’90, along with the Chicago Chapter of The Hill School Alumni Association, hosted the evening.

10

11 Denver, Colo. Trustee Mr. Marshall F. Wallach ’61 P’05 ’07, and his wife, Diane, graciously hosted close to 40 Denver area Hill family and friends in their home on May 7. John Carson ’94, John Kennedy ’94, Lee Mebel ’94, Dave Ross ’94, Carl Ciacci ’04, Jan Ebersole ’95, and Charli Peterson ’01

11

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

17


1

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION HONORS DAVID AND KAY DOUGHERTY A beautifully decorated tent was the setting for an expertly orchestrated dinner event honoring David R. Dougherty and his wife, Kay, and marking retirement on June 30, 2012 following 19 years of service to The Hill School.

3 2

Alumni and spouses, parents, faculty, staff members, and friends formed a receiving line during a cocktail reception, queuing up to personally extend their best wishes to the Doughertys. Gifts were presented to Hill’s “first couple” as part of the evening’s formal postdinner recognition, including a large collage with photos, newspaper and Hill Ties clippings, and other items from the Dougherty’s history-laden tenure at the School. “The world is a better place because of your leadership at The Hill School,” noted Chairman of the Board of Trustees Tom McN. Millhiser ’67 P ’96 ’00 during his remarks.

4

18

K EEPER S O F TH E HI LL

Two young alumni—both of whom knew the Doughertys well during their time as Hill students—offered moving tributes. Krista (Andersen) Featherstone ’99, one of Hill’s first female graduates, credits much of what she learned about being a great leader from David and Kay Dougherty. “Through their leadership— their ability to communicate a vision, their willingness to make bold decisions that require hard work, their inability to settle for anything

less than excellence, and their focus on others rather than on themselves–The Hill is a stronger school than it was when they arrived,” said Krista. Marty Previtte ’09, in his heartfelt remarks, noted that David and Kay’s most desirable characteristic is their care. “They care about you, whoever you are,” said Marty. “It’s hard to put into words, but you know it when you feel it. Every conversation they have with you, no matter who you are, no matter how big or small your news, they are just as if not more excited about your news as you are... And there is no better feeling than having someone else share your excitement.” After a rousing standing ovation by an enthusiastic (and, in many cases, tearful) crowd, both David and Kay offered remarks of their own, with the emotion, conviction, and love for The Hill (and for each other) that has fueled their work for nearly two decades. Here are just a few snapshots from the evening. More coverage of this historic event including video clips can be found on our website at www.thehill.org. Z


5

6

7

8

9

1) Tom Millhiser ’67 offered a toast to David and Kay before dinner. 2) Marty Previtte ’09. 3) Krista (Andersen) Featherstone ’99. 4) Members of David and Kay’s immediate family also joined the celebration. Kay’s son, Parks Roper, and his wife, Annelise, and grandchildren, Parks (David’s godson) and Blake. 5) The Detars celebrate with the Doughertys: Scott and Ida Detar with their children and Hill grads Andy ’98, Sarah ’01, Jennie ’03, and Scott ’97, current Hill Trustee. 6) Reid Wilson ’10 with his parents, Scott Wilson and Andrea de Cholnoky. 7) Kay with Kristyn Fitzpatick ’04 and Molly Hubbard ’04. 8) The Boyer Family: Pat Boyer, wife of Trustee Walter Boyer ’74 (far right), with daughter, Patty ’11; Jim Boyer ’72; and Nancy Boyer, Walter and Jim’s mother and wife of the late James K. Boyer ’43, former Trustee. 9) Tom Millhiser presents a collage of accomplishments and memories to David and Kay in appreciation for all they have done for The Hill School family through the years. Kay’s son, David Roper, looks on.

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

19


1

LEADERSHIP AND CAREER SUMMIT 2012 On Friday, March 23, The Hill School welcomed home 27 members of our extended Hill family to participate in the 2012 Leadership and Career Summit as Career Day speakers. These talented, diverse, and generous alumni, parents, and friends took time out of their demanding schedules to spend time with The Hill’s fifth and sixth formers as they explored future career possibilities. Guests spent the morning meeting with students in small group sessions sharing their stories and tips for success. Many alumni in attendance spoke about their professions as well as the value of their Hill education and how their experiences at The Hill influenced their future. Following the Career Day activities, in the morning an Internship Fair was held in the Academic Center for fifth and sixth form students as well as young alumni in the afternoon. At the fair, alumni who own or are employed by firms offering internship opportunities were on campus to speak with interested students and young alumni. The summit concluded with an alumni networking dinner that featured Andrei Herasimchuk ’88, head of the design team at Twitter, as the keynote speaker, and live music by a band comprised of alumni and students. Z

The 2013 Leadership & Career Summit will be held on March 14-15. We invite anyone who is interested in participating in next year’s summit to contact Director of Alumni Relations Bill Robertson ’92 at 610-705-1284 or brobertson@thehill.org. 20

K EEPER S O F TH E HI LL

Andrei Herasimchuk ’88 returned to campus for the first time since he graduated 24 years ago to speak to students as part of The Hill School’s Leadership and Career Summit. Andrei, who has enjoyed an interesting career in the technology/ design industry with large companies like Adobe and Yahoo!, currently is the head of the design team at Twitter. During his three days on campus, Andrei met with students enrolled in Hill’s computer science, graphic design, and video design classes; spoke at Career Day; attended the Internship Fair for Hill students and young alumni interested in exploring internship opportunities offered by Hill alumni; and was the featured speaker during Friday evening’s Career Networking Dinner for alumni. Andrei also sat down with Evan Brandt, reporter for the Pottstown Mercury, to talk about his career and his deep family roots in Pottstown. Andrei was the subject of two articles published the following day.


2

David Paton, M.D. ’48 becomes 14th recipient of the Sixth Form Leadership Award

3 1) A special thanks to all of our Career Day participants and their student hosts. Our Career Day guests included: Peter Abrams, M.D. ’92, transplant surgeon; Duncan Banfield ’91, vice president and consultant for Greenwich Associates, and his wife, Kelsey, founder/editor, The Naptime Chef®; Michael Barbiero ’67, recording engineer, producer, songwriter; Nicole Berg, spouse of Brady Berg ’97, senior manager of market research and testing for Abercrombie & Fitch; Brad Charron ’96, head of marketing for Under Armour Inc.-China; Bob Fagan ’69, performance coach/management consultant/writer; Cameron Greenlee ’00, musician and boat captain, Block Island Maritime Funding; Gabrielle Hannafan ’01, marketing and business development manager for Revive Public Relations; Kurt Hauser ’56 P’81, GP’16, chairman of the board for Wentworth Hauser & Violich (WHV) Investment Counsel; Andrei Herasimchuk ’88, director of the design team at Twitter; John Jamison ’66, owner of Jamison Farm; Peter Lawrence ’81, president and chief operating officer for ArQule, Inc.; Patrick Madden ’82, real estate, venture capital, and law; Gregg Martyak, M.D. ’91, orthopedic surgeon for the United States Air Force; Brian McTear ’91, musician and executive director of nonprofit, Weathervane Music; Bill Moss ’68, senior managing director for CBRE Orlando; Sarah Pickle, fiancée of Allan Triel ’00, family medicine resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Mary Anne Poatsy P ’07, ’11, ’13, author, computer science college instructor; Jamie Potter ’01 and Amy Sullivan Potter, musicians and songwriters; Bob Potter ’68, marketing, communications and non-profit executive; Tim Robertson ’89, musician; Jonathan Shingles, D.O. ’92, director of emergency medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital; Tom Taber ’81, marketing consultant, vice president/partner with Strategex; Allan Triel ’00, director of creative development for Titan Worldwide Entertainment; and Bob Wyman ’72, staff software engineer for Google, Inc. 2) Duncan Banfield ’91, newly elected president of the Alumni Association, with students. 3) Hill current students and faculty joined alumni for an impromptu jam session and concert in the CFTA on Friday evening. 4) Brian McTear ’91 talks with students.

On Thursday, March 22, The Hill School held its annual Sixth Form Leadership Award ceremony, the kick-off event to the following day’s 2012 Leadership and Career Summit activities. This prestigious award, presented annually to an individual who has proven to be an exemplary leader and true role model for Hill students, was presented to David Paton, M.D., a member of the class of 1948. Dr. Paton is an internationally recognized academic ophthalmologist, now retired. He also is a humanitarian and founder of several non-profit organizations dedicated to providing much needed preventative eye care and treatment to the citizens of developing countries. He is the founder of and former medical director of Project ORBIS International, the world’s only Flying Eye Hospital and mobile teaching hospital. In his conversational address, Dr. Paton shared his personal thoughts on what he considers to be several important facets of leadership: one’s natural assets, power, ambition, personality, and creativity. He credited his establishment of Project ORBIS as a product of his creativity. His idea of transforming a refurbished DC-8 aircraft into a mobile teaching hospital and eye clinic allowed hundreds of eye surgeons to receive the hands-on training they required while at the same time restoring the vision of millions of men, women, and children around the world. Z

4 TH E H IL L SCH OOL

21


AT I C S C H A I R A N D S C H O L A R S H I P F U N D HONOR GEORGE SENTER’S LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE AND GENEROUS SPIRIT

M M AT H E

Mr. Senter and his extended Hill family celebrate the dedication of the Senter Dormitory in 2005.

“Because I love The Hill School. That’s why,” said George D. Senter, mathematics instructor emeritus and dormitory hall master, when he was asked back in 1999 about why he planned to leave a large portion of his estate to The Hill School. When Mr. Senter passed away in July 2011 at the age of 93, he was remembered for his legacy of excellent teaching, high standards in the classroom and dormitory, and wholehearted commitment to the well-being and success of all of his students. His overall pride in The Hill was quickly called to mind by those who knew and loved him—including countless Hill alumni and colleagues.

22

KKEEPER EEPERSS O OFFTH THE E HI HILL LL

And now, in addition to the unparalleled life experiences that Mr. Senter provided to the more than 3,000 students for whom he cared, Mr. Senter has provided The Hill School with a transformational opportunity: a $3 million gift, one of the largest gifts the School has ever received in its 161-year history. Mr. Senter’s gift will endow The George D. Senter Chair of Mathematics. The gift also will endow The George D. Senter Scholarship Fund, benefitting Hill students from Maine with financial need. And, finally, the gift will support The Hill’s unrestricted endowment. The importance of estate planned giving in securing The Hill School’s future is clearly expressed in Mr. Senter’s gift. Most planned gifts support the endowment and endowed funds. The endowment and endowed funds typically support financial aid for students, faculty salaries, and faculty professional development—boons to retention and recruitment. Unrestricted endowment gifts support general Hill operations. These three key cost centers are integral to Hill’s sustenance and progress. A planned


LEFT: Mr. Senter and students in class. BELOW: Mr. Senter’s devotion to The Hill followed him everywhere.

gift donor is a visionary who believes in the future of the School—clearly Mr. Senter fits this characterization. With his gift, Mr. Senter’s legacy is only enhanced. “After meeting George at the funeral of former headmaster Ned Hall in 1993, our first summer at The Hill, Kay and I visited him often in Brunswick, Maine, and loved to hear his stories about The Hill of the past,” said David Dougherty, former headmaster of The Hill School, who retired June 30, 2012. “He, however, enjoyed just as much, even more, talking about The Hill of today and tomorrow. He was committed to the School, and wanted with his bequest to express his gratitude to it and his great confidence in its future. We now are grateful to him and are very proud that he was our friend.” Mr. Senter was known for running a tight but loving ship in Hillside, Upper School, Wendell, and, finally, Foster, where he lived from 1968 until his retirement to his hometown of Brunswick, Maine in 1983. As a dorm master, he had high expectations for his students in terms of their personal conduct and behavior. However, Mr. Senter also possessed an infectious smile, quick wit, and good humor, all respected and admired by those fortunate to work, live, and learn with him. The powerful impact Mr. Senter had on his Hill family was perhaps most tangibly captured during Reunion Weekend 2005 at the dedication of a dormitory house in his honor. A large group of alumni, faculty, former colleagues, and friends gathered with him in the Harvey Garden of the Dell Village for a touching ceremony, complete with ceremonious sounds

of the bagpipe and champagne toast, all to celebrate the naming of the Senter House. It was then that two of George’s former “charges” and later treasured friends, Mac Borg ’56 and Neils Agather ’75, fondly recalled the time they spent in and out of the classroom with the Hill “father” they called “Captain Queeg” for his insistence on proper conduct and fairness. They noted George’s “strong sense of right and wrong” as well as his “pride in the personal and professional successes of all Hill graduates.” “I experienced Mr. Senter’s commitment and devotion to Hill and its students as a table master in the dining room and hallmaster during my fourth form in Wendell,” notes Board Chairman Thomas McN. Millhiser ’67 P’96 ’00. “In a quiet yet persuasive manner, Mr. Senter always encouraged me to do my best. Receiving a bequest like Mr. Senter’s is always very special to a school, but, when it comes from a former teacher, it is extra special and meaningful.” Z

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

23


D E N T P H I L A N T H RO P Y C O U N C I L : U T S E H T GIVING IS WINNING When The Hill School established the Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) in 2008, it became one of the first independent schools in the nation to enable students to learn first-hand about the processes of philanthropy while making a tangible impact on the community in which they live. The creation of this innovative program, which garnered both local and national media attention within the educational community, was made possible through a generous gift to the School by Honorary Trustee Charles A. Frank III ’59 P ’88 ’90 and his wife, Betty. The program calls for Hill student participants to solicit and evaluate local nonprofit requests for funding then award grants to local nonprofits based on their careful research and review. Since its creation, the School has been able to provide more than $40,000 ($10,000 per year) in grants to local nonprofit organizations ranging from educating children about the arts to greening community parks. The Franks’ desire to establish a Hill philanthropy program was tied to their own involvement with civic endeavors and to their passionate, shared belief that young people should volunteer to benefit their communities. The couple made several trips to campus each year to meet with the 12-member SPC and the group’s faculty adviser, Kay Dougherty. Kay, who had been committed to serving the Pottstown community during her tenure at the School, and the Franks hope Hill’s students will develop life-long philanthropic habits and interests. And now, through the Franks’ leadership and the generosity of several other donors, The Student Philanthropy Council has become an endowed program at The Hill School with the establishment of The Student Philanthropy Council Endowment in honor of Kay and David Dougherty. This collective $220,000 gift to the School has allowed the School to assure this pivotal learning opportunity for future generations of Hill students. In 2012, members of the SPC were thrilled to present four Pottstown area non-profit with grants: Developmental Enterprises Corporation ($2,500) for enhancements to its adult literacy program; Pottstown Area Police Athletic League ($2,500) to help with equipment and uniform purchases and securing a location for practices and games for youth leagues; KenCrest Center’s Seeds of Purpose Program ($3,000) which teaches plant care, craft production, social skills, and customer service skills to 18 people with developmental disabilities or autism, with a goal of preparing them for competitive employment in the community; and the Pottstown YMCA ($2,000) for expanding its TRUST program (Togetherness Requires Understanding of Social Teamwork), which empowers

24

KKEEPER EEPERSS O OFFTH THE E HI HILL LL

“The Hill School is doing something right... I have always been impressed with how professional, passionate, and efficient they are throughout the process.” —Allison Stinger, financial development director for the Freedom Valley YMCA students by providing a level playing field where everyone participates regardless of ability and where teamwork and creativity are fostered. The Pottstown YMCA, a branch of the Freedom Valley YMCA, has been a recipient of SPC grants each year for the various programs it runs promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Allison Stinger, financial development director for the YMCA, commented that several YMCA programs would not have been possible without the SPC grant from The Hill School. “The Hill School is doing something right,” says Stinger. “It is admirable that Hill students are interested in being involved with an activity like this, and I have always been impressed with how professional, passionate, and efficient they are throughout the process.” “The Student Philanthropy Council truly has become a win for students, a win for the community, and a win for The Hill School,” said Betty Frank. “We are thrilled to be involved with this group each year, and look forward to watching it evolve and grow.” TOP: Betty and Charlie Frank ’59 meet with the SPC in 2011. Pictured with them are Zak Hutchinson ’11 and James Stormer ’12 BELOW: 2012 SPC members Keyur Dudhat ’12, James Stormer ’12, YMCA representatives Jessica Vogt and Allison Stinger, Emily Mandigo ’12, and Justin Kuyper ’13


E ALUMNI THRE PA R T I C I PA N T S C P S REFLECT ON THEIR INVOLVEMENT Bob Dougherty ’11 president of the SPC for 2010-11, sophomore at Princeton University

HILL TIES

“The SPC was undoubtedly one of the defining experiences of my time at The Hill. The depth of discussion and the hard-fought compromises still amaze me when I look back. The SPC has taught me numerous lessons, but most importantly, I learned to take my time. We were dealing with real organizations, real people, and real money—things that should not be taken lightly. Decisions such as these require patience and careful deliberation, and it was our responsibility to give both. The SPC remains one of The Hill’s most exceptional student organizations; its impact on the surrounding community has been a boon to the School’s image.”

Jennifer Kang ’10 two-year SPC participant, junior at the University of Pennsylvania “The Student Philanthropy Council allowed me to be aware of the greater community that surrounds our city on the hill and which was my secondary home for four years. It also transformed my previously vague picture of philanthropy. The stereotypical philanthropist in my mind was a socially successful man or woman, monetarily comfortable enough to give away money to unknown, underprivileged people. I had not seen that Pottstown was, in fact, home to numerous philanthropists. I truly did not expect that so much work would be needed in giving away money. Starting from drafting a request for proposal and going to specific organizations for on-site visits leading to actually delivering our grant, the efforts lasted until the spring of that school year. While I looked through the requests for proposals, learned about different nonprofit organizations, and met with some g

The foundation for future growth:

The Hill School’s endowment What is an endowment? The endowment is comprised of gifts made to The Hill with the understanding that the original value of the gift (the principal) will be invested and never spent, and a portion of the investment earnings (the distribution) will be used to fund the educational mission of the School. An endowment fund contributes revenue to the operating budget of The Hill every year in perpetuity. It is up to the School to decide how much of these earnings to spend with the ultimate goal of retaining enough growth to keep pace with inflation and ensure future growth. In a given year at The Hill, as stated as a mandate of the School’s Strategic Plan, the School will spend no more than 5-7 percent.

to a mutual fund where each individual fund is treated like an investor whose funds are combined with those of other investors. Income and appreciation is credited to each fund depending on the investment performance for the entire endowment. For example, if the return for the whole endowment is 12 percent in a year, then each individual fund also has a return of 12 percent.

HILL TIES

What is the difference between a restricted and an unrestricted fund? Endowment funds are often restricted to a specific purpose by the donor, such as student scholarships, an endowed instructorship or faculty chair, or to further an academic or co-curricular program. Other funds are unrestricted and can be applied for the best use as determined by The Hill. Less than 20 percent of The Hill’s endowment is unrestricted. The majority of endowments at The Hill support academic programs; social, cultural, athletic, and recreational activities; and financial aid.

How does the endowment work? A traditional endowment fund’s value can change in one of only three ways: 1) Gifts to the fund will increase the market value; 2) Investment returns can increase or decrease market value, depending on market returns; and 3) Endowment distributions can decrease the market value. When the School receives an individual gift to the endowment, it is combined with other gifts and funds and managed by the Business Office as a single investment, called the “Total Return Pool” (TRP). The endowment is similar

The Hill School Business Office manages the investment, with oversight by the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, chaired by Jim O’Mealia ’76 P’03 ’07 ’08 ’11. The Business Office works with external fund managers to choose assets in which to invest in order to create a well-diversified mix of assets that offers the best opportunity for maximum return with acceptable risk over time. The Hill uses a formula to set a distribution rate applied to each fund, which provides revenue for the operating budget. This distribution is calculated using a formula that blends a combination of the current year’s spending, adjusted by an inflation factor, and the endowment’s market value over a period of time. The formula takes into account the market value of the endowment, so any changes in the market value will have an impact on future distributions. A large change in the value of the endowment, positive or negative, will have a large impact on the amount available for the operating budget. The Hill’s overall goal is to generate sufficient returns to support the current operating needs while maintaining the long-term purchasing power of the endowment fund. An additional goal is to generate return that exceeds inflation, achieving “real” growth of the endowment. When The Hill creates its budget, it tries to estimate what the return on the endowment will be, and the impact of new gifts on the endowment, and thus how much money will be available for the budget. Z

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

25


children were from squatter camps, where a small flame or loose match can swiftly burn down 200 shacks in an instant. We were only supposed to work 10 hours per week, but due to the immense need, I often worked 30-40 hours per week. On Sundays, I went into the squatter camps to help with fire prevention programming and to assist with the children. Most of the women and girls in the camp have been raped or sexually abused, and I witnessed many of the men, fathers and providers, drinking and gambling. At Children of Fire I was thrown into so many experiences and tasks that I never expected to experience, but that is what happens at an underfunded and understaffed charity. The Johannesburg School for the Blind, Low Vision, and Multiple Disability Children, the sister school of Children of Fire, is a school for the children who are burned to attend between surgeries, as well as for children who are blind. I have no experience teaching, but I was thrown into running faculty meetings, teaching kindergarten, doing speech therapy, teaching pre-braille to pre-school aged blind kids, and curriculum planning.

Jennifer Kang ’10, Bob Dougherty ’11, and Caitlin Klein ’09 present a check to the YWCA, which was selected as a SPC grant recipient in 2009, during the first year of the program. The YWCA used its grant for its “Little Miss Manners: Empowering Girls Through Etiquette” program for area low-income girls ages 8-12, helping them build their self-esteem, self-respect, and communication skills by teaching topics ranging from manners and hygiene to healthy eating.

real-life philanthropists and citizens of Pottstown, I gradually realized that Pottstown was not a small part of The Hill School, but rather, The Hill School was smaller part of Pottstown. My notion of philanthropist also changed: a philanthropist was a person, regardless of social status, and even wealth, who truly strives in any way to benefit someone other than him or herself. A philanthropist could be a man who distributed bikes all over Pottstown or a woman who worked at the YWCA.”

Caitlin Klein ’09 The SPC’s first co-president, will begin her senior year at Davidson University. Cait spent the fall semester of her junior year studying abroad in Johannesburg, South Africa with the International Human Rights Exchange Programme. During her time there, she attended school as well as completed an internship with the Children of Fire (www.firechildren.org), a charity dedicated to helping children from all parts of Africa who have been seriously burned. She returned to South Africa in July to conduct research for her senior thesis on women who conceive from rape at the Crisis and Trauma Clinic. Cait credits her participation in the SPC as setting her on the path toward work in charity and philanthropy. She details her experiences in South Africa here: “While I was in Johannesburg, I was put face to face with the enormous wealth discrepancy that is part of the legacy of apartheid. I stayed in the international house on the college campus and it was the nicest dorm I’ve ever lived in. Then, right down the road was a huge squatter camp, or slum, home to more than 10,000 people. During my internship at Children of Fire, I saw children who had been burned in accidents such as playing with matches, but predominantly the

26

K EEPER S O F TH E HI LL

My most rewarding time each day was with Bongani, a 9-year-old burn survivor with severe behavioral issues. None of the other volunteers were willing to work with him, but I started walking the charity director’s dog with him each day, and I saw instant progress. He had been burned when he was 6, when his grandmother held him over a vat of steaming water to supposedly alleviate flu symptoms, and dropped him in, burning his stomach lining, esophagus, and face. All of the kids need one-on-one attention, but they hardly receive it because the organization is so understaffed. It was a difficult adjustment coming back to America, but I will be going back to Johannesburg in July to conduct research at the Crisis and Trauma Center. The organization where I was going to conduct research was an orphanage/rape crisis center in Goma, Congo; however it had stopped receiving funding and it is possible they would have to shut their doors. I have been helping them to get financial assistance as much as I can by emailing foundations and other giving sources to see if they might be interested in helping to fund this organization. After being so personally involved in both charities, working on the ground in South Africa and assisting with financial issues from afar with the organization in the Congo, I am eternally grateful to have had my start with the SPC. I still have my SPC manual and still call upon the resources in it to reference the best way to write a grant. And I can only do that because I have had the chance to read many proposals and the experience giving money in meaningful ways. I greatly appreciate the experience the SPC gave to me, and the way it has prepared me for the life experiences I am immersed in now, and will have in the future.” Z


DONOR DOCKET: Kathryn W. Hauch’05

In the spring of 2004, Kat Hauch ’05 made Hill School history when the class of 2005 elected her the vice president of the sixth form for the upcoming year, making her the first female to hold a vice presidential position for the Student Government Association. Kat also took on another leadership position when she was voted as a class secretary for her class the following spring. She still considers being elected to such positions by her peers to be the biggest compliment she has ever received, and also credits her leadership roles with teaching her responsibility and accountability. “My duties as a class secretary are different than those I had as vice president, but the same principles apply. Now, the challenge is to keep our diverse class in touch,” she said. “Luckily, we have social networking tools to aid in overcoming this challenge.” Kat is proud that the class of 2005 was able to set attendance and fundraising participation records at their five-year reunion in 2010. After graduating from Sewanee College in 2009, Kat attended Wake Forest University’s Law School and earned her J.D. this past spring, and she plans on practicing as an attorney in Atlanta, Ga. She credits her Hill experience for preparing her to adequately handle the successes and failures she encountered during her seven years of higher education, as well as those she realizes she will face during her professional career. Kat fondly recalls her time at The Hill and her hope is that future generations of Hill students have a similar, if not better, Hill experience.

Celebrating The Hill’s Tradition of Loyalty

& SAVE THE DATE! The 1851 Society and Matthew Meigs Society Recognition Dinner Saturday, November 3, 2012 at The Hill School

“Our ‘Hill ties’ bind us together as a community,” says Kat. “Our goal should be to help Hill students soar by making it our obligation to give them an equal, if not better, experience than we had as young Hill students.” Both Kat and her mother support The Hill Fund each year and she pledges to continue that support each year. “If alumni continue to make Hill a priority, the benefits are two-fold. First, we will enhance the educational opportunities and resources for current and future Hill generations. Also, it will strengthen our community bond, which naturally leads to other positive effects such as professional networking,” notes Kat, who was one of the first women elected to the Alumni Association Executive Committee in June. Z

GET CONNECTED! Find us on Facebook. Join the more than 4,800 fans on the official Hill School Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ thehillschool and the Alumni Association fan page at www.facebook.com/hillalumni Network with us on LinkedIn. Join the 942 members of The Hill’s alumni career networking group on LinkedIn. Sign-in and search groups for “The Hill School Alumni/ae Group” to request membership. Anyone who has ever attended The Hill School may become a member. Follow us on Twitter. Get our latest tweets @TheHillSchool.

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

27


WINTER & SPRING Winter

Spring

Boys’ basketball (14-8) Boys’ ice hockey (7-17-4) Girls’ basketball (18-7) Girls’ ice hockey (2-6-1) Boys’ indoor track and field

Baseball (12-7) Boys’ golf (3-6) Girls’ golf (7-2) Boys’ lacrosse (9-6) Girls’ lacrosse (4-14) Softball (5-12) Boys’ tennis (8-6) Boys’ track and field (5-1)

MAPL – 3rd

Girls’ indoor track and field

MAPL – 4th

Boys’ squash (3-10) Girls’ squash (1-10) Boys’ swimming & diving (0-7) Girls’ swimming & diving (3-4) Wrestling (4-10)

Boys’ Basketball

28

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

ATHLETICS

MAPL – 3rd; PAISAA – 3rd

Girls’ track and field (3-3)

MAPL – 4th Girls’ Lacrosse

Girls’ Swimming & Diving


Quinn Davis ’12

Girls’ Basketball

To say that Quinn Davis ’12, Pottstown, Pa., had a good year of running would be a gross understatement. The boys’ cross country captain finished undefeated in dual meet competition in the fall and placed in the top 10 at every major invitational the team attended. At the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship meet, he became just the fifth runner in league history to break 16 minutes at the championship meet and cruised to a first place finish, besting the second place runner by 25 seconds. He continued his strong running in the indoor track season, claiming first place in the 1600 meter run at the indoor MAPL championship meet in 4:25, which qualified him for the indoor State meet, a meet that includes both public and private school athletes. On February 25, he traveled to Penn State University to compete in the 1600 and finished in 10th place in 4:24, missing the school record by less than half a second. He would not be denied the 1600 meter record in the outdoor season. Quinn again cruised through the season undefeated in the event heading into the MAPL Championship meet, held at Hill’s Colbath Track on May 12. A pack of three consisting of Quinn, a runner from Peddie, and a runner from Lawrenceville remained together for the first three laps before Quinn began to pull away on the bell lap knowing that the school record was within reach. He entered the final straightaway with a view of the time clock in full sight and found the adrenaline needed to sprint his way to a 4:18 finish, breaking the school record by two seconds. Three days later, he completed his undefeated outdoor season in the event with a first place finish at the PAISAA State Championship meet. Z

Despite the fairly successful history of the girls’ basketball program, head coach Grey Simpson wasn’t satisfied with repeating the past this season. He wanted to make history, which is exactly what the 2011-12 varsity girls’ basketball team did. The team reached the final of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League for the second consecutive season, and following the team’s 25 point drubbing of three-time defending PAISAA champion Germantown Academy (the first win against the Patriots in program history), the girls’ secured the top seed in the PAISAA Tournament for the first time. Simpson credits this season’s success to the program’s recent “play anyone, anywhere, anytime” mentality that has resulted in an increasingly competitive schedule the past few seasons. The first sign of the team’s recent progress came at the Beast of the East Tournament (formerly known as the Breezy Bishop Classic) in Baltimore, where it posted a 2-1 record, the only loss coming by four points; three years ago, the team struggled to stay within 25 points of its opponents at the tournament. The girls’ continued their strong play through the middle of the season, winning 11 of 14 games between the conclusion of the Beast of the East and the start of the MAPL Tournament, in which they were the second seed. A 66-60 victory against Lawrenceville put them in the MAPL Championship against Blair Academy for the second consecutive year, where they ultimately fell by five points. Three days later, the girls’ regrouped with a 49-34 win in the quarterfinal of the PAISAA Tournament. Four girls hit double-digit scoring in a semi-final win against Episcopal Academy, placing the team in the PAISAA Championship game for the first time in program history. Unfortunately, Hill met its match against Friends League Champion Shipley School, falling by a 59-52 final score. Though not the desired result, the girls can still be proud of their accomplishments in the season. Z

Quinn crosses the finish line in a new school and Mid-Atlantic Prep League record of 4:18 in the 1600 meter run.

Leading scorer Deanna Mayza ’13, Pennsburg, Pa., drives past an opponent.

TH E H IL L SCH OOL

29


Hill takes on Lawrenceville at the NHL Winter Classic On January 2, the Philadelphia Flyers faced off against the New York Rangers on a rink constructed on the infield of Citizens Bank Park as the main event of the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Two days later, the varsity boys’ hockey team faced off against Lawrenceville on the exact same ice surface in the schools’ own version of the Winter Classic. A cold, overcast day provided perfect conditions for the first outdoor game between the two teams since 2005-06, the final year Hall Rink was open. The team arrived at the park shortly before 1 p.m. and was escorted to its dressing room — the Philadelphia Phillies’ locker room. After going through the usual pre-game stretches, the team walked past the framed jerseys of Phillies legends such as Richie Ashburn and Mike Schmidt, through the Phillies dugout, and onto the ice. Despite an evenly played game, Lawrenceville was able to capitalize on two turnovers and scored two shorthanded goals, and took a 2-0 lead into the game’s final minute. Matching minor penalties with 75 seconds

S AV E T HE DAT E !

Friday, November 2, 2012 Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Alumni Red Meat Dinner 30

ATHLETICS

remaining had the teams skating four aside, and Hill pulled goaltender Jophrey Gregoire ’12 for an extra attacker. With 58 seconds remaining, Dillon McCourt stuffed home a rebound to cut the deficit in half. As soon as Hill maintained possession off the ensuing faceoff, Gregoire was back to the bench for an extra attacker and Hill again swarmed the Lawrenceville net. With just 2.8 seconds remaining, Charles Vezina ’13 scored to send the players, coaches, and hundreds of fans in attendance into a delirious celebration. A shootout was held to determine a winner, but with the score tied after four rounds, the game had to be called due to time constraints. After the game, the Advancement Office hosted a reception at McFadden’s Restaurant, attached to the park. The more than 200 guests in attendance gave the team a thunderous ovation when they arrived for a well-deserved dinner. Z The varsity boys’ hockey team poses for a picture after a 2-2 tie with Lawrenceville at Citizens Bank Park

During The Hill School’s Reunion Weekend luncheon on Saturday, June 9, 2012, the inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame induction class and The Founders Hall were announced to The Hill community. Nominations were made this year in one or more of the following categories: Player, Coach, Team, or Extraordinary Sports Achievement. The Nomination Committee reviewed candidates this spring for selection, and named the following as the Hill Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012: Athletes: Ralph Hills ’21; Mike Vollmer ’86 Coach: Don Ronnie Team: 1949 football Extraordinary Sports Achievement: Dick Harter ’48

The Founders Hall was created in this inaugural year as a one-time selection for those “uncontestables” who had an indelible impact on Hill athletics throughout the School’s history. The Founders Hall includes: Frank Bissell ’33; Sabin Carr ’24; Henry Colbath; Briggs Cunningham ’26; Thomas Eccleston, Jr.; Clarence Fincke 1893; Jimmy Gillison ’29; Sam Horner ’56; Lamar Hunt ’51; David H. Mercer; Alberto Mestre ’82; Tom Northrup ’64; Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50; Harry Price; Wilbur C. “Jack” Riley; Michael Sweeney; Dave Willman ’88. Complete biographies of inductees and more information about The Hill School’s Athletics Hall of Fame can be found online at www.thehill.org/halloffame. Z


“Pitching” Hill baseball with facility dedication On Saturday, April 28, The Hill celebrated 125 years of baseball with the official dedication of the newly renovated baseball field. Legendary coach Jim “Doc” Finn was honored for his 33 years of coaching during the ceremony.

The day’s events began with a blessing from the Rev. Dr. John Houghton and a brief history of Hill baseball from Headmaster David R. Dougherty. Headmaster Dougherty then thanked the more than 60 generous friends and alumni of Hill baseball who contributed to help build the new facility. As a token of the School’s appreciation for their generosity, commemorative baseball bats bearing the Hill seal were presented to all donors in attendance. Chris Drowne ’89, the Walter Lemley Coach of Varsity Baseball, spoke about his friend and former coach and colleague, James “Doc” Finn, Ph.D. Drowne shared memories of getting to know “Doc” Finn in the classroom and on the baseball diamond as a student and later as a young coach. Chris also thanked Christian Sockel, Geoff Neese ’00, Jonathan Dressler ’99, and Bill Robertson ’92 of the Advancement Office for their work in raising funds for the field. He said, “Doc would most want to be honored by quality play on a field like this.” A bagpiper then piped the bounds of the entire field, followed by all in attendance at the ceremony, before a typical ballpark fare lunch was served beneath a tent behind the home team dugout. Z

ABOVE: Longtime coach Jim “Doc” Finn speaks with Ed and Lonna Donaher P’05 at the dedication of the new baseball field. TOP: A bagpiper leads the team, coaching staff, and guests around the field.

Following the dedication, the varsity baseball team defeated arch-rival Lawrenceville 6-5 in a thrilling game. TH E H IL L SCH OOL

31


AT

TR

WH

Please consider including The Hill in your charitable estate planning. The easiest and cost free ways to do so are either to name The Hill as an heir in your will or name The Hill as a charitable beneficiary on your IRA or retirement/pension account. Such generous acts cost you virtually nothing during your lifetime but the time to make the inclusion in those documents. These gifts do not affect your current retirement income or standard of living. They give your estate a charitable deduction and establish a legacy gift to benefit future generations of Hill students and faculty. It’s a win-win scenario, and it speaks volumes about The Hill School experience.

UE

Money talks. But an estate gift to The Hill speaks volumes.

SO

EV

R ER THINGS A

E

T he H ill S chool Founded in Pottstown in 1851

To learn more about establishing your Hill legacy and gifts of appreciated assets, please contact Christian P. Sockel, CFRE J.D., Director of Advancement and Capital Gifts, at 610-705-1005 or by email at csockel@thehill.org.


THE HILL SCHOOL 717 East High Street Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464-5791 Address Service Requested

The girls’ soccer team after defeating L’ville to capture the MAPL Championship last fall.

It was a team effort! Thank you for championing The Hill School experience! We are so grateful to the more than 2,100 Hill alumni, parents, and friends who helped raise more than $2.58 million for The 2011-12 Hill Fund. We couldn’t have done it without you! All those gifts benefited students and faculty primarily. Thank you very much.

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Richmond, VA Permit No. 320


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.