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BUCCANEER FALL 2021

THE

The Magazine Of The Benjamin School

Volume XIX

Signature Programs AT T H E B E N JA M I N S C H O O L

DAVE FAUS, HEAD OF SCHOOL

THE BUCCANEER Marti Lotman ’06 — Managing Editor Dr. John Peruggia — Copy Editor

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Christine Magee Photography Tracey Benson Photography Erica Sousa Sarah Larson — Blink & Co. Photography

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Nick Crisafi Jessy Fulford Padon ’01

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE STAFF Jessy Fulford Padon ’01 — Director of Marketing Marti Lotman ’06 — Publications & Communications Manager Rhonda Thomas — Web Manager Juan Carlos Fanjul ’93 — Chief Development Officer RJ Esteves — Development Database and Donor Services Manager

BUCCANEER FALL 2021 The Magazine Of The Benjamin School

THE

Sheena Wilber — Director of Annual Giving and Special Events

Volume XIX

On the Cover:

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS Signature Programs AT T H E B E N JA M I N S C H O O L

AT THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL

CONTENTS THE BUCCANEER

VOLUME XIX

Letter From The Head Of School.................2 Signature Programs........................................3 Strings..........................................................................4 English/Language Arts......................................6 World Languages..................................................8

TV & Film................................................................. 10 Engineering/STEM ........................................... 12 Campus Features.............................................14 Camilo Saiz’s Colombian Roots Inspire Young Entrepreneur......................... 15 Faculty Hidden Talents.................................... 16 Benjamin Continues Partnership With Foster Care Organization.................. 18 National Honor Society Inducts 28 New Members.............................................. 19

Partnership With Loggerhead Marinelife Center............................................... 20 Annual Lower School Events..................... 22 Titles of Note........................................................24 Lower School Celebrates 31st Annual Olympics....................................... 26 Celebrating The Arts....................................... 27 US Drama Students Present ‘The Parking Lot Plays’..................................... 28

ariety Show Celebrates V 25-Year History With ‘Silver Jubilee’...... 29 ‘Avenue Q’ Spring Musical............................ 30 Spring Dance Concert....................................... 31 US Art Students Win 49 Scholastic Art Awards............................................................. 32 Senior Wins Prestigious Young Playwrights Award............................................. 34 Sports Highlights.............................................. 35

Alumni Focus...................................................... 43

THE BUCCANEER

LETTER FROM THE

HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Benjamin Community, We made it! We successfully navigated a year truly like none other. While the course was often fraught with obstacles, our community came together bound by a shared mission and commitment: to provide an exceptional educational experience in a safe and supportive environment despite our pandemic footing. The Buccaneer spirit prevailed. Our community, from students to alumni, faculty and parents, put our Benjamin Values to work and practice in their daily lives throughout the trials of this year. They accomplished great things and found joy in spite of trying circumstances. They have, like I wished the Class of 2021, lived lives of silver linings. Many of our students also took part in and benefited from the School’s signature programs, many of which you will read more about in the following pages. In the face of adversity, students adapted and continued to find creative avenues of expression. The artist still drew. The poet still wrote. The violinist still played. The desire to create was not extinguished by the pandemic, it was fueled. It’s an unquenchable thirst that is encouraged and fostered throughout the Benjamin experience. Retiring and beloved English teacher Perry Feyk shared with The Buccaneer readers the books that have most inspired him. Ray Bradbury stands among his favorite authors and also lends me a wish for all of you. And that is this: “I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime.” Bradbury’s wish is for this Creative Muse to spark an enduring, lifelong love of the craft and “out of that love, remake the world.” This “wrestling match” looks different for everyone — from the athlete, to the artist, to the humanitarian. But my hope for all of our students, from the youngest learner in WOW to our senior class and alumni network, is that they will continue to go out, inspired by a Creative Muse, and remake the world through lives of passion and purpose, guided by our 12 Benjamin Values.

In community,

David C. Faus

signature programs

THE BUCCANEER | SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

STRINGS The shade of the lower school’s majestic banyan trees serves as a canopy for a host of activities, many of which feel magical through the eyes of young learners. The iconic branches and steadfast roots have doubled as set designs for picnics, story time, and strings practice. On any given school day, passersby can hear the joyful melody of violins floating skyward as strings students practice their instruments underneath the trees’ protective shade. This natural backdrop serves as the perfect counterpoint to the staccato rhythm produced by our eager young melophiles.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS | THE BUCCANEER

Beginning in kindergarten, Benjamin students can participate in the School’s Strings Program. This signature program, beginning at age six and culminating with graduation, has been part of the curriculum for the past two decades. Hundreds of students have been taught to play the violin — and, more importantly, taught a love for music — during their early years at Benjamin. Many of those students have gone on to play a string instrument at the middle and high school levels and beyond. The program not only teaches students how to read and perform music, but reinforces self-discipline, concentration, and decision-making. Our youngest strings students first learn how to read notes, count time and sound, and how to play together. Students build self-esteem and confidence as they travel through the program. As students progress through the curriculum, they learn different arrangements and weekly topics. Each grade level enjoys a showcase and various musical performances throughout the year. Dr. Nicholas Lockey, upper school music teacher, says his music students are not only immensely talented, but good role models. One such student is senior Julia Lubarsky who, says Lockey, has been playing the viola since middle school. “The viola has been an important part of how she has chosen to identify herself, and she is a good example of the well-rounded person we hope our students will become,” said Lockey. From roots to wings, our faculty and staff plant the seeds of music education and appreciation, and watch them blossom into a finely honed craft during students’ time at Benjamin.

THE BUCCANEER | SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

Upper School English Teacher Mrs. Steiner and student.

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS It may come as a surprise that one of the most iconic symbols found on Benjamin’s lower school campus isn’t the fishpond or the bell, but instead a seasoned educator who has helmed the ship of the lower school’s language arts department for decades. Mrs. Joanna Hogan is unmistakable as she traverses the campus in her iconic, horn-rimmed glasses, and with such a perfect posture that makes her gait seem more like an

effortless sashay. Her Southern drawl — less of a drawl and more of a verbal ellipsis — has ushered students into class since the early days when Benjamin was still called North Palm Beach Private School. Hogan has carried the mantle of academic excellence throughout her time at Benjamin. As part of the language arts curriculum, she has turned shy fifth grade learners into confident orators who make the often nerve-wracking pilgrimage to the front of their classrooms each week and recite — from memory — a new poem.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS | THE BUCCANEER

It’s safe to say that Benjamin graduates who have had the privilege of being taught by Hogan can still recite the first poem they had to memorize — “Barter” by Sarah Teasdale. Many may even still have their “American Express Card” — a binder full of all the poems students learned throughout the year. Hogan felt the moniker was fitting because “it could take you anywhere” and you “don’t leave home without it.” Building upon the lower school foundation, the middle and high school language arts programs focus on exposing students to great authors and thinkers, while creating confident learners and courageous explorers. By high school, students have had the opportunity to study everything from the art of war to medicine and humanity, mythology, and film analysis as part of the curriculum.

Mrs. Hogan and former students.

Students and graduates are exposed to high-quality literature, oral discussions, written responses, and composition. With this solid foundation, they are able to bring strong oral and written communication to any field they choose to pursue. Attorney Brianne De Sellier ‘05, who moonlights as a television legal analyst for many of the alphabet networks, said strong writing skills have been an integral part of her law practice. “All of those times that Mrs. Ditaranto and Mrs. White picked apart my writing during high school (and the B’s and C’s that came with it), made me one of the best writers in my law school class, as well as at the firm where I work. I get compliments on a weekly basis from firm partners on my writing style and abilities, which I developed primarily while I was at TBS,” said De Sellier.

MS English Teacher Mrs. Ponchock and student diagram sentences.

THE BUCCANEER | SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS WORLD LANGUAGES Travel into our Worlds of Wonder classrooms and you will be transported to France, Spain, and China on any given week. Our youngest Bucs enjoy an exciting introduction to three world languages through the use of puppets, games, songs, and holiday traditions. Students say “bonjour” to French celebrations, “hola” to Spanish cuisine, and “ni hao” to Chinese songs. This awareness and appreciation for different languages and cultures serves as a building block for world language study at Benjamin. Students are encouraged to speak as active participants in class, and are empowered to communicate in multiple languages during their time at school. The World Languages curriculum is committed to the preparation of its students for competency in a second language. By the time students graduate from the upper school, they have reached this proficiency of language acquisition and cultural appreciation. Emily Horgen ‘20, currently a student at Yale University, studied Chinese for eight years prior to high school graduation. Passionate about marine conservation efforts, Horgen was inspired to illustrate and publish a children’s book — in both Mandarin and English — to educate young people at home and abroad about the perils facing sea turtles and the importance of sea turtle conservation in China.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS | THE BUCCANEER

Mandarin Chinese Teacher Mrs. Wei and WOW student.

Horgen says she is so grateful to have been a part of the incredible Mandarin program in high school. “Students not only come out of the program with a high level of language proficiency, but they also acquire an appreciation of Chinese culture and history. Ms. Cohen fosters a welcoming learning environment that encourages students to reach their full potential and feel supported by their classmates,” says Horgen.

LS Teacher Mme. Arline uses puppets to teach French to WOW students.

THE BUCCANEER | SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS TV & FILM Benjamin’s TV and film students are visual storytellers. The stories they craft are part of a broader independent school community of artists and innovators who are encouraged to take risks in a collaborative and supportive environment. These innovative risk-takers hone their skills at both the middle and high school level in state-of-the-art television studios, control rooms, and postproduction areas. Students are empowered through an immersive experience to become effective communicators in a rapidly evolving media landscape. From writing for the screen to producing documentaries and live news broadcasts, students benefit from hands-on instruction in the studio and in the field. Director of Multimedia Productions Ken Archer says students who have traveled through the middle school multimedia program are well prepared by the time they step foot into his classroom. While Archer can name a multitude of former students who have gone on to achieve success in film schools across the country, senior Devyn Dyett ‘21 stands out for work that is, in Archer's estimation, “second to none.” Dyett has recently produced two powerful documentaries — one featuring a current Benjamin student’s “triumph over tragedy” — that are nominated for several film awards through the Palm Beach County Film Festival, as well as the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Dyett credits Archer for his mentorship as she continues to undertake new projects.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS | THE BUCCANEER

“He gives great guidance and technical tips along the way, but makes sure I have the main creative control, which I really appreciate. Media is a form of art, meaning there is no real right or wrong way. Mr. Archer stays up to date on emerging filming techniques and encourages me to try new things,” said Dyett. Dyett says she has also enjoyed the peer-review process in her Advanced Film Production class. Devyn Dyett ’21, attending USC’s School for Cinematic Art this fall.

“The intimacy of the class allows us to get a good look at each other’s work, while not taking constructive criticism personally,” said Dyett. Dyett, who will be attending USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, said Benjamin’s Alumni Association was invaluable to her as a filmmaker. “I was able to connect with professional screenwriter and Benjamin alumnus Mark Swift ‘88. Mr. Swift is a writer for big blockbuster movies like Friday the 13th and Freddy vs. Jason. I reached out to him and he gave me very extensive critiques on my script, as well as notes on scriptwriting in general. I was blown away by the guidance he provided and thanked him tremendously. If I did not attend Benjamin, I would not have had that opportunity,” said Dyett.

THE BUCCANEER | SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS ENGINEERING/STEM Recent graduate Madeline Hart’s ‘21 desire to pursue engineering extends as far back as her memory itself. “I don’t think I actually knew what that meant until eighth grade. We had the option to take a second science course, and ever since the Rube Goldberg Machine project, I’ve had my heart set on majoring in mechanical engineering,” said Hart, who will do just that in the fall at Cornell University. Hart is one of many students who have immersed themselves in Benjamin’s STEM curriculum. Beginning at age 3, students are exposed to the exciting world of STEM. As they travel through all three divisions, students benefit from hands-on instruction in the state-of-the-art Maglio Family STEM Center, and at the upper school in innovative labs and maker spaces. The School’s curriculum inspires a new generation of innovators across multiple disciplines. Many subjects, including English, social studies, and geography, all incorporate a STEM application into their studies.

Mrs. Perretta and engineering students.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS | THE BUCCANEER

“In a given week, you may have teachers and students talking about the science and mathematics involved in the design of a pinhole camera, or a group of students designing a tensegrity sculpture and applying physics and mathematics to the design. You may find a student experimenting with chemical techniques in photography that have a huge connection to what is being learned in a chemistry class. There is a concentration on preparing students to be aware of spatial visualization, both in 2D and 3D spaces, to solve design problems,” says Upper School Engineering and Design teacher Debra Perretta. Perretta says the Department of Innovation and Design is a great example of an arena where you can see students involved in hands-on work, ideating, prototyping, and assessing their work. Perretta is also the Engineering Certificate Program Coordinator, a program at Benjamin that allows graduates to earn a certificate following completion of a variety of engineering courses, extracurricular activities in the STEM field, and a capstone project.

MS STEM Coordinator Matt Oster displays coding robot.

CAMPUS FEATURES

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

CAMILO SAIZ’S

COLOMBIAN ROOTS INSPIRE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR Colombia. This sense of community responsibility and interconnectedness led Saiz to begin teaching English classes to young learners. Faced with what felt like interminable hurdles, including the inability to fund textbooks for the entire class, Saiz was spurred into action. And so, his lemonade stand was born. Junior Camilo Saiz’s entrepreneurial spirit is as perennial as the lemon tree from which it stemmed. The Finance Club executive board member traces his entrepreneurial roots back to a lemonade stand he erected as a young child in Bogota, Colombia. The quintessential childhood undertaking was inspired after Saiz realized how fortunate he was to travel to school by bus in Bogota. “I remember taking the bus to school every morning, and we would drive through some impoverished parts of the city where we would just see people in the streets begging for money, and people struggling to get to school. We were so lucky to have a bus; so blessed,” Saiz told the Wharton (School) Global Youth Program’s Future of the Business World podcast. Saiz, who was asked to appear as a guest on the podcast, said he felt that it was his responsibility to do whatever he could for children in

Saiz quickly surpassed his goal of raising $500, and ultimately raised more than $900 the summer before moving to the United States. A sum of money, he told the Wharton podcast, that was roughly equivalent to a typical Colombian family’s entire year of earnings. Saiz said he chose to attend Benjamin after Head of Lower School Dr. Kristen Sheehan, who was a fifth grade teacher at the time, “talked me into it.” “I knew it was going to be a challenge coming from Colombia, but I took it and I’m really glad that I did,” said Saiz. Saiz says the compulsion to help, which was born in Bogota and continues to grow in South Florida, is contagious. “Once you realize how much of an impact you can have on others has been a motivation for me, especially moving to America to make the best out of my studies and, hopefully, to be able to give back to my country that has made me who I am,” Saiz told the Wharton podcast.

Saiz’s entrepreneurial pursuits and commitment to his home country continue today as he works on building an online platform for teaching financial literacy lessons to children in Colombia — free of charge. He credits middle school Science Department Chair Stephanie Oster and middle school STEM Coordinator Matt Oster as impactful educators who inspired him to explore the “limitless boundaries” outside the classroom. The pair stand in good company with upper school social studies teacher Dr. Hope Myers, who Saiz says has been his high school mentor. “I speak to her very frequently and she motivates me. She has become a role model for me,” said Saiz. Saiz is currently providing software to a handful of schools that provide English language classes via Zoom. “What started with a little lemonade stand has now turned into a big program that hopefully, by the end of next school year, hundreds of kids will have completed,” Saiz told the podcast. “I believe that the biggest difference between kids in First World countries and kids in Third World countries is the opportunity to access a proper education,” he said. “Financial literacy, which in the most simple terms is just knowing how to manage your own money, sounds simple to us, but to these kids, it’s life-changing.”

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

FACULTY HIDDEN TALENTS CAN YOU MATCH THE BENJAMIN FACULTY OR STAFF MEMBER WITH THEIR HIDDEN TALENT? FROM A BEEKEEPER TO A BARREL RACER, TBS TALENT RUNS DEEP! 1. Renea Yates 2. Debra Perretta 3. Patti Maiselson 4. Lori Ramirez 5. Chuck Hagy 6. Kim Latimer 7. Dr. Kristen Sheehan

A. Chicken Whisperer

B. Cake Decorator

C. Published Author

8. Kathy Bailey 9. Heather McKinstry 10. Jessie Glendenning 11. Jim Adle 12. Cham Delva 13. Kirkland Schuler

D. Drummer

E. Expert Crafter

F. Beekeeper

G. Guitarist

H. Fisherman

I. Master Sewer

14. Ami Reece 15. Caron Martin 16. Kelly Hook 17. Buckley Griffis 18. Dani Griffis 19. Amanda Pierman 20. Glenda Donato 21. Leslie Downs 22. Bekka Goldberg 23. Mr. Faus 24. Nathan Ginnetty 25. Dana Kittendorf 26. Fletcher Carr J. Former Rockette

K. Vocalist

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L. Barrel Racer

M. Master Yoga Instructor

N. 4-Wheeler Rider

O. MMA Fighter

P. Skilled Cellist

Q. Baker

R. Champion Sailor

S. Off-Road Cyclist

T. Opera Singer

U. Singer

V. Saxophone Player

W. Swim Teacher

X. Ukulele Player

Y. Surfer

Z. Lifeguard Key to ‘Hidden Talents’ can be found on IMPACT Page 36.

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

BENJAMIN CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH FOSTER CARE ORGANIZATION The Benjamin School continued its partnership with Friends of Foster Children (FOFC) for the School’s 2020-2021 annual community service project after the partnership was truncated last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. The mission of Friends of Foster Children is to enrich the lives of those impacted by foster care. All three divisions participated in a variety of service projects throughout the year that benefited the organization.

MS FOCUSES ON BENJAMIN VALUES DURING KINDNESS WEEK During the week of January 18, the Middle School celebrated “No NameCalling Week.” The week emphasized the importance of kindness, and engaged students in educational activities and discussions aimed at ending name-calling and bullying of all kinds. The week, led by middle school student services counselor Kari Rankine, was inspired by the novel The Misfits in which a group of students organize a similar day at their fictional middle school. “Motivated by this simple yet powerful idea, the No Name-Calling Week Coalition organized an actual No Name-Calling Week in schools for the first time in 2004. The event is now held annually in schools nationwide,” said Rankine. An assortment of quotes about kindness were placed throughout the middle school campus, along with a “Kindness Garden,” where students posted messages about ways in which they had been kind to others. Students participated in a hashtag challenge, generating hashtags like #Kool2bKind, in an effort to promote the initiatives of the week. “Students also explored the role that forgiveness and compassion play in moving forward once name-calling and bullying have occurred,” said Rankine. “It is my hope that we can use this week to share and learn from one another, while working to achieve our goals of advocacy and bringing our 12 Benjamin Values to life.”

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTS 28 NEW MEMBERS The National Honor Society welcomed 28 new members into The Benjamin School’s chapter during their annual spring induction ceremony. “Because of your work, Benjamin is who we are,” said Head of School Dave Faus in recognition of the collective accomplishments of the newly inducted students.

UPPER SCHOOL SCHOLARS JOIN CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

Seventeen members of the senior class were welcomed into The Benjamin School’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society. The organization is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor.

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

PARTNERSHIP WITH

LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER

BRINGS TWO TURTLES TO BENJAMIN COMMUNITY The Benjamin family has two exciting, new additions to our community and they come in the form of reptiles. Benji and Squirtle, two female nesting turtles, were adopted by the School as part of a partnership with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC). Squirtle was tagged by LMC in April and her transmitter relays her GPS coordinates, including each time she comes on the beach to lay a clutch. At the end of the season, we will be able to calculate how many nests our turtle has laid. “The partnership started last year when Loggerhead Marinelife Center reached out to us asking if we would be interested. I love when a community reaches out to the school,” said Middle School STEM Coordinator Matt Oster, who is spearheading the partnership. Oster said Benjamin is the only school in Florida that has adopted a tagged turtle through the center. “Not a lot of people realize that we are the number one turtle nesting spot in the world. More sea turtles lay eggs on our beach, more than anywhere else worldwide,” said Oster. He said teachers across all disciplines were excited about the opportunity to integrate Benji and Squirtle into various aspects of the middle school curriculum. In eighth grade physics class, students are tracking the turtle and studying the physics of motion, including distance, displacement, velocity, and speed. Seventh grade scientists created field guides that incorporated Benji and Squirtle into lists of various types of marine turtles in the South Florida area. Sixth grade students are studying the natural history of sea turtles, basic biology, and population studies. History students are researching sea turtle regions and becoming ecotourists.

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And it’s not just the science disciplines that are having all the fun. The middle school English department is writing poems and stories about the turtle pair, the art department is working on a children’s book, and the dance department is bending and twisting into turtle yoga poses. Students are eagerly awaiting the fall when they will again be able to travel up US 1 to visit the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. “Supposedly, there’s even a third turtle waiting to go,” said Oster. “It’s exciting stuff.”

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

ANNUAL LOWER SCHOOL EVENTS Halloween Parade

Grade 4 Volcanoes

Strings Show Dr. Seuss Day

WOW Trike-A-Thon Grade 2 Polar Express Grade 1 Peter Rabbit Tea

Grade 2 Field Day

Theme Day

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Inaugural Dogs at Drive-Thru

Grade 1 Picnic

Pre-K Luau WOW Water Day

Grade 5 Greek Myth Extravaganza

WOW Halloween Parade

Grade 4 Little Red Schoolhouse

LS Olympics

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

TITLES OF NOTE Perry Feyk, Upper School English Teacher

the right order. It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.” The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin “One of the best science fiction novels ever, about a planet where the inhabitants are male and female: It is about what it is to be human, and how we confuse gender with humanity. It will change the way you see the world.” To say retiring English teacher Perry Feyk is a bibliophile is to fail to fully articulate his love for the written word. His wall of beloved quotes, plucked from a variety of tomes in the literary canon, has been as much of a classroom staple over the years as Feyk himself. “I realize that if you want to know someone, look at their bookshelf, and ask them what they love most about what they read. That, will reveal the person,” Feyk says. Here is a small glimpse into Mr. Feyk’s bookshelf — the self-selected, top five books he has taught as part of Benjamin’s English curriculum over the years. And, of course, his thoughts on them, and the quote(s) from each book that has resonated most with him. Beloved by Toni Morrison “Gritty, powerful, painful at times, but so deep and soul changing. Morrison goes deeper than any writer I know into the human heart.” Sixo on true love: “She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all 24

Estraven, the main character, explains not patriotism, but true love of country: “Hate Orgoryn (his rival kingdom, with whom they are on the verge of war)? No, how should I? How does one hate a country, or love one? Tibe (his secretary of state) talks about it; I lack the trick of it. I know people, I know towns, farms, hills and rivers and rocks. I know how the sun at sunset in autumn falls on the side of a certain plowland in the hills; but what is the sense of giving a boundary to all that, of giving it a name and ceasing to love where the name ceases to apply? What is love of one’s country? Is it hate of one’s uncountry? Then it’s not a good thing. Is it simply self love? That’s a good thing, but one mustn’t make a virtue of it, or a profession...Insofar as I love life, I love the hills of the Domain of Estre (his country), but that sort of love does not have a boundary line of hate. And beyond that, I am ignorant, I hope.” The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy “I think Conroy’s best. Based on his experience at The Citadel, the off-themainstream narrator Will McLean and his three roommates confront joy and

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

injustice, and ultimately learn the meaning of friendship, love, and honor through their time in the crucible of the Carolina Military Institute.” “I want to tell you how it was...I want you to understand why I hate the school with all my power and passion. Then I want you to forgive me for loving the school... You see, I wear the ring.” Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury “One of my favorite writers of all time. He writes with a clarity of style and metaphor, and there is a music to his words that approaches that of Yeats and Dylan. Yes, the book deals with censorship and banning books and ideas, but really, as my man crush Neil Gaiman says about it: ‘This is a book about caring for things. It’s a love letter to books, but I think, just as much a love letter to people.’ ” “It doesn’t matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.” The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck “One of the greatest American novels. Yes, it is about the Dust Bowl, yes, he thinks people should care for each other in a communal socialist way, but like Bradbury, it is a love story for mankind;

nowhere have I read more love for people, or a more positive view.” “For man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.” “Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live — for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died. And this you can know — fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe.”

“I realize that if you want to know someone, look at their bookshelf, and ask them what they love most about what they read. That, will reveal the person.” 25

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

LOWER SCHOOL CELEBRATES

31ST ANNUAL OLYMPICS

Lower school students celebrated the 31st annual Olympic Games the week of February 1, despite modifications due to the pandemic. Each grade level, representing countries from around the world, took to Kennerly Field, individually, during the annual celebration.

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celebrating the arts

THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

US DRAMA STUDENTS PRESENT ‘THE PARKING LOT PLAYS’

The Benjamin School theatre program and the Drama Club presented “The Parking Lot Plays” as part of their annual One Acts: Revolutions Festival on February 20 and 21. The material was curated from the first semester’s Page to Stage class of which two of the plays were named finalists for Palm Beach Dramaworks Young Playwrights Festival. Upper School Theatre Director Jason Peck said the COVID-19 pandemic was the mother of invention. “Knowing that we would not have access to Benjamin Hall this year, I gave our student playwrights a prompt that asked them to come up with a short, ten-minute play that

takes place in a parking lot, hence ‘The Parking Lot Plays,’ ” said Peck. Peck said seeing his students’ creativity, ingenuity, and talent in the face of a new landscape has been fun and inspiring. “Benjamin’s young thespians are fiercely protective of the One Acts Festival, and seeing them in action it is clear why. New work and new plays are always raw and exciting to work on. These are passionate actors, passionate directors, and passionate playwrights, all collaborating and creating as one cohesive unit,” said Peck.

CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER

VARIETY SHOW CELEBRATES

25-YEAR HISTORY WITH ‘SILVER JUBILEE’ Benjamin friends and families enjoyed an evening under the stars as the School hosted the 25th annual Variety Show “Silver Jubilee” on the evening of January 16. The show, which took place outside at the upper school in a physically distanced format, featured Variety Show history and entertainment, as well as live, pre-show performances. Guests were treated to live performances by middle school student R.J. Pierman and faculty member Nathan Ginnetty, as well as Benjamin alumnus and parent Dr. Andrew Moffitt ‘84. The prerecorded show was hosted by Chief Development Officer Juan Carlos Fanjul ‘93 who interviewed Variety Show Chair Lisa Calberg and Artistic Director Sara Salivar.

The program featured 25 years of Variety Show entertainment — from a tribute to the School’s founders, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin, to flashback favorites, and a tribute to Mr. Perry Feyk and his band PFP for 20 years of great music. The program included new numbers from 2021, including the middle school dancers, the Lower School second grade Haydn strings ensemble, and the upper school dance team The Dazzlers. Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr praised the program saying it was a wonderful alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a real treat to see the highlights of the showcase over the years.

THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

‘AVENUE Q’ SPRING MUSICAL

Varsity Boys Cross Country

CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER

SPRING DANCE CONCERT

Varsity Boys Cross Country

THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

US ART STUDENTS WIN 49 SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS Upper school visual arts students Gwen Savidge and Ali Brown won National Scholastic Art Awards for their photography submitted to this year’s competition. This recognition is reserved for the top 1 percent of submitted pieces. Upper school visual arts students won an outstanding 49 Regional Scholastic Art Awards. The competition is the longest-running, most prestigious competition for young artists. Benjamin students were awarded 11 Gold Key Awards (for works featured on these two pages). The Gold Key is the highest honor bestowed by the competition. Visual Arts and Innovation Department Chair Melissa Ford said she is tremendously proud of the upper school artists who participated in and won Scholastic Art Awards.

Ali Brown

Lily Valentini

“Problem-solving, skill building, and development of a personal voice are at the core of the visual arts curriculum. It is especially rewarding to have students recognized for these welldeveloped skills,” said Ford.

Gwen Savidge

CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER

Sam Sawyer

Eden Josza

Emeline Smith

Eden Josza

Nick Murphy

Julie Moquin

Sam Sawyer

Ella Hayes

THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

SENIOR WINS PRESTIGIOUS YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS AWARD SENIOR LEXI McCULLA WAS NAMED ONE OF THE PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS’ YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL WINNERS. The contest aims to introduce the joy of writing for live theatre to young people and to give them a creative outlet in expressing their thoughts and ideas. This year, Palm Beach Dramaworks received the largest number of submissions in the contest’s history from students enrolled in Palm Beach County high schools. McCulla was one of just 20 finalists and 1 of 10 winners. Each finalist was given professional feedback for improving and revising their play. The 10 winning plays were chosen by a panel of professional playwrights and theatre practitioners using a “carefully constructed rubric,” according to Palm Beach Dramaworks. Winning plays were assigned a professional director and actors, and were performed in a staged reading live onstage at Palm Beach Dramaworks in March. “This is Benjamin’s first winner in this competition and it is, indeed, a huge honor,” Upper School Theatre Teacher Jason Peck said. “Please join me in congratulating Lexi, our two other finalists, Garrison Gelman and Briley Crisafi, and all fifteen of our playwrights who submitted to this festival.”

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

THE BUCCANEER | SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

TBS ALUM THOMAS MAKES INCREDIBLE CATCH Benjamin graduate and Vanderbilt right fielder Isaiah Thomas ’18 made a remarkable catch when a fly ball entered foul territory during Game 1 of the College World Series finals. Thomas slid to his knees, caught the ball, and fell onto his chest before his glasses flew off. ESPN broadcaster Karl Ravech described the play as “the catch of the World Series.” But before he was an all-star right fielder, Thomas was a Benjamin senior and an intern in the School’s Business Office. Thomas, who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies his senior year, chose to attend Vanderbilt instead. He was named to USA Today’s All-Florida baseball team his senior year of high school, and was named The Palm Beach Post’s Small Schools Co-Player of the Year that season. Financial Aid Administrator Pam Didio remembers Thomas’ time as an intern fondly. In a letter to his mother, Didio extolled Thomas’ work ethic. “I cannot tell you what an amazing young man he is,” wrote Didio. “We absolutely loved having him here. He is so smart and picked up everything so quickly. He even brought us donuts on his last morning here. We already miss him.” Didio was one of many Business Office employees who joked with Thomas that they needed an autograph before he took off for college — a signature that now certainly looks fortuitous to have collected!

TRACK STAR BREAKS COACH SAUNDERS’ LONG JUMP RECORD Barrett Saunders ’03 found his way back to his alma mater, where he was once a standout athlete and now works as a beloved coach. Fortunate young athletes benefit daily from his instruction and dedication to The Benjamin School’s athletic programs. And in an exciting turn of events, one of the all-star athletes Saunders coaches recently broke his own long jump record. Rising junior Darrell Sweeting broke the longstanding record that Saunders achieved 20 years ago. Saunders, who will be inducted into The Benjamin School’s Athletic Hall of Fame, previously broke the School’s long jump record as a sophomore. Athletic Director Ryan Smith ‘93 said the intertwined turn of events is incredible. “The achievement by Darrell Sweeting is made even more special to all of us as Coach Saunders is Darrell’s coach,” said Smith. Smith said breaking the long jump record was an especially challenging feat, as Saunders is one of the most decorated athletes to graduate from Benjamin. “We look forward to more records being broken in the future as Darrell is only a junior and we have many other talented athletes on the track team, including Micah Mays who broke the 400 meter record,” said Smith.

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

SPOTLIGHT:

INGRID CORPUS, JAMES KEY Varsity athletes Ingrid Corpus and James Key were recently interviewed by Palm Beach North Sports about their impressive journeys as student-athletes. They shared the impact athletics has had on them beyond the court and course.

INGRID CORPUS Varsity Basketball, Volleyball, and Track “When I started playing basketball, it was one of my biggest challenges. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and I learned that not everything comes easily. I came to understand that improvement will only come through persistent practice. Basketball helped instill the values of diligence, effort, and humility in me, which I strive to implement into other aspects of my life.” — Ingrid, as told to Palm Beach North Sports

JAMES KEY Varsity Golf “Golf teaches me humility and respect for myself and others. It’s a game of honesty, which is important to me on and off the course. It also helps me to not stay focused on the negative. Every shot I make is different. Whether it’s good or bad, I know there’s always an opportunity to turn it around.” — James, as told to Palm Beach North Sports

Photos courtesy of Neil Cohen Photography

THE BUCCANEER | SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

BENJAMIN ATHLETES NAMED TO ALL-AREA TEAMS SUN SENTINEL ALL-COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS BOYS TRACK

GIRLS TRACK

BOYS LACROSSE

BOYS TENNIS

1st Team Cole Grande Robert Letsche Micah Mays Darrell Sweeting Faiz Umar

1st Team Sophia Buller

2nd Team Trevor Natalie Andrew Pagano

1st Team Sid Jasti Lukas Burnett

Honorable Mention Riley MacDermott

Honorable Mention Luke Pisani Brady Quinn

Honorable Mention Cole Jernstedt Darian Salehi Matt Smith

BASEBALL

GIRLS LACROSSE

1st Team Walker Buchanan

1st Team Lily Valentini

2nd Team Jake Haggard Max Joy

2nd Team Gwen Savidge Ella Hayes Grace Tighe

2nd Team 4x100 Relay Honorable Mention Troy Ackerly Quinn Broderick Jackson Hamilton Trakwon Harris

2nd Team Ali Brown

Honorable Mention Tristan Head Freddy Beruvides

Honorable Mention Catherine Civitella Cam Grissman

GIRLS TENNIS 2nd Team Jane Boyland Skyler Zur

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

THE PALM BEACH POST ALL-COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS GIRLS LACROSSE 2nd Team Lily Valentini Gwen Savidge Honorable Mention Grace Tighe Ella Hayes BOYS LACROSSE 1st Team Trevor Natalie 2nd Team Luke Pisani Brady Quinn Honorable Mention Andrew Pagano BASEBALL 1st Team Walker Buchanan 2nd Team Max Joy Honorable Mention Jake Haggard Tristan Head GIRLS TRACK 2nd Team Sophia Buller BOYS TRACK 1st Team Darrell Sweeting Micah Mays

THE BUCCANEER | SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

SPORTS WRAP-UP

Varsity Boys Cross Country

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

THE BUCCANEER | SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

ATHLETICS DIRECTOR NAMED TO FHSAA BOARD

Director of Athletics Ryan Smith ‘93 was recently named to the FHSAA Board of Directors. The organization serves as the governing body for athletics in the state of Florida. Smith, the first member of the Benjamin community to serve on the board in the School’s history, will serve as the representative for Section 4, Private School. Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr said he is incredibly proud of the high honor Smith’s election confers. “It is clear through my work here with other secondarylevel administrators across the state, particularly in athletics and athletics policy, that Ryan is viewed as one of the top athletic directors in the state,” said Carr. Carr said Smith is an engaged, respected, and experienced leader in the field of athletics.

Director of Athletics Ryan Smith ‘93

“As a high-level former coach, he understands the critical aspect of a school’s sports program; and as someone who ‘bleeds orange and blue,’ he understands the unique experience of a Benjamin student-athlete. As an institution, we benefit daily, in admissions, marketing, and program, from Ryan’s — and his excellent staff’s — skill and experience.” Smith, whose term commenced in July and runs through three school years, said his goal is to solicit information from all the Section 4 schools and get their feedback on current bylaws and policies in place. “My number one goal is to represent Section 4 and the entire state of Florida,” said Smith.

ALUMNI FOCUS

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

GREG NORMAN JR. ’04

NAMED 2021 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS Greg Norman Jr. ‘04 was named the 2021 Benjamin School Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Council during an annual celebration in Benjamin Hall on April 20. A member of the 14-Year Club, Norman was honored for his entrepreneurial spirit in launching Shark Wake Park, which are cable and aqua wake parks in South Carolina and Florida. Head of School Dave Faus welcomed an audience of seniors and Norman’s family members to the special event. “Seniors, you should know that upon graduation you automatically become part of The Benjamin School Alumni Association, a network of 3,000 plus members spread out across the country and the globe. Many of them have stayed in touch with each other and the school, and we hear their success stories every year,” said Faus. “As educators, there’s nothing more thrilling than seeing former students come back to campus and share their experiences,” said Faus who went on to acknowledge this year’s 20 members of the 14-Year Club. Alumni Council President and current parent Paul Lawler ‘02 spoke to the seniors in attendance, encouraging them to embrace the educational foundation Benjamin has given them, along with the relationships they have made and will make as a result of their connection to the School. Lawler, who recalled learning to love watersports behind the back of the same boat as Norman, praised his former classmate for giving communities access to a sport that they may not otherwise be able to enjoy through the creation of Shark Wake Park. Norman took to the podium and told students it was his first time seeing the ever-evolving upper school campus. “I walked around here for the first time today to see this high school. I graduated after 14 years from the old 44

Benjamin School campus,” said Norman. “You are so lucky to be here. This place is incredible . . . you guys are in a very unique group of people. We are all very lucky to say we came from Benjamin.” Norman told seniors the platform that the school provides will allow them to pursue whatever it is they want to accomplish. “Along the path, you will fail a lot. If you go Google a motivational speech by celebrity X, Y, or Z, every one of them will hone in on failure, and that’s a gigantic part of the process,” said Norman who recalled the trial-and-error process of getting Shark Wake Park off the ground. “I had to go through a lot of failure to get to the point where I was able to convince government and politicians to build an action sports park,” said Norman. Norman praised the value of discomfort and uncomfortable positions for their revelatory ability. “When you are in uncomfortable positions, you’re most likely doing something that’s right for yourself . . . I hope you’re nervous. If you’re nervous, it means you’re fired up for it . . . and that’s true with anything in life,” he said. Norman joins the ranks of previous Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients, including Olympian Ryan Berube ‘92 and Congressman Tom Rooney ‘89.

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

ROBIN McINTOSH, CEO, CO-FOUNDER, WORKIT HEALTH WORKIT HEALTH IS AN ONLINE THERAPY PROGRAM FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION

two-thirds relapse within their first year. From an early age, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and work in social impact (although, of course, I didn’t use that language). I started my own design agency out of college, but always felt that I wasn’t effecting system change at the scale and depth I wanted. In 2015, after the death of a friend, I founded Workit Health as a side project. It quickly gained traction with people desiring alternative pathways to recovery, and we found seed funding about a year later.

Q: What was your inspiration behind founding Workit?

A: I truly believe the best initiatives and enterprises are born of lived experiences. For me, that looks like years of struggling with manifold substance use disorder issues in my late teens and early 20s. I am very lucky to have a deeply supportive, loving family that routed me to proper care settings quickly. I entered the world of recovery at age 21 and found so much inspiration, agency, and aliveness there that I never looked back. Unfortunately, my experience is unique. Of the 20 million Americans diagnosed with substance use disorders, 9 out of 10 fail to receive treatment. Those that do receive help, aren’t much better off —

Q: What was the process like trying to launch the platform and find investors who believed in your idea?

A: Difficult! Our very first investor was Todd Kimmel who runs a fund called Montage Ventures in Palo Alto, California. He was probably the one—hundredth person we asked for financing, but by that time, we had enough organic demand to justify a seed round. If you are willing to work hard and long enough, and your idea is sound, it’s usually a matter of if, rather than when, the skies part and you stumble upon a supporter. But it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and 99 percent of people give up before getting over the finish line. I’m fortunate I’m so stubborn.

Q: Were there any takeaways from your time at TBS that have been beneficial to you in your career?

A: I was at Benjamin from kindergarten to 11th grade, so I can’t overstate how important those years were in framing my career trajectory. Big lessons include learning to lean into challenges, and curiosity and hard work . . . And finally, of course, the deep love of learning that fuels so much of my life, and frames every thought I have and decision I make.

Q: Favorite teacher/mentor at Benjamin?

A: I loved so many of my teachers at Benjamin, it’s hard to isolate just one! But I’d have to say Mrs. Brawley, my first grade teacher. Midway through the year, she saw I was bored in class and prompted me to borrow juicy chapter books from the second grade classroom across the breezeway. It was a learning breakthrough for me when I realized that my brain works a little differently, and those with power could champion my path. Also, I don’t think she realized that the Sweet Valley Twins books got salacious toward the end of the series, which was delightful and scandalous!

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Carter F. Smith (NPBPS ‘72) was promoted to Master Instructor with the Department of Criminal Justice Administration at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

ChemE-Sports, a computer simulation safety and optimization competition that is celebrating its third year with a combined on-site and remote capability. The 2021 ChemE-Sports Competition is planned for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting on November 7, 2021.

been nominated for, and placed on, several local and statewide boards and committees. Chelsea was also recently honored to be a finalist for Palm Beach North Chamber’s Woman of the Year Award.

Scott Colton ‘81 recently published his first book The Trust, available for purchase on Amazon. Ellen Laird Regnery ‘83, a current shareholder and president of Haile Shaw & Pfaffenberger, with offices in North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Wellington, Florida, is pleased to announce her firm will be merging with Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, with offices in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, Florida. This new partnership will build on both firms’ long-standing principles of client service and personalized legal representation. The combined firm of 40 attorneys will operate under the Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero banner, and Ellen will be located in the Palm Beach Gardens office. Robert Bozic ‘85 was recently featured on the New York American Chemical Society’s Facebook page. Robert and his collaborators at PetroSkillsSimulation Solutions Inc. are the co-founders of 46

Anne Fallon ‘86 was named Assistant Head of Lower School at The Bolles School/Ponte Vedra Beach campus. She is a proud member of the administrative team and continues to teach third grade at the school. Anne’s oldest daughter Emily, 24, graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2020 and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, working for Embassy Suites in the event planning department. Her youngest daughter Cindy, 20, is going into her third year at the University of Central Florida majoring in psychology. Anne’s son Andrew, 18, will be a senior at The Bolles School. David Szmukler ‘88 is living and working in Singapore. He is general counsel and chief compliance officer at Modular Asset Management. Chelsea Reed ‘88 was elected into her office as City Council for Palm Beach Gardens in 2020, and has

Ryan Smith ‘93 and his wife Megan Smith are proud to announce that their daughter, Emeline Smith (above), signed a modeling contract with the Ford Modeling Agency. Héloïse Brion ‘94 launched Miss Maggie’s Kitchen, a food, lifestyle, and travel website, four years ago. She previously worked in the fashion industry as a communications and image director in Paris. Her first art de vivre cookbook was published in English in September 2020: Miss Maggie’s Kitchen: Relaxed French Entertaining. Héloïse and her husband Christophe Roué (photographer, film director, and music composer) are working on their second book. The pair have created print and film campaigns for brands that include Veuve Clicquot and Le Creuset. Héloïse also launched a lifestyle brand this summer. The couple lives in Normandy, France, with their two boys and are dreaming of moving to South Florida in the next few months!

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | THE BUCCANEER

is the technical director of the cardiac sonography department at a local hospital. When the couple are not at home, they enjoy spending time at their family ranch in Southern Georgia.

Molly Stringer ‘95 recently joined local real estate agency The Sheehan Agency. Molly combines financial asset experience, interior design knowledge, and local market insight to facilitate real estate interests in luxury homes and lifestyles in the Palm Beaches. In addition to spending time with her two children, Molly enjoys Duke University basketball, the arts, and living an active lifestyle in her spare time. Jeanmarie Burigo Connor ‘97 is a pediatrician in Jupiter, Florida. She started her practice, Premier Pediatrics of Palm Beach, in 2014, and it brings her so much joy to take care of the children of so many TBS alumni! Jeanmarie’s husband Mike is an oculoplastic surgeon in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and they have four children who attend The Benjamin School. Jeanmarie and Mike are also entrepreneurs and created Scarology, a scar treatment system to help improve the appearance of scars. Will Rhody ‘00 and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, William James Rhody III, last September. The couple currently resides in Tequesta, Florida. Will owns several staffing firms and Ashley

Natalie Bedoya McGinn ‘00 has been named a partner at Gelber Schachter & Greenberg, P.A., a boutique litigation law firm in Miami. Natalie’s practice includes a variety of white-collar criminal, civil, and appellate matters. After working in New York for several years, Natalie is happy to call Florida home once again.

Todger Strunk ‘03 and Christina (Nicklaus) Strunk ‘11 tied the knot in December 2020. Both are so thankful to have celebrated with family and friends in their hometown of North Palm Beach, Florida. Morgan (McRoberts) Evers ‘03 recently left her job in the nonprofit world to start her own business: FINACIOUS Visionary Consulting + Solutions. She only takes on projects that pour good into the world and effect positive change. Her clients are from all sectors, including universities, nonprofits, business, and the state, who have ideas, projects, or goals that influence local communities or statewide systems.

Lauren Shaw ‘00 is the Director of International Communications for USAID (United States Agency for International Development). Dr. Matthew McAlees ‘02 and his family are returning to Jupiter, Florida, from Charlotte, North Carolina. His four daughters are enrolled in Benjamin and couldn’t be more excited!

The firm provides solutions, branding, and training, and facilitates workshops, and helps facilitate the movement toward positive outcomes, raised awareness, or positive change. Jessica Haverstrom (Paul) ‘03 was married to Dr. Kyle Haverstrom on February 20, 2021, at Jupiter Beach Resort. Haverstrom used fellow alumna, Jenna Wittbold ‘07, as her wedding planner, who “made our day as perfect as we always imagined!” 47

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Sarah Davis 05’ and Nicholas Rojo were married on November 14, 2020, at the First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach. Reverend Chris Southard and Reverend Walter “Lucky” Arnold officiated. Following the ceremony, the couple celebrated with family and friends at an outdoor reception at the residence of the bride’s grandparents — the same location Sarah’s parents wed 38 years ago. Nicholas Rojo is the co-founder and president of Affiliated Development. Affiliated Development has gone on to undertake numerous mixed-use multifamily projects in various Florida markets, and has earned a reputation as one of South Florida’s most dynamic and impactful development firms. Sarah recently resigned after eight years of teaching visual arts at the Upper School at Benjamin to pursue her career as a visual artist full time. Sara Parker ‘05 welcomed a daughter, Lucie Parker Badham, in November 2019. Sara and her family are relocating from New York City to North Palm Beach, Florida, this summer, and are excited to continue the Benjamin tradition with son Warner joining the WOW program this fall. 48

Liz Motta ‘06 recently opened her private practice, Motta Counseling, based out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where she offers individual therapy to young adults, including millennials, college and graduate students, and young professionals. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, along with issues related to body image and young adulthood. Liz is excited to be providing direct mental health counseling services to the community where she grew up! Brendan McNaboe ‘06 resides in Delray Beach, Florida, with his wife Sasha and their dog Mr. Eko. Brendan works at Chewy.com as an Associate Director of Supply Chain, focusing on their health care segment, while Sasha is a fourth grade English and reading teacher at Addison Mizner Elementary. Sasha and Brendan welcomed their first child, daughter Riley Grace McNaboe, to the world on December 12, 2020. Colin Hickey ’07 is a proud member of the Benjamin Alumni Council. He has spent more than a decade in the financial services and investment advisory industry in New York and

Palm Beach. More recently, Colin has partnered with Kurt Sylvia, JP Morgan Wealth Management, and JP Morgan Wealth Partners in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Kurt Sylvia is also a TBS alumni parent to Nic Sylvia ‘16. Colin and Kurt, alongside their highly experienced and longstanding team at The Sylvia Wealth Management Group, are focused on providing sophisticated wealth management planning and investment solutions needed for high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. Additionally, Colin became engaged to Carly Bennett in April. The couple is planning their wedding for next summer in Carly’s hometown of Narragansett, Rhode Island. Tiffany Chaplin ‘08 is excited to announce the launch of her business, Good on Paper, a brand and web design agency working exclusively with female-focused brands. Kirby Kempe Nielsen, Ph.D., ‘09 accelerated her doctorate at The Ohio State University’s experimental and behavioral economics program, to accept a two-year, full fellowship in economics at Stanford University (2019-2020). While at Stanford, she was offered and accepted a professorship in economics at Caltech, commonly ranked the No. 1 research institution in the world. Kirby and her husband Sam Nielsen now live in Glendale, California.

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | THE BUCCANEER

Hillary Mollo ‘10 was married in Orange Park, Florida, on February 12, 2021, to Alex Ullmann. She works as a commercial property accountant for Banyan Street Capital in Jacksonville, Florida. Hillary and Alex are now expecting a honeymoon baby in November. Hali Rose Holt (Sammis) ‘10 and Brayden Holt are expecting their first child at the end of October. Future grandmother and Benjamin teacher Ro Sammis says she is “finally going to be a grandma to a real baby — two awesome dogs, two amazing horses, two cats that ruled, and 10 chickens later!” Abbey Coffman ‘11 will be defending her doctoral thesis, which focuses on changes in bone biomechanics and bone quality associated with longterm, antiresorptive treatment for osteoporosis, and will graduate with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from The City College of New York. Alexander Dwork ‘13 is currently enrolled in the golf management program at Keiser University. He recently started a coaching business, “Let Go and Level Up,” where he trains athletes in visualization and championship thinking (positive psychology), and provides top-level instruction on all facets of golf from tee

to green. He recently won his flight on the US Am Tour (formerly known as the Golf Channel Tour) at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida. Luke Pingleton ‘13 is currently working as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in West Palm Beach, Florida. Natasha Zachariades ’13 became engaged to Ian Miller in December 2020. The couple currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, after meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2017. Natasha graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a master’s in electrical engineering and works as an engineer for FPL. The couple is planning their wedding for May 2022 in Boston. Colby Jack Kempe, Esq. ‘13 became a member of the Florida Bar Association and the Palm Beach County Bar Association in 2020 after graduating from both Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History, and from Ave Maria School of Law with honors. Colby then attended the No. 3-ranked postdoctoral tax law program at the University of Florida, where he graduated with honors and received his LL.M. degree in tax law. Colby is presently practicing law at the Kempe law firm with his father Joseph Kempe and brother Conner Kempe ‘08.

Cam Hanna ‘17 was part of the Keiser University Women’s Lacrosse team that won the NAIA national championship. Velvet Sahm ‘17 and her fiancé Alec Rosen welcomed their first child, daughter Ashley, July 23, 2020. Velvet graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law in May 2021.

Send Us Your Notes! Do you have news to share with your former classmates? We would love to hear from you. Submit your news and photos to alumniupdates@thebenjaminschool.org.

THE BUCCANEER | CLASS OF 2021

CLASS OF 2021 MATRICULATION LIST American University

Purdue University

Ascent Gap Year

Rice University

Auburn University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Ave Maria University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Babson College

Seton Hall University

Barnard College

Tallahassee Community College

Boston University

The George Washington University

Carnegie Mellon University

The University of Alabama

Clemson University

The University of Arizona

Columbia University

The University of Chicago

Cornell University

The University of Tampa

Dartmouth College

Trinity College

Flagler College

Tufts University

Florida Atlantic University

Tulane University

Florida State University

University of California, Berkeley

Hofstra University

University of California, Los Angeles

IMG Academy: Post-Graduate Year

University of California, San Diego

Indiana University Bloomington

University of Colorado Boulder

Jacksonville University

University of Denver

Keiser University

University of Florida

Kenyon College

University of Maryland, College Park

Louisiana State University

University of Miami

Loyola University New Orleans

University of Michigan

New York University

University of Mississippi

North Carolina State University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Northwestern University

University of Richmond

Palm Beach Atlantic University

University of Southern California

Palm Beach State College

University of St. Thomas

Pennsylvania State University – University Park

Yale University

Piedmont College

CLASS OF 2021 | THE BUCCANEER

CLASS OF 2021

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