The Benjamin School Buccaneer Magazine - Fall 2020

BUCCANEER FALL 2020

THE

The Magazine Of The Benjamin School

Volume XVIII

Symphony of Voices

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

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Susan Bickel Nick Crisafi Corey Morrow ’03 Jessy Fulford Padon ’01 Jeaneen Jones

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 Pamela Ha-Stevenson — Development Database and Donor Services Manager Sheena Wilber — Director of Annual Giving and Special Events Jenna Wittbold ’07 — Alumni Relations and Special Events Manager

On the Cover: SCHOLASTIC ART WINNERS Left to right from top: Caroline Small, Demi den Bakker, Bella Craven, Emily Horgen, Alexia Letsche, Alexa Cousin, Julie Moquin, Nick Murphy, and Ty Campbell.

Contents THE BUCCANEER | VOLUME XVIII

Letter From the Head of School ......................2 Symphony of Voices .................................................3 Campus Features ..................................................... 11

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All Three Divisions Honor ‘Grandest Friends’ ............................................. 12 Benjamin School Community Partners With Foster Care Organization for Service Project ................................................... 13 Lower School Hosts 30th Annual Olympics................................... 14 8th Grade Celebrates Graduation With Drive-by ‘Wave Out’ ............................. 15

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Seniors Mark Final Day With Virtual Assembly ............................................... 16 Senior Class Celebrated With Social Distancing Send-off .......................... 17 Titles of Note ....................................................... 18 Academic Achievements .................... 20-24 Celebrating The Arts ............................................26

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US Theatre Program Changed My Life ...............................................27 ‘Movie Magic’ Variety Show ........................28 US Artists Win Scholastic Art Awards ....29 AP Art Show in Benjamin Hall ..................30 Virtual Senior Showcase Features Talented Performing Artists....................... 31 Lower School Virtual Art Show ...............32 Sports Highlights.....................................................33 Alumni Focus ..............................................................38

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THE BUCCANEER

Letter From the

Head of School Dear Benjamin Community, The theme of this issue of The Buccaneer, “Symphony of Voices,” captures the diverse talent of The Benjamin School, where all members of the community have their own passions and talents, ranging from academics to community service to athletics and the arts.

As I begin my first year as Head of School, I find my job to be much like that of the symphony conductor — bringing the individual talents of the group to a place where they work together to create beautiful music.

Metaphorically speaking, the diverse and passionate musicians of The Benjamin School make beautiful, harmonious, and well-balanced “music.” Our musicians are passionate teachers like Stephanie Oster (Marine Science Teacher of the Year), coaches like Alex Clarke (Florida Volleyball Coach of the Year), and alumni like Dr. Christopher Winfree ’87 (neurosurgeon). They are certainly our students like Nicolas Lama ’20, Dean Silvers ’20, and Ellie Blain ’20 who have been recognized for their service to community, business aptitude, and athletic excellence, respectively. You can read about these incredible musicians, who are all players in the Benjamin symphony, in the following pages of this issue of The Buccaneer.

What makes our “symphony” so special is how all these different talents come together to tell our story or song — the Benjamin song. While the stories that follow identify some specific stars of our orchestra, our school is filled with many others who play their role in producing the final product that results in our beautiful music.

The best conductors allow the players to shine, while encouraging and empowering each member to play their part at their highest level. The conductor looks to provide balance, support, and vision so the individual understands they are part of the greater whole. Fortunately, I follow a legacy of very strong conductors at The Benjamin School. More importantly, I inherit a talented and gifted symphony that is used to being challenged and pushes themselves to play beautiful music every day.

It is my honor to take the baton at The Benjamin School and, with your help, keep this award-winning symphony playing beautiful music.

Go Bucs!

David C. Faus Head of School

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THE BUCCANEER

Symphony of Voices

THE BUCCANEER | SYMPHONY OF VOICES

YOU HAVE A VOICE. HOW WILL YOU USE IT?

By Marti Lotman ’06, Managing Editor

It is a question whose urgency operates at its own frequency. It reflects a moral obligation and an ultimate hope that we, in the final estimation, have agency in our own lives.

It is a question I was greeted with when I walked into my first journalism class with Mr. Ken Didsbury as a freshman at Benjamin. In hindsight, I realize it is a question to which Mr. Didsbury has anchored his life.

“Mr. Dids,” as his students have affectionately called him for decades, and I began our journalism careers at Benjamin the same year. It was 2002 and a time in the nation of high tension, turmoil, anger, and fear. Our country was still recovering from the reverberating aftershocks of September 11 as we were launched into the Iraq War. A fervent patriotism gave way to questions — many of the same questions we are asking now — about who we are as a nation.

It was a time in history when it would have been much safer for Mr. Didsbury to discourage student journalism. It was a time when it would have been easier to operate not as a voice, but as an echo. But Mr. Didsbury passionately encouraged dissent. He forced us to ask the tough questions — of ourselves, of our school, and of our country. He helped us find our own voices, hone them into blunt instruments, and defended members of the journalism staff even when he was on the receiving end of a pointed inquiry.

In many ways, he was the conductor behind “the little engine that could,” growing a tiny ragtag class of five that produced the school’s newspaper on cardstock, into a large staff who 4

Ava Alexander and other WOW students yearly produced a nationally awardwinning publication.

This fall, Interim Head of School Tom Reid welcomed us back to campus and asked the faculty and staff to close their eyes and reflect back on an educator who had impacted our lives.

It was humbling to realize that the handful of people who came to mind were either sitting in that audience or had been at one time.

Certainly Mr. Didsbury ranks high among them. He stands in good company as part of a school and a group of educators who help students find their voices.

My 4-year-old daughter spent the past (although sadly truncated) year in the WOW program. In many truly gratifying moments, through a coordinated effort by her phenomenal teachers, she found her voice.

Ava entered WOW refusing to speak in a classroom setting. This is not hyperbole. But throughout the course of the year, we saw profound changes in her as Mrs. Kelsey Wilder and other

WOW teachers worked their loving magic. This evolution culminated with her marching on stage in the Barker Center, front and center, singing and dancing her guts out in the grade’s Thanksgiving show.

This is Benjamin at its best.

It’s not an aspirational goal. It’s not a marketing tagline. It’s actualized from our 4-year-olds to our graduating seniors, even if we’re only able to recognize it in hindsight. It’s made possible by the Mr. Didsburys of the world who have devoted their professional careers in education to lending their voices to those of us who felt we didn’t have one.

Mr. Didsbury is “heading west” next year as he begins a well-deserved retirement. And while he certainly leaves an indelible hole at Benjamin, my greatest hope is that we all actively remember and challenge ourselves to answer his call to action.

“You have a voice. How will you use it?”

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SYMPHONY OF VOICES | THE BUCCANEER

3D PRINTING USED IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

By Nicolas Lama ’20

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic that is easily transmittable and has an extremely high virulence. Among those most directly exposed to the deadly virus are the incredible men and women in the health care industry who risk their lives daily to save and protect the lives of others.

Upon seeing the vast shortages of protective equipment that the United States experienced across the country, me and my brothers Gabriel Lama ’14 and Roberto Lama ’18, decided to use the resources and knowledge at our disposal to help do our part in protecting our local medical professionals by 3D printing face shields.

Roberto set up a GoFundMe page to collect money to purchase the

materials needed to start producing the face shields. Through the generous donations of members of the community, we were able to purchase the materials needed to produce more than 2,000 face shields. After testing several prototypes using models from face shields designed by Georgia Tech University, we built an efficient and functional design. Since then, we have had our three, 3D printers at home running nonstop throughout the day and night, printing the plastic visors. Whenever my brothers and I are not attending online classes, we spend time assembling the face shields with our parents on the dining room table. Many steps go into the assembly process, including cutting

the foam padding and attaching elastic headbands to the 3D-printed parts to ensure that the face shields are safe, functional, and comfortable for our health care workers to use.

In order to safely distribute the face shields without contamination, we package them in parts that remain clean until health care professionals need to use them. Our father has helped with the distribution of the face shields to hospitals in the area when he goes to work in the ICU himself. We are so grateful to be able to do what we can to protect those who sacrifice so much to protect us.

We want to continue to thank all the health care workers for the invaluable service and protection they have provided during this health crisis.

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THE BUCCANEER | SYMPHONY OF VOICES

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, FACULTY REMAIN CONNECTED DURING

DISTANCE LEARNING Picture it. The Benjamin Middle School. March 2020. The campus was decorated in blue and orange, hair and faces were spray-painted, and a giant, inflatable waterslide was in the middle of the field. All of this excitement could only mean one thing: it was the best day of the year — field day.

Between students hula-hooping on the obstacle course and Coach Keller and Mrs. Ramirez busting a move for the dance-off, the COVID-19 pandemic was far from our minds. However, it quickly became a reality when Mr. Reid announced the indefinite closure of the School later that day. It flung us back to real life to face an uncertain future of what school would look like while practicing social distancing with a closed school campus.

Middle school teachers quickly pivoted to all things distance learning. We grabbed our materials, got our Zoom rooms together, started developing materials, began troubleshooting issues, and became proficient online teachers in what felt like a wild, overnight adventure. While we wanted to continue teaching at the high academic standards expected of The Benjamin School, we also knew it was equally important for students to feel safe, encouraged, and part of the positive school community we had developed over the past several months.

We started our first full week of distance learning with a virtual spirit week. There’s no better way to tackle a challenging situation like the pandemic than with #PetPicMonday or #FunTimesFriday. Students took pictures of their pets and favorite 6

hobbies to share with the student body at the end of the week. There is something about seeing Fido in a hot dog costume that helps you forget the troubles of the outside world and focuses your mind on the strong middle school community.

After students were off to a solid start, it was time to take care of teachers.

Teachers are givers. We want the best for our students, and we teach with our whole hearts every day in our classrooms. This giving nature does not change in distance learning; rather, the desire to ensure our students have a positive school experience quickly took precedence as we put our personal needs on the back burner.

Knowing everything teachers were doing to support students, the middle school administrative team wanted to do something special for teachers.

We started weekly social hours to provide a space for the faculty to

By Chuck Maddox, MS Academic Dean

connect and recharge. Whether we played trivia games, name that tune, or had an in-home scavenger hunt, seeing our friends’ faces and laughing together provided the levity we were looking for. We’re not just co-workers.

We are a family that cares for each other and misses each other when we are apart. Even though we were physically separated, connecting through Zoom, FaceTime, and group texts kept our support system alive and our spirits high.

There is nothing fun about a pandemic, but we took the best of a bad situation and made our time apart something special for both middle school students and faculty.

When we look back on this situation, we will remember the laughs we had on Zoom, the memes we sent about teaching online, and how happy our hearts felt when we came back to school for warm hellos.

SYMPHONY OF VOICES | THE BUCCANEER

WOW Students

Find Their Voices At 3 and 4 years old, starting school for the first time is an exciting time for early learners. It is a time of major growth: socially, emotionally, and developmentally. The leaps that students make during the WOW program are tremendous. One of the goals of our program is to help students gain the confidence to find their voices and learn how to use them in small and big ways. Every child deserves to be heard, listened to, and empowered. Three-year-olds have so much to share if you give them the chance! Giving our littlest students the platform and skills to be heard is vital to teaching them to be confident and independent learners throughout their Benjamin careers.

Play is an integral part of learning to communicate during early childhood.

Our WOW students have many opportunities throughout the day to socialize and interact with their friends while playing in centers in the classroom or running on the playground during recess. Playing with their peers fosters imagination, creativity, and teamwork.

As students learn to effectively communicate, big emotions may surface. We remind all of our little Buccaneers to “use your words and tell your friend how you feel.” The WOW teachers do not jump in and settle the students’ disputes; instead we coach them through solving their social disagreements independently and appropriately. This gives them the skills and the confidence to speak up for themselves, and to express how they feel to their peers.

Hearing their friend express their feelings is more impactful than hearing it from their teachers. Soon enough, by finding their voices,

By Kelsey Wilder, WOW Lead Teacher

disagreements become minimal and most are solved independently.

WOW teachers coach students how to politely express their wants and needs first, and then demonstrate how they can do it themselves the next time.

It is amazing what 3-year-olds are capable of doing, and the sense of responsibility and accomplishment they feel when they can complete tasks and routines without adult support. It is this confidence that grows and develops and then carries over into life at home and outside of school.

One of the ways we like to help our students feel comfortable participating during academic teacher times and asking for help when they need it, is by creating a sense of community in our classrooms. Our classrooms are all built on love, compassion, acceptance, and kindness. We participate in a morning circle on the carpet each day, which establishes a safe space for our students to share any news and to let them know what they can expect each day. This morning circle time gives students the chance to share their thoughts and feelings, and gives us a chance to make personal connections and build a sense of classroom community. By doing this, our students feel less worried and anxious, and more prepared to learn.

Our morning circle time also creates a culture of respect and trust. When students feel safe, they feel more comfortable using their voices, and their voices want to be heard!

Our WOW students have traditionally had the opportunity to perform in two musical performances during the school year. These shows give our littlest learners another opportunity to use their voices in really, really

Mrs. Wilder and family big ways. For both shows, we encourage them to be confident in their ability to stand on a stage and perform in front of a live audience.

During the Spring Musical, not only are these amazing students bravely performing and singing their hearts out, but they’re doing it in Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese. Led by our wonderful World Language teachers, the students perform nine songs in four different languages. It is absolutely amazing and inspiring to see these kids develop the skills to sing in multiple languages (with accompanying dance moves), and project their newfound voices with confidence and poise for all to hear.

Our journey through WOW is one full of growth and empowerment, and students finding their voices.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to allow them to find their voice and to let them know that they are loved, and that what they have to say is important and beautiful.

As adults, we just have to be patient and listen, because we might learn something along the way too.

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THE BUCCANEER | SYMPHONY OF VOICES

TBS STUDENTS USE GRANT MONEY

to HELP FOSTER CHILDREN

IMPACTED BY COVID-19

Benjamin School students used grant money to benefit foster children in Palm Beach County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Freshmen Aadi Patel, Andrew Moffitt, and Jonathan Skatoff received the grant for winning first place in the national AdCap GENYOUth Challenge. The team has been busy using their $5,000 grand prize to develop their app Hurrihome, which connects people with safe places to stay during a hurricane. Realizing they had a small surplus of funds still available, coupled with the need for emergency supplies in our own community, spurred the team to partner with the Friends of Foster Children. The organization, in conjunction with local wholesale company Ernston Produce, provided 60 foster families in Palm Beach County with emergency food and supplies on April 20.

Ernston Produce covered the additional cost of supplies that the grant couldn’t.

“The experience of the day the supplies were given away was amazing to see. I saw what our work and prize money from the AdCap Challenge was able to do. I saw many people who are less fortunate than others that were able to get food, toilet paper, and other necessities. This was great to see because I realized that my friends and I had made a difference in helping our community,” said Moffitt.

The distribution, including more than 3,100 pounds of local produce, milk, cheese, and other basic supplies, was organized

by Upper School Social Studies teacher Dr. Hope Myers, advisor for the AdCap Challenge, Upper School Social Studies Department Chair Ms. Misselhorn, and Middle School Social Studies teacher Ms. Franzen.

Dr. Myers said it was an honor to serve our community.

“The best part was seeing families surprised by the amount and quality,” said Myers. “Just like Benjamin — Nulli Secundus. I’m so proud of the AdCap champions. I love working at a school where we are members of the community and are able to help.”

A touch-free car line delivery was established on Carolinda Drive adjacent to the Lower/ Middle School Campus.

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SYMPHONY OF VOICES | THE BUCCANEER

MS STUDENT 3D PRINTING PPE FOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS Middle School student Canyon Rauch is 3D printing face shields for front-line workers. Rauch prints the personal protective equipment on his own printer and makes roughly five shields a day. Each shield takes more than two hours to make. He has made 250 shields so far.

“I was inspired to do this because of the global pandemic occurring, and I thought it was something I could do to help out. I have donated around 50 shields already, and I am getting ready to donate a lot more to doctors’ offices around the state,” said Rauch.

Rauch said the cost to make the shields is minimal. They are lightweight, and users can wear glasses and a face mask along with the shield.

Middle School science teacher Matt Oster applauded Rauch’s efforts, saying he is one of the most talented 3D engineers and designers in the Benjamin community.

SOPHOMORE DONATING MEALS TO FIRST RESPONDERS Benjamin sophomore Max Gelinas and his brother Gavin started the fundraiser “Generous Portions” to raise money to provide meals to local first responders.

The philanthropic pair has raised more than $5,000 to buy nearly 400 meals for front-line workers at local hospitals, including Jupiter Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

Recipients of their generosity have also included the Jupiter Police Department and local fire rescue stations. Max told WPTV News Channel 5 that he not only wanted to help first responders, but aid local restaurants.

“The ones that are struggling during this tough shutdown. We just wanted to help them out,” Gavin told Channel 5.

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THE BUCCANEER | SYMPHONY OF VOICES

A FOND FAREWELL TO INTERIM HEAD TOM REID Interim Head of School Tom Reid led us through a year truly like none other. Whether reading bedtime stories, building cars in the STEM center, cheering at the Olympics, or bidding our seniors a masked goodbye, Reid rolled up his sleeves and led the School through the fall and an unprecedented spring.

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Campus Features

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

ALL THREE DIVISIONS HONOR

‘GRANDEST FRIENDS’

By Corey Morrow ’03

Benjamin Lower, Middle, and Upper School students welcomed hundreds of grandparents and “grandest friends” to campus during the first two weeks in March. The honored guests joined their grandchildren and friends for a morning of activities as part of this cherished school tradition.

Students in the lower school spent time in their respective classrooms, where they showed their friends what they’ve learned this year and shared a few musical numbers with them.

The middle school showcased their writing talents and worked with their grandest friends to create some quick poetry.

Each division and their friends then walked to the gymnasium, where they enjoyed a breakfast hosted by the Benjamin Parents’ Association.

BPA President David Craven, along with parents Christy Sheehan, Shana Simovitch, and a dedicated team of 12

parent volunteers, welcomed campus visitors before division heads greeted the grandest friends. Following breakfast, groups completed interviews of their grandest friends, and worked together to complete a puzzle version of the Benjamin campus.

“It is my favorite of the many Benjamin school traditions,” BPA President David Craven said.

Seniors invited their grandest friends to join them for a catered lunch in Benjamin Hall. Grandparents and friends were treated to live music by talented Benjamin students and

viewed a slideshow of photos of the senior class over the years.

“The connection between the generations is something that is so important to our students,” said Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr during his address to the Class of 2020 and their grandest friends.

The tradition of hosting students’ grandest friends continues to bring smiles to everyone on campus. A treasured, time-honored event that Interim Head of School Tom Reid says “is a highlight of the spring.”

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

BENJAMIN SCHOOL COMMUNITY

PARTNERS WITH FOSTER CARE ORGANIZATION FOR SERVICE PROJECT The Benjamin School partnered with Friends of Foster Children (FOFC) for the School’s 2019-2020 annual community service project.

The mission of Friends of Foster Children is to enrich the lives of those impacted by foster care. Their programming aims to provide enrichment activities for foster children to which they may not otherwise be exposed.

All three divisions participated in a variety of service projects throughout the year that benefited the organization, including: • Benjamin families across all three divisions collected hundreds of pounds of food for Thanksgiving meals for families, including stuffing, green beans, carrots, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

• The third grade collected gently used Halloween costumes to donate to the organization.

• Benjamin students in the Worlds of Wonder (WOW) program collected school supplies for the organization as part of their annual Trike-A-Thon.

• High school students with FOFC, and their families, were invited to attend Benjamin’s Linda Twitchell College Fair.

• Pumpkins from both middle and upper school decorating contests were donated to FOFC’s individual and group homes.

• Toys and gifts from the annual Holiday Toy Drive were given to FOFC to share with their children and teens.

• Case managers and staff were invited to attend Benjamin performances, including the Variety Show and other productions.

• Benjamin collected prom dresses and formal attire, as well as children’s clothing.

• Students participated in creating small gift bags for the children at FOFC to present to their case managers on Valentine’s Day to thank them for all they do.

• TBS collected carry-on luggage and duffle bags for children in foster care.

• Students from FOFC were invited to volunteer with Benjamin students at the Special Olympics in the spring.

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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

LOWER SCHOOL HOSTS

30TH Annual Olympics Lower school students competed in the 30th Annual Olympics in February. The Olympic Day celebration is the culmination of a monthlong, multicultural study that includes the exploration of foreign customs and culture, including a culinary luncheon hosted in classrooms on the eve of the Olympics.

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CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

8th GRADE CELEBRATES GRADUATION WITH

DRIVE-BY ‘WAVE OUT’ Faculty and staff cheered for our eighth grade class during a “Wave Out” on campus to celebrate their graduation from middle school. We are so proud of the Class of 2024!

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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

SENIORS MARK FINAL DAY

WITH VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY On May 1, the senior class of 2020 was celebrated for making it to the final day of their senior year during a virtual assembly.

“The class of 2020 will always be linked to the definition of excellence with character and high achievement second to none,” said Interim Head of School Tom Reid during the virtual send-off.

Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr introduced alumni guest speaker Martin Weisz ’18, who wished the graduating class well and offered the reminder that adversity is a characterbuilding opportunity.

“Adversity is not just an obstacle.

It’s an opportunity. The way you turn

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adversity from an obstacle to an opportunity is the way you attack it.

What this country is going through right now, what you as a class are going through right now, is the textbook definition of adversity . . . make this adversity an opportunity,” said the University of Virginia football player.

Members of the upper school faculty sent the class off with well wishes, love, and words of wisdom. Visual Arts Department Chair Melissa Ford unveiled the yearbook, “Behind The Scenes,” dedicated to outgoing Assistant Head for Academics Ken Didsbury.

Didsbury, who has spent the past 19 years at The Benjamin School, and

his entire career in education, said he was touched by the dedication.

“Benjamin is a remarkable place, and as I said in my video goodbye to the seniors, ‘You don’t leave Benjamin; you take it with you.’ This is as true for me as it will be for you. The friendships I have made here have been wonderful.

The values I have learned here are a permanent part of me. The work we have done together has made Benjamin an exceptional school. My love for this place is enduring. There is no place like it. Take all of these memories, experiences, and accomplishments with you as you head off to college and beyond.

They have made you what you are and will stand you in good stead,” said Didsbury.

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

SENIOR CLASS CELEBRATED WITH

SOCIAL DISTANCING SEND-OFF

We celebrated the Class of 2020 with a parade through campus. The faculty was on hand to honk and cheer from their own cars as seniors and their families drove through for curbside delivery of yearbooks, yard signs, and other Benjamin gifts.

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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

Titles of Note

By Erica Lazarus, Middle School PE, Mathematics Teacher When asked to share five of my favorite books, I really had to reflect on the ones that have impacted my personal and professional life the most. Those who know me well, including my students and colleagues, know I am passionate about my running and triathlon training and racing. They also know I am equally passionate about positivity and living each moment to the fullest. I tend to be drawn to books that inspire me to be a better person in all aspects of my life. Although these might not be your typical historical novels or books written specifically about education, the lessons I have learned from each one have helped me to become a better teacher, athlete, and person. I have read many that have impacted me tremendously, but here are a few of my favorites.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch The Last Lecture is a true story written

by Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He chose to give his “last lecture” not on dying, but on living and making the most of every moment. I love this book because it reminds us all to be a little more kind, a little more patient, and to have a little more fun in life. Pausch encourages us to dream big, take chances, and not be afraid of failure. He encourages us to be all we ever 18

dreamed we could be, and to leave a lasting impression on the lives of all we meet. These are such valuable lessons that we can teach to our students.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

by Mitch Albom This book is about a man named Eddie who dies at the age of 83.

The book takes us on a journey with Eddie as he makes his way to heaven after he was in an accident at the amusement park where he worked. Eddie had a rough life and never really felt like he made a difference in the lives of others.

On his journey, Eddie meets five different people. Each one has played a significant role in his life.

Throughout his journey, he learns how to forgive and to let go of all the bad moments in his life and to be grateful for all the beautiful moments. He also learns how his life positively impacted the lives of many. This book is powerful because it reminds us to be present in every moment and that even the smallest gesture, smile, kind word, or hug can change another person’s life. And sometimes, we never truly realize just how much.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne The Secret is a book that really encourages you to redirect your thoughts toward all things positive.

It is based on the Laws of Attraction — what you think and will into your life is what you attract.

It challenges readers to control their thoughts and feelings in such a way that they can control their destiny. The book includes wisdom from all types of

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

teachers, including those in medicine, science, psychology, history, etc., from all over the world. I find that putting this philosophy into action is very challenging and requires constant work and effort. But the more you practice it, the easier it becomes. It truly is amazing how you can create your own happiness and goodness in life simply through a positive perspective. The Secret emphasizes “what you think becomes you.” I have learned from this book how to be a more positive and goal-oriented person in all aspects of my life, including professionally, personally, and athletically.

The Champion’s Comeback: How Great Athletes Recover, Reflect, and Reignite

by Jim Afremow, PhD This is a great book for an athlete coming back from an injury — big or small. As an athlete and coach, this book has been very inspiring to me personally as I have had to make a few comebacks in my athletic career. It has also been helpful in encouraging many of my athletes in their comebacks as well.

Every practice and every competition challenges an athlete both physically and mentally. It is especially challenging when an athlete is coming back from an injury and they are faced with physical limitations. This can cause frustration, feelings of defeat, and loss of motivation. The book emphasizes that when these challenges are overcome, it provides an opportunity for growth. It especially focuses on the mental aspect by providing tips to athletes on how to visualize and meditate on goals, and gives encouragement on how not to fear re-injury. It gives great advice as well as wisdom from other professional athletes on how to overcome these obstacles and come back even stronger.

Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet by Jesse Itzler If you are at a point in your life where you need some motivation to get in shape, need a challenge, or just want to get out of your comfort zone, this book will surely inspire you to get up and get going. Jesse Itzler is an entrepreneur who is living life comfortably, but decides he needs to do something risky and something that will reignite a passion inside of him. He decides to take an extreme route and hires a Navy SEAL to live with him for 31 days. Seal, as he is referred to in the book, tells Jesse he will train him but he must do anything that he says.

Jesse agrees; then we are taken on this wild journey as the two together do all sorts of crazy things like running through blizzards, completing 1,000 pushups in one day, and jumping into a frozen pond. This book shows how incredibly strong the mind is in overcoming any obstacle that we face in life. Seal teaches us that all hard things will eventually come to an end, so we just need to push through. The friendship that is established between Jesse and Seal is both comical and heartwarming.

This is a great book that inspires readers to get out of their comfort zone, take some chances, and to be open to all possibilities!

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THE BUCCANEER | ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

MS SCIENCE CHAIR NAMED EDUCATOR of the YEAR Middle School Science Department Chair Stephanie Oster was named the John Beakley Marine Science Educator of the Year. Oster was recognized for her commitment to science education during a virtual ceremony on May 4.

The award, given by the FMSEA, recognizes one marine science educator annually who has demonstrated dedication to promoting science in Florida. The award is named in honor of John Beakley, a founding member of the organization and former marine science educator in Palm Beach County.

“Mrs. Oster is not only the best science teacher I know, she’s one of the best people I know,” said Head of Middle School Charles Hagy. “Her leadership in our STEM program engages students to solve problems based on the question, ‘What can we do to make our world a better place?’ With Stephanie Oster in charge of our science department, the opportunities for our students are endless.”

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ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS | THE BUCCANEER

19 US SCHOLARS INDUCTED INTO CUM LAUDE SOCIETY Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr inducted the following 19 members of the Class of 2020 into the Cum Laude Society: Alec Adam

Kassandra Jutis

Nicholas Amato

Nicolas Lama

Vincent Amato

Kiersten Malmberg

Christian Baldari

Caroline Moody

Leslie Berg

James Richardson

Ellie Blain

Dean Silvers

Ashley Cousin

Heather Sley

Alexandra Denholtz

Justin Stohlman

Catherine Dunkin

Tatiana Ziff

Emily Horgen

7 SENIORS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS Seven members of the senior class were named National Merit finalists. Vincent Amato, Ashley Cousin, Emily Horgen, Nicolas Lama, Caroline Moody, James Richardson, and Tatiana Ziff were chosen from a nationwide pool of applicants and represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors. Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr presented them with a certificate that acknowledged their achievement during an assembly on October 1 in Benjamin Hall.

Christian Baldari, Leslie Berg, Alexandra Denholtz, Kiersten Malmberg, Justin Stohlman, and Michael Yancey were named Commended Scholars in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.

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THE BUCCANEER | ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Faculty Spotlight:

DR. NICHOLAS LOCKEY, UPPER SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER

EMAg, The Magazine of Early Music America, interviewed Upper School music teacher Dr. Nicholas Lockey about the life and music of Antonio Vivaldi. Lockey’s scholarship on Vivaldi has also appeared in Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Lockey spoke with The Buccaneer about his career and music scholarship.

Q: How long have you been teaching at Benjamin?

A: This is my fourth year teaching at TBS.

Q: When did your love for music begin?

A: I had been taking piano lessons off and on since I was 6 or 7 years old, but I really got into music when my fifth grade teacher introduced me to Carl Sagan’s book and TV miniseries, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. I loved the music that was used throughout the series.

When I had a chance to take a 22

music appreciation elective in sixth grade, I began composing, reading about music history, and I learned to play the violin (and later also the viola) so I could join an orchestra and play music with other people.

Q: Talk to us about your Vivaldi scholarship. When did it begin?

Where are you now? What do you hope to study in the future?

A: I was already very familiar with Vivaldi’s music, having grown up listening to it on the radio while

getting ready for school in the mornings. When I was writing my master’s thesis at the University of Victoria (Canada), I discovered that very little research had been done on a particular type of piece (called “Theme & Variation” form) that Vivaldi wrote about 20 times in his approximately 800 known works. The research was fun. It began like a treasure hunt, as there was no catalog of these pieces and Vivaldi only labeled one of them. I had to search through all of his music to make

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS | THE BUCCANEER

a catalog before I could analyze each piece, compare them with similar pieces by other composers of the period, and assess their historical significance. I then went on to publish a peer-reviewed article that expanded the research of my thesis. I have thus far written my doctoral dissertation (at Princeton) on Vivaldi’s music, spoken at numerous international conferences, and published six major articles and several reviews, reference articles, reports, and made blog contributions on Vivaldi, Handel, Schubert, and music in 18th century Britain. I am currently working on several projects — articles, conference papers, reviews, and a book — that explore ideas in 18th century European musical culture. My goal is to bring as much attention as possible to important aspects of music and music history that are often underappreciated.

Q: How did you find yourself being interviewed by EMAg? What was the experience like?

A: The author contacted me after learning about my research online and asked if I would be willing to be interviewed for an article he was writing. He gave me some background on the article and told me that he specifically wanted to

interview a music historian with Vivaldi expertise as part of his effort to share perspectives from a variety of different professionals involved with the study and performance of Vivaldi’s music. We

profound impact on the student’s experience. It is very helpful to be able to know how to make adjustments on short notice to ensure success in the classroom and on the concert stage —

had a great conversation on the phone where he asked questions, took notes, and we shared observations about Vivaldi’s music.

He was particularly excited by the “new” research discoveries I shared with him. Since the journal is read by a wide audience of scholars, performers, arts organizations, teachers, and other music enthusiasts, it was exciting to be able to help spread advances in scholarly knowledge with such a large group of people.

whether this means rearranging the music score (proficiency with music notation software is a plus), playing or singing one or more missing parts yourself, adjusting rehearsal plans in real time to accommodate physical and health issues encountered by musicians, or developing creative solutions to last-minute instrument malfunctions.

Q: What advice would you give to students wishing to pursue careers in music education?

A: Perhaps the most useful skill to master is adaptability.

Teaching music requires a lot of knowledge and a wide range of experience (with teaching, performing, organizing, logistics, communicating, making repairs, etc.). The circumstances and materials you will have to work with are seldom entirely matched to what is desired or needed and can change very suddenly, potentially having a

Q: What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

A: I can’t think of anything.

Q: What’s your favorite piece of music?

A: It’s very hard to have a favorite piece of classical music for all moments in life, but one close contender for an older piece would be Franz Joseph Haydn’s oratorio “Die Jahreszeiten” (The Seasons).

Amongst more contemporary music, I’ve found something to like in almost every style. I’ve recently enjoyed discovering more popular music from countries around the world.

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THE BUCCANEER | ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

SENIOR AWARDED

KANTNER FOUNDATION BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP The Kantner Foundation recognized senior Dean Silvers, nominated for a Pathfinder Award in the Business category, with a $3,000 scholarship during the annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony.

Silvers was one of four seniors recognized by the Foundation, which was established in 1987 by real estate developer and investor Woodrow A. Kantner. The Foundation recognizes outstanding high school students who have demonstrated an understanding of and commitment to entrepreneurship.

Silvers spent the summer of 2019 working with the vice president of the local Ameriprise Financial branch, where he studied the career path of a financial advisor. During the internship, Silvers created a unique investment strategy.

“It was based around the JHEQX JPMorgan Hedged Equity Fund.

The reason we chose this specific fund is because it has a collar, meaning that during a certain quarter of the market it can only increase or decrease by a certain amount (in this case, it could go up by 5.5% and go down by 5% each quarter). So what we realized is that if the fund went down during the quarter, after the decrease, we could invest money into the fund, and we would have more room for upside and less room for downside, therefore, making it less risky for our investors,” said Silvers.

Silvers said once they discovered this strategy, his job was to calculate the best threshold to enter the market. “To see whether we should wait until the fund decreased by 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, etc. In order to determine that perfect entry point, I went back to the inception of the fund in December 2013, marked when the S&P 500 decreased by the breach’s amount each quarter, and then calculated the fund’s final value at the end of the quarter,” said Silvers.

Silvers said he and his mentor have found a way to navigate almost any kind of market with a simple investment strategy.

“After this, we created a flyer to share with our investors, and I am fortunate enough to be in the process of making a new flyer in 2020,” said Silvers.

Silvers was one of 16 Benjamin seniors nominated for Pathfinder awards.

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REMOTE LEARNING EVENT HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

REMOTE LEARNING EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Virtual Spirit Week

Virtual Buddy Picnic

Getty Museum Challenge

Book Character Day

Greek Myth Extravaganza

Pet Pic Monday

Neon Spirit Day

Faculty Appreciation Dinner

Crazy Hat Day 25

Celebrating The Arts

CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER

US THEATRE PROGRAM

CHANGED MY LIFE

By Nicholas Amato ’20 Almost four years ago, I sat in the Upper School dance room with five other students and our director, Mr. Bazar, for my Introduction to Theatre course. Flash-forward to my last theatre class at Benjamin, and there were 20 other students sitting on the beautiful stage in Benjamin Hall.

During my four years in high school, our drama program has almost doubled in size and that has allowed us to go from two theatre courses to five, with enrollment of more than 10 students in each. As someone who truly loves theatre and will continue to study it in college, it warmed my heart knowing that theatre is so appreciated by the Benjamin community. However, this success cannot be attributed to one person or thing, but rather a collection of new ideas and new experiences.

The first-ever One-Acts Revolution Festival was performed my freshman year, and it has attracted new students to theatre ever since. The festival offers students the ability to write, direct, and perform in small, one-acts designed to last no more than 15 minutes. The independent nature of the rehearsal process allows students to be involved in all aspects of theatre from directing and writing to stage design. In addition to this increased independence, the relatively low time commitment for rehearsals has attracted many new students wishing to dip their toes into the waters of theatre. Through the festival, we have gained valuable additions to our program and hope to continue to do so in the future.

Another big milestone for our program was our entry into the International Thespian Society in the fall of 2019.

This national organization boasts 140,000 members across 5,000

schools, including notable alumnus Tom Hanks. Each year, this society holds regional and state competitions in different aspects of theatre from stage design to actual productions.

This year, we entered our team into the one-acts competition, which consisted of our students performing original material in front of judges, as well as other teams from our region.

In late November, we took our team of six students to compete in the regional one-act competition. While we narrowly missed qualification for states, we learned valuable lessons for next year and are very excited for what the future will bring. In my opinion, our entry into this society is one of our biggest achievements because it is the first time Benjamin theatre has gone out into the community and performed work outside of school performances. As we continue to enter in competitions like this, we will continue to grow in number and skill.

Entering 2020, our program was ready to put on our annual Variety Show, Revolutions Festival, and our spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors.

However, our rehearsals for the musical ended in March, along with the rest of the 2020 academic year on campus.

The cancellation of the musical came as a huge disappointment, not only for our cast, but for seniors like myself who were looking forward to our last big performance in Benjamin Hall.

Despite this pandemic, our resilient club members have not lost their determination. For the virtual Senior Showcase, we put together our rendition of one of the numbers from Little Shop of Horrors. While it was only a five-minute song, it expressed our passion for theatre, as well as our unstoppable drive in the face of such a large challenge.

I’ve had numerous conversations with underclassmen about their experiences and their excitement for next year, and I am confident that the momentum from last semester will continue into the 2020-2021 school year.

To end on a more personal note, I can speak for many students when I say Benjamin theatre has changed my life. Not only have I been able to discover a true passion of mine, but I have learned many other valuable life skills — from public speaking to teamwork. Theatre allows you to come out of your shell and focus on what makes you unique. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to have grown over these past four years with people that have become some of my closest friends. Now, as I enter college, I am excited for what the future has in store. I know that I can’t wait to come back and see what our amazing theatre program is up to next.

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THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

‘MOVIE MAGIC’ VARIETY SHOW

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CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER

US ARTISTS WIN

Scholastic Art Awards Students won an outstanding 121 Scholastic Art Awards, including 25 Gold Key Awards and the American Vision Award.

Left to right from top: Ty Campbell, Madison Marotta, Eden Josza, Gwen Savidge, Caroline Small, Isabela Valdes, Tatiana Ziff, and Julie Moquin.

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THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

AP Art Show in Benjamin Hall Upper School students in AP Art courses displayed their pieces during a showcase in Benjamin Hall.

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CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER

VIRTUAL SENIOR SHOWCASE FEATURES TALENTED PERFORMING ARTISTS

Senior performing artists treated a virtual audience to the 2020 Senior Showcase. The sixth annual showcase, traditionally hosted onstage in Benjamin Hall, featured a talented group of singers, dancers, and musicians.

“The arts have played an important role in my life and those of my fellow students. We have all grown enormously because of the arts education we have had at The Benjamin School,” said virtual host Nicolas Lama ’20.

The event also featured performances from faculty members Mr. Perry Feyk and Dr. Nicholas Lockey as part of a virtual Backdoor Cafe, which normally takes place in a relaxed setting on the Upper School Campus.

Seniors Kaitlyn Hewitt, Alec Adam, Nicolas Lama, Jada Travis, and Alexandra Denholtz performed in what would have normally been part of a formal showcase in Benjamin Hall.

Members of PFP, a musical collaboration between Upper School English teacher Perry Feyk and students, thanked Mr. Feyk for his years of leadership.

“I remember walking up to Mr. Feyk for the first time and speaking to him about being a bassist for PFP . . . and here we are four years later and it’s been an incredible ride . . . thank you so much Mr. Feyk,” said Alexandra Denholtz.

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THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS

Lower School Virtual Art Show The Benjamin community was treated to a virtual lower school art show, showcasing our talented student-artists.

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Buc Sports Highlights

THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

23% OF SENIOR CLASS COMMITTED

TO COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

The Class of 2020 is continuing a strong Benjamin tradition, with 23 percent of the senior class committing to collegiate athletics: Beqaj, Sara — SMU - Southern Methodist University (Women’s Golf) Berg, Leslie — Emory University (Softball) Blain, Ellie — Dartmouth College (Volleyball) Cantave, Daymon — Florida Tech (Football) Cohen, Alex — Brandeis University (Softball) Downie, Roshaune — Denison University (Football) Fonda, Jenna — Jacksonville University (Women’s Golf) Hendryx, Vance — Stetson University (Football) Kendrigan, Bryce — Towson University (Men’s Lacrosse) Kline, Xander — Appalachian State University (Men’s Golf) Lange, Lauren — Bowdoin College (Volleyball)

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Laszewski, Emma — Brown University (Women’s Basketball) Levitt, AJ — Rollins College (Men’s Lacrosse) Matevia, Addison — Brown University (Football) McCullon, Daniel — University of Central Florida (Football) Pierre-Louis, Josh — North Carolina State University (Football) Rooney, Tommy — Lehigh University (Football) Ryan, Colin — Connecticut College (Men’s Lacrosse) Tiano, Alexa — Rhodes College (Women’s Golf) Valentini, Zander — Brown University (Men’s Lacrosse) Vitale, Alyssa — Trinity College (Women’s Lacrosse) Williams, Cameron — John Carroll University (Football) Ziff, Tatiana — Columbia University (Women’s Tennis)

BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

PB POST NAMES BENJAMIN’S

SHELTON COACH OF THE YEAR Girls Varsity basketball coach Willie Shelton was named “Coach of the Year”

by The Palm Beach Post’s Best of Palm Beach County Preps. The awards honor high school athletes and coaches. The winter awards celebrate high school standouts in basketball, soccer, wrestling, and girls’ weightlifting.

The Post recognized Shelton for his role in guiding the Bucs to a 22-7 record, an eight-win improvement from last season, despite having only one senior on his roster. Senior Emma Laszewski, a forward for the team, was named to The Post’s First Team. She averaged a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.

She will continue her career as a student-athlete at Brown University in the fall.

The Post also recognized Buccaneer basketball standouts Casey Lewis, Jasmine Patrick, and Deborrah Redmon. Mark Cueto was named to the 2nd Team for boys’ basketball.

Junior Trevor Natalie was named to the boys’ soccer 2nd Team. Emma Shirzad was named to the girls’ soccer 2nd Team and Bella Craven received an honorable mention.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s athletes were honored on June 18 at 6 p.m. during a live, on-demand broadcast hosted by sports anchors Jesse Palmer and Sage Steele.

ALEX CLARKE NAMED FLORIDA VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR Varsity volleyball coach Alex Clarke was named the 2018-19 Florida Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year. The honor, bestowed by the National Federation of State High School Associations, recognizes Clarke for her commitment to the sport and her track record of success.

The organization said this year’s recipients were chosen based upon their coaching performance, lifetime community involvement, school involvement, and philosophy of coaching.

Athletic Director Ryan Smith ’93 said he was thrilled, but not surprised, by Clarke’s award.

“She has led the program to an incredible run of successes during her tenure with three state championship appearances, and regional and district championships in the last few years,” said Smith.

Smith said Clarke is an incredibly detailed coach who works tirelessly to prepare herself, her coaching staff, and student-athletes for every game.

“Her commitment to perfection, attention to detail, passion, grit, and love of her student-athletes and fellow coaches are what have contributed to the success of the volleyball program. The most impressive part of this award is that leadership at the Florida High School Athletic Association nominated her. For the past four years that we have competed in the state tournament, she has interacted with FHSAA leadership and they have witnessed her coaching in the state semifinal and final games,” said Smith.

Clarke has been head Varsity volleyball coach for The Benjamin School since 2010.

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THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

SENIOR STUDENT-ATHLETE BLAIN’S JERSEY RETIRED Senior student-athlete Ellie Blain’s volleyball jersey has officially been retired. The honor was announced during a virtual awards ceremony the evening of May 20. Blain’s jersey will grace the hallowed halls of the Healey Athletic Complex, where other outstanding Benjamin athletes’ jerseys, rackets, and swimsuits have been retired.

Blain set Benjamin’s “kill” record with 1,224 kills during her four years as a varsity player. A kill is anytime a player attacks (spikes) the ball and gets a point. Blain was named The Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel First Team AllArea Player her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She was also named the Best of Preps Small School Player of the Year for the 2018 season.

According to Assistant Athletic Director and Varsity volleyball coach Alex Clarke, Blain was a leader on her team, seeing the group to four district championships, four regional titles, and three state runner-up finishes.

“She is one of the best volleyball players to have come through The Benjamin School, and she contributed all four years while she was here,” said Clarke.

Blain will continue her career as an accomplished student-athlete at Dartmouth College next fall.

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BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

SENIOR EMILY HORGEN

NAMED TO DAIRY FARMERS ALL-STATE TEAM Senior Emily Horgen was named to the Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team. Horgen joins 23 other student-athletes from the state of Florida who earned the prestigious distinction.

In order to be eligible, student-athletes must be graduating seniors with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5. Candidates must also have earned at least two varsity letters in two or more sports during their junior and senior years.

Horgen first joined the varsity cross country and soccer teams in eighth grade. In addition to bearing 13 varsity letters, she is a member of the Environmental Club, Chinese Club, and the National Art Honors Society.

Athletic Director Ryan Smith ’93 said the All-State award is one of the most prestigious athletic awards given annually.

“The award recognizes a very small number of seniors throughout the state who have excelled at the highest level in their academic, athletic, and community service pursuits. We were pretty confident when we nominated Emily that she had a very strong résumé to compete for the award. Our intuitions were correct, and we are so very proud and honored to have a student representing The Benjamin School and the class of 2020,” said Smith.

“Emily has worked tirelessly during her high school career in many areas. As a three-sport athlete and a student who gives an incredible amount of time to the community, she is pulled in many directions and is still able to balance her time to maintain one of the highest GPAs in the senior class. She is such a kind, hardworking, compassionate, and deeply committed student-athlete. We could not be more proud of her many accomplishments,” said Smith.

Student-athletes were chosen for the team based on their athletic participation, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community service. Amongst the 24 members that were selected for this team, only one boy and one girl will be selected as the Ronald N. Davis Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Emily will continue her career as a student-athelete at Yale University in the fall.

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Alumni Focus

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

ALUMNI UNDERTAKE

COVID-19 RELIEF WORK

The COVID-19 pandemic has created dire health, social, and economic challenges across the globe. If there is a bright spot, or a silver lining, it has been seeing the good work done by members of The Benjamin School alumni community.

Members of Benjamin’s alumni community have been using their voices to affect change in their local communities throughout this crisis.

• Tim Murphy ’85, founder of Shower The People, is working overtime during the pandemic to protect the county’s homeless population from the coronavirus. Murphy’s Riviera Beach, Florida-based organization provides mobile showers, shaving supplies, and clothing to the homeless in Palm Beach County.

• Lower School Administrative Assistant Ami Reece ’86, along with Lower School Student Services Counselor Kathy Bailey, Upper School Assistant Athletic Director Alex Clarke, Middle School Student Services Counselor Danielle Benvenuto, Upper School math teacher Carol McGrath, Upper School Dean of Students Sue Ball, and student Ella Bailey, went to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center during shift changes to thank and

cheer for our local doctors, nurses, and EMTs (right photo).

Dr. Jeanmarie Connor ’97, a current Benjamin parent and pediatrician practicing in Palm Beach Gardens, says she has witnessed her colleagues in medicine face unimaginable decisions and loss.

“But I have also seen us all rise together for the betterment of our patients and society,” said Connor.

“I have seen incredible beauty arise from despair, and an invigorating love for humanity emerge at the forefront of our society.”

• Dr. Hansel Tookes ’99 (middle photo), founder of the Miamibased IDEA (Infectious Diseases Elimination Act) Syringe Services Program, pivoted to telehealth appointments to serve his patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program connects patients with opioid-use issues with prescription treatments such as Suboxone and Narcan. The organization recently received a $500,000 donation from MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam campaign to support the expansion of telehealth offerings.

• Brennan Grogan ’05 assisted local small businesses with their SBA PPP Loan Applications by providing free legal services and connecting them with small community banks.

• Gabi Garcia ’09 (left photo) spends every Thursday delivering food to families in her school community at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado, near Boulder.

As community liaison for the school, Garcia delivered flowers to junior and senior girls who missed the chance to celebrate prom. She says that along with school, many of these students are working long hours to supplement their families’ income.

“In a time when personal connection with students is not possible, this time to talk and check in with students has been invaluable to my work within this community. What was once just my job feels so much more right now, and I am grateful for the perspective it brings as I do my best to serve these incredible students for the remainder of our school year,” said Garcia.

• Ana Garcia ’13 works as a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center. She and her co-workers wore masks sewn and donated by Upper School science teacher Amanda (Warner) Pierman ’97.

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THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Q&A:

DR. CHRISTOPHER WINFREE ’87 Dr. Christopher Winfree ’87 is a neurosurgeon who works in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Columbia Hospital in New York. In this Q&A and spotlight, he details his experience working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CAUTION: Portions of this article may be disturbing to some readers. voracious curiosity about the world. I decided that the ideal career balances success, family, and self in equal proportions, and I think I have achieved that. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Dr. Christopher Winfree

Q: What has been your most significant career highlight or success? Largest roadblock?

A: Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. And becoming one was great, although the process itself was brutal. I finished training when I was 35 years old, and the unspeakable carnage that occurs along the way is hard to describe in any meaningful way. But I am one of the very few subspecialists in my very narrow field. I care for patients and teach medical students and residents at an Ivy League medical school in the world’s greatest city. I travel all over the world giving talks and teaching courses. I get to perform surgery, develop new surgical procedures, and even get to save lives once in a while.

Believe me, that’s all great stuff.

But the highlight is that I have this amazing career that allows me plenty of time and resources to travel all over the world with my family, pretty much anytime I want.

The highlight of my life is watching my kids grow up and develop a 40

As for the second part of the question, I didn’t have any meaningful roadblocks. As my wife is so fond of saying, I was a white, middle-class, private school-educated male who came from a loving, intact family. What roadblocks? In all seriousness, I have known many who have endured atrocious hardship and suffering on their way to success and happiness. Any minor setbacks I’ve experienced are truly not worth mentioning.

Q: Did Benjamin play a role in laying the foundation?

A: Yes, absolutely! Ever since I started at North Palm Beach Private School in Kindergarten, I was privileged to work with teachers who fostered the joy of learning. Most made learning quite fun. Many had fascinating lives outside (or prior to) teaching, and it is those teachers who helped

me begin to see the world as a really interesting place. Growing up, I rarely traveled, so having teachers that had seen the world, so to speak, and who shared their experiences, really piqued my curiosity about the rest of the world outside of South Florida.

Q: Are there any teachers that specifically influenced you?

A: There are too many to offer a complete list. Elaine Morrison and Ms. Mary Pat Schlaudecker were two of my teachers early on that helped show me that school was fun and not scary at all. There were three teachers in elementary school, Christine McKerchar, Ms. Fenell, and Nancy Benjamin, who I found to be really intimidating before I actually had them as teachers. I was terrified of them when I finally took their classes.

Rather quickly, I realized that they were all fantastic, and I loved having them as teachers. So, the lesson there is obvious. Don’t fear the unknown. And if you can’t eradicate the fear completely, then use it as a stimulus to work harder and be better.

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

to the students in a new school in the backwaters of mid-1970s Palm Beach County, none of this would have been possible.

Q: What advice would you give current Benjamin students interested in becoming doctors or medical professionals?

A: Being a physician is incredible.

Phyllis Wissner showed me the inherent beauty in the rigor and precision of mathematics.

One defines a set of rules from which all else is derived. This, of course, is a metaphor for living one’s life, but I didn’t realize that until much later. I made it through the conceptually straightforward multivariable calculus and differential equations, and afterward, my math journey ended. The more advanced echelons of mathematics were incomprehensible to me. I hope Mrs. Wissner isn’t too disappointed.

Amy Sauter was my biology teacher in high school and she was my biggest influence in developing an awareness of environmental issues and an appreciation of the astonishing diversity of life. My science teacher, Dane Blumthal, fostered a scientific curiosity in the world around us. I will always be fascinated by space, astronomy, chemistry, and quantum mechanics because of him. His stories about doing all sorts of crazy things also helped me realize that life is a contact sport and whoever dies with the most interesting stories wins. And, of course, Ron Ream who taught me that finding that magical combination of passion, preparation, focus, and hard work will lead to success. He could not have been more right. Who can forget Sarah Salivar who helped us all develop an appreciation for language and culture? And without Marshall Benjamin and his devotion

The job is amazing and you get to help out when there is a medical emergency on airplanes (it’s happened to me three times!). As you progress along in your career, find mentors along the way. This is perhaps the best advice I can give.

Finally, depending on the specialty, the training process is brutal, but what the heck are you going to do?

Are you gonna suck it up for a few years to do what you love or are you gonna chicken out and spend the rest of your life wondering what if? Pick Plan A, because Plan B sucks.

Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in medicine?

A: I decided to become a physician in sixth grade, a surgeon in middle school, and a neurosurgeon in high school.

Q: What was your experience practicing medicine in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a weird experience for everyone.

My wife, Erin, is an anesthesiologist and we have both been working throughout the past few months.

I remember going into the hospital during that first week of lockdown.

It was a bit strange at first, as our medical center at Columbia was being transformed into a massive COVID-19 hospital. All elective surgery stopped. Routine emergencies mostly disappeared.

All of our operating rooms (among other spaces) were converted into ICU rooms with three to four intubated patients per room, some sharing ventilators. The facilities’

staff bored holes in the walls and set up negative pressure corridors where we normally would do elective neurosurgical cases. I would open a door to a normally quiet hallway that I have walked through a thousand times, and instead of quiet, I would be greeted by the roar of a massive air filtration system and the frantic rush of a transport team moving a dying patient from the ER to the ICU. We were all walking around in full PPE so we wouldn’t get sick. Bizarre only begins to describe this. One has to understand the perspective of a neurosurgeon to completely grasp this. I have spent nights on call pulling bullets out of a teenager’s brain, the early morning hours explaining to the family why the teen died anyway, and then later that morning, while undressing at home before breakfast, finding brains drying on my shoes and wondering if I can “Shout” it out with spot cleaner. A surgeon’s world view isn’t shades of gray. It’s shades of pure twisted. Even so, COVID-19 was surreal to me.

When describing one’s COVID-19 experience, it is important to note that anyone involved in the response to the coronavirus fell into three basic categories: the front line, the second line, and those that were unable or unwilling to help.

The front-line health care providers, referred to as “heroes” in pretty much every published description, are those that spent five to seven shifts per week in the ICUs and ERs; high pressure environments surrounded by suffering, helplessness, and death. Columbia’s ER and ICU physicians, nurses, respiratory techs, and residents belong in this category. They labored with insufficient rest, food, hydration, and PPE. It’s difficult to get enough food and water when you are too scared to remove your face mask or to pee. They experienced relentless stress without respite. The lack of rest and the inability to “turn off” between shifts were huge issues for these folks.

Continued on Page 42.

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THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

Continued from Page 41.

They were the health care providers who really suffered the most during this pandemic. Tragically, some committed suicide. My neurosurgery residents were redeployed into the COVID-19 ICUs throughout our medical center, including those in the converted operating rooms. Their patients were the sickest people any of us had ever seen. Each operating room contained multiple ventilated patients all trying to die at the same time. Our neurosurgery residents were absolute rock stars and they handled this effortlessly. Four contracted the coronavirus in the process but, thankfully, did fine. Their efforts were impressive to watch.

Another source of stress for the providers in the ICU setting is that most of the patients couldn’t speak since they were intubated. Thus, there was a pervasive sense of loneliness at every level. The providers were too busy to spend enough time with their patients. Extensive PPE depersonalized everyone. In normal times a scared patient can be easily comforted with the hold of their hand and a smile.

Not during the coronavirus outbreak.

Hands are covered in nitrile gloves, smiles hidden behind masks. Even eye contact is iffy through face shields.

No visitors were allowed, so patients died alone. That was tough for a lot of health care providers to confront.

Most providers are at their best when they are there to help patients and families navigate the death process. We are there to comfort patients and families through an astonishingly painful experience in normal circumstances. But with COVID19, everyone dies alone. Phones are useless when the patient is intubated, sedated, and dying. It’s awful for providers, and unimaginably horrifying for patients and their families.

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The second line providers were those who redeployed from their usual roles to care for COVID-19 patients.

I fit in this category. The Columbia neurosurgery faculty volunteered for redeployment into a COVID-19 unit located in the conference area in our hospital. This was a much less intense experience than the OR and

ICU COVID-19 units that our residents staffed. And, it was much easier than anything that was happening in the ER. We cared for patients that were not intubated and, although they were still trying to die, they were trying to die at a much slower pace than those in the ICUs. We worked a single 12 or 24-hour shift each week. With this minimal workload, exhaustion was not an issue.

it pretty easy working one day a week in the COVID-19 units. The rest of the days, we maintained our outpatient neurosurgery practices via telemedicine. Some of us had the privilege of being stay-at-home parents most days of the week. That was the best part of it all for me. It turns out that I make the world’s best Nutella pancakes. My kids said so.

Nevertheless, it was not business as usual for us. As surgeons, we are used to wearing masks, gowns, gloves, etc., and operating on patients while covered in blood and potentially contaminated with all sorts of hideous viruses. In the OR, if you are reasonably careful and don’t cut yourself or get stuck with a needle, the probability of catching any diseases is remarkably low. Thus, at first glance, spending a 12-hour shift in a COVID-19 unit surrounded by sick and coughing patients didn’t feel like that big of a deal at first. The thing with COVID-19 is that you can go about your day and all is well for 11 hours and 59 minutes. But then you step out of the unit, take off your N95 mask, and accidentally brush your pinky across your nose. Oops! Now you’ve gotten infected. And then maybe you get sick and then infect the rest of your family with the coronavirus. Maybe somebody you love dies because you got careless and screwed up. This thought crosses our minds several times per day.

The third group of providers are those that were not able to help care for COVID-19 patients. Some selfishly requested to avoid caring for these patients. I am proud to say that this was never an issue at Columbia, as there were countless providers in line for redeployment who were never needed. Other providers nationwide were not confronted with an opportunity to help out, and that is OK. They will get their chance to help out one day.

Of course, nobody becomes a surgeon unless they are obsessive-compulsive on some level. But you quickly realize that you have to be really fanatical about your safety procedures if you want to get through this pandemic unscathed. Fortunately, we discovered that if you don’t make PPE mistakes in the hospital, and maintain obsessive PPE protocols in public places, PPE works really well and you will likely be just fine. All this effort occupies a significant portion of your brain, even if you don’t realize it. I can’t tell you how many times I left my keys and cellphone at home in the past couple of months. I don’t normally do that.

To illustrate, I was on call as a resident at Columbia in New York City on September 11, 2001, and saw no patients that night. All were apparently dead or uninjured. A few days later, I spent my off-hours volunteering on a confined space digging team to try and find survivors in the rubble. Unfortunately, I never made it to the “pile” to help out since they weren’t allowing civilian volunteers to go through the rubble at ground zero. I was always bothered by that experience of wanting to help but not being able to. The passage of time helped me realize that I would get my chance to help out one day.

Everyone gets their chance to help in a meaningful way if they are open to that possibility. The key is to want to help and to be available when the opportunity presents itself.

But in the end, we all did our jobs and helped as many patients as we could. The neurosurgeons had Dr. Winfree’s family

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

Alumni Class Notes City Council on March 17, 2020. The Palm Beach Post, as well as countless current and former elected officials, and impactful organizations, endorsed her. Chelsea says she feels like she has her dream job. She also proudly serves on The Benjamin School Alumni Council. She will serve her term on the city council until March 2023.

Wendy Mendelsohn ’87 is an active volunteer and board member at St. George’s Center in Riviera Beach, Florida, where meals, clothing, and hygiene products are provided to the underserved community in northeastern Palm Beach County.

St. George’s Center has continued to serve hot meals and sandwich/snack bags six days a week (more than 1,400 meals a week) throughout the COVID19 pandemic. Wendy and her husband Josh have three children, Jordan (’17), Abi (’18), and Jake, in addition to two Labrador retrievers.

Chelsea (Smith) Reed ’88 won the election for Palm Beach Gardens

who is currently working at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Amanda has so far created 160 masks and has offered to teach anyone interested on how to make them.

Drew Sheahan ’98 launched The Chariot App, a free app that partners with restaurants, bars, and clubs to cover the cost of users’ Uber or Lyft ride. The free app launched in Central Florida. Drew hopes to eventually go national. He is currently building the app for download on IOS and Android.

Dan Sheehan ’94 recently took Professional Bank, which he co-founded, public through an IPO, and listed it on the NASDAQ Global Select Exchange.

On February 14, he was invited to ring the opening bell at NASDAQ Global Headquarters in New York (pictured above).

Amanda (Warner) Pierman ’97 (pictured above) has been sewing fabric masks for medical personnel in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has donated the masks to JOANN Fabrics, Good Samaritan Medical Center, and to alumna, Ana Garcia ’13,

In February 2020, Mandy (Romfh) Jesteadt ’00 (pictured above) was promoted to shareholder of Carlton Fields, an Am Law 200 national law firm. From her West Palm Beach, Florida, office (and more recently, her home office), Mandy focuses her practice on litigation and counseling in complex antitrust and telecommunications matters, as well as general business litigation. She serves on the Board of the Women’s Foundation of Florida and is a recent past president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Palm Beach County (2018-19). Mandy and her husband Jimmy Jesteadt, PE, live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with their two sons, Jay, age 7, Dean, age 5, and two dogs.

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THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

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Graig Mansfield ’00 was recruited by the CDC Foundation to lead their Federal Budget Management in response to pressure from COVID-19 activity. According to Graig, through the first four months of 2020, and in only one-third the time, private donations and federal grants are up roughly 300% from previous full-year records. This rush in funding required the creation of a dedicated Federal FP&A team of which he is the lead analyst. Graig is currently working to support staffing shortages in positions nationwide, including epidemiologists and contact tracers. Additionally, his team is researching not just possible vaccines and remedies, but disproportionate effective rates and their causes across various regions and demographics. Graig and his wife Ali recently welcomed their first child, Gwenith R. Mansfield (pictured left), on December 23, 2019.

Justin and Shelby Guerra ’03 welcomed a baby girl, Ellie Paige, to the world on March 18, 2020. Their son Miles, age 4, is thrilled to have a baby sister.

Samantha Sadow Mayfield ’03 and William Mayfield announce the birth of their daughter, Gigi Carmella Mayfield (pictured left), born March 13, 2020.

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Todger Strunk ’03 and Christina Nicklaus ’11 announce their engagement! A December 2020 wedding is planned.

Christina Vopal ’04 married Bret Fischer on July 27, 2019, at Malibu Rocky Oaks, California. Christina works for Deloitte in their consulting group. Bret, a California native, works in private equity real estate. They reside in Manhattan Beach, California.

Brooke (Smith) Grogan ’05, senior attorney at Donald R. Smith & Associates in North Palm Beach, Florida, purchased and assembled more than 50 Easter baskets for donation to the Riviera Beach Police Department. The baskets were filled with coloring books, bubbles, stickers, glow sticks, stuffed animals, pencils, and messages of hope from the Easter Bunny himself, and were distributed in and around communities in Riviera Beach,

Florida. Brooke, a mother of three young children, hopes the baskets brought a feeling of joy and normalcy during such an uncertain and anxious time. She is also hopeful that her local acts will inspire other businesses to think of creative ways to support and uplift their own communities.

Ashlee (Albert) Zahringer ’05 and Duncan Zahringer ’07 welcomed their first baby, James Duncan Zahringer III, on February 7, 2020.

They live in West Palm Beach, Florida, and hope for little Duncan to attend The Benjamin School in the future.

Lauren (Colclasure) Neto ’06 and her husband Bernardo, and two daughters, Charlotte and Emilia (pictured below), moved back to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in March after five years in Las Vegas.

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

Bernardo is the general manager of The Ben, the new Autograph Collection hotel in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. The Netos are happy to be back in Florida close to family and the beach, and look forward to raising their girls here!

Talbot Sutter ’07 and his wife Adriana (pictured above) recently welcomed their second daughter, Sterling Rose Sutter, to the world. Sterling and sister Scarlett Lucille “will be attending Benjamin if they are lucky.” Talbot started a real estate company, Sutter & Nugent, in 2013 with the help of two Benjamin families, which has since grown to five offices with 150 associates throughout South Florida.

Celeste Hoecker ’07 was married to Justin Blankenship on October 12, 2019. The wedding was held among the grapes at Saltwater Farm Vineyard in scenic Stonington, Connecticut, in the crisp fall air in front of close family and friends.

Jason Milner ’07 and Nicole Milner married Sunday, December 29, 2019, at the Pelican Club in Jupiter, Florida.

Nicole Milner is a sixth grade teacher serving the Delray Beach, Florida, community at Carver Middle School, and Jason is a founding partner of Sutter & Nugent Real Estate, as well as founder and president of The Milner Insurance Group located in North Palm Beach, Florida. Jason and Nicole both grew up in Jupiter and love calling the area home.

Lindsey Sachs ’07 became engaged to Taylor Dodge last April, with plans to marry April 25, 2020. Of course, those plans were unfortunately put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After living in New York City for several years, they are looking forward to moving back down to Florida in the next couple months, and planning a rescheduled wedding.

Danielle (Glogower) Fisher ’07 and Robert Fisher are excited to introduce their newest Buccaneer, Hope, born on April 30, 2019.

Melanie Davis ’07 became an advanced registered nurse practitioner in 2016. She recently moved back to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and started working for Dr. Michael Connor, an oculoplastic surgeon and Benjamin parent.

Melanie treats patients with various medical and cosmetic eyelid concerns, and spends most of her time assisting in the operating room and seeing patients in the office. She specializes in noninvasive cosmetic treatments such as dermal fillers and Botox injections, chemical peels, and laser treatments.

Continued on Page 46.

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THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

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plans have been put on hold because of COVID-19, including a gig at the Lindsey Drevins ’08 became engaged to Ben Leboza on January 1, 2019, in Juno Beach, Florida. Lindsey and Ben met in August 2013 while both were living in Stamford, Connecticut, and recently purchased their first home in Rowayton, Connecticut. The couple plans to wed in June 2021 in Lindsey’s Connecticut hometown of Branford.

Hannah Gross ’13 is pursuing her MBA at Georgetown University in the fall.

Brenna Tiano ’13 and Christopher Seifter (pictured above) are so happy to announce their engagement that took place in February. They plan to get married in Jupiter, Florida.

Brittani (Glogower) Terry ’09 and Alex Terry’s family is growing! Olivia has a sister, Kaylee Jade, born on July 12, 2019.

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Riley Burke ’14 and her emerging folk-jazz-rock band Burke & Krowe, started the year with gigs in New York City at venues like Pianos.

While their other performances and

legendary Bitter End, Burke & Krowe is releasing music on all streaming platforms. Earlier this year, the band released four singles (“Maybe,” “Pass on By,” “Shadow & Form,” and “Through the Streets of New York”) to complement their debut EP released in January 2019, and will release their full-length album Shadow & Form (pictured above) by the end of 2020.

Marti Lotman ’06 and Dale Alexander welcomed Adelyn Mae to their family on January 24, 2020. Their older daughter Ava is loving her role as big sister. Dale is the owner of Synthetic Turf International, a commercial and residential artificial grass company in South Florida.

Marti is beginning her third year as Publications & Communications Manager for The Benjamin School.

THE BUCCANEER

With Tremendous Pride

Class of 2020 Matriculation List Appalachian State University

Rhodes College

Arizona State University

Rollins College

Boston College

Southern Methodist University (3)

Boston University

Stetson University (3)

Bowdoin College

Tallahassee Community College

Brandeis University

Texas Christian University

Brown University (4)

The Ohio State University

Chapman University

Towson University

Clemson University

Trinity College

Columbia College Chicago

Tufts University

Columbia University, New York City (3)

Tulane University

Connecticut College

University of Alabama (2)

Cornell University

University of California, Santa Barbara

Dartmouth College

University of California, San Diego

Dean College

University of Central Florida

Denison University

University of Colorado, Boulder

Duke University

University of Delaware

Emory University (2)

University of Florida (3)

Florida Atlantic University (3)

University of Maryland, College Park (2)

Florida Institute of Technology

University of Miami

Florida State University (7)

University of Mississippi

Fordham University

University of North Florida

Georgetown University (2)

University of Pennsylvania

High Point University

University of Southern California (2)

Indiana University, Bloomington

University of Tampa

Jacksonville University

Villanova University (2)

John Carroll University

Virginia Tech (2)

Johns Hopkins University

Wake Forest University (2)

Lehigh University

Washington University in St. Louis

New York University (2)

Wheaton College

North Carolina State University, Raleigh

Yale University (2)

Northeastern University (5)

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THE BUCCANEER | CLASS OF 2020

Welcome Newest Alumni

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Gian-Carlo Abbonizio

Alec Adam

Gabriel Agrama

Nicholas Amato

Vincent Amato

Andrew Armstrong

Josie Austin

Christian Baldari

Alexandra Balduzzi

Sierra Barron

Francisco Barros

Sarah Beqaj

Joseph Berg

Leslie Berg

Ellie Blain

Jason Blum

CLASS OF 2020 | THE BUCCANEER

Class of 2020

Blake Bowen

Ty Campbell

Daymon Cantave

Dazmine Capre

Wells Carr

Christian Cassanelli

Matthew Cassanelli

Caroline Charles

Zixuan Chen

Alexandra Cohen

Ashley Cousin

Sarah Caroline Crall

Isabella Craven

Jessica Davis

Phoebe Denenberg

Alexandra Denholtz Continued on Page 50.

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THE BUCCANEER | CLASS OF 2020

Continued from Page 49.

The Benjamin School

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Roshaune Downie

Catherine Dunkin

Zack Feldman

Nicole Fields

Jenna Fonda

Molly Freeman

Kersten Galeta

Daniella Gangi

Alexander Goldberg

Peyton Greene

Vance Hendryx

Kaitlyn Hewitt

Emily Horgen

Kiran Houri

Elena Ippolito

Stephen Ippolito

CLASS OF 2020 | THE BUCCANEER

Class of 2020

Kassandra Jutis

Bryce Kendrigan

Xander Kline

Regan Kretz

Nicolas Lama

Lauren Lange

Emma Laszewski

Coby Leibowitz

Alexia Letsche

Austin Levitt

Xiao Liu

Grace Mack

Kiersten Malmberg

Madison Marotta

Addison Matevia

Mackenzie Matevia Continued on Page 52.

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THE BUCCANEER | CLASS OF 2020

Continued from Page 51.

The Benjamin School

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Daniel McCullon

Caroline Moody

William Moscatello

Ned Murphy

Ali Paksima

Rigby Peckham

Mariana Perez Vargas

Joshua Pierre-Louis

Scott Pignataro

Samantha Rearick

James Richardson

Thomas Rooney

Colin Ryan

Isabel Samarias

Dean Silvers

Heather Sley

CLASS OF 2020 | THE BUCCANEER

Class of 2020

Caroline Small

Matthew Sproger

Justin Stohlman

Alexis Tadros

Alexa Tiano

Jada Travis

Isabela Valdes

Alexander Valentini

Alyssa Vitale

Alexandra Walczak

Sarah Weiss

Cameron Williams

Hayden Wolf

Bianca Yan

Michael Yancey

Tatiana Ziff 53