Non Profit Org.
350 Prospect Street Belmont, MA 02478
U.S. Postage Permit #58555
Boston, MA
The PANEL
PAID
Belmont Hill School Volume 63, Issue 2
A Student Publication ofthe Belmont Hill School
June 2, 2014
English Department Head Doctor Steams Leaves Behind Astounding Legacy By Yohannes Mezgebu &
JJ Onyeukwu Staff Writers The hour of the interview had come, and with utmost respect and some hasty preparation under our belts, we undertook the humbling task of interviewing Doc Stearns. “Tell us a joke.” Meant to break the ice of awkward tension that precedes such interviews, we soon realized that wed opened with more of a challenge. “Tell you a joke?” she asked with surprise. We encouraged her to tell us a knock-knock joke, hoping we hadn’t just botched the conversation: ‘Okay,’ she replied: “Knock Knock” “Who’s there?” “Boo” “800 who?” Our laughs at the familiar released our anxiety. Even joke Doc’s backstory to the joke revealed the pleasure she derives from teaching. As part of an autobiographical assignment one
of her ninth graders had told a story of being with his family “on a cruise and there was a stand up comic. He was five years old or something, and his dad made him go up, take the microphone, and tell a knockknock
Stearns now finds herself a sixteen-year veteran at Belmont Hill and the head of the English department. During college she first honed in on her lifelong passion for reading and began to focus
joke.” Doc’s memory of the story connected to her own surprise at being chal-
lenged
to
tell a joke, but it also reflected how careshe fully attends to her students’ writing and personal experiences. It exemplified her character and sparked our curiosity, just who is this gifted teacher and what brought her here? Her journey began in a small town in Illinois consisting of a few thousand people, Doc
on writing while evaluating what other people’s words meant to her. “It wasn’t until college that I started really sort of understanding what literature could give you and that drew me in,” she explained. After she graduated from Beloit College and began writing and
teaching, Dr. Stearns eventually made her way to BB&N, but followed fate’s path when she heard of an opening at Belmont Hill. She recalls the application process: “I was interviewed by bunch of different people, but I remember that I had no experl e n c e with boys’ schools at all, and I remember thinking it might be a deal breaker; but then I came in and someone had arranged for me to meet with a group of students, and I had a great conversation with those students, and I think that’s what really brought me to Belmont Hill.” She stayed at the school so many years because of the bonds she developed with her students and colleagues. People
are the source of her passion, the font of inspiration for her teaching and her own writing. And her students reciprocate her affection, holding her kindness, mastery of English, and dedication and passion to teaching in high esteem. Over her years at Belmont Hill, Doc Stearns worked not only as an English teacher but also as a College Counselor and Advisor. In these roles she engaged with her students individually and meaningfully. Eric Kim, of the current senior class, recalls how when he had her for American Literature: “it didn’t matter what the class was reading or discussing, whether it was about the banality of evil or spam [ham in a can] --it was always a good time in M 18”, Doc’s classroom. Past and present students recount how her classes impacted them in and out of the classroom. When asked, Mathias Asheber and Jack Tamasi describe how “she takes time to speak individually to each student about their work. She critiques everyone’s work with diligence and compassion, but she is also willing to listen to her students. continued on page 2
Long-Tenured Physics Teacher Mr. Hoffman Exits School with Excellent Reputation to their overwhelming intelligence, By Andres Fernandez del
the kind where you occasionally Castillo have to step back and think to yourself, “this persons mind just works Staff Writer on a different level than mine does.” One of Belmont Hill’s most We have so many examples, present interesting and valuable traits is and past, to consider: the retired Mr. the diversity of the teachers, not Brodie, with his thoughtful, and at specifically in culture, but in char- times baffling, mastery of the prose acter. Perhaps it’s in the profes- and poetry that influenced our sion, that only the most distinctive modern times; Dr. Wachtmeister, of personalities are drawn to the splitting his time between the famever-changing rigors of education; ily farm and the Biology classroom, perhaps the quirkiness is unique to dictating in his southern drawl the our campus. Regardless, it’s won- intricacies of the the cell to each derful; the various teachers expose new set of sophomores; or Dr. Fast, us to not only different cultural upbringings or mannerisms, but also
with his reverential adoration for literature and ever present grin, as he intersperses his classes with quotations from Milton and anecdotes from China. We are, quite unfortunately, losing another of one these fantastic people as this school year closes: Mr. Richard Hoffman, who, after 24 years of teaching at Belmont Hill, will be moving to join his wife at the Agnes Irwin School of Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where he will continue to teach physics. Mr. Hoffman didn’t originally study to become a physics teacher. At his alma mater, the University
of Montana, he studied forestry, before deciding “a lifetime of staring at trees might not be as fun as I thought” and switching his major to zoology, where he got his degree. His passion, however, was in aviation, in the beauty of a solidly built, well flown plane. Partly because of his sense of duty for the nation and partly because he was worried hed be drafted directly into the infantry ofAmericas Vietnam forces, he had enrolled in the ROTC program for his stay at Montana, which actually allowed him to choose the Air Force rather than the infantry. He went to
pilot’s school for a stay, getting his license before being sent to Vietnam, in which he ferried troops and supplies as a helicopter pilot near the Mekong (not, as he had hoped, as an aviator). After a year’s action (including the hellish Tet Offensive, the turning point of the war), he returned home to a brief stint as a flight instructor before continuing his education with various classes in physics at Wesleyan and Trinity, before getting his Masters in secondary education at B.C. From there he went directly into teaching. continued on page 2
Senora Whitney Departs After Twenty-Nine Years of Service By Jay O’Brien
Look Inside Departing Faculty p 2 &3 Faculty Chair
P 5
p
Prize Day Awards 6 &7
ISL Champions p 10
Matriculation List P 12
Panel Staff Over the past three decades, several generations of students and faculty have walked through the halls of Belmont Hill in an everchanging process, resulting in new faces that make up the school’s identity. Yet within this time period, Ms. Whitney’s presence at the school has remained a constant. As a teacher, coach, advisor, and mentor, Ms. Whitney has formed close bonds with many Belmont Hill students who have had the great fortune of being her disciples in the classroom or on the sports field. Ms. Whitney became the longest-tenured female faculty member at the school, where she has taught Spanish 1 and 3, as well as Spanish Culture and Communication. Alas, 2013-2014 was Ms. Whitney’s last year at the school, and she looks forward to new oppor-
tunities that the future may bring. Before stepping onto the Belmont Hill campus as a new faculty member in the 1980’s, Ms. Whitney received her Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University, and spent several years working at Kimball Union Academy, a boarding school in New Hampshire. During her twenties, Ms. Whitney taught skiing at Sugarbush with the director of the ski school who also worked at Portillo, a ski resort in Chile; consequently, Ms. Whitney spent two and a half years in Chile teaching people to ski. Following her return to the United States, Ms. Whitney was looking to work at a day school in the Massachusetts area, although a job teaching boys at Belmont Hill was not the first that came to mind. When Ms. Whitney called Mr. Wadsworth, an old friend who at the time was continued on page 3
DEPARTING FACULTY
2
The Panel
Nothing But Gratitude and Respect for Departing Science Teacher Mr. Hoffman continued from page 1 He began his career with 22 years at the Kingswood Oxford school of West Hartford, Connecticut (which Mr. Bradley and Mr. Sullivan both attended) before continuing with 24 years at Belmont Hill. He has, with both experiences, aimed towards a specific way of teaching; he says of his style: “Ideally... I show [students] the fundamentals with films or demonstrations and then I push them, testing them with new situations,” the fun of doing so, coupled with the goodwill and camaraderie he found among teachers has been what most enthralled him on a day to day basis. Mr. Hoffman was drawn to physics mainly because of his love for tinkering, taking apart appliances to figure out how they work or making model airplanes and television sets. His interest is plainly visible in his classroom: rows of correspondence courses adorn the shelves, model airplanes hang from the ceiling and ancient electrical generators (if that’s what they are) stand on top of filing cabinets. It’s the manifestation of an interest not only in the books, but also in the practical application of the theory, the product of a mind realizing that there’s so much joy to be found in fiddling with the implementation of it all, be it in electrical analysis or particle dynamics. He doesn’t just teach physics, he lives in it; he is so hopelessly enamored with the science that he just can’t help but make it a part of his life.
Those adornments in his classroom are only part of the total. The piles of stuffed animals (won from the annual Physics class’ Canobie Lake Park outing), the canoes precariously hanging from the ceiling, the mysterious (and, alas, now gone) Apple II computer that could still read floppy discs, and his adorable Golden retriever all speak to the marvellous style he’s built up over the years. Beyond simply teaching, he enjoys himself in the classroom. His students have picked up on that, from 40 years ago to this semester, and have been inspired to join the field themselves as a result, but Mr. Hoffman remains humble, as is his nature. ”It always surprises me that a student will call back saying he was inspired by my teaching,” he told me with puzzled look. But even the freshest of Freshmen can tell that he’s a remarkable soul with the capacity to inspire men to hold the most intellectual of pursuits and the most humble of natures. His legacy will remain in Belmont Hill in part by the Aeronautics club which he founded, embodied by the same spirit of tinkering and lighthearted appreciation for physics and aviation, as he goes on to teach physics, at the Agnes Irwin School of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (of which his wife is now head of the Upper School), where he will be closer to family and friends. He will be sorely missed by many, but we bid him happiness as he moves on to this next part of his life. □
Beloved Creative Writing Teacher Finishes Sixteenth and Final Year on the Hill continued from page 1 She is one of the few teachers on campus that has no problem admitting that she’s wrong, even though she rarely is.” Surely one of the nicest women you will ever meet, Doc commands so much respect in the classroom because she fosters students’ skills and selfdiscovery. She helps students think outside the box and promotes their development of empathy for others through assignments that demand compassionate reading and writing. I didn’t meet Doc Stearns until the second semester of my junior year, but her reputation preceded her. Like Doc Fast’s, her name was wellknown among my classmates. The title ‘Doctor’ instilled a sense of awe, respect, and a little anxiety. I had heard many, and sometimes contradictory, descriptions ofher teaching practices/methods: how can she be understanding, kind and laid back as
well as hard and demanding? What kind of experience would I have in the class? When I opened the door I was immediately struck by the calming effect her presence had on this group of fidgety boys. After 40 minutes in a room with her, her excitement and love of English had seeped into me. I had begun to see how one might become impassioned by literature. Now, as JJ and I ask her to share some of her favorite memories from the Hill, Doctor Stearns smiles. “My most memorable moments have been in the classroom.” By asking questions that impel students to question and develop their own thought processes and hone their deductive reasoning, Doc Stearns secures her students’ investment and attention. She has always sought to create a classroom in which “everyone would have an opportunity to be excited and have everything connecting
during class: what you read, what you write, and the conversations you have with people.” When we asked Doc about her desired legacy, she replied, as adolescents “you all are thinking through important questions right now and I really hope that one ofthe legacies I leave is that I helped create an understanding that there are multiple right answers, that there are many possible choices that could be good ones, and that there is not just one direction.” The students and faculty members at Belmont Hill will cherish her legacies of kindness, compassion, and inspiration. We asked Doc Stearns what makes a great teacher great and she said “I think a great teacher knows her stuff, knows her discipline, knows whatever subject she’s teaching, and knows her students well enough to meet them at the point of their needs.” When asked why she chose this year
to retire, Doc said there were many reasons, but principally because it is simply “the right time.” From having more time for her own writing to possible trips afar, Doc Stearns looks forward to her time beyond Belmont Hill, but will always cherish her many years here. She sums up her time on the Hill as it has to “busy, Id say, I think lucky, and be the right word ... fun!” When probed she explained, “I think we sometimes separate the fun from work in way that it doesn’t need to be, and at its best is not. I think we need to have a healthy sense ofhow the work we do can be and should be fun. You know, fun is not a frivolous word, it’s not a dirty word, and I don’t think it’s a trivial word at all; I thinkit’s an important word and goal.” And thus the interview adjourned; farewell Doc Stearns and good luck. You will be missed by students and colleagues alike. □ ...
Committed Coach, Educator, and Environmentalist Mr. Lefebvre Moves On By Gabe Schmittlein
Staff Writer
Mr. Lefebvre has only been a member of the Belmont Hill community for a mere four years,but hehas had an effect on theschool thatis much larger thanhis length oftenure would indicate. In the teaching, coaching, and social spheres, Mr. Lefebvre has left his mark as a fantastic teacher, an inspirational coach, and a genuine friend. Four years ago, Mr. Lefebvre became the newest addition to the Belmont Hill science department Also four years ago, I entered my first year at Belmont Hill as a seventh grader. I was placed in Mr. Lefebvre’s seventh grade science class, a class that certainly will be remembered by us students as extremely fun and at times bordering rambunctious, but will probably be remembered by Mr. Lefebvre as an infinite test of his patience. However, as the year went on, it became apparent that Mr. Lefebvre had passed this test with flying colors, winning the respect and adoration ofhis students. Once he had achieved this feat, Mr. Lefebvre was able to work wonders as a teacher, with his charismatic approach and enjoyable class structure. When I had the opportunity to have Mr. Lefebvre as a teacher again for environmental science, I was enthused. He managed to light a spark to class where the material is not always groundbreaking. My experience with Mr. Lefebvre in environmental science did well to reinforce the idea that Mr. Lefebvre is an
incredibleteacher. He is fair, relatable, energizing, and knowledgeable, but most importantly he is genuinely interested in the course, both in terms of the success of the students and the material itself. Not only was Mr. Lefebvre a brilliant teacher but he was also a fantastic coach. I had the good fortune of being on his JV soccer team this past year, and can attest to the fact that it was a great experience. Mr. Lefebvre truly brought the best out of his players. His desire to win was inspmng, but he never let that emotion overcome his desire to be a fair and caring coach. When a coach displays these attributes, he immediately garners the respect ofhis players, and Mr. Lefebvres case was no different.The players all looked up to him with immense respect. When told to run or admonished for lazy defense, we showed no stub-
bornness, for we understoodthat his motive was to win games, and these were simply methods to achieve that goal. In my book, any coach that receives such levelsof respect from his players as Mr. Lefebvre did is a successful coach. LefeMr. bvre is one of the best of the teachers and coaches that I have encountered throughout my years at Belmont Hill, but where he may be most effective is in the department of being a good friend. Most teachers are decent at their job and many are passable coaches too, but for a teacher to be a good friend is truly extraordinary. Ever since I was a new seventh grader and he was a new faculty member back in 2010, Mr. Lefebvre and I have fostered a valuable friendship. Though the friendship has never manifested itself in anything more than small conversa-
tions here and there, it is comforting to know that when Mr. Lefebvre says, “hey, how are you,” he actually wants to know how you are doing. There is nothing more refreshing than when a teacher is genuinely interested in the lives of his students, and Mr. Lefebvre certainly is. He has become an important figure in the classroom as a teacher, on the fields as a coach, and most importantly everywhere in between as a friend to many students at Belmont Hill. When asked what he would miss most about Belmont Hill, Mr. Lefebvre immediately responded that he would miss the “camaraderie of the science department.” He later added that the department was one of the “strongest departments that I (Mr. Lefebvre) had ever had the privilege to be a part of’ Additionally, Mr. Lefebvre mentioned, “it is always difficult to leave a place that you have put a lot of work and time and devotion in to.” In one of his final comments, Mr. Lefebvre talked of his seventh grade science class, saying, “the fact that I won’t be able to teach them as seniors is a let down and a disappointment, but life goes on.” The Belmont Hill community will miss Mr. Lefebvre for his efforts as a teacher, coach, and friend. Mr. Lefebvre will be going to Governor’s Academy, where we all wish him the best of luck, though it will be sad to see him go. If his tenure at Belmont Hill is any indication of what’s to come, Mr. Lefebvre will undoubtedly find great success at Governor’s. □
DEPARTING FACULTY
June 2, 2013
3
Students Wish Whitney a Happy Retirement continued from page 1 one of the school’s Spanish teachers season and the players have put the break!” Both inside and outside of the classroom, Ms. Whitney has formed team ahead of themselves.” Ms. Whitall-girls schools in the area, in- for boys during class hours, Ms. Whitcluding Winsor, BB&N, and Dana ney has become an important part of ney’s objective to instill good morals lasting friendships with students and Hall. Mr. Wadsworth however sugBelmont Hill’s prestigious athletic in her players is not only seen on the faculty through her friendly personalgested, “Before you go anywhere, program as well. Since the Walworth golf course, but also on the soccer ity and willingness to offer advice to would you come and take a look at Trophy was created in 1989 to recogfield as a coach of the 3B Soccer team. those who are in need of assistance. Belmont Hill? We have never had a nize the golf team with the best winMs. Whitney approaches each pracLooking toward the future, woman teacher or coach before.” On a loss record in the Independent School tice with a sense of purpose, as she Ms. Whitney will travel to her home tour of the campus, Ms. Whitney realLeague, the Belmont Hill golf team looks to make sure that each player is state of New Hampshire this summer, ized that she really liked the school, won thirteen times within the past having fun, while also improving as a where she has a house in the White and as a result, Ms. Whitney became twenty-four years. According to the soccer player. According to fellow 3B Mountains close to Cannon Mouna teacher at Belmont Hill in 1987. golf team’s philosophy, “Even though soccer coach Mr. Leonardis, “Over the tain. Luckily, students may be able What factors inspired Ms. Whitto see Ms. Whitney next fall, as she past six years, she and I have develgolf is an individual sport, the playney’s nearly three-decade commitment ers need to realize that this is still a oped a fantastic friendship. She loves will look to help out in the Belmont to the school? “Not only is Belmont team sport, and no matter what numto laugh, she loves to tell stories, and Hill language department by tutoring Hill a great school academically and ber the player is on the ladder, every she loves this school. I also respect students or filling in for teachers. Yet athletically,” said Ms. Whitney, “but point counts. There have been many the amazing career she has had in the in February and March, Ms Whitney classroom and as a coach. I can’t wait is eager to travel to someplace warm I love the fact that there is so much great teams in the past, but the greatemphasis on character.” The ethics of est success is when there is a winning to visit her in Myrtle Beach next spring in order to avoid the New England winter weather. Upon leavworking hard and respecting your fellow classmates ing the school, Ms. Whitney stated that she will clearly are values that Ms. Whitney advocates to students within miss certain aspects of Belher classroom, but she also mont Hill: “I will certainly feels reassured that teachers miss the faculty. Also, one of the things that I really love across campus spread a similar message to their students is how many alumni return to Belmont Hill in order in order to instil respectable character in each boy that to work here, where I have eventually graduates from taught so many of them. I Belmont Hill. In the words think it shows the loyalty of of Fourth Former Gregory the students to the school.” Katz, one of Ms. Whitney’s Through her time spent students and advisees, “As at Belmont Hill, Ms. Whitan advisor, Ms. Whitney ney has affected the lives of is very supportive in that countless students, whether she’s willing to give benefiit be in the classroom, on the cial advice to students at the sports field, or just through school. I have also found in casual conversation in between classes. Ms. Whitney’s my two years of having her as a teacher that she is fair presence on campus will be and understanding, great missed by students and faculty throughout the school, but qualities that you like to see we wish her all the best in fuin any teacher. I will defiture endeavors following her nitely miss her next year.” Mr- Mahoney Apart from her role as Ms. Whitney sharing some coaching tips with her colleague Mr. Doar departure from the Hill. □
School Says Goodbye to Innovative Director of Technology, Ms. Davis In the last few years, Ms. DaBy Jason Fischman & Mack perry
Panel Staff
A technology educator, English teacher, digital guru, crew coach, and play director, Ms. Davis has cultivated and advanced technology at Belmont Hill since she arrived at the school six years ago. When she arrived at the school in 2008, there was no wireless internet, the iPad had not been invented yet, and Belmont Hill did not have laptops available for student use. In the six years she has been here, technology has been moved into nearly everly classroom, and Ms. Davis has eased the school into 21st century learning, with projects, classes, seminars, and day-to-day technological integration. In addition, Ms. Davis launched the Algebra 1 Scratch project and the English 1 commercial, and shepherded the expansion of technology in the classroom through use of iPads and Chromebooks, as well as Apple laptops. In search of a leadership position after teaching at Wellesley High School, Ms. Davis landed at Belmont Hill in an attempt to improve the learning experiences of students using technology. Upon her arrival, she created and taught two
courses,
Digital
Journalism
and Digital Video. A few years later, she added Form I English to her repertoire, replacing Digital Journalism, which was dropped.
spearheaded Belmont Hill’s internet safety education, a growing issue with today’s teenagers. She developed a cyberbullying course for Form I and a Digital Citizenship seminar for ninth graders. Both of vis
these courses educate students on how to use the internet safely, especially in the case of social media. Ms. Davis has complemented her classroom work with extensive involvement in The Bell, the middle senate, school crew, and the theater
department.
She has most enjoyed working on the 9th and 10th
grade plays, most recently The Importance of Being Earnest and 12 Angry Jurors. One of her favorites was The Curious Savage, as she actually got a chance to act in it along with directing. Ms. Davis was a beloved director here at Belmont Hill. Christian Dolan, class of ‘l6, speaks highly of her, “I have worked in the theater with Ms. Davis every year that I’ve been at Belmont Hill. Her passion and enthusiasm have inspired me, as well as everyone who
has worked with her, to perform to our fullest capabilities. Her willingness to be both a friend as well as a mentor has really been something that I’ve treasured and will miss. Ms. Davis has enriched my experience at Belmont Hill, as well as that of many other grateful students.” Ms. Davis had a severalyear stint as a middle school crew coach. She learned to row during her time at Belmont Hill, citing that as one of her favorite experiences. However, in terms of her favorite day to day activity, her digital video class brings her the most excitement. “[My favorite part of the day is] teaching digital video. I like the curriculum, students’ engagement in projects, and viewing the finished videos created by the students. My favorite projects were the music videos and conservation projects.” Digital video is one of the most popular participatory art classes, and exemplifies how Ms. Davis has brought Belmont Hill learning into the 21st century. “Technology is an integral part
of the learning experience,” explains Ms. Davis, adding “its use is an essential skill in the 21st century.” Just seven years ago, a student might have left Belmont Hill without a comprehensive understanding of the which capabilities of technology would now make it very difficult for them to succeed professionally. Over the past decade, technology use in the classroom has accelerated, and Ms. Davis helped Belmont Hill adapt to the changes and use them to its greatest abilities. Next year, Ms. Davis will take on the new role of curriculum director at the Keys School, an independent K-8 school in Palo Alto, California. Ms. Davis says that her Belmont Hill years enable her to bring “the experience of working at a highly regarded, successful independent school, and a better understanding of how to educate boys,” to her new school. Ms. Davis has left a lasting impression on the school by creating classes and helping to modernize the learning process for years to come. When asked what she will miss most about the Belmont Hill, she replied “the boys. It’s really a great group of students, and I’m going to miss teaching and working with the students here. I would like to thank all of the students at Belmont Hill for making my job both interesting and enjoyable.” Belmont Hill thanks her for her tech knowledge and kind personality, and wishes her luck in the years to come. □ ,
COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
4
The Panel
Hunt Global Education Speaker Admiral James Stavridis By Michael O’Neill
Panel Stall
The Hunt Global Education Speaker Series ranks among Belmont Hill’s most recently established and thought-provoking traditions. The opportunity to hear from influential world figures is just one of the many advantages provided to the student body by the Hunt family. Some may remember the excitement and intrigue surrounding last year’s inaugural speaker, former President of Mexico Felipe Calderon. This past spring’s esteemed guest, retired US Navy Admiral and Commander of NATO Forces James Stavridis gave a presentation on the changing nature of war and the world as a whole. Now Dean of Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Taw and Diplomacy, Dr. Stavridis centered his chapel speech on the world’s increasing globalization and how this is impacts the military and security strategies of nations everywhere. He emphasized the importance of “building bridges, not walls,” meaning that nations should communicate more efficiently and amicably rather than isolate themselves in today’s vastly interconnected world. Dr. Stavridis also stressed the ever-increasing threat of a massively crippling cyber-attack that could shut down entire economic markets in a matter of moments. “So what is your role in all of this?” he later asked. “Your role, in my view,” he explained, “is first to learn about the world, to become a citizen of not only the United States,
but to be part of a global approach.” He also added that while “we’re very good at launching missiles, we need to get better at launching ideas.” Dr. Stavridis proceeded to describe in detail specific conflicts and issues that have flared up in recent years, including the situations in North Korea,
rope. “Putin has made an enormous geopolitical mistake,” he stated, arguing that not only did Russia’s entry of troops into Ukraine anger other nations across the world, but it also would end up backfiring on the Russian economy in the long run. Dr. Stavridis went on to lay out what
should help strengthen the Ukrainian military but stop short of sending in American troops. The third objective is to reassure regional NATO allies that they won’t also be invaded. And lastly, Dr.Stavridis suggests improving US-Russia relations in the long run through cooperation on shared goals such as counter-terrorism. Cybersecurity, also addressed in the earlier chapel talk, was the next threat Dr. Stavridis analyzed. “Cyber was the thing I worried about the most; (it) is a huge concern and we have zero protection in
place.” He said that the placement of cybersecurity responsibility on individual companies instead of the federal governvulnerability, and warned of the “potential for a catastrophic event.” Not one to simply point out flaws in a system, Dr. Stavridis also gave his ideas on how to solve this growing problem. His plan includes the pooling of data with American allies, the creation of a cyber governance structure in Washington, and better relations between the different agencies of the federal government. This extraordinary experience would not have been possible without the generosity ofBelmont Hill parents Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hunt, who have underwritten the speaker series. Mr. Harder, in his first year as Global Education Director, coordinated the invitation to Dr. Stavridis and we are grateful for his efforts. We thank him, the Hunts, and, of course, Dr. James Stavridis, for his willingness to come to the school and provide his unique and shrewd insights into the world of global conflict in the 21st century. □ ment exacerbates this
Admiral James Stavridis speaks at Chapel
Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and the Ukraine. Following his school-wide speech in chapel, Dr. Stavridis provided further insight into ongoing global problems to a small group of students in MacPherson. He shared his thoughts on the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict in Eastern Eu-
8111 Mahone y
he felt would be America’s best course of action to deal with these tensions. The first step, arguably already in play, is to galvanize global opinion and get citizens of all nations to recognize the severity of the situation and the immorality of Russia’s actions. Second, he explained, the US
Morse Commons Renamed to Honor Mr. Goodband World Series By William Treanor
Panel Stall
school, he was promptly given an hour for an unexcused absence. Mr. Goodband’s explanation: “I said I would have skipped school. You are still a student.” It was Mr. Murphy’s only hour during his time on the Hill. This is just one of the many stories that will attest to Mr. Goodband’s style of leadership. As Mr. Murphy explained, he was both disciplined and fair. He de-
passed, and never had him in class or as a coach, he remember specifically the way Belmont Hill grieved together at the loss of its longtime teacher. That is when he knew for sure that Mr. Goodband was a special person, and Belmont Hill a special school.
G. Clifford Goodband, longtime Upper School, passed away 4 years ago, but his For someone to teach at the same school for almost 40 years is an incredible accomplishname will live on forever at Belmont Hill. ment, and it speaks to the true nature ofboth The senior commons area in the Morse the man and the place. The last Building, which used to carry the name Melvoin Commons, to speak was Cliff Goodband Jr., has now been dedicated to Mr. class of‘97. He further explained Goodband for his countless what Belmont Hill meant to his father. During his long tenure, years of service to the school. The dedication ceremohe acted as temporary headmaster, but refused to take over nies took place on the morning of Friday, May 16th, in front of that job full-time. He preferred the Science and Morse buildthe less glamorousrole; he liked ings. Current students filled connecting with the students, the grassy areas facing the two shaping young men, and coachbuildings, as faculty, past and ing the school’s athletes, without the recognition of the headmaspresent, along with some of Mr. Goodband’s old students, stood ter. It was quite the honor for with members of the Goodhim to be considered for headmaster, but it was even better band family on the side of a makeshift podium set up by the for him to educate the next gendoors to the Science building. eration of Belmont Hill alumni. Belmont Hill’s Headmaster Dr. What Belmont Hill is today is in Richard Melvoin opened up the a large part due to the decades commemoration by announcof service Mr. Goodband gave to those pursuits, and many ing that the old Melvoin Comalumni are who they are because mons is now to be called Goodband Commons, and made a Mr. Goodband’s son Cliff Jr., ‘97, speaks at the dedication ceremony of him. And when cancer took few remarks about the man who was such manded the best from everyone, but was him from the school prematurely, the enan integral part of the Belmont Hill comnever afraid to share a laugh with a student. tire community, past and present, lamented. Mr. Murphy’s description of “Cliff” A few weeks earlier, Belmont Hill munity for almost 40 years. Alfred Murphy, class of ‘9B and current faculty member in as colleague was a deliberate one. Although faculty, members of the board, and three the math department, then talked about his Mr. Goodband was a senior faculty memgenerations of the family members of Herexperiences with Mr. Goodband as both a ber and Mr. Murphy’s superior, he never bert Howe, the school’s first headmaster student under him and a colleague alonglet anyone feel that way. He made everyone gathered in a touching ceremony to reside him. He recalled one year when he had around him feel like an equal, and that is a name the headmaster’s house the Howe college visit on a Friday during the school huge part of what made “Cliff” so special House. The old Howe building, which year, and asked Mr. Goodband whether as both a teacher and Head of the Upper stored middle school study halls, the Clasit would be a good idea to skip school School. The next speaker was school Presisics Department, and math classes, has rethat day. By Mr. Goodband’s own advice, dent Charlie Hill, class of‘l4. Though only cently been demolished in the construction he played hooky. But, as he returned to an eighth grader when Mr. Goodband of the new Melvoin Academic Center. □ science teacher and Head of the
Trophies Visit the Hill By John Driscoll
Panel Staff On the morning of April 29th, the entire Belmont Hill community was treated with the opportunity to see and take pictures with the Boston Red Sox’ three World Series trophies from 2004, 2007 and, most recently, 2013. Sam Kennedy, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the team, introduced the trophies before sharing some personal anecdotes about Belmont Hill from his childhood in nearby Brookline. In one especially memorable tale, Mr. Kennedy recounted how his JV hockey team felt a sense of pride after “only” being defeated by the Belmont Hill squad 4-1. This feeling of elation soon disappeared when he learned that they had, in fact, been playing 7th and Bth graders. The chapel then watched a brief video documenting the Red Sox title run, with a special focus on the role the team played following the Boston Marathon tragedy that had occurred earlier in the season. Mr. Kennedy expounded upon the role he played in the organization and how he got to the position that he currently holds before congratulating the school on its recent victory over rival St. Sebastians at Frozen Fenway, much to the delight of the students. After concluding his remarks, Mr. Kennedy dismissed the students and each form then had the opportunity to see the trophies up close and have a class picture taken as well. The morning was a special one for everyone on the Hill, and it will not soon be forgotten. □
COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
June 2, 2014
5
43rd Annual Woodbury Speaking Contest PMC Kid’s Ride By Sreehaas Digumarthi
Panel Staff
By Matt Reppucci
Panel Staff
The Woodbury Speaking Contest is a longstanding tradition in which the entire school settles down in the Hamilton Chapel to hear three upperclassmen give speeches displaying their writing savvy, speaking ability, and most importantly their effectiveness at drawing in an audience. This year, on the Friday morning of May 2nd, Chris
Byrne, Axel Marcelin, and Andres Cordoba stood in front of the podium as a crowd of students and faculty alike listened intently. First up was Chris, and he gave a touching speech about his two Guatemalan brothers, Andrew and JJ, whom his family decided to adopt and have grown into a major part of Chris’s life. He specifically mentioned JJ when saying that he “has repeated the first grade three times. He doesn’t test that well and his reading skills are below average. However, JJ is the smartest person I have ever met.” Chris brought up an anecdote about when JJ made a model sailboat out of scrap wood, and Chris realized that JJ “may not have a high IQ, or EQ, or whatever Western metric of intellect you use, but I guarantee you what he does have, is I-Will-Figure-It-OutQ.” To conclude his speech, Chris gave an impression of a quote from President John F. Kennedy’s “We chose to go to the moon” speech. It perfectly tied together his message that anything is possible and the ways in which his adopted brothers, in particular JJ, have proven that point. Chris Byrne spoke very clearly and expressed himself very well, finally leaving everyone in awe at the accuracy of his JFK impression. Axel then took the podium, and spoke about his journey to success through failure. He said “look at Michael Jordan. He was cut from his freshman basketball team, just like me. Then he went on to become the second greatest player behindKobe Bryant. Am I calling myself Michael Jordan? Heck no. I’m Kobe.” Axel dropped quite a few one-liners that left the chapel in a frenzy of laughter, but then turned serious to make give the overall message of his speech: “If anything, accomplishing something after you have failed at it multiple times makes it that much more rewarding.” He said that getting cut from freshman basketball made him “snap back to reality” like the Eminem song “Lose Yourself,” but was then inspired by watching the miniscule Spud Webb defeat the hall-of-famer Dominique Wilkins in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. After realizing that “constant failure is needed
From left to right: Chris Byrne (V), Andres Cordoba (V), Axel Marcelin (VI)
in order to succeed,” Axel became more dedicated and motivated, eventually making the basketball team again and taking one step closer to becoming the next Kobe. Finally, Andres gave a speech that was full ofhumor yet in the end a heartwarming display of gratitude and affection toward his stepfather, Wes. Despite the many jokes about Anderson Cooper and poking fun at Wes himself, Andres discussed a very serious time when Wes’s mother was sick and eventually passed away on Easter Sunday of 2014. He was watching the Bruins game while Wes sat next to him, crying, and he didn’t know what to say to his stepfather about a woman he had never known. But “suddenly, Wes looks over at me, with tears in his eyes and a wavering voice, says ‘Hey sport, how are the old black-and-gold doing?”’ Andres then explained his epiphany, how at that moment it made sense to him that “Wes truly and wholeheartedly cared about my family more than he cared about himself.” He finished off the speech with a loving thank you and shout-out to Wes, who was in fact in the audience along with Andres’s mother, during which he said “Thank you for being a man that I strive to be, because even if I could be a fraction of the man that you are, that’s pretty good.” Afterwards, the judges voted Andres
Bl " Mahoney
the winner out of the three very worthy contestants, and he said that, after making it to the finals of the Fall Woodburys, “it was definitely an honor to win, especially against two talented speakers like Axel and Chris.” When asked what it meant to have his mother and Wes in the chapel to hear him speak, Andres said “My mom is a big time crier so I was a little nervous she’d start sobbing in the back, but to her credit, she kept it together. As for Wes, it was a nice moment to tell him how I felt while he was in the audience. The guy has been a part of my family for a year now, and I’ve never really gotten to say how I felt about him. I felt the Woodburys were as good a time as any to tell him how I felt.” He was then asked about if he sees a career in his future involving public speaking, and Andres answered “Maybe, depends how. I wouldn’t mind doing something in comedy though. That’s the dream really.” He certainly knows how to command the attention of an audience, through laughter as well as serious issues, which led to his success in this contest. The incredible public speaking talents put on display by Andres, Chris, and Axel made a lasting impression on the Belmont Hill Community and made the Spring Woodburys a spectacular show. □
On May 18, a warm Sunday morning, hundreds from the town of Belmont and the nearby areas gathered at Belmont Hill for a great cause, Belmonts 2014 Pan-Mass Challenge Kids Ride. This year, the event was slightly different however, as three Belmont Hill seniors, Matt Murphy, Sam Stack, and Paul Malloy, helped organize and run the Belmont Kids Ride as part of their senior project The Pan-Mass Challenge is the largest athletic-based fundraising event in the country, an annual bike-a-thon that raises tens of millions of dollars for the Jimmy Fund and cancer research at Dana Farber. This year, the goal is to raise a totalofforty million dollars. Billy Starr, the founder and director of the Challenge, spoke to the school a few weeks ago, explaining thedetails of the event and highlighting the good work that is done every year surrounding the event. The largest part of the Challenge takes place over the summer, when thousands of riders gather to ride down to Cape Cod and raise millions of dollars for a cause that they believe in. However, throughout the spring and summer, there are also several other events, including one in Belmont, that encourage kids to get involved, ride for a good cause, and raise some money. In addition to theleadership of Matt, Sam, and Paul, the Belmont Kids Ride also benefitted greatly from the help and work of dozens of other volunteers from Belmont Hill. Volunteers, including those from Belmont Hill, were stationed at various points of the ride, doing everything from clearing the area for the riders to helping set up the raffle. Not only was there the ride, but there also was a raffle, a silent auction, and many other ways for people to get involved and contribute to the cause. Overall, theBelmont Kids Ride can be considered a huge success, as this years event drew over 150 riders (not to mention the hundreds of spectators) and raised thousands ofdollars to the Pan-Mass Challenges yearly goal from the ride itself alone, as well as the money that continues to pour in from other sources. Mrs. David, who worked closely with the three seniors, commended all the work they put in to make this years event a success, calling it the most successfulKids Ride she had ever seen. Paul Malloy, one of the seniors who helped lead the event, remarked “the ride was a huge success and it couldn’t have been possible without the help of so many from Belmont Hill and the town of Belmont All of their efforts made it possible, and I hope this is an event that Belmont Hill boys continue to be involved with for years to come.” Overall, this years ride was a major success, drawing a huge turnout, getting many from the community involved, and raising large proceeds for a great cause under the leadership of three Belmont Hill seniors. □
Mr. Sullivan Earns New Faculty Chair Donated by Members of the Drucker Family By Spencer Kim
Staff Writer On Monday morning in the chapel, the whole school watched as the Drucker family named Mr. Sullivan the inaugural recipient of the Drucker Family Faculty Chair. With the recent addition of the Drucker Family Chair, Belmont Hill now has five endowed faculty chairs. An endowed chair is a teaching position paid in perpetuity by the revenue from a financial donation to a school, which allows the school to redistribute money that would have been used to pay a teacher’s salary and spend it on other needs of the school. At Belmont Hill, faculty chairs are not given to a teacher permanently. Instead, each recipient holds the chair for a number of years before it is passed on to another faculty member. An endowed chair is a sign of appreciation for the work and dedication of a teacher, and receiving one is a great honor.
Mr. Sullivan is the first recipient of the Drucker Family Faculty Chair, which was “established in 2014 to honor, for a term of three years, a teacher in the early years of a career at Belmont Hill, to recognize talent and dedication both to teaching and to a broad commitment to students and school life.” The Drucker Family Chair is currently the
tion of the Drucker Family Chair, Belmont Hill had four endowed chairs: a chair for mathematics, held by Mr. Sweeney; a chair for the sciences, held by Mr. Trautz; and two chairs for the humanities, held by Mr. Greer and Mrs. Montanaro. Mr. Sullivan has now joined an elite group of teachers who have held a faculty chair. In his ac-
not awarded
ceptance speech, he spoke eloquently of
based on a teacher’s field of study. Prior to the addi-
his dedicaand tion love for Belmont Hill. M r .
only faculty chair that is
Mr. Sullivan and the Drucker Family
Bill Mahoney
Sullivan joined Belmont Hill in 2008 as a mathematics teacher. He currently teaches Algebra 2, Geometry A, and Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry. In addition to his roles as a teacher, Mr. Sullivan is also the head coach of the varsity lacrosse team and an assistant coach of the varsity football team. However, some Belmont Hill students may have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Sullivan even before their first days of school when he worked in the admissions office. I first met Mr. Sullivan when I visited Belmont Hill during the application process for ninth grade. During our interview, he described all of the great aspects of the school, from the academic opportunities to the strong community. Mr. Sullivan’s love of Belmont Hill led me to attend the school, and his presence both in the classroom and on the sports fields is appreciated by both faculty and students alike. He sets a great precedent for future recipients of the Drucker Family Faculty Chair. □
PRIZE DAY
6
PRIZE WINNERS
Maureen O’DonnellBook Prize
The Panel
2014
Cameron P. Chiarelli
PRIZE DAY
June 2, 2014
Williams College Book Prize
7
Harry J. Kraft, Alexander P. Santangelo
COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
8
The Panel
B Flats Rock Boston Symphony Hall Jazz Band By Brendan Pulsifer
Panel Staff
Following successful performances at the BHS Spring Concert in Lexington and at Alumni Weekend on the Hill, the B Flats were privileged to sing at the home
of the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops. On May Bth,8 th the Parents’ Council at Belmont Hill, headed by Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Durbin, and Mrs. Harvey, invited all parents and faculty to Symphony Hall to see the Boston Pops perform. Part of the event was a private reception in Higginson Hall, at which the Upper School’s notoriously enthusiastic and celebrated glee club was invited to perform a few songs from their repertoire. Beginning at 6:30, before the 8:00 concert, the reception provided luxurious food and atmosphere for the friends of Belmont Hill, with an open bar and delicious appetizers both laid out on tables and brought around by waitresses. At 7:00, just when most of the adults finished their last bite to eat, the B Flats, led by Mr. Patterson, ,
gracefully moved onto a platform in the back of the room under spotlights. The B Flats sang three songs for an audience of eager parents and teachers. Their first song, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica, (in English, “Lord Bless Africa”), is the national anthem of five African countries its strong beat and rousing lyrics connect with African nationalism. After Fifth Former Christian Little began the song with a gentle solo, the choir came in jubilantly, finding strength in the steady rhythm of a drum. While the first song put everyone in a good mood, the second song, Soon-ah Will Be Done-ah, showcased the B Flats’ true musical talent. Narrating the life of slaves who moan about their troubles yet exclaim that liberation will come, this song, albeit serious, contains beautiful harmonies and melodies that the B Flats brought out skillfully. The chorus’ quick adjustments to loud and soft dynamics made them irresistible to listen to. The third song of the set, although not the most challenging technically or most multicultural, was perhaps the one that audience members enjoyed best. Good -
OF A Cappella, a fun song about enjoying music, was conducted by Fourth Former
Hartman Russell, who helped energize the choir and the spectators. The tight harmonies and easy-going style of the song encouraged many audience members to smile and dance along as the B Flats sang in-tune, on-pitch, and in-sync. As the song came to an end, the audience members clapped vigorously, congratulating the singers for their rousing performance. The Conductor of the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart, took the stage after the B Flats to welcome everyone and give them a preview of what was in store in the concert and later in the Pops’ season. The Pops’ concert was a great success, winning rave reviews from parents and teachers. The orchestra performed excerpts from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, the Theme from Jurassic Park, and ABBA’s Dancing Queen, which brought manyBelmont Hill parents to their feet to dance in the isles. Special thanks to Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Durbin, Mrs. Harvey and the Parents’ Council, Mr. Melvoin, and Mr. Patterson for a wonderful evening for all! □
Chicago: A Smashing Hit By Brendan Pulsifer
Panel Staff
Ebb and Fosse’s Chicago is by no means an easy musical to execute successfully. The amount of work that must go into singing, dancing, costume design, and character work is daunting; the show also requires an extremely high energy level and degree of maturity from its cast. Since its Broadway debut in 1976, Chicago has had many fine performances, most recently in the Oscar-winning picture version of the musical. However, the Belmont Hill and Dana Hall actors definitely matched if not raised the bar with their performance at Dana Hall’s Bardwell Auditorium on May 16th and 17th . The show centers on a chorus girl, Roxie Hart, who murders Fred Casely, with whom she is having an affair, and is subsequently sent off to the Cook County Jail. There, she meets a slew ofother murderesses, including Velma Kelly, who, like Roxie, murdered her lover and fantasizes being on a vaudeville stage one day. Leading up to their trials, Roxie and Velma try to compete against one another for the media spotlight. With the help of a crafty lawyer, Billy Flynn, who twists the case brilliantly in their favor, they both are acquitted. Once freed and now famous, Roxie leaves her dumb, invisible husband, Amos, and joins Velma as they realize their dreams on the vaudeville stage. From the moment the bulbs spelling out CHICAGO lit up, I was transported to Roxie and Velma’s jazzy nightclub stage. The cleverly designed two-tiered set gave many different opportunities for entrances and exits as well as space for actors on ei-
ther the stage or a high-vaulted platform. The large cast used the area well they could be seen from any seat in the auditorium and sang out energetically to the entire crowd. The imaginative costumes and props, while at some points a bit risque were aesthetically pleasing and added an extra element of pizzazz. No director could have asked for talent than was found in this cast. It more was impossible to discern which lead was better, Roxie or Velma, played by Grace Breakman and Meaghan Robichaud, respectively. Grace perfectly captured the desperate, shallow, and defiant Roxie, and there was nothing better to start the show than Meaghan’s sultry, soaring voice. It was perhaps Christian Dolan, however, who stole the show with his portrayal of Roxie’s husband Amos. The whole audience laughed pityingly when Christian delivered his solo song, “Mr. Cellophane,” about how no one notices him. When Christian came out for his bow at the finale, the whole audience rose and gave him the attention he deserved with a loud applause. Robert Sayegh, as Billy Flynn, and DJ Demetri, as Fred Casely, brought out the sleaziness and insincerity in their characters superbly. Other Belmont Hill boys in the show who contributed greatly to the production were William Galligan, Matthew Hennessey, and Seamus Clair. The audience said it all with a standing ovation for the cast and crew of Chicago on both Friday and Saturday night. With intensity, focus, and energy, the talented cast kept the spectators in the packed theatre captivated and bouncing along to every song. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Chicago! □
Food and Music Event By Jack Richards
Staff Writer Coming off of the success of the annual Spring Concert, the Upper School Jazz Band and the Jazz Combo held a live music and dinner event at the Ryles Jazz Club in Inman Square in Cambridge. The club provided for dinner its staple, classic southern B-B-Q. This good food was accompanied by even better jazz songs. The night was broken up into three sets, where the Jazz Band played a series of short songs first, then there was a break, and then the Combo played all of the songs it would perform. Finally, the Jazz Band closed with a number of longer songs that they had been working on. The US Jazz Band showed its talent in the first section, starting the night off well. Each song that they played displayed the care and training that every member of the band possessed. After the first run of the Band, the Jazz Combo, the smaller, more personalized, version of the Jazz Band, came up to the stage. Playing five songs, the soloing talents were expressed by every member of the Combo. Since the Jazz Band mostly played slightly more complex but lower energy pieces, the Combo provided a nice, more energetic break between two runs of more classic jazz. When the Jazz Band came up again, they began to show an even broader range of talent than before, with longer, more intense songs and many solos. Overall, the night was a big success, with both Jazz groups showing their growing talents in a casual, entertaining atmosphere. □
|H TheT>\ |t| jsjFT g I
-
iriwmni HU! S<twd
Executive Editors John Driscoll Will Treanor
Editor-in-Chief Michael O’Neill
Copy Editor Matt Reppucci
Arts Editor Brendan Pulsifer
Sports Editor T
.
Liam Foley ,
'
Photo Editor Jamie Mazzio-Manson
£%
.
Assistant Editors Chip Daley Jake DeCaprio Jason Fischman Mack Perry .
_,.
,
■
j
I
j
Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Juliette Zener
News Editor Sreehaas Digumarthi
Opinion Editor .
T
JayOßnen '
Online Editor Sreehaas Digumarthi
Follow the Panel on Twitter @BHPanel for the latest updates from around the schoo’
The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill and Winsor schools. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2013 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
June 2, 2014
9
The Arts in 2013-2014 *■
\j
-c -
k M
<
•*
i
V
Si
"S.
I
a
v
E
\
<3 ■■"4
. |V
a'
•v.
A V
r
i
'
COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
10
The Panel
BELMONT IIILL VARSITY SCOREBOARD
Baseball: ISL Champions for the Third Consective Year By Colin Ward
Staff Writer The baseball team ended its year as
ISL champions, at an impressive overall record of 19-1. After the late inning heroics of the St. Sebastians game, the team handedly beat St. Marks 14-3 on one of the coldest games ofthe season, and Lawrence Academy 7-1 where the bats came alive against solid pitching. After the normal schedule had to be changed because of rainouts, the team finally met St. Georges on a Saturday afternoon. Coach Grant always tells the team to take it one game at a time, to never think you can just show up and win. His message would ring true in this game, as although St. Georges is perennially one of the worst teams in the league, Belmont Hill did not come out as strong as it would have liked to, and barely squeaked out a 3-0 win. If it wasn’t for the usual dominant pitching of captain Nolan Brennan, the team might have had an even closer game on its hands. Coming off this close game was yet another one against Nobles. Having hand-
ed last year’s championship team one of its few league losses, everyone knew Nobles felt pretty good about themselves going into the game, especially because they had the same pitcher on the hill. As expected, the game was tight, with Belmont Hill only securing a lead late into the game, with some clutch relief work by Sam Stack and closer Benny Wanger. Following a victory against Cushing Academy, the team played at Babson
College against a young Rivers squad, who got a look at how good the bats were in a 12-3 victory for the boys. But the road was not getting any easier, as the next game marked the biggest game thus far on the schedule. Groton was next up on the list to try to beat the squad that had been thus far undefeated, and they gave a good test. Facing Groton’s ace lefty, our lefty-filled lineup was struggling a bit to hit with runners in
Varsity baseball were thrilled by their three-peat as ISL champs.
Colin Ward
scoring position. Groton put the first run on the board, but, as the team has done remarkably well this season, they immediately put a run up in the following half-inning to tie at 1-1. The score would remain tied until the bottom of the sixth, where Jack Wilhoite mashed a 1-2 fastball over the right field fence to take the go-ahead lead 3- and this would end up being the final score. After defeating Providence Country Day handedly, the team defeated Middlesex, ensuring at least a share of the ISL title. In Captain Danny Kelly’s last game before surgery, the team played Brooks. In a unusual showing of both excellent pitching, as Aj Difillipo would go the distance, and dominant hitting, the team won the game 10-0, capturing its third ISL title in a row. Unfortunately, the quest for an undefeated season was cut short as BBN would win a close game 4- but this wasn’t as important as winning the ISL. The team would like to thank its seniors Harry Roberson, Danny Kelly, Nolan Brennan, Sam Stack, and Matt Murphy on an outstanding season, as well as Coaches Grant, Feeley, Houser, and O’Leary. □
June 2, 2014
COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
11
Track Caps off Successful Season New England Title By Harrison Porter
Staff Writer While the bus arrived late to Belmont Hill, the runners certainly did not cross the finish line late. The track and field team traveled over to Tabor Academy early Saturday morning on May 17th. After coming off a loss to Thayer Academy in the ISTA championship, the track team was eager to avenge the loss. The track team ran extremely well receiving wins in the shot put, discus and 4 by 400 relay team. The sprint squad garnered a second and third place finish in the 200 meter dash, a second, fifth and sixth place in the 400 meter dash and a third place finish in the 4 by 100 meter relay as well. This overall effort was not enough to “catch the tiger” (Thayer) and coach Kirby knew it would take a special day by the team and had some doubts going into the meet. He even made a bet that he would jump into the ocean if we won the meet. The meet started off well with junior captain Sultan Olusekun winning both the triple jump and the long jump. Lucas Ribeiro electrified the team with NEPSTA meet records in the shot put and the discus. This moment was special to Ribeiro as his parents came from Brazil to watch him throw. Lucas did not disappoint as he won both the shot put and discus and was named the MVP of the meet. The discus throw of 179
feet 1 inch was also a Massachusetts state record! When the running events started, the team was fired up. The 4 by 100 meter relay team, consisting of Frankie McField, Michael Fries, Conor O’Toole and Harry Porter, jumped off to a quick start by running a season best 44.06 seconds, placing fourth overall. This mark has qualified the relay team for the New Balance Outdoor Nationals and the 4 by 100 team hopes to continue its season for one last race. The team continued its success next in the 100 meter dash preliminary trials where Frankie McField qualified for the 100 in a blazing 11.63 and went on to finish 11.58 in the finals for a sixth place finish. This was the type ofeffort that it took to capture the New England title. The 110 hurdles followed and both Jack Tamasi
and Duncan Wheeler ran personal records in a very tough field of competition. The 1500 followed where Alex Hall ran a very tough race with an injured foot and just missed a sixth place finish. He truly showed grit and strength by even finishing the race. The 400 meter dash was up next where the field was blown away by the Berkshire runner who missed the meet record by .04 seconds at 48.94. Sultan Olusekun came back to run for third place finish while Harry Porter finished in fifth place. Harry Porter came back to run a 200 meter dash in 22.63, just edging out another runner for second place. Frankie also ran the 200 in an amazing time of 23.06 and good for another sixth place. The 800 meter dash followed where Yohannes Mezgebu and Spencer Anton
The track squad celebrates their big win at New England’s.
Sam Porter
ran tough races, but were forced outside of the pack in front and could not recover in time. The 300 hurdles turned out to be an exciting race where Paul Malloy ran for a third place just missing the school record by .06 seconds. This effort was outstanding and Paul finished his hurdle career in great standings. Joey Laliberte earned a sixth place finish in the discus as well. Nate Trznadel and Will Malloy both jumped well in the high jump and Frankie McField also jumped well in the triple jump, each earning personal records in their respective events. The pole vault went extremely well as Jimmy Troderman and Trent Green garnered second and third places. The last event of the day was the 4 by 400 meter relay where the squad of Paul Malloy, Sultan Olusekun, Michael Fries and Harrison Porter went on to dominate, winning by over six seconds and securing the meet victory. This squad will also hope to qualify for nationals and earn one last shot at the school 4 by 400 meter relay record! This last meet was a tremendous success and all of the team’s hard work came to display. A special thanks to all of the coaches, Anam, Collins, Harder, Kirby and Rice,for all of their hard work. A large thanks to the captains, Matt Czarnecki, who was injured for the whole season unfortunately, Paul Malloy and Sultan Olusekun for all their leadership. The track team is excited for nationals and for the great years to come in the future! □
Lacrosse Team Puts Forth an Excellent Season, Looks Forward to Next Year By John Gosselin
Staff Writer The Lacrosse team finished the season with a 14-2 record, and 13-2 in league. This gave the team a second place finish in the ISL. After a disappointing loss to eventual ISL champs Thayer in the first league game, Belmont Hill ripped off 11 straight victories, including overtime thrillers against Governors and St. Sebastian’s. With one league loss, and Middlesex, the only remaining undefeated team, still on the schedule, the team was in great shape to challenge for the title.
With that in mind, Belmont Hill travelled up to Concord. Clutch play from senior defenseman Max Gustafson helped hold one of the highest scoring teams in the league to just six goals, and great offensive displays from attackmen Daniel Seibel, Joe Delaney, and Kyle Parsons, as well as senior midfielder Greg Plumb, gave Belmont Hill the edge in an 8-6 win. The win against one of the most capable teams in the League helped to bolster the team’s spirits, already strong after having beaten Groton and Nobles by large margins. After coming off of this astounding win, with the team on track for first place, the team lost a heartbreaker to Brooks
9-8 in overtime. Although Brooks only finished the season 10-8, they came out with a lot of fire passion for the game. Going into the fourth quarter with a tied score, BH scored a goal to get the lead within the first minutes of the period. By the end of the fourth quarter, Brooks had made up the deficit and forced overtime, scoring the game winner just a few minutes in. In the last game of the season Belmont Hill responded in all the right ways, beating a solid Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols 15-0. The seniors played fantastically in the final games of their careers, and it was great to see all of the seniors receive quality playing-time in that game.
Overall, the season has been fairly successful for the team, with only two losses so far. For a short time Belmont Hill topped the League standings and were set to win a second consecutive championship. The Lacrosse team had several good wins, including those against Governor’s Academy (Belmont Hill’s first victory against them in a number of years), a good Nobles team with the league’s leading scorer, and previously undefeated Middlesex, as well as two shutouts against Milton Academy and BB&N. Belmont Hill congratulates the lacrosse team on its successful season, and wishes the seniors good luck as they continue their journey through life. □
Crew Wins New England Championship Again By Alexander Afeyan
Staff Writer
The Belmont Hill team enjoyed another fantastic season this year. This team has done spectacularly well, and many boats remain undefeated. The team has raced at an assortment of tournaments and individual races. One such tournament was a very nice set of races by the IV4-6V4 against Middlesex’s first 6 boats and CRLS’s first 4 boats, in which all Belmont Hill boats won with large margins. The next race on the schedule was the Ducey Cup, an annual competition between BBN and Belmont Hill’s IV44V4, in which the winner brings home the Cup. Continuing a long streak of victories in this competition, Belmont Hill took home the Cup with huge victories in all four races. Despite the rainy weather, The Ducey Cup was enjoyable for all the rowers and the fans that came to watch. Next, the team participated in the Bassett Cup, an annual competition against Nobles. Much like the results of the Ducey cup, all four Belmont Hill boats won their races. Soon afterward, the first 6 fours headed to the Weston-Wayland
Invitational, where all the boats had a niors in almost all the boats from top good morning race. However, due to to bottom. First boat is comprised of 5 miserable afternoon weather condiveteran seniors: Alexander Richards, Alex Bailey, Matt Ryan, Mac Manion, tions, the afternoon races were cancelled, leaving the rowers very disapand coxswain Cole Durbin. The 4 rowthat could not pointed they display ers in this boat row like a well-oiled their prowess against the formidable machine, and are excellently coxed competition at the regatta. Later, the by Cole. Alexander Richards won the 5V4-9V4 headed to Brooks to race award for the greatest contribution to against Brooks and Groton, where the team and Matt Ryan won the most all the boats had whopping victories improved rower award. The other two rowers and Cole Durbin won awards against the opposing boats. Followthese the first fours for good sportsmanship. In second victories, 4 ing headed to Brooks to square off against boat, George Holderness provided solBrooks, Groton, and Choate. The waid senior leadership and ample intelter was rough but Belmont Hill again ligence. In fourth boat, Henry Dodge found success. The following weeks and Will Crowlev worked together were filled and displayed with races by senior good the 3VB-SVB leadership. In the 4VB, Sean against CRI, and then a Fahey and Ryof der Gordon, longer day at Hatwo more reracing nover in NH. cent additions The team to the team, this year has rowed very more than its well with the share of sefreshmen and nior leadersophomores ship, with se- Crew won NEIRAs once more this season. Mr. Mahoney in that boat.
Cam Douglas, a senior who dealt with injuries throughout the season, was still a large presence in the boathouse, whether rowing in a single or double, or cheering on his friends and teammates. All these seniors will be dearly missed! The junior rowers Jamie Mazzio-Manson, John Power, Andrew Wilkins, Ned O’Leary, Myles Walsh, Chris Duckworth, Chad Larkin, Andres Fernandez-del Castillo, Ariel Borsook, and Chris Folsom look to fill the leadership roles left vacant by this great senior class next year. At the New England Championship, the crew team put in another incredible performance. The first and third boats came in second in their respective heats, while the second and fourth boats won first place. This gave them the championship trophy, as Belmont Hill received the most team points. The first boat qualified for the National Championship races because of their finish at New Englands, and will look to improve upon their incredible success so far this season. Belmont Hill wishes the team luck in their quest for a national title. All the seniors will be dearly missed on the team next year! □
12
MATRICULATION LIST
The Panel
Senior Destinations as of May 27, 2014 George Apostle Alex Bailey
AJ Barros
Ryan Bathon Nolan Brennan Sharif Campbell Chris Champa Joey Chery-Valentin
Will Crowley
John Curtin Matt Czarnecki Joe Delaney
Henry Dodge
Cam Douglas
Cole Durbin Sabri Eyuboglu Sean Fahey Michael Fries Will Golonka Ryder Gordon Ben Green Trent Green
Mihir Gulati
Max Gustafson
Alex Haigh Tucker Hallowell
Jim Hatton
Charlie Hill David Hincks George Holderness Jack Keating Danny Kelly Tom Kenary Eric Kim
Jake Kotlier
Joey EaEiberte Junior Eewis
University of Southern California Dartmouth College Tufts University College of the Holy Cross Bucknell University Interim Year
Yale College Hamilton College University of Virginia Bowdoin College Yale College Colgate University Colby College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard College Stanford University Harvard College Trinity College University of Connecticut Dartmouth College Williams College Brown University Columbia University Brown University Stanford University Trinity College University of South Carolina Yale College Boston College Stanford University University of Southern California Tufts University Colgate University Harvard College Pomona College Middlebury College University of Connecticut
Jared Einsky Paul Malloy Mac Manion
Axel Marcelin Ryan McConnell Andrew Meckel Matt Melanson
Emory University
Middlebury College Cornell University Undecided
Tufts University Dartmouth College Bowdoin College Taylor Morris Colgate University Drew Morrissey Boston College Colgate University Matt Murphy Connor O’Toole College of the Holy Cross Bernardo Pacini Princeton University Amherst College Jake Pagano Bucknell University Kyle Parsons College of the Holy Cross Henry Peterson Greg Plumb Williams College Pedro Ribeiro Oberlin College Alexander Richards Harvard College Amherst College Harry Roberson Shane Rossi Washington University in St. Louis School ofArchitecture Matt Ryan Columbia University Robert Sayegh Dartmouth College Danny Seibel Villanova University Angus Smith University of Southern California Myles Spence Babson College Sam Stack College of the Holy Cross Oberlin College John Sutherland Alexi Themelis Illinois Institute of Technology Jimmy Troderman Vanderbilt University Ulfelder in St. Louis Washington University James Connecticut College AJ Vazquez Babson College Kyle Washburn Harvard College Jeremy Welborn Williams College Joe Welch Duncan Wheeler Massachusetts Institute of Technology Trinity College Chris Whelan