2015 Fall Perkiomen Magazine by Perkiomen School

Perkiomen MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

FOR ALUMNI, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, F A C U LT Y, AND FRIENDS

Headmaster Mark A. Devey Associate Headmaster Carol Dougherty P ’11, ’13 Director of Development Karl Welsh Director of Communications Edwin D. Stubbs, Jr. ’10 Managing Editor Tara M. Smith Additional Contributors Abi Rose-Craver ’14 Yijin “Bella” Lu ’16 Diana Weir-Smith ’85, P ’19 Contributing Photographers Tim Miller Design Michael Gunselman Incorporated

elcome! Each fall, there are always new people to greet, new or renovated spaces to integrate into our daily lives, and new and exciting things to learn, do, and experience at The Perkiomen School. For our campus, autumn i s a l l a b o u t s a y i n g “ w e l c o m e ! ” a n d e m b r a c i n g t h e u n i q u e n e s s o f e a c h n e w s c h o o l y e a r. I n t h i s i s s u e o f P e r k i o m e n M a g a z i n e , g e t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h o u r n e w h e a d m a s t e r, M a r k A . Devey, and help us welcome him into the Perkiomen family. Learn about the newly renovated dining hall and how it impacts the student experience. Meet Bella Lu, the new president o f t h e s t u d e n t b o d y, a n d r e a d a b o u t h e r j o u r n e y f r o m s h y s t u d e n t t o c l a s s l e a d e r. F i n a l l y, c h e c k o u t t h e m y r i a d w a y s P e r k i o m e n w e l c o m e s i t s a l u m n i b a c k t o c a m p u s i n “ L o y a l , Tr i e d , a n d Tr u e , ” a s e r i e s o f t h r e e a r t i c l e s o n o u r a l u m n i c o m m u n i t y. We a r e l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to a great 2015-2016 school year with new leadership, new spaces, and new experiences.

Nov 2015 Inside This Issue

Peek at Perk 2 A Letter from Mark A. Devey, Perkiomen’s 15th Headmaster 8

A Dream Come True: The Eat|Sleep|Dream Campaign Closes 12 Congratulations to the Class of 2015 16 Loyal, Tried, and True: Perkiomen’s Alumni Community 20

Learning Leadership 28 Class Notes 30

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PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Peek @ Perk

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PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

At prom, Moritz Schellenberg ’15, Hyun Chang “Bobby” Lee ’15, and Jack Flynn ’16 showed off their moves as they danced to “Gangnam Style,” a Korean pop song. As one of the last major events before graduation, students looked forward to celebrating with the senior class and creating memories, like the one shown here, of their time at Perkiomen.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Peek @ Perk

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PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

While faculty member Tim Gaiser kept a close watch, Levi Stoudt ’16 built strength and endurance during Perkiomen’s Strength and Speed summer camp. The camp focused on physical conditioning and developing mental stamina to prepare students for this year’s athletic season. A variety of athletic, academic, and enrichment camps and programs were offered on campus, including Skills for Success, SAT Bootcamp, English Literature and Composition, and Theater Camp.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Peek @ Perk

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PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

On Registration Day, Headmaster Mark A. Devey helped welcome 343 students back to campus, including Seamus Finnegan ’18, Gianna Rutgers ’17, and Matthew Pulcini ’18. After receiving schedules, filling out paperwork, and registering iPads, students and families enjoyed a live DJ, photo booth, refreshments, and lunch in Perkiomen’s newly renovated dining hall.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

A Letter from

Mark A. Devey

PERKIOMEN’S 15TH HEADMASTER

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

DEAR ALUMNI, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS:

W h e n I i n t e r v i e we d i n t h e h e a d s e a r c h l a s t ye a r, Pe r k i o m e n ’s s e n s e o f f a m i l y a n d t h e w h o l e s o m e n e s s o f its community member s appealed to me and drew me to this wonderful oppor tunity. Since ar r iving in Pennsburg ove r t h e s u m m e r, I h ave e n j oye d i m m e r s i n g my s e l f i n t h i s v i b r a n t , d i ve r s e, a n d we l c o m i n g s c h o o l t h a t I n ow c a l l h o m e. I t i s a n h o n o r t o l e a d Pe r k i o m e n a n d t o c o m b i n e f o r c e s w i t h yo u o n t h i s n e w a d ve n t u r e. At the convocation ceremony in September, I addressed t h e s t u d e n t b o d y i n a s p e e c h t h a t I b e l i e ve e x p r e s s e s s o m e o f my p e r s o n a l h i s t o r y a n d p h i l o s o p hy. I wo u l d l i ke t o s h a r e a p o r t i o n o f i t w i t h yo u : W h e n I wa s yo u r a g e, I a t t e n d e d M o r av i a n A c a d e my. I ro n i c a l l y, I wa s l iv i n g i n t h e h e a d m a s t e r ’s h o u s e b a c k t h e n a s my d a d wa s my h e a d m a s t e r. O n e o f t h e n ew b o a rd e r s wa s n a m e d S a m i Ju r a i f a n i . H e wa s a b o u t 6 ye a r s o l d e r t h a n I wa s , a n d we h a d l i t t l e i n common. He ar r ived from Saudi Arabia a t a t i m e, l i ke n ow, w h e n t h e re wa s u n re s t i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t . I wa s p a l e w i t h bl o n d , c u r l y h a i r, a n d S a m i h a d a dark complexion and dark black hair. H e h a d a mu s t a c h e a n d b e a rd , w h i l e I wa s ye a r s away f ro m eve n t o u c h i n g a r azor. We practiced d i f f e re n t re li g i o n s . M y f a t h e r wa s a n e d u c a t o r, a n d h i s f ather owned oil fields. He was a young m a n , a n d I wa s j u s t a k i d . S o, we we re d e c i d e d l y d i f f e re n t . Early in the year, my f amily planned a tr ip to Philadelphia to watch the Phillies play the Pirates. My f ather excelled in athletics and was a standout shor tstop a t t h e U n ive r s i t y o f P i t t s bu r g h , s o we we re av i d s p o r t s f a n s . S a m i h e a rd we we re g o i n g a n d s h a re d h i s l ove o f b a s e b a l l . H e h a d n eve r a t t e n d e d a g a m e, s o we i nv i t e d him to join us. We a r r i ve d e a r l y t o t r y t o c a t c h b a t t i n g p r a c t i c e, a n d t h e P i r a t e s we re d ow n o n t h e f i e l d . M y f a t h e r, w h o wa s n o t s hy, wa l ke d t o t h e e d g e o f t h e t u r f a n d c a l l e d ove r W i l l i e S t a r g e l l , w h o wa s a b i g , p owe r f u l h o m e r u n h i t t e r, a n d i n t ro d u c e d S a m my. S a m my wa s i n awe, a n d s o wa s I . W i l l i e wa s o n e o f my h e ro e s , a n d b e i n g t h e g o o d g u y h e wa s , c a l l e d o u t t o a b u n c h o f t e a m m a t e s w h o c a m e ove r a n d i n t ro d u c e d t h e m s e l ve s t o S a m i a s

we l l . T h e y h a n d e d h i m a b a l l , a n d a l l o f t h e m s i g n e d i t . I t wa s a n u n f o r g e t t a b l e m o m e n t . S u d d e n l y, S a m i a n d I had something in common. That one exper ience became t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a l o n g f r i e n d s h i p. L a s t n i g h t , m o r e t h a n 3 0 ye a r s l a t e r, I p o s t e d s o m e t h i n g o n F a c e b o o k , a n d w h o wa s t h e f i r s t p e r s o n t o r e s p o n d t o i t ? S a m i Ju r a i f a n i . F i n d i n g c o m m o n a re a s o f i n t e re s t a n d re a c h i n g out to lear n about other s leads to developing connections t h a t c a n l a s t a l i f e t i m e. T h i s i s a s p e c i a l t i m e i n yo u r l i ve s . P u t yo u r e n e r g y i n t o s t u d y i n g h a r d , g i ve i t yo u r a l l o n t h e s p o r t s f i e l d , on stage, in the ar t studio, or with whatever entrepreneur ial p ro j e c t yo u a r e wo r k i n g o n , b u t d o n ’t f o r g e t t o r e a c h o u t , l e a r n a b o u t e a c h o t h e r, a n d t a ke a d va n t a g e o f m a k i n g f r i e n d s w i t h k i d s f ro m a ro u n d t h e c o r n e r a n d f ro m a ro u n d t h e wo r l d . T h a t i s w h a t a f u l l , m e a n i n g f u l e d u c a t i o n i s a l l a b o u t . L e t ’s m a ke t h i s a m e m o r a b l e ye a r. Having lived and breathed the boarding school exper ience, I fir mly believe that our students will lear n a g reat deal from the global community here at Perkiomen and benefit from the lifelong connections they will make. I am here to encourage a n d f u r t h e r s t re n g t h e n Pe r k i o m e n ’s u n i q u e, t i g h t k n i t f a m i l y. Fir st, however, my per sonal plan for the year beg ins with becoming an active, a t t e n t ive l i s t e n e r a n d l e a r n i n g a b o u t the wonderful ways in which our faculty and students are presently engaged in meaningful educational e x p e r i e n c e s a t Pe r k . W h i l e I a m b e c o m i n g m o re o f a n e x p e r t o n w h o we a re, s o t h a t I c a n re p re s e n t u s we l l i n t h e in d e p e n d e n t s c h o o l wo rl d , I w il l al so be encour ag ing a n d l e a d i n g u s i n a re a s o f g row t h a s a n i n s t i t u t i o n . O n e a re a o f o u r s c h o o l t h a t e x c i t e s m e i s t h e g row i n g nu m b e r o f bu d d in g s t u d e n t e n t re preneur s. The tool s and bu i l d i n g bl o c k s s t u d e n t s l e a r n i n t h e c l a s s ro o m c a n b e a p p l i e d t o h a n d s - o n wo r k , w h i c h a l l ow s t h e m t o t a c k l e l a r g e - s c a l e, l o n g - t e r m p ro j e c t s , u s e t h e i r c re a t iv i t y, a n d f a i l a n d t r y a g a i n u n t i l t h ey a c h i eve t h e i r g o a l . T h i s i s a n a re a w h e re Pe r k i o m e n ’s s u p p o r t ive, f l e x i bl e l e a r n i n g e nv i ro n m e n t c o u l d p rov i d e eve n g re a t e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s for engaged students.

At a Phillies-Pirates game in 1974, Sami Juraifani (left) and Headmaster Mark A. Devey (right) created a lifelong connection.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

A few courses at Perkiomen are already in place to encourage this spir it of entrepreneurship. For example, the eng ineer ing a n d a d va n c e d e n g i n e e r i n g c o u r s e s re q u i re s t u d e n t s t o d eve l o p va r i o u s p ro d u c t s t h ro u g h a n i t e r a t ive d e s i g n p ro c e s s , a n d wo r k i s c o m p l e t e d i n g ro u p s t o m i m i c t h e eng ineer ing field’s movement toward collaborative projects. In the Middle School, the Design Lab offers the type of e x p e r i e n c e t h a t e x c i t e s m e a s a n e d u c a t o r, p e r s o n a l l y. T h e d e s i g n l a b c re a t e s a n e nv i ro n m e n t t h a t c e l e b r a t e s f a i l u re a s a l e a r n i n g t o o l a n d a s a n e c e s s a r y s t e p t owa rd s u c c e s s . T h i s ye a r, t h e i r f i r s t p ro j e c t w i l l b e t o c re a t e p e r p e t u a l m o t i o n m a c h i n e s a n d d eve l o p m a r ke t i n g p l a n s . T h e re s i l i e n c y s t u d e n t s g a i n t h ro u g h t h e s e a p p ro a c h e s i s o f i m m e a s u r a bl e va l u e i n a l l a s p e c t s o f t h e i r l ive s a n d w i l l b e e s p e c i a l l y u s e f u l i n t h e wo r k p l a c e. Pe r k i o m e n i s t h r iv i n g , a n d I a m d r ive n t o h e l p u s c o n t i nu e t o d eve l o p l e a r n i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t p re p a re o u r s t u d e n t s f o r c o l l e g e, f o r l i f e, a n d f o r d i s c ove r i n g h a p p i n e s s a n d s u c c e s s i n t h e re a l wo r l d . T h e re a re a va r i e t y o f way s f o r s t u d e n t s t o a c h i eve s u c c e s s . M y e x p e r i e n c e s u g g e s t s t h a t m o s t s t u d e n t s f a re b e t t e r i n a nur tur ing, suppor tive environment with high expectations than in a pressure cooker that oftentimes causes unnecessar y s t re s s . We s e t t h e b a r h i g h , bu t we a re m o re t h o u g h t f u l a b o u t o u r a p p ro a c h . T h i s i s a s p e c i a l c o m mu n i t y ; i t i s a d y n a m i c e d u c a t i o n a l e nv i ro n m e n t w h e re s t u d e n t s va l u e e a c h o t h e r, a re e n c o u r a g e d t o t a ke r i s k s , t a ke ow n e r s h i p of their education, and celebrate their uniqueness. A s i t s 1 5 t h H e a d m a s t e r, I a m h o n o re d t o re p re s e n t such a creative, hard-working, war m-hear ted student body a n d f a c u l t y a n d l o o k f o r wa rd t o g e t t i n g t o k n ow a l l o f you—alumni, f amilies, and fr iends—better in the coming ye a r s . I e n c o u r a g e yo u t o s t o p i n s o we c a n c o n n e c t . I a m e a g e r t o l e a r n a b o u t yo u r e x p e r i e n c e a t Pe r k i o m e n w h i l e s h a r i n g m o re i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e c o n t i nu e d g row t h a n d d eve l o p m e n t o f o u r s c h o o l . S i n c e re l y yo u r s ,

A B O U T H E A D M A S T E R D E V E Y:

Bor n in Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in Bethlehem, PA, Mr. Devey g r e w u p a t t e n d i n g M o r a v i a n A c a d e m y. A t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f North Carolina, Chapel Hill, he ear ned a BA in English and w e n t o n t o e a r n a m a s t e r ’s d e g re e f ro m C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y ’s Klingenstein Center Teachers College in Educational Leadership, with a concentration in Private School Leadership.

in Massachusetts, where he also served as coach, theater d i r e c t o r, a n d d o r m p a r e n t . S u b s e q u e n t l y, h e h a s w o r k e d a s a n A s s i s t a n t A c a d e m i c D e a n o f S t u d e n t s a t H a r v a rd - We s t l a k e School in California, Middle School Head at The Kinkaid S c h o o l i n Te x a s , H e a d o f M i d d l e S c h o o l a t T h e E p i s c o p a l Academy in Pennsylvania, and Head of School at Indian Mountain School in Connecticut.

M r. D e v e y h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y w o r k e d t o e x p a n d a c a d e m i c ,

arts, and athletics programs to ensure a diverse school experience. At Indian Mountain School he oversaw the planning and building of a new student center that became the hub of the campus and integrated art, music, and all academic disciplines with the cutting-edge Fabrication Laboratory as a focal point. Under his leadership, the school revamped its a c a de mic progr a ms, e xpa nding t he S TEA M program (S ci ence, Te c h n o l o g y, E n g i n e e r i n g , A r t s , M a t h ) t o i n c l u d e r o b o t i c s , r o c k e t r y, a S e a P e r c h u n d e r w a t e r r o b o t i c s p r o g r a m , a n d a variety of opportunities that resulted in multiple students ear ning top achievement awards at the Connecticut State Invention Convention.

A lifelong enthusiast of sports and the arts, Mark was a

P a r a d e A l l - A m e r i c a n i n s o c c e r a n d p l a y e d f o r t h e U n d e r- 2 3 U n i t e d S t a t e s W o r l d C u p S o c c e r Te a m . H e g r a d u a t e d a s t h e all-time leading scorer at UNC. He recently sang in a rock band and played a lead role on stage in “Spamalot” at the Tr i - A r t s S h a r o n P l a y h o u s e .

M a r k A . D evey Headmaster

M r. D e v e y b e g a n h i s t e a c h i n g c a re e r a t F e s s e n d e n S c h o o l

M r. D e v e y g a i n e d a n a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r w h a t i n d e p e n d e n t

s c h o o l s c a n p ro v i d e f o r s t u d e n t s a t a y o u n g a g e . H e g re w u p in a similar environment at Moravian Academy, where his father served as headmaster for 17 years. He has two daughters, Maddigan and Sarah, who attend school in Connecticut.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

A Dream Come True: T H E E AT | S L E E P | D R E A M C A M PA I G N C L O S E S

This September, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Parents Hall not only celebrated the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive renovation, it also signaled the Eat|Sleep|Dream campaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victorious conclusion. With support from generous donors, the campaign achieved its goals; Perkiomen invested $9.7 million into two new dormitories and a transformed dining experience that will attract and retain students and strengthen our tightknit community.

$9.7 M invested in student life

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Thank you: to everyone who helped turn our dreams for the student life program into reality.

What We Accomplished Together:

PHASE ONE:

Eat

Completed September 2014 Kolbe Hall and Riordan Hall were designed with students in mind. They boast 32 bright and attractive dorm rooms, plenty of storage space, and top-notch safety and security features. Each dormitory hall also includes three faculty homes, numerous lounges, inviting porches, a study room, and a student kitchen and dining area—perfect for bringing Perkiomen’s diverse, international community together. Now in their second year of service, Kolbe Hall and Riordan Hall remain popular campus destinations for relaxing with friends, weekend activities, or elaborate, student-made feasts in the kitchens.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

PHASE T WO :

Sleep

Completed September 2015 Renovating Parents Hall, rather than building a new dining hall, was the smartest solution for utilizing existing resources while achieving our goals for the dining experience. The renovation succeeded in transforming an aging dining facility into a fresh, fun space that looks and feels like the rest of Perkiomen’s beautiful campus. Parents Hall now features a serving configuration that is more comfortable and convenient and a welcoming atmosphere that encourages students to sit back, relax, and engage with the school community over shared meals. What’s New in Parents Hall: New and expanded serving stations in a new configuration An open kitchen setup in the extended main serving line A new high-top seating area in addition to the main dining room New walls, paint, floors, lights, and ceiling New dining room tables, chairs, and serving cabinetry New and attractive acoustic panels New technology for student “check in” at mealtimes Built-in shelves for storing backpacks Renovated headmaster’s dining room Renovated restrooms Repointed capstones and sealed exterior masonry New HVAC and ductwork system New windows and doors for proper insulation New walk-in cooler for the kitchen Existing fireplace converted to gas Landscaping planned for the spring

B Y:

C A R O L

D O U G H E R T Y

’ 1 1 , ’ 1 3

“More Than Just Food” A S T U D E N T ’ S P E R S P E C T I V E O N T H E R E N OVAT E D D I N I N G H A L L

Over the summer, Martynas Simanavicius ’16, a Lithuanian native, remained in the United States to attend camps and play basketball. This gave him the opportunity to see the transformation of Perkiomen’s dining hall firsthand. While most students arrived in the fall and were surprised by the renovation, Martynas saw the trucks roll in and the building transformation unfold. In the interview below, he shares his perspective on American food, dining at Perkiomen, and the transformation of Parents Hall.

Q: What did you think of Perkiomen’s food after your first meal in Parents Hall?

I was hesitant about being away from home and worried that I wasn’t going to like it, but I really enjoyed it and wanted to try everything. By far, my favorite new foods are mac and cheese, grilled foods, and fried fish. And, I love broccoli which is not as prevalent at home, so I was very happy that broccoli is a regular option at Perk. Since we live on campus, it is great that there are so many choices. At home, school lunch was very repetitive. Here, the menu changes, and there are a lot of food options to choose from.

Q: How does Parents Hall fit into your daily life at Perk?

Meals at Perk are about far more than food. I made my first friends in the dining hall. Each meal is a chunk of time to be with people and learn about each other. My friend Isaiah guided me through what to eat, who to sit with, what weekend activities to sign up for, and navigating Perk every time I sat with him during my first month of school.

Q: What was it like to see the dining hall renovation in progress?

I can’t believe how fast the transformation happened. Alumni Weekend was over, and the next day, the old ceiling and lights were gone. Before the first summer camp arrived, new walls were up and painted the Perkiomen purple.

Q: What were you most excited to see with the completion of the renovation?

The new serving stations have the biggest impact for students. Last year, there were four serving stations (traditional line, deli bar, hot bar, and salad bar). The renovation offers larger serving stations, an additional, gluten-free station, and a complete breakfast bar. The serving stations in the traditional line provide greater accessibility and cut down on very long lines. And, the wall between the serving station and the kitchen has been removed; it’s pretty cool to see where and how our meals are prepared. The new furniture, including the new high-top table seating area, makes the place look new. We want to spend more time eating, talking, and being with our friends.

Q: Any final thoughts on the renovation?

As a boarding student at Perk, meals are far more than just food. Having a place where my friends and I can be together to share a meal makes us a family, and being far from home, that is important. This renovation makes Parents Hall a great place where the Perk family comes together every day.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

During commencement, class member Connor Bade led the procession on the bagpipes, and later, students reminisced as salutatorian Pauline Reck and valedictorian Yijun “Lydia” Xu each shared their experiences and memories with the audience. Former Headmaster Christopher R. Tompkins gave a commencement address that shared life lessons and highlighted each individual class member.

Congratulations to the Class of 2015 Following graduation, an impressive 75% of the class matriculated to schools ranked “most,” “highly,” or “very” competitive, according to Barron’s Profile of American Colleges. They are spread across 22 US states and two countries, but a few members of the class have already stopped by Perkiomen for a quick hello. We hope they all keep in touch and wish them the best of luck in college and beyond.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

1. Alexandria Berkhimer 2. Dylan Pine 3. Wen “CiCi” Zhang, Baoli “Bonnie” Lang, Helmina Bong, Yonglin “Winnie” Wang, and Zijun “Michelle” Meng 4. Madison Glinski

1. Hyun Chang “Bobby” Lee 2. Alexander Williams and Isabella San Miguel 3. Hong “Jane” Xu and Di “Delia” Xu

1. Chuanqiao “Cora” Sun and Qi “Gigi” Hang 2. Alexander “Sasha” Vorlicky 3. Jui-Lin “Johnny” Huang, Zihui “Iris” Dong, and Junyan “Kevin” Li 4. Laurie Lambert, the baccalaureate faculty speaker

1. Gretchen Ray and Patrick Vetter (center) 2. Baccalaureate Service at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pennsburg.

1. Thomas Aaron and Charles Barebo 2. Faculty member Justine Segear and Nelson “Connor” Bade 3. Yijun “Lydia” Xu and Shan Gao 4. Aleksandr Novikov

1. Helmina Bong (third from left), Baoli “Bonnie” Lang (third from right), and their families 2. Megan Sweeting and Destinee Astheimer 3. Alexander Soriano and friends

1. Alexander “Sasha” Vorlicky and guests 2. Angel Lopez (third from right) and family 3. Faculty member Elizabeth Hoffman and Moritz Schellenberg 4. Colin Corcoran and family

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Class of 2015 Thomas Joseph Aaron, Jr. Ayya Erlanovna Alieva Jun Young An Destinee Danielle Astheimer Nelson Connor Hawks Bade Sara Grace Bailey Charles W. Barebo Alexandria Joyce Berkhimer Helmina Djung Jui Bong Junyou Chen Shih-Hsi Chien Lane Bricker Corbett Colin Brian Corcoran Charles Christopher Corrao, Jr. Anagha Deshmankar Zihui Dong Boqi Du Benben Fan Madelyn Robin Ferdock Benjamin Sargon Fisher Henry Herman Fisher Hollie Rebekkah Force Shan Gao Adelaida Kathleen Glinski Madison Eileen Glinski Carlena Ruth Griesemer Sijie Gu Qi Hang Alexander William Hess Naquan Holden Jiawei Huang Jui-Lin Huang Mengyang Huang Jung Hyun Hwang Carly Jean Johnson Geonwoo Kim Sang Min Kim Eliza Mee Kuehner Kwadwo Sarpong Kyei Baoli Lang Hyun Chang Lee Haonan Li Junyan Li Ying Li Yuhong Li Angel Julian Lopez Zijun Meng Renfang Na Aleksandr Maksimovich Novikov Eric Lee Parlin Ryland Walker Patterson Nguyen Kim Hang Pham Dylan Michael Pine Javier Armando Quiñones Sierra, Jr. Gretchen Faith Ray Pauline Isabelle Reck Rivera Xue Rui Isabella Sofía San Miguel Bauzá Moritz David Schellenberg Alexander Jonathan Soriano Chuanqiao Sun Megan Mercedes Sweeting Patrick Thomas Vetter Alexander Kiess Vorlicky Qinyuan Wang Yonglin Wang Alexander S. Williams Di Xu Hong Xu Yijun Xu Woo Seok Yang Dingyu Zhang Fangzhou Zhang Jiaming Zhang Wen Zhang Tuo Zheng

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

1. Geonwoo “Jay” Kim, Woo Seok “Jay” Yang, Hyun Chang “Bobby” Lee, Jung Hyun “Jeffrey” Hwang, Jun Young “Jude” An 2. Pauline Reck, Madelyn Ferdock, Hollie Force, Isabella San Miguel 3. Sara Bailey and Eliza Kuehner 4. Naquan Holden, Javier Quiñones, Ken Baker, Alexander Soriano, and Angel Lopez 5. Yonglin “Winnie” Wang and Wen “CiCi” Zhang

1. Carlena Griesemer 2. Lane Corbett 3. Fangzhou “Frank” Zhang and Dingyu “Michael” Zhang 4. Ryland Patterson

1. Geonwoo “Jay” Kim 2. Xue “Ulrica” Rui and Dingyu “Michael” Zhang 3. Jui-Lin “Johnny” Huang, Jiawei “Jack” Huang, Sijie “Megatron” Gu, Jiaming “Dan” Zhang, Boqi “Steven” Du, Mengyang “Young” Huang 4. Class of 2015 5. Nguyen Kim Hang “Lucy” Pham

1. Nelson “Connor” Bade 2. Sang Min “Sally” Kim and Haonan “Larry” Li 3. Alexander Hess and Eric Parlin 4. Jiawei “Jack” Huang and Renfang Na

1. Pauline Reck, salutatorian 2. Christopher R. Tompkins, former headmaster and commencement address speaker 3. Yijun “Lydia” Xu, valedictorian 4. Carly Johnson 5. Yuhong “Kevin” Li and Ying “Amy” Li

1. Qinyuan “Roger” Wang 2. Charlie Corrao 3. Ayya Alieva and Anagha Deshmankar 4. Faculty member Sean Francis with Tuo “Tony” Zheng and Wen “CiCi” Zhang

1. Henry Fisher and Benjamin Fisher 2. Benben “Fanbi” Fan 3. Kelly Glinski ’88, P’13,’15,’15 and Adelaida Glinski 4. Junyou “Jason” Chen and Shih-Hsi “Derrick” Chien 5. Kwadwo Kyei

L OYA L , T R I E D, A N D T RU E : P e r k i o m e n ’s Alumni Community

H E T H R E E A RT I C L E S T H A T F O L L OW I L L U S T R A T E A F E W O F T H E WAY S O U R P E R K I O M E N A L U M N I F A M I LY I S T H R I V I N G . W E A R E L U C K Y T O H AV E G R A D U A T E S F RO M 1 9 3 3 T O 2 0 1 5 W H O A R E E A G E R T O G I V E B A C K , WO R K W I T H O U R S T U D E N T S , S E RV E O N T H E A L U M N I C O U N C I L , C O N T R I B U T E A RT I C L E S A N D C L A S S N O T E S T O T H E M A G A Z I N E , S T AY I N T O U C H W I T H T H E S C H O O L A N D E A C H O T H E R , O R E V E N R E T U R N T O C A M P U S A S M E M B E R S O F O U R F A C U L T Y. I N T U R N , P E R K I O M E N H A S I N C R E A S E D P RO G R A M M I N G , E V E N T S , A N D S E RV I C E S T O F O S T E R A N D D E E P E N O U R R E L A T I O N S H I P S A N D E N S U R E T H A T M E M B E R S H I P W I T H I N T H E P E R K I O M E N C O M M U N I T Y E X T E N D S W E L L B E YO N D G R A D UAT I O N .

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

NEW HIRES CHRISTE THOMPSON AND EDWIN STUBBS RECENTLY JOINED VETERAN FACULTY MEMBERS DIANA WEIR-SMITH, JON MOSER, AND SHAUN YORGEY AT PERKIOMEN. WHAT DO THESE FIVE PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON? THEY ARE ALL ALUMNI WHO “CAME HOME” TO FIND CAREERS ON CAMPUS AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR ALMA MATER.

Christe Thompson Class of 2009 Director of The Perkiomen Fund

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Edwin Stubbs Class of 2010 Director of Communications

Diana Weir-Smith Class of 1985 Director of Alumni Affairs

Jon Moser Class of 1997 Chaplain and History Faculty

Shaun Yorgey Class of 1997 Science Department Chair

PERKIOMEN’S ALUMNI COMMUNITY

Whether you are an alum, member of the faculty or staff, or a parent of a “Perk kid,” you know that there is something very magical about Perkiomen. For Jonathan Moser ’9 7, Christe Thompson ’09 , Diana Weir-Smith ’85, Shaun Yorgey ’9 7, and myself—class of 2010—this magic somehow wiggled its way into our post-Perkiomen lives and guided us back to the place where it all began.

When I arrived for my new position as the director of communications in

July, I found it very interesting that not one, not two, but FIVE alumni were working at our alma mater full-time. When I asked my fellow alumni faculty members why they decided to return, they had the following to say.

“Coming back to work at Perk feels like coming home,” Christe

Thompson, the director of The Perkiomen Fund, explained. “I still get the same butterflies in my stomach when I cross the street from Kriebel to the front of Kehs and see the school seal on the pathway. The bond I have to Perkiomen transcends what I learned here and reaches into the love and respect I have for this campus, community, and the entire Perkiomen experience.”

“Coming back to Perk was like coming back to my family,” recalled

Diana Weir-Smith, the director of alumni affairs. “Coming back and being

By: Edwin D. Stubbs, Jr. ’10

COMING HOME:

welcomed as a colleague by the faculty and staff I had the highest regard for was amazing. Collaborating with them is so fulfilling.”

For the head of the science department, Shaun Yorgey, returning to teach

at Perkiomen “was like coming home. I was a day student for six years and spent more of my time on campus than I did at home. Theater was in the evening then, and I would be on campus from 7:30 am until 9:30 pm or later. The experiences that our community can provide and the opportunities

Alumni as Perkiomen Faculty

that exist in a boarding environment are second to none. The culture of being at Perk, even for day students on the weekends and evenings, is a rich opportunity that I am excited to be a part of every day.”

Chaplain and History Teacher Jon Moser also had a story to share:

“I hadn’t really thought about Perk for almost 10 years before returning to teach history. I am forever grateful to Perkiomen for taking a risk on me and for giving me my first opportunity to teach. I am also blessed to continue my growth as an educator as well as start and raise a family here. When I came to Perk, I found a welcoming and warm community that supported me. Perk wanted me to succeed, and I didn’t want to let her down.”

For me, coming back to work at Perkiomen is like returning to your

parents’ house after living on your own. The sights and smells are the same, yet different. Maybe your family painted your childhood room a different color or bought new furniture for the living room, but as soon as you sit down and relax, you know that you are home. For all of us alumni faculty, Perkiomen continues to be our home and community.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

There is more to alumni relations than area gatherings, Alumni Weekend, Facebook groups, or The Perkiomen Fund class competition. The Office of Alumni and Development, along with the Alumni Council, have several new programs that help deepen the bond between alumni and the school as well as provide valued services to students and fellow alumni.

Every April, the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel

brings alumni back to campus to share their experiences with students. Thirteen alumni in college and graduate school returned to campus in 2015 to discuss a wide range of topics related to college life. They were joined by alumni professionals from diverse fields who extended the conversation to life beyond college and shared knowledge and sage advice on launching a career.

Cara Mathis ’05 has been a part of the panel as a graduate student and

as a professional. Recently, she reflected, “I wanted to be a part of the panel because I have so much faith in the preparation Perk gives its students. I know there’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety in high schoolers’ lives these days, and By: Diana Weir-Smith ’85, P ’19

M O RE THAN RE U N I O N S :

I like to reassure students that if they absorb what Perk has to offer, they can do anything they want. Exhibit A: in my eighth grade graduation speech in Kehs, I told the class I wanted to work for the FBI, and here I am. It was my dream. Plus, I just love coming back to the place I felt truly at home!”

The Alumni STEM and STEAM lecture series have also been a great way to

engage our alumni, inspire our current students, and enhance the curriculum. The program seeks to connect alumni involved in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math with current students and others in our community. Alumni have covered a variety of topics such as aerospace engineering, statistics and laboratory methods, genetic causes of inherited blindness, and disease mutation.

Alumni Programming at Perkiomen

Our first speaker in this series was Jason Kreisher ’01. A mechanical design

engineer with Lockheed Martin, his background in aerospace engineering made him an engaging and popular speaker. “I believe that it is important to get kids interested in the fields that STEM represents,” Jason said. “As the generation that put us on the moon retires, it becomes critical to engage a new generation to take us even further. It’s not limited to just spaceflight; you never know where the next big breakthrough will come from. Maybe one of the kids I had a chance to talk to will create a new propulsion system or cure cancer.”

Recently, Perkiomen rolled out two additional alumni programs: the Alumni

Council Mentoring Network and the Alumni Lecture Series. The Alumni Council Mentoring Network was inspired by the fact that today’s young alumni are facing a challenging work environment and are looking for career advice and a guiding hand in finding internships and job placements. The Alumni Council serves as a liaison in matching college-age alumni with alumni mentors based on common professional interests.

While the Alumni Lecture Series has been organically happening for years,

Perkiomen is making it an official program. Distinguished alumni return to campus to share their stories of success and the trends in their field. Lectures are open to students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff.

These new programs are all part of an effort to interface with our alumni as

often as possible, provide our students with inspiration and valuable connections, and keep the Perkiomen community thriving.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

RICK RIDALL ’84, P ’16 SHARED CAREER WISDOM AS PART OF A PAST “HOW TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND” ALUMNI PANEL. INTERESTED STUDENTS HAD THE CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS, RECEIVE ADVICE ABOUT THE FIELD OF SPORTS MANAGEMENT, AND NETWORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL. THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PANEL IS JUST ONE OF MANY PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW OUR ALUMNI TO STAY CONNECTED AND GIVE BACK. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THE ALUMNI PROGRAMS, CONTACT DIANA WEIR-SMITH ’85, P ’19 AT DWEIRSMITH@PERKIOMEN.ORG OR 215-679-1142.

PERKIOMEN’S ALUMNI COMMUNITY

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

LEFT: Former faculty members Carla and Paul Hausmann P ’88 ABOVE: 50th Reunion Class Top Row – Thom Veety, Jeffrey Timm, Thomas Thurston, Paul Prince, and Mark Egber Bottom Row – Philip Delany, Robert Shaner, Pedro Miranda, Marshall Schwenk, and Philip Lloyd RIGHT: Christopher R. Tompkins, former headmaster, and Kate Tompkins, former faculty member, with the library’s new Tompkins Collection

JUNE 5-7 2015 LEFT: Coach Ken Baker and Hall of Athletic Honor inductee Leroy Heisler ’59 BOTTOM LEFT: Coach Pete Dougherty and Hall of Athletic Honor inductee Kyle Gardner ’05 BELOW: On Saturday night, alumni gathered for a fire pit jam session. BOTTOM RIGHT: David Dratch ’66 and Richard Provost ’66 RIGHT: 20th Reunion Class – Paul Moser, Laurence Jackson, Mandie Cantlin, and Priscilla Schultz.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

PERKIOMEN’S ALUMNI COMMUNITY

Alumni Weekends I have attended: one. Alumni Weekends until my 50th reunion: 49. This year’s Alumni Weekend was not technically my first. I had attended one three years prior as an intern for the Admissions Office, but this time, though I was still working at the event, I was now an alumna too. As another classmate and I had the privilege to walk in the Parade of Classes for the first time, we watched members of the Class of 1965 (Rick Casey, Phil Delany, Mark Egber, Phil Lloyd, Pedro Miranda, Paul Prince, Marshall Schwenk, Bob Shaner, Tom Thurston, Jeff Timm, and Thom Veety) proudly line up with their class flag to commemorate their 50th reunion. We processed behind them to the sound of bagpipes, and we both pondered what it will be like in 49 years when we are at the front of the line for our very own 50th reunion.

Beyond the parade, other notable events of the weekend included the Hall

of Athletic Honor inductions for Leroy Heisler ’59, a football and track star, and Kyle Gardner ’05, an accomplished lacrosse player. Following a spirited singing of the Alma Mater during the Saturday luncheon, alumni had a chance to partake in the Memory Lane Tour of old campus hotspots, and they probably noticed a few obvious differences marking the school’s evolution through the years. Diana Weir-Smith ’85, P ’19, the director of alumni relations, reflected on the weekend in a letter to attendees: “Though the campus has undergone some physical changes since my time here, from what I saw over the weekend, the spirit and life of the school are still alive.”

Among some of the weekend happenings, there were also tours of the brand

new and beautifully built dormitories, Kolbe Hall and Riordan Hall, as well as an exhibit of works produced by Perk’s beloved art teacher, past parent, honorary alumna, and recent retiree, Jean Thobaben. At her exhibition, alumni were able to reminisce with Jean and celebrate her 43 year career. Later in the day,

By: Abi Rose-Craver ’14

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2015

Carnegie Library held a farewell ceremony for Perkiomen’s 14th headmaster, Christopher R. Tompkins. At the reception, the board of trustees unveiled the library’s new Tompkins Collection, focusing on his areas of personal interest such as leadership, history, government, religion, politics, and trains.

Thanks to the culinary excellence of Alan Kern, the director of dining services,

the Saturday night barbeque gathering was a hit. Another fun happening of the evening was the launching of the sky lanterns. These paper lanterns brilliantly lit up the nighttime sky as spectators delighted from below, creating a special kind of energy that brought all the attendees together whether they were former or current faculty, parents or young children, the 60th reunion class or young alumni.

As I handed out glow sticks and plastic lei necklaces to the attendees,

I listened to the buzz of chatter under the tent and witnessed members of classes from years ago reconnect with their youthful sides as they interacted with old friends, remembering the good times they had while students. Though I may not have spent nearly as much time away from campus as the alumni who graduated before me, I began to feel similar sentiments of nostalgia and deep-seated love for our dear Perkiomen. In those two days, even if I did not have very much in common with alumni of decades ago, I gained a significant insight into the school’s community—no matter what year we graduated or how much life changes, Perkiomen will always be here to welcome us home.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

hen I arrived three years ago as an ESL student, I never thought that one day I would be the student body president. I have transformed into a different person during my time on campus, and I am extremely appreciative of the numerous opportunities that Perk has offered me to challenge myself and draw out my fullest potential and ability. At Perk, students are encouraged to fearlessly try in an environment of positive energy and love. The teachers’ support and encouragement are great driving forces that constantly guide us to perfect ourselves. In a word, they are our mentors and friends, and many people at Perk inspired me to be fearless in front of obstacles, to grow, and to mature. If you knew me three years ago, you would know that I was just a quiet and ordinary girl who had thoughts and opinions but not the courage to voice them in class. Mrs. Longstreth, however, gave me a lot of help and strength to fight against my own mental barriers. She encouraged me to speak up at lunch tables so that I was able to make a lot of new and interesting friends. She also recommended that I join the Diversity Club, which served as a fantastic platform for me to express my thoughts. At the beginning, I felt very uncomfortable and was constantly nervous. But as time went by, I gradually overcame my fear of people and became used to talking in front of large audiences with a full smile. In addition to suppor tive f aculty, Perkiomen has also established a system of programs that raise and further enhance students’ leadership abilities, such as the proctor system, Honor

Review Board, and Writing Fellows. Last year, I served as a dining hall proctor. I set up tables every Monday and Thursday, assisted waiters before dinner, and only ate after cleanup. Although it was hard to wait while others were eating, I gained maturity and leadership throughout this responsibility-taking process. At Perkiomen, numerous opportunities await students, and these chances come with challenges that train students to obtain a good balance and allow them to become stronger leaders. During sophomore year, I earned the chance to introduce Da Chen, a successful Chinese-American writer, and to organize a group discussion about the Chinese Cultural Revolution based on his book. In my junior year, I gave a memorable chapel talk with my advisor, Mr. Romasco, about our thoughts and experiences with charity work. It is because of these inspiring experiences, and the external help that I received, that I am now capable of helping other students who have the same trouble I had when I first arrived. This year, as the new student president, I will continue challenging myself and my ability to grow. I am ready to work diligently with students to better represent their voices, enrich student life, and perfect our pre-existing, student-led study programs, like Presentation Station—which teaches public speaking skills and presentation technology—and peer tutoring. At this essential moment in Perkiomen’s history, I am excited to represent the study body and the senior class of 2016. We, the cur rent students, will continue the devotion of past graduates, families, faculty, and staff who contr ibuted their enduring efforts to make Perkiomen its best by injecting energy and love into the campus.

“ I H AV E T R A N S F O R M E D I N T O A DIFFERENT PERSON DURING MY TIME O N C A M P U S, A N D I A M E X T R E M E LY A P P R E C I AT I V E O F T H E N U M E RO U S O P P O RT U N I T I E S T H AT P E R K H A S O F F E R E D M E T O C H A L L E N G E M Y S E L F A N D D R AW O U T M Y F U L L E S T P O T E N T I A L A N D A B I L I T Y.” By: Yijin “Bella” Lu ’16

Learning Leadership 28

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

(1,2) Felix Mondejar ‘33 celebrated his 100th birthday with George and Lucy Allison. (3) Jason Kreisher ‘01 shared a photo of the Orion space capsule splashing down after a test flight. (4) Bob Morgan ‘64 passed through Bryce Canyon, UT in his 1996 Buick. (5) Members of the class of 1972 reunited at Alumni Weekend. (6) Claire Ricci, Darah Ribble, and Ann Hughart celebrated their 35th reunion.

Class Notes By: Diana Weir-Smith ’85 Director of Alumni Affairs

30s

1933 While alumni from around the world were celebrating Alumni Weekend on campus June 6, the biggest alumni party was in Miami, Florida where Felix Mondejar celebrated his 100th birthday. At the birthday bash, former headmaster George K.Allison and his wife Lucy, former chair of the foreign language department, presented Felix with his own Perkiomen baseball jersey. Felix played professional baseball back in Cuba. Happy birthday, Felix!

50s

60s

1960 Craig Raisig and his wife Dale came to Alumni Weekend for Craig’s 65th reunion. They met up with Sam Fast ’55. 1961 Eric Kolbe was in attendance at Alumni Weekend. He graciously made a gift to the Kolbe Accessibility Project to build an ADA accessible entrance and elevator in Carnegie Library. 1962 Tom Stege stopped by campus for a tour this summer. He also donated a plaque to the archives that he was awarded as a student. Thanks for the visit and donation.

1953 Marvin Weizer represented the earliest class year in attendance at Alumni Weekend.

1962 Dr. Lane Schultz and his daughter Priscilla Schultz ’95 celebrated at Alumni Weekend.

1955 Sam Fast made the day trip from his New York residence to join us at the Alumni Weekend celebration.

1963 Richard Boyer and Fred Ahlborn spent Saturday afternoon of Alumni Weekend on campus.

1959 H. Leroy Heisler was inducted into Perk’s Hall of Athletic Honor at the Friday night opening festivities of Alumni Weekend. During his time as a student, he had many achievements in football, swimming, and especially track and field. In 1958, he ran for the Penn Relay team, winning silver medals as a member of the 4x100 relay team and a sprinter in the 1000 and 220 yard races. In 1959, he established and broke the school’s shot put record at 55 feet and 8 inches. After Perk, he was an official for high school track meets for 25 years. He coached his son to become a 1982 PA winter track shot put champion. At the dinner, he was joined by his wife, Mary Lou, and their two children and four grandchildren.

1964 Bryce Manthorne, current trustee and past president of the Alumni Council, enjoyed the festivities on Alumni Weekend. ■ Bob Morgan drove a 1996 Buick (once owned by his mom) from Asheville, NC back home to San Francisco! He sent us a photo from Bryce Canyon, UT. 1966 David Dratch traveled from Washington D.C. to join classmates James Gold, Stephen Kleinberg, John McCabe, and class agent Richard Provost at Alumni Weekend. They are all excited to begin the process of preparing for their 50th reunion next year: Route 66.

70s

1970 Mike Fina, member of the Alumni Council, was on campus during Alumni Weekend to promote the Alumni Council’s Mentor/Mentee Program. 1972 Bill Bassett, George Fernandez, Gregory Finn, Mike Gibson, Chris Heller, Tom Kugel, and Wendy MacDonald had their annual gettogether as attendees of Alumni Weekend. ■ Chris Heller let us know he relocated to Addison, Texas. He said his new job is really great, and he is working as an engineer for Forney Corporation.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

1973 Phil Kelly made his first trip back to Perk since graduating for Alumni Weekend. ■ Cheryl Price remarked that she loved staying in the new Kolbe Hall dormitory during Alumni Weekend. She recently retired after a long and successful career in education as a counselor. 1974 Lawrence Levin and Alan Printz represented their class at Alumni Weekend. Alan met up with his cousin Paul Prince ’65. 1975 Katherine Gildemeister, Tara E. Larmer, and Braxton Ward reconnected at their 40th reunion. 1976 Lisa Baas was on campus celebrating with friends during Alumni Weekend. 1978 Michael Drelling, member of the Alumni Council, brought his family to Alumni Weekend. He was joined by classmate Carol Weber who said that she enjoyed her stay in Kolbe Hall. 1979 Bob Westervelt had a feature role on the hit TV series Hawaii Five-0 this past October (Halloween episode) in which he got killed off during the show. Otherwise, he keeps in shape competing in running races—Honolulu Marathon, Great Aloha Run, and most recently, the Hapalua half marathon. His son Brandon finally surpassed him in his sophomore biathlon (800 meter swim/4 mile run), beating him by 3 minutes. Bob says, “My they grow up fast. Aloha.”

80s

1980 Ann Hughart, Darah Ribble, and Claire Ricci celebrated their 35th reunion at Alumni Weekend.

1981 Danny Liggett and his wife Marianne attended the LA area dinner in January. Along with pets Stella and Jeter, they hosted Diana Weir-Smith ’85 at their home for an amazing dinner. Danny, Marianne, and Diana share a passion for the New York Yankees. ■ Jeff Procak was in from Manila with his wife Chris for the Alumni Weekend festivities. ■ Kevin Kirkwood joined the Alumni Weekend festivities.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Class Notes 1982 Tim Snyder was in from Virginia for Alumni Weekend. 1983 Scott Schultz and his daughter Hayley ’11 had a great time setting off sky lanterns at Alumni Weekend. 1984 Alumni Council member Bob Higman lent a hand at the programming booth on Alumni Weekend. Also visiting was Duke Ruppert. 1985 Michael Hubbard,Todd Mayer, and Andrew Schwinger celebrated their 30th reunion at this year’s Alumni Weekend. ■ In July, Eric Velayo visited campus with Molly Murphy. They spent time with Diana Weir-Smith before heading off to the PC Pub to see Alfredo Liguoro ’86 and Andrew Schwinger. 1986 Bill Campbell, Jennifer Procak, Scott Ross, and Joan White came to Alumni Weekend, eager to prepare for their 30th reunion next year. 1988 Though her two daughters graduated from Perk just a few weeks prior, Kelly Glinski joined classmate Nadine Brennan at Alumni Weekend. Nadine’s daughter, Anya, will be a 6th grader at Perkiomen for the 2015/16 school year.

90s

1990 Jennifer Eisenberger and Sam Saunders made a visit to campus for Alumni Weekend. 1991 At Alumni Weekend, John Rodgers presented Perk-themed purple and gold tie-dye t-shirts to his former teachers, Kevin Manferdini and Mark Longstreth. He also brought his guitar and led the singing at the fire pit during Saturday night’s nocturnal gathering. In preparation for the 25th reunion of the class of 1991, John said “I had not been to back to Perk in 24 years. Besides being a great value, the weekend was surreal. It’s like so many things in life. True friends pick up like it was yesterday. We owe it to each other to remember whence we came as our past helps shape our present. If you have the ability to attend the Perk Alumni Weekend in 2016, you will not be disappointed!”

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

1993 Dane Tobin and his wife Elena were here for Alumni Weekend. Their daughter, Hailey, will be a sixth grader at Perkiomen this fall. 1994 Laura Mullaney represented the Alumni Council at Alumni Weekend, promoting the Council’s Mentor/Mentee Program. This program allows alumni to reach out to younger members of the Perk community, giving them career advice in their particular fields of interest. ■ Ben Watts joined in the festivities on Saturday evening of Alumni Weekend. He is a member of the Berks Opera Workshop. Ben is the 2015 Hewett Concert artist. 1995 Celebrating the 20th reunion, Dr. Larry Jackson, President of the Alumni Council, was joined by classmates Mandie Cantlin, Rachael Demeter, Paul Moser, Danielle Sanders, Priscilla Schultz, and Mike Thomenius.

00s

2001 Jason Kreisher was present at the EFT-1 (Exploration Test Flight) mission on December 5, 2014. “The mission was a four-hour, two-orbit test of the Orion crew module featuring a high apogee on the second orbit and concluding with a high-energy reentry at around 20,000 miles per hour,” he explained. “This mission design corresponds to the Apollo 4 mission of 1967, which validated the Apollo flight control system and heat shield at re-entry conditions planned for the return from lunar missions.” Jason is a mechanical engineer with Project Orion—Crew and Service Module Mechanisms Group at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Denver.

2004 Captain Michael Wagner and his fiancée, Jennifer Hutchinson, were in attendance at Alumni Weekend. They recently completed three Spartan races. ■ Joe Russella gave back to Perk as a member of the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel. In addition to his work as a panelist, Joe is a mentor in our Alumni Council Mentor/ Mentee Program. Joe is the vice president, agency sales and P&C specialist at First Financial Group. 2005 Congratulations to Kyle Gardner, who received his induction to the Hall of Athletic Honor during the Saturday luncheon at Alumni Weekend. He played Division III lacrosse during his time at

Neumann University. He was a three-time captain of the Neumann Men’s Lacrosse Team, three-time AllConference player, received All-Conference awards for Sportsmanship in 2008 and 2009, was the 2008 and 2009 men’s lacrosse team MVP, and in 2009 received The Philadelphia Inquirer All-Area Academic Team Honors. After graduating in 2009, he began coaching lacrosse at Blue Ridge School in Virginia and was named 2012 Virginia Independent Conference Coach of the Year. In 2014, Kyle was named as the varsity head coach and lacrosse program director for the Westtown School in West Chester, PA. In his career, he has coached two All-Americans, 15 VISAA DI All State Players, 22 VIC All-Conference players, and 25 of his former players are currently playing in college at the DI, DII, and DIII levels. He lives in Westtown with his wife, Kiara, and their son, Cooper. ■ Paige Lieberman, Aaron Master, Takahiro Tanaka, Kyle Gardner, and Melissa Weinstein represented their class for their 10th reunion. ■ Aaron Master was back on campus in April to participate in the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel. He was also here for his 10th reunion with his lovely wife, Paz. 2008 Deana Arruda shared her wisdom at the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel. Deana is a supply chain engineer at Lutron Electronics and mother to the beautiful Madeline. 2009 Taylor Manferdini represented her class at Alumni Weekend. Taylor is the program coordinator of alumni relations and annual giving at Ursinus College. ■ Christe Thompson began her position as the director of The Perkiomen Fund this summer. She also became engaged to Andrew Konopitski! ■ Isabelle Bade has a new name: Isabelle Wessic! She sent in this class note: “Just got married to my favorite guy on June 6th after meeting and becoming friends in nursing school. I am working as a labor and delivery nurse in Indianapolis. We are looking forward to buying a family home and starting a family in the next few years.”

TOP PHOTO

Christe Thompson ‘09 and fiancé Andrew Konopitski. BOTTOM PHOTO

Isabelle Bade Wessic ‘09 and her new husband, Blake Wessic.

10s

2010 Jen Pirri was back on campus to share her knowledge as a panelist in the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel. Jen is currently the director of social media for the Philadelphia Eagles. ■ Edwin Stubbs arrived on campus as Perk’s new director of communications. He recently received his master’s degree in Global Marketing Communications and Advertising from Emerson College. ■ Ian Vazquez is playing shortstop for the Mannheim Tornados in Mannheim, Germany! He was selected to the All-Star game by the German fans as the Most Popular Player. Congratulations, Ian! 2011 At Alumni Weekend, Lindsey Manferdini and Hayley Schultz could be seen launching sky lanterns at the Saturday night barbeque. In May, Lindsey graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a BA in Scientific and Philosophical Studies of Mind and a minor in Economics. Hayley also graduated in May from Bucknell University and is now working at Lucent Electronics. ■ Rick Huang came in from Binghamton University to be a part of the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel. ■ Laura Glogovsky graduated from Muhlenberg College in May 2015 and received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Laura played NCAA Division III women’s golf for three years. She was awarded the sportsmanship award 3 years in a row, and in spring 2015 won the “Player’s Player Award.” The player’s player is each team’s most valuable player, as decided upon by a team vote. In addition to athletic performance, the spirit of the award encompasses qualities of leadership, loyalty and support of teammates. She will be attending Quinnipiac Law School in the Fall of 2015 and received a distinguished scholar scholarship (merit, based on LSAT and GPA). 2013 Morgan Klavon, Zach Leftow, and Gabby Glinski came back to campus as members of the “How to Succeed in College and Beyond” alumni panel. The group shared their insight on college from the perspective of students. 2014 Tim Turner, Nicole Pupillo, Victoria Rath, and Samira Uddin also participated as young alumni panelists at the How to Succeed in College and Beyond event. Transferring, internships and general college life were a few topics shared with current Perkiomen students. ■ Tony Coleman was in the audience of the 2015 Commencement Exercises. ■ Karl Schmidt stopped by campus while on break from DePaul University.

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Class Notes

Jean Thobaben Retires After 43 Years at Perk During Alumni Weekend, Jean exhibited recent works of art in Schumo Gallery on campus.

Jean Thobaben H’12 has been a teacher, dorm parent, friend, artist, community leader, choreographer, director, costumer and now, last but not least, a retiree. This list does not begin to cover all the tasks she has undertaken during her 43 years at Perkiomen, where she wore many hats and touched countless lives. Jean arrived on campus fresh out of Kutztown University and made her impact immediately as a talented artist and young dorm parent. The art students she mentored and taught have gone on to careers in jewelry, textiles, architecture, interior design, photography, museum work, and teaching. Recently, alumni were asked to reflect on Jean, and they had a lot to say. “Her influence and passion for art has been a constant in my life,” said Wendy Farley Patterson ’87. Tom Baker ’81 referenced the campus production of Hello, Dolly! “eight months pregnant and demonstrating choreography in the musical…now that’s dedication.” Ji-Woo Won ’10 said, “She knew me so well and cared about me; she was sure my work truly reflected my personality and character.” While she retired from teaching at Perkiomen in June, Jean is still busy working on her own art. Recently, she had six pieces of art on exhibit at the Nurture Nature Center in Easton, PA and a show at Perkiomen during Alumni Weekend. Jen Pirri ’10 enjoyed seeing Mrs. T’s work on display. She recalled, “It was always inspiring to walk into the art studio and see her hard at work on her latest project.” Jean has also been working on her garden, and she and her husband Toby, a retired Perkiomen theater teacher, recently adopted a pup named Edsel. When asked how she was enjoying retirement, she commented, “I do enjoy waking up to the sounds of birds rather than an alarm clock!” After 43 years, she deserves to sleep in. Congratulations, Jean!

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In Memoriam 1937 Edward N. McMillan passed away peacefully on April 12, 2015 at the age of 95. He was a World War II B-17 pilot, a prisoner of war for 27 months, and the last surviving partner of the original Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith partnership. Mr. McMillan was born in Philadelphia in 1919 and raised there until he entered Dartmouth College, class of 1941. His education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. He enrolled in the Army Air Corps pilot training program the week after Pearl Harbor. On his first bombing mission, Mr. McMillan was piloting a B-17 that was part of a mission to destroy a German airbase in Tunisia. After dropping the bombs, his plane was shot down. Mr. McMillan bailed out of the plane at 24,000 feet. All his crew members survived, but they were captured and sent to Germany for internment for the remainder of the war. Mr. McMillan spent the majority of his 27 months as a P.O.W in Stalag Luft III, made famous in the film, The Great Escape. He was active in many escape activities, receiving a Presidential Citation after the war. He set up a war news service with updates from a hidden radio receiving the nightly BBC broadcasts that he read aloud to fellow prisoners in their barracks the following morning. After the war ended in 1945, he was reunited with his fiancée, Betty. A picture of their reunion on the dock appeared on the front page of the New York Herald Tribune and newspapers around the country. The couple married 10 days later. After the war, Mr. McMillan finished his education at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and was recruited by Charlie Merrill, the founder of Merrill Lynch, to join the firm’s new Executive Training Program and soon moved to the West Coast. In 1955, Mr. McMillan was sent to Boston and became the firm’s youngest general partner, and later an executive vice president and head of all sales and marketing nationally, director of the Institutional Division, and a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee in New York. He went on to co-author two books on finance: The Exchange Community (1970) and The History of Investment Banking in New England, which was published by major US banks. In 1970, after a 24-year career with Merrill Lynch, Mr. McMillan retired. He had made a pledge to the Lord when he bailed out of his burning plane that if he survived he would repay his debt with service to mankind. Consequently, he became a director of the Massachusetts Economic Education Council and professor of business administration at Bunker Hill Community College, where he taught for 15 years until his retirement in 1989. Mr. McMillan was active

in the community, serving as president of the West Los Angeles Kiwanis Club, chairman of the United Fund drive, and chairman of the building committee for a new Presbyterian Church. In recent years, he returned to the Christ Church vestry and was a volunteer driver for Meals-on-Wheels. He was also an avid sportsman, skier, golfer and tennis player, winning tennis and playing well into his eighties. His wife of 70 years, Betty, died in January. He leaves four children, Edward III, Bruce, Katherine, and Donald, along with eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. 1947 Julien Lycurgue Eysmans III died Friday, April 3, 2015. Julien was born June 23, 1927, in New York City. He received his bachelor’s degree from Hobart College. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and in the Trust Department at the First Pennsylvania Bank, retiring in 1987. Julien met his wife Mary (Geer) in 1948, and they were married in 1949. They settled in Moorestown in the 1960s, raised three children—Tom, Margaret, and Jule—and were active in the Trinity Church community. He was a charter member of Burlington County CONTACT. After Julien retired, they moved to Johnson City, TN, where they lived for ten years. They returned to New Jersey in 2000, and moved onto the Lumberton campus of the Medford Leas retirement community. Mary died in 2005, and Julien moved to the Medford campus in 2009. Julien’s interests included sailing, traveling by motor home, and with Elderhostel, and flying (though never soloing). He also was active in the Medford Leas community. He was never one to cling to the past, but was always willing to move into the next stage of his life. He had truly found a home in Medford Leas. 1948 The alumni office was informed of the passing of Joseph F. Creighton. He passed away October 12, 2014. Mr. Creighton served in the United States Army as a staff sergeant during World War II. He graduated from Lehigh University and was a research assistant for Frederick Atkins in Manhattan. Mr. Creighton was a deacon at Grace Presbyterian Church. He also was a high school track and field official and an avid gardener and golfer.

1963 Harry Charles Wood II, of Pennsburg, passed away at home on Saturday, July 25, 2015. He and his wife Linda would have been married 35 years this November. Born in Quakertown, he was a son of the late David E. and Dorothy (Wienandt) Wood. Harry was a 1967 graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, CT where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, Beta Beta chapter, and sang in the Chapel Choir. He taught at The Perkiomen School and Trinity-Pawling School, NY then worked as a stock broker for A.W. Benkert, NYC. He was a management consultant with Brooks International Corporation, then an investment advisor with Wood, Young and Company retiring as their vice president in 2005. While he was an investment advisor, he taught business communications at Lehigh University as an adjunct professor. Harry was an avid golfer and an active member of Saucon Valley Country Club for more than 46 years. He was dedicated to bringing tomatoes to the members and staff from his garden every summer and also gave his tomatoes to other friends, neighbors and family. He was also a member of the Valley Choral Society and the Upper Perkiomen Republican Club. He also enjoyed traveling, especially cruising. He was a lifelong active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hill where he served on the Finance Committee and was a member of the Senior Choir. He is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Sara, nephew Ian Wood ’92 and extended family. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Rod. 1958 John S. Zelina, 80, of Downingtown, passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 29, 2015, at Paoli Memorial Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Doris A. Robertson Zelina, with whom he shared 53 years of marriage. Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late John J. and Kathryn Kurtz Zelina. He proudly served his country in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War. Mr. Zelina was employed by Lukens Steel where he worked in the electronics division for 41 years, retiring in 2000. He was a member of F & AM Williamson Masonic Lodge #309 for 45 years, where he served in various roles. He became a shriner in 1979, starting first in Rajah Temple, and then became a member of LuLu Temple in 2008, where he was a member of the Legion of Honor. He was also a member of the Conestoga Shrine Club and Downingtown American Legion Post 475. A member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Downingtown, he served as assistant scout master of Boy Scout troop #82. John loved photography and was an avid Eagles fan. Most of all, he was a very dedicated family man and grandfather.

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Class Notes 1967 David E. Church passed away peacefully in Danbury, Connecticut on April 6, 2015. David had been a resident of Danbury since 1987. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH and a Master of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ. David first worked in marketing for Volkswagen of America in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. He was then an advertising manager for Volvo of America in Rockleigh, NJ. His early years allowed him to embrace his life-long love of automobiles. An IBM employee for over 20 years, David joined the company in 1984 in Boca Raton, FL in marketing/advertising as personal computer products were developed and commercialized. He then transferred to Danbury to work for IBM in the New York area where he contributed in communications/marketing functions for various business units including RS/6000 products and AIX software. After retiring, David remained in Danbury, Connecticut. He was able to enjoy his life-long passions for gardening, cooking, fishing, boating, golf, photography, and his nephew and nieces. He is survived by his loving brother, Douglas Church. ■ The alumni office was informed of the passing of Charles Thomas Privot. Born and raised in Washington, DC, son of the late Thomas and Selma Privot, Charles comfortably passed away in his home on the 25th of July, 2015 while listening to “Embryonic Journey” by Jefferson Airplane and surrounded by his wife Wanda, his daughter Emily, and son Ben. His sister Roz Zeidman, her husband Ricke, Emily’s husband Greg McNamara, and many of Charlie’s friends and family had been with him over many days before. He is also survived by a brother. He had been diagnosed at the end of February with stage IV esophageal cancer and experienced a fast decline. As a parent and husband, he was endlessly supportive, engaged, and dedicated. Possibly the most easy-going person one might ever meet, he would do anything for anyone. He was an amazing friend who was sought out at all gatherings. But his first priority was his two children and being involved in every way in their lives, from coaching sports and doing art projects, to chaperoning many school trips, and always being available for play. People invariably remarked on his

PERKIOMEN MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

charm and his ability to connect with anyone he met and make people feel special. But no Charlie story would lack mention of his humor: fast, accurate, and sometimes not appropriate. Charlie found the joy in life and, until his last day, remained unwaveringly positive. He graduated from The Perkiomen School, and after college at American University, he joined other family members in the family-owned business founded by Abe Krupsaw in 1931 in DC, which became a franchise of Serta in 1940, moved to Landover, MD in 1963, and was renamed AW industries in 1980. Charlie joined in the business in 1971, selling Barwick carpeting and later joined his father in the Sony division. He ultimately became vice president of sales for the Sleepwell line of bedding. 1979 John Henry Burkhart Jr. passed away Thursday, April 2, 2015. He was trained in the emergency medical field and periodically taught classes in the Erie area to prepare others as EMTs. Many of his students fondly addressed him as Mr. B, which he enjoyed. He had a love of science, reading, and especially teaching, and it was not unusual to see him carrying a thick chemistry or physics manual. Active in amateur radio, he had held a technician’s license before recently qualifying for his general license. A member of the Grandview Park Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he put his love of teaching to work, as he greatly enjoyed assisting others in learning about the Bible. John was a gentle and kindly man who enjoyed helping others whenever he could. He is survived by a brother, Edward O. Burkhart ’81. 1989 Lawrence Ernest Nemeth Jr. passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by his family and friends, on Friday, June 26, 2015. Born in Pennington, NJ in 1970, he attended the Hopewell Valley regional schools and graduated from The Perkiomen School and Springfield College. His love of the natural world grew from summers in Beach Haven, where he learned to fish and party with many great friends. Larry was a cherished third grade teacher at the West Amwell Elementary School. Son of the late Lawrence Nemeth Sr, he is survived by his mother, Catherine Consolloy Nemeth; his beloved wife, Amy DeRezze Nemeth, and his two step-sons, Zachary and Jake, whom he loved as his own. He was admired by his in-laws, John and Christina DeRezze. A loyal friend through thick and thin, he leaves his dear brother,Timothy Nemeth; his sister-in-law, Cathleen Nemeth; his nephew and godson, Charles Lawrence, and adored nieces, Molly and Olivia. He will be sorely missed by his many cousins and lifelong friends. Missing him with tail wagging is his faithful dog, Tugboat.

Friends Former trustee Larry Smith passed away April 28, 2015. A generous supporter of Perkiomen, Mr. Smith was a leader in the Philadelphia business as the cochief financial officer of Comcast. As a community leader, he served on many boards along with his wife Christine, also a former trustee of The Perkiomen School. Calvin Ruth, a teacher at Perkiomen from 19441952 and a librarian during his retirement, passed away February 18, 2015. Mr. Ruth also taught in Hatfield, Souderton, and Quakertown and was a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art and Stella Elkins Tyler School of Fine Art of Temple University, from which he held a Master of Fine Arts. He was an accomplished artist and enjoyed painting landscapes and architectural structures in oil and water. In addition to art, Mr. Ruth’s interests included history; he was a five star member of the Valley Forge Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and a member of the Montgomery County Historical Society, Goshenhoppen Historians, Bucks County Conservancy, and Quakertown Historical Society. He also served as a director, member, and librarian of the Richland Library in Quakertown. Earl Mege GP ’05, a longtime supporter of Perkiomen, passed away March 13, 2015. He was the grandfather of Christopher Mege ’05

Alumni Parents William J. Moore Jr., father of Mandy Moore Meeks ’88, passed away June 30, 2015. Mr. Moore, his wife Pamela Koger Moore, and Mandy generously opened their Atlantic Beach home to a Perkiomen alumni gathering in 2012. Daniel J. Signore, father of Jason Signore ’91, passed away on April 9, 2015. Mr. Signore, a talented musician, dedicated many hours to Perkiomen’s theater program.

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