The Pingry Record - June 2024

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COMMENCEMENT 2024

Seniors Embark On ISPs

After completing their classes in early May, 143 seniors pursued Independent Senior Projects (ISPs). These projects allowed seniors to explore their interests in the final months of their high school careers.

ADVANCEMENTS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH AT PINGRY

During their ISP, Britney Alfieri, Madeline Alfieri, and Coco Simon built on the work from their Methods in Molecular Biology Research 1 and 2 classes. With Dr. D’Ausilio’s mentorship, they tackled the 6 phases of the Methods in Molecular Biology Research curriculum, delivering a comprehensive poster detailing their findings.

FISHY BUSINESS

Jules Amorosi researched the overfishing of oysters on the Jersey Shore and conch shells in the Bahamas. She looked at the threats each species faces, how regulations have affected the species populations, and the impacts overharvesting regulations have had on local fisheries and economies.

INTERNSHIP WITH SWEE GOLF

Michael Caratzola interned at a company called Swee AI. This company is developing an app that uses artificial intelligence to help people improve their golf swing. He tested the app for bugs, reached out to influencers to promote the app, and completed video annotation to train the AI.

INKING WORLDS: A VIDEO GAME

EXPLORATION OF IDENTITY

Kelly Cao and Nick Meng created a video game exploring identity and and the importance of imagination. Their game is a 3rd-person platform combining both 3D and 2D art styles.

THE FUTURE OF ORTHOPEDICS: PREDICTING AND ANALYZING THE TRENDS AND INNOVATIONS IN ORTHOPEDIC CARE

Sophia Deeney conducted independent research reviewing medical journals, publications, and other scholarly sources to ultimately craft a 20-page research paper on novel trends and innovations in the field of orthopedics She interviewed three orthopedic surgeons about what they saw as critical trends and innovations in the field and incorporated their insights into her paper. She constructed a slideshow presentation which she presented at the ISP Open House

TEENAGE DIARIES GOES TO WORK

Julia Eng interned at Byline, an editorial magazine based in New York. She wrote a column for Byline, helped to put out their next issue, and assisted on some of their collaborative projects.

ACCEL GOLF

Eshaan Golchha worked as an intern on an app for serious golfers to track their statistics to create foci to improve their game. He learned skills in app development and HTML.

DIOR ON A BUDGET

Sarah Gu recreated the Junon Dior couture dress. First she drafted patterns, created mock-ups, and researched its materials and assembly. After observing the dress in-person, she created small tests on the real fabric before moving onto the actual assembly

A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING HEALTHCARE

Sasha Gupta shadowed Dr. Sinha, a spinal surgeon, at his office to gain a better understanding of what happens

behind the scenes. She also sat in on a few surgeries where she learned about the causes of certain problems and the procedures to cure it.

THE THOREAU EXPERIENCE

Mike Holloman drew from Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden, where he went out into the woods to live in solitude and in nature for two years. In Holloman’s version, he lived in the woods for two days, and built his own shelter.

ENGLISH IN ECUADOR

Saniya Kamat travelled to Ecuador to teach English to children while living with a host family in the town. In addition to improving her Spanish and learning Ecuadorian customs, she shared stories and traditions of her own, both from the United States and from India. She was able to better herself as a teacher, to learn Spanish through immersion, and to better understand the community and culture of Ecuador through her time there.

BRINE BOYS 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

Max Naseef and Leon Zhou traveled down the shore to assess water quality around storm drains in the Barnegat Bay. They aimed to study water quality trends using their collected data and see if activities like oyster farming are feasible given the current conditions.

DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF REEVES REED ARBORETUM

Ngozi Nnaeto made a presentation outlineing the 50 year long history of Reeves Reed arboretum. She interviewed early member and supporters to learn about their perspective.

CANCER ON THE OUTSIDE: A COLLABORATION WITH CROSSROADS4HOPE

Sophia Odunsi learned about the processes of running a non-profit and exploring all the resources individuals affected by cancer need. She also engaged in various organization affairs and helped with their annual Wings of Hope event. Her deliverable was assisting with a piece or form of marketing material for the organization.

TINY THINKERS AND THE POWER OF PLAY

Chelsea Peng spent her days with 4-5 year olds at St. John’s Nursery School, which is known for having project-based and play-based learning, hoping to gain a first-person perspective on childhood education. Between the classroom and the administrative area, she took over lessons and brainstormed new projects and games for the children to engage in. Ultimately, she worked to formulate effective educational strategies for improved teaching methods and better parenting practices.

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE INTERN

Greta Pew dove back into the archives of House Beautiful, finding interesting and fun stories from the past to bring back. She also wrote a piece with House Beautiful on what would be in an 18 year-old’s dream bedroom.

SPICE AND SAPORE

Jessica Poprik explored cultural roots through the lens of food, aiming to understand the impact of colonization, geography, and cultural exchange on culinary traditions in India and Italy. She produced both a fusion cookbook and a documentary, stepping out of her comfort zones to explore unfamiliar

recipes and film production. Ultimately, she turned this project into a journey of self-discovery at the intersection of food, culture, and personal identity.

PINGRY PAVILION PROJECT

Sebastian Talarek and Sebastian Salvatore built a pavilion at the Pingry farm.

“WHERE’D YOU GET THAT?!” - DEVOTED TO CREATING FASHIONABLE, SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING

Jada Watson worked at a sustainable clothing company called Brown Mill where she flipped her old clothes and made new stylish ones! She learned how to sew and recycle different materials.

TEACHER FOR A MONTH!

Maisy Webster assisted third graders in various subjects such as math, writing, reading, and history. As a teacher’s assistant, she supported the needs of the classroom teacher in a variety of ways, utilizing their strengths while learning key skills such as assessment, time management, working as a team, and experiencing the joy of being an educator.

TWINNING TUNES: A COUPLE OF NOTES ON MUSIC

Francesca Zarbin and Isabel Zarbin wrote a song — including writing lyrics, recording background music (like piano, background vocals, or viola), and recording/creating a vocal melody. They did a cover of a barbershop quartet called “Hello Ma Baby.” Throughout their ISP, they vlogged their experiences and compiled the videos on a website to showcase our journey.

Photo Credits: Pingry Communications

OLIVIA BUVONOVA (V)

On April 18, the annual Prom for juniors and seniors was held at Stone House at Stirling Ridge in Warren. The day was filled with much anticipation and preparation. Hair and nails needed to be done, dresses and tuxedos had to be ironed, and corsages and boutonnieres were exchanged.

Before the dance, families of juniors and seniors attended their respective pre-party celebrations. Juniors and their families celebrated at the Short Hills Country Club, and seniors went to the Primavera Regency in Sterling.

Family, friends, and dates took photos and socialized. When it started to drizzle, students packed into cars, party buses, and limousines for a magical ride to Stone House. After students walked in, the chaperones greeted them, including college counselors Mrs. Amy Cooperman, Mrs. Meghan Finegan, Mr. Joe Kinney, Mrs. Sue Kinney, Mrs. Cynthia Santiago, Dr. Zachary Wakefield, and Mr. Robert Hoepfl, amongst others. Students feasted on Stone House’s offerings of horsd’oeuvres ranging from cheese and fruit plates to cracker assortments. The dinner buffet

SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (V)

Organized by Dr. Morgan D’Ausilio, the 12th annual Research Week was held from April 8 to April 12. Research Week is a yearly opportunity for students to present their research inside and outside of the classroom to the Pingry community. The week was kicked off with an assembly which detailed scheduling and logistics. It began with a short video directed by FYI Sci, in which Sophia Odunsi (VI) and Sriya Tallapragada (V) asked the Pingry community science facts. After a few announcements from student research clubs (e.g. PCR, Anatomy Club, HIRT), the presentations began!

Evan Xie (VI) presented his computer science research experience, both within IRT and with professors over the summer, speaking about his interest in the applications of computational tools to tackle biomedical

Prom 2024

included burgers, fries, and various pastas with different sauces. The Shirley Temples and strawberry daiquiris were, per usual, a major hit amongst the students. When the grand ballroom finally opened, students were met with beautiful lavender, white, and gold decorations. They took photos at the photo booth and partied on the dance floor early on.

The DJ played a mix of popular music, such as “Princess Diana” by Ice Spice, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, “CARNIVAL” by Kanye West, and “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex. According to Malcolm Adejouma (V), “The DJ at prom was great – significantly better than prior school events.”

But no Prom night is complete without the arrival of beloved English teacher Mr. Tom Keating. The rest of the night, Mr. Keating had a line of students waiting to get a picture with him. He commented on this tradition: “I have been attending Pingry proms, off and on, since 1988. Fashions have changed, venues too, and so has the music. But

the age-old magic of Prom night remains the same. And it’s the only chance I get to wear a tuxedo anymore!”

As the clock struck 9:30 and the event began to wind down, students left with unforgettable memories from a special night. It was obvious through pictures

and shared memories that both students and faculty enjoyed this year’s Prom. Aside from painful heels and uncomfortable dress shoes, Prom was a definite success filled with fun, laughter, and hundreds of photos — truly a night to remember.

Research Week 2024

challenges. Next, Julia Eng (VI), Grace Fernicola (VI), and Ali Santana (VI) presented their experiences in the American Modernism HIRT, as well as how their passion for American Modernism and the complexity of the literature has influenced their outlook on life. Finally, an alumni speaker, Bridget Harrison ‘15, spoke about how her interest in biology and her involvement in biology research at Pingry led her to a career at a prestigious biotechnology company.

Over four days, various groups presented their research experiences to the community. For example, FYI Sci ran several demonstrations about basic science concepts and played science-related movies. AP Biology classes presented their group projects in Bristol Gym, sharing creative science research projects with the audience. The Independent Research Team (IRT) groups broke down their complicated research into

understandable results and shared it with others. In the Hyde and Watson Gymnasium, the Robotics team presented their robots and drones.

In total, over 180 students presented this year, featuring

programs including the Independent Research Team (IRT), SMART Team, Humanities IRT (HIRT), High School and Middle School Robotics, Computer Science, AP Biology, Anatomy Club, FYI Sci,

Pingry Community Research (PCR), Green Team, Green Key, and The Parker Road Review

Thank you to Dr. D’Ausilio and everyone involved with Research Week for making it another yearly success!

Photo Credits: Pingry Communications

Celebrating Culture and Identity: 2024’s AAPI Assembly

JULIANNA ZHANG (III)

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Upper School held its annual AAPI Heritage Month Assembly on May 2. Various members of the community, including Upper and Middle School students, faculty, and staff, participated in the empowering celebration sharing the talents and cultural traditions of the AAPI community.

The assembly commenced with a game of “Guess Who” about Asian American leaders led by Kayla Chin (III), Kaylie Gao (III), and Jasmine Zhou (III). This segment highlighted influential leaders such as Bruce Lee and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson. Next, Middle School students performed a Garba dance from Gujarat, India, which commonly honors the Hindu goddess Durga.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, an alarming rise of hate crimes against the AAPI community led to the founding of the Stop Asian Hate movement, which advocates against violence and racial injustice. Alex Terpstra (IV) introduced “Make Us Visible,” a

NORA SOUYAH (III)

On April 30, Pingry Taiko seized the stage for its third annual performance. Introduced in 2015 with just a few students, the Pingry Taiko club has since multiplied to encompass over 20 enthusiastic members. The group has performed at countless events, including the Lunar New Year assembly and Celebrate Pingry. This year, Taiko performed four compositions: “Kamaitachi,” “River,” “Shimabayashi,” and “Dokokara.”

“Dokokara” is an original piece composed by Precious Anyanwu (IV) and Som Ghatak (III). When asked about the composition process, Anyanwu answered, “In February, Som Ghatak and I composed “Rhythm of Honor” at the Taiko Overnight in Pottersville. We had less than 24 hours to complete this piece, which

bipartisan organization aiming to integrate Asian American history into the K-12 curriculum to prevent anti-Asian violence. Terpstra’s mother experienced an anti-Asian hate crime that went unaddressed by local officers, sparking his interest in combating anti-Asian hate crimes.

Middle School students Charlotte Hao (II), Maddie Zhu (II), and Rachel Bai (I) sang “Peng You”, or “Friend,” accompanied by instrumentals by Anika Gupta (I), Cyra Sachan (I), and Sanvi Jain (I) on the piano, flute, and guitar, respectively. The performance then segwayed into a demonstration by two brothers, Jude Escaño (I) and Blaise Escaño (Grade 6), of the traditional Filipino martial art, Kali.

Upper School faculty participated in a compelling “AAPI Trivia,” where Mr. Saad Toor’s group won against the group led by Dean Julia Dunbar. After their assembly the week prior, Taiko Drumming members Alex Wong (V) and Cyra Sachan (I) presented a slideshow focusing on the history of Taiko.

Following the presentation,

Upper School’s Indian Dance Club performed a captivating combination of a Kathak dance to a remix of “Samjhawan,” a Bollywood dance to “Nachde Ne Saare,” and a Bharatnatyam dance to “Aigiri Nandini.”

Middle School students Trisha Kannan (Grade 6) and Isa Wang (Grade 6) performed a piano and violin cover of “Flower” by BLACKPINK’s Jisoo. The projector displayed the Middle School’s AI Art Club’s flower artworks from

various AAPI countries to accompany the performance.

The Purple Swan Dance group, composed of Pingry parents, performed a traditional dance titled “Dance of the Yao Ethnic Group in China.”

To conclude the assembly, Middle School students Sahana Kakar (II), Nikhil Shah (II), Radhya Shah (II), and Sahana Bhat (I) presented some AAPI festivals and traditions with the help of volunteers. The Filipino holiday, Flores de

Pingry Taiko: Creating a Performance

kind of stressed us out, but Mr. [Christofer] Leone was very patient with us, and we didn’t feel pressured.”

A month later, Anyanwu and Ghatak began polishing the piece in order to perform it for the Taiko Drumming Assembly in April, essentially rewriting the entire piece and going through each part to alter whatever was unfinished.

The group set a high bar for themselves following last year’s exciting performance. When inquired, Alex Wong (V) stated, “With the expectations already set by last year, we knew that we’d have to hit the ground running in September in order to put on a good show in May.”

Brynne Dragert (III) shared her thoughts on the mental aspect of performing: “When I’m performing on stage, I feel so energized and enthusiastic about my playing. The mere presence of an entire audience

of Pingry students and faculty/ staff sometimes frightens me, but that fear only motivates me to put myself out there and play my best.” She also shared that

staying positive helped to boost her confidence and give her faith in her ability to play well.

Overall, Pingry Taiko’s performance was outstanding,

Mayo, and the Hawaiian New Year, Makahiki, are two of the many traditional holidays spotlighted. A successful assembly requires lots of hard work and dedication. Threetime participant Jasmine Zhou (III) said, “I was extremely happy to present a culture special to me. It was thrilling celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with my community, and inspiring to see all the hard work everyone put into it.”

and the Pingry community hopes to see many more in the years to come.

Renowned Harvard Professor Dr. Gregory Mankiw Returns to Pingry

JINGJING LUO (V)

On April 5, the Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics at Harvard University, Dr. Gregory Mankiw ’76, spoke to students about his experiences and beliefs in economics. Delivering a powerful message regarding the severe problem of government debt, Dr. Mankiw bestowed the responsibility to the students, saying, “It’s a problem that your generation is going to have to solve.”

After completing degrees at Princeton and MIT, Dr. Mankiw served in the President’s Council of Economic Advisers under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 to 1983 and as the Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush from 2003 to 2005. He has been a National Bureau of Economic Research research associate and an adviser to the Congressional Budget Office and the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston and New York. A prolific writer, Dr. Mankiw has published his research and opinions in academic journals

UMA MENON (V)

On May 1 in the Attic Theater, the Balladeers continued their tradition of Night of Noise, which former Director of Service Learning and Civic Engagement Mrs. Shelley Hartz started eight years ago, and has been hosted by the a cappella group for the past three years. The event was organized by the group’s juniors, Uma Menon (V) and Mykah Weckesser (V). It featured a variety of performances from students in all grades, and a bake sale which raised over 250 dollars for charity.

There were over twenty performances throughout the night. They ranged from original poetry recited by Mark Mason

such as the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, and Quarterly Journal of Economics, as well as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune .

Above all, Dr. Mankiw’s two books, Macroeconomics and Principles of Economics, have sold over two million copies and have been translated into twenty languages.

In addition to his success in politics and writing, Dr. Mankiw has been a lifelong educator. He has taught courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, statistics, and principles of economics at Harvard since 1985. He joined Pingry’s Board of Trustees in 2018, and his return was met with excitement from both faculty and students.

During the assembly, Dr. Mankiw gave students a taste of what it’s like to take a seminar from a renowned Harvard professor. He illustrated the dilemma concerning government debt in an engaging and inspiring

presentation, explaining that while the government earns money through taxes and borrowing, the debt rises due to wars and economic crises. Furthermore, social programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid make up most of the expenditure. Still, people are not inclined to give up these services in return for a decreased debt.

In addition to attending an AP Government class during the day, Dr. Mankiw also conducted a Q&A session with a panel of AP Economics students after the presentation. Melinda Xu (V), who was on the panel, reflected, “It was extremely interesting seeing his perspective on pressing issues, especially considering his expertise in the field, which can

often be viewed as polarizing.” He suggested that everyone take a course in economics, regardless of one’s chosen career, since economics is “the foundation for being a good citizen and an intelligent voter.”

Though an earthquake may have cut short his presentation, Dr. Mankiw undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the student body.

Night of Noise

(VI), group performances by students like Kelly Cao (VI) who sang “Not Strong Enough” by Boygenius, and an amazing whistling performance from vocal teacher and World Whistling Champion Mr. Jay Winston. Isabel Zarbin (VI) and Mykah Weckesser (V) also performed. The night ended with a spectacular band performance by Menon, Will Pertsemlidis (V), Ziv Shah (V), and outside guest Gus Goyal, who is also a junior, performing original music with live instruments as well as a cover of “Be Quiet and Drive” by Deftones. In addition to showcasing the school’s artistic talent, the event also served as a fundraiser, collecting money from audience

members through a five-dollar entry fee and a bake sale featuring treats made by the organizers. The proceeds went to the Krishnaa Foundation, an organization that provides health and educational resources for victims of human trafficking in the Kalighat district of Kolkata, India.

The event was a huge achievement for the Balladeers with a successful audience turnout. Next year, the Balladeers will be hosting the same event and are excited to share their musical talents with the rest of the community.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications, Mykah Weckesser (V)

Farewell Letter From the Honor Board Chair

DIVYA SUBRAMANIAN (VI)

Dear Pingry, I have made some of my fondest memories and closest connections here, and it still feels surreal that my 6-yearlong journey at this school is coming to an end. I came to Pingry in 7th grade, an “off year” for Pingry admissions, yet I distinctly remember the warmth with which the community embraced me. My classmates quickly brought me into their circles, and my teachers were incredibly supportive. It was this warm welcome that made me first understand the true meaning of our Honor Code. Transitioning into the Upper School, I realized that instead of being told how to behave, we were trusted to determine that on our own. This trust in students inspired me to join the Honor Board my freshman year.

I have been a member of the Honor Board throughout my four years of high school, and in my senior year, I had the privilege of serving as the Honor Board Chairperson. My time on the Honor Board has taught me invaluable lessons and helped me grow in numerous ways. Being in this group allowed me to reflect on myself and my personal values. Surrounded by peers and teachers who constantly inspired me, I developed a stronger sense of integrity and leadership.

This year, the Honor Board focused on increasing our presence within the Pingry community. At Convocation, we emphasized the idea of “small

blue moments,” reminding ourselves that while we have accomplished so many major goals, we should also focus on the small aspects of our day, like reaching out to a new student or showing up to support a

feature, Honor Board members wrote short responses to students’ questions or questions of our own on issues ranging from working with friends to plagiarism. In addition, we created an Honor Board website

8th grade advisories. During these visits, we explained the role of the Honor Board and aimed to spark their interest in applying next year. We even conducted a fun mock case to help them understand how

written by fellow students and teachers. It highlighted small acts of kindness in our community while bringing a more playful and humorous light to the Honor Board. To further increase our transparency within the school, we introduced two new initiatives. First, we launched a column in The Pingry Record Much like “The Ethicist” in the New York Times, in this regular

Board Speakers. Through this initiative, we can directly engage with the student body and increase our transparency. Our trips to the Lower School were always a highlight. Through skits, games, and other activities, we taught the Lower School students about the importance of treating one another with kindness and respect. This year we revived our visit to the Middle School, meeting with

fostering a stronger bond across the entire student body. The goals of the Honor Board are constantly changing and growing, one of which is increased engagement with parents. The principles that guide our students often stem from the values instilled in them by their families. If we can encourage the parents in our community to reinforce the Honor Code at home,

we can establish a strong foundation for our students, encompassing all facets of their lives. Therefore, to foster a more ethical and inclusive school community, we must involve parents in the work of the Honor Board. I am so excited to see how the Honor Board continues to grow and impact our wonderful community.

As I conclude my journey at Pingry, I want to leave you with the message of always striving to be a better version of yourself in all aspects of life. High school is a transformative period where you have the opportunity to grow and refine your values. Always seek out role models to look up to as they can inspire and guide you. For me, the seniors on the Honor Board were my biggest role models. As I think about important lessons I have learned, I am reminded of this quotation: “The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.” This quotation has always grabbed my attention, as it was not said by a famous philosopher, as one would expect, but from Albert Einstein! Though I am leaving the Pingry community, what I have learned here will stay with me forever. I am so beyond grateful for the guidance and support I have received.

Sincerely, Divya

Farewell Letter From the Student Body President

JADA

WATSON (VI)

Dear Pingry Record Readers,

It feels weird to be writing to you on such an occasion. I’ve been at Pingry since third grade, and in the ten years that I’ve been a student here, there has always been something new and exciting to look forward to in my next year, whether that be moving up to the Basking Ridge campus in sixth grade or getting a new Head of School in sophomore year. This year, as you know, I’ll be graduating. It’s almost uncanny that I won’t have the same anticipation that a Pingry student has for a new year: hoping to get into AP Psych, scrambling for a Convocation outfit, or feeling the relief of finally moving out of the junior area.

I’ve been reflecting on my time at Pingry recently. I’ve realized that Pingry will always fit into my life after I graduate. I’ll definitely come back and visit, and, luckily, we will have

an air-conditioned building by then.

When I socialize and make a new friend, finish a painstakingly long project, or converse with a new college professor, I will also feel like I’m back at Pingry again; having learned so many lessons here on how to navigate academics and the world at large, and I plan on making the most of that. Comparing other schools to Pingry, I realize that the opportunities here are special for every student. There are so many experiences available and open to us, and I encourage all of you readers out there to get involved with whatever opportunities you can. As cliché as it sounds, I would not be who I am today without the experiences I’ve had at Pingry.

This year has been amazing for us.

We’ve introduced new community members like Mrs. Lauren Kelly and Ms. Melanie Weyland, put on incredible drama productions, and even experienced record-breaking

athletic feats (shoutout to Girls’ Ice Hockey!). I am so grateful to have been a part of this amazing year and am excited to see what the future holds. I will miss all my amazingly talented peers, teachers, mentors, and, yes, even Sage Dining. The people that I am surrounded with have helped guide me all of these years. Being a Pingry student is a badge of honor that I will proudly carry throughout my life. For those who are still students and writing their own Pingry story, here’s a piece of advice I would give you: don’t take the little things for granted. High school goes by fast, and it’s hard sometimes to stop and appreciate the community around us.

Thank you for allowing me to be your Student Body President this year. I can’t wait to see all of the amazing things Pingry has in store for the future!

Your Friend, Jada

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Sheryl Chen (IV), Pingry Communications

TINGTING LUO (IV)

On April 18, Pingry held its annual Earth Day assembly in Hauser, hosted by Green Team members Sia Ghatak (V) and Ella Wunderlich (V).

Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated in the United States to demonstrate support for protecting the environment. Pingry has taken up a responsibility to educate students about the importance of protecting the Earth and to provide opportunities for students to engage in various sustainability initiatives.

As students filed into Hauser, the Rock Band club, Uma Menon (V), Will Pertsemlidis (V), Ziv

Earth Day Assembly

Shah (V), and Ashley Gao (IV) performed “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. To kick off the assembly, Vaissnavi Gautam (II), Nina Hassimi (II), Sophia Smith (II), Anika Gupta (I), Rian Subbiah (Grade 6), and Aadya Tripathy (Grade 6) presented a “Composting Update.” The Middle School environmentalists shared that student efforts contributed to composting 13,500 pounds of food in the Pingry composter, preventing over 9,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Next, Verna Mae Lange (VI) and Tingting Luo (IV) hosted an Earth Day Trivia to test the community’s

knowledge of national parks and endangered species. To show how plastic waste can directly affect the community, Ethan Geppel (IV) created a simulation of 200,000 plastic water bottles flooding Pingry. Hannah Diao (IV) described the video as a “truly eye-opening experience” that educated students on how significant the plastic waste problem is. Eshaan Jain (V) then presented a short video from the Climate Summit, which Pingry hosted at the Pottersville Campus.

Hannah Diao and Kathryn Flanigan (IV) presented the “Adults of Pingry Fashion Show,” featuring teachers from various departments sporting clothes

they thrifted. The faculty showed off their thrifted outfits, which ranged from luxury brands like Gucci to everyday clothing from department stores. Then, Francesca and Isabel Zarbin (VI), leaders of the Food for Thought club, shared about their club’s initiative to achieve food justice. Finally, Vinav Shah (V) announced Earth Week activities for the whole school to participate in, including the Raritan Headwaters River Cleanup and the 5K run/ walk at the Duke Lemur Center.

When asked about the purpose of the assembly, Ghatak stated that they wanted to “share the projects and progress of students

that have been working to make Pingry a more sustainable place while also inspiring more people to get involved and sharing ways to do that.” The assembly was the product of the collaborative effort of Mrs. Lauren Kelly, Ms. Olivia Tandon, and many student and teacher volunteers. The Earth Day Assembly provided an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to learn more about sustainability at Pingry and the surrounding community. The Pingry community not only celebrated Earth Day in the assembly but also engaged in various environmental efforts throughout the week.

Looking At The Past To Plan For The Future

ZIV SHAH (V)

Dear Pingry Community,

Over the past three years, I’ve watched you put on excellent performances, both on the field and on stage. Your seemingly infinite talent amazes me daily, and I’m thankful to be a part of this community. You’ve helped me through my highs and lows, and I will forever be grateful for all you have done for me. Over the past few years, our community has grown together through the return of Friday Night Lights and Homecoming, but I want to do more. Next year, I want to give back to you by bringing our community closer together and highlighting our school’s abundance of amazing talent. Coming into Pingry, I had no idea what to expect. Walking onto an enormous, unknown campus, I was nervous for my first day. I barely knew anyone, but I couldn’t wait to

start. The first people I ever met at Pingry, my cross-country captains, were super friendly and caring. They helped me tremendously during my first couple of days here, and immediately made me feel welcome. They set the stage perfectly for the rest of the community, as I soon learned that everyone at Pingry is just as caring. By bringing the community closer together next year, I want to ensure every kid feels at home here. Thanks to Giles, Jada, and JP, school spirit has been on the rise for the past few years. However, I know we can do more. Pingry kids are so busy that it is often hard to find the time to attend sports games, concerts, or performances. Next year, I want to place an emphasis on making sure that we support our peers more, not just during senior nights and big games, but during all the small home games and performances too. Pingry has proved to have no

lack of talent. From musical to artistic to athletic talent, we have it all. You’d be surprised at how much talent the teachers have, too. I recently learned that Mr. William Lagarde is an amazing singer and piano player. Starting with an upgraded song of the week, I want to highlight our talent at Pingry to unite the community and inspire more people. The best home crowd is one packed with students, and I want our athletes and artists to experience more of that.

I believe in doing the small things to make a big difference. Whether it’s working to help sleep-deprived students or making Morning Meetings more exciting, sometimes the small stuff is the most important and can make the biggest difference. Simply changing attitudes from loathing Morning Meetings to excitement for each week’s performance can help students and teachers be more excited for

next week and maybe, just maybe, inspire fewer people to fall asleep.

Over this next year, I can’t wait to start helping you, the Pingry community, come together and

have your best year yet. I’ll always be there to fight for you, and never hesitate to say ‘hi’ in the halls or stop me if you have a suggestion.

Best, Ziv Shah

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications, Saniya Kamat (IV)

Pingry’s Holi Celebration: A Festival of Color and Fun

SAMAYA SHAH (III)

Students enjoyed a vibrant and joyous celebration of Holi on April 22. Otherwise known as the Festival of Colors, Holi marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. It is a time when people come together to throw colorful powders, dance to music, and savor delicious foods. This year, the Upper School’s Holi celebration was a blend of tradition, fun, and community spirit.

Holi has deep historical roots in South Asia and commemorates the legend of Prahlad and Holika. According to the legend, Prahlad’s devotion to Lord Vishnu saved him from a fire set by Prahlad’s evil aunt, Holika. Holika wanted to kill Prahlad, but she ended up perishing in the flames. His escape from death symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

AANVI TRIVEDI (IV)

On May 23, the Balladeers hosted their annual Benefit Concert in the Lower Commons, surrounded by family, friends, and teachers. The Benefit Concert is the annual charity performance featuring the group’s repertoire throughout the year. It also serves as a tribute to the groups’ seniors, who are celebrated through speeches and songs throughout the concert. This year, the Benefit Concert generated funds through the sale of baked goods and optional donations which went to their charity of choice, the Krishnaa Foundation. This nonprofit organization provides support for trafficking victims and marginalized women and children in India.

The Balladeers opened their concert with a mashup of “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars and “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga, arranged by Upper School music teacher Mr. Jay Winston and the Balladeers Music Director Saniya Kamat (VI). After that, the Balladeers moved into an extended version of one of their serenades, “Baby

Over time, Holi has evolved into a festival that transcends cultural and religious boundaries, bringing people together in the spirit of joy.

This year’s Holi celebration included students from both the Middle and Upper School, with students from diverse backgrounds joining the festivities. The main activity students participated in was throwing colored powder at each other. Tables were set up with cups filled with holi powder in various colors. Students took multiple cups at a time and then covered their friends in colors, leading to chases across the grass area. The air was filled with laughter and shouts of surprise as students became unrecognizable with colored powder all over their faces.

Food played a big role in the celebration as well. Pingry parents offered students and faculty a taste of Indian cuisine,

bringing in sweet and savory snacks and drinks. Mango lassi, a popular yogurt-based drink, was a hit among the students, as was bhel puri , a tangy and crunchy snack. Aria Saksena (III), a participant in Holi celebrations for a few years now, noted, “A lot of people from different grades

in the Upper School came to celebrate regardless if they were South Asian or not. It was so much fun, and I really enjoyed playing with my brother and friends while listening to Indian music. My favorite food was obviously the mango lassi, but I enjoyed the bhel puri too!”

Overall, the successful

event was more than just a celebration; it was an opportunity for students to learn and immerse themselves in a cultural tradition that many might not have known of before. It highlighted the school’s inclusive community which appreciates, acknowledges, and celebrates diverse traditions.

Balladeers Benefit Concert

One More Time” by Britney Spears, arranged by Uma Menon (V), featuring soloist Sarah Clevenger (III). Next, they performed another one of their serenades, “I Knew You

each senior was given a solo. Once finished, the Balladeers performed another one of their serenades, titled “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer, with soloists Uma Menon and Ananya

Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift, arranged by Mykah Weckesser (V) and featuring soloist Brielle Marques (VI). Then, Mr. Winston selected three seniors and shared anecdotes about them. Once the three speeches were completed, the Balladeers performed the song “One Fine Day” by The Chiffons, in which

Sanyal (VI), as well as beatboxer Fiona Rovito (III). The song was arranged by alum Ashley Jackson ‘04, this year’s winner of the Achievement in the Arts Award. The Balladeers performed another extended serenade, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli, arranged by Uma Menon with soloist Durga Menon (IV). After the performance, Mr. Winston gave three more senior speeches before moving on to the next song, “Skyfall” by Adele. The song was arranged by Durga Menon and featured

soloists Marques and Izzy Berger (III). Afterwards, the Balladeers performed a group classic, “Boy” by Little Mix, originally performed by the Balladeers two years ago, brought back for this year’s Balladeers Assembly and the Benefit Concert. Following this classic, Mr. Winston gave his remaining two senior speeches,

and the Balladeers moved on to their senior tribute song arranged by juniors Weckesser and Uma Menon. The song was a mix of “End of Beginning” by Djo and “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift. Kamat reflected on hearing the senior tribute, recalling, “The senior tribute made me start crying immediately. It was so weird sitting on the bench right in front of everyone and watching the group sing goodbye to us for the first time, instead of being the one singing goodbye.” The tribute was followed by the Pitch Perfect medley with soloists Kamat, Francesca Zarbin (VI), Weckesser, Durga Menon, Clevenger, and Zoe Snider (III). The Balladeers topped off their Benefit Concert with “God’s Gift To Women” by Rory Block, a song the group has performed for many years. During the song, Balladeers alumni Isabel DeVito ‘19 and Natalie DeVito ‘22 were invited to sing with the group. Many Balladeers’ friends and family believe it was a “sweet and reminiscent way to end the concert on a positive note.” Congratulations on all their hard work!

JASMINE ZHOU (III)

On Monday, April 8, the second total solar eclipse of the century moved across the United States. Students were able to come together after classes to witness the celestial event. Assortments of snacks, chips, and beverages were provided at the clocktower to celebrate. To ensure protection from eye damage, students were reminded to pick up solar eclipse glasses before viewing the eclipse. Glasses were distributed to students and faculty at all exits of the school. By 3:10 p.m., most people had already gathered outside the clock tower with their glasses and snacks, anticipating the eclipse. From 3:20 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., watchers witnessed peak viewing

DURGA MENON (V)

After two months of unwavering dedication and hard work, students brought the Cabaret to life in the Attic Theater on May 2! This entirely studentled musical production was directed by Brielle Marques (VI), Lauren Poprik (VI), Sylvia Ardon (V), and Uma Menon (V). This year's theme was detention. Cabaret is a compilation of many musical theater numbers from different genres of Broadway shows that ultimately fit the theme. After holding auditions a week after closing night for the Winter Musical, 26 people were cast from all four Upper School forms. After spring break, rehearsals for the show began. The students met once or twice a week during conference period or after school. The cast spent this time learning the music, choreography, and blocking, all led by Marques, Poprik, Ardon, and Menon. Not only was the acting portion student-led, but the tech aspect

Form VI

Malcolm Adejouma*

Jack Buckley

Eddy Chen

Mena Khan

Kiera Troy

The Solar Eclipse

time with an estimated 85% to 90% totality, as New Jersey was not in the eclipse’s direct path. While sipping lemonade and snacking on popcorn, many students took pictures of the eclipse and selfies with their friends to remember the moment.

By 3:40 p.m., students started to head back inside or head home.

The last total solar eclipse in the United States was in August 2017. New Jersey experienced 70% to 80% totality for 2017’s eclipse.

News outlets noted this year’s eclipse would be much darker and more visible because the eclipse path was closer to New Jersey. Due to high expectations leading up to the eclipse, it disappointed some. Iris Prahl (III) stated, “I expected more; I thought 90% [totality] was going to be darker.”

Despite that, the eclipse was still a great way to kick off the week.

Amelia Liu (III) said, “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Leon Zhou (VI) explained how

he was “really excited that Pingry not only gave us the opportunity to but also actively encouraged us to experience the eclipse. It shows that Pingry really wants us to gain

meaningful experiences inside and outside the classroom as well.”

The next U.S. total solar eclipse will be in 2045.

Spotlight on Students: Cabaret 2024

of the performance was also completely student-organized.

Led by Sia Ghatak (IV) and Jonathan Robustelli (IV), the tech team added sound, microphones, lighting, and other elements to improve the show. Aanya Subbiah (IV) took pictures for the show, which can be found on the school website. The house was filled with an enthusiastic and supportive crowd. Cabaret emphasized every student’s talents and capabilities, from solos and duets to small group performances.

In this year’s Cabaret, the music ranged from “Meet the Plastics” from Mean Girls to “She Used To Be Mine” from Waitress to “Therapy” from Tick Tick Boom. Furthermore, Marques performed a beautiful cover of “Pure as the Driven Snow” from The Hunger Games during intermission.

Another new aspect of Cabaret this year was having a select ensemble. Compared to last year’s show, this year, a select number of students were on

Student Body President

Ziv Shah

Form V

Hanah Abdi

Sebastian Jin*

William Overdeck

Stella Reheman

Jack Sherman

stage the whole time, providing a more relaxed atmosphere for the performers. The host of this year’s Cabaret was Amara Obaray (III), who kept the show humorous and the flow going.

After the show, Poprik reflected, “I am so proud of everyone’s work. We all put so much effort into the production, and it couldn’t have turned

out better. The audience loved it, I had fun directing it, and I can’t wait to see where the program goes in the future.”

Upper School Performing Arts

Teacher Mr. Alan Van Antwerp described his favorite part about Cabaret: “What I love most about Cabaret is how all the students take ownership of their performances. The entire

concept was student-centered, so seeing all the students work hard and buy into their work is great.”

The student directors are extremely grateful to the Drama Department for all their help in putting this show together. The student-led 2024 Cabaret was a success in the arts community for the 2023–2024 season.

Moeed Khan

Ishaan Kumar*

Riya Prabhu

Bridget Troy

Maeve Webster

Form VI

Alexis Glasofer

Nick Henry**

Katherine Shea

Alex Wong

Form V

Sari Berman

Chloe Huang

Jordan McDonald

Alex Terpstra

Form IV

Sarah Clevenger

Sophie Schachter

Ishaan Sinha

JINGJING LUO (V)

After 30 years at Pingry, Mr. Miles Boyd, who is a member of the Magistri faculty, will be retiring at the end of this year. Beloved by any student who has taken an Arts course, Mr. Boyd is the Visual Arts Department Chair and an art teacher, taking on classes ranging from Photography I and II to Portfolio Development. Outside the classroom, he has advised various senior ISPs, hosted the Achievement in the Arts Awards, and worked with students to create art portfolios for college applications.

Mr. Boyd is an integral part of the community, and he has developed a close relationship with many in the school. When

OLIVIA BUVANOVA (V)

After five years of teaching history, Dr. Zachary Wakefield will be leaving in June to take the next step in his career. He will be relocating to the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he will be promoted to Head of the History Department.

Dr. Wakefield attended Juniata College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in history. He then went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D at Auburn University, both in history as well. Before joining the community, he spent four years working as a history teacher and coach at a boarding school.

For the past five years, Dr. Wakefield has been actively involved in the community, both in and out of the classroom. Within the history department, he specialized

SOPHIA ODUNSI (VI)

I have had the pleasure to work with Ms. Thuzar during the varsity fencing season and in my Computer Science Principles class. In appreciation, I asked her a couple of questions about her time here, before she leaves Pingry. Prior to coming to Pingry, Ms. Thuzar was pursuing a Master’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education at the University of Pennsylvania. She was inspired to become a teacher because of her love for learning (which she developed when she was young) and enthusiasm for being part of academic institutions. Her favorite aspect of being in a school environment is being surrounded by people constantly learning new things or different ways to communicate the same ideas. Over the last 13 years, she has taught

Mr. Miles Boyd

asked about what his best memories at the school have been, Mr. Boyd says “I will think of wonderful students who are exciting to teach, amazing, intellectual, committed teachers, a supportive administration, a visionary Board of Trustees, remarkable alumni, art, drama, and music colleagues that always felt like family.” Thanks to his continued efforts to improve the Arts at Pingry and the support of students and faculty, the Arts Department has expanded over the years, and he truly values this “special community that believes in the value of an arts education.”

Mr. Boyd has inspired students, many of whom have never even considered themselves to be artistic, to pursue new techniques

and mediums. Aside from being an educator, he is also an artist. Mr. Boyd has exhibited his work in national and international collections prior to Pingry. Not only has he excelled in the Visual Arts, but he has also worked in the music industry, managing small to arena-size concerts in rock, jazz, and blues, and collected antiques. After retirement, Mr. Boyd says he will continue to “make even more art in my studio, travel, sleep late, listen to lots of music, and spend more time with my family and friends.”

As a life-long artist, Mr. Boyd wants to leave students with a message: “Having an artistic life or passion that goes beyond Pingry will enrich your life immeasurably.” Thank you for

your invaluable contributions to the Arts at Pingry and you have truly made an impact on every student you have worked

with. You will be deeply missed throughout the community, and we wish you the best in retirement!

Dr. Zachary Wakefield

in the World History 9 and AP United States History courses.

Dr. Wakefield also took on the role of faculty advisor for Politics Club, became an ISP mentor for a food and history ISP, created the Food Truck spring intensive, and instructed the Food Fights summer global program.

When asked what he would miss most about Pingry, Dr. Wakefield answered, “The students and faculty — they’re what makes this job exciting, fulfilling, and sometimes even unpredictable.”

Dr. Wakefield goes on to say that walking into class every day, he would not know what to expect from his students. He ponders, ““Unique to Pingry, most students are so smart and well-read that their responses are much more formulated and advanced than an average high school teenager — it

always catches me by surprise the complexity of the things they say in class; it keeps me on my toes!”

Dr. Wakefield is known for his rigorous but worthwhile teaching methods, which, as his students can attest to, involve taking paper notes instead of electronic, using active recall to comprehend complex historical analysis beyond surfacelevel memorization, and coldcalling. In fact, Dr. Wakefield was one of the first teachers to require students to place their phones in a phone bin at the start of class; he introduced this long before the school made it a common practice throughout all classes. His courses are known to be challenging and rigorous, but nothing short of rewarding. In parting with the Pingry community, Dr. Wakefield comments, “A lot of people say to work smarter and not harder, but

remember: there’s nothing wrong with working hard.”

Thank you, Dr. Wakefield, for

your contributions to the history! department and beyond — you will be missed!

Ms. Aye Thuzar

Geometry, Algebra, Geometry Honors, Intermediate Algebra and Geometry, Discrete Mathematics, Survey of Computer Science, Programming, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, Data Structures in Java, Programming Languages and Design, Programming Languages and Design in C++, Advanced Topics: Data Science in R, and Advanced Topics: Algorithms. As a teacher, she is constantly learning from her colleagues and students, who inspire her every day. She has also been a club advisor for the Robotics Club, NJ Math Competitions, Anime Club, Competitive Programming Club, FBLA, and Girl Code. Lastly, she has been an assistant fencing coach for 7 years. Although she cannot pick a favorite memory over the last 13 years, she shared that working with her

students, curriculum development opportunities, learning to fence, taking pictures of fencing meets and fencers, and teaching a spring intensive course make up her core memories at Pingry. The entire Pingry community is sad to see Ms. Thuzar go as she continues her education, by finishing her Master’s in Data Science at NJIT. She will then join the University of Oregon as an instructor in the Computer Science department. Ms. Thuzar has been one of my favorite teachers throughout my time at Pingry because of her overwhelming kindness and unwavering support in all areas. Her teaching style helped me overcome my fear of coding and encouraged me to overcome challenges in other areas. Further, the light that she brought to the fencing team will always be remembered. As she leaves Pingry, Ms. Thuzar

wants to share that “Pingry has been a home for me for over a decade. I am going to miss Pingry and everyone at Pingry.” I’d

like the Pingry community to wish

good

on her future endeavors and grant her with kind goodbyes.

Photo Credits:

Ms. Thuzar

fortune

TINGTING LUO (IV)

After working at Pingry for 16 years, Mrs. Jill Law ‘04 has announced her departure from teaching. Throughout her time here, Mrs. Law has taught science in the Middle School and physics in the Upper School as well as coached the Girls’ Soccer and Softball Teams. Although she will no longer teach at Pingry, Mrs. Law will continue to assume her responsibilities as a Girls’ Softball Team coach. Mrs. Law graduated from Pingry as a member of the Class of 2004. She earned her B.A.

Mrs. Jill Law ‘04

in Physics at the University of Richmond. Originally an aspiring mechanical engineer, the three years Mrs. Law spent as a resident assistant in college helped steer her toward a career in education, and she decided to pursue her master’s degree in Teaching at Miami University.

Mrs. Law came to Pingry right after graduation to “help ensure that today’s students have as positive an experience here as [she] did.” Throughout her time at Pingry, Mrs. Law has received the Greig Family Endowed Faculty Chair, recognizing her “excellence in both teaching

Mr. Jared Slaymaker

and coaching of a sport.” When asked about her future journey, Mrs. Law stated that she is “looking forward to finding other things [she] might enjoy and be good at.” She expressed her deep gratitude for the Pingry community and will greatly miss her colleagues, who have become her best friends during her time here. We thank Mrs. Law for her positivity and dedication, which have influenced many in our community. We will miss you, Mrs. Law, and we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!

Mr. Ethan Boll

Thank You!

Jared Slaymaker, affectionately dubbed “JaySlay” by his students, is a lower school music teacher well-known for his high energy and boundless positivity. He has taught at Pingry for three years, and in that time, he has transformed the Lower School arts experience through games, music, and teamwork. When asked about his favorite memory at Pingry, he said it was “making students laugh.” He will be heading to Singapore with his family to teach overseas. Thank you to Mr. Slaymaker for all of his contributions!

We will also be saying goodbye to Ms. Breanna Bundschuh, Ms. Shengjie Chen, Ms. Regina Hardatt, and Dr. Gozde Unal.

Having been at Pingry for two years, Mr. Ethan Boll has had various positions, taking on the role of Theatrical Master Carpenter, Drama and Music Departments Coordinator, and substitute teacher. He has helped build the sets for the plays and musicals along with Mr. Joseph Napolitano and the student technical teams. Next fall, he will begin his Master of Architecture degree at UCLA along with his fiancée,

Faculty Features

who will begin UCLA Law School. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors, and he will be missed!

Music of the ‘50s and ‘60s: 2024’s Annual Spring

SARAH CLEVENGER (III)

During the evening of May 15, various music ensembles came together to perform in the Spring Festival Concert, with the theme of “Music of the ’50s and ’60s.” The Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra, Glee Clubs, Chamber Choir, Balladeers, and Buttondowns performed an impressive repertoire of songs, showcasing Pingry’s talented musicians. According to the Director of Upper Voices Glee Club, Chamber Choir, and Balladeers, Mr. Jay Winston, “This was the first year in a while where we chose a theme. The fun of the theme is the continuity of style throughout the concert.

In this case, the majority of the music was of the 1950s and 1960s, and we celebrated a variety of styles from that era such as doowop, musical theater, and soul.”

The evening started with the Lower Voices Glee Club, a choral group led by Dr. Andrew Moore, inviting the audience to join in for the first song, “All I Have to Do is Dream” by Boudleaux Bryant (arr. Steve Yook ‘97). The night’s lighthearted ‘50s and ‘60s theme was beautifully captured in the next song, “Come Go with Me” by C.E. Quick (arr. Steve Yook ‘97), with Will Overdeck (IV) as a soloist. The string orchestra then took the stage, delivering two poignant pieces: “Andante for Strings” by John Cacavas

and St. Paul’s “Suite in C Major” Op. 29, No. 2 by Gustave Holst. The Upper Voices Glee Club then sang “Aquarius” from the movie Hair and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon, featuring Verna Mae Lange (VI), Izzy Berger (III), and Lauren Poprik (VI) as soloists. Continuing the flow of the night, the String Quartet played “Divertimento in F. Major, K. 138” by Mozart and “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles, with Poprik as soloist. The Balladeers and Buttondowns then came together to sing a rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson (arr. Roger Emerson). The performance then segued into

senior tributes for each group. The Buttondowns, directed by Dr. Moore, sang solos in their senior tribute song, “Happy Together” by the Turtles (arr. Chris Freslone ‘92). The Balladeers then took the stage and performed their senior tribute, “One Fine Day” by Gerry Cottin and Carole King (arr. Balladeers alumnae). Continuing the pattern of senior tributes, the Jazz Ensemble played “Dat Dere” by Bobby Timmons, “So What” by Charles Mingus, and “Boogie Stop Shuffle” by Miles Davis, which also featured the talents of senior soloists. To finish the night, the Chamber Choir sang “Blackbird” by the Beatles. Mr. Winston perfectly captures the night’s end, saying,

Festival

“The finale of the evening, where the combined Glee Clubs performed a medley from West Side Story accompanied by Dr. Moore on piano, Will Pertsemlidis (V) on drums, and Ziv Shah (V) on bass was exuberant.”

SANIYA KAMAT (VI)

I’ve gone by many nicknames throughout my life: “Dolly” (to my mom), “San-San” (to my dad), “Di” (to my brother), and “Sanu” (to close family and friends). Then there’s “S” (to Ziv), “Ayinas” (to Ananya), “Muffin” (to Jess), “Snaily” (to Anika), and my all-time favorite, “Giggles” (you’ll find out why below).

When I was younger, I had a bit of what one might call a laughing problem. Whenever I started laughing, no matter the reason, I couldn’t stop. I have abundant memories of laughing with something in my mouth and then rushing to the trash bin or sink so that I wouldn’t choke or spew out food, immediately erupting in hysterics afterward. Or falling on the floor clutching my abdomen because I was laughing way too hard — whether at home, at a fancy restaurant, or in the middle of Mrs. Finkelstein’s

JINGJING LUO (V)

I have always believed that “new” things and experiences are adventures. The desire to find opportunity in the “new” is inherent to humans — we seek change and action. Another school year is coming to a close, and I know that for three months, I won’t be smelling the same Sage Dining from the Junior Area, and as each day passes, I will have one less chance to say Hi! to Ms. Thuzar in the hallways. While I, like many others, enjoy exerting the privileges of driving to the local Starbucks, I am finding it more of a “privilege” to stay, as the number of days we have left with each other reaches the single digits. Something about the routine of coming in at 8:28 a.m., going to classes, and dawdling in the building after the day

sixth-grade history class. One time in middle school, we had a urologist from the Class of ‘69 visit our advisory. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that unlike the other kids in my grade, I did not have the self-control to keep a poker face through all of their not-sosubtle jokes. It didn’t end well. These frequent bouts of laughter throughout my childhood earned me the nickname “Giggles.”

Then high school came along, and my uncontrollable fits of laughter started to wane. While my familiarly fond name could be considered a reflection of my immature tendencies, it had begun to feel like a piece of who I was. I liked being known for the irrepressible bits of joy that consumed me entirely, sometimes for no particular reason. But at some point in high school, I stopped laughing like I used to. Not in the tiny nervous way when a friend teases you about a crush, or in the awkward forced way when a classmate makes a bad joke, but in the uninhibited, stomachpaining, gasping-for-air kind of way about the most random things. I had lost my Giggles.

Although I may have just outgrown my childish bursts of delight, it felt like a sign. A few friends continued to use the name, and maybe I was still

See You Soon

ends is comforting: to know that I will see the same people, some I know while others only being recognizable in passing. Soon, the seniors will be gone.

In a time like now, I want to put down those self - help books and simply talk to those around me. From those who I have known since my first days at Pingry to those who I have met along the way, my senior friends are slowly dispersing into the histories of high school. Yet their stories, laughter, and friendship are lessons far more valuable than those from a self

Giggles

perceived as carefree or joyful, but it no longer felt genuine. I no longer felt deserving of the title. My nickname used to be connected to happiness, but high school seemed to have taken that away.

While I will always have a special place in my heart for the hobbies and friends I’ve found here, the high school stress and struggle of balancing both academic and social success with a reasonable sleep schedule were simply too draining to manage. Sure, there were ups and downs, and some parts definitely feel nostalgic when I look back, but I know realistically that I tearfully dragged myself through more late nights than I can count, and that there were plenty of times when a lack of an invite to a hangout or party made me feel disheartened or left out. I appreciate my time and effort over the last four years solely because they got me where I needed to go. And I thank my 15-year-old self for somehow doing what needed to be done without completely falling apart. What I will miss, however, are activities like performing onstage and playing water polo that helped me discover some of the best parts of myself — and of course, the people.

Like every grade before us, our class grew up together.

- proclaimed guru selling me a mass - produced paperback. When I say that I am content with this routine, it is because my senior friends are constantly transforming me, teaching me from their experiences, even when they don’t realize it. So there is change after all. While I don’t believe I will no longer be friends with them after graduation, I will reminisce on the days we have spent stuck in this routine, as it has been forever changing. I will wait for the day when I can say, once again, See you soon!

I’ll miss the faces I’ve grown accustomed to seeing daily for so long, even though we may have only shared a few words. I’ll always remember the “side characters” in my story: the girl I thought was intimidating until I tutored her in Spanish, the guy I went to Snowball with in sophomore year and then never spoke to again, or the friends I cherished silly sleepovers with in middle school whom I’ve long drifted away

from. I hope they’ll remember me as a fleeting character in their Pingry chapter too. It is only now that I’m done with the pressure of high school that I’m actively trying to find who I am and what I want to do with my life without the constant workload hanging over me. I hope that I’m able to maintain more of a balance in the years to come. And slowly but surely, I’m confident that I’m getting back my Giggles.

Editors-in-Chief

Julia Eng

Saniya Kamat

Rising Editors-in-Chief

Jingjing Luo

Sriya Tallapragada

Faculty Advisors

Ms. Lynne Cattafi

Ms. Sara Courtney

Senior Assistant Editors

Vanya Shah

Carolyn Zhou

Assistant Editors

Gabriel Raykin

Simrin Shah

Head Layout Editors

Jingjing Luo

Vanya Shah

Sriya Tallapragada

Copy Editors

Olivia Buvonova

Chloe Huang

Ella Karch

Amelia Liu

Leila Souyah

Aanvi Trivedi

Sophie Schachter

Tingting Luo

Victoria Xie

Durga Menon

Leah Holmes

Shanti Swadia

Cartoon Editors

Sheryl Chen

Anna Ojo

Head Layout Editors

Jingjing Luo

Vanya Shah

Sriya Tallapragada

Layout Editors

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Saniya Kamat (VI), Sheryl Chen (IV)

Field Day Relays and Lessons in Sisterhood

JULIA ENG (VI)

At the end of the first six years I spent at Pingry, all of the pent up competition and angst of PE class would culminate in Field Day. For some, Field Day was like a cathartic release; slathered in blue or white face paint, they would come to school armed with chants and cheers, Gatorade, and sweatbands, ready for what the day might bring. I, on the other hand, was not so enthusiastic about competing. I have always been the type of girl that you would yell at for not catching the dodgeball to revive a teammate sitting out. I was

usually the last player standing, not because I was nimble or fast; I hid behind my classmates to avoid getting hit or participating.

There’s a sort of promise that all kindergarteners make together, as well as to themselves, regardless of their athleticism (or lack thereof) — as seniors, they promise to come back to volunteer for what will be their final Field Day. This promise held me accountable, and my youngest sister, Elizabeth, was running the last leg of the white team’s fifth - grade relay. I always joke that the Lower School seems to shrink each time I return; watching my sister, eleven but going on 27, move through its hallways seemed to dwarf the Lower School even further; it seemed that she’d already outgrown it herself. It was soon time for the fifthgrade girls’ relay, and I watched nervously as the gap between the blue and the white teams grew. Elizabeth began the final leg a quarter of a lap behind the blue team’s runner, grabbed the baton, and bounded away. I watched

in awe as she flew around the same field that I had struggled to complete a singular lap on as a child. The white ribbon in her hair, which my mother had tied around her ponytail in our kitchen, streamed behind her like a silken banner. I had never really seen her run before but had always known how fast she was; even in preschool, she could run circles around anyone, including her teachers. I was stunned by how easy she made it look, how she cut through the humid afternoon air with her high, scraped knees. I was in awe of how beautiful she made the act of running appear, and then suddenly, I was in awe of her beauty itself.

But as the gap closed to three or four stride lengths, and she approached the end, I realized that she would not be able to catch her opponent. Crossing the finish line, her legs ceased to pump. She put her hands over her flushed cheeks and began to cry. I’ve comforted my crying siblings hundreds of times, and they’ve done the same

Please email your responses to jluo2025@pingry.org or stallapragada2025@pingry.org. If you are the first to respond, we will contact you about a prize!

for me. Being the oldest of four means knowing how to clean and bandage a cut, how to wipe tears with Kleenex, and how to swaddle a baby who won’t stop wailing. I’d even held a rag over Elizabeth’s bloodied hair and called 911 when she cracked her head open on our living room coffee table. But nothing prepares you to save your siblings from those different kind of tears: the ones that come with disappointment, not in others, but in oneself. I walked towards her, stunned in some ways. I didn’t know what my job was anymore. The closer I got to her, the more I realized how little I could do to comfort her. But this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Right before my eyes, she had grown from being just a younger sister into a peer, which is perhaps the most special, terrifying, and beautiful thing siblings can ever experience. Her classmates, from both the blue and the white team, were already surrounding her in a group hug that was three kids deep.

I took a deep breath and saw

it all laid out before me. My entire life, she had seemed like an extension of me, copying my mannerisms and running after me like a puppy at my heel. As she stood in that field twenty feet from me and out of my reach, her talents, her friends, and her life were all completely hers. I hated that she didn’t feel pride for all of her hard work, accomplishments, and amazing attributes that make her who she is, but I realized that this was something that she would have to reconcile on her own. Although I would always be there for her, she no longer needed me to hold her hand, and as her friends slowly began to leave her one by one, she finally wiped her own tears away with the back of her hand. She walked back to me and politely thanked me for attending her race. Standing in front of me, tall and independent, she tightened the ribbon in her hair and shyly smiled. That day, I walked back to my car in the Lower School parking lot with my sunglasses on; I was crying too.

Our Behavior Relies on Technology Summer Crossword!

ARIELLA ALLARIEZ (III)

Does being too reliant on technology affect our behavior?

Technology impacts our daily lives with its various functions. Many applications and websites have a function that alters our day - to-day routine. Is it a good idea to rely on technology so much?

According to a study by the New York Times , “The idea is to show that tech is really everything and that it’s shaping our world in ways that we may not necessarily see. These changes in technology are influencing our behavior in ways that we may not necessarily be aware of.” By becoming reliant on technology, our behavior is changing. For instance, technology allows students to gain access to education through online courses, digital textbooks, educational videos, and more. With a smartphone and the internet, anyone can learn more about anything that might interest them, anywhere and anytime.

As many use technology to relieve stress, technology in the form of social media also affects our behavior. After a busy day at school or work, social media serves as a break. However, too much of this break can lead to a decrease in productivity since procrastination can arise. Technology can interrupt the ability of teens to focus and

complete their work. The New York Times explained that “teenagers told us they spend a significant portion of their lives online — most said somewhere between 16 and 62 hours a week. Where do they spend all that time? Apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube came up again and again…” Social media has become addictive for teens, who have become dependent on technology for entertainment. By being too dependent on technology, young adults will not appreciate the present moment because they are too focused on their screens. While using apps to take photos, we capture a beautiful moment on screen but could miss the present moment and reality.

A New York Times writer Ms. Shira Ovide claims, “Right now, there’s only life mediated through technology. So in a way, it’s made it much more clear how much we rely on technology in ways that are both good and bad.” Technology impacts many due to its advancements. We can continue informing others, educating many, and learning from technology. However, we should also find other ways to be entertained and stay in touch with reality. By doing so, we can practice self - control by relying less on technology and more on ourselves.

Photo Credits: Carolyn Zhou (V)

SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (V)

There’s a photo of my grandmother that hangs right next to my mirror; 17 years old at the time, she leans against a balcony, staring solemnly into the camera, her hair slicked back with coconut oil and a bindi placed neatly in the center of her forehead. While the picture looks completely peaceful, my grandmother’s life was anything but. As the conflict between India and Pakistan over

VICTORIA XIE (IV)

My surroundings blur and my mind becomes blissfully clear as I temporarily leave the present until a sense of urgency fills me. It’s 1:00 a.m. — I’m supposed to be typing my English essay, but I keep zoning out due to a lack of sleep. I’ve been like this everyday for the past week, in a cycle of sleep deprivation and non - stop work. If I want to get a good grade on this assignment, I have to keep staying up late, right? When we find people talking about their “success stories” online, we often hear about their 4:00 a.m. morning routines and their 11 - hour - long workdays. We almost never hear about a nine - hour sleep schedule.

SHANTI SWADIA (III)

Imagine you could create an entirely new song within seconds. Now stop imagining because you can do it right now. Udio. com is a generative AI platform where anyone, even an untrained musician, can “write” songs by simply giving the AI a few prompts, like “’80s style pop with bass and drum accompaniments” or “futuristic jazz with male vocalist.” The AI will compose the lyrics, add the accompaniments, a major or minor key, a time signature, and more.

Music began embracing a digital existence in the ‘80s when artists started recording all music on hard drives. Consumers today listen to music through apps like Apple Music and Spotify, but artificial intelligence takes it a step further. Now, musicians

Peace and the Writing Experience

the state of Kashmir unfolded throughout her childhood, her area (being a border state to Kashmir) was often a target for air strikes, ground battles, and military action. Day after day, my grandmother observed human rights violations, restrictions to freedom of speech, and violence take over her community. The presence of hate was rampant: quite often, her neighbors would host public burnings of the Pakistani flag, chanting “jai jawan” (hail

the soldier). Living in a time of such hate and violence couldn’t have been easy, and my grandmother often struggled to understand her identity amid such conflict. Her response?

Inspired by popular Indian Authors like Sarojini Naidu and Rabindranath Thakur whom she read in the classroom, my grandmother bought a notebook and fountain pen from a local vendor and began writing poems about her peace. This allowed her to “stay sane in a

world of madness.” Her passion for writing continued as she graduated from college, married my grandfather, became a mother to three daughters, and eventually moved to Hyderabad, away from the conflict.

Now, at 70 years of age, my grandmother’s hands shake with arthritis, and she can no longer put pen to paper. Still, as I sit with her and communicate in my broken Telugu, I am inspired by the way writing allowed her to understand cultural inclusivity.

To Sleep or To Study

Sleep deprivation has become inextricably tied to success in today’s world, and it is even reflected in students’ lives. Students feel pressure to take as many AP classes as possible, have enough extracurriculars, and hand in quality work before the deadline.

The pressure for students to perform well is incredibly high. For them, being productive is a necessity, whereas getting enough rest is a choice. But sleep is not optional, especially for students whose brains are still developing. According to Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, a researcher who studies sleep, a lack of sleep can negatively impact brain development. It can also lead to higher chances of cancer,

as well as an increased risk for heart disease and depression. Even a week of sleep deprivation has consequences. Then, how can students win back their sleep? There is no way to solve this problem overnight, as this is partly due to a flaw within the education system and society itself. However, as individuals, we can alleviate it. First, sleep deprivation should be recognized as a real problem. Oftentimes, students are told that it is “normal” for them to stay up late doing homework, or even that it is “good” that they are working so hard. This type of wording takes the urgency of the problem away and labels it as something positive. Teachers could be more lenient on deadlines for

It serves as a way to exchange ideas and perspectives, allowing for nuance and a back - andforth that leads to consensus. It can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, leading to greater empathy in our community. Although our bubble in suburban NJ is far different than life in Kashmir, in the midst of chaos and violence present in the world, discourse through writing and communication is necessary for us to become global citizens.

large assignments, especially if students have two or more large assignments due on the same day. I like the idea of a “Three Major Assignment Rule,” instead of simply a “Three Assessment Rule.” Finally, the next time

Is Music Dead in the World of

don’t just play music—they can also program it. The AI software in Udio.com generates patterns found in existing music. These patterns are becoming increasingly effective, and in time, they will rival any songwriter. Today’s AI is not at that stage; it is simply a copilot for creatives. However, it is unclear what will happen in the coming years.

The emergence of this new AI software raises many essential questions, but I will outline only three of them below.

First, will this new AI replace the human creativity we appreciate in artists? For now, consumers may still attend concerts of the popular musicians who have earned their fame, but after some time, they will become impatient for their favorite artist’s next hit and “create” the hit themselves. Because the AI

is undermining their creativity, these artists will not find the inspiration to write or dedicate themselves to songwriting. They may even start to use the AI to enhance their creative process.

A machine can give them the same number of hits, if not more, so why spend time working through their writer’s block?

Second, let’s consider the emotional impact of music. For many of us, music is the most authentic way of storytelling. It’s a direct line to our emotions, a way for musicians to communicate their inner thoughts to another human being. The lyrics of our favorite songs pull at our emotional heartstrings because they are tales of the human experience. However, a computer algorithm reduces a personal piece of storytelling to an impersonal,

AI?

artificial string of words.

Lastly, let’s consider the implications for musicians’ copyrights and financial stability.

I believe AI in music production will complicate the lives of artists because it will be difficult or nearly impossible for them to claim ideas as their own. The prevalence of AI will also negatively affect the financial stability of talented musical artists. Their skills will be commoditized, and their basic livelihoods will be at stake.

Ultimately, the most critical

students find themselves up at 1:00 a.m. and zoning out every few minutes or so, I’d like them to first ask themselves this question: to sleep or to study? And, hopefully, they will start making the choice “to sleep” more often.

question of our generation is: will human creativity and storytelling be superseded by artificial intelligence? Or is AI simply the next step in our creative evolution, acting as a tool that can enhance our lives? Tools like Udio.com are so dynamic that there is no way to predict their impact on music, let alone the human race. We can only theorize about their effects and how fast our lives will change, but who knows? Check back in with me in five years… or maybe one month.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Sheryl Chen (IV), Google Images

SARAH GU (VI)

It’s 103 degrees. I take the thermometer from my ear and place it next to my murmuring computer. On the screen is a twenty - second clip of a woman quickly explaining how to cut wispy bangs. After watching two other similar videos, I take a pair of scissors and run to the bathroom. I’ve always been a little religious

Starting Ninth Grade Right

about my hair. It’s a constant frizzy mess that I try to tame with a new conditioner brand every month — never mind that I shampoo my sweaty hair every day after practice until it’s fried. I know that good, healthy hair is a sacrifice I must make as a student - athlete. Every haircut is left to a barber alumnus to keep it from looking worse. I have never drastically trimmed my hair.

ADAM ELAYAN (VI)

If you were a kid with limited artistic talent like me, your parents probably hung your art on your fridge. My parents had to frame mine to save my pride. For context, my sister was the Michael Jordan of the Lower School Book Fair Art Competition. Every year, she won first or second prize, and every year, Pingry sent us a framed version of the winning drawing to go with the honor. While she piled up the hardware, I was turning in head - scratcher after head - scratcher, submitting work that, if reviewed, would most aptly be described as “anti - art” and “anti - book.” Still, I waited with bated breath every year while they announced the contest winners, hoping that this year my depiction of a dinosaur throwing a hotdog over a rainbow would net me at least an honorable mention. To no one’s surprise but mine, I never won, but

KELLY CAO (VI)

It’s April of my junior year, when the inevitable pressure of college has just begun to truly set in, and I check my inbox to see an email from creynolds@pingry.org for teacher recommendations. As I scroll through the form attached, I answer every question rather easily, until I reach the following prompt: “Give an example of when you felt you really contributed to a conversation, lesson, group project, etc.” I tried to recall the most significant moments of my classes only to find that nothing specific could come to mind, only a vague sense of feeling that accompanied

Until now. It’s March of my senior year. It’s a massive moment for me to be cutting my bangs. And after a couple of snips, I realize I’ve perhaps cut them a little too short, the parting off - center, and the side parts uneven. I try to salvage my hair with a flat iron or adjust the front strands until they become oily with my fingers. When I was a sophomore, I watched as an upperclassman gave a speech about how his disappointing perm allowed him to realize no one cared how he looked. I had known ruined hair wasn’t a big deal and that owning it was better than worrying about it. It didn’t make sense, and it was the slightest bit of hair that would grow out within two months. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. But after walking into school, no one acted like anything was out of place. My friends had made good - hearted comments about a haircut, but no one

gave me a double - take. I truly felt that it didn’t matter at all. During my time in high school, I followed the same concept. I had spent much of my underclassmen semesters in the library. I’m lucky my friends loved the library space as much as I did. But still, after pestering upperclassmen for advice — which boiled down to talking to everyone, meeting new people, and making new friends (accompanied by the classic “see your teachers” and “manage your time”) — I had completely ignored everything I was told except for the advice I was already following. It felt natural to work away, only reaching out to a new face when they approached first. Of course, I don’t intend to begin my first year of college the same way. I’m grateful I had followed my gut, however. It was a big mistake that gave me a brutal wake - up call in the middle of my high school years. There are many ways I could

The Last Laugh

that did not mean my parents would let my sister outshine me. In what was either a sympathetic gesture to salvage my ego or a brilliant effort to compare my sister’s intelligence to mine, they hung my last - place dinosaur trainwreck (frame and everything) next to my sister’s 2014 first - place winner, whose theme was “Peace in the Middle East.”

Middle and high school were more of the same. Ceremonies and plaques replaced art contests and framed drawings. Sitting at the back of the auditorium, I could usually catch up on my sleep unnoticed during the STEM and athletics portions of the assemblies. I always perked up during the announcements of the humanities awards; hoping for a little bit of nepotism, I was secretly ready to hear my name called. Determined to betray me, my mom never cheated the system on my behalf, and I went home empty - handed year after year.

So, when I saw an email from

Mrs. Julia Dunbar with the subject line “Awards Assembly Tomorrow,” I didn’t bother to open it. Only Thursday morning, after I had arrived bright and early (at 9:30) to work on my ISP (watch baseball highlights in the library), I found out my attendance was required at the assembly. I got comfortable five minutes later, clad in my brightest red polyester t - shirt, and sat in the front row. As the school’s resident music critic and one of four Advanced Topics II French students, I knew I would be up for a couple of awards, but I felt no sense of dread. After all, how could I possibly get embarrassed now?

You’ve all seen the picture they used of me for The Flex . As my friends love to remind me and anyone who will listen, my role on varsity baseball last year was scoreboard operator. I wore rainbow Vans to school in seventh grade. In a fitting introduction, I threw a tantrum in my

Pingry interview 14 years ago (yes, they made me wait another

view my first semesters and feel regret. However, the point of experience is that we must feel an idea before genuinely learning it. For me, gaining experience means getting wake - up call after wake - up call. That idea would otherwise fly through my head passively. A random 100 - year - old man’s words aren’t going to do anything because you don’t feel his lessons affect you. I ignored my upperclassmen’s words because I didn’t understand I was missing out on people who had so much to share. If I were to start high school all over again, I would tell freshman Sarah to trust herself, even if she is wrong, because those lessons would arrive when she is ready. I would let her make the same mistakes and fall into the same traps and obsessions so she could feel those lessons as deeply as possible. And maybe I could even convince her to cut her bangs sooner.

school, just to add to the absurdity. You could

row seat on Thursday, I hoped my name would get called, and I could walk on stage in my bright red shirt and gym shorts. I could have my picture taken before the whole

Looking Back on the Bigger Picture

each day. After all, how was I supposed to remember every single time that I’d made some sort of contribution to a discussion when I spent every day talking in classes, then with my friends, then with my family? Even now, when I ruminate on my memories of what I have been doing the past four years, I can maybe state specific instances that felt good, like winning some competition or overcoming a monumental obstacle. But in hindsight, these times fade like bubbles in seafoam, receding back into my mind as nothing more than a story for me to bring up during some class reunion in the future. It is hard to define an experience in

a singular moment, because “high school” felt like less than two words and more of an endless script, like one of those books that, when you reach the end, you forget how it began. I can remember submitting my final college application and hoping to experience the most lifechanging sense of accomplishment, but instead just feeling a heavy burden released off my back. This was the same feeling that haunted me throughout high school, whenever I finally submitted an English essay that was two weeks late, or went to a meeting for a club that I at first had a genuine reason to miss, then felt too guilty to return to. I attribute

most of these blunders though not to laziness, but rather to my “perfectionism procrastination.” Because I attached my academic worth to these moments, to these essays and club meetings, I could not handle the feeling of not participating to my best ability. Instead of focusing on the overall feeling that high school could give me, I was focusing on these minute mistakes, when I felt like my world would end if I didn’t give it my all. As a result, I pushed back my assignments, telling myself that I would do it tomorrow when I felt like I could churn out a perfect piece in one sitting. I told myself that I’d catch up on the dozens

at me, and I could laugh at me, and we could laugh at this for a long time after. To hell with my ego. I just wanted one more. thing to smile about when I leave.

of readings I’d missed for a club meeting, only to never do them. However, one singular essay would not be the highlight of my high school career, or of my entire life. This too was simply a moment among the many that I would have, a bubble in the seafoam of my high school years. Looking back, all these moments were trivial – I don’t remember every single English essay I wrote or all the club meetings I should have attended – but I do wish that I could have been able to write them earlier, or that I had the courage to go to those club meetings, because those were the moments and feelings that I missed out on.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Sheryl Chen (IV), Anna Ojo (III)

Class of 2024: Off to College

Boston College

Boston University

Brown University

Clemson University

Colby College

Colgate University

Colorado College

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Davidson College

Denison University

Drexel University

Duke University

Emory University

Fairfield University

Georgetown University

Harvard University

Haverford College

High Point University

Howard University

Indiana University

Johns Hopkins University

Lafayette College

Lehigh University

Loyola Marymount University

Marist College MIT

Muhlenberg College

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Pennsylvania State University

Princeton University

Providence College

Purdue University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rutgers University

Skidmore College

Smith College

Spelman College

Stanford University

Syracuse University

The Ohio State University

The University of Texas at Austin

Trinity College

Tufts University

Tulane University

University of California, Irvine

University of California, San Diego

University of Chicago

University of Colorado

Boulder

University of Miami

University of Michigan Ann Arbor

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Notre Dame

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of Southern California

University of St Andrews

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Vanderbilt University

Vassar College

Wake Forest University

Washington University in St. Louis Williams College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Yale University

Senior Awards

Math, Science, Technology

Computer Science Prize

Laura Liu, Alan Zhong

John R. Whittemore ‘47

Biology Award

Max Naseef, Leon Zhou

Ernest C. Shawcross

Chemistry Award

Verna Mae Lange, Francesca Zarbin

The Physics Award

Evan Xie

Science Book Award

Britney Alfieri, Annabelle Shilling

Science Research Award

Juliana Amorosi

Science in Society Award

Sydney Shilts, Delaney Swain

Whitlock Prize for Math

Laura Liu, Evan Xie

Humanities

Union College Casmir A. France Award for Excellence in English

Laura Liu, Francesca Zarbin

Paul H. and Sarah Rouslin Excellence in English Award

Julia Eng, Annabelle Shilling

Martin B. O’Connor ‘26 Journalism Award

Adam Elayan

Language Prize

Advanced Language Prize

Advanced Math Prize

Verna Mae Lange

Economics Prize

Divya Subramanian, Alan Zhong

Robotics Prize

Keira Chen, Laura Liu

Yearbook Award

Annabelle Mahoney

Jean S. MacDonald History Prize

Julia Eng, Francesca Zarbin

Psychology Prize

Mark Mason, Delaney Swain

Word and Classical Languages

Chinese: Sasha Gupta

French: Evan Xie

German: Brennan McVey

Chinese: Theodore Strelecky

French: Julia Eng

Latin: Verna Mae Lange

Latin: Alexandra Alston

Spanish: Kain Wang

Spanish: Annabelle Shilling, Francesca Zarbin

The DeGryse Prize in World

Languages: Samuel Gonzalez

Arts and Drama

Director's Award for Achievement in Dramatic Arts

Gabrielle Marques

Drama Department Award for Musical Theatre

Lauren Poprik, Damilare Shote

Prize for Technical Theatre

Samuel Gonzelez

Michael E. Popp

Photography Prize

Alice Santana, Delaney Swain

Brendan J. Donahue '79 Memorial Prize for Fine Arts

Isabelle Baird, Emily Gao

Brendan J. Donahue '79 Memorial Prize for Pottery and Sculpture

Alexandra Rudnik

Barbara Berlin Prize in Art History

Sydney Shilts

Music Award

Francesca Zarbin

School Service and Leadership

Michael Jupka Jr. '76 Blue Key Award

Matthew Lombardo

Community and Civic Engagement Award

Isabel Zarbin

Paul R. Leary '90 Award

Allison Smith

John Taylor Babbitt '07 Award

Alex Payne

Student Government Achievement Award

Jada Watson

Special Awards

The 1902 Emblem Award

Jada Watson

The Magistri Laudandi Award

Evan Xie

The Legacy Cup

Daniela Karnaugh

Centennial Cup - Gift of the Class of '61

Graham Stevens

Class of '26 Reese Williams Award

Matteo Littman

Sandy Apruzzese Big Blue Award

Mark Mason

Elizabeth Allan Smith '83 Memorial Pingry-Duke Scholarship Prize

Jada Watson

C.B. Newton Pingry-Princeton

Scholarship Prize

Nicholas Meng

The Faculty Prize

Damilare Shote

Charles B. Atwater Valedictory Prize

Verna Mae Lange

Francesca Zarbin

Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction

Abigail Baird

Aviv Cohen

Julia Eng

Sarah Gu

Juliana Amorosi

Kelly Cao

Keira Chen

Aiden de Asla

Julia Eng

Emily Gao

Sarah Gu

Cum Laude Society

Saniya Kamat

Daniela Karnaugh

Verna Mae Lange

Laura Liu

Katherine Marine

Nicholas Meng Ngozi Nnaeto

Chelsea Peng

Lauren Poprik

Avery Santomassimo

Annabelle Shilling

Colette Simon

Allison Smith

Divya Subramanian

Benjamin Tran

Kain Wang

Maisy Webster

Evan Xie

Francesca Zarbin

Hansen Zhang

Alan Zhong

U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalists

Ethan Boroditsky

Saniya Kamat

Nicholas Meng Divya Subramanian Kain Wang Evan Xie Leon Zhou

National Recognition Awards

Rural and Small Town/Hispanic/African American/ Indigenous People

Daniela Henriques Ngozi Nnaeto Verna Lange Marcus Wilson

National Merit - Commended

Ethan Boroditsky

Kelly Cao

Michael Caratzola

Brian Chin

Aiden de Asla

Julia Eng

Emily Gao

Sarah Gu

Saniya Kamat

Miles Kelly

Keira Chen

Nicholas Meng

Keira Chen

Nicholas Meng

Katherine Krishtopa

Verna Lange

Laura Liu

Katherine Marine

Olivia Murray

Max Naseef

Mitchell Oldham

Chelsea Peng

Ananya Sanyal

Annabelle Shilling

Colette Simon

Mehr Takkar

Sebastian Talarek

Kain Wang

Kyle Wang

Margaret Wu

Francesca Zarbin

Hansen Zhang

Alan Zhong

National Merit - Semifinalists

Divya Subramanian Rohan Variankaval

National Merit Finalists

Evan Xie

Leon Zhou

Divya Subramanian Rohan Variankaval Evan Xie Leon Zhou

National Merit Scholarship Recipients

Keira Chen Evan Xie

National Merit Special Scholarship Recipients

Laura Liu

Scholar-Athletic Awards

Cipriano Family Scholar-Athlete Delaney Swain

NJSIAA State

Emily Gao

Girls' Cross Country Award

Ollvia Murray

Boys' Cross Country Award

Andrew Vilarin

Andrea Montague Field

Hockey Award

McKenna Dwyer

Tom Boyer Football Award

Joshua Woodford

Michael Jupka Jr., '76

Football Award

Carson DeRoner

Timothy C. Cornwall '64 Boys' Soccer

Sportsmanship Award

Somerset County Principals Award

Daniela Karnaugh

Skyland Conference Scholar Athlete

Olivia Murray

NJISAA Prep

McKenna Dwyer

Athletic Awards

Joe LaValley Boys' Basketball Award

Graham Stevens

David M. Allan Memorial

Girls' Basketball Award Ngozi Nnaeto

Virginia Nazario Fencing Award

Nikita Kogan, Delaney Swain

Pingry School Varsity Boys' Ice Hockey Award

Charles Sherman

Girls' Ice Hockey Award

Charlotte Diemar

Michael Jupka, Jr. '76

Wrestling Award

Charles Levine, Matteo Littman

Winter Track Award

Olivia Murray, Sydney Shilts, Sebastian Talarek

Class of 1935 Graham

Churchill Baseball Award

Alex Payne

Boys' Golf Award

Eshaan Golchha

Girls' Golf Award

Ella Murti

Sasha Gupta

Rahil Kakar

Saniya Kamat

Miles Kelly

Katherine Krishtopa

Sarina Lalin

Verna Lange

Lauren Poprik

Ananya Sanyal

Aanya Shah

Annika Shekdar

Allison Smith

Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor

Ethan Boroditsky

Kelly Cao

Keira Chen

Emily Gao

Laura Liu

Kate Marine

Nicholas Meng

Chelsea Peng

Annabelle Shilling

Anika Sinha

Divya Subramanian

Rohan Variankaval

Kain Wang

Kyle Wang

Margaret Wu

Evan Xie

Hansen Zhang

Alan Zhong

Leon Zhou

Advanced Placement Scholar Designation

Britney Alfieri

Madeline Alfieri

Juliana Amorosi

Valerie Bremm

Aiden de Asla

Sophia Deeney

Maggie Ellsworth

Grace Fernicola

Eshaan Golchha

Daniela Henriques

Matteo Littman

Sophia Odunsi

Alice Santana

Colette Simon

Theo Strelecky

Delaney Swain

Mehr Takkar

Aarav Vaidya

Andrew Vilarin

Thomas Yanez

Francesca Zarbin

Isabel Zarbin

Anthony Bugliari, Thomas Yanez

Dick Gradwohl Boys'

Soccer Cup for Most Team Spirit

Martin Fields, Mitchell

Oldham, Paul Salerno

Resiliency Award

Margaret Pew

Elizabeth Allan Smith '83

Girls' Soccer Award

Delaney Swain

Girls Volleyball Award

Colette Simon

Water Polo Award

Emily Gao

Frank L. Romano Boys' Basketball Award

Trey Maultsby, Joshua Woodford

Girls' Ski Team Award

Katherine Krishtopa

Boys' Ski Team Award

Dylan Jay, Matthew Lombardo

Girls' Squash Team Award

Kelly Cao, Francesca

Zarbin, Isabel Zarbin

Boys' Squash Team Award

Benjamin Tran

Steven Todd Golf '95 Boys' Swimming Award

Derek Cheng

Ashley G. Marsh and Family Swimming Award

Emily Gao, Daniela Karnaugh

Richard C. Weiler Boys' Lacrosse Award

Graham Stevens

Pingry Girls' Lacrosse

Sportsmanship Award

McKenna Dwyer, Milligan Clark-Schoeb

Pingry Girls' Lacrosse Cup

Annabelle Mahoney, Charlotte Diemar

Pingry Softball Award

Delaney Swain

Boys' Tennis Award

Aviv Cohen, Miles Kelly

Boys' Track Award

Damilare Shote

Richard G. Gradwohl Girls' Track Award

Olivia Murray

The 1902 Emblem

The Class of 1902 Emblem is awarded to Jada Watson of the Class of 2024, who, while at The Pingry School, by the efficiency and the amount of service and loyalty of attitude has done the most for the school, and who has been judged therefore by schoolfellows and faculty to have shown of them all the greatest amount of school spirit.

The Class of 1902 Emblem represents the highest ideals of The Pingry School. The nominees chosen by their classmates and faculty are considered to embody the very principles of integrity and service that lie at the heart of the institution. Thus, even to be nominated for this award is regarded as a paramount honor.

E&M

How many years have you attended Pingry? 10

What are your trademark characteristics? I would say i’m dependable, aprochable, and hardworking

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Student government, bridges outreach, french club, blue key, lacrosse, indoor track

What are your college plans? I’m going to Duke to major Psychology and minor in French

Career possibilities? Industrial Organizational Psychology (more specifically consulting)

What is your senior year song? Beautiful Day by U2

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Giving my speech at convocation

What will you take away from Pingry? From Pingry I think i’ll take away the sense of wonder that it has instilled in me. I think I’ll continue to be open to trying new things and working with others. On top of that, I will take away the ability to work hard, socialize with peers, and get up after making mistakes.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Advice I have for under classmen is to not take Pingry for granted and try as much as you can. There are so many incredible opportunities at Pingry that you can’t get at other schools and that you might not even know of if you don’t get out there and try new things!

JADA WATSON

The Magistri Laudandi Award

In every class, there is one student who graciously gives of him/herself to help the school and fellow students, who demonstrates a personal integrity and generosity that inspire the best in others. This person’s own achievements are many, yet his/her sense of purpose is to the greater good. While others may be identified as “the student most likely to succeed,” this person is prized as “the student who helps all succeed.”

The Magistri Laudandi Award is awarded to Evan Xie.

MHow many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? Hardworking, personable, disciplined, and sincere.

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Hockey, Math Team, PCR, the Pingry Record, and SmartHeart IRT

What are your college plans? Princeton University Career possibilities? I’m hoping to pursue a career in biotechnology and entrepreneurship.

What is your senior year song? “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Winning the Skyland Conference Championship this year in front of a huge crowd of friends classmates, and teachers.

What will you take away from Pingry? Invaluable relationships. Friends, peers, teachers, coaches, and mentors have supported me throughout high school, helping me discover my passions and identity. I’ll be sure to keep in touch with this close circle as I enter the next stage of my life—while simultaneously putting myself out there and meeting new people.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Don’t always be so fixated on the future—your report card, extracurriculars, or college applications. Even if you have extremely ambitious goals, it’s important to take the time to cherish the present moment. After all, the process is always more fulfilling than the destination.

Nominees for 1902 Emblem (E) and Magistri Laudandi (M) Awards

How many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? passionate, focused, loyal, supportive

What Pingry activities are you involved with? PETase IRT, Journal Club, Blue Key, Clayworing Club, Belize Trip

What are your college plans? I will be attending Tufts University as a biology major.

Career possibilities? Molecular biology researcher, marine biologist

What is your senior year song? Silver Lining - Mt. Joy

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite memory from Pingry is going on Belize Marine biology trip as it was not only super fun but it also grew my interest in marine research.

What will you take away from Pingry? Pingry has taught me how valuable it is to grow passions and care about what you learn. ability to ask for help and to appreciate the people who support me. What advice do you have for underclassmen? Make sure to create strong relationships with your teachers because they want to help you. Also, be willing to get involved in a lot of activities.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 13 - Lifer

What are your trademark characteristics? I am extroverted, engaging, athleic, smart, hardworking, curious, loving, multifaceted, and kind. What Pingry activities are you involved with? I am most involved with the football team, the track team, black student union, black affinity group, PSAAC, and Peer Leadership.

What are your college plans? In the fall I will be attending the University of Southern California with a double major of Psychology and Gerontolog.

Career possibilities? I am looking to be a clinical therapist and work with people of all ages, but especially people from under-resourced communities.

What is your senior year song? Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite memory from Pingry is going down to the lower school the day of Friday Night Lights to greet the kids at the door

What will you take away from Pingry? Learning how to branch out to those who you don’t usually engage with. .

What advice do you have for underclassmen? To truly just “Be where your feet are” (Chris Maxey) engaging in what and who is around you is so incredibly important. Also, to prioritize your mental health, we attend one of the most academically rigorous schools in the country, it is understandable to need a break from time to time. Lastly, enjoy your time here, having fun, and don’t let anything or anyone hold you back.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 7

What are your trademark characteristics? curious, passionate, kind

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Swimming, water polo, Student government, IRT, Overlook Hospital Foundation junior board

What are your college plans? Georgetown University

Career possibilities? A lot of different things, from being a painter to being a researcher studying therapeutic cloning. I am still deciding! What is your senior year song? Man in the Mirror by Micheal Jackson

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? When my math class came in on the Saturday before the BC AP exam and reviewed together with Mr. Lagarde, we took a break and he played the piano to us. I unexpectedly got really emotional, even though I usually don’t feel nostalgic about “lasts”.

What will you take away from Pingry? A lot of gratitude. Discipline. Being self-assured. A couple diaries full of memories to look back on when I am older and want to remind myself of who I was when I was getting started.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? To proudly do what you love. Your effort never goes to waste. Even if you don’t see the direct payoff immediately, you grow a little each time you push past your discomfort.

KAMAT E & M

How many years have you attended Pingry? 7

What are your trademark characteristics? Joyful, Compassionate, Resilient, Adventurous, Driven, Inquisitive, Open-minded, Sincere

What Pingry activities are you involved with? The Musical, Balladeers, The Pingry Record, Water Polo, South Asian Affinity Group, Indian Dance Club, Cabaret, Glee Club, Chamber Choir, iRT, and Writing Center

What are your college plans? Attending Brown University in the fall Career possibilities? Undecided

What is your senior year song? Slipping Through My Fingers

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Watching the musicals with my friends for the last time on closing night from backstage. What will you take away from Pingry? I’ve learned to just do what makes me happy and found some of my closest friends along the way. What advice do you have for underclassmen? Try everything.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 9

What are your trademark characteristics? Hardworking, outspoken, sloweater

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Asian Student Union, Pingry Record, Pingry Community Research Journal, Fencing

What are your college plans? Fencing for the Harvard team

Career possibilities? Maybe a doctor or an engineer? Undecided!

What is your senior year song? “Here With Me” by d4vd

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Watching the sunrise and going on walks with my friends, singing “You Belong with Me” with the whole school at the Balladeers karaoke, and filming a spicy ramen trivia video with ASU.

What will you take away from Pingry? This school has taught me that everyone has so much I can learn from. I’m constantly amazed by all the people around me, in the biggest accomplishments and the smallest acts of kindness. It’s so special to be in a place where everyone wants to help each other.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? I would definitely recommend reaching out to your classmates, especially the ones you haven’t talked to before. Having a really fun class makes all the difference.

M

How many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? Passionate, driven, energetic, persevering, and really enjoys talking to anyone about anything.

What Pingry activities are you involved with? I’m a part of the Pingry Swim Team and the VirF Independent Research Team. I’m also the leader of Girls in Sport Club, ENGin Club, and Slavic Student Union.

What are your college plans? I plan to major in Molecular Life Sciences at Indiana University and will swim for their Varsity Swim Team while I’m there.

Career possibilities? After pursuing a PhD/MD, I want to do research in the field of Pharmaceutical Oncology.

What is your senior year song? “Green Light” by Lorde

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Some of our last senior moments together - like Snowball 2024 or the Senior Sleepout - have been really special to me. This past swim season was also memorable, especially when Pingry won the Prep Championship for the second year in a row!

What will you take away from Pingry? Pingry has taught me how to reach out and take advantage of every opportunity. Wherever you go, there will always be doors to open; I now have the confidence to open these doors.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Remember to stop and smell the flowers! While they are important, there is more to life than just your goals and constant hard work. Also, don’t ever be afraid - to be yourself, or to ask for help. The people around you are more welcoming than you know.

JULES AMOROSI M

EMILY GAO E & M

SARAH GU M

MARK MASON E & M

SANIYA

DANIELA KARNAUGH

Nominees for 1902 Emblem (E) and Magistri Laudandi (M) Awards

How many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? Kind, hard working, passionate, driven, curious

What Pingry activities are you involved with? The Musical, Field Hockey, Cabaret director, IRT, SMART team, Model UN, Blue Key, Covenant House Student leader, Belize Ecology Program

What are your college plans? Washington University in St. Louis Career possibilities? Doctor or Lawyer

What is your senior year song? Sundress by Zoo Culture

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Either the closing night of the musical or field hockey semi finals. Both experiences were filled with spirit, positivity, and the warmth of a group that I felt connected to at Pingry.

What will you take away from Pingry? I will take away my unique love of learning new things which I didn’t have prior to entering Pingry. Throughout these past four years, I have learned how to be intrigued by new subjects, and open minded to new academic opportunities. What advice do you have for underclassmen? Try as much as you can and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 10

What are your trademark characteristics? Dedicated, curious, loyal, determined, genuine, addicted to coffee

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Lighthouse Relief Club, IRT, Blue Key, Bear Brew, Pingry Athletics Street Team, Fencing

What are your college plans? Engineering, bio-med and entrepeneurship

Career possibilities? Serial entrepreneur or something that involves healthcare, product design and problem solving

What is your senior year song? Meet Me Halfway by The Black Eyed Peas

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite memory was coming down the stairs sophomore year during the holiday season, and seeing everyone helping each other decorate our space with music playing in the background. It was really nice to see the whole grade come together in high spirits.

What will you take away from Pingry? I’ll take away the memories and relationships I’ve made with other students and teachers at Pingry. There are so many interesting people with different backgrounds and passions that I have had the opportunity to meet and talk to. What advice do you have for underclassmen? Take risks and don’t be afraid of failing. There are too many opportunities at Pingry for you to not dive into something you care about, even it it doesn’t work out the first time. Also make sure to appreciate the Pingry community that’s there for you, whether its showing up for at sports game or just chatting in the freshmen area.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? I love to give my friends hug:

three hugs a day keeps the doctor away, a medically undisputed truth!

What Pingry activities are you involved with? PCR, IRT, GSA, Affinity Group, HIRT, Creative Writing Club, Fencing

What are your college plans? Stanford University (Bioengineering or Biophysics & Computational Biology).

Career possibilities? I’m eager to pursue a career in academia, although I imagine four full years in Silicon Valley will sell me on a biotech startup.

What is your senior year song? ”Safe” by Westlife

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite memory was in freshman year, climbing over a snow bank with Brielle. Our socks got soggy and the cold nipped at our fingers, but we laughed the whole way through.

What will you take away from Pingry? I enjoyed the flowering passions my teachers had for their respective disciplines. Precalculus became less about learning geometric series, and more about their applications in Koch snowflake fractals: Mr. Brown loved that. AP Biology was a whirlwind of concepts, but Mrs. Farrell shared one of her favorites-natural selection’s relationship with illness--by sharing a book she liked: “Survival of the Sickest.”

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Don’t compare yourself to other people. You are exceptional enough as you were, are, and will be.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? Energetic, approachable, fast talker, occasionally stubborn, consistently inquisitive

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Honor Board, Writing Center Head, Field Hockey, Symphonic Orchestra, Blue Key ambassador

What are your college plans? Indiana University

Career possibilities? I picked Kelley because of the limitless opportunities that studying business provides. I want something fast-paced that involves leading a group... potentially consulting or management. We will see!

What is your senior year song? The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Living in Germany with my exchange student, Laila.

What will you take away from Pingry? We are all seen at Pingry and there is a genuine care for others that I cherish each time I enter the building. I am always inspired by how talented my peers are, and I am grateful that they pushed me to be better, even if they did not realize it. What advice do you have for underclassmen? Finish what you start and finish strong; your effort matters, and people depend on you. Make friends outside of your grade. The wisdom from upperclassmen helped me through my four years, and it felt even better to eventually be the one to pass down stories of my experiences.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 13

What are your trademark characteristics? Authenticity, Liveliness, Spontaneity

What Pingry activities are you involved with? The Buttondowns, musicals and plays, throwing for track and field

What are your college plans? I’m going to Muhlenberg to study Theatre!

Career possibilities? Actor, singer, environmental scientist

What is your senior year song? “Sundress” by Zoo Culture

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite memory from Pingry definitely has to be in 4th grade when I won the field day relay race even though I was behind half a lap.

What will you take away from Pingry? From Pingry, I’ll definitely take away the importance of helping others succeed. In an environment as competitive as Pingry, being there to lift others up goes a long way especially when you end up being the one who needs lifting.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? The only advice I have is to make the most of every moment because there is so much you can get out of each and every day at Pingry even if you don’t realize it. And be nice to your teachers.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 6

What are your trademark characteristics? Hardworking, friendly, passionate

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Honor Board, Ethics Bowl, IRT, Peer Leadership, Tennis

What are your college plans? Yale University

Career possibilities? So many things: Consultant, Finance, Real Estate, Supreme Court Justice!

What is your senior year song? ”The Spins” by Mac Miller

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Getting to speak at Convoca tion

What will you take away from Pingry? The relationships I have made at Pingry will stay with me forever. The connections I have made with my friends, teachers, and my advisor have been so meaningful and have shaped me to who I am today.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Follow your passion and don’t be afraid to take risks. Prioritize what matters to you but remember to have fun and enjoy the process. Focus on being the best version of yourself.

ANIKA SINHA

LAUREN POPRIK E

ALLY SMITH

DIVYA SUBRAMANIAN E & M

ANNABELLE SHILLING

Nominees for 1902 Emblem (E) and Magistri Laudandi (M) Awards

How many years have you attended Pingry? 4

What are your trademark characteristics? Compassionate, Empathetic, Kind, Loyal, Passionate, Caring, Thoughtful, Driven (all according to friends and family)

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Covenant House Student Leader, Pingry Student Athletic Advisory Committee (PSAAC President), Clay Club Leader, Handbells Club Leader, Softball Captain, Soccer Captain, Fencing Captain

What are your college plans? Studying Psychology and Studio Arts at Skidmore College Career possibilities? Clinical Psychology, Jury Consulting/Lawyer, Photographer

What is your senior year song? This is tough because I have a whole playlist for this but I’d say either Long Live by Taylor Swift or Rivers and Roads by The Head And The Heart

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? I think my favorite memory (recency bias might be playing in here) is winning the Prep A championships in softball for the second time in school history and the first time since 2016. We beat the number 1 seeded Hun, who we haven’t beaten otherwise in my four years here, so it was a pretty big upset. The energy that night was so fun and it felt the the team really came together to get the win for each other. We also played on my club team’s home field at Diamond Nation which made it even more special!

What will you take away from Pingry? The number one thing I’ll take away from Pingry is the great friends, teammates, teachers, and all the amazing people that I’ve met, and all of the incredible, once in a lifetime opportunities and memories that I’ve made. While the lessons I learned in the classroom (like time management and critical thinking) will definitely stick with me, the people I’ve had the privilege of getting to know will always be more special.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? I’d say just do as much as you can and as much as you want because high school moves really fast and you don’t want to regret not trying something. Definitely prioritize your happiness over anything else because grades are important, but they aren’t everything as much as it may seem like they are. Learning to fail is really important because it’s going to happen a lot more in high school and your life, so the faster you fail and the earlier you learn to embrace it, the earlier you’ll start being able to turn those failures into successes. And just be kind to people because you never know what they’re going through. Pingry is a challenging place and life is hard sometimes. We’re all in this together so we may as well help each other out by just being nice and having some empathy.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 13

What are your trademark characteristics? I’m kind, hard-working, disciplined, and always there to help people (according to my twin)

What Pingry activities are you involved with? I am involved with the Pingry Balladeers, Glee Club, the Food for Thought Club, Creative Writing Club, and Varsity Squash

What are your college plans? I’m heading to Dartmouth next year

Career possibilities? I think I will be a doctor, but teaching also interests me

What is your senior year song? Brain Damage/Eclipse by Pink Floyd

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite memory from Pingry is performing with the Balladeers at Short Hills. Going back to the Lower School and being the performer I once watched when I was a lower-school kid is such a special experience.

What will you take away from Pingry? What I will remember most from Pingry are the close bonds that I’ve created with my teachers and mentors. This school has taught me how important it is to cultivate those relationships in high school and beyond. What advice do you have for underclassmen? My advice to the underclassmen is to pursue your non-academic interests in addition to your academic ones. Finding something you love that doesn’t involve a test or an exam gives a different kind of fulfillment that is truly important to succeeding in high school.

How many years have you attended Pingry? 13

What are your trademark characteristics? My closest friends and family would describe me as a genuine and kind person who is always reaching out to others. I try and always lead with kindness and optimism, as they are important characteristics to me.

What Pingry activities are you involved with? I am a member of the varsity lacrosse team, an elected member of the Community and Civic Engagement Council, play tennis, run my own club (Pingry Buddies), a member of Fostering Care club, and a member of Blue Key,

What are your college plans? I will attend Boston College in the school of arts and sciences

Career possibilities? Currently, I’m an undecided major but I’m interested in many fields such as biology, education, engineering, and spanish!

What is your senior year song? Long Live by Taylor Swift

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? My favorite Pingry memory is going on the Washington DC trip in 8th grade with my dad. When I was little, my mom and I would to tag along on the trip with my dad and his students so it was really special when I got to go myself with my grade and him!

What will you take away from Pingry? Pingry has taught me how to be organized and have grit. I’m able to harness my ambition and achieve my goals by working hard. However, Pingry has also helped me learn how and when to ask for help. Both both of these skills are equally important, and will help me as I continue my education.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Don’t limit yourself to one subject, activity, sport, friend group, etc. because during your time in high, you should be exploring and trying new things! You don’t even start figuring yourself out and really knowing who you are until you’re about to graduate. Take your time and live in the present :)

How many years have you attended Pingry? 9

What are your trademark characteristics? Curiosity, empathy, always wanting more

What Pingry activities are you involved with? Robotics, Math Club, IRT, STC, HIRT

What are your college plans? Yale University

Career possibilities? Honestly not sure, but maybe AI safety, software, or policy

What is your senior year song? Current Joys — A Different Age

What is your favorite memory from Pingry? Building a shelter in the woods during 4th grade Social Studies.

What will you take away from Pingry? A sense of appreciation for learning, and a deeper understanding of the things I enjoy. Pingry gave me a lot of opportunities to convert a strong work ethic into genuine passion.

What advice do you have for underclassmen? Actually listen to the cliche high school advice we’re all so used to — there’s a reason they’re so common. Step outside your comfort zone; don’t work too hard; do things you actually enjoy.

DELANEY SWAIN E

MAISY WEBSTER E

FRANCESCA ZARBIN E & M

ALAN ZHONG M

Words From Seniors

Dear Underclassmen,

There are 4 more years after high school, don’t let these 4 years determine the rest of your life.

People care less about small things in your appearance than you think they do, so don’t worry.

Talk to your teachers—they are such great people and truly want to help you suceed.

Try everything.

Don’t hesitate to join a club, sport, IRT or try anything new. It is important to explore everything and just show up!

Have fun and be happy with what you’re doing because these are the best and most precious times of your life.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and put yourself in uncomfortable positions. Have fun and be happy with what you’re doing because these are the best and most precious times of your life.

Carve out your niche if it doesn’t exist already. And write your college essays in the summer.

To work hard and stay focused but also enjoy your time.

Build strong relationships with your teachers.

Have more fun! And don’t cry over spilled milk.

Embrace curiosity and pursue whatever interests your heart tells you.

I would say try new things and don’t be afraid to make mistakes or put yourself out there. It sounds cliche but it really is true.

Live in the moment and try everything.

Commit fully to everything you do.

Seniors, Describe Your Pingry Journey in One Word...

Be grateful for the opportunities that are presented to you and do your best to seize every one.

I think one of my biggest regrets is not reaching out to my classmates more. Having a really fun class can make all the difference in your high school experience.

Pingry offers a lot of experiences and opportunities that other schools don’t, so really try to take advantage of that - try new things and explore yourself and your new interests.

You can’t please everybody so stop trying to.

One piece of advice I want to leave behind is to try everything. From joining a new club to enrolling in an intellectually inspiring course, I believe it is important to gain exposure to aspects of high school that pique your interest to achieve personal growth.

Value the friendships you make with students as well as the relationships you create with teachers.

Warmly, The Class of 2024

Thank You Notes:

To Bruce Morrison ‘64, thank you for always being at our games and supporting every student at Pingry with your happy charisma and unwavering support and interest into our daily lives. Bruce the seniors will all miss you at our games and events!

From: Greta

I am deeply thankful for the Pingry Drama Department because it gave me a space filled with true friends and helpful mentors.

From: Sophia O.

To the Pingry Record staff — keep carrying the torch and doing the work!

From: Julia

Thank you to my parents for giving me the opportunity to go to Pingry.

From: Michael C.

Pingry football, thank you for the countless memories and relationships that I will cherish for my whole life.

From: Matthew H.

To my parents, thank you for always supporting me and being by my side all of these years! Without your guidance I would never be where I am today.

From: Jada

Hi Derek! I’m going to miss going to school together :( Love you!

From: Chelsea

To my parents, you’ve spent so many years caring for me that I hope you take some time to care for yourself. Love you!

From: Sarah

Mr. Burkhart — not only did you open my eyes to how much I love writing, but also, you have given my closest friends and me a space to explore our literary fascinations and curiosities. We’re going to miss you a lot!

From: Julia

As I embark on the next chapter, thank you to Pingry for nurturing my growth and development over the years.

From: Saniya T.

Dear Mom, Thank you for always believing in me and inspiring me to be my best self every day. I truly appreciate your kindness, empathy, and generosity, and I am grateful for your guidance and loving spirit.

From: Sophia D.

Thank you to my teachers and family who supported in everything, specifically applying to college!

From: Katia

It’s going to be sad to say goodbye to everyone, but I’ll miss you my underclassmen friends! I am confident that you guys will excel in whatever you want to do, be it squash, Balladeers, art, or other personal endeavors!! ^-^

From: Kelly

To Mr. Winston, Ms. Romankow, Doc, and Van— Thank you for being the best performing arts teachers I could ever have asked for and for giving me the confidence not only on the stage but in real life to follow my passions and believe in myself. You will always have a special place in my heart.

From: Saniya K.

I want to recognize all of the other lifers in my seniors class and how much we’ve grown since we came in Kindergarten.

From: Francesca

Thank you mom for always being there for me, through the ups and downs. I appreciate everything you do for me, I love you!

From: Maisy

Hi Dr. D’Ausilio, we love you & thanks for everything <3

From: Coco

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Sheryl Chen (IV)

CAROLYN ZHOU (V)

Walking through downtown Madison, a busy college town, I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of eatery options. This is the dilemma I was facing one day when accompanying my sister to her soccer practice at Drew University. Luckily for me, we ran into what has quickly become one of my family’s favorite spots whenever we stop by the town. Located along the bustling Main Street, Nahm Thai & French Cuisine has all the qualities I look for in a casual family dinner spot. Despite some slightly inflated prices, the vibrant atmosphere, generous portion sizes, and delicious authentic Thai food keeps us coming back. Nahm sports a strong menu from start to finish, with a plethora of delectable appetizers, entrées, rotating specials, drinks, and desserts to choose from. We typically start our meal with

AMELIA LIU (III)

This year’s Met Gala focused on The Costume Institute’s new exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The exhibit features over 200 nature - themed garments and accessories spanning four centuries of fashion history.

This year’s dress code was inspired by the 1962 dystopian short story “The Garden of Time” by J. G. Ballard. The short story nods to cycles of creation and

Endless Menu at Nahm

the chicken satay, a perfectly juicy skewered chicken that my sister will devour after a hard practice. The chive dumplings and imperial puffs are favorites of locals, and if you’re looking for vegetarian options, you can’t go wrong with their crispy fried tofu served with sweet chili sauce. To warm the soul on more frigid days, we like to get tom kha, a spicy soup with coconut cream and chicken, or tom yum, its non - spicy, more sour, lemongrass counterpart, served with shrimp. For a refreshing starter, the flavorful papaya salad always hits the spot.

For entrees, we usually forgo the commonly ordered pad thai in favor of the thicker rice noodles in pad see ew, which pack a greater flavor punch that pairs well with bits of egg, broccoli, and the sweet soy sauce base. Other classics that will be sure to delight include the green or red curry and the pineapple fried rice

(added seafood costs more but does much in elevating the dish). They also have plenty of more expensive higher - quality specials, like Bangkok duck, soft shell crab, bronzino, and lamb. Their street food lunch menu features additional recommended dishes like kao soi ka, a traditional North Thai noodle curry, and guay tiew nua, a savory braised beef noodle soup.

To add something extra to your meal, treat yourself to a Thai or lychee iced tea or a special Thai iced coffee. For dessert, I love the coconut sticky rice with fresh mango or passion fruit crème brûlée, which provide unique flavors and are light dishes to end your meal at Nahm.

The restaurant itself is colorfully decorated, complimented by a vibrant fish tank and several hanging lanyards of paper cutouts. The tables are well spaced out and the service is pleasant, despite being a bit understaffed. It can

get a little busy on the weekends, but weekday evenings are fairly peaceful.

After finishing all the amazing food, you can take a stroll around downtown Madison where frequent fairy lights create an aesthetic look and there are

Inside the Met Gala’s Garden of Time

destruction, along with the story of Count Axel and his wife. The couple languishes in a beautiful villa surrounded by a garden of crystal flowers as a chaotic horde advances upon them. The count attempts to keep the mob at bay by plucking these magical time - reversing flowers until none remain.

Co - chairs Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth hosted the fashion extravaganza alongside Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who has hosted the Met Gala since 1995. The elite came dressed in botanical looks on the Gala’s off - white and mossy green carpet.

Zendaya stepped onto the carpet in an archival John Galliano gown topped with a headpiece surrounded by floral fixtures. Her makeup matched the look with glass - like skin, a high - shine burgundy lip, and thin brows.

Lana Del Rey’s Alexander McQueen dress symbolized an overgrown garden, surrounding her body with thorny branches that stretched into a beige veil that covered her face. She epitomized Count Axel’s dilapidated garden, holding a single red rose that represented the Count’s attempts to turn back time.

Actress Brie Larson embodied the element of passing time with a sunset - colored pencil dress and a framed petticoat that took on the shape of an hourglass. Similarly, singer Tyla’s outfit represented the falling sand inside an hourglass, carrying the Balmain hourglass clutch. Demi Moore walked out in an orchid - shaped gown paired with a Cartier necklace. Her designer, Harris Reed, revealed that her gown was made of wallpaper and took 11,000 hours to embroider. Elle Fanning’s glass - like gown was a perfect take on the magical crystal flowers in Count Axel’s garden. Nicole Kidman’s black - and - white gown recreated a 1950s Balenciaga gown inspired by flamenco. Rapper Cardi B stunned the carpet in a billowing dark gown designed by Sensen Lii. The men of the night included model Wisdom Kaye, dressed head - to - toe in red and personifying the themes of destruction with burn marks scattered throughout his outfit. Co - chair Bad Bunny arrived wearing a dark wool jacket and a gigantic beret. He held a bouquet in hand which featured flor de maga , the national flower of Puerto Rico, roses, and the flax plant.

Peer2Peer: The Student Perspective With Cecilia Caligiuri

Peer2Peer is a social, multicultural, and philanthropic student - led organization founded by Upper School English Teacher Mr. Harlen Shangold and the previous Director of Community and Civic Engagement Mrs. Shelley Hartz in 2021. The organization aims to foster leadership and mentorship skills for both Peer2Peer members and the students whom they partner with outside the campus, such as those from Link

Community Charter School, South Hunterdon Regional High School, KIPP Seek Academy, and Pingry’s Lower School in Short Hills.

Peer2Peer is split into multiple student - led committees, including the Communications Team, Philanthropic Committee, and Social Team. Cecilia Caligiuri (IV) shares her experience leading the Peer2Peer Philanthropy team, one of the organization’s most active committees, which has made a profound impact on the community.

Caligiuri describes her time

as a member of Peer2Peer as a “very gratifying experience.” She further expands on her statement, detailing how “it is amazing when you find those in the group who care just as much as you do about helping the school and greater world community. That’s when you know you have a real team you can count on, and I am thankful to Peer2Peer for helping me meet such extraordinary leaders in our school community throughout the grades who I may not have come across otherwise.”

Caligirui expresses her desire to continue hosting engaging fundraising events for the school community. The Philanthropy Committee has already organized successful fundraising events during the past school year, including the Mean Girls Movie Night for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and various bake sales for special holidays. Looking ahead, the Philanthropy Committee, led by Caligiuri, is brainstorming exciting new fundraising ideas for the next school year.

Caliguri reflected on her work for Peer2Peer, “While I feel that there are other definitions of Peer2Peer’s purpose based on the individual and the committees they are part of, to me Peer2Peer’s main purpose is fostering a greater sense of community at Pingry while giving back.” Caliguri finished by expressing that she is “proud to say that I am a leader of Peer2Peer. This group has made huge steps since its inception a few years ago, and I am excited to see where we are headed.”

endless stores to scour through. Overall, the vast menu options, delicious dishes, and convenient location make this restaurant one you’re sure to return to time and time again.

AANVI TRIVEDI (IV)

CAROLYN ZHOU (V)

This has been the first summer since the end of Marvel’s Phase 3 that hasn’t seen a Marvel Cinematic Universe or MCU blockbuster opening the season’s movie market. There has been a noticeable lull in the content of the MCU in the

past few years. After the pivotal cultural moment that was the film, Avengers Endgame , the massive franchise continued to churn out TV shows and large - scale movies with varying degrees of success. While I still hold hope that the franchise is building up

SONIA NKANSAH (V)

Hip-hop is a relatively new genre of music, having celebrated its fiftieth anniversary less than one year ago. Hip-hop’s popularity initially remained exclusive to the African American community, but it quickly became one of the biggest music genres in the world, with a pervasive cultural influence. Its cultural significance stems from its use of vernacular language and its role as a weapon in disputes between artists. These disputes, known as “beefs,” have been instrumental in attracting and maintaining fans. The most notable beef in Hip-hop history was between the late rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. The two rappers released numerous tracks directing hostility towards their opponent and his associates. With each rapper taking shots at the other’s morals, family, and gang affiliation, the beef quickly became convoluted and ended with the murders of the two rappers. Despite its gloomy ending, their beef set the precedent for future Hip-hop disputes. No beef in Hiphop’s short history has been able to top the intensity of the one between Shakur and Smalls. However, a modern, emerging beef threatens to undermine their notoriety. In the fall of 2023, rappers Drake and J. Cole collaborated on the track “First Person Shooter,” in which Cole referred to himself, Drake,

X - Men ‘97: Reviving the MCU

to something big, I too can feel the pull of Marvel fatigue that has come through the prioritization of quantity over quality content.

That is why I was so excited when a revival of the 1992 XMen: The Animated Series was announced, aptly named X - Men ‘97 as a homage to the nickname for the 90s show, X - Men ‘92, and a continuation of its last season in 1997. Building off of the original show, whose Saturday morning airings helped make superheroes a household name, a continuation of the series with improved animation and new storylines seemed to be just what the MCU needed. Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, made a wise decision in taking a step back from the complicated web of multiversal shenanigans that now envelop the franchise, instead grounding himself in the animation format that gave the franchise its origins.

Mutants have always been one of the most popular Marvel groups, which I believe is strongly due to how deeply their story is rooted in human experiences of prejudice and societal inequality.

X - Men‘97’s characters are also

fantastically crafted, with individual backstories, personalities, designs, and motivations that make them easy to invest in and relate to. Not only that, but this show actually has high stakes, reviving the tension that has been missing from recent superhero movies. Recently, this has been majorly nullified by a complex multiverse where the long history of comic book revivals and retconning has rendered the death of characters as a useless trope. While the series still features time travel and alternate dimensions, it remains grounded in its characters and has a clear storyline that makes these elements easy to follow. As a result, fans are further invested in the story and characters, whose actions and decisions have real consequences that don’t get brushed off the next episode by easy, fix - it tropes.

X - Men ‘97 is extremely faithful to its source material, adapting story arcs and designs straight from the comics, with some frames even being detailed recreations of the original comic book or TV series. What sets a story of super - powered beings apart from regular action movies is the distinct campi - ness of elaborate costumes, ridiculously

cool monikers, and catchy dialogue that is simultaneously cheesy and deeply meaningful. Rather than being embarrassed by these decidedly geeky characteristics, the show embraces them and validates generations of nerd culture while also making appropriate changes for the different mediums and times we live in.

Another obvious improvement from the original ‘90s show is the advanced animation quality. Even disregarding the storytelling or dialogue, the show is very entertaining to watch because of the colorfully drawn panels, crisp animation quality, and inventive visualizations of superpowers. Plus,

Kendrick vs. Drake

and colleague Kendrick Lamar as the “big three” of Hip-hop, alluding to the trio’s domination of the music genre. Hip-hop fans took the reference lightheartedly because of the amusing disposition of Drake’s music. However, Lamar did not take Cole’s lightly. In March 2024, Lamar responded to Cole, exclaiming, “It’s just big me.” His response sent shockwaves through the Hip-hop community.

The three rappers have stamped themselves as Hip-hop giants with their numerous chart-toppers and iconic performances. Thus, matters involving the three often make headlines and cause fracas in the music industry that extend beyond the genre of Hip - hop. Rap beefs are common; most of today’s rappers have beef with one or more rappers. However, Lamar, Cole, and Drake’s fame made their beef one of significance. Thrust into the spotlight, the three rappers knew they had no time to waste, immediately releasing a slew of “diss tracks,” songs full of insults and contempt directed at each other.

Cole responded first with the track “7 Minute Drill,” in which he attacks the quality of Kendrick Lamar’s music, saying that its quality had dwindled throughout his career. Cole then highlighted Lamar’s inconsistency, exemplified by the many hiatuses the rapper has taken in his career and his sporadic release pattern. Fearing repercussions, Cole

quickly retracted his statements, deleting the track from all streaming services. Initially criticized by fans as a sign of weakness, Cole’s choice soon proved wise as the feud grew more intense.

Drake soon released the track “Push Ups” in which he took jabs at several of his previous collaborators, reminding the world of how many more accolades he has received compared to them. With “Push Ups,” Drake pulled more rappers into the beef, but their presence was minimal compared to that of Kendrick Lamar, at whom the most vicious shots were fired. In “Push Ups,” Drake attacked Lamar’s height, infidelity, and the titular meme

of Lamar doing military - style push - ups. Similar to Cole, Drake also attacked Lamar’s supposedly dwindling career. Perhaps in an effort to prove his opponents wrong, Lamar dropped his first diss of the series, “Euphoria.”

For context, Drake is a producer of the drama series Euphoria. The show depicts the lives of several high schoolers and is noted for its zealous illustration of the roles of sexuality and substance abuse in the lives of high schoolers. Euphoria has often faced backlash for its graphic content. Lamar leveraged this standing backlash to paint Drake as a predator who exploits young people for personal gain. Lamar expanded his claims on the

it has a killer backtrack, adapting Ron Wasserman’s iconic theme song with a variety of instruments to evoke different tones at various parts of the story. The voice actors are well chosen, with many of the original cast reprising their roles to nail accents and dictation styles while appropriate substitutions were made to bring new voice actors onto the scene. All in all, X - Men ‘97 is a delightful dose of nostalgia, even for people who haven’t experienced the 1992 show or comic books. Its second season is already rumored to be in editing phases, and a third season is surely planned to be on its way.

track “Meet the Grahams,” a track released in response to Drake’s “Family Matters,” going so far as to accuse Drake of supporting child trafficking operations and hiding a secret child from the world for eleven years. With such explosive claims, fans were certain Lamar had won the beef. In a shocking turn of events, Drake soon dropped the track “The Heart Part 6,” accusing Lamar of believing and spreading rumors fed to him by the former’s management. Due to the entertaining nature of Drake’s music and Lamar’s history of cutthroat lyricism, fans largely disregarded “The Heart Part 6,” thus leaving Kendrick Lamar as the victor of the beef.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images

MALCOLM ADEDJOUMA (V), MIA GULATI (III), TINGTING LUO (IV), SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (V ) & JAKE YANG (IV)

BOYS’ TENNIS

Although almost half of Pingry Boys’ Tennis’ top players graduated last year, the team has remained strong and continues its reign as NJ.com’s #4 Boys’ Tennis team. Varsity Captain Aviv Cohen (VI) highlights the team’s triumphs so far, stating that the team “started off the season with one of our biggest tournaments of the year, the Delbarton Tournament, and even though one of our teammates sustained an injury, we were still able to make it to finals and even win Skylands and later the trophy at the County Tournament.” Cohen hopes that the team can maintain this momentum as “eyes are now on the state tournament, and our positions are continuing to play really well and [gain] confidence in both ourselves and teammates.”

The Junior Varsity team has shown remarkable adaptability and resilience despite having numerous matches canceled due to poor weather. JV Captain Alessio Pasini (IV) proudly shares that “the season has been going pretty well as we have one of the best JV teams in the state, and despite some of the scheduling challenges, our team is playing consistently. In every challenge lies an opportunity to exceed our limits.” Ultimately, the team has significantly

Spring Sports Season Update

improved throughout the season and is making the most of its games. As the season draws to a close, the team thanks its seniors, Nate Blum (VI), Cohen, and Miles Kelly (VI) for their invaluable contributions to the Pingry tennis program throughout their careers. The team also welcomes new freshmen with hopeful wishes for promising future seasons.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

After a tough loss to Ridgewood, the Boys’ Lacrosse Team has not looked back. NJ.com describes the team as “red - hot” because of their nine - game winning streak. Coach Mike Webster believes this season is one of the best.

Led by a strong group of seniors, including Captains Asher Ziv (VI), Charlie Sherman (VI), Paul Salerno (VI), and Graham Stevens (VI), the #3 team in the state had a strong start to its season, avenging two of last year’s losses against Bridgewater - Raritan (10-3) and Ridge (7-6).

Then, the team lost to #2 Ridgewood (8-4) before quickly bouncing back with victories against Rutgers Prep and Somerville. One of the most touted games of the season was the one against the #4 team from Bernards.

The game went into Overtime, where Sherman scored an OT gamewinner and edged out the opponents.

The true highlight of the season was the Bristol Cup, an annual game

between Pingry and #5 Westfield. Big Blue cruised past Westfield (8-5) and kept the cup home for another season. The Boys’ Lacrosse Team prepares to play in the county playoffs, which they have high hopes for. Coach Webster along with the lacrosse team members believe that the team has the potential to make a deep run into the county and state tournament this year.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

This year’s Girls’ Lacrosse season is coming to an end with the team’s most recent win to become the Somerset County Champions. The team is led by Director of Athletics Carter Abbott and Captains Annabelle Mahoney (VI), McKenna Dwyer (VI), Milligan ClarkSchoeb (VI), and Charlotte Diemar (VI). Mahoney leads the team with 70 goals and is committed to Northwestern University for lacrosse. When asked about how she was affected by her high school athletic career, Mahoney said, “We have so much fun on and off the field, and I am going to miss every part of it!” The team’s current record is 13-5. Out of their five losses this season, they lost by the most to Kent Place, ending the game with a score of 13-7. When questioned about the loss, Coach Abbott maintained a firm mindset: “ Hopefully, we will see them again in the state tournament.” Mahoney added, “We work harder every day in practice to be the best version of ourselves we can be. We like to hone in on getting each other better in practice and always supporting one another.”

With 25 girls listed on their roster and only 12 spots on the field, there are always plenty of people on the sideline. When asked about the community, Katherine Patten (IV) said, “Members of the PLAX community care about [their] teammates and look out for each other. We are ultimately one big family.” Congrats to the girls on an excellent season and we hope they have continued success!

GIRLS ‘GOLF

The Girls’ Golf Team, run by Head

Coach Sean McAnally, Assistant Coach Alan Vantwerp, and varsity captains Britney Alferi (VI), Madeline Alferi (VI), and Ella Murti (VI), have had an amazing season this year. They have very talented underclassman team members, including Rayee Feng (IV), Angela Liang (III), Julianna Zhang (III), and Sahasra Datla (III).

The team’s current season record is a majority of wins, going 6-3, with their biggest win being at the Somerset County Tournament, where they won 4th place at NJSIAA State Championship with Feng placing 2nd individually. Ruby McGurn (V), a member of the team said, “I’ve been on the golf team since my freshman year and it is truly my favorite thing I do at Pingry. The team has grown a lot over time and I think we’re just getting started. The girls that have joined in the past couple of years are full of talent and have made this team even better than we thought possible. I’m really grateful to be a part of a team that I know is capable of winning next year’s state title.”

TRACK

The Boys’ and Girls’ Track Team have had a strong season with new program records! Captain Sophia Deeney (VI), Devan Gambello (VI), Sari Berman (IV), and Hannah Diao (IV) won the Girls’ 4x1600 relay at Skyland Conferences. In addition, Captains Olivia Murray (VI) and Deeney, joined by Kayla Kerr (V) and Caroline Naulty (III), won the distance medley relay. At the Penn Relays, the Girls’ distance medley relay of Deeney, Murray, Lucy Ambrogio (V), and Kerr set a new school record of 12:16.83, running the third-fastest time in New Jersey. Deeney said the “phenomenal DMR squad is extremely grateful to be crowned Prep A Champions, Somerset Country Champions, and Skyland Conference Champions.” Leah Solomon, who is, according to Deeney, the team’s “star pole vaulter,” achieved a mark of 11-6 at the Somerset Country Championship, which placed her first in the Non-Public A division.

BEAR CAGE

On the Boys’ Team, Dylan Bartoli (IV) and Ja’Mar White (IV) placed second in the long/triple jump relay at the Skyland Relays. During the shot put relay, Mark Mason (VI), Damilare Shote (VI), and Nick Henry (V) won silver. White also set a new school record by almost five inches during the season, going 43 feet and three inches in the triple jump, and became one of the top 25 male triple jumpers in New Jersey. At Somerset County Championships, Shote won the shot put event, throwing a 12 - pound metal ball 49 feet and six and a half inches into the sector. This month, the team will enter the championship season, looking for a strong finish to a noteworthy season. Their final meet, the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, will occur on June 16 at the University of Pennsylvania. Deeney encourages everyone “to see us run our last race of the dynasty.”