Spartan Connection, Fall 2022

Spartan Connection

Photos from Harrisburg Academy’s archives of former locations.

e 2022-23 Development and Alumni Relations Team

From left to right: Stacy Klann (Director of Development and Alumni Relations) Siena McLees (Development Associate) Christopher Zyroll (Development Coordinator)

From the Office of Development and Alumni Relations

Dearest Spartan Alumni,

Whether it has been one year or forty years, we hope to see you soon! We’ve missed being able to gather with you on a regular basis during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are excited to begin reconnecting with you. In the last several weeks, Harrisburg Academy has begun the 2022-23 school year, and we are eager to share many exciting updates with you!

In June, Harrisburg Academy received word from International Baccalaureate that we are fully-authorized to o er the Primary Years Programme for students ages three to twelve. We are excited to continue implementing the Middle Years Programme for students in grades six to ten, making the Academy the only International Baccalaureate continuum school within the Capital City region! Additionally, we’ve moved ahead on several facilities projects including installation of air conditioning in the McCormick Auditorium, renovation of the theatrical control booth, and demolition of the modular classrooms, which have been replaced with state-of-the-art spaces. Enrollment is higher than it has been in many years, and our administrative team looks forward to ushering this learning community into a new era.

In September, we bid Ms. Vicki DiSylvester, Associate Director of Development, Corporate Engagement, a fond farewell. I am grateful for her distinguished service to our school, which is marked by the relationships she has forged and the community she has created, both on and o -campus. Her professionalism, attention to detail, and smile will certainly be missed as she begins this next chapter of her life. Her e orts in building a foundation for our team to capitalize on in the future have been invaluable.

To prepare for Vicki’s retirement, the O ce of Development and Alumni Relations has welcomed Siena McLees, Development Associate, and Christopher Zyroll, Development Coordinator, who arrived as we began the 2022-23 school year. In her role, Ms. McLees will work to establish relationships with each of our alumni, while Mr. Zyroll will focus on parent/guardian engagement. I hope you will bid a warm, Spartan welcome to each of them when you are able to connect!

In relaunching our alumni magazine, we took some time to think about “What does it mean to be a Spartan?” Although Harrisburg Academy has grown tremendously, our values remain the same. No matter when you attended, the Academy will always be your home. We look forward reconnecting with you soon, but until then, be well!

With Spartan Pride, Stacy Klann Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Siena McLees Development Associate Christopher Zyroll Development Coordinator

Alumni Weekend

Allison Zuckerman ’08, Mark Parsells ’78, Coach Chris Clark, and D.J. Healey ’94 following the Alumni Achievement Award Ceremony & Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Above: Jill Hurst-Wahl ’75 delivers her acceptance speech remotely during the Alumni Achievement Award Ceremony and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction.

Above: Former Head of School Jim Newman poses with Head of School Adrian Allan

Top Photo: Alumni reconnect with one another at a Happy Hour at the Millworks Bottom Left Photo: Eric Pettis ’78, Mark Foster (Board Chair), and Bill Dodson ’73 engage in conversation

Bottom Right Photo from left to right: Stacy Klann (Director of Development and Alumni Relations), Vicki DiSylvester (Former Associate Director of Development, Corporate Engagement), Bill Dodson ’73, Mark Parsells ’78, Teri Rooney ’92, Adrian Allan (Head of School), Mark Foster (Board Chair), D.J. Healey ’94, Anthony Foschi, Allison Zuckerman ’08

Above: Dr. Nakiya Showell M.D. ’99 addresses guests at the Annual Spring Fling Gala

2021-22 Alumni Achievement Award Winners

Harrisburg Academy is proud to honor esteemed alumni through our annual Alumni Achievement Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony.

e following awards are presented annually.

e Academic Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose achievement in scholarship, innovation, or research is acknowledged and respected by their peers and a wider community.

e Service to Humanity Award honors an individual who in their personal or professional life has demonstrated a commitment to bettering the lives of others in their community, nation, or the world.

e Rising Star Award recognizes a young person who has demonstrated promise and achievement in their professional life.

e Professional Achievement Award honors outstanding accomplishments by an individual in their career or professional life.

e Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes past achievements for students, coaches, and friends of our athletics program.

Dr. Nakiya Showell, M.D. ’99 Service to Humanity Award

Jill Hurst-Wahl ’75 Academic Achievement Award

Winners & Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Mark Parsells ’78 Professional Achievement Award

Allison Zuckerman ’08 Rising Star Award

Congratulations

To view more about the accomplishments of our honorees or to take a look at more photos from Alumni Weekend, please scan the appropriate QR

What does it mean to be a Spartan?

roughout the years, Harrisburg Academy has meant many things to our alumni, faculty, parents/guardians, and the community at large. e answers to “What does it mean to be a Spartan?” may vary from person to person, but one thing is clear: an Academy education is life changing.

In speaking with some of our alumni recently, many of the traits that our current students aspire towards as International Baccalaureate scholars are things our alumni embody each day.

Taking risks, caring for others, re ecting on one’s learning journey, exploring the world at a deeper level of inquiry, and remaining true to one’s sense of self are all traits of a Spartan.

We are proud to highlight several of our alumni and their e orts in the following pages!

RISK-TAKER: REBECCA McCLURE ’89

Risk-Taker: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

After graduating from the Academy in 1989, Rebecca continued her educational journey at Colgate University, where she earned a B.A. in political science. She later completed a M.A. in political philosophy at St. John’s College in Maryland.

In 2018, Rebecca began working at River Wealth Advisors (RWA). In 2021, Ed O’Gorman P’27, now Chief Executive O cer, and Rebecca, now Chief Client O cer, partnered with Merchant Investment Management to buy the rm and position it for accelerated growth. In her role, Rebecca focuses on the client experience, team development, and forming strategic business, industry, and community relationships to raise awareness of the services River Wealth Advisors provides to individual and multi-generational family clients. She also leads branding for the rm, including strategy, operations, change management, market growth, client communications, and marketing. She views her role as an opportunity to help people, speci cally women, feel less intimidated by the nancial industry.

In addition to her professional work, Rebecca serves on the executive committee of the UPMC Pinnacle Health Foundation as well as the Susquehanna Art Museum board. She chairs the Women of Tocqueville Committee for United Way of the Capital Region. She has served on several other boards at non-pro t organizations including Harrisburg Academy, Greater Harrisburg YMCA, and Open Stage eatre of Harrisburg. Rebecca was honored in 2013 during our Alumni Achievement Award Ceremony with the Professional Achievement Award and has been recognized as a Woman of Excellence by YWCA Greater Harrisburg and a Woman of In uence by the Central Penn Business Journal.

Rebecca notes that her critical thinking skills were honed during her 13 years at the Academy, and she is grateful for her time as a student. Additionally, she notes that her ability to write in a compelling manner comes from what she learned from the school’s exceptional teachers. Her advice for current students is simple: you don’t need to have your life gured out. Use this time to explore. Life is not about the destination, but rather the journey. If you follow your passion, success will ultimately be the outcome.

Rebecca poses with her business partner, Ed O’Gorman P’27.

ALEX PIAZZA ’02

Caring: We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive di erence in the lives of others and in the world around us.

After graduating from the Academy in 2002, Alex attended Pennsylvania State University where he majored in biobehavioral health. After working for a regional health insurance company for several years, Alex returned to Penn State to pursue an M.B.A. in Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Strategic Leadership in 2012.

His educational journey led him to work at KPMG as an Associate Director of Key Account Marketing. As part of KPMG’s commitment to helping others, they have partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. When Alex moved back to the capital city region, he began volunteering as a big with the organization, allowing him to really learn about the challenges young people face today.

While serving as a big, Alex started contributing to the strategic mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region. After joining their Board of Directors, he focused on providing direction and training for the organization’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. As part of this initiative, he started with an analysis of the Board’s understanding of what JEDI is, providing insight into what youth, volunteers, and sta are facing. Additionally, Alex has worked with others to analyze the organization’s policies for fairness in both hiring and compensation practices. One of his primary goals moving forward is to inspire, de ne, and enact meaningful change within Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region. Alex looks forward to implementing additional strategic initiatives and measuring their success within our local community.

Among the initatives Alex hopes to see succeed are several programs: Bigs in Blue, which pairs police o cers with youth in the areas they patrol in an e ort to strengthen the relationships between residents and law enforcement o cers Youth Rise: Stand Together Mentoring Program, which pairs BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) youth and community leaders together to guide high school students through career exploration and preparation across multiple industries Savvy Sisters, which pairs young girls to female professionals and entrepreneurs within the community for hand-on activities and experiences related to STEAM and leadership Additionally, Alex looks forward to working within the community to further diversify volunteers within the organization, especially for transgender youth.

Alex credits his mentors at the Academy for instilling a passion for helping others, especially youth. During his time as a student, Alex lost his father, and is grateful for Mrs. Roller and Ms. Staley for their support. He is thankful for the compassion he received, and enjoys paying it forward. While re ecting on his volunteer service with Big Brothers Big Sisters to date, he feels like the organization is making a di erence in the lives of others—youth are headed to college and have become true to themselves. He looks forward to continuing to work with others to help them grow, become more con dent, and develop essential communication skills.

INQUIRERS: NAT BLACK-HEAVEN ’10

Inquirers: We nuture curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Since graduating from the Academy, Nat returned to England to attend Manchester Metro University where he studied Sports Management. During his time in school, Nat had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Steve Mans eld, who served as a mentor and encouraged Nat to volunteer within the community. While at university, Nat coached indoor track and eld and basketball for athletes using wheelchairs. At the end of his rst year of school, Nat was awarded the highest achievement award for rst year students.

He took a gap year to complete an internship at ESPN with a focus on digital sports marketing. After returning to school, he learned he had been nominated by Dr. Mans eld to carry the Olympic Torch as part of the 2012 games in London. Nat was ultimately selected for his volunteerism, grades, and work ethic, and ran the torch in the Wiggun suburb of Manchester. After graduating from university, Nat worked for the BBC on a graduate scheme, an opportunity to work and learn essential skills on a rotation. While at the BBC, Nat studied journalism, social media, and TV sports news.

Shortly thereafter, Nat was granted the opportunity to work as a Social Media Executive managing content, strategy, and brand visibility for the Manchester City Football Club. As part of this professional journey, Nat met a man named Davide who was serving as an intern for Manchester City FC. After Davide nished his internship, he returned to Italy. One day, out of the blue, Nat received a phone call telling him to apply for an opening with Juventis Football Club in Italy. After doing so, Nat was selected to serve as the International Social Media Editor for the club. After relocating, he worked to develop brand awareness and a social media strategy on an international scale.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges for those living in Italy. Always wishing to continue learning and growing, Nat returned back to London and opened his own business that focuses on connecting athletes and athletic companies using social media. Nat has worked with the Chelsea Football Club and many renown athletes in this capacity. He currently manages a team of ve, and looks forward to seeing how the company will continue to grow.

As a member of the rst class of International Baccalaureate students, Nat is grateful for his time at Harrisburg Academy. Being at the Academy allowed him to appreciate the value of hard work, and he was grateful for the dedication of many faculty and sta including Coach P. and Mr. Randy & Mrs. Cindy St. John. His favorite memories are with his host family, the Smiths, participating in Academy athletics, and taking the eory of Knowledge class with Mr. St. John.

Each time Nat is in the states, he makes it a point to visit with Academy sta . He notes his time at the Academy was “arguably the best two years of my life,” and loves giving back to Spartan athletes when he is able. We look forward to seeing you again soon, Nat!

ERIC PETTIS ’78

Principled: We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

A member of the Class of 1978, Eric was an extremely talented student athlete, and was recognized in Harrisburg Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame. During his time as a student, he played soccer and basketball, served as co-captain, and established a record for the most points in a season for basketball. He continued to play soccer in college and graduated from Bloomsburg University with a degree in mass communications.

He currently serves as the president of Comprehensive Financial Associates in Harrisburg, In this role, Eric manages the rm’s advisors and provides wealth management advice to individual clients, as well as companies, regarding quali ed retirement plans. His commitment to lifelong learning and sense of integrity are demonstrated through achieving the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation, allowing him to act as a duciary while consistently putting his clients’ needs rst. His primary mission is to serve as a teacher, guide,

and friend to his clients and his team.

Additionally, Eric consistently seeks to give back to organizations that have contributed to his success. roughout the capital city region, he has served as an owner or board member at various organizations, including Harrisburg Academy. Currently, he is serving on Harrisburg Academy’s athletics committee to advance the pro le of Spartan athletics within the school and the greater community. He lives in Harrisburg with his wife, Patrice, and is a proud father to Erica ’06, Taylor ’10, Isaiah, and Garret.

On October 16, members of the Harrisburg Academy community gathered for Founder’s Day, an opportunity to celebrate many of the values for which the Academy stands—service, leadership, and dedication—which de ne not only the school, but all those who are part of it. During the event, Harrisburg Academy presents the McCormick Medal, our highest honor. is year’s award was presented to Eric. e McCormick Medal is presented to members of the Harrisburg Academy family for dedicated leadership and meritorious service to the school. e award is named in honor of Vance C. McCormick, a former Academy student, prominent Harrisburg civic leader, and national advisor to President Woodrow Wilson. McCormick also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for 40 years, including 34 as president. e recipient of the McCormick Medal exempli es the values of the Academy—respect for individual di erences, integrity, truthfulness, and commitment to working with others for the common good of the school community. Congratulations, Eric!

ank you to those who were able to join us! Please scan the QR code if you would like to view photos from the event.

Our newest alumni!

Members of the Class of 2022 toss their caps in front of Parmer Hall at Messiah University

Although we miss them more than words can say, we are so proud of the 22 members of the Class of 2022! We are grateful for our time with them, and can’t wait to see how they change the world. We’re thinking of you as you start your journey beyond the Academy!

David Aguayo—North Carolina State University

Kimberly Azubike—University of Virginia

Kyle Coons—University of Pittsburgh

Henry Delaney—Montana State University

Nemo Dinh—University of California, San Diego Jake Duarte—American University

Caitlyn Foley—University of Kentucky Emma Hathaway—American University

Connor Joyce—Gettysburg College Jacob McKelvey—New York University

Charles Mumford—Lebanon Valley College

Anthony Nelson—Nova Southeastern University Everett Papenfuse—University of Rochester Paige Parker—University of Pittsburgh Ramiz Rahat—George Washington University Alexander Seman*—Franklin & Marshall College

Taryn Shover—Hollins University

Samuel Shvartsman—Pennsylvania State University

Rebecca Summers^—University of Vermont Aryan Vichare—University of Pittsburgh Andrew Weber—University of Washington Jason Witt—Virginia Polytechnic Institute

^ denotes valedictorian, * denotes salutatorian

Class Notes

1970s

e Class of 1970 met on Zoom throughout the pandemic, even hosting a 50th reunion! It was a great chance to catch up and learn about the careers of their classmates in theatre, lm, law, medicine, and culinary arts. All of their classmates are accounted for, with the exception of Karen Louise Cli ord. e class would love to reconnect!

1980s

Stacy Adler Smith ’83 is living in Massachusetts, working as a Kindergarten teacher at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School. She also started a club tennis program and during last school year, the school transitioned to o ering it as a Varsity Sport. for students in grades 7-12. e team nished second in their conference during the 2021-22 school year. In addition, she runs a skills and drills club for students during the fall which has grown tremendously.

2000s

Colleen Morris ’01 moved in Spring 2001 from Seattle to St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She and her husband, James, are proud parents to Eamon & Fionn. Colleen serves as the CEO of Calico Energy, a mission-driven, cleantech software company.

David Pheasant ’02 has been working professionally within information technology for several years. In Fall 2021, he joined the team at BlackRock as a director on their cloud engineering team after working with them as a consultant for over a year.

Alex Piazza ’02 and his husband, Nate Wysocki, welcomed Charlotte Jeanne Piazza-Wysocki on October 20, 2022! We’re counting down the days until we can welcome her as a member of the Class of 2040!

Julianna Hawk ’07 and her husband Kyle welcomed their daughter, Riley, in May 2022.

2010s

Congratulations to Sara Sherman ’17 and her ancé, Clint Moore, who will tie the knot on October 29, 2022! Since graduation, Sara has earned a B.S. in accounting and a B.S. in communication arts with a focus on media and culture from the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. During her time in college, Sara was awarded with the Communication Arts Department Student of the Year Award. She is also an active alumna on the university’s Archery Team, receiving multiple national championship accolades. She is also among the rst class of archers to earn four national championship rings. Sara is currently working as the Marketing Director for GAS Bowstrings, an archery bowstring manufacturer. She recently appeared alongside some of her colleagues in Inside Archery. She loves her current job, and looks forward to continuing to pursue archery alongside Clint, a fellow archer.

Alex ’02, Nate, and Charlotte

Sara ’17 and Clint

What does it mean

When Margaret Carey started working at Harrisburg Academy, she didn’t know she was starting a family legacy. Mrs. Carey served as a teacher and later as Supervisor of the Lower School for many years. Mrs. Carey was uniquely quali ed for her role after completing her education at Goucher College, Wilson Teachers College, Syracuse University, and Harvard University. During her time at the Academy, Mrs. Carey was a part of the administrative team that oversaw the transition from the Academy’s home on Front Street to our current location. She later retired in the 1960s.

While working at the Academy, Mrs. Carey’s daughter, Marion, attended the school. After attending the Academy, Marion traveled to Texas for continued education at Southern Methodist University where she earned her B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry. For many years, Marion worked in Washington D.C. for the National Institute of Health conducting cancer research.

Marion returned to the Harrisburg area and later served on the Board of Trustees at the Academy. In 2010, she was honored with the McCormick Medal for her many years of service to Harrisburg Academy. As a trustee emerita, Marion still actively assists with the Academy’s advancement e orts.

When asked about what makes the Academy unique, Marion noted that our faculty and sta , including when she was a student herself, have always had the ability to connect with students because of our small class sizes. She is grateful for the opportunities an Academy experience has a orded the countless alumni that went before her and came after her.

When it came time for Marion and her husband Bill to select a school for their son Robert, the choice was clear. She noted that for her son, although the Academy had modernized and stayed at the forefront of educational trends, our faculty and sta were still able to focus on individual students, assisting them on their journey to discover who they are and who they will become.

After graduating as valedictorian in 1989, Rob earned his B.S. in geology from Duke University and dual Masters degrees in public administration and environmental science from Indiana UniversityBloomington. Rob spent the next several years serving as the Executive Director of the Wilderness Education Institute while living in Colorado. He later returned to the east coast to pursue his Ph.D. in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. While defending his dissertation, Rob was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. After he successfully defended his Ph.D., he joined the faculty as an Associate Professor at James Madison University.

Mrs. Margaret Carey (photo courtesy of 1956 Spectator)

Mrs. Marion (Carey) Alexander ’59(photo courtesy of 1956 Spectator)

mean to leave a legacy?

In his role at JMU, Rob teaches political science and is the coordinator for the environmental studies minor and co-director of the Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue, which provides training and engages in direct service for public agencies and non-pro t organizations regarding deliberation and how to begin dialogue.

During his time at the Academy, Rob was active in drama and is thankful for the leadership experience he gained while serving as a student director. He has fond memories of the Academy’s production of e Madwoman of Chaillot, and is grateful for the quality of instruction he received as a student. Rob also noted how a small community was extemely bene cial, and he strives to take that into his own career.

As a current educator, he thinks about his experience in seminar style classes that prepared him for college. He spoke fondly of learning to write, the Academy’s strong liberal arts foundation, and the rigor of an Academy education. He is grateful to many of his teachers, but noted how many encouraged an understanding of how literature and humanities relate to human purpose.

Rob noted how the Academy has always been able to adapt and he looks forward to seeing how our students and the community continue to thrive. He discussed how an Academy education has always placed an emphasis on critical thinking as one of the foundations for social and academic success. In looking through textbooks from his grandmother throughout the years, Rob is grateful that students at the Academy learn the importance of education and civic responsibility, which he believes have shaped not only his family, but countless others.

His mother, Marion, agreed with him. She noted that her family’s legacy and the Academy’s are aligned with one another. As we look towards the Academy’s future, she hopes the Academy continues to instill the value of helping others in our students.

Mr. Robert Alexander (photo courtesy of 1989 Spectator)

Mrs. Marion (Carey) Alexander ’59

E Welcome

In Memoriam

is is a list

Harrisburg Academy o ers an academically challenging and globally minded interdisciplinary education. In our commitment to excellence, we provide tools, develop character, and teach skills that prepare students to thrive in college and beyond, thereby contributing to the betterment of our global and local communities.