VOLUME 93, NUMBER 1 • WINTER/SPRING 2013
HILL TIES
ILL H A Traditionally Reimagined Hill TIES For Our Students
HILL TIES
INSIDE: 2012-17 Strategic Plan • Game-changing campus enhancements • Hill celebrates Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame
HILL DOER
photo: Darren Modricker
KENT W. DAVIS ’79 P’14 HOME: Wyomissing Hills, Pa. FAMILY/ HILL TIES: Wife, Barbara; two children, William J. ’14 and Clark K.; brother, Scott J. Davis ’82 EDUCATION: Attended Boston University; Washington and Jefferson College, B.A.; Holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (SM) Designation, administered by Investment Management Consultants Association (SM) and taught in conjunction with The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. CAREER: First Vice President for Wealth Management for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS: Golf, squash, snowboarding, reading FONDEST HILL MEMORIES: Mr. Ruth, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Revell, and Mr. McAlpin were all positive influences during my Hill School years. As a student, I remember my days in Upper School on Mr. Taylor’s hall and with the Bensingers during my sixth form year. Snowball fights on the Quad and javelin ball were also good times. As an alumnus, I have
had many occasions to use my Hill connections to meet interesting fellow alumni. As a freshman at B.U., I had the opportunity to hear Senator William Proxmire ’34 speak in Boston when he was promoting his book, The Fleecing of America. I wore my Hill tie to the event and bought a copy of the book. While waiting for the Senator to finish an interview with reporters, he spied my tie, motioned me over, and signed my copy of his book: The brotherhood (and now sisterhood) ties of Hill alumni continue to impress me. ON HIS HILL EXPERIENCE: The Hill helped me to develop better study habits and become more independent. Although I was not a standout student during those years, I learned to handle adversity. My current profession becomes quite hectic at times, and I have been able to manage the inconsistencies well for 28 years. CREATING A HILL LEGACY: There are few experiences as unique as attending a boarding school. The traditions of seated meals, attending chapel, and celebrating the events of The Hill vs. L’ville rivalry are important
pieces of the overall experience, which I am proud to share with my sons. Equally as important to my wife, Barbara, and me is the tremendous dedication of the faculty and rigor of the academics. Former Headmaster David Dougherty’s favorite line, “I love you; now eat your spinach,”sums it up succinctly. HILL’S VOLUNTEER EFFORTS: 1979 Class Secretary, Member of The 1851 Society and James V. Moffatt Loyalty Society, admission and advancement office volunteer, Reunion Committee member, Executive Committee member, Career Day participant, and host parent for international students ON VOLUNTEERING: I am grateful to my parents for their wisdom in choosing to send my brother and me to The Hill; prior to Hill, we had attended a small rural school that lacked a diverse curriculum. The opportunity to attend The Hill has opened many doors for me and has helped me in my profession, as well as in other aspects of my life. Giving back to the School is my way of thanking this wonderful institution for my meaningful experience. Z
HILL TIES • VOLUME 93, NUMBER 1 • WINTER/SPRING 2013
Hill Views
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The Headmaster’s Table Board of Trustees
BENEFITS OF iPADS IN CLASSROOMS — PAGE 9
Taking flight with Sabrina Kennedy ’15 A sampling of student accomplishments, events, and seized opportunities Unique exhibit by artist Jungjin Lee p’14 featured in Boyer Gallery
A Traditionally Reimagined Hill For Our Students
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Ensuring an exceptional student body Applying new technology initiatives; iPads in classrooms, and more For Our Students, we will...
Keepers of The Hill NEW WYETH PRINTS RELEASED — PAGE 13
Donor Docket: Robert Kelly P’88 GP’11 ’14 Hill Alumni: Get Connected Newest N.C. Wyeth prints released Be the Maine man — or woman — at The Hill School Introducing the Alumni Association Executive Committee Haverford and D.C. mark first stops on Headmaster Lehman’s introductory tour 3/3, 6/6, 9/9, 12/12: Hill Alumni quarterly events calendar Funding for game-changing campus enhancements secured
Athletics
Fall and winter season highlights Stand-out soccer seasons Founders Hall and inaugural class inducted into The Hill’s Athletics Hall of Fame Remembering two Hill legends: Frank S. Bissell ’33, P’72 and David H. Mercer 125th Anniversary of Hill vs. Lawrenceville Rivalry
Class Notes
A Life BaDesign: Branden Adams ’92
Faculty and Staff Notes
Former Faculty Notes 2011-2012 Recipient of Brody Family Fellowship: William T. Yinger ’95
In Remembrance CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF RIVALRY — PAGE 23
ABOUT OUR COVER: Ali Bolak ’14, from Istanbul, Turkey; Andrew Watson ’15, from Phoenix, Ariz.; and Madelyn Hicks ’16, from Douglassville, Pa., are all new students to The Hill this year. “The Hill has so much opportunity. It offers a range of classes and extracurricular activities for students to choose an educational path more individualized and personal to them,” notes Maddie. Maddie was part of the third form iPad pilot program; read more about this program on page 9. Z
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Th e H ea dmaster’s Table
In this issue of Hill Ties, we introduce you to our new Strategic Plan. I also want to introduce as food for thought the first key area of impact: a commitment to our students that their Hill School education will be both affordable and comprehensive. To that end, the Plan sets forth our ambitious goal of achieving a need-blind admissions policy while simultaneously growing our domestic and international diversity, developing a values-based residential life curriculum, promoting health and wellness in all aspects of campus life, ensuring character development activities, enhancing the college search process, and supporting the pursuit of excellence outside of the classroom. In other words, we mean to make “The Hill Experience” bigger, better, and, yes, cheaper. Although it is not explicitly stated in the Strategic Plan, I believe The Hill intends to adopt both a need-blind and a full-need admissions policy: when the policy is eventually instituted, we will neither consider an applicant’s financial circumstances during the admissions process nor fail to meet the full demonstrated financial aid needs of all admitted students. A quick internet search suggests that there are only eight colleges and universities in the U.S. that can make this claim (Amherst, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale) and only a handful of boarding schools seem to offer some version of need-blind/full-need admissions. It is hard to even fathom, much less describe, the paradigm shift that this policy will cause at The Hill —it surely would have been sufficient to state this singular objective and stop. However, as you can read in the Strategic Plan and will hear more about in the next few issues of Hill Ties, we intend to do much, much more.
“...the Plan’s first key area of impact: a commitment to our students that their Hill School education will be both affordable and comprehensive.” — HEADMASTER ZACHARY G. LEHMAN
While the mechanics of implementing a need-blind and full-need admissions policy are certainly complex, the more pressing concern is how will we fund it? The Strategic Plan anticipates that we will raise and add $50 million to our endowment for financial aid to achieve this goal. While that significant accomplishment would endow our current annual financial aid budget, it is realistic to expect our financial aid demands to increase significantly once we implement this new admissions
What is a “need-blind” admissions policy? Educational institutions with a “need-blind” (or “full-need”) admissions policy do not consider the financial situation of a student when making admission decisions. In most cases, the majority of financial aid will go to students who prove financial need.
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THE HILL SCHOOL POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUME 93 • NO. 1 Winter/Spring 2013
policy. I will leave it to the finance experts in our community to determine an accurate figure; in the meantime, you can expect to see me asking our constituency for financial support to ensure that The Hill is accessible to all. And while this will not happen overnight, and may not come to fruition within the five-year timeline of the current Strategic Plan, we must pursue this principled objective with a genuine sense of urgency. As stated in my first Headmaster’s Table message last summer, I intend to use this space to share my reflections of conversations with our students during our family-style meals at The Hill. While I have not exactly lived up to that self-imposed expectation in this issue, I will say that my discussions with students have more frequently centered on affordability issues, e.g., limiting college searches based on cost, declining special experiential opportunities because of price, international students worrying about expensive trips home and relying more on host families, etc. At the same time, I find myself wondering what types of conversations I might overhear when affordability at The Hill is no longer an issue. The remainder of 2013 promises to be an exciting time at The Hill. I look forward to sharing it with our students, faculty, staff, and you. Warm regards,
Zachary G. Lehman Headmaster Zack with sixth formers at one of the first Sixth Form Coffee gatherings.
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 Enrollment Management Christian P. Sockel, J.D., Director of Advancement and Capital Giving PHOTOGRAPHY
Jen Lebo Photography, Charles L. Garrettson Ph.D. ’71, C.C.F. Gachet ’81, Dan Burns 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 ©2013, THE HILL SCHOOL.
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TH E H IL L SCH OOL
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2013
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 Michael W. Harris ‘84 Peter G. Humphrey ‘72, P ‘02 Jason W. Ingle ‘93 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 Scott. C. Wilson P ‘10 Honorary Trustees 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 ‘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
Taking flight with Sabrina Kennedy ’15 The unique talents and inspirational achievements of Sabrina Kennedy ’15, Emmaus, Pa., piqued the interest of area media. Instead of celebrating her 16th birthday with cake and candles and perhaps a gift of a new iPod, Sabrina chose to mark the occasion with her first solo flight, piloting a single engine plane. The successful completion of the flight made her the youngest pilot in the region and one of the youngest in the country. After one-and-a-half years of flying instruction and ground school, and with the assistance of her flight instructor, Rocky, Sabrina received the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration to allow her to fly solo. During the flight, she performed a rectangular flight pattern around Braden Airpark in Forks Township, Pa., with three take-offs and landings. Next on her list: Become certified for a cross-country flight. That will involve more flight instruction and an FAA ground school online exam. An article on Sabrina’s accomplishment appeared in the January 21 issue of The Express Times. Sabrina also made headlines earlier this fall for her incredible work in the art of glassblowing. Sabrina, a participant in The Hill’s afternoon arts program, was featured in the September 20 edition of The Morning Call. Sabrina held an exhibition of her work in a gallery show at The Dancing Tree Creations LLC Artisans Gallery and Studio in Boyertown, in October. Sabrina has been practicing the art of glassblowing since the age of 12. Z
Sabrina Kennedy ’15 after completing the final landing of her first solo flight
Here is just a sampling of the many wonderful accomplishments students celebrated at The Hill this fall and winter. For more coverage, including video, please visit our website: www.thehill.org and “like us” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thehillschool. Updates to news and information are made daily! Z Majora Carter, a leader in community economic revitalization strategies, kick-offs “What can I do?” academic theme Hill launches “Quest for the Crest” School spirit competition Hill Forensics team excels at competitions Erik Schmidt ’14 and Nkemka Obineche ’14 were two of the seven total students selected out of 900 from across the country to have their Election 2012 essays featured in the New York Times political blog Girls’ soccer led by retiring coach Ryck Walbridge celebrates its second consecutive Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association State Championship
Five Hill School photography students attend and document the National Veterans Day Observance in Arlington Cemetery Hill violinist Alexzandria Robbins ’14 selected to perform with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Hill extends warm hand to help community children with clothing and toy donations Ji Hyon Hwang ’13 (oboe), Gary Kim ’14 (flute), and Garrison Smith ’15 (clarinet) represent Hill in District 11 music festivals Eighteen students qualify for the DECA State Championship Celebrated poet, songwriter, and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye visits as Writer in Residence
Unique exhibit by artist Jungjin Lee P’14 featured in Boyer Gallery This past fall, The Hill’s Boyer Gallery was extremely fortunate to feature the master photographs of award-winning artist Jungjin Lee P’14. Lee exhibited pieces from her “Pagoda and Wind” series through October. At the conclusion of the exhibit, Lee generously gifted the School with two of her featured works, Pagodas 98-04, edition 1/5, 2005 and Wind 07-64, edition 3/7, 2007. Lee, mother of fifth former Sang Ha Jung, currently lives and works in New York City. Raised in Seoul, she taught herself photography in the 1980s and later earned a master of arts in photography from New York University in 1992. Her works have been exhibited extensively in galleries such as Aperture Gallery in NYC, Bellas Artes Gallery in Santa Fe, Andrew Bae Gallery in Chicago, and Pace MacGill Gallery in NYC, among others, as well as in museums throughout the United States, Europe, and Korea. Lee has published several books, including Junjin Lee: Beyond Photography [2000], On Road/Ocean [2001], Thing [2005], Jungjin Lee [2006] and Wind [2009]. Her work is included in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Whitney Museum of American Art, both in New York; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston; New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe; and various prestigious institutions in Korea. In 2010-11, she participated in “Israel project: Portrait of Work in Progress,” with 12 selected international photographers. In 2011, she was the recipient of the “Anonymous Was A Woman Awards New York.”
Jungjin Lee (above) celebrates the opening of her Boyer Gallery exhibit “Pagodas and Wind” with her son, Sang Ha Jung ’14, and Ellen O. Nelson, chair of the arts department. Wind 07-64, edition 3/7, 2007 (below left), a new addition to The Hill School’s original art collection, can be found on the wall of the Lehman family’s living room in Feroe House.
In creating her work, Lee uses a relatively new printing process that resembles painting more than photography. Typically photographs are images projected on paper; however, Lee describes the process as: “using Hanji, a Korean mulberry handmade paper, with a photosensitive emulsion named Liquid Light.” The Liquid Light is painted by hand onto the paper, so the artist can decide the location and quantity of emulsion. This allows the image to emerge from inside the paper. Lee relies on a photo lab in Seoul, Korea, which is one of the few using the Liquid Light developing technique. “How blessed we were to have had the work of Jungjin gracing the walls of our gallery,” said Ellen O. Nelson, chair of the arts department. “One has to see the originals to understand the full impact of these pieces. Each one is on an extremely large format, close to 60 inches. Even so, the detail is impeccable. Being on such a large scale, the viewer can’t help but be physically engaged with the work. As I stood looking at one of the Pagodas, I couldn’t help but respond, not only on an intellectual level, but also viscerally. While my mind told me that this was a technically exacting medium, my body was saying, ‘I connect with this on some sort of ancient, primal level beyond words.’” “Fortunately all I have to do is run up to the Ryan Library where Pagodas 98-04 has been installed, and I can reconnect with this piece, thanks to Jungjin’s generosity and support of the School, ” noted Ellen. Z
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NEW STR ATEGIC PLAN FOR A
Earlier this fall, The Hill was pleased to share its 2012-17 Strategic Plan with the larger Hill family in an interactive online PDF. While the idea of producing a strategic plan is far from new or revolutionary, the goals and priorities set forth for our school in this plan arguably are the most ambitious and innovative to date. Headmaster Zachary G. Lehman has a bold, long-term goal for our great School. As he meets with alumni and parents across the country and around the world, he is eager to share his ultimate goal (to the right):
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➣ Over the next 10 years, while staying very true to our core values, The Hill will reimagine and redefine a liberal arts secondary school education. We will combine all of the powerful ideals encompassed by The Family Boarding School with the best and most innovative practices of 21st century teaching and learning. People will simultaneously describe The Hill as both the most traditional and most innovative secondary school in the country. In doing so, we will attract the most capable students and the most talented teachers from around the world; our students will be the most highly sought after college applicants; and we will generate unprecedented financial support from our alumni, parents, and other donors. The Hill will be a school built out of character. 2
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RE IMAGINE D TR ADITIONAL HILL
As we begin our journey toward implementing the new Strategic Plan, we will evaluate, address, and enhance six key areas: students, educational
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program, faculty, campus, town, and future. While the destination is clear, we are only beginning our voyage – continually investigating, researching, reevaluating, and exploring the most effective ways to get us there. We do everything at The Hill with the best interest of our students in mind, ensuring that we provide each student with an unparalleled educational experience. During the next five years, the Strategic Plan calls for us to address several specific initiatives regarding our students. We will address the affordability of a Hill School education with the aim of increasing financial aid to achieve a long-term objective of need-blind admissions. Furthermore, we will attract the best students by providing
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the programs, facilities, resources, and overall experience they should expect from our close, diverse living and learning community. The next pages highlight a few examples of all that Hill is doing for our students. 1) Third form biology students like Isabelle Nazha, Mathew Holmes-Hackerd, David Hassinger, and Carissa Kathuria, pictured with their instructor, Rachel Guthridge ’05, are now using iPads to replace their traditional textbooks. 2) Director of College Advising Craig Allen meets with sixth formers, Michelle Adjangba and Yujin Koh. 3) Ellen Nelson, chair of the arts department, works with Katherine Whitney ’13 as she puts the finishing touches on one of her pieces. 4) Oaklawn-Tuttle Director of Vocal Music Stephen Longenecker appreciates being able to teach his HAM (History of Art and Music) students more innovatively with more interaction. 5) Matt Mulhern, head coach of boys’ varsity hockey, exlplains a drill.
THE HILL SCHOOL
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NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR A REIMAGINED TRADITIONAL HILL
Ensuring an exceptional student body Which independent schools are considered need-blind?
Students at The Hill School currently come from 28 states and 18 countries; 16 percent of our
Two of The Hill’s peer schools within the Ten
to expand its domestic and international geographic diversity even further. This past fall,
Schools Admission Organization, Andover
members of the Admission Office traveled to several Latin American countries to introduce the
and Exeter, have been able to adopt a limited form of need-blind admissions. Currently, Exeter provides a free education to accepted or current students whose family income is less than $75,000, while Andover states that it is able to meet 100 percent of a family’s
student body is international. Hill, of course, strongly believes in the richness of experience and perspective that diversity brings to all our students. In the next five years, the School aims
educational opportunities available at Hill to hundreds of students. Assistant Headmaster for Enrollment Management Tom Eccleston ’87 visited several cities in Mexico including Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Torreon. Associate Director Amanda Dougherty, along with colleagues from the Ten Schools Admission Organization, made stops in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. Travel to those locations translated into both an increased awareness about The Hill and demonstrated interest; our Admission Office received 15 applications for next year from prospective students living in Latin America.
demonstrated need. As a comparison: In the coming years, Hill’s Admission team will continue to expand its travels as they search for the brightest, most motivated, and highly talented students who will succeed, thrive, and make THE HILL
ANDOVER
EXETER
positive contributions to our “family boarding school.” And, as they identify these individuals, the School must be able to offer qualified students this amazing opportunity regardless of their
# OF STUDENTS
512
1106
1000
families’ financial situations. Enter the School’s ultimate goal: need-blind admissions. “Each year our office finds itself needing to turn away 20 to 30 acceptable students due to
ENDOWMENT AS OF
6/30/2012
$ 127 million
$785 million
$992 million
financial limitations,” notes Tom. “At this time, we simply cannot match each family’s need within the existing financial aid budget.” In an effort to provide as many families as possible with assistance, in some cases we are
TUITION
2012-2013 BOARDING/DAY
$49,400/ $34,100
$44,500/ $34,500
$44,470/ $34,540
forced to offer families an amount less than that for which they are qualified. “We end up losing terrific students who we are confident belong in our Hill family to schools that could offer more financial assistance,” says Tom. “It’s unacceptable; we must do all we can to make
% OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE AID AVERAGE AWARDED GRANT BOARDING/DAY
41
46
48
sure we don’t have to put families or the School in this position.” Currently, the financial assistance budget stands at $6 million. With more requests than ever being submitted to Admission, including requests for assistance by families who previously
$31,500/ $18,550
$34,600/ $23,100
N/A
did not require aid, that allotment of funds is quickly dispersed. For the next year, a total of 522 families, both current and prospective, have applied for assistance through NAIS’ School and Student Services (SSS) application. “If we had an additional $2.5 million per year to add to the financial aid budget, we would be able to match our existing and new families’ needs appropriately, allowing us to make a huge leap toward becoming need-blind,” says Tom. Establishing a $50 million financial aid endowment would do just that. An endowment of this amount would generate the $2.5 million of income needed per year to reach this goal. However, it is not a permanent solution. Each year, as tuition costs rise, requests for financial assistance will increase as well. To become truly need-blind, this endowment will need to increase each year. Z
Applying new technology initiatives; students and faculty reap the educational benefits of iPads in the classroom and more A crucial aspect of successful strategic planning involves providing Hill
English. However, teachers of some classes that enroll students of multiple
students with the resources and tools they need to be successful in all
grades, such as Spanish, French, and Chinese, also are using the iPad, as
areas of life, which in today’s educational landscape must include an
well as some of our coaches and arts instructors.
emphasis on technology. (Naturally, innovation is not only about technology, and we will continue to write about innovation in a broad sense in future issues of Hill Ties.)
Through this collaboration with their teachers, students are enjoying the many educational benefits offered by the iPad. They are able to access a rich collection of apps; easily create electronic portfolios featuring all their
The Hill’s 2012-13 academic term started off quite differently than it had
work completed throughout the year; access files from anywhere in the world
in previous years. Not only did we welcome a new headmaster and begin
through a private cloud located on Hill’s campus; produce multimedia
this historic year with 512 students — the largest enrollment to date – but
projects; and take “handwritten” notes using a stylus or a Bluetooth
we also launched many new technology initiatives, including a 1-to-1 iPad
keyboard. Also, the portability and affordability of interactive digital
Program for all third form students. Through the fall and winter terms, our
textbooks has reduced the physical and financial burdens associated
teachers and students have had an opportunity to integrate these new
with traditional textbooks.
tools into Hill’s educational environment.
Many of our classrooms
The 1-to-1 iPad program required all third form students to bring second
also received a technology
or third generation iPads (iPad 2 or 3) to use as their main computing device
upgrade with the
while enrolled at The Hill. Additionally, all third form teachers have been
installation of AppleTVs.
equipped with iPads which they utilize to enhance learning opportunities
With this new device,
in our classrooms. Core classes that are specific to the third form and the
students and teachers
iPad initiative include biology, History of Art and Music (HAM), and
are able to project
g
Lindsay Mulhern with her third form English students Inset: Diane Richards, instructor of the arts, and digital arts student Joe Patrinostro ’15 in the newly installed Mac lab located in Ryan Library
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NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR A REIMAGINED TRADITIONAL HILL
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Afternoon Arts students working with Luke Block , instructor of woodworking/design technology, used a “Maker Bot” Replicator 3D printer to create a variety of practical items including key chains, iPhone cases, door signs, and more. The students designed the objects using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software such as MAYA, Pro-Engineer, Google Sketch-up, and SILO, and then used the 3D printer to “print” the objects in PLA plastic. Students in Luke’s Design Tech 2 class will work with the software and printer during the spring term.
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Dr. Josh Schmidt, instructor of physics, creates videos to supplement example problems that students work on in class. These videos, some of which were created using the “Explain Everything” app on Josh’s iPad, allow students to see all the steps in working out a problem in real time.
Claudio Del Valle Azuara ’14 with the “Maker Bot” Replicator 3D printer, now housed in the Ryan Library.
➣
g their iPad screens onto the TV to better showcase their work and
➣
allowing for more interactive learning in and out of the classroom. Our revamped Digital Arts program includes three distinct term courses in photo editing using Adobe PhotoShop software, media literacy, and
allow for more group feedback, among other uses.
video editing with Adobe Premiere software. The Advanced Digital
To prepare for these changes in the classrooms, this past summer seven
Arts (honors) track includes courses in animation, photo editing 2,
Hill faculty members attended the iPad Teacher Training course at new
and advanced graphic design using Adobe Illustrator software.
Hampton School (New Hampton, N.H.) to better enhance their use of the iPad as a teaching tool. The four-day, hands-on conference allowed teachers time to select Apps and create content.
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Grey Simpson, head football and girls’ basketball coach, used the iPad to track and submit live football statistics. Using a program called Digital Scout, the team’s manager was able to upload stats from the
Stephen Longenecker, Hill’s Oaklawn Tuttle Director of Vocal Music and
sidelines of games to www.hsgamecenter.com, which allowed fans to
instructor of the arts, learned many new skills that have enabled him to
follow the live stats of each game.
teach more innovatively and with greater interaction. He came away with a “clear understanding that an iPad is not just a way to convert my existing course material into the newest technological fad,” he said. “Instead, the iPad is a tool which offers me an opportunity to rethink the way I engage and teach my students both inside and outside of the classroom.” (You can watch a video of Stephen demonstrating iPad implementation to parents during the Fall Parents’ Weekend at https://vimeo.com/52798587. Longenecker notes that the course at New Hampton gave him the “skills and confidence necessary to embrace new education methods.” He remarks, “In HAM, each student is able to examine art and music through teacherguided exercises right on their iPad, and are able to annotate text and create vocabulary cards that won’t get lost or ruined throughout the year. Art and Music apps enable students to explore not just the history of art and music, but also the act of creating the art and music that we study.” Some other examples of new technology in Hill’s classrooms include: 10
All biology classes use the iPad rather than a separate textbook,
FOR OUR STUDE NTS
The iPad program, along with other technology initiatives, was spearheaded by Kyle Jones, Hill’s new Director of Information and Technology Services. When Kyle arrived here in July, the staff already was preparing for the iPad program and other campus-wide enhancements. Kyle and the ITS staff worked all summer to ensure Hill’s campus was ready to accommodate the technology needs of our 512 students and 200 faculty and staff. In addition to the 1-to-1 iPad Program, The Hill School adopted a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) program, allowing students to bring an Apple or PC laptop, as our campus network now supports both types of electronic devices. This is much different from previous years when all students were required to use only PC laptops. According to Jones, the School was not able to support a dual platform due to “inherent security issues,” explaining that the “environment at a large school is different from that of a home computer.” To overcome this, the School installed a network access control device (NAC) which now can scan all devices on the network to ensure they have necessary updates.
Recently, the School made the important decision regarding this program for next year in response to requests from faculty and parents who wished to go further with this initiative. Parents of upper formers felt their children were missing out on the educational opportunity afforded by
FOR OUR STUDENTS, we will...
the iPads and asked that the School consider rolling out the successful pilot to all students.
Meet vigorous goals set to ensure an exceptional student body.
“We simply couldn’t ignore the benefits and the voices of our parents and students, so we have
➣
$50 million by 2017
decided to formally shift to a 1+1 program this fall,” notes Jones. “Students will be expected to have an iPad and also are highly encouraged to bring a laptop of their own choosing.”
Establish a financial aid endowment of
➣
Seek to further expand our domestic and international geographic diversity
Now that we enhanced our network security with the NAC to allow a dual platform network, the School is working to implement a Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI). The VDI will extend the School’s existing private cloud, allowing students and all Hill employees the ability to access their desktops, in the words of Kyle Jones, “anytime, anywhere, from any device.”
Engage all students – boarding and day — in a community that promotes the values embodied in our motto of “Whatsoever things are true.”
➣ Develop a residential life curriculum that Shortly after the school year began, the Information and Technology Services department completed
supplements our challenging academic program
an upgrade of the School’s internet connection, essentially quadrupling the amount of bandwidth
and enhances interactions between students and their
available to students on campus. Jones states that “internet as a whole is now better, quicker,
teachers, dormitory parents, advisers, and coaches
and faster.” Similarly, increased bandwidth will allow for faster and easier VDI access off campus.
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campus life
Finally, the old PC computer lab in the basement of John P. Ryan Library has been transformed into a modern Mac lab, featuring 17 brand new Apple computers equipped with the latest digital
Promote health and wellness in all aspects of
small computer lab for Hill’s CAD drafting and computer programming classes. The lab contains
Encourage our students to pursue excellence in both their academic pursuits and their co-curricular endeavors and passions.
six stations, each equipped with a Mac Mini and a Hewlett Packard Workstation Z220.
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editing software for use by students in our Digital Arts courses. The School recently created a
Ensure visibility and recognition of our students
Hill School’s Assistant Headmaster for Enrollment Management Tom Eccleston ’87 is quite
for their achievements – in the classroom, on the
happy about the impact of these innovations on our admission efforts. “We are thrilled about
playing fields, in the arts, in community service,
the iPad program and dual platform technology initiative for this school year,” he remarks.
and in other commitments
“This will allow our students and teachers to become 21st Century thinkers and doers, and will
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specialization opportunities, and requirements
put Hill at the forefront of 21st Century learning.” Z
Josh Schmidt, science instructor, seen here in class with students, Phil Bolinger ’14, DH Yoo ’15, and Sanobar Shaikh ’14, creates video lessons using his iPad.
Evaluate and redefine our athletics offerings,
Ensure that our students thrive in dormitory facilities befitting The Hill’s high standards.
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Annually assess dormitory rooms and common areas and make prioritized improvements
Empower our students to take responsibility for their college search process and make insightful decisions about their life after The Hill.
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Maintain data and metrics that will help inform the process for our students
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Achieve and maintain ambitious acceptance rates for top colleges and universities while working one-on-one with students to identify institutions where they will experience the greatest challenge and success
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KEEPERS OF THE HILL
DONOR DOCKET: Robert Kelly P’88 GP ’11 ’14
Driving home the mission... When Bob Kelly founded the family’s Lehigh Valley, Pa., based company Kelly Auto Group 50 years ago, he knew he wanted to establish a business founded upon the values of “integrity, teamwork, enthusiasm, pride, and family values.” Throughout the years, that mission evolved into the company’s “Kelly Shared Vision”— a vision shared by his three sons, Greg Kelly P’11 ’14, Bob Kelly, Jr., and Tim Kelly ’88, all of whom have helped manage the family’s business, as well as the more than 250 “team members” employed within the company’s six dealerships. Bob and his wife, Margaret, first learned of The Hill School from a neighbor as they explored secondary school options for their youngest son, Tim. They truly felt The Hill was right fit for their family, even though it meant ultimately making the tough decision to send their youngest child away from home to boarding school. What they found at The Hill for Tim was an exceptional educational experience based in integrity, teamwork, enthusiasm, pride, and family values—all characteristics woven into the fabric of the Kelly name.
Robert Kelly P’88, GP’11 ’14
GET CONNECTED! Find us on Facebook. Join the more than 6,100 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 1,078 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 can become a member.
Follow us on Twitter. Get our latest tweets @TheHillSchool.
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It was because of Tim’s outstanding experience that Bob and Margaret encouraged their oldest son, Greg, and his wife, Lorraine, to send their daughters, Megan and Catherine, to The Hill. During her time here, Megan ’11 was a stand-out Hill student-athlete in field hockey and lacrosse; she now is a member of Franklin and Marshall’s nationally ranked Division III field hockey team. Catherine, a fifth form student, celebrated a championship season as a starting defender on the girls’ soccer team this past fall. Both sisters have made positive and meaningful contributions to The Hill community in their own ways. Even though a span of more than 20 years has passed from the time Mr. Kelly was a Hill parent to his becoming a Hill grandparent, he and Margaret have chosen to support The Hill financially through annual gifts to The Hill Fund. The Kellys have made gifts to the School consistently since 1989; they are counted among the School’s most loyal supporters in the highest level of the James V. Moffatt Loyalty Society. “We believe in and have a fondness for private education, because it allows for certain independences and opportunities that public schools do not,” says Mr. Kelly. “We realize The Hill as a private secondary school needs additional funding to help it stay true to its mission. We want to see The Hill grow and prosper.” Mr. Kelly feels the primary trait that makes The Hill stand out from other schools is its focus on character development. “Other schools talk about it, but The Hill actually does it,” notes Mr. Kelly.
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NEWEST N.C. WYETH PRINTS RELEASED Two more limited edition prints of the School’s N.C. Wyeth painting collection are now available for purchase through the Campus Store. Created as illustrations for the book Poems of American Patriotism, edited by Brander Matthews in 1922, the paintings were a 1923 gift to The Hill from Michael Sweeney, former coach and physical education director from 1896-1936. “Grant” (1) and “Sherman” (2) now join the previously released prints of John Burns of Gettysburg, “O Captain! O Captain!,” “Barbara Freitchie,” “The Picket Guard,” “Nathan Hale,” “George Washington,” “Washington,” “Paul Revere’s Ride,” “Warren’s Address,” “The Old Continentals,” and “Washington Serving Liberty.” Z
Be the Maine man — or woman — at The Hill School George D. Senter, long-time mathematics teacher, dormitory parent, and adviser at The Hill for more than 30 years, loved his “Dear Old Hill” as much as his beloved hometown of Brunswick, Maine. When Mr. Senter passed away in 2011, he left the School with a $3 million gift. Part of that generous gift established The George D. Senter Scholarship Endowment for Students from Maine. We encourage our Hill family members residing in Maine to consider this tremendous opportunity for their children and to share this announcement with their family and friends. For more information, please contact Tom Eccleston ’87, assistant headmaster for enrollment management, at teccleston@thehill.org or 610-705-1296. You may also visit www.thehill.org/senterscholarship to find out more. Z
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Each print is approximately 11" x 14" and matted to fit a standard 16" x 20" frame (frame not included). Cost per print is $125 plus tax and shipping. Prints may be purchased by contacting the Campus Store at 610-705-1291 or online by visiting www.thehill.org/CampusStore. 2 George D. Senter TH E H IL L SCH OOL
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The Alumni Association nurtures the ties of its alumni with each other and with the School while sharing the ideas and experiences of its diverse membership. Through events, networking, and other programs, we believe the School will continue to play a valuable and enriching part in the lives of young and old alumni.
INTRODUCING THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
In June 2012, The Hill School elected these members of the Executive Committee of The Hill School Alumni Association to lead the Association’s efforts in fulfilling its mission. Duncan Banfield ’91 is vice president of Greenwich Associates, a management consulting firm to the financial services industry. Duncan earned his M.B.A. from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College and B.A. in history from Trinity College. Duncan resides in Fairfield, Conn., with his wife and daughter.
Bill Robertson ’92 is director of alumni relations at The Hill School. He returned to Hill in 2010 after running the annual fund for four years at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. Bill earned his B.A. in psychology from Duke University. He lives on campus with his wife and two children.
Regional Chapters Subcommittee Bernie Chan ’83 was elected in 2008 to the National People’s Congress, the highest organ of state power in China, in which he is one of 36 Hong Kong deputies. He is also president of both Asia Financial Holdings and Asia Insurance, which has gained a reputation as one of the financially strongest insurers in Hong Kong. Bernie earned a B.A. in studio art from Pomona College. He lives in Hong Kong with his wife and two children.
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Kent Davis ’79 is a financial advisor and first vice president with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Kent graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a finance major and economics minor. He holds the Certified Investment Management AnalystSM designation, administered by Investment Management Consultants AssociationSM and taught in conjunction with The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Reading with his wife and two children, one of whom is a member of the class of 2014. Cassie Detering ’04 is director of marketing for The Detering Company in Houston, Tex. Cassie earned a B.A. in international and global studies including a Spanish minor from Sewanee and a M.Ed. in foreign language and ESL from George Washington University. She spends some of her free time mentoring local students through a program called Kids Hope. Ward McNally ’90 is managing partner at McNally Capital, a private equity asset management and consulting firm. Ward received his B.A. in geography and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his M.B.A. from The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business. He lives in Chicago with his wife and son.
Justin Newton ’91 , an internet infrastructure/ technology adviser, is former CTO of BlackLine Systems. Justin was formerly executive vice president of IT operations, at the global online media company Demand Media and he has participated in an advisory capacity for several Internet startups and associations including NetScaler, ISPC, and ARIN. Justin attended Northwestern University and currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife.
Career Networking Subcommittee Kat Hauch ’05 graduated with a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law this past spring. Kat received a B.A. in art history, philosophy, and French from Sewanee: The University of the South. She relocated to Atlanta where she currently serves in the District Attorney’s office of Fulton County Georgia.
Paul Lee, M.D. ’91 is chief of Ophthalmology at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y., clinical assistant professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, N.Y. and an independent consultant for NY Laser Eye, LLP in Brooklyn, N.Y. Paul received his B.A. in English at the University of Chicago and his M.D. from the University of Chicago – Pritzker School of Medicine. He lives in Larchmont, N.Y. with his wife and three children.
Haverford and D.C. mark first stops on Headmaster Lehman's introductory tour
Robert Walley ’88 is a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Rob received his B.S. in accounting from Villanova University and his M.B.A. from Georgetown University – The McDonough School of Business. Rob lives in the Charlotte, N.C. area with his wife and three children.
Beginning in the fall and continuing throughout the winter and spring, a series of events have been planned for alumni and friends of The Hill to formally meet Zack Lehman, the 11th headmaster since The Hill’s founding in 1851. These events provide time for socializing and reconnecting as well as an opportunity to learn more about The Hill’s new Strategic Plan and Zack’s vision for our great School. Late January saw events in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, while events in February included Phoenix and New York. Z Top: Julie and Jim Alexandre ’75 and the Philadelphia Chapter of the Alumni Association were the first to officially welcome Headmaster Zack Lehman and his wife, Amy, to The Hill family. The Alexandres hosted an extraordinary evening at their home in Haverford, Pa.
Affiliate Groups Subcommittee Jay Spencer ’84 is an instructor of mathematics, director of aquatics, and head swimming coach at The Hill School. Jay retired from the U.S. Navy in 2009 after a 20 year career in submarines. He earned both a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and math and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University. He lives in Robins dormitory with his wife and four children. DJ Stewart ’94 is a director at Credit Suisse in their Securitized Products Division. DJ received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his M.B.A. from The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and two children. Christi Wieand ’06 is web manager and communications assistant at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. Christi earned her B.A. in communications and religion from Elon University. She lives in Arlington, Va. Z
Inset: On November 29, 2012, Mary and Carl Raether ’61 and Phyllis and David Kim ’78 co-hosted a wonderful evening for alumni at Washington, D.C.’s University Club. Pictured: Rear Admiral Ron Henderson ’72, Carl Raether ’61, Joel Feldman ’72, and Jamie Baker ’72 P ’04 ’08. Left: Frances Mack ’04, Amanda Gilmore ’05, and Berkley Summerlin ’04 with Headmaster Lehman at the University Club.
3/3, 6/6, 9/9, 12/12 No, it’s not a lesson in fractions, but a fun, new way for alumni to celebrate their Hill ties miles away from each other, yet together. The Hill School’s Alumni Association has launched a quarterly events calendar! Regional chapters of Hill’s Alumni Association have been encouraged to plan alumni events on these dates throughout the year — March 3, June 6, September 9, and December 12. During the month of September, the Association held events in New York City, Philadelphia, Hong Kong, and Washington, D.C. In December, events were held in D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Pottstown, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seoul. If you are interested in hosting an event in your region, contact Director of Alumni Relations Bill Robertson ’92 at brobertson@thehill.org or 610-705-1284. Z
Left: Philadelphia area alumni met up at Cavanaugh’s on December 12. From left to right: Sidney Boucher ’04, Lauren Saltzburg ’04, Lauren Harrington ’02, Jennie Detar ’03, Erin Brand ’01, Matt Harrington ’02, Karyn Kim ’04, Emily Melle ’04, Alex Turbett ’03, and Lynne Evans ’04. Right: Houston area alumni at a December 12 alumni gathering: Michael Flint ’00, Gleeson Van Riet ’87, Travis March ’99, Chris Shiver ’82, Cassie Detering ’04, Walt “Tracy” Walne ’65, and Phil Cannon ’59.
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Advancing The Hill :
FUNDING FOR GAME-CHANGING CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS SECURED
During the past year, members of The Hill School’s advancement team have been on the road meeting with alumni and parents candidly discussing the future of The Hill. Our goal is clear: Provide each Hill student with a superior educational experience in a stellar community of learning. Excellence in academics is the touchstone of a Hill education, complemented by the values of hard work, personal responsibility, honesty, and teamwork, as observed daily in the classrooms, on the courts and playing fields, on the stage, in dormitories, and faculty homes. First-rate facilities in which students, teachers, coaches, advisers, and dorm parents can live, play, and grow are crucial to our mission of preparing Hill students for success in college, careers, and life.
“Take the Fields” We are excited to report that The Hill’s campus will see major changes in the near future. Those improvements will include attention to our athletics facilities. The School has engaged in an ongoing athletics facilities upgrade “Take the Fields” campaign and has secured enough funds to begin the project in early 2013. The enhancements, which will help The Hill compete with other schools while also directly serving our students, will include construction of two turf fields and an eight-lane track at the Far Fields; the removal of the current track; and renovation of the varsity soccer field.
Sprinting to the finish with track and soccer renovations After many years in its current location, the foundation of Colbath Track has sustained
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significant damage. Rather than rebuild the track in its current location, a new, championship caliber eight-lane track will be constructed at the more spacious Far Fields. The new track, which will be named the William West Hauser ’81 Track, will feature double D-zones that will be home to the long jump, high jump, and pole vault areas. All throwing facilities will be located outside of the track.
seen at the collegiate and professional levels. Because the existing track will be removed, the School will be able to expand the field’s width by 10 to 15 yards to make its dimensions consistent with the fields Hill teams typically encounter at opposing schools. The renovations also will allow the field to be capped, which will alleviate water pooling problems in low-lying areas after heavy rain.
The track’s new location at the Far Fields allows for renovations to be done to the existing soccer field located on the infield of Colbath Track. The soccer field will remain a natural-grass surface in the same location. The field currently serves as the home match field for the varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. Many schools recently have expanded the width of their soccer fields to be consistent with field dimensions commonly
A total of $2.0 million in gifts were given by generous alumni and parents to the new track and soccer field campaigns. These gifts will cover the costs of removing the existing track and improving the soccer field; construction of the new track; and the purchase of top-class track and field equipment such as new, customized hurdles; starting blocks; and jumping pits.
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Turf fields will help Hill stay in the game Recently, the installation and utilization of turf fields has become common at both public and private high schools. In order to compete with other schools, in the spring of 2012 Hill began raising funds to construct two turf fields and appropriate amenities such as fencing, electronic scoreboards, lights, and a pavilion space, all on the Far Fields. Turf fields will help solve the restricted indoor practice time and space issues that fall and spring athletics teams encounter on rainy days, as well as avoid the postponement of games due to poor grass field conditions in inclement weather. Turf fields also will strongly benefit the field hockey program, as the game is now played almost exclusively on artificial turf. “The planned facility enhancements represent an exciting time for The Hill and Hill athletics,” said Assistant Director of Athletics Julie deLaurentis, who also is the head varsity field hockey coach. “Turf fields will allow us to continue to attract high-caliber student-athletes to The Hill. From my perspective as field hockey coach, I’m excited that we are getting a facility that benefits our top-notch players and will allow us to continue to field a successful program.”
We are also happy to report thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, one of the turf fields will be named for Harry L. Price, associate headmaster and boys’ lacrosse coach emeritus. In February, Harry was inducted into the Founders Hall of The Hill School’s Athletics Hall of Fame. We still are pursuing gifts to help us close out the Take the Fields project in full. If you are interested in participating, please contact Director of Advancement and Capital Gifts, Christian P. Sockel, JD CFRE at 610-326-1000 or csockel@thehill.org.
East Faculty Village: Newest campus living and learning spaces On June 30, 2012, The Hill School completed a successful $5.7 million capital campaign toward the East Faculty Village, a new faculty housing complex located on the east end of campus off Green Street. The Village will be integrated with the main campus through extensive walkways and the grand crescent lawn. These essential houses will be spacious; energy-efficient, using “green” design components; and equipped with basic modern amenities. Significantly, the units will offer dedicated “living and learning” spaces for faculty-student gatherings and tutoring sessions. We must provide our extraordinary teachers with housing that they are proud to call home and where they can meet with students comfortably. And now, we will.
The campaign received broad, major gift support from alumni; friends; current faculty and faculty emeriti; and current and past parents of The Hill. The gifts secured during this targeted campaign provided the necessary resources required for planning and construction of the East Faculty Village. A formal celebration recognizing all contributions to the project will be held during Hill’s Reunion Weekend in June. The Hill’s reputation is founded upon the quality of its faculty. While all of the best boarding schools say they provide superior teaching, small classes, and close student-faculty interaction, Hill teachers provide a distinctive level of professionalism, dedication, and attention. We hear this time and again, not only from parents, students, and alumni, but from experienced teachers who choose to teach here, at The Hill. Look for more coverage on the East Faculty Village and its newest residents in the summer issue of Hill Ties. Z
Through gifts from alumni and parents, $2.8 million of this $3.8 million project goal has been secured, as of March 1.
1) Schematics for the new fields. 2) Plans for the new soccer field. 3) East Faculty Village as viewed from the likely crescent lawn. 4) A rendering of a duplex in the East Faculty Village.
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SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Fall Season Records Boys’ cross country (1-1) Invitational-based schedule
Girls’ cross country (1-1) Invitational-based schedule
Field hockey (11-5) Football (1-7 ) Boys’ golf (6-3) Boys’ soccer (16-3-1)
MAPL Champions PAISAA State Runners-Up
Girls’ soccer (14-4-1) PAISAA State Champions
Girls’ tennis (5-9) Boys’ water polo (9-11-1) Girls’ water polo (14-15) Eastern Prep Runners-Up
Winter Season Records Boys’ basketball (8-14) Girls’ basketball (13-12)
Notable achievement: Deanna Mayza ’13 broke the career scoring record of 1,201 points.
Boys’ ice hockey (6-16-4) Girls’ ice hockey (1-6) Boys’ indoor track (1-1) Girls’ indoor track (1-1) Boys’ squash (7-9) Girls’ squash (1-10) Boys’ swimming (1-6) Girls’ swimming (3-4)
Notable achievements: Maddison Marcheskie ’14 – School record in 100 Backstroke; Payton Miles ’16 – School record in 100 Freestyle
Wrestling (11-10)
Notable achievement: Johnnie Cherneskie ’13 and Nick Flanigan ’14 placed 7th and 8th respectively at National Preps 18
ATHLETICS
ABOVE: Thanks to the generosity of Hill’s basketball parents, the girls’ basketball team and Coach Grey Simpson kicked off the 2013 season with a newly renovated locker room for the team’s use.
Boys’ Soccer Expectations were high coming into the 2012 boys’ soccer season as a veteran group looked to repeat as MAPL Champions for the first time in program history and win the PAISAA Championship. While the latter goal fell short, a victory over Lawrenceville clinched a second consecutive MAPL Championship, and extended the team’s MAPL winning streak to 11 matches. As it does every season, the team faced a tough non-league schedule in September that included the nation’s top ranked team, St. Benedict’s, to prepare for MAPL play. The team’s MAPL title hopes almost
took a tough blow during Parents’ Weekend, as visiting Hun School jumped out to a 3-1 second half lead. Two goals by Colten Habecker ’14 forced overtime, and Jamie Forrest ’13 scored the dramatic winner in the second overtime period. Convincing wins over Blair and Mercersburg set up the MAPL Championship game against Lawrenceville, where a second half goal from Joey Monzo ’13 propelled the team to a 1-0 win. The next day, a 4-1 win against Springside Chestnut Hill clinched a return trip to the PAISAA State Championship, where the team unfortunately fell to Haverford School for the second consecutive year, 1-0. This year’s 16-3-1 record gives the program a two-year record of 32-7-2. The post-season accolades poured in for the team following the season. Four players earned a spot on the All-MAPL team, and seven players were named All-Area, including Wyatt Fabian ’14, who was named the Pottstown Mercury “Player of the Year.” Head coach Chris Drowne ’89 was named the area “Coach of the Year.” Z LEFT: The boys pose for a photo following the MAPL-Championshipclinching win over Lawerenceville.
Girls’ Soccer With several starters returning from the 2011 MAPL and State Championship teams, the girls’ team gelled quickly during preseason and jumped out to a 7-1 record to start the regular season. League play began in October, and with it came a five-game skid that brought only one win. On October 23, a last-minute goal from Schuyler Metzger ’14 lifted the team to victory and out of its slump, and the girls’ responded by winning every remaining game on the schedule, including a 6-1 win at Mercersburg in which Deanna Mayza ’13 set the program’s career goal scoring record, and a 5-2 drubbing of Lawrenceville. On November 14, the team met Penn Charter in the PAISAA Championship game. Hill soundly defeated the Quakers in the first game of the season, but a much improved Penn Charter team jumped out to a 2-1 first half lead. Sara Graham ’13 equalized early in the second half, and with 3:30 remaining Keeley Spiess ’14 scored her first career goal in a
Hill uniform to clinch the team’s second consecutive PAISAA Championship and send retiring coach Ryck Walbridge out on a high note. The win also capped a three-year stretch in which the team has posted a 46-8-3 overall record. At the season’s conclusion, Walbridge was named the Pottstown Mercury girls’ soccer “Coach of the Year.” Former team captain Shannon Summers ’05 is set to take over the program in 2013. Z ABOVE: The girls celebrate back-to-back State Championships.
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Founders Hall and Inaugural Class Inducted into The Hill Athletics Hall of Fame ~ On Friday, January 11, more than 100 years of athletics history were celebrated during the School’s inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This time in Hill history has produced many contributors to the sports world with iconic names — names such as Sabin Carr ’24, who in 1928 set a world record and won Olympic gold in the pole vault; Dick Harter ’48, a basketball coach who NBA legend Larry Bird labeled a “defensive genius” and in 1976 took his University of Oregon basketball team to UCLA and handed John Wooden’s Bruins their first home loss in 98 games; and, perhaps the most recognizable name of the group, 1951 graduate Lamar Hunt, the man who founded the Kansas City Chiefs and decided to call the NFL championship game the “Super Bowl.” In 2011, a dedicated team of Hill administrators, faculty, and alumni decided that, after 125 years of competitive athletics at the School, it was time to establish an honorary hall and recognition program to pay tribute to those individuals and teams who have shaped The Hill’s athletics history. The announcement of the formation of The Hill School Athletics Hall of Fame immediately sparked significant alumni interest; more than 150 nominations were made in the first three months following the announcement. After much discussion in the early months of 2012, the inaugural induction class and Founders Hall were decided upon in May and unveiled during the School’s Alumni Weekend in June. “The energy and excitement surrounding the Hall of Fame has been amazing,” said Director of Alumni Relations Bill Robertson ’92. “Having a Hall of Fame means a tremendous amount to our alumni base as there is a strong sense of pride in the players, coaches, and performances of the past, as evidenced by the flood of nominations that came in after we announced the Hall’s creation.” Each Hall of Fame induction class will include up to five total inductees from the following categories: Athlete, Coach, Team, or Extraordinary Sports Achievement. The Hill School’s 2012 induction class includes: • Ralph Hills ’21 (athlete), bronze medalist in the shot put in the Ralph Hills ’21 (athlete), bronze medalist in the shot put in the 1924 Olympics.
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• Mike Vollmer ’86 (athlete), three-sport standout at Hill who captained the 1986 lacrosse team to a state championship before playing college football for Harvard. • Don Ronnie (coach), head basketball coach from 1955-1992 who remained with the program as a volunteer coach until 2012. • Longtime Division I college and NBA coach Dick Harter ’48 (Extraordinary Sports Achievement). • The undefeated 1949 football team. For the inaugural year, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee decided to establish The Founders Hall, which is a one-time induction class for posthumous and/or “uncontestable” Hill coaches, alumni, and administrators who had a significant impact on Hill athletics. A total of 17 men were voted into the Founders Hall: Coaches Frank Bissell ’33 (wrestling), Henry Colbath (track and field), Thomas Eccleston, Jr. (ice hockey), Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50 (football), and Harry Price (lacrosse); Olympians Sabin Carr ’24 and Alberto Mestre ’82; former Athletics Directors David Mercer, Jack Riley, and Michael Sweeney; and Briggs Cunningham ’26, Clarence Fincke 1893, Jimmy Gillison ’29, Sam Horner ’56, Lamar Hunt ’51, Tom Northrup ’64, and Dave Willman ’88, whose contributions to the School athletically and beyond warrant recognition. “With the opening of our Hill Athletics Hall of Fame, we will bring attention to the countless examples of excellence over the long and rich athletics history of our great school,” said Director of Athletics Seth Eilberg. “We have a long, proud history that has been filled with several tremendous accomplishments and exemplary leaders, both here at The Hill and in the community, and even on the national stage. The legends we honor and their accomplishments serve to inspire our present day student-athletes and coaches to further our proud legacy.”
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Following Mr. Lehman’s remarks, a video presentation about The Founders Hall was shown; after the video, each member of the Founders Hall who was in attendance was called to the stage to receive his formal induction award. A family member or School representative accepted on behalf of those not in attendance. The 2012 Induction Class was introduced as the final portion of the program, with a different person speaking on behalf of each member — head boys’ track coach Bill Yinger ’95 spoke about Ralph Hills; longtime lacrosse coach Harry Price spoke for Mike Vollmer; Doug Beaver ’73, captain of the 1972-73 basketball team and president of the Hill Basketball Association honored Don Ronnie; Mari Harter remembered her husband, Dick Harter ’48; and Tom Richey ’50, a standout on the 1949 football team, spoke on behalf of the team. The 2013 induction class will be announced during Reunion Weekend, 2013. For complete information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.thehill.org/HallOfFame. Z 3
The evening began with opening remarks from Duncan Banfield ‘91, president of The Hill Alumni Association, and Headmaster Zachary Lehman. “Though I am new to the School, I have already gained a deep appreciation for the great athletics history here at The Hill,” Lehman said. “All of us here understand the countless hours our student-athletes spend on the fields, court, pool, rink, track, or mat, and we value the lessons they learn from coaches, teammates, and athletes here before them. Tonight we will honor many of those great athletes and coaches, all of whom have helped shape numerous young men and women into the great people they are today — people who are not just physically strong, but strong in character.” During his opening remarks, Lehman made a surprise announcement when he revealed that one of the turf fields that the School plans to construct will be named for Associate Headmaster emeritus and longtime lacrosse coach Harry Price. Harry spent 27 years at The Hill in a variety of capacities, including instructor of mathematics, director of admission, and associate headmaster. He guided the lacrosse program to some of its most successful seasons, including the 1986 State Championship. Harry retired from The Hill in 2000.
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1 Beautiful glass bowls were presented to members of the Founders Hall and their family members during the award presentation. Pictured are: Dave Willman ’88; Peter de Treville, accepting on behalf of Clarence Fincke 1893; Harry Price; Doug Beaver ’73, who accepted on behalf of James Gillison ’29; Lamar Hunt, Jr., who accepted on behalf of his father, Lamar Hunt ’51; Sam Horner ’56; Tom Northrup ’64; Steve Bissell ’72, who accepted on behalf of his father, Frank Bissell ’33; Steve Allen, who accepted on behalf of his father-in-law, David H. Mercer; Thomas Eccleston III, who accepted on behalf of his father, Thomas Eccleston Jr.; and Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50. 2 The 1949 undefeated football team became the first team inducted into The Hill’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Members present or represented by family members included: Lamar Hunt ’51 (Lamar Hunt, Jr.), George Wilson ’50 (Jon Wilson), Harry Griffith ’50, Tom Richey ’50, Bob Malatesta ’51, Bob Jeffrey ’50, John Frantz ’50, Stan Dossett ’50, John Beebe ’50, and Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50 3 Coach Don Ronnie was the first coach selected for induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Director of Athletics Seth Eilberg presented Mr. Ronnie with his award. 4 Mari Harter accepted the award for Extraordinary Sports Achievement on behalf of her husband, Dick Harter ’48. Mari is pictured with Headmaster Zack Lehman and Director of Athletics Seth Eilberg.
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Remembering two Hill legends: Frank S. Bissell ’33, P’72 and David H. Mercer On September 9, 2012, Frank S. Bissell ’33, P’72 passed away at the age of 99. Frank spent four years as a student at The Hill, arriving as a third former in the fall of 1929. He was the captain of the undefeated 1932 football team, and also was the school wrestling champion; wrestling was only an inter-form sport in those days. He also was a member of the track squad and was a gym leader and member of the gym team all four years he was at Hill. He also chaired the Executive Committee of the Athletic Association and was a member of both the Record Board and English Club. After The Hill, he went on to wrestle at Michigan, captaining the 1937 Wolverines and also winning the Big 10 championship at 155 lbs.
ABOVE: Frank Bissell and David Mercer LEFT: Coach Bissell on the mat
Frank placed second in the 1940 Olympic trials, and won the 1946 AAU National Freestyle Wrestling Championship. In 1947, Frank returned to The Hill School as a faculty member and became the guiding force behind the creation of a nationally celebrated wrestling program that amassed 17 prep national team championships, with 44 of his wrestlers as individual weight class champions and six being named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. Thirty of Coach Bissell’s wrestlers went on to captain their respective collegiate teams, two were NCAA Champions, and two were NCAA runners-up. In 1958, on the heels of the wrestling team’s 10th consecutive Hill victory at the Lehigh Interscholastics, Coach Bissell was recognized in New York’s Herald Tribune for his excellence in coaching and shaping young wrestlers. Frank Bissell produced an unmatched record (214-62-4) as wrestling coach over his 26 years at Hill in one of the toughest wrestling territories in the USA, Eastern Pennsylvania. He made sure his teams wrestled the best teams and never had them duck a tough opponent. Instead of concentrating on prep schools, he scheduled the likes of Easton, Northampton, Springfield, Pennsbury, Dieruff, and Bethlehem high schools and college freshmen teams, and even sought out Sprig Gardner’s national power Mepham High School squad. Frank always had his eye on the National Prep School Championships held at Lehigh and knew his team would do its best there by wrestling the best during the dual meet season. Clay McEldowney ’65, P’95, former Hill wrestling champion and co-captain and Princeton University team captain, notes that Frank’s success as a coach didn’t depend on recruiting but on creating wrestlers, in many cases out of boys lacking any identifiable athletic talent. Some of those boys who entered the school as un-athletic third formers became champions as sixth formers. Frank instilled in his boys 22
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a mindset that doing anything less than their best was not enough and created a championship culture. His boys understood that their work on and off the mat was beyond anything they had done before. The lessons learned were indelible: the values of preparation, hard work, dedication, sportsmanship and teamwork necessary for success, not only in wrestling but in just about everything in life. Frank taught his wrestlers that they didn’t have to be a champion to be a winner. Frank’s coaching proved to be a life’s lesson. The Hill’s Bissell Wrestling Room, the official home of Hill wrestling located above the Annan Strength Center, features anecdotes regarding Frank’s philosophy and plaques honoring national prep champions and Hill alumni who captained their college teams. In 2010, The Hill celebrated Sweeney Gymnasium as a new, additional space used for The Hill’s wrestling program thanks to the generosity and leadership of Walter C. Price, Jr. ’66 through his establishment of The Frank S. Bissell ’33 Wrestling Endowment. During Reunion Weekend 2012, Frank was announced as a member of the Founders Hall of the newly created Athletics Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in April of 2012, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Frank is survived by three children and their families: two daughters, Burma Bochner and Jean Rudd, and son, F. Steven Bissell, a member of Hill’s class of 1972, who also is a celebrated Hill wrestling champion as captain of the 1972 wrestling team under his father and winner of 29 consecutive matches in two years. On August 9, 2012, longtime Director of Athletics David H. Mercer passed away in New Hampshire at the age of 92. The name David Mercer is synonymous with Hill athletics. He arrived at The Hill as the Assistant Director of Physical Education in 1948, and for 12 years worked to enhance the School’s physical education program, as at that time it was separate from interscholastic athletics. He became the Athletics Director in 1960, serving in that capacity until 1990. Hill athletics flourished under his guidance. During his time as AD, lacrosse became a varsity sport, and skiing and water polo were added as interscholastic sports (skiing disbanded in the mid-1990s). Facility improvements included the construction of the Bissell Wrestling Room, Annan Strength Center, and
the replacement of the old cinder track with an all-weather track in the early 1980s. After his retirement, he frequently attended games. Despite his interest and involvement in athletics, Dave was never a head varsity coach, saying he felt that would compromise his position as the AD, though he was an assistant football and track coach and served as the head coach of many junior varsity and junior teams. He remained involved in Hill athletics even after his retirement from the School, often serving as the head timer at track meets. Upon his retirement, former Headmaster Chuck Watson noted that wherever he traveled, Dave’s name was mentioned by alumnus after alumnus, a true testament to the impact he had on more than 6,300 boys to pass through The Hill. In October 2001, the School dedicated its new field house in honor of David Mercer. Hundreds of alumni, parents, and friends
gathered to celebrate Hill’s athletics excellence and pay tribute to the man who was responsible for preserving that rich tradition of dedication, sportsmanship, and healthy competition, still the foundation of Hill’s athletics program today. Dave graduated from The George School in 1940, where he played football, basketball, and was captain of the track team. He set school records in the low hurdles, high jump, and 110mhigh hurdles. From the George School, he attended the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the varsity track team during his David Mercer freshman and sophomore years. In 1942, Dave left Penn and joined the armed forces. At one point in his career, he was the head of Officers’ Physical Training at Eglin Air
Force Base near Pensacola, Fla. During his tenure at Eglin, he met and married his beloved wife, Anna Lee, who passed away on November 24, 2012. The Mercers’ oldest daughter, Barbie, was born in Florida; shortly thereafter, the family returned to Swarthmore, Pa. In 1945, Dave returned to Penn, where he rejoined the track team as a varsity athlete, serving as the team captain in 1947 and graduating that same year. He joined The Hill School faculty the following year. Dave and Anna Lee called The Hill their home for the next 42 years, raising their two daughters, Barbie and Leah, as well as the thousands of Hill boys whom they mentored and cared for during those years. Z
125th Anniversary of Hill vs. Lawrenceville Rivalry On Saturday, November 10, The Hill and Lawrenceville celebrated the 125th anniversary of the first athletics contest played between the teams, a football game in the fall of 1887. What was once just a football game has grown into a full weekend that sees every team at both the varsity and sub-varsity levels square off against Lawrenceville on the final day of the fall athletics season. Due to the schedule changes caused by Hurricane Sandy, many of the planned ceremonies had to be altered.
A ceremonial coin flip was conducted prior to the football game, and players from each team were given commemorative stickers for their helmets. Unfortunately, Hill was unable to stop Lawrenceville’s potent offense in a 54-27 loss. The day also served as a celebration of 15 years of girls’ athletics at The Hill. A brief ceremony was held prior to the start of the varsity girls’ soccer game, and the field hockey players were given commemorative stickers to put on their sticks. Both the boys’ and girls’ soccer team posted wins on the day, and the boys’ water polo team concluded the afternoon with an 11-8 win in front of an overflow capacity crowd in Cunningham Pool. Z
Below: Hill Coaches, left to right, Assistant Coaches Ken Sturm, Ned Ide, Stuart Lindberg ’06, Pat Hagarman ’05, Mike Davis, and Head Coach Grey Simpson; with Lawrenceville coaches.
Top: Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50, member of the 1949 undefeated football team who would later return to Hill to head the program from 1964 to 1984, performed the ceremonial coin toss at the beginning of the game. Above: Excited fans stormed the pool at the conclusion of the boys’ water polo 11-8 win over L’ville.
Watch a video about this historic rivalry at www.thehill.org/traditions under Hill vs. Lawrenceville Weekend
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INSPIRE STUDENTS ALONG A PATH OF DISCOVERY Establish your Hill legacy with a planned gift
When you endow a Hill scholarship or endowed fund through your estate plan, you provide capable and promising young students with the opportunity to receive a first-rate Hill School education. Your planned gift, such as a charitable bequest, trust, or gift annuity, helps support current and future students as they experiment and explore ways to challenge themselves personally, academically, and physically for future achievement in college, careers, and life. Your Hill legacy will live on through their limitless potential.
To learn more about establishing an endowed fund or scholarship at The Hill, please contact Christian P. Sockel, J.D., director of advancement, at 610-705-1005 or csockel@thehill.org.
Please visit us at www.thehill.planyourlegacy.org.
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