The Archmerean - Spring 2024

The Archmerean

Shaping the spaces that help shape us.

The Archmerean

Editor & Creative Director

Fred Voelker

Writer & Co-Editor

Denise Starnes ’93

Contributors

John Jordan ’80

Timothy Dougherty

Christopher Boehm

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76

Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O. Praem. Katherine Ball-Weir PP ’17

Design Fred Voelker

Photography

Chuck Anerino PP ’23 CP ’26

Gina Poletti

Fred Voelker

Cover Photo

In This Issue

12 Building for a Better Future

Archmere invites college admissions professionals to experience our campus.

8 Empathetic Leaders Prepared for Every Good Work

Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O. Praem., reflects on Archmere’s fifth and sixth Headmasters.

Students rehearse for Matilda, the final musical before the theater undergoes renovation. Photo by Katie McNichol.

Inside Cover Photo

A view looking into the Library along the entrance to the Music Room in the Patio.

Photo by Fred Voelker.

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76 Head of School

Katie Eissler-Thiel Principal

3600 Philadelphia Pike Claymont, DE 19703

ArchmereAcademy.com

Mission Statement

Archmere Academy is a Catholic, Norbertine college preparatory school, valuing community, respect, zeal, reverence, and wisdom. Nurturing body and soul, mind and heart, Archmere focuses on the whole person through academic excellence, faith reflection, social development, and service to others. Inspired by its heritage, Archmere cultivates empathic leaders—young men and women prepared for every good work.

10 Global Studies Travels to Southern India

Timothy Dougherty gives an account of the student adventure.

26 Happy Retirement

Long-time facilities team member Larry Osborn retires.

From the Head of School

Norbertines have grit.

In the Norbertine History and Spirituality class that I am teaching this year, we discussed the political, economic, social, and spiritual climate surrounding Saint Norbert’s life as a noble born during the High Middle Ages. We compared his time and place in history with our lives today and similar environmental factors that shape our vision of “The American Dream.” It was an interesting exercise to compare the static social and economic structures of the feudal period, along with its blurred lines between the Catholic Church, the Holy Roman Empire, and the ruling class with the present societal constructs. One conclusion from the class discussion was that, while there are significant differences between living in each of the time periods, the underlying motivations of achieving “success” in life are similar. Success seems to come to those who work diligently and consistently. They take inventory of their best skills, identify those things that are of interest and matter to them, and establish pathways to pursue their goals. They are aware that impediments, mistakes, and disillusionments along the way are to be expected. They acknowledge that some are larger and more challenging than others to navigate, such that other people are needed to help support their efforts and advocate for them.

Saint Norbert, like most other noble men of his time, lived a very comfortable lifestyle as a subdeacon of the Church, with access to family wealth, social and political connections, and the potential to advance in power and prestige in his various administrative roles. Yet, by the time he was thirty-five or so, he experienced a conversion of heart that redefined “success” for him and for the life he would lead.

was criticized and called a hypocrite by members of the Church. He still held on to his wealth and possessions, while he preached simplicity, austerity, and reform of the Church hierarchy - its opulence and practices of buying indulgences and simony. Learning from his critics, he gave away all that he owned and received a blessing from and the authority of the Pope to preach. He then met other challenges, including finding a community that would live by and accept his reformed way of life. Observant of the monastic communities and the canons who ministered in parish churches, he eventually established his own community that incorporated aspects of both the monastic communal and contemplative life and the ministerial life of parish priests. However, in the early days of the first Abbey at Prémontré, Norbert had to “loosen” his community rules, because he was losing some of his followers due to the significant physical demands of building and sustaining an abbey in a desolate location, while observing strict fasting and abstinence. Though he lost some followers, he persisted, and his vision of an apostolic community grew with new abbeys being founded at a rapid pace.

Once St. Norbert discerned a life that would emulate the life of Jesus and his Apostles, he was met with many obstacles and challenges. I imagine that he was disillusioned when he first began his preaching career, because he

As I study the history of a number of Norbertine abbeys, particularly in Europe, I believe the strong work ethic we see in Saint Norbert is a part of the charism emulated by the men and women of the Norbertine community. Throughout the recorded histories of the abbeys in Eastern and Western Europe, there are similar experiences of wars, government suppression, confiscation, destruction of abbeys, and the disbursement of the men and women in these communities for decades at a time. Whether it was the French Revolution and Napoleon’s regime, the anti-religious laws in Holland, or the rise of communism in Eastern European countries, many abbey communities weathered the storms and returned multiple times, often having to start over by buying back property and re-establishing ministries in their locales. Hard work and

Stained glass window of St. Norbert originally designed to be in the Patio Music Room during Archmere’s inception, now located in the Immaculate Conception Oratory in St. Norbert Hall.

perseverance supported by their deep faith made these Norbertine communities resilient and even joyful and grateful.

The Norbertine missionaries from Berne Abbey were sent to Wisconsin in 1897, just thirty years after the Abbey was reconstituted. It had been suppressed since 1648! Berne Abbey history notes that, although the men of the abbey could not live in community, they lived separately in homes and continued to elect an abbot, such that there is an unbroken chain of abbots since the abbey was founded in 1134. That’s commitment! The story of Berne Abbey is not unique, and these “phoenix rising from the ashes” stories of so many abbeys make me want to burst into a lyric of “High Hopes” or “I Ain’t Down Yet” from the musical, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Norbertines have “grit.”

The Archmere Legacy

The Norbertine priests that taught me at Archmere had grit. They were “all in,” dedicating themselves to the school’s programs, campus, and culture, each leaving behind a rich legacy. They were committed to the educational enterprise and to the place of Archmere. Since 1932, the Norbertine community, assisted by lay men and women on staff, as well as families of students, built today’s Archmere over the decades - not just the buildings or the curriculum, but the ethos of Archmere. This commitment to a place is similar to the commitment a Norbertine makes in his or her vows to the community, which professes: “ . . . I promise conversion

of manners and stability in this place, according to the Gospel of Christ, the apostolic practice and the canonical Rule of Saint Augustine.” The Order of Prémontré: History and Spirituality (Ardura, 1995).

In the ninety-two years of the Academy’s existence, this vow was made in spirit by so many men and women who partnered with the Norbertine community to sustain and build upon the success of a school established with a Catholic ethical foundation that has influenced key developmental decisions over the decades. In my opinion, Archmere is a unique model of a private or independent school. While the Academy has curricular and extracurricular offerings and a campus setting much like other independent schools, we have had a more socioeconomically diverse student body over the years, because of the degree to which we have made and continue to make equitable financial assistance decisions for an Archmere education to be affordable to academically talented and motivated students. Since I returned to Archmere in 2010, I cannot tell you how many alumni shared their personal stories with me about how the Archmere administration at the time they were a student had helped their families afford the tuition and other expenses by being flexible and understanding in a number of ways.

It is our aim to continue to make Archmere financially accessible to students who have the passion, the developmental maturity, and the academic preparation

Clergy gather with Most Rev. Edmond J. Fitz-Maurice to dedicate Archmere Academy on October 12, 1932.

to have a successful experience at Archmere. As a result, a student culture has developed over the years that values hard work, consistent effort, and appreciates opportunities as they are presented. This student culture at school is reinforced in large part by the family cultures at home, where our students are able to witness their own family’s work ethic and the sacrifices they make to provide an Archmere experience for them.

This relationship triangle of “home-school-student” valuing the same things provides tremendous energy and synergy to accomplish mutually beneficial goals, some of which we thought might have been out of reach, given the resources that were available. That has been especially true for many of our campus expansion and improvement projects over the years, which were financed by fundraising campaigns, because buildings and grounds maintenance was deferred each year in an effort to provide additional financial assistance funds to deserving families.

The Archmere Myth

We need to dispel the myth that Archmere is “flush” as an institution. The Academy is not “flush”; however, school leadership has always believed that we should not be ashamed of wanting to provide the best resources and materials for our students to learn and grow. We are not apologetic about compensating our faculty and staff

as best we can for their excellence and their continued professional development. That is at the core of Archmere’s sustained excellence. What suffers in this operational model is the need to refurbish facilities and not having adequate reserves to do so. Therefore, we need to ask the Archmere community for assistance.

For example, when Saint Norbert Hall opened in 1959, the fundraising effort that began two years before fell short of the total cost of the building’s construction costs. Father Justin E. Diny, O. Praem., Headmaster at the time, was able to secure a personal interest free loan of $500,000 from a major benefactor, paying back only the principal over a number of years. With the increased enrollment of the student body in the decade of the 1960s, a portion of the additional tuition satisfied the loan payments.

When I began working in the development office at Archmere in 1984 with Father Diny, who at that point was Headmaster Emeritus, we had just completed the construction and dedication in 1983 of the Performing Arts Center, and our fundraising efforts fell short of the cost of the building by more than $1 million. One of my first assignments was to work with Fr. Diny to raise $500,000 to cover a portion of the “debt,” though we did so by creating endowment funds to offset operating expenses of school programs, including computer science, library services, faculty enrichment, and professional development.

The Performing Arts Center under construction in 1982.

The shovel used in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Performing Arts Center resides in the Archmere Academy Archives.

The remaining debt was efficiently financed, with a projected enrollment increase because of the attraction of a much-expanded performing arts program. In addition, wise investments of school reserves helped satisfy the loan repayment schedule.

Your help is requested.

“If you build it, they will come,” a famous line from the 1989 movie, Field of Dreams, proved to be the case with the construction of the Performing Arts Center. Enrollment steadily increased over the years, from 462 students in 1980 to 502 students in 2004. In recent years, we have grown to be a school of 530 students, who are definitely attracted to the diversity and variety of our programming, including our extensive visual and performing arts offerings. The theater’s first level is filled when the entire student body with faculty and staff assembles.

Not only being the center for the performing arts program, the theater is the place where the student body gathers for educational and informational programs and Masses. It is the first place students and their families visit on campus during Open House, the place where 9th graders begin their orientation on their first day of school, and the last place the 12th graders gather as a class for Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises. It is a place that is a physical representation of one of our core valuescommunity.

Forty years after it was constructed, we are in the process of raising $6 million to renovate the Performing Arts Center, which will be named the Rocco A. and Mary Abessinio Performing Arts Center, in recognition of their family foundation’s leadership commitment of $3 million to Archmere - $1 million for need-based scholarships and $2 million for the renovation costs, of which $1 million is a 1:1 challenge to other donors.

Presently, we are approximately half-way in meeting the million dollar challenge, having raised approximately $500,000, bringing our fundraising total to $5 million. We need the help of everyone in the Archmere community of families and friends to raise the last $500,000, which will be matched 1:1, thereby getting us to $6 million in cash and pledges by June 2024, when we hope to begin the building renovations.

We are so very grateful for all those alumni, parents, foundations, and friends who have already made commitments to the campaign, “Let’s Renovate the House,” during the quiet phase last year and since the campaign was officially announced on November 14, 2023. We now need many more individuals to consider investing in this project to the degree that they are financially able.

It is in this last “home stretch” of the campaigns that have been mounted for Archmere when we see the true “grit” of the Archmere spirit. Whether it’s 100 donors making $5,000 gifts over three years, 500 donors making $1,000 gifts, 1,000 donors making $500 gifts, or a combination of these and gifts of any size, I believe that we have the potential to meet the challenge.

I am grateful to those who have already made a commitment to help us financially with a one-time or multi-year gift to the campaign. You have made an investment in the education of our current and future students. I hope many more individuals will take note of the article in this issue of The Archmerean or use the QR code in my letter that will take you to a page of Archmere’s website to learn more about the renovation project and how you might be able to help with your contribution. In helping us reach our goal, you are investing in an enriching Archmere experience that will become the foundation for our students’ success.

Investing in a “Sure Thing”

In our class discussion about achieving “The American Dream,” we noted that contemporary economists and sociologists seem to agree that access to quality education is a major factor in determining the career success and social mobility of our youth. I believe that Archmere has always provided that pathway to success, and it has done so by offering a challenging and balanced educational experience, with excellent teachers and well-maintained facilities. It’s time to address much needed updates to the performing arts facilities.

I am so very grateful for your consideration of investing in our important work. Know that you are a partner in developing “empathetic leaders - young men and women prepared for every good work.” And our world needs these leaders who have true “grit” and honorable intention.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76 Head of School

Scan to learn how you can help!

Mission and Heritage

Empathetic Leaders Prepared for Every Good Work

By Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O. Praem.

Archmere Academy’s 6th Headmaster, Father Timothy F. Mullen, O. Praem., was born on March 17, 1947, the Feast of Saint Patrick, missionary and bishop, in Ridley Park, PA. He was baptized on April 6, 1947, at Saint Robert Church in Chester, PA, now known as Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, and named after his father, Francis X. Mullen, Archmere Class of 1939. Father Mullen attended Our Lady of Charity School in Brookhaven, PA from 1954 to 1961, a parish served on weekends by Norbertines from Archmere. Fran entered Archmere in September 1961. Fran’s father, Francis (“Moon”) was very involved during his years at Archmere (19351939): 3rd Order of St. Norbert, Blessed Hermann Joseph Society (altar servers), Green Arch, Patio, debate team, football, basketball, baseball, tennis. Fran assumed his father’s mantle of involvement in 1961 through 1965: manager of the football, basketball, baseball, and tennis teams; Green Arch, Chemistry Club, and altar server. He was also a member of the Sodality and the Varsity Club. At graduation in June 1965, Fran received the Activities Medal, Archmere’s second highest honor.

celebrated at Holy Rosary Church in Claymont, followed by burial at Daylesford Abbey Cemetery in Paoli, along with Archmere headmasters Fathers Justin Diny, Roger Paider, and Michael Collins.

Father Michael Collins, O. Praem., Archmere’s 7th Headmaster, was born in Woodside, Long Island, New York on June 15, 1950, the Feast of Saint Isfrid, Norbertine bishop and missionary.

Father Collins was baptized at Saint Sebastian Church in Woodside, NY. After his parents moved to Claymont, Delaware, Michael attended Holy Rosary School on Philadelphia Pike (1956 to 1964). After graduation from Holy Rosary, Michael entered Archmere in September 1964, when Father Mullen was a senior. At Archmere, Michael played intramurals, was in the Sodality, Pep Club, Spanish Club (moderated by his good friend, Father Daniel Kent, Archmere Spanish teacher from 1964-1978), Chess Club, Library Club, and, like Father Mullen, was a sports manager.

Fran Mullen received the white Norbertine habit on August 28, 1965 and the religious name “Timothy.” He professed vows on August 28, 1967, and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1973. He was assigned to teach English at Bishop Neumann High School in Philadelphia. In June of 1978, Father Mullen was appointed Superior of the Norbertine community living in St. Norbert Priory, Neumann’s faculty house.

In 1989 Father Mullen was assigned to Archmere Academy, where he taught English, was a class advisor, and was a Student Council Moderator. In 1989, Father Mullen was assigned to Daylesford where he served as Prior of the abbey. In 1993, Father Mullen was re-assigned to Archmere as Dean of Finance.; on January 1, 1997, he became Headmaster, serving until his sudden death at age 56 in St. Norbert Hall on the morning of January 29, 2004. His Funeral Mass was

After graduation from Archmere in June 1968, Michael received the white Norbertine habit on August 28, 1968, at Daylesford Abbey and professed vows at the abbey on August 28, 1970. After graduation from Saint Norbert College in 1972, Michael spent two years teaching at Archmere before beginning theology studies in Chicago. Michael was ordained a priest on June 17, 1978, and spent 34 years at Archmere as a history teacher, assistant Athletic Director, and Dean of Student Life. He served as Headmaster from February 11, 2004 to June 30, 2004. After the appointment of Father John Zagarella, O. Praem., as Archmere’s 8th Headmaster, Father Collins resumed his duties as a teacher, Dean of Student Life, and moderator of the Fathers Club until he retired to Daylesford Abbey in June 2011 due to declining health. At 5:00 AM on January 22, 2015, Father Collins came to the sacristy at the abbey to vest for Mass. I told him that Mass would be later. He responded to me: “I just want to be ready.” Father Collins died suddenly in his room before Mass began, dressed in his alb - “ready,” just as he wished.

When Father Mullen entered the Norbertines in 1965, it was still the custom for seminarians to receive a new, religious, name. Fran Mullen received “Timothy.” The Feast

Father Timothy F. Mullen, O. Praem.

of Saint Timothy is January 26; on that day the Church hears these words of Saint Paul to Timothy: “Stir into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim.1:6). By the time Father Collins entered the Norbertines in 1968, seminarians no longer received religious names. Father Collins’ patron is Saint Michael the Archangel, the heavenly messenger and defender against evil. Both Father Mullen and Father Collins are well-named. They are both Archmere graduates and the first alumni to hold the position of Headmaster. Both were in high school together, as were Father Diny and Father Paider at Saint Norbert High School. Both served Archmere as deans: Father Collins as Dean of Student Life and Father Mullen as Dean of Finance. Father Mullen received the Activities Medal at graduation and Father Collins was inducted into Archmere’s Sports Hall of Fame (March 14, 2014).

On the Archmere ring are two Latin phrases - the Archmere motto: “Pietate et Scientia” (“Reverence and Wisdom”) and the Norbertine motto: “Ad omne bonum opus paratus” (“Prepared for every good work”). Father Mullen and Father Collins embraced with reverence and wisdom, the mission of Archmere and the Norbertine Order, “empathetic leaders ... prepared for every good work.”

Celebrating Baccalaureate Mass with Father Timothy F. Mullen, O. Praem.

Father Michael T.

Father Timothy F. Mullen, O. Praem., and Father Michael T. Collins, O. Praem., were both Archmere graduates and the first alumni to become Headmaster.

a homily

Timothy F. Mullen ’65 senior portrait

Michael T. Collins ’68 senior portrait

Collins, O. Praem. delivering

Father Michael T. Collins, O. Praem., Father Timothy F. Mullen, O. Praem., and Father Joseph McLaughlin, O Praem., conducting Mass.

Father Michael T. Collins, O. Praem., during Commencement with Septembre Corbett ’99.

Campus News

Archmere’s Global Studies Program Travels to Southern India

By Tim Dougherty, Director of Academics; Global Studies Coordinator; English Teacher

Have you ever walked barefoot through a royal palace? Eaten roasted plantain on a banana leaf plate while a classical Indian vocalist serenaded you? Maybe you’ve played cricket indoors with unexpectedly competitive priests? Signed autographs for children who treated you like a celebrity? I didn’t think so. But sixteen intrepid members of the Archmere community—twelve students and four adults (two parents and two teachers, one of whom was me)—did all that and so much more when we traveled to Southern India for ten days over the 2023 Thanksgiving break.

Ever since I returned from Archmere’s 2017 trip to Northern India, where we visited Pardada Pardadi (a privately-funded school for girls), as well as the pulsing, steaming city of Delhi and the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra, I have wanted to return with more students to this amazing country. Thanks to Norbertine connections that Father John Zagarella O. Praem., Prior of Daylesford Abbey, had previously established with two priests who are Heads of School in India, the idea for a new trip took shape. And after a year of planning, the group pulled away from Archmere on November 16, 2023.

Twenty-five hours later, we landed in Bangalore, checked into our hotel around 5:45 am on Saturday, November 18,

and slept (or not) in our hotel for three hours before the first of many wonderful events: visiting the St. Norbert School to meet its students, who were attending that day just to meet us. When we pulled onto the property, we were shocked and moved by what awaited us: two long rows of students and a marching band, all standing at attention, everyone dressed in formal splendor, forming a path that led to an actual red carpet. We were greeted by the incredibly kind and hospitable Father Jose, who, with others, hung sandalwood garlands around our necks before asking us to process behind the band into the school. Everyone was excited to meet the visiting Americans. We felt important, like celebrities, like movie stars. Like Taylor Swift.

This charming visit set the positive tone for the rest of the week: each of us was given a student guide, who toured us around the school to visit classrooms, where children in their colorful uniforms stood in unison to greet us. After the students were dismissed from this extra day, we found ourselves surrounded by scores of kids, asking us questions, grabbing our hands to go play, and holding out their notebooks and pens for our autographs. Guiding our students through the playground, spinning our boys on the merry-go-round, peppering us with questions about America, the students of St. Norbert School, in a matter of one hour, gave us the very best welcome to India we ever could have asked for. The Archmere students were truly touched and energized: we were returning to the school the following Friday for their big event, an annual cultural celebration; before we even left the school, the students were already excited to return.

While planning this trip from a distance, it was hard for me to know whether I’d filled our itinerary with enough activity. My fears were unfounded as we moved from place to place—from Bangalore to Mysore to Mananthavady to Bandiphur, and then back to Bangalore: a busy loop through the state of Karnataka in a comfortable air-conditioned bus, accompanied by Thomas Kutta, our faithful guide the entire trip. Students heeded my advice to look out windows as we traveled, witnessing the meager villages and the thriving towns, the free-ranging animals and the

Scan to read the Fall 2017 article about Archmere’s Northern India trip.

Mr. Timothy Dougherty (left) takes a selfie with Archmere students while visiting Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Dwaraka.

beautiful landscape, the density of people and the chaos of traffic. Oh my, the traffic. The miracle of India. Both mesmerizing and frightening. Who needs painted lines or traffic lights when every moving vehicle has a horn? Like massive schools of fish elegantly navigating the open seas, this living traffic (cars, trucks, tuk-tuks, hand-pushed fruit carts, scooters, pedestrians, even cattle) propelled its way through the streets of the cities, often inches away from— but never resulting in—disaster. A special kind of Indian enchantment.

Every stop on this trip was a highlight, different and special. On Sunday we visited the enormous, stunning Mysore Palace—a “city of palaces,” home to the royal Wadiyar family—by walking barefoot (I don’t even remember why!) through its gilded and historic halls. At 7pm that night, after visiting a mountaintop Hindu temple, we returned to watch the “Illumination” of the entire palace, and it was absolutely beautiful, a true spectacle. Time for dinner now, right? Yes, at a private home in Mysore, where one woman cooked a traditional homemade vegetarian Indian meal, each portion scooped directly from her pots onto the banana leaf in front of us, and finished off with the famed Mysore Pak (a rich sweet made from flour, ghee, and sugar), a beautiful song from her son…and a lesson in Sari-draping for the ladies! It’s definitely worth mentioning, by the way, how adventurous (and omnivorous) the students were with all the unfamiliar Indian food: without a chicken finger in sight, they dug into every meat, spice, sauce, rice, bread, and dessert during a weeklong string of buffets. The students seemed determined—not just with their culinary experiences, but in every situation in which they were placed—to leave India with no regrets for having done less than they could have. One of them even hugged

a bull. They embraced it all, everything and everyone, leaving nothing behind. They embraced it all by jumping off the bus before leaving the Sacred Heart Secondary School to play soccer with the students; by posing for countless selfies with admiring students and strangers all week; by treating with the utmost respect and kindness the native people of the Godavari Colony, whom we needed government permission to visit with the amazing priests of the St. Norbert Priory in Mananthavady; by joining a dance circle, quite energetically, later that night, with the tribal youth of the colony; by accepting the priory priests’ offer to learn how to play cricket and by teaching some young students, later in the week, a popular American line dance; by drinking a lot of chai; by thoroughly engaging in two game drives to search for tigers, but finding instead elephants, chital (deer), wild dogs, peacocks, a mongoose, serpent eagles, and a leopard in a tree; by climbing two miles to appreciate cave drawings from 6,000 BC. And, finally, back at the St. Norbert School on Friday night, by proudly reciting the Archmere prayer and singing Archmere’s Alma Mater before a crowd of two thousand people, and then being rapt audience members for those first students as they performed during their truly spectacular Annual Day celebration. Never once was there a note of discord, complaint, or worry from these Archmere students. These kids were all in from start to finish. And because they wanted this India trip to be successful, their ceaseless positivity made it so.

We were in India for Thanksgiving, and I was well aware that everyone had chosen to sacrifice time with their families during this special American holiday to join this trip. We had no turkey, but we had chicken; we had no stuffing, but we had chapati. And over the course of the week, as the students observed, we got to know a little better a few people we didn’t know so well before. So, in that sense, we did spend Thanksgiving with family, if only a temporary one, forged in travel, in curiosity, and in the supportive community Archmere students know so well how to foster.

Students gather at St. Norbert School in Bangalore, India.

Students visited St. Philomena’s Cathedral Church in Mysore, India.

Campus News

Reverse College Advisory

By Christopher Boehm, Director of College Counseling

College and university admission offices commonly create counseling advisory boards to obtain feedback from high school counselors about admission marketing materials, university programs, their university’s reputations, and to pick the brains of professionals that have their finger on the pulse of the next generation of applicants. Over the last five years, Archmere college counselors have been invited to serve on boards at the University of Delaware, Northeastern University, the University of Lynchburg, the University of the Pacific, and Drexel University. They are extremely valuable networking opportunities for college counseling staffs and also give counselors the ability to take a deep-dive into a college community and the educational experiences they deliver.

This October, the College Counseling Office at Archmere created our own spin on these advisories by inviting college admission representatives to participate in Archmere’s first “Reverse College Advisory.” Admission professionals from the University of Rochester, Lafayette College, The College of Holy Cross, Millersville University, Rhodes College (TN), Carnegie Mellon University, and Smith College (MA) arrived in Delaware on Wednesday, October 25th to commence a three-day program.

“Our goal with the roster of attendees was to get a wide breadth of schools and professionals with diverse experiences and views. The missions of the schools that attended serve a wide variety of our students and the individuals attending came with extremely impressive

resumes. However, the most critical component was to invite great people who truly have the future successes of young people at heart.”

The heart of the ambitious agenda during the Advisory’s first full day on campus was a series of on-campus meetings, discussions, and conversations. Members immediately got to work discussing mission and strategic vision with Dr. Marinelli and Madam Thiel, followed by a campus tour with the admissions team and Auk Ambassadors. Following the tour, our guests each sat in on individual classes to provide a glimpse into the academic expectations, student classroom interactions, and to highlight Archmere’s outstanding faculty. The morning commenced with a session about unique academic offerings: Honors Engineering, Advanced Cancer Research and Analysis, and the Global Studies Diploma. Afternoon meetings consisted of a student life panel, a student Q&A, and a department chair and faculty discussion. English faculty member, Patricia Maher, represented the opinion of many faculty when she reflected upon the time spent with the admission professionals:“The opportunity to participate in open, honest dialogue with college admissions professionals was invaluable for those of us in the classroom! We were grateful for the opportunity to get feedback about academic placement and course selection in our disciplines. I was most struck by the admissions professionals’ genuine commitment to the overall emotional well-being of our students and to the principle of equity and opportunity for all students. Their passion and perspective provided each of us with important considerations to take back to our respective academic departments.”

An evening reception and dinner with Archmere parents and board members in the Patio was also an opportunity to show off the talents of our students. Mrs. Silverman and the Art Department surrounded the Patio Courtyard with student visual art works and Alicia Chu ’24, Grace Chen ’24, Valentina Ramos ’26, and Andres Ramos ’26 from the Helena Raskob Arts Institute shared amazing musical performances. The evening’s energy and comradery was recognized by Leah Lightcap, Archmere’s Director of Enrollment and Admission, “It is difficult to articulate the multifaceted experience–the magic that takes place when radical hospitality, expertise, and generosity of spirit intersect. During the evening, Dr. Marinelli quoted from Mrs. Raskob’s original journal, and

Admission professionals from seven colleges and universities visited Archmere on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

together with the music and good conversation, created a true Norbertine, ‘sense of place’ for our visitors, and all of us. It is an experience we will all remember for a long time to come. I am grateful for the initiative of Mr. Boehm and the College Counseling department, and humbled to have been a part of this unique experience.” All in all, it was a wonderfully exhausting day that made a profound impact on the advisory members.

The final day of the Advisory focused on the College Counseling Office. Advisory members reviewed letters of recommendation, the office’s programmatic calendar, the College Seminar curriculum, College Profile, and guiding principles. Productive conversations were had about greater use of Archmere’s college partnerships, increased highlighting of unique academic offerings in the College Profile, and the stylistic preferences in letters of recommendation. A major conversation topic was the overall mental health of all students, both in high school and college, as well as within the process of the college search. Advisory members were impressed by the Office’s guiding principles, commitment to valuing students over college, and consistency of messaging concerning the growth opportunities within the search and application process. Justin Mohney, Director of Operations at Carnegie Mellon University and Past-President of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling, provided thoughts that encompass the entire group’s feelings, “It (the conversation) gave us the opportunity to have a ‘deep dive’ into the realities and challenges facing our college counseling partners, secondary educators, and students in navigating the college search and post-secondary transition. While we all read the research and trade publications related to our field, sometimes having anecdotes and firsthand observations can be very powerful when advocating for students broadly within our own communities.”

Over the coming months, Archmere will receive feedback from each Reverse Advisory member as well as a group report in response to reflective questions provided to them

by the Archmere administration. Their responses and future conversations will provide valuable information as we move forward with our Middle States re-accreditation process and future strategic conversations. Madam Thiel summed up the strategic benefits and intrinsic rewards of the program this way, “Feedback is the cornerstone of education, allowing us to receive input and evolve, change, and grow. Einstein famously said, ‘I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.’ At Archmere, we hope to channel that curiosity–how we can improve, how internal and external groups perceive us--into improvement. By welcoming the Reverse Advisory group to campus, Archmere sought to get a neutral set of eyes on our programs, curricula, strengths, and areas for growth. This feedback gave us additional feedback and direction for our Middle States process, as we narrowed the focus for our Action Plans regarding experiential learning, character building, and the learning process.” And after reviewing some initial reviews from Advisory members, she added, “It really is magical to see something through someone else’s eyes/perspective. When we’re at Archmere day in and day out, you can sometimes forget just how unique it is. Not every workplace is like it is here.”

Krista Evans, Dean of Admissions at Lafayette College who has served on the College Counseling Office’s College Admission Advisory since its inception in 2016 (when she was at Lehigh University) summarized the shared-impression that was made on the group, “Being able to witness firsthand Archmere’s commitment to community, faith, and excellence in the classroom, was one I will not forget. I truly enjoyed sitting in on a class and watching the students engage with the faculty and with others. The benefits of this program were many, however, what struck me most was that Archmere’s values and mission were present in every way. From our welcome by the Head of School and Principal, to the tour of the campus and the faculty and student panels, it was obvious that everyone in the Archmere community lives out those values on a daily basis.”

Invited guests interview students during their visit to the Archmere campus.

John Jordan ’80, Director of Development and Constituent Relations

We are almost there. And we need your support.

$6MM

A Campaign for the Performing Arts

$500,000 NEEDED

$500,000 1:1 GIFT CHALLENGE

$5MM

WEST FACADE - NIGHT

Our community celebrates the whole student, and an integral component of an Archmere education resides in the performing arts space as our culture instills and celebrates the multifaceted liberal arts, faith based education.

$4MM

$5 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED As of 2/1/24

$3MM

EXPENDITURE

The total cost to renovate the Performing Arts Center is currently estimated at $6 million.

Since 1983, our Performing Arts Center has been at the center of school life: monthly Masses and weekly assemblies; theatrical plays and musicals; choral and instrumental concerts; new family welcoming; Baccalaureate liturgies and Graduation ceremonies.

$6MM

It all happens here.

$5MM

$2MM

$1MM

Visit www.archmereacademy.com/PAC or scan the QR code to give today! less than $500,000 to go!

Help us meet our goal

$500,000

$5

A 1993 alumnae inducted into the Archmere Hall of Fame this past month said it best:

$4MM

Instituted by the Board of Trustees as sound fiscal policy, cash and pledges totaling $6 million must be raised before renovation work may begin. Therefore, it is important to have all of the funds raised as soon as possible, so that, as final plans are completed, we are prepared for the contractor bidding process to begin this spring. If you own or work for a company and would like to be included in the bidding process, please contact with Mr. John Jordan, Director of Development, at Archmere.

“As a three-sport athlete, I am also so grateful that I still benefited from Archmere’s amazing arts program. I took art classes with Mr. Newitt, chorus with Mr. Ifkovits and Orchestra with Mr. Santomauro. I so appreciate the well-rounded person they helped to form.”

$3MM

Help us help students continue to experience the whole Archmere experience. It is indeed the mission.

$2MM

With approximately $5 million already raised – $4.5 million in gifts received and half of the $1 million 1:1 matching gift challenge met –we are hopeful that we will receive additional gifts of $500,000, which will be matched 1:1 to get us to our $6 million goal as soon as possible, so that we are able to Renovate the House for generations to come.

As of 2/1/24

$1MM

Please consider a gift to Archmere’s current capital campaign: “Let’s Renovate The House!”

Archmere Academy Performing Arts Center

TAKEN TAKEN

naming opportunities

Center Name ...............................

$3,000,000

Theater Space .............................. $1,000,000

Theater Balcony ............................. $250,000

AV Tech Sound Booth ......................... $100,000

Art Gallery Corridor ............................ $75,000

History of the Arts Mural Corridor. .

$75,000

Band Room $50,000

Choral Room ................................. $50,000

Orchestra Pit ................................. $50,000

Green Room .

$25,000

Band Room Furnishings ........................ $25,000

Choral Room Furnishings ....................... $25,000

Patrons of the Arts

$10,000 .................................. $5,000

buy a theater seat

Make a $1,000 donation to purchase a seat in the theater. Your seat will feature a personalized plaque.

Scan the QR code above or visit www.archmereacademy.com/PAC to purchase today.

Center floor seats designated in the red box on the seating chart are on sale now!

Archmere students perform the Winter musical, Matilda, in the Performing Arts Center in February 2024.

The current Performing Arts Center has been home to numerous musicals, Masses, events, and more since 1983.

Students, facutly, and staff gather to celebrate Mass for the anniversary of Archmere’s Dedication on October 12, 2023.

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT

You may use the QR code that will take you directly to the giving website and make your donation of a pledge over time or a one-time donation. You may use the enclosed envelope to complete a pledge card and enclose a check made payable to The Archmere Trust for a down payment on a pledge over time or a one-time donation.

You may make a gift of appreciated assets, such as stock. For stock transfer instructions, contact us at 302.798.6632, ext. 857.

For information or questions, you may contact the Advancement Office by phone or email to discuss your consideration of a gift.

John Jordan ’80, PP ’12, ’15, ’18, ’21

Director of Development and Constituent Relations jjordan@archmereacademy.com, 302-798-6632 ext. 637

Katherine Ball-Weir, MPA, CFRE, PP ’17 Director of institutional Advancement kballweir@archmereacademy.com, 302-798-6632 ext. 857

Campus News

Honoring Coach Bill Doyle

Senior Day for the football team was extra special this year as the Archmere community also celebrated one of our most beloved coaches, Dr. Bill Doyle. On November 11th, Bill’s contributions to the Archmere community were recognized on the field at halftime of the football game and during a special reception with his former players, colleagues, and coaching staff in the Patio.

In the fall of 1973, Bill Doyle started his Archmere teaching career fresh out of West Chester University. Recently recognized in the “Delaware’s Greatest 125 Coaches” list, Coach Doyle served as varsity football coach at Archmere Academy from 1975-82 and 1988-2000. He was voted “Coach of the Year” in 1979 and 1998, and his Auks went 138-80-3. Coach Doyle’s teams won Division II State Championships in 1979, 1980, and 1982, as well as reaching five other state title games.

Nick Sanna ’98, who played for Bill Doyle on the Archmere football team from 1995-1997, fondly reflected on his athletic career under the guidance of Coach Doyle, stating, “Coach had the uncanny ability to make the guy on the third string feel every bit as important as the star player. He was a fabulous teacher, coach, motivator, and mentor. Playing for Coach Doyle was one of the highlights of my life.”

With five decades of teaching and coaching, mentoring and guiding, inspiring and leading, Bill embodies the essence of the Archmere community. Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director, Math Department Chair, Academic Dean, Principal, current Board member – Bill’s spirit has helped

to define, establish, and perpetuate what the Archmere community values. His devotion to the community embodies the Archmere way, a commitment to students and athletes, to colleagues and parents, and always with a sense of humility and grace. John Jordan ’80, Director of Development and Constituent Relations, spoke during the reception, saying; “Bill’s contributions to the Archmere community cannot be measured. His impact on the people in this room and his affection and devotion to Archmere are a gift. To this day, Bill continues to give back as a Board member and a trustee of Archmere.”

The Archmere community is indebted to the Doyle family. Bill and Carolyn’s three children, Kristen ’97, Patrick ’99 and Ryan ’01, are proud Auk alums. Carolyn’s work in college counseling and guidance transformed the school’s approach to a student-centric focus, setting a professional standard of excellence that continues today. Carolyn and Bill’s work ethic, good humor, and daily commitment to the Archmere students represent the essence of this community, and for that we are profoundly grateful.

Dr. Bill Doyle addresses guests during his reception at the Patio.

Dr. Bill Doyle was honored during halftime of the Senior Day football game on November 11, 2023.

New Women in Business Speaker Series

On the evening of November 9th, Archmere held its inaugural Women in Business event at the Patio. An idea that originally took root with Marisa Cole Facciolo ’93, Women in Business marks the first installation of a new speaker series sponsored by Archmere Academy to create networking opportunities and meaningful dialogue amongst women in the Archmere community. Guests included alumnae, current and past mothers, and female faculty and staff - all of whom enjoyed an evening of networking and conversation, in addition to an engaging question and answer session with featured panelists.

The purpose of the series is for women to support women, regardless of their career path or career stage, and provide them with resources so that they have the knowledge and understanding of the various ways that our alumnae organization can help them grow their careers.

Why this particular program? Marisa points out, “Women in Business is meant to bridge that gap and involve women at all stages of their careers, whether they are currently stay at home moms or young alumni looking to network for their next job opportunity. For me personally, I want it to be a way for Archmere women to come together casually to learn and grow professionally – however they want to define it.”

Featured panelists included Kara Succoso Mangone ’04, Head of Sustainable Finance Group at Goldman Sachs,

Ginny Hill ’83 P’19, Chief Executive Officer at Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, and Lesley Aulick P ’27, Senior Director Capital Management at The Chemours Company. Marisa guided the panel discussion, an engaging and spirited session, in which everything from their career journey to leadership style, to how they see their company advancing women were specific topics of interest.

Ginny, also a past parent to Michael, class of 2019, was the first female graduate to serve on the Archmere Board of Trustees. Her career has focused on the empowerment and advancement of women and girls, and she shared with the audience her journey to becoming CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey, where she supports more than 13,000 girls and 10,000 adult members across nine counties in New Jersey.

Lesley’s curiosity for how her community-used products produced by DuPont steered her towards technical, sales, and marketing roles. She was able to speak to the crowd about her professional journey through DuPont that began as a chemical engineering co-op student from the University of Kentucky. In 1999, she joined DuPont fulltime as a plant engineer and became a Six Sigma Black Belt where she pioneered projects for customers.

Kara is head of the Sustainable Finance Group, which advances an integrated approach to sustainability through central coordination of the firm’s policies, the deepening of sustainable finance expertise, and by working in partnership with Goldman Sachs’ businesses. She captivated the crowd by describing how she helps to drive client impact and deliver on sustainability commitments, including a $750 billion sustainable finance target.

Throughout the evening, each guest reflected on their personal experience at Archmere. Archmere’s Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Manager, Ainsley Hertrich Palladino ’05, was inspired by the fact that the panelists “were all able to speak about a certain experience they had at Archmere or early on in their career that really led them to where they are now. Kara spoke about how athletics gave her a sense of determination and strengthened her character. She also spoke about the importance of having a faith-based education, which she didn’t realize how important that was in her life until she got older and began her career.”

The success of Women in Business has prompted planning for another series this Spring. Details are forthcoming.

Kara Succoso Mangon’04 takes the mic during the November Women in Business event at the Patio.

Campus News

Lunch and Learn Program Fosters Critical Thinking, Exposure to the Professional World

Arguably the most effective leader of all times, John D. Rockefeller already knew it back in the day: getting together with your team over lunch provides invaluable insights for running your business. Archmere has taken the Lunch and Learn model and applied it to our educational initiatives, offering sessions that students can voluntarily attend and enjoy a free meal, all while learning about issues and topics that fall outside of their typical classroom day. Guest speakers are often Archmere community members or alumni. The Lunch and Learn program provides opportunities for students to explore various career fields in an intimate, low stakes setting.

When the program was in its beginning stages last year, administration surveyed students to gauge their top career interests. Since then, Archmere has been able to offer a variety of Lunch and Learns across several disciplines to satisfy student interest. Last spring, the program kicked off with Kevin DiSabatino ’03, who hosted a Business Lunch and Learn in the Patio. He spoke about developing a sense of himself and the confidence to try many things during his formative Archmere years. In April, Dr. John Finley ’96, Dr. Katie Sahm ’90, and Dr. David Boyajian ’96 joined us for a Medical Lunch and Learn with fifteen current students who are considering a future career in the medical field.

Getting together with the purpose of learning something new provides invaluable insights and sparks an entirely different type of conversation, and our students have embraced the program. Earlier this fall, Neilli Walsh PP ’12, ’14, ’18 and Bill Larson ’04 hosted another well attended session, this time a Legal Lunch and Learn, and in November, Jeff Finocchiaro ’92 captivated seventeen current students with an Artificial Intelligence discussion. On Tuesday, February 20th, the school welcomed an Architecture Lunch and Learn featuring

Sean Goodrick, AIA ’97. Sean spoke to students about his time at Archmere, the journey to his professional career, and the skill sets necessary to “think like an architect”. Current parent Molly Blessington hosted a Design Lunch and Learn this March. Molly is an active member of the Archmere Community and proud mother to PJ ’24, Noah ’26, and Nathan ’28. She currently works as the Design Director for Nemours Children’s Health, one of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the country.

What better way to engage our students than to foster a collaborative alternative to their current curriculum with a knowledge-sharing Lunch and Learn? According to Archmere Principal Katie Thiel, “The ultimate goal of the Lunch and Learn is to bridge the gap between coursework and careers, curiosities and the professional world. Thanks to the small setting, there is ample opportunity for conversation and engagement amongst the group, and students are bought in.”

Archmere senior Bella Hughes spoke about her impressions of the Artificial Intelligence program, saying, “When I attended the AI Lunch and Learn with Jeff Finocchiaro ’92 as the featured speaker, I learned that there are many interesting challenges, advancements, and concerns that are possible with increasing AI development. Some of the examples shown included a video language translator and a composition of fabricated quotes from various celebrities that were fascinating, shocking, and thought provoking for everyone in the room.”

With real world examples and intriguing presentations, students are encouraged to join in the discussion, ask questions and share information and ideas with each other, ultimately leaving the Lunch and Learns with not only a greater understanding of the topic, but also a beneficial connection to an alumnus in the professional world.

Archmere Legal Council, Mrs. Neilli Walsh, Esq. PP ’10, ’12, ’14, ’18 and Board of Trustees member, Bill Larson, Esq. ’04 host a Legal Lunch and Learn.

Auks of All Ages Celebrate Homecoming

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, Archmere Academy hosted its annual Homecoming. Students, faculty, family, friends, and future Auks came together to support the sports teams and enjoy a day of fun for all ages.

Festivities were kicked off the Friday of Homecoming weekend with the Golden Alumni Luncheon. Twenty members of the class of 1973 were inducted into the Golden Alumni during the annual luncheon in the Patio. Under the direction of Mr. David Ifkovits, the Archmere Academy Mastersingers opened the luncheon with a performance, and the class of 1973 was formally inducted into the Golden Alumni Society, commemorating their 50th reunion. In turn, the class of 1973 cemented their mark on the future students of Archmere by starting a scholarship fund in their name.

While the Golden Alumni were being celebrated in the Patio, the student body held a pep rally in the fieldhouse to kick off the spirited weekend, complete with music, games and class contests. That night, all three volleyball teams – the 9th grade, JV and Varsity – proved victorious with wins against Diamond State Athletic Conference opponent Conrad. On Saturday, the athletic festivities began with a 5-0 shutout of Delaware Military Academy by our field hockey team, and immediately following on the lower turf, the soccer team defeated Woodbridge 7-2. The rain didn’t damper the winning theme, as the football team prevailed over Mt. Pleasant later that afternoon.

Post football game, alumni gathered on the Patio Terrace for a social before heading over to the Oratory in St. Norbert Hall for the annual Homecoming Mass. The day concluded with the Alumni Reunion Reception, which was held in the Patio for alumni celebrating a milestone reunion. Close to 200 alumni attended the social and reconnected with old classmates. The graduates from each class reminisced with one another, explored the Patio, and gathered for class photos in the Patio library.

Between the athletic games, food tents, the social, and reunions, there was something for everyone this Homecoming, even if what the weekend meant was a little different to each person. From those in the beginning stages of their alumni experience to someone who celebrated 50 years, the feeling is the same: Archmere is a place that never leaves you.

In 2024, we will be celebrating alumni reunions for classes ending in “4” and “9”. Anyone interested in helping to plan the festivities, please contact Mrs. Ainsley Hertrich Palladino ’05, Archmere’s Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Manager, by email at apalladino@archmereacademy.com or by calling 302-798-6632 ext. 757.

What does Homecoming mean to you?

Golden Alumnus: Larry DiSabatino ’73:

“It was great to catch up with so many of my classmates during the 50th reunion celebration activities and for our class to establish a scholarship fund. We were able to retrace our steps through the tunnel from the Patio to St. Norbert Hall on our way to Mass. Having my son Kevin’s 20th reunion at the same event made it even more fun to be able to reminisce with his classmates, all of whom had spent so much time with Kevin and me at sporting events and at our house.”

Graduating Senior: Cecilia Connolly ’24

:

“Homecoming festivities at Archmere are one of my favorite traditions. Being a senior on the volleyball team I was able to see first-hand the way the Archmere community rallies to support one another. We had such a fun student section for my last Homecoming game and the same school spirit was shown to all the other teams on Saturday! I’ve loved being able to support my peers and come together to celebrate Archmere on my final Homecoming!”

Awards and Recognition

Archmere Students Named National Merit Finalists

Archmere seniors Alicia Chu and Sophia Chen have met all requirements to advance to the Finalist standing of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) after being named Semifinalists in September 2023. These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth more than $28 million that will be offered to the winners. The selection of approximately 7,140 Merit Scholarship award winners from the group of nearly 15,000 will soon be decided.

Alicia and Sophia were first named Semifinalists in September, meaning their PSAT test scores, taken in their junior year, were among the top 1% of the nearly 1.3 million test takers. In February, they were recognized as Finalists. A Finalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

As Finalists, Alicia and Sophia received Certificates of Merit and notification that the NMSC will begin mailing scholarship offers to the winners this spring. The National Merit Scholarship winners of 2024 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 362,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

In addition, six Archmere seniors were among the top 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT and will receive the recognition of being named National Merit Commended Students, in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. These students are: Anna Benner, Grace Koch, Elizabeth Maher, Gavin Nguyen, Nathaniel Sullivan, and Michelle Zhang.

Archmere Receives Highest Level of Distinction by the College Board

The College Board recently announced that Archmere Academy has been named to the Advanced Placement Program (AP) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction. The College Board’s AP Program enables students to pursue college-level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both while still in high school. Through AP courses in multiple subjects that each culminate in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.

According schoolwires.net, Around 60% of U.S. high schools participate in the AP Program, which encompasses 1.8 million students and over 145,000 teachers across all 50 states and more than 120 countries. Nearly 23,000 high schools offer at least one AP course, with about 35% of recent high school graduates taking at least one AP course (Brookings.edu,

4/11/23). The AP School Honor Roll recognition takes into consideration the school’s ability to increase their “college-going” culture, to provide opportunities for students to earn college credit, and college readiness. In a College Board press release, Trevor Packer, head of the AP program stated, “AP represents an opportunity for students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement, and potentially boost their grade point averages. The schools have shown that they can expand access to these college-level courses and still drive high performance – they represent the best of our AP program.”

Archmere had 92% of seniors take at least one AP exam during high school. An astounding 36% of seniors took five or more exams. Of those students, 80% scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These impressive numbers earned Archmere Academy the highest award level - Platinum.

Alicia Chu ’24

Sophia Chen ’24

Girls Cross Country Win DSAC Championship

Led by Madelyn Priest ’24 and Helen Socorso ’25, the girls cross country team won their first Diamond State Athletic Conference Championship in school history! Alaina Thomas ’27 finished fifth while Anna Benner ’24 and Peyton Bale ’24 rounded out the team score.

The boys finished second to Newark Charter by six points. Richard Angiullo ’25 captured the individual win with a time of 16:57 over a challenging course at White Clay Creek State Park in Newark, DE. Richard was closely followed by Camilo Alvarez ’24 and Owen Parsons ’26. Rounding out the top five were Aidan Mahon ’26 and Colin Phillips ’27.

For the rising stars (JV runners), Joseph Cilluffo ’27 led most of the race and finished third overall. David Wooten ’27, another freshman, also finished in the top ten. The JV

girls did a great job running together and had four girls in the top ten. Keeleigh Doss ’24 finished second, Caroline Scholl ’26 finished fifth, McKayla Hwang ’27 finished seventh, and Natalie Lucas ’26 finished tenth.

Auk Football Places Second in the State

The Archmere football team piled up 463 yards to rally for a 56-28 victory on its home field on Saturday, November 28th against Woodbridge in the DIAA Division II semifinals,

earning them a trip to the State Championship game. Second-seeded Archmere played top seed Caravel for the Division II state title on Saturday, December 2nd at 3:00pm at the University of Delaware. Miles Kempski ’24 completed 12 of 24 passes for 140 yards, with Gavin Lee ’24 catching five for 64 yards and Drew Duncan ’24 pulling in four for 42 yards. Christian Wittmeyer ’25 gained 33 yards on four carries for Archmere and had 10 tackles to pace the defense, while Michael Donovan ’26 added eight.

Once again, they were on the scoreboard by a drive that included a long pass by Miles Kempski ’24 and a 31 yard run by Gavin Lee ’24. Miles’ second touchdown came from a catch by Drew Duncan ’24. The Auks came up short in the DIAA Division II Football State Championship game, taking home the runner up trophy.

Seven Seniors Sign National Letter of Intent

Congratulations to the seven Archmere senior athletes who signed their National Letters of Intent on November 8, 2023. The NLI is a document used to indicate a student

athlete’s commitment to participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I or II colleges and universities in the United States.

Athlete College Sport Intended Major

Brendan Burke Lafayette College Lacrosse Economics

Jack Maister Lehigh University Track and Field Economics

Drew Duncan University of Delaware Lacrosse Business

Miles Kempski University of Massachusetts Lacrosse Undecided Lowell

Ava Hughes University Pennsylvania Field Hockey Neuroscience

Madelyn Priest Elon University

Cross Country Marketing Track and Field

Katherine Kuehl Bloomsburg University Volleyball Marketing with a minor in Real Estate Investment

Archmere’s 2023 football team lines up for the National Anthem.

The Archmere girls cross country team poses with their trophy after winning the first DSAC Championship in Archmere history.

Back row (left to right): Brendan Burke

Jack Maister, Drew Duncan, Miles Kempski

Front row (left to right): Ava Hughes, Madelyn Priest, Katherine Kuehl

Alumni News

1952

Charles G. Conway, Ph.D. ’52 wrote an essay entitled The Philosophical Rudiments of Classical Ballet which appeared in the 2023 Review of the Oxford Philosophical Society.

1961

Robert T. Markel, Ph.D. ’61 participated in Michelle Noris’ audio book entitled Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity.

1977

Kevin Donovan ’77 continues to enjoy retirement from the practice of law, and now focuses on Civil War research and writing. His most recent efforts include a book review of Searching for Irvin McDowell: The Civil War’s Forgotten General, found in the Emerging Civil War Blog (January 23, 2024).

1978

Maryanne Grisz ’78 has been named President and CEO for Fashion Group International.

1984

2001

Jim deProphetis ’01 (actor, writer, and producer) stars in The Setup, a movie about an obsessive-compulsive waiter who must memorize a detailed list of menu specials before his party arrives.

2011

Helen Kuhn ’11 married Chris Shrift on June 10, 2023 at Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia. She is pictured here with her parents Dr. Katherine King and Dr. Gerard Kuhn.

2014 & 2015

Jack Malloy ’14 and Sarah Disabella ’15 married on September 23rd in a ceremony officiated by Fr. John C. Zagarella, O. Praem. Bridesmaids included Maggie Malloy ’17 , Emily Disabella ’17 , Megan Disabella ’22, Mary Fiorile ’15, and Nicole Spaeder ’15 Charlie Malloy ’25 served as a groomsman.

Stuart Zimble ’84 spent two years in Ukraine working with the World Health Organization’s emergency response team. The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. He began as the Operations Support & Logistics unit lead supporting WHO and the Ministry of Health for the COVID response in 2021. Subsequently, he was present in Kyiv during the Russian invasion in February of 2022, after which he worked supporting the WHO Country Office, health facilities, and other partners to solve health logistics issues during the war.

2016

Caroline Buck Spearman ’ 16 and husband Cody welcomed Ezra Taylor on August 9, 2023, weighing 8.3 pounds and measuring 20 inches long. In addition to welcoming her first born son, Caroline recently co-founded AFTRGLW, a boutique social media management agency, where she helps clients boost their social media presence.

Alumni from classes of 1957 to 2020 gathered at Hudson Hound in NYC’s West Village to catch up with old friends and make new and meaningful connections. John Herndon ’57 and Lauren Raziano ’20 pictured on the right, were the oldest and youngest alumni in attendance at the New York City Alumni Happy Hour on February 22, 2024.

From Archmere Auks to South Carolina Gamecocks (left to right):

Matt DiGregorio ’20, Jon Dearing ’22, Justin Hagenberg ’23, Aidan Bellew ’23, Kevin DiGregorio ’22, Alex Starnes ’23, Zach Murray ’22, and Declan Pearson ’22.

Friends and family gathered on Friday September 22nd to celebrate the wedding of Kristen DiNardo ’11 and Chris Thomson ’11. More than a few fellow Auks were in attendance to congratulate the new couple.

Back row: David Sullivan ’15, John Sullivan ’83, Andrew DiNardo, Clay Troy ’16, Will Schatzman ’19, Sebastian Oja ’11, Kevin Reardon ’14, Scott Thomson ’08, Brannock Furey ’11, Bill DiNardo ’04, and Bruce DiNardo ’82

Middle row: Christine Clark ’11, Erin Moffitt ’11, Evi Lowman ’11, Morgan Schatzman ’11, Amy Thomson ’18, Mark DiNardo ’79, Ken Berl ’82, Rich Bastian ’82, and Bill DiNardo ’76

Front row: Corinne Sullivan ’13, Jen Reardon Sullivan ’83, Jenna DiNardo Lougheed ’09, Karen DiNardo ’80, Kristen DiNardo ’11, Chris Thomson ’11, Carol Reardon Thomson ’79, BethAnn DiNardo Troy ’86, Linda Thurman Chompre ’80, Ashley DiNardo Rizzo ’06, and Sara Reardon Cosgrove ’06

Not pictured but in attendance: Bill McGlinchey ’82, and Claire Reardon McBride ’10

Members of the Class of 1969 are looking forward to their 55th reunion this fall. Pictured is the group at the Columbus Inn from a recent gathering. In attendance were Ed Bonnani, Denny McCarthy, Neil Sudol, Frank Buchy, Mike Mazepink, Steve Crifasi, Tom Vogt, John Gandolfo, Tom Brighton, Mike DeCarlo, Jerry Creed, Kevin McGonegal, Tony Flynn, Steve Patrizio, Dickie Armstrong, John Davis, Tom Cross, Ralph Miegel, Mark Grunert, Ed Ellis, Larry Mattero, Bill Dunphy, Andy Disabatino, Tim Concannon, Louie Capano, Fr. Mike Manz, Gerry Brooks, Bill Conlin, and Gene Glomb

Planned Giving

The Archmere Founder Society

Planned giving is any gift made in lifetime or at death as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning. These gifts include gifts of equity, life insurance, real estate, personal property, securities, or cash. Planned giving preserves a donor’s legacy, representing their commitment to positively impacting communities by supporting the organizations they care about.

Named in honor of Archmere’s founder, Abbot Bernard H. Pennings, O. Praem., the Archmere Founder (Planned Giving) Society recognizes the families and individuals who have told us of their intentions to include the Academy

in their wills or other estate plans. If you have included Archmere in your plans, please inform us. By letting us know your intentions, you are assured your gift will be used as directed. It also serves as an inspiration for others to do the same.

For more information about Archmere’s Founder Society and the benefits of planned giving, contact:

Katherine Ball-Weir, MPA, CFRE, PP’17 Director of Institutional Advancement 302-798-6632, ext. 857 kballweir@archmereacademy.com

Founder Society 2023-2024

Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Abessinio

Mrs. Kristy Ambrogi

Mr. Thomas H. Anderson, III ’60 and Mrs. Carol J. Anderson

Dr. Clifford L. Anzilotti ’59 and Mrs. Sandra P. Anzilotti

Mr. J. Gregory Carroll ’66 and Mrs. Suzanne Carroll

Ms. Cindi Cericola

Mr. Charles Conway, Ph.D. ’52

Mr. Robert G. Coyle ’65*

Mr. John F. Daniels, Esq. ’70

Dr. Carmelina D’Arro ’85

Mr. Robert R. Dorsch ’61

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Emmi

Dr. Diane L. Ferry

Dr. John V. Flynn, Jr. ’60 and Mrs. Mary Lou Flynn

Mrs. Juliet Fuscsick

Mr. William E. Gehrman ’88

Mr. Kevin and Mrs. Rosemary Gilroy

Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence S. Giordano

Mr. Robert J. Glass, Jr. ’57 and Mrs. Susan M. Glass

Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Hertrich

Mr. Francis J. Hickman ’64 and Mrs. Stephanie Hickman

Mrs. Joan Joyce

Mr. Kevin M. Kelly ’81 and Mrs. Shari M. Kelly

Mr. Richard G. Lanahan ’60 and Mrs. Pam J. Lanahan

The Honorable Joseph J. Longobardi ’48 and Mrs. Maud Longobardi

Dr. Robert T. Markel ’61

Mr. Francis McAlonan

Mrs. Mildred Mealey

Mr. Joseph P. Melloy, Sr. ’52*

Dr. Joseph A. Miller, Jr., and Ms. Rachel C. Wood

Mr. Michael J. Monaco ’61 and Ms. Andrea Monaco

Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Morris

Mr. John W. Oravis ’70

Mr. John D. Pastor ’58 and Mrs. Diane Pastor

Mrs. Ursula L. Praiss

Mr. Raymond M. Radulski ’67 and Mrs. Sherron H. Radulski

Mr. Timothy A. Reilley

Mrs. Mary Ellen Schauber and Mr. Ed Stegemeier

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Shields ’60

Ms. Stephanie Short

Mr. Charles E. Sibre ’67 and Mrs. Ellen R. Sibre

Mrs. MaryAnn E. O’Brien Slowik ’79 and Mr. Jeffrey J. Slowik

Dr. Joseph M. Small ’61 and Mrs. Susan Small

Ms. Deborah McHugh Truscello ’81

Mr. Anthony S. “T.J.” Voell ’89 and Mrs. Amanda Voell

Mr. David A. Voell ’89 and Mrs. Tara Voell

Mr. F. John Waldron ’67

Dr. F. Thomas Witomski ’54

*Deceased

Planned Giving Spotlight: Robert T. Markel, Ph.D ’61

Archmere alumnus Bob Markel ’61 remembers hearing a plea from journalist Michele Norris on NPR, encouraging people of all racial and ethnic groups to send in their views on race by submitting a form online. Bob responded and submitted his thoughts. Not long after that he was contacted by Norris’ publisher who asked if he would record his story for her new book (Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity). “Long story short,” Bob said, “They wanted to use my comments and my recording for the book.”

Bob’s story tells about the time during high school that he and several of his friends from Archmere went to a local restaurant where fellow classmate Frank Hutchins (Dr. Francis L. Hutchins, Jr. ’61) could not be served because of his race. The group of five or six students got up and left the restaurant, supporting their friend. Bob has thought a lot about this experience over the years. He hadn’t been exposed much to these situations, and it was eye-opening. “I like to think we all learned a lot through this experience about what this meant for our friend Frank and others.”

We had been sheltered, and that was a wake-up call.” Bob’s story and those of many others can be found in the newly published book by Norris. His recording is included in the audio book.

For the last four years Bob served as Town Administrator in Hampden, MA, but last month he began a new role as a member of the Massachusetts State Joint Labor Management Committee, where he will help to resolve contract disputes with police and fire agencies. Although he has lived in Charlestown (Boston), MA for many years, the

To learn more about how you can give to Archmere, visit www.archmereacademy.com/giving or scan the QR code below.

inclusive environment and sense of community of Archmere has stuck with him throughout his life, and Bob travels to Delaware frequently to visit with his friends from the class of 1961. The group regularly enjoys gathering to eat and converse, just as they did while attending Archmere.

Recently Bob made a gift to support the Performing Arts Center campaign, choosing to make his contribution through his will. Making a gift through his estate plans was an easy process, and by talking about it he hopes to inspire others to do the same thing.

“I decided to make a gift to the campaign because what I learned at Archmere – the education I received – was invaluable to the life I currently lead. Archmere provided a sound education that allowed me to get into Notre Dame, and ultimately to be successful. As someone who participated in three student plays during my Archmere years, I learned the value of the performing arts, and certainly that the arts are an important part of our education. The renovated Performing Arts Center will enhance the ability of Archmere to provide a well-rounded education to its students. Appreciating and participating in the arts are important for a variety of reasons, and I was fortunate to have had that opportunity. This renovation will expand the possibilities for current and future students. Making a gift through my will as part of my overall giving to Archmere leaves a legacy that I can be proud of.”

Including a donation to Archmere’s Performing Arts Center Campaign in your estate plan is a straightforward process. If you would like information about how you can make a gift to the “Let’s Renovate the House” Performing Arts Center campaign through your will, contact:

Katherine Ball-Weir, MPA, CFRE, PP ’17 Director of Institutional Advancement kballweir@archmereacademy.com 302-798-6632, ext. 857

Happy Retirement

Larry Osborne

If you have been to Archmere in the last 30 years, you probably have run into Larry Osborn, the Archmere electrician and facilities member who has been ubiquitous on the Auk campus since 1993. Larry, a staple on the facilities crew for decades, retired this past June and asserted this past spring, “Archmere always felt like a second home.” Indeed, he helped to create that sense of place here on campus.

Born in Wilmington’s St. Francis Hospital in 1949, Larry grew up in Gwinhurst. He attended St. Matthew’s and Holy Rosary schools, finishing his grade school education at Silverside Elementary where Jimmy Biden, President Joe Biden’s brother, was a classmate. Larry attended Mt. Pleasant High Jr. and Sr. high school, ran track and played football until suffering a shoulder injury in 10th grade. A huge Pittsburgh Steelers’ fan, Larry’s affinity for the steel mill image always appealed to him, with Franco Harris his favorite player. Other boyhood heroes included baseball legends Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.

Graduating high school in 1968, Larry was drafted for Vietnam, completing his basic training at Fort Bragg and his ensuing artillery training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. His tour of duty focused on the DMZ in Korea, where he helped transport Jeeps and weapons via Chinook helicopters. Returning stateside, Larry worked at Phoenix Steel in Claymont for 15 years until its closure in 1986, returning to Delcastle Technical School for his journeyman papers and studying to be an electrician. After several varied jobs, including a stint as the manager at the famous Buggy Tavern on Marsh Road, Larry was looking for different work.

In 1993 Father McLaughlin hired him. As a member of the four-man facilities crew, Larry did all that needed to be done, from grounds crew and grass cutting to electrical wiring and maintenance in the eight different campus buildings. He acknowledges, “I had good bosses here at Archmere” referencing Jim Tosi, Dan Houston, Carl Campion, and Dan Lutz. During COVID, Larry was here on campus every day, keeping up the plant with his crew. His electrical skills were a mainstay for the community through good times and tough times. He marvels at the transformation of the property, the building of the new Student Life Center, the renovations to St. Norbert Hall, and the creation of the center quad area, which up until 2007, had been the school parking lot.

Larry married Sue Ellen Wildey in 1978 at the PeninsulaMcCabe United Methodist Church and settled in North Wilmington with his bride. Sue, a longtime teacher, and Larry, have both impacted Delaware education with their devotion and lifelong work. Sadly, Sue passed away this past January; Larry’s family and friends were present to support him in his loss. The Auk family was there in force.

Asked to describe a specific favorite memory, Larry could not decide. “You know, it wasn’t just like one thing. I have such good memories of Father McLaughlin, who hired me, and of Father Mullen. It was just the whole atmosphere. I liked the Christmas parties at Archmere, the atmosphere was just so fun. I love the place.”

Larry’s kind presence will be missed here, though he cautioned, “I’ll still be around,” checking in on his second home.

By John Jordan ’80, Director of Development and Constituent Relations

In Memoriam

Mrs. Anne R. Bachofer

June 27, 2023

Wife of J. Louis Bachofer, Jr. ’49

Dr. Anthony V. Nero ’60

October 13, 2023

Mrs. Helen A. McHugh

October 28, 2023

Mother of Helene ’79 (married to Frederick Eissler ’79), Peter ’81, Frances ’82, and Patrick ’87 McHugh

Maternal grandmother of Sarah ’09 and the late Frederick ’07 Eissler

Mrs. Marietta P. Abello

November 4, 2023

Mother of Joseph Abello ’86

Mr. Karlis Ulmanis

November 6, 2023

Father of Eric ’12, Alexis ’14, and Brooke ’17 Ulmanis

Mr. Brian A. Sharkey ’02

November 10, 2023

Brother of Alyssa M. Sharkey ’06

Mrs. Carolyn A. von Mechow

November 21, 2023

Wife of Theodore E. von Mechow ’56

Mr. Carl A. Lutcavage ’68

November 22, 2023

Brother of Gregory ’67 and Drew ’75 Lutcavage

Mrs. Margaret Walsh Mauck ’82

December 3, 2023

Daughter of the late E. John Walsh, former Archmere teacher & coach (1960-1968, 19762004)

Sister of Michael ’80, Susan ’81, Kathleen ’85, and Sheila ’88 Walsh

Mr. John W. A. Filliben ’53

December 7, 2023

Father of the late Jeffrey N. Filliben ’83

Mrs. Mary M. Pace

December 16, 2023

Mother of Samuel ’71, Armand ’74, William ’75, James ’81, Catherine ’82, and the late Vincent ’73 and the late Mary Adele ’78 Pace

Paternal grandmother of Vincent ’17 and Marisa ’22 Pace.

Mrs. Mary Ellen May

December 18, 2023

Maternal grandmother of Christopher J. Kestner ’97

Mrs. Mary E. Karpinski

December 21, 2023

Mother of John F. Karpinski ’91

Mrs. Martha C. Sullivan

December 25, 2023

Mother of John D. Sullivan ’83 (married to Jenifer Reardon ’83) and Sheila Sullivan Zimmerman ’86

Paternal grandmother of Corinne ’13 and David ’15 Sullivan

Mr. James E. Sylvanus

December 26, 2023

Maternal grandfather of Catherine ’07, Anna ’10, Joseph ’12, and Lillian ’16 Coogan

Mr. David T. Lauser ’61

December 27, 2023

Brother of the late John ’51 and the late Donald ’52 Lauser

Mr. James W. Short, Jr. ’84

December 29, 2023

Uncle of Michael T. Iorii ’90, Brian C ’95, Jamie Andress Thomas ’97, and Philip Durney ’09

Mrs. Toni Ann Cilia

January 6, 2024

Sister-in-law of Michael A. Marinelli ’76

Dr. Salvatore A. Vasile

January 10, 2024

Father of Anthony ’74 and Robert ’75 Vasile Paternal grandfather of Gabriella ’09 and Anthony ’11 Vasile

Mr. John J. McLaughlin

January 15, 2024

Father of Karen McLaughlin Hale ’86 and John S. McLaughlin ’91

Brother of Father Joseph McLaughlin, O. Praem.

Mrs. Sue Ellen Osborn

January 17, 2024

Wife of Larry Osborn, retired Archmere facilities staff member (1993-2023)

Mrs. Ruth O. Malloy

January 17, 2024

Mother-in-law of Maureen Trainer Malloy ’88 Paternal grandmother of Jack ’14 (married to Sarah Disabella ’15), Maggie ’17, and Charlie ’25 Malloy

Mr. Mark J. Robuck II ’97

January 20, 2024

Brother of Jessica L. Robuck ’99

Mr. Lawrence A. Potts, Jr. ’45

January 25, 2024

Brother of the late John J. Potts ’47

Mr. Joseph L. Ignar

January 26, 2024

Father of Carolyn Ignar Torbert ’84

Maternal grandfather of Michael ’04 (married to Kathryn Cunningham ’04) and Stephen ’06 Hall

Mrs. Bernardine K. Abbott

January 27, 2024

Mother of Andrew F. ’79, William L. ’80, and the late Joseph L. Jr. ’72 Abbott

Mrs. Caroline Short

January 27, 2024

Mother of the late James W. Short, Jr. ’84

Maternal grandmother of Michael T. Iorii ’90, Brian C. Andress ’95, Jamie Andress Thomas ’97, and Philip Durney III ’09

Mr. J. Peter Osmond ’63

January 30, 2024

Mrs. Estelle D. Glick

January 31, 2024

Mother of Deborah Glick Newman ’80

Mr. Joseph J. LoBiondo ’63

February 12, 2024

Mr. John C. DiCostanza

February 13, 2024

Father of Catherine DiCostanza Glaberman ’80

Mrs. Barbara E. Oswinkle

February 15, 2024

Mother of David Oswinkle, Archmere’s Athletic Director

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Devine

February 19, 2024

Wife of the late Donn Devine ’46

Mother of Martin J. Devine ’74

Paternal grandmother of Joseph ’04, Patrick ’10, Sean ’15, and Michael ’18 Devine

Mrs. Joan E. Everson

February 20, 2024

Maternal grandmother of Matthew ’24 and Bridget ’26 Malloy

Mrs. Catherine M. Kelleher

February 23, 2024

Paternal grandmother of Maximilian Kelleher ’24

Mr. John L. Jodlbauer ’67

February 24, 2024

Mr. Ronald W. Truitt

February 29, 2024

Father of Laurie M. Truitt Capp ’86

“I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be”

(John 14:3)