Maroon & Grey Spring 2023

PERSISTENTLY PURSUING

EXCELLENCE

MAROON & GREY

Spring 2023

The Magazine of Church Farm School

EDITOR

Stefanie Claypoole

LAYOUT & DESIGN

916 Design Co.

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Betsy Barron Photography

MISSION

The Church Farm School prepares a diverse group of boys with academic ability and good character to lead productive and fulfilling lives by making a college preparatory education financially accessible.

Support our mission at gocfs.net

ADMINISTRATION

HEAD OF SCHOOL

The Rev. Edmund K. Sherrill II

ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL & DIRECTOR OF ACADEMICS

Margaret van Steenwyk

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Suni Blackwell

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE

Chet Blair

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Jennifer Devine

DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT

Brandon Herbert

DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE GUIDANCE & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Tiffany Scott

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Karen Wertz

PERSISTENTLY PURSUING EXCELLENCE PAGE 2

PROFILE: JOE FANELLI

ROCKIN’ THE 80S

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

PROFILE: THE REV. DR. J. GORDON SCHLEICHER ’62

PAGE 10

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Dear Friends and Members of the CFS Community,

Tothe north of campus, across the Great Valley and the farmland Aggies once worked, multiple trails run through the hills offering amazing vistas of the school. Those of you who have climbed or run to the top of “the inch” know what I mean.

I enjoy hiking and even though most trails I follow are well marked, I know the value of having a good compass should the path ahead suddenly become invisible or lost. GPS may be taking over this function, but a good compass is a reliable navigation tool helping us find our way in the world, particularly when we’re in the wilderness.

Similarly, although of a different order, the Profile of a CFS Graduate is a reliable compass providing direction to today’s CFS scholars, and it enumerates six qualities that hardly find completion at graduation. Indeed, they become lifelong habits, a solid guide on the way, and serve as the spirited engine driving scholars to self-actualization, social engagement and community building. Among the six is a commitment to “be persistent in the pursuit of excellence,” which has been our theme for the current academic year. To amplify, we assert “a CFS Graduate is committed to both individual and collective excellence, is tenacious in its pursuit and is undeterred by obstacles.”

In this issue of Maroon & Grey, there are a variety of stories testifying to this persistent pursuit of excellence and the attending level of institutional support required to elevate our scholars and graduates to greater levels of success along their own chosen path. Commitment, resolve, grit and determination yield ability, maturity and greater levels of engagement. Supporting today’s scholars is a devoted faculty and staff pursuing their own levels of excellence and possessing an acute awareness that we ought not, indeed cannot, shield our scholars from

every obstacle, but rather help them build the fortitude and strength to overcome the hurdles and challenges encountered as we grow individually and collectively. The enduring brotherhood Griffins develop here will certainly be a supporting, encouraging and sustaining arm of this essential habit.

Of course, high school achievements - while worthy of celebration - are not the end of the story, and many of you reading these words, well beyond your own graduation(s), know what I mean that the journey and successes enjoyed in life point to a still more excellent way. Having entered its 105th year of service to educating young men of ability and promise, CFS pursues excellence in ability to live more fully into the vision God has for us.

We cannot and do not rest here. Instead, we press on toward greater levels of excellence on behalf of a new generation of scholars. Thank you for your confidence in and support of our mission and program.

With warm wishes,

N.Sherrill

PERSISTENTLY PURSUING excellence

Our theme for the 2022-2023 school year – Persistently Pursuing Excellence – draws from the Profile of a CFS Graduate, and, as Head of School Ned Sherrill has stated, “Notably, the statement does not mention perfection. In fact, the emphasis is on persistently pursuing something that remains aspirational, always just ahead and something continual refinement builds upon toward excellence. To be really good at something, even if not the best, means that we have been persistently applying ourselves to something whereby we grow into it more deeply and eventually gain greater levels of mastery with it and with ourselves.”

This noble pursuit has been on full display this year. Here, we outline some of the more notable achievements of the year. While all these recognitions are of internal happenings on and around our campus, we want to make sure to recognize our Board of Directors, who continue to support our work, and our community of alumni, parents and friends who are pursuing their goals passionately alongside us.

Innovating Our Stem Program

In the fall, we raised more than $35,000 for our burgeoning STEM program, thanks in large part to a $25,000 match challenge from Dr. John Grunwell ’60, who pursued a career in organic chemistry after graduating from CFS and even served as an intern under former coach and science teacher Earl Wilkins ‘26. STEM Department Chair Debbie Witmer joined the community this year, and has hit the ground running, helping her team secure critical equipment and technology that will advance our STEM curriculum, particularly in courses that most excite our students. For example, Mr. Chris Mazzoli’s game design course will now have virtual reality headsets for even greater design capabilities, and padcasters will augment a proposed multimedia design course whereby students take the lead in weekly school needs including podcasting, livestreaming and digital signage.

Our Robotics team, led by Mr. Matt Labrador, has gained three pieces of equipment that will make our Club more competitive at annual VEX competitions, and in our more traditional math and science courses, we’ve added biology models, scientific analytical balances, lab ovens, distillers, spectrophotometers and more that will aid our regular and advanced biology and chemistry classes with greater hands-on understanding of scientific processes.

Another huge feat is the creation of the new STEM Flex Center on the first floor of our Wilkins building, where our faculty are currently teaching freshman and senior physics classes. Next year, two new classes – Intro to STEM and Engineering - will also be in the STEM Flex Center focusing on the design process and taking advantage of the new space, equipment and tools!

Sharing Thought Leadership

Getting thought leaders onto our campus, as well as sending our own adults out to present their knowledge at industry events, is critical for ensuring Church Farm School is understood as a leader in boys’ education as well as in their particular areas of expertise.

Director of College Guidance and Strategic Initiatives

Tiffany Scott presented her college guidance savvy at the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools at the University of Oregon in June 2022.

Head of School

Ned Sherrill co-presented with Episcopal School of LA Head of School Ken Rodgers '09 “What is Truth” at the NAES Biennial Conference in San Antonio in November 2022.

The query led him to leave teaching and enter the public sector, where he worked for 10 years in advocacy work for SMYAL – serving LGBTQ+ youth in the Washington, DC, area - and then at Whitman-Walker Health (formerly Whitman-Walker Clinic). Bob eventually pivoted to the hospitality industry before returning to education, but his advocacy never stopped. He served on the Board of the Gay and Lesbian Tourism Caucus in Philadelphia plus presented thought leadership at events, in publications and even on television.

Director of Development

Jennifer Devine co-presented with the Don Bosco Technical Institute “Strategic Planning for Small Shops” at the 2023 CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference in New York City in January 2023.

In January 2023, Bob Warfel, who wears the myriad hats of Dean of Residential Life, English Faculty and Gender and Sexuality Diversity Alliance (GSDA) Club Leader and Co-Founder, presented “Supporting Gender and Sexual Identity in Residential Schools” at the PAIS Conference. Bob has been involved with LGBTQ+ advocacy most of his adult life. A brutal hate crime perpetrated against him by a group of teenage boys in 1990 led to deep reflection (and eventually his coming out). Bob, who was working as a teacher at an all-boys Catholic high school at the time, wondered deeply, “What do my own students think about gay people? Could they be moved to violence because of anti-gay rhetoric or misinformation? But at that time, I was in no position to share my story with them. They thought I was mugged.”

When Bob joined the Church Farm School community in 2014, he said it was refreshing to be part of a faithbased organization that embraced gender and sexual diversity. “The Episcopal Church openly talks about these issues and Ned, as Head of School, was very open to them.” Working with then school counselor Stefanie Rosinsky, Bob co-founded the GSDA Club. Formerly the Gay Straight Alliance, Bob and Stef found that the name scared off students. “When we changed the name, our numbers grew.” The Club includes adults and students who are LGBTQ+ identifying or allies. With the support of the school, the Club added two rainbow flags to the campus. “I really hope that when prospective students visit CFS, they see the flags and realize, ‘this is a safe space for me.’”

Bob’s presentation at PAIS discussed the issues affecting today’s scholars – what they face in schools, the role social media plays and the tools that educators can provide. Bob is pleased to report that most independent schools are doing an excellent job at providing services and support to LGBTQ+ youth. We are grateful to Bob for the excellence he pursues on and off campus every day to advance Church Farm School.

If you are a CFS alumnus who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and you would be interested in sharing your journey with current members of GSDA or with a larger audience either in writing, in person or via a Zoom session, please contact Bob at rwarfel@gocfs.net . To quote Maya Angelou: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside oneself.” And so many LGBTQ stories go unheard.

Validating Our Work

Following more than a year of internal planning, we welcomed a four-member Visiting Team representing the Middle States Association in November. Internal committee members Nicole Campbell, Stefanie Claypoole, Dan Dratch, Diahann Hughes, Krista Peterson, Dr. Shubhada Sharma and Margaret van Steenwyk, led by co-chairs Eric Fulmer and Tiffany Scott, prepared for the visit by surveying all faculty, staff, students and current parents; working with administration to define five key objectives for the school to be completed by 2030; and created a 200-page document outlining the school’s current strengths, challenges and plans for growth.

The Visiting Team then spent four days on campus attending events and classes and interviewing various stakeholders to determine if the report the internal committee submitted was accurate. While the official reaccreditation will not be official until this spring, Visiting Team Chair Charlie Brozina, in his oral report, said the Team would be recommending Church Farm School for reaccreditation (which has been continuous since 1970), stating, “leadership and initiative can come from anywhere in the building. Your Profile of a CFS Graduate rightly emphasizes ‘life skills and the value of the contents of the heart.’”

Celebrating Our Diversity

Our DEI school leaders – Chet Blair and Rabi Young –along with the support of our administrators, student leadership and Board, continue to find ways that our community can connect with one another around shared and diverse life experiences. We were thrilled to welcome Philadelphia educator Matthew Kaye in October for a presentation during Family Weekend around educating young men of color; and, also in October, hosting more than 130 area educators for ADVIS’ MCRC event: Critical Conversations: The Challenges Facing (White) Educators and Students of Color. Director of Student Life and DEI Chet Blair hosted a special session for fellow MCRC Consortium Members prior to the ADVIS event, and, a few days later, ADVIS guest speaker Eddie Moore returned to the school to offer a thought-provoking conversation with students on the power of the “N” word. In November, educator Javier Avila performed his one-man show, “The Trouble With My Name,” sharing his experience as an immigrant in the United States, and Pennsylvania specifically.

A group of adults and scholars once again attended the NAIS’ People of Color Conference and the corresponding Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Our scholar attendees reported back to the school on their experience, and even hosted a faculty meeting where we came together to reflect on our school culture. In assemblies, Chapel talks, classroom projects and cottage activities, our faculty continue to encourage our young men to research their unique backgrounds and bring them to the fore to create greater awareness and understanding within the community, and to acknowledge that despite our school consisting of a majority of Black and Latinx students, there is rich diversity and heritage within us.

Creating New Opportunities for Scholars

from a place I am so comfortable with to meet new people and to let myself be uncomfortable.”

On Living Without Technology

Rafael Arellano

Two major discussion points among the Middle States Internal Committee members was experiential learning for our scholars. We are proud to say that some of this work is already in progress! Two Church Farm School juniors – Fayi Nshanji and Rafael Arellano – participated this year in Term-Away programs offered by the High Mountain Institute (HMI) and championed by Assistant Head of School/Director of Academics Margaret van Steenwyk. We spoke with Fayi shortly before his return to campus in January about why he applied, and what he took from the experience. The interview is summarized here; visit our website for the full story.

On Becoming Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

“Applying to a term away program was definitely nerve wracking, especially moving across the country to do something that you have never done before. But that is also what inspired me to apply to HMI: becoming comfortable being uncomfortable. Although I miss CFS, it has been a great experience to spend time away

“It was fairly difficult for me coming into this new environment, and I spent the first couple of days being antisocial. But then I was sent into the literal woods (mountain ranges of Colorado) for 16 straight days with a group of 13 other people from across the US with no access to any technology. This forced me to interact with others and form connections that I never thought I would have formed in my life. By the end, I was close with my group and returned to campus where I gradually met new people, expanding my friend group. It has been super beneficial not having my phone for the past four months. I have found ways to better spend my time and not be so reliant on a device in my pocket.”

On Pushing Through

“There was one distinct time I felt homesick. It was day four of my first expedition when I realized that I had no phone, no contact with the outside world and I was in the Colorado mountains backpacking with bipolar weather when not that long ago I had been outside in the summer heat playing basketball with friends. I missed my friends, family and my neighborhood. Additionally, I was doing something I had never done and backpacking was physically demanding especially with the altitude change. But I utilized the people around me giving me advice on how to make my life in the outdoors a little easier and making friends with my group around me.”

Initiating a Senior Capstone

By experiential design, the CFS Senior Capstone, piloted for the Class of 2023, is designated as the penultimate demonstration of the Profile of a CFS Graduate. Dr. Nicole Campbell was selected as the Capstone Coordinator, and describes the process thusly:

“Throughout the course of his senior year, each CFS student will engage in school-wide community efforts that focus on developing leadership skills, building community culture, working collaboratively, pushing for positive organizational change, engaging in equitable initiatives and preparing for a future beyond high school.”

After the seniors have developed a methodology (or project design), they will be responsible for reaching out to an administrator or leader of the school most closely related to the topic of their capstone. For example, seniors Andre Anyimah and Dylan Jones wanted to see more and different options in the CFS School Store. Working with Director of Marketing and Communications Stefanie Claypoole, they researched online sales history, reviewed inventory and catalogs, surveyed students and met with existing CFS product vendors – including Donald Jackson ’96 of Jackson Artwear (pictured) – to come up with some new designs that would greater appeal to scholars’ style and budget.

“The seniors are currently in between the design phase and implementation phase of the capstone right now. I am excited to see where each of them take their projects and to see their passions shine through in the work they are doing.”

Nicole Campbell

Fayi Nshanji

Enhancing Our Athletics Program

Our Strategic Plan 2020-2025 contains five pillars of focus: student success, distinctive identity, organizational excellence, powered by philanthropy and enhanced campus. A long-bemoaned area of improvement – especially by our alumni body – was our cinder track. In the fall, work commenced on a new sixlane, all-weather track that will ensure our athletes who enjoy three seasons of the sport – cross country, indoor track and track and field – have higher quality facilities in which to train and compete. The enhancement to the track also featured an upgraded field, which will benefit our many scholar-athletes who play soccer and lacrosse.

Our athletics department – led by Suni Blackwell and Tom Johnstone ’09 in close coordination with our faculty and coaches – continue to push our athletes to greatness both on the field and off. Jilord Baah ’23 was named BAL Division MVP for soccer; Gavriel Henriquez-Peralta ’23 broke the school record for assists in basketball; and varsity basketball coach Jonathan Guarente was voted BAL Coach of the Year by the league.

Building Our Wellness Capacity

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health across the world, and at CFS, our community recognized the importance of focus in this area. Julien Huang, formerly our Head Nurse, was named the Director of Health and Wellness in 2022, and, working with her nursing staff, new School Counselor Kate Hunter and Counselor Ukashah Shabazz ’15, she is eager to create programs, along with time and space, to ensure our scholars are taking care of their minds and bodies as we migrate to a post-pandemic world. “This year, we’ve started to move away from our heavy focus on Covid and toward a power of prevention model, where we are stressing health, life and wellbeing education for our scholars. Our goal is to infuse wellness into all places on campus.”

A major goal of the Health and Wellness Committee for 2023-2024 is finding new ways to fit the eight domains of wellness – emotional, social, physical, spiritual, intellectual, financial, occupational and environmental – into student life and “marrying the idea of everything we do being part of an overall wellness focus so that it becomes foundational.” Another goal is to create a prefect orientation program whereby cottage prefects become CPR and AED certified, along with training in first aid and conflict resolution. “We want to ensure some knowledge of health principles are available in every single space on campus.”

While the Health Center is staffed Monday – Friday from 7:45 AM – 10:00 PM and during the weekend as needed, Julien maintains an office in Greystock to distribute medicine, assess injuries and provide scholars’ access as needed to the school’s Meditation Room, a quiet, calming area to decompress. The Health and Wellness team also has many local partnerships with affordable, quality providers for issues that the school cannot serve. “We strive to provide a comprehensive health experience,” Julien says.

Julien Huang Kate Hunter Ukashah Shabazz ’15

Suni Blackwell

Thomas Johnstone '09

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE

Savion Weaver-Diaz ‘26

Brooklyn native Savion Weaver-Diaz was looking for a fresh start in his academic career and found a home here at Church Farm School. “I took a tour before coming here and when you compare that to being on campus every day, it’s better than you can imagine,” Savion said. From his first impression, Savion was excited to see a school culture where the faculty was hands-on and he could interact with his community in multiple ways. He is a current member of the Film Enthusiasts and Music Enthusiasts clubs, the golf team and the baseball team. “One accomplishment I’m really proud of is making the honor roll in the first semester. I’m not the best academically but CFS has taught me how to channel my athletic effort into my schoolwork,” Savion explained. Speaking of athletic effort, Savion is very excited about joining the baseball team this spring. Although coming into a new team as a freshman can be quite intimidating, Savion has his brothers by his side. Part of what makes him feel so included in the team is having upperclassmen like seniors Arturo Giron and Kaleb Hammond to go to when he wants to talk about the season. Savion said, “I talked to my brothers about the season and finding where I fit on the team and it made me feel appreciated and took a huge weight off my shoulders.” He continued to explain that there’s a strong sense of brotherhood at CFS. Savion wanted to thrive in a school where the students and faculty promote success. “There’s so many great things about this campus, but I think what stands out to me is that going here means I get to be with people like me; you can always have someone relate to you,” Savion said. Through his time here, Savion has been able to find a work and athletic balance while being supported by peers and faculty.

Zachary Kogan ’25

When a student comes to Church Farm School as a freshman, they meet with a lot of faculty and staff that are looking to help them make the most of their time before they graduate senior year. Sophomore Zach Kogan remembers a particular moment where Director of College Guidance and Strategic Initiatives Tiffany Scott spoke about building up skills and pushing yourself to achieve your goals. “I’ve failed a lot but I can’t wait to keep building up my skills and reach my peak academically,” said Zach. Almost halfway through his CFS journey, Zach reflected on the many activities he partakes in, such as, the Griffin Review, the Tabletop Games Club, Admissions Student Ambassadors, track and golf. “The school encourages you to be involved in clubs and activities; you get the chance to meet great people and make even better connections,” said Zach. While Zach is still focused on his academics, he makes sure to schedule in some fun. He recalls that his freshman year did not give him as many chances due to lasting effects of the pandemic. “It’s a nice adjustment coming back this year to an open campus. We do more together as a community and make more connections. Brotherhood and CFS in general are not perfect; we ruffle feathers and make mistakes but what family doesn’t?” Zach said.

SAVION WEAVER-DIAZ ‘26

ZACHARY KOGAN ‘25

Shalva Bent ’24

Shalva Bent came from Jamaica to the United States in 2016 with his mother and two older brothers. His mother wanted the best education for her three sons, and, after seeing his middle brother’s success with Prep 9, which pairs bright scholars with private boarding schools, Shalva decided to forge the same path. “I was in public school, and I knew I didn’t want to spend the next five years surrounded by people not like me.” This desire to be among motivated peers continued when the family moved to upstate New York, and Shalva ended up applying to a number of boarding schools, including CFS, site unseen due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I was really surprised when I first came to CFS,” Shalva recalls. The schools he had been able to tour were predominantly white, wealthy students. “I felt comfortable at CFS, being around people from similar circumstances as me.” Despite the school being restricted to campus for almost the entirety of his freshman year, Shalva worked hard and it paid off. He has received the highest GPA for his grade every semester that he has been at CFS, and last year, he made it to the state competition for Track & Field in the 4 x 100. His process is simple: stay focused, ask questions and reach out for help when you need it, while also “remaining independent and using your head.” Shalva proclaims an affinity for math and science, in particular. Despite his self-proclaimed shyness, Shalva believes it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone. He is a member of Student Government, the Honor Council, the Red Cross Club and the Student Ambassadors, and he is eager to take Public Speaking next year to alleviate his anxiety about talking in front of crowds. “It’s important to seek out positions at the school where you have to represent your class and yourself.”

Alain Huerta-Salas ’23

Alain Huerta-Salas credits his parents for his own pursuit of excellence. “They risked a lot to come to the United States,” he says. Hailing from Puebla, Mexico, Alain’s parents settled in the Bronx, where they raised (judging from Alain’s disposition) two fantastic kids. “They taught me to help others, and so giving a smile or a thank you is very rewarding.

Whenever I get the chance, I try to thank them.” Alain says he always admired his oldest brother, Yahir, who was on a path to private school through TEAK. After participating in a Summer on the Hill program with TEAK, Alain ended up partnering with Oliver Scholars to prepare for living and learning at a private school. “I wasn’t sure yet if I wanted to pursue a day or boarding school.” After two summers and weekly Saturday sessions preparing for private school through Oliver Scholars, Alain applied to Church Farm School. The promise Church Farm School saw in Alain has been realized year after year, as he has quietly, and graciously, ascended from hardworking student to a school leader: he is part of the 12th grade Executive Council as well as a cottage prefect. In December, he learned he had been accepted early decision to Cornell University’s School of Engineering. “I wanted to go to Cornell because Yahir goes there, which would make logistics for my family easier,” he says. Alain says the school has taught him independence, persistence and how to become comfortable stepping outside of his shell. His personal essay for Cornell reflects on his decision to join the CFS lacrosse team his junior year as a goalie, a position that required him to use his soft voice to dramatic effect. “I have to yell and be loud. It’s the complete opposite of who I am.” Alain recognizes that he has worked hard to get where he is today. His grades have consistently climbed every year, although his sophomore year, when he spent a year learning online due to Covid, was a setback for both his grades and his mental health. Yet he persisted through it. “I came back committed to proving to myself that I can still improve and do better.” He also became a cottage prefect in a freshman cottage because he wanted to be an inspiration to younger Griffins as his St. Martin’s prefects –Jonathan Moya, Liqi Yang and Angel Vasquez – had been for him. Alain plans to pursue a civil engineering track at Cornell, as well as continue his bowling career that started at CFS. So what does Alain think makes him a profile of excellence? “I use my resources well – I always ask questions when I need to and see my teachers for extra help. I also rely on my friends,” he says.

SHALVA BENT ‘24

ALAIN HUERTA-SALAS ‘23

Bringing the Bell to Service: JOE FANELLI

One of our most steadfast and longest-serving employees is Joe Fanelli, who joined the community in 1988 after seeing the passion his older brother Neil - who was the school’s Director of Finance and Operations for nearly 40 years –had for the school and its mission. Initially, Joe was hired as a carpenter under then Physical Plant Manager LeRoy Coer ’54, who Joe greatly admired. “He was the nicest man that I have ever worked with. I was always eager to learn from him and help out wherever I could.” Joe’s own organizational, technical and people skills led him to take on an expanded role following LeRoy’s retirement. Today, as Facilities Manager, Joe ably leads a small teamalong with many contractors and vendors – to oversee the maintenance of our buildings and grounds, including not just our academic, athletic and residential life facilities, but our faculty homes, too. It’s a massive undertaking, and one that the Facilities team undertakes with immense care, pride and excellence. Joe also enjoys special projects that he finds particularly meaningful.

For example, when Head of School Ned Sherrill approached Joe about the possibility of awakening the long (and possibly always) dormant Chapel of the Atonement bell, Joe was eager to take on the challenge. Created by the Meneely Bell Company in Troy, NY, in 1923, Joe and his team made Ned’s wish a reality. The first public bell ringing was held on August 26 at an all-faculty Chapel, and now draws our community together every Wednesday for weekly Chapel services. Says Joe, "The bell ‘awakening’ project has found a special place in my heart. Maybe it is because I was married in the Chapel, had services for my father's passing in the Chapel or just knowing how important the building is to the mission and to our community. Throughout all the events we've had in the Chapel, the bell has sat quietly

by, watching spiritually over campus much as I feel I have watched over campus physically with all my heart." The project was especially meaningful, he adds, because “LeRoy was always bothered that he left CFS without getting it working. So, knowing that the bell has come alive, it means a lot to me.”

In addition to the Chapel, the new Maintenance Building is a big source of pride for Joe, a space that his team – which also includes carpenter Brian Heckert and electrician and plumber Al Yusko – can now claim as their own. “These guys are the best and I’d give them the shirt off my back,” he says. The team meets every morning for coffee to review daily tasks and they often set about these tasks in disparate locations, not seeing each other until the next morning. Because of this, Joe says his favorite tradition is decorating the Chapel for Pageant, a day when the team can spend the day together customizing the space for the event with lush velvet curtains, roped pine, poinsettias and wreaths and candles – all while enjoying Christmas music and camaraderie.

“The people at CFS are like family. And I hope that they understand that we are always looking out for their safety and well-being so that they can do their jobs to the best of their ability.”

Joe Fanelli

Alumni Weekend is set for Friday, May 12 – Sunday, May 14 and we are excited to welcome Aggies and Griffins to campus to meet our students, reconnect with each other and enjoy some great programming. While we are honoring the 1980s with our Friday event – we hope all of our alumni will feel celebrated throughout the weekend.

FRIDAY, MAY 12

12:00 PM

12:45 PM

3:30 PM

7:00 PM

Lunch

Career Conversations with Scholars

Campus Tour

Rockin’ the 80s Party in the Pavilion

SATURDAY, MAY 13 10:00 AM

Learn more and sign up at gocfs.net/80s!

SATURDAY, MAY 13

5:00 PM

5:45 PM

Chapel Memorial Service

Alumni Reception and Dinner

SUNDAY, MAY 14

12:00 PM

1:00 PM Brunch

Music and Art Spring Celebration

Totally Radical!

Join Church Farm School on Friday, May 12 from 7-11 p.m. for our spring community event: Rockin’ the 80s! The 1980s were a tubular decade that gave us some of the best music, movies, technology, toys and of course, fashion. So dig out your Day Glo, Ray-Bans and your hair crimper and get ready to celebrate with us!

Rockin’ the 80s highlights will include:

 Live performance by Basic Cable

 Songs by the CFS Choir

 Video walls celebrating the 80s

 DJ cranking out 80s classics

 Pacman arcade games

 Retro photo booth

 Raffles and costume contests

 Dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and fun

Rockin' the 80s will kickoff Alumni Weekend 2023 at Church Farm School, and the event is open to anyone who'd like to join us! Sponsorships are available, and tickets are pay what you can. All money raised at the event goes toward the school’s mission of making our all-boys boarding and day high school affordable for talented young men.

Announcing the 2023 Alumni

Achievement Award Recipients: ERIC WELLER ’74 AND PAUL SPEAR ’81

Major General Eric G. Weller (USAF-Ret)

In the summer of 1968, Eric Weller’s father arranged for an interview at Church Farm School which resulted in him reluctantly starting in the 7th grade the following September. In addition to hands-on work and athletics, Eric’s academic studies were continually enhanced by the ongoing endeavors to meet the requirements for the school’s first accreditation by the Middle States Association in 1970. By graduation in June 1974, he was well prepared to meet the entrance requirements for Shippensburg University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement in 1979.

Enlisting in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1981, he was commissioned the same year as a Second Lieutenant at the Academy of Military Science. In 1983, he graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training, received his Navigator Wings and was assigned to the 193rd Special Operations Wing located at the Harrisburg International Airport. Eric is rated as a Master Navigator and has recorded over 3,000 Flight Hours, 150 of which were combat hours. In 2001 he graduated from the Air War College, the senior professional military education school of the US Air Force and a prerequisite for advancement in rank and related responsibilities. After a succession of successful assignments within the Wing, in 2006 he was assigned as Wing Commander and promoted in 2007 to Brigadier General, serving as Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. His career includes participation in numerous classified missions during Operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard, Desert Thunder, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom. He has received 29 major awards and decorations. In 2013, Eric was promoted to Major General at a ceremony attended by many CFS staff and alumni. In 2016 he retired from the USAF and assumed duties as the Deputy Adjutant General – Veterans Affairs, supervising the administration of assistance programs for more than 894,000 veterans and their dependents, as well as the operation of six state-owned veteran’s homes. After a long career of service, Eric retired in 2021. Committed to the objectives and goals of Church Farm School, Eric has always given of his time, talent and treasure –whether in person or from afar – attending Alumni events, talking about his career with students and generously giving to the school, even helping to create (along with Cecil ’64 and Peggy Hengeveld, pictured), the Military Scholarship Fund that supports students who have a current or former member of the US military in their family.

CAPT Paul Spear ’81

CAPT Paul Spear ended up at Church Farm School halfway through his 8th grade school year. His father had passed away when he was just 10 years old, and his blind and deaf mother began to find his behavior difficult to handle. An Episcopal minister recommended Church Farm School. Coming from Upper Darby to Exton had its similarities, and its differences. “The biggest difference was the farm. It didn’t seem normal to spend your days working with pigs, corn and barley,” he recalls. What was the same, but even more pronounced, was the variety of backgrounds on campus. “I grew up in a mixed community – racial, ethnic and religious. CFS was a real-life, intimate example of how society should function. You don’t see differences. If you are fighting with someone, it’s because they insulted you, not because of their background.”

When he graduated in 1981, Paul was unsure of his next step. He worked for a bit before deciding to go into the military. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982, eventually rising to the rank of Captain. He served on seven submarines, with NATO in Afghanistan, was Commanding Officer of the USS Tucson (SSN 770) in Pearl Harbor for three years and then served in the Pentagon for the Chief of Naval Operations Undersea Warfare Directorate as the Director of the SSBN Security Technology

and SSN/SSGN Survivability Program for nine years. Since retiring in 2018, he has worked as a government civilian for the Navy. He is currently the Director of the Full Spectrum Undersea Warfare Innovative Naval Prototype at the Office of Naval Research. Along the way, he received a B.S. in material science from Auburn University and a master’s in business administration and management from Troy University.

Paul and his bride Vanessa live in Alexandria, have four successful kids with fabulous spouses and most importantly have six grandchildren nearby and number seven due in July. Paul says he is pleased to give back to Church Farm School throughout the year and in his last act. “In addition to ensuring my family is secure after I pass, I want to enable Church Farm School to continue giving students a strong foundation. Church Farm School gave me life skills and an attitude to get things done that still serve me today!”

Paul has organized four class of 1981 reunions to stay connected with his brothers and classmates. “I encourage all my fellow alumni to make it happen for your class or tag team with a couple year groups. Most importantly just do it!”

Newt Disney Service Award: PRISCILLA GABOSCH

If you have been around Church Farm School long enough, you will know Priscilla Gabosch. Priscilla is the widow of Karl Gabosch ‘48, a classmate and best friend of Newt Disney '48, for whom this award is named. Priscilla attended every CFS event with Karl until his untimely death in 2011. Even after Karl's passing, Priscilla continued to stay engaged with the school by supporting the Griffin Scholars Program and attending twice-yearly luncheons to get to know the scholars and show her support. Priscilla has also attended various other CFS-related events. She has a soft spot for all things Church Farm School, donating to not only the Annual Fund, but the Capital Campaign, Galas and our recent Track fundraiser. She feels so strongly about the education and experience the scholars receive that she is a member of the Shreiner Society and has left CFS in her estate plans. Priscilla gives back to her community through her involvement with the American Kennel Club; she serves as a judge at many dog shows. Priscilla's smile always lights up a room and the world is a better place because of her.

IN MEMORIAM

FREDERICK BROWNE ’47

THOMAS DAVIES ’71

ROBERT DAVIS ’63

TIMOTHY GAINS ’70

HERMAN HENGEVELD ’63

WILLIS HOLLAND ’64

FREDERIC KELLAM ’65

STEVEN MARVICSIN ’41

CARROLL PETERSON ’60

STEPHEN STECHERT ’62

IN MEMORY OF ELIA & WILLIAM BUCK

Elia (nee Durr) Buck, a longtime supporter of so many Philadelphia organizations, passed away quietly and peacefully on November 18, 2022. Elia and her late husband of 58 years, J. Mahlon Buck, Jr.; along with her late father-in-law, J. Mahlon Buck; her children, James M. Buck III and Caroline Buck Rogers; and her brother and sister-in-law, William C. Buck and Laura Buck; have given generously of their time, talent and treasure to Church Farm School for decades. On March 28, 2023, William “Bill” Buck, also passed away.

J.Mahlon Buck – a close friend of CFS founder The Rev. Dr. Charles Wesley Shreiner - was one of the school’s first board members, and Elia’s husband, J Mahlon Buck, Jr., expanded this legacy by serving on the school’s Board of Directors under all three Shreiner headmasters—including Dr. Charles Wesley Shreiner, Jr., and then his son, Terry Shreiner—for nearly 40 years. Elia’s daughter, Caroline “Cackie” Buck Rogers, continues this tradition today, having served on the school’s Board of Directors since 2016.

In addition to continuous philanthropic support and presence at CFS traditions such as the Christmas Pageant, the Buck family facilitated the creation of the Buck Family Center for the Arts, where the school’s former transportation garage and woodshop was transformed into a bright, high-tech facility that consolidates Church Farm School’s arts curriculum into one building and allows for gallery shows and performances. A groundbreaking ceremony (Elia and her son, Jim, are pictured) was held in May 2019 and the building was completed in August 2020. Bill Buck (pictured at left with Arts Chair Dina Schmidt and Head of School Ned Sherrill) enjoyed a special reception in the Buck Center during Family Weekend 2021. We are grateful to Elia, Bill and the entire Buck family for the impact they have made at Church Farm School.

PAUL L. WEST ’54

CFS alumni and partners gather at a memorial for Carroll Peterson

Tim Gains (right) receiving his honorary Bible at Alumni Weekend 2022

Tom Nye ’88: Giving Back to His ‘Home’

Tom Nye ’88 (pictured, right) is a is a first cousin of Bill Nye the Science Guy, but that tidbit is shockingly one of the less interesting things about him. Tom is a storyteller, and he’s got some great stories. The southern drawl adds to the experience. Our scholars were fortunate enough to hear about Tom’s fascinating road to his work as a government forensic accounting expert when he participated in a Career Panel at Church Farm School’s Alumni Weekend in 2015. Born in the Washington, DC, area, Tom and his twin brother, Nick, lost their parents when they were very young. They moved in with their grandparents in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, only for their grandmother to pass away shortly thereafter. Their grandfather, alone with two middle school-aged boys, learned of Church Farm School from their local minister and drove up for a visit and testing. Tom matriculated as a 7th grader; his brother joined him on campus the following year.

Tom says the farm was still active when he was a student, and most of his classmates’ favorite duty, albeit one that required getting in trouble for the assignment, was riding on the trash truck. Tom didn’t like getting in trouble, especially at the cottage. He recalls his peers having to count blades of grass or sweep off the top of the bus as punishment for misbehavior at the hand of his Strawbridge Cottage parent, Art Smith (still at CFS today as Dean of Students and Varsity Wrestling Coach). “I was always working hard and studying. I had good grades.” As was often the case (and still remains the case), Tom’s status as a twin meant he and Nick were assigned paired Christmas Pageant roles such as the heralds and the Norsemen; he also helped former faculty member Joe Rhile set up the luminaries that line Chapel for evening performances. A math and science guy, Tom was sometimes one of the only students in his advanced classes, such as calculus and music appreciation.

After CFS, Tom earned degrees from Coastal Carolina University (accounting) and Appalachian State (economics

and banking). He spent a few years working in the restaurant and hospitality industry and realized he didn’t enjoy working weekends. A temp agency mishap ended up changing his life. “I was supposed to be working with FEMA. The FEMA team was in Florida, where they’d suffered from about a dozen hurricanes in 2004, and they sent me to a temp agency to get familiar with their work. But the temp agency accidentally assigned me to a contract with the DoD, and that got me sent me to Germany,” he recalls. Thankfully, his high school German came in handy overseas. “If you speak another language as an American working overseas, particularly German, French or Arabic, you can do very well for yourself.” After Germany, he was sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, “and it’s been a wild ride ever since!” He’s worked in audit remediation and accounting at L-3 Communications, Strategic Business Solutions INC, for the National Security Agency and currently, Tom works at the Defense Intelligence Agency for the Inspector General, which reports to Congress. “I make sure nobody is stealing from taxpayers. When I show up, peoplet sometimes cry, because they know they have been caught.” He recently also decided to pursue his master’s in forensic accounting and fraud examination at the West Virginia University, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. “I credit that to doing intelligence work before I even knew I was doing it.” He is also a qualified expert witness in forensic accounting.

He also is raising two young children, a dog and has been steadily supporting CFS most of his adult life. “It’s important because it’s home. And you don’t have to give much; if you don’t have the financial means, you share what you can, even if it’s your pearls of wisdom. [Former art chair] Jenny Sanderson said it best, by the time you graduate CFS, you’ve spent ½ of your life’s memories there. You can’t change that. And I learned how to take care of myself there. When CFS alumni get to college, they’ll be more advanced than they think.”

The Rev. Dr. J. Gordon Schleicher ’62 was a 13-yearold boy growing up in Mt. Vernon, New York (adjacent to the Bronx), when his father passed away in 1957. “My mother heard of Church Farm School and we visited.” A number of needs – social, emotional, physical and spiritual – were met through the experience, Gordon says. “Church Farm School's founder The Reverend Charles Wesley Shreiner had a profound influence on my life. The Colonel's faith in God enabled him to pursue and realize a dream. He and the many male faculty members became the father figures I needed in my life. Knowing Rev. Shreiner's life, experiencing his leadership as headmaster and his love for the boys under his care, along with the chapel and Sunday worship and religion class, planted a seed that would grow into a full-time ministry career.” A close association with other boys his age was also impactful, as was the experience of doing physical work every afternoon. Gordon particularly appreciated his summer assignment to the milk house, a space that was delightfully “warm and clean.”

Upon graduation, Gordon enrolled at the State University of New York at Oswego on Lake Erie and took teacher preparation courses. While there, a professor encouraged him to pursue a master’s and Ph.D. at Michigan State University. “In between the two I served in the US Army as an army instructor at the US Army Infantry Center and there completed Airborne parachute training,” he says. After the Army, Gordon and his wife, Margie, returned to Michigan where he joined the Michigan Army National Guard serving as a headquarters company commander and communications officer for the state before being promoted to Major. Upon completing his Ph.D., Gordon taught on the faculty at Wayne State University. “Later I heard God's call to pastoral ministry and entered seminary graduating with a master's in Theology in 1985. In 1987 I was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church and retired in 2004. Since then, I served as a hospice chaplain for six years and then my wife Margie and I moved into our denominational

Society Profile: THE REV. DR. J.GORDON SCHLEICHER ’62

retirement community in Chelsea, Michigan. Here I have taught Bible study classes and was recently hired as a part-time healthcare chaplain at our local hospital.”

Along the way, Gordon and Margie have “thanked God for their blessings by tithing to the church, studying in The Holyland, taking a dozen mission work teams to Haiti, Zimbabwe and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and leaving our estate to churches and institutions like Church Farm School that have nurtured us.”

Despite their geographic distance, Gordon remains wellconnected to his classmates through Zoom (they try and catch up every six weeks); supports the school through encouragement of class gifts for major anniversaries; attends virtual Alumni Association meetings monthly as a member of its Executive Council; and stays involved with the current work of the school, including attending Alumni Weekend often, corresponding with young alumni and, most recently, participating virtually in the school’s Bible Club.

Gordon and his fellow Aggies have seen the school undergo significant changes since his time at the school, but he says the spirit and mission of the school remains. He is particularly impressed with the school’s focus on volunteerism, “green technology” such as the solar array and its Alumni Success Program, which not only guides scholars to college, but remains involved throughout their time at university. “Whether a student is Christian or from a different background, the school continues to focus on ‘the way,’ which stresses not people or words but a way of living. I’ve been really pleased to see CFS leading young men in ‘the way’ and the care the community takes for one another.”

WAYS TO GIVE

There are so many ways to support Church Farm School and its mission of providing a financially accessible education to deserving young men.

VOLUNTEER

We continue to look for ways to involve our friends near and far in the mission of Church Farm School. In addition to official volunteer arms of Church Farm School –the Board of Directors, Alumni Association Executive Council and Parents’ Association – we are always in need of local volunteers to support on-campus events, spread the word about our work and provide us with testimonials.

NETWORK

Our scholars love hands-on experiences; whether hearing about interesting careers during a classroom visit, getting off campus for an internship or just networking with alumni of the school – your wisdom is appreciated!

DONATE

Making a gift to Church Farm School is easy!

Donate online at gocfs.net/give or

Donate over the phone at 610.363.5333 or

Donate via cash, check or credit card by responding to a mailed appeal