Delbarton Today Fall/Winter 2020

today

FALL/WINTER 2020

DELBARTON

BUILDING A DIVERSE BROTHERHOOD

NAVIGATING OUR REOPEN MAP

today

DELBARTON

contents

Fall/Winter 2020

1 From the Headmaster 2 Graduation 2020

16 Delbarton’s Reopen Roadmap

By Jessica Fiddes

22 A Conversation with Our Diversity Coordinators

By Jessica Fiddes

27 My Delbarton Experience

2

By Shawn Ohazuruike ’16

29 One Parent’s POV

By Marcie Gist P’23

32 Delbarton Admissions: Focusing on Diversity

By Jamie Paris

38 How I Fit Into DAP

By Trip Stockton ’20

40 Bloomberg Terminals: Delbarton Teaching Tools

By Tom Brady

42 Modern Additions to Delbarton’s Sculpture Collection

By Jessica Fiddes

46 Around Delbarton 63 Sports Shorts

16

By Jared Lowy

74 Abbey Notes

By Br. William McMillan, OSB

78 Alumni News

All photographs in this issue of Delbarton Today were taken by Jessica Fiddes, Jared Lowy or Craig Paris unless otherwise indicated.

Cover Photographer: Jessica Fiddes Rt. Rev. Richard Cronin, OSB, Abbot, St. Mary’s Abbey President, Delbarton School Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB, Headmaster J. Craig Paris ’82 Assistant Headmaster for Advancement Jessica Vermylen Fiddes, Editor, Director of Marketing & Communications The views expressed in Delbarton Today are solely those of the editors, authors and contributors to this magazine and do not necessarily represent those of the Order of St. Benedict of New Jersey, Inc., St. Mary’s Abbey and/or Delbarton School Design: Sahlman Art Studio, Charlotte, NC Printing: J.S. McCarthy Printers Augusta, ME

42

Delbarton.org

Dear Friends of Delbarton, Although the fall/winter 2020 Delbarton Today has likely arrived in your home close to Christmas, I write this message during the last week of the Fall Term. For almost twelve weeks, we have been in school in person after a Spring Term of “Virtual Delbarton.” After months of planning, we created our “Reopen Roadmap” for Delbarton, and we returned to classes on campus this past August. We held our breath to see how the reality of in-person Delbarton would fare as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to afflict our nation. The outcome of our planning was by no means certain.

Fortunately, it did not take long to see clearly that our staff and students were equal to the many challenges they faced! All adapted quickly to mask wearing, lunch in the gyms, and a really strange fall sports schedule. A “roll up your sleeves and do what’s needed” attitude has animated our school days throughout this singular academic year. We also continued to learn how adaptable and creative we can be, as we have further refined our use of technology to make key moments of the year happen in a new way. Back to School Night was entirely done through Zoom online sessions. Parent Conferences occurred through Zoom as well, with over 3900 individual Zoom sessions completed over the course of two afternoons and two evenings. We continue to adapt our means of educating young men in mind, body and spirit, so that the end of our Benedictine Catholic educational mission can continually be advanced for our 631 young men.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly affected Delbarton’s life since March 2020, we have also spent much time and energy in recent months reflecting especially on the challenges of making Delbarton an authentically diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. Put another way, in our never-ending efforts

Maureen Nowak P’12,’14’,18,’23/MGN Photography

From the Headmaster

at building a genuinely Benedictine Catholic school community, we have focused particularly of late on Delbarton’s racial and socioeconomic diversity. This issue of Delbarton Today details what we do at Delbarton to build just such a school community. You will hear the voices of our Diversity Coordinators, Mrs. Jenna Gomez-Nourie and Mr. Antonio Negrin, as they detail how our students are empowered to lead their peers in dealing with the challenges of diversity in 2020. You will also hear from alumni, parents, and students of color as they describe their experiences of life at Delbarton and their hopes and work for making their distinctive contributions to the lives of past, current and future Delbarton students. I hope you will find their stories challenging and inspiring.

In other contexts, I have noted that in advancing diversity and inclusion, as in all other of our aspirations that derive from our mission and core beliefs, our reach always exceeds our grasp. Because we are sinful people, we will fall short, we will wound each other, we will inevitably fail. Because we are a redeemed and grace-filled people, we can also rise again with God’s help, to build that community of justice, love and peace that is the ultimate goal of any Benedictine “school of the Lord’s service” like Delbarton.

Yours in Christ and St. Benedict,

Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B. Headmaster

Fall/Winter 2020

1

On Sunday, August 2, the Long Green Line welcomed 131 new members as the Class of 2020 graduated from Delbarton.

After a two month graduation Covid-delay, the Class of 2020 finally returned to Delbarton to celebrate together. Each family group of three was socially distanced under several big top tents in the Senior Garden while additional guests were invited to watch the event via live stream.

Diplomas and Delbarton Medals await the big day.

Boys and parents sat together and socially distanced from other families.

Graduates were gifted with an all-class poster and boxed treats, while parents’ seats included graduation programs, bottled water and Delbartonbranded gaiters.

2

DELBARTON TODAY

Senior portraits by Peter Wallburg Studios

Fall/Winter 2020

3

Mass and graduation were live streamed to accommodate relatives and friends unable to attend.

Class of 2020 Valedictorian Pierce Lutz ’20 with his diploma.

Peter Wallburg Studios

Lacrosse teammates assembled early for a socially distanced group shot prior to graduation.

After the ceremony, the Class of 2020 processed to Old Main lawn, led by four bagpipers and an honor guard of younger brothers from the Class of 2021, for a socially distanced 6’ apart group portrait in the shadow of Old Main.

4

DELBARTON TODAY

Assistant Headmaster for Academic Affairs Josh Hartle represented faculty at Graduation. A limited number of faculty and administrators attended due to Covid restrictions.

2020 G R A D U A T I O N

The Dooley family had a front row seat. From left, Ryan ’91, Patrick ’20 and Lisa Dooley P’20.

Color guard of Class of 2021 student leaders.

From left, Jack Forgione ’21, Timmy Butler ’21 and Student Body President Quinn Zebrowski ’21.

Peter Wallburg Studios

Fall/Winter 2020

5

Fr. Demetrius Thomas, OSB assists in the distribution of communion during Mass.

CNBC’s Guy Adami P’17,’19, here with Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB, was the graduation speaker. He counseled graduates not to allow others to dictate the person each wants to be, or the goals he wants to accomplish...that the greatest risk is not taking one...and to trust his instincts.

Abbot Richard Cronin, OSB, approaches the stage to preside at Mass.

6

DELBARTON TODAY

2020 G R A D U A T I O N

The Vermylen Family: Barbara, Harry ’20 and Mark Vermylen P’14,’20.

Xiaowen Xu P’20 and son Alan Chen ’20.

Peter Kleinschmidt of Peter Wallburg Studios photographed each graduate as he exited the stage. Here, Student Body President Rohan Amin ’20 displays his Delbarton diploma.

Newly minted Delbarton alumnus Angel Morataya ’20 celebrates joining the long green line of Delbarton graduates.

Fall/Winter 2020

7

The Peter B. Haas Award, established in memory of a 25year-old Marine pilot killed in Korea, recognizes distinguished leadership within the School. For their work in upholding the values of brotherhood and unity among their peers, and for their outstanding service in many areas of School life, the Peter B. Haas Award was co-presented to Aidan Tompkins ’20, on left, and Rohan Amin ’20.

Alumni dads and graduates assembled for a socially distanced group shot. Back row, L-R: Jerry Jr. ’20 and Jerry Jabbour ’92, Cole ’20 and Kurt Krauss ’81, Chase ’20 and John Kraeutler ’80, Christopher ’20 and Rob Failla ’89, Tom ’20 and Chris Bury ’91 and Jack ’20 and John O’Callaghan ’88; Bottom row, L-R Andrew ’20 and Bob Mulcahy ’80, Jake ’20 and Steve Cozine ’86, Damien ’20 and Doug Sylva ’89, Billy ’20 and Bill Georgen ’85, Patrick ’20 and Ryan Dooley ’91, and Charles ’20 and Josh Smith ’90. Missing: Brandon ’20 and Ed Liu ’88

8

DELBARTON TODAY

The James E. Nugent Award, established in memory of a graduate of the class of 1969, is awarded to the Delbarton senior who best exemplifies the spirit of giving himself to others.

This young man has distinguished himself among his peers for his unquestioned integrity and for self-forgetful service to his classmates, school and community.

The James E. Nugent Award was presented to Leo Cooley ’20.

2020

The Bryan Bennett Award honors the memory of a member of the class of 1994 who died at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This award is for the ‘quiet hero’, a student who, like Bryan, has distinguished himself for his day-to-day work ethic, consistent nobility and unfailing kindness to others all of which have made him a model of steadfastness to his classmates and teachers.

The recipient of this award is chosen by his classmates.

The Bryan Bennett Award was presented to Jonathan Nguyen ’20.

Peter Wallburg Studios

G R A D U A T I O N

The Brian E. Fleury Award is given to an outstanding scholar-athlete who demonstrates the same passion for scholarship that he does for athletics, a person who combine seriousness of purpose with self-effacing good humor, a person who is a consummate team player, selfless in all his endeavors, always putting the needs of others before his own. The 2020 Fleury Award was presented to CJ Kirst ’20.

Fall/Winter 2020

9

2020 G R A D U A T I O N

The Absey family: Robert, William ’20 and Maria Absey P’20.

The Failla family, from left, Rob ’89, Christopher ’20 and Kerry Failla P’20.

The Krauss family: Julie, Cole ’20 and Kurt Krauss ’81, P’20.

The Majmudar family: Ken, Adam and Allie Majmudar P’20,’22.

The Simon family: Collette, Jamarc ’20 and Jean-Marc Simon P’20.

The Quinn family: Patrick, Rory ’20 and Deirdre Quinn P’14,’20,’23.

10

DELBARTON TODAY

Class of 2020

Boston College – 6 Boston University – 2 Brown University – 3 Bucknell University – 3 Carnegie Mellon University – 1 Clemson University – 1 College of William and Mary – 1 Columbia University – 2 Cornell University – 2 Dartmouth College – 2 Dickinson College – 1 Drew University – 1 Duke University – 7 Emory University – 1 Franklin and Marshall College – 1 Fordham University – 1 Georgetown University – 8 Hobart College – 1 Howard University – 1 Illinois Wesleyan University – 1 Johns Hopkins University – 1

Lafayette College – 1 Lehigh University – 1 Loyola University Maryland – 1 Marist College – 1 Middlebury College – 2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 1 New York University – 6 Northeastern University – 3 Ohio State University – 1 Olin College of Engineering – 1 Princeton University – 3 Providence College – 2 Purdue University – 3 Rutgers University – 3 Sacred Heart University – 1 Siena College – 1 Stanford University – 1 Stevens Institute of Technology – 1 Tufts University – 1

University of Colorado – 1 University of Delaware – 1 University of Miami – 3 University of Michigan – 1 University of Notre Dame – 8 University of Pennsylvania – 2 University of Rochester – 1 University of San Diego – 1 University of Southern California – 2 University of St. Andrews – 1 University of Tampa – 1 University of Virginia – 2 University of Wisconsin – 1 Ursinus College – 1 Vanderbilt University – 2 Villanova University – 8 Virginia Tech University – 1 Wake Forest University – 7 Yale University – 3

Fall/Winter 2020

11

2020

Two Class of 2020 classmates missed Delbarton Graduation on August 2. After our Drive-By Ceremony, Conall Nugent '20 (in top photo with his family and dog) soon departed for the University of Notre Dame to begin training with his ROTC unit. Lucas Ungar '20 (in bottom photo with his family) soon left for Stanford University as a recruited football athlete.

Senior Awards Drive-By Ceremony

On Saturday, June 6, the School hosted its first ever Drive-by Senior Awards Ceremony. Cars filled with graduates and family members arrived on campus, snaking up the long drive from the East Gate giving occupants time to admire the 131 senior portrait lawn signs ordered by the Delbarton Mothers’ Guild. At Old Main, seniors in jackets and ties (and masks) were officially welcomed back

by Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB, while a video crew live-streamed the ceremony on YouTube for those unable to attend.

12

DELBARTON TODAY

photos by Jessica Fiddes

Graduates drove past the FAC to receive bags filled with yearbooks, graduation ties and lapel pins, t-shirts, gifts and more greeted by waving, cheering faculty members wearing Delbarton-branded gators. The ceremony was just another example of the adaptability of Virtual Delbarton, where Succisa Virescit was not just a motto but a hard-wired attitude.

Fall/Winter 2020

13

On Sunday, June 7, 36 members of the Class of 2024 celebrated moving up to 9th grade with a Drive-By Wave Parade at Delbarton. Thirty-six decorated cars filled with parents, siblings and pets filed past the Science Pavilion plaza where Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB distributed gift bags to our young men. That night, the students and families attend a Recognition Ceremony via Zoom call…

2024 14

DELBARTON TODAY

8th Grade Recognition Drive-By Celebration

photos by Jessica Fiddes

Fall/Winter 2020

15

Delbarton’s Reopen Roadmap

By Jessica Fiddes

O

n August 28 – one hundred and sixty-one

days after the last in-person classes at Delbarton – Fr. Michael welcomed back 632

students and 97 teachers to Delbarton. They

returned to a pristine 187 acre campus and a radically altered Delbarton universe.

Last spring, Virtual Delbarton successfully navigated a disruptive shift from in-person to online learning. Last summer, our Covid Management Team, guided by our Benedictine Catholic mission and values, and respecting all the necessary health guidelines, designed a Reopen Roadmap to relaunch in-person classes at Delbarton.

We were 100% committed to preserving the Delbarton

Reopen Roadmap highlights included n

Experience for students and faculty, ideally in-person on campus. n

n

n

n

n

16

DELBARTON TODAY

Daily health and temperature screening using the online Magnus app Transportation modifications, including masks, open windows and distancing Mask wearing and social distancing on campus Enhanced sanitization using EPA-approved products and electrostatic foggers Foodservice modifications: pre-packaged food, socially distanced diners Athletics, Arts, and Campus Ministry modifications

“Everything,

absolutely everything

will be different this year…

but we

can do this.

Chuck Ruebling ’79, Assistant Headmaster for Student Affairs

”

photos by Jessica Fiddes

Fall/Winter 2020

17

bers by the Num Reopening

82 yeSarchs ool

days 161 on ning at Delbart

of Delbarton

632-21stscudhoenoltsyear

ar of no onsite le

97 teachers 37 7 graders 146 9t clgrasads erins

Boys relax in Adirondack chairs, courtesy of the Delbarton Mothers’ Guild.

in the 2020

th

th

12 transfer students ng 3 numrinbeg far ofll terermmottoe alleloarwnitim e (the larges ory) Delbarton hist

days du ntact tracing for Covid-19 co

At Orientation, Assistant Headmaster for Student Affairs Chuck Ruebling ’79 told students, “Everything, absolutely everything will be different this year…but we can do this.” Covid modifications began each day even before individuals arrived on campus. Everyone logged on to the Magnus Health site to register a daily temperature and answer eleven questions. The number one safety measure was stay home if sick. One silver lining: as a result, our medical suite remained atypically quiet throughout the school day.

Masks were mandatory, and social distancing was practiced wherever possible. Hallways stencils directed twoway traffic to keep to the right. Desks had partitions and teachers’ desks had plexiglass barriers. Lessons were livestreamed and recorded to accommodate quarantined students. Mental health was a top priority too, and Delbarton

18

DELBARTON TODAY

launched a Freshman Advisory Program to ease the transition of 9th graders into the upper school program. The dress code was relaxed during fall terms – shorts were permitted – and extra time was built into the schedule for a longer break between classes.

Lunchtime was reinvented. All food was prepackaged and served by masked and gloved Sage Dining staffers. Each person followed floor decals to file past stations of hot and cold options. Teachers lunched in the Dining Hall while students took their food to the gyms where 8’ tables were set-up, two seats to a table. After lunch, students sanitized tables and chairs for the next lunch block. Delbarton housekeeping went into overdrive, daily disinfecting campus with EPA-approved products and electrostatic foggers. Hand sanitizers, wipes and sprays were available everywhere.

Morning meetings took place in the FAC theater with an audience of socially distanced seniors and live streamed to classrooms. Masses were live-streamed too, with Campus Ministers distributing Communion. Extracurriculars relaunched with many adjustments. Fall sports took place with abbreviated schedules and limited spectators. Some games were cancelled when other schools halted their programs due to Covid exposure.

Intramurals reappeared at Delbarton to keep non-fall athletes physically active and socially engaged. Delbarton Arts worked overtime to offer a varied arts program. Schola vocalists practiced, masked and socially-distanced, on Old

Main porch. The audience for the fall drama Love and Information was masked, socially distanced, and a live-streamed performance was a ticket option. Campus Ministry sponsored retreats that followed Covid regulations. Days of recollection and retreats still took place, and community service projects like our annual Christmas Gift Drive continued supporting the wider community.

For parents, back-to-school nights and teachers conferences were delivered virtually. Thanks to the hard work of Parent Liaison Erin Manahan P’19, Delbarton parent organizations offered many outdoor, socially distanced events

Nurse Deirdre McAuliffe gets Covid check-in help from her son Patrick McAuliffe.

Students eat lunch in the gyms at assigned, socially distanced seats.

Housekeeping staff members sanitized campus around the clock.

A soccer player has a temperature check before practice in September.

Assistant Headmaster for Student Affairs Chuck Reubling ’79 addresses students at Orientation.

Athletic Director Dan Whalen carries intramural equipment. Flag football, soccer and Ultimate Frisbee were offered on a rotating basis.

Fall/Winter 2020

19

“Doing the ‘not normal’ is the normal for this year.”

Chuck Ruebling ’79, P’10

this fall. Beautiful fall weather helped, and so did the DMG-erected tents in the Garden (until one met its tragic demise during a late October storm). In September, the DMG delivered 18 Adirondack chairs to the Garden, an instant hit with students.

Many alumni events, including Homecoming, were cancelled or postponed. The Alumni Golf Outing took place in September. In November, a virtual Alumni Speakers Series was introduced to keep our alumni connected.

With 750+ people on campus every day, Delbarton inevitably experienced the occasional positive Covid test that was amplified by following contact tracing

A typical Delbarton classroom scene in fall 2020.

20

DELBARTON TODAY

protocols. On several occasions, classes reverted to distance learning for a day as administrators, led by Nurse Deirdre McAuliffe, conducted contact tracing to assess, inform and quarantine close contacts. With so many other schools reverting to virtual or hybrid programs, Delbarton compensated our teachers with young children for Covid-related childcare expenses.

At this writing, we approach Thanksgiving Break having ‘lost’ only three days of in-person classes at Delbarton to Covid, nothing short of a miracle. But we do not relax our guard, which is why our Virtual Delbarton online program returns for two weeks after Christmas Break to avoid potential contagion from inevitable Christmas travel and the return of college-age siblings.

Thank you to our teachers, staff members, students, families and alumni for helping us to navigate our Reopen Roadmap, and a salute to Fr. Michael Tidd who continues to lead Delbarton with intelligence, composure, humor and tact. Nobody can predict the future, but as a community, we have worked hard to maintain normalcy during an exceptionally abnormal time.

At Orientation in August, Chuck Ruebling told our young men, “Doing the ‘not normal’ is the normal for this year.”

Onward, Delbarton!

Student ambassadors greet applicants and families on an interview Saturday in October.

Families were invited to choose between an in-person or virtual Admissions option.

A Campus Minister offers Communion to fellow students during our first Mass of the school year on September 11.

Actors take a bow after the final performance of Love and Information on November 1.

Our annual Bishop’s Mass in the Abbey Church was livestreamed to classrooms.

Fall/Winter 2020

21

A Conversation with Delbarton Diversity Coordinators Jenna Gomez and Tony Negrin

By Jessica Fiddes

Diversity Coordinators Tony Negrin and Jenna Gomez.

On October 5, I sat down with Delbarton Diversity Coordinators Jenna Gomez and Tony Negrin to talk about their work promoting diversity and inclusion at Delbarton.

Fr. Michael, artist Jazzmin Imani and Jenna Gomez at the 2020 Black History Month Celebration. photos by Jessica Fiddes

22

DELBARTON TODAY

What are your responsibilities at Delbarton?

Tony: I started teaching at Delbarton in September, 2013. I’m currently an English teacher, Diversity Co-Coordinator, DAP CoModerator, Assistant Coach of Varsity Baseball, Middle School Basketball Coach, Council of Seniors moderator and a member of the Admissions Committee.

Jenna: I arrived in September 2014 to teach Spanish and French. I’m also the Spanish Club Moderator, Spanish Honor Society Moderator (we run the ESL program for Delbarton’s housekeeping staff ). I also lead foreign travel trips to Peru every 2 years, manage the Peruvian Exchange, Diversity Admissions, am a Diversity Co-Coordinator, DAP CoModerator and Middle School Lacrosse Coach.

How did you navigate to your position as a Delbarton D&I moderator?

Tony: I attended Regis High School and briefly taught there. As a student, I applied to be REACH mentor to a young man in 6th grade who ended up going to Xavier High School. That’s how I got into diversity work. My father is an immigrant from Cuba, lived in Miami and moved to Yonkers. My grandfather didn’t work for years because of the language barrier, and my grandmother was on the assembly line for Chevrolet.

Language was very tough for my father and he used baseball to teach himself. He’s now manager of buildings and grounds at Pace University. He taught me that money should never be an obstacle or a priority. I regret I

never learned to speak Spanish. I had a speech impediment and my mother told my father to stop speaking me Spanish because it was impacting my English. We didn’t have much growing up, and looking back I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was so lucky to get a free Catholic education at Regis, so once I was there it was my time to give back.

Jenna: Both of my parents are teachers. I grew up in Germantown, PA in a very diverse neighborhood, so I always felt comfortable talking about race. I entered Abbington Friends School in the suburbs when my father moved there to teach (he’s been head of school for 14 years). It was a culture shock, and the first time I felt out of place. I wasn’t comfortable in an environment where wealth was displayed in much more obvious ways. I got involved in PRIDE, a student organization focused on leadership training, and dialogue around diversity and was part of a similar organization at George Washington University. I’m white, but I have always naturally navigated to a more diverse crowd and felt more comfortable with people I could learn from and share with. Working in a diverse community has always been a priority for me, and when I got to Delbarton it was one of the first things I asked about. I was sitting in front at Tony at the Faculty Orientation and he raised his hand as Minority Mentors Coordinator. I turned around and said ‘I want to get involved!’. In my second year, we really got to work and started building.

Tony Negrin started teaching at Delbarton in 2013 and is currently an English teacher, Diversity CoCoordinator, DAP Co-Moderator, Assistant Coach of Varsity Baseball, Middle School Basketball Coach, Council of Seniors moderator and a member of the Admissions Committee.

Jenna Gomez arrived in September 2014 to teach Spanish and French.

She is also the Spanish Club Moderator, Spanish Honor Society Moderator (which runs an ELS program for Delbarton’s housekeeping staff). She also leads foreign travel trips to Peru every two years, manage the Peruvian Exchange, Diversity Admissions, is a Diversity Co-Coordinator, DAP Co-Moderator and Middle School Lacrosse Coach.

Fall/Winter 2020

23

Q: n

As Spanish Club Moderator, Gomez oversees an ESL program that partners students with members of the Delbarton housekeeping staff interested in improving their language skills. She’s pictured with 2020 student leaders Leo Cooley ’20, Alex Varughese ’20 and Angel Morataya ’20.

Tony: For most of our students, they feel welcome once they walk on campus.

There are many great touchpoints for all of our students. They may not know what they want to do, and not play a sport.

That’s why DAP is so important because it gives our minority boys an entry point and an instant community to connect with.

Jenna: Our students are all different, and have different challenges. A long commute is a big one, but not for all, for some it’s just the culture shock. The affluence when you jump into an institution like Delbarton is a shock.

Anytime you’re the only one of anything there’s an added pressure. Whether it’s race, socio- economic status, religion. As a kid, you don’t always know where that pressure comes from. As adults, we have to help them identify and pinpoint that experience and help them navigate.

When you’re able to connect fully with a person who’s different from you, that ‘otherness’ disappears, so learning about issues of diversity and engaging in conversations a round identity is beneficial for all members of our community.

Q: n

Negrin with Delbarton parents Heba and Kareem Eltaki P’23 at our 2020 Hispanic Heritage celebration.

24

DELBARTON TODAY

What would you say are the biggest challenges for our diversity students?

What programs have been particularly impactful for Delbarton diversity students?

Tony: DAP (formerly Minority Mentors) has evolved from a club to a program.

Students truly are invested in this work and all students are welcome. Most of our students want to be involved in something bigger than themselves. There are still some white students who say the DAP program is for ‘them’, but that has changed drastically in the past seven

years. Back in 2014, a white student wouldn’t have considered being a member of DAP. Jenna: I was always taught that minority is not a label, it’s an adjective about a circumstance. You’re not a minority everywhere, it largely depends on where you are. When I got here, I said ‘this Minority Mentors name needs to change’ but it had to come from the students.

Obinna Abalihi ’16 came up with the name Diversity Among Peers in 2015.

Q: n

How did you change the perception that DAP is for everyone?

Tony: The name change spurred more students at the school to say ‘Oh this is what this program does? Now they’re learning about leadership, how to have conversations about race? I’m all in.’ Jenna and I did not have to say ‘Hey we think you guys should come in now.’ It was more students reaching out to us and saying they wanted to be involved.

Jenna: We did more workshops that taught everyone about what we were doing. But it’s also important that our students in the minority still have an affinity space where a shared experience can act as a huge support. It’s important to maintain that safe space to breathe easy and not have to worry about how you’re being perceived all the time.

Q: n

How would you describe the relationship between Delbarton diversity students and their peers?

Tony: It’s a very strong relationship. That’s the beauty of being at an all-boys school.

You can be yourself. Our diverse students get along with the general population very well.

Jenna: Individual relationships between kids are really positive. A lot of people point out the kids really like each other, and that’s true and positive but an important question, from an administrative position, is are we providing an equitable education to all students, meaning that students don’t have to feel an added pressure wherever they go.

Commonly, race gets brought up in a classroom and everyone turns to them.

Our students have the added pressure of having to fight against stereotypes, and stereotype threat.

Q: n

Q: n

How would you grade Delbarton’s social justice, diversity & inclusion efforts?

want (my son) “toIlive in a world

What’s stereotype threat?

Jenna: It’s a feeling that people are going to stereotype you, then having it be on your mind all the time. A good example is girls and math. A girl may constantly feel she have to be good at math, but is afraid to answer a math question in a coed class because she might be wrong. She may not be paying attention at the same level because she’s reacting to that added pressure.

Q: n

in the curriculum. Generally, our teachers do an excellent job trying to modify their course curriculum with secondary resources. We’re working on a curriculum review right now and, in the grand scheme of things, Delbarton does a really good job. Now we want to look at it through a more critical eye and make sure that students feel empowered through our curriculum and are ready for the world that they will be entering into.

Where are the gaps in how Delbarton addresses diversity and inclusion?

Tony: Faculty hiring is always an issue. We need to have black teachers here because the boys need to see people like them.

We want to be diverse across the board, so we need to do the best job possible to hire and retain those teachers.

Jenna: The lack of diversity on our faculty is an urgent problem and, again, it’s not anyone’s fault. We just have to get creative. We recently attended a hiring conference with Josh (Hartle, Assistant Headmaster for Academic Affairs) and got some great ideas. Another piece is the curriculum. Kids need to see themselves

Tony: If you compare Delbarton to other New Jersey Catholic schools, then the grade’s an A. Overall, in the landscape of independent schools, we’re teetering between a B and a B+ and we’re moving in the right direction.

where we don’t need a diversity program.

Jenna: I don’t know if I can give us a letter grade. We’re doing a lot of things right, and I see us on a journey towards an A but I don’t think we’re there yet. I don’t know if you can ever be there, because this work is always evolving and always challenging. We’re 100% farther along than we were.

– Jenna Gomez

Q: n

”

What are we doing right?

Tony: You get on campus here, and you belong. You’re welcomed and you can have the exact same experience as any other student. We have the right priorities. The successes we are having are sustainable because we have the students, faculty and parents who want to do this work, are passionate about it and really want to make an impact on this world. Once boys step on campus, they start to believe they need to make the world a better place.

Fall/Winter 2020

25

Jenna: Financial aid: We make sure that every student who comes through Delbarton can experience everything any Delbarton student would experience, including foreign travel. I don’t know any other school that does that as well as Delbarton does, not even the schools that are ahead of us with student and faculty diversity. Socio-economic inequity is one of the easiest to address, and Fr. Michael, in particular, has been somewhat fearless in pioneering this work. We also have the positive intentions of our faculty and staff.

They’re looking for ways to help. We have excellent students. They’re receiving a Benedictine Catholic education based on empathy, understanding and faith.

Being a school of faith is a huge advantage for us. That gives us a moral code which is so important in this work.

Q: n

Did the killing of George Floyd change our timeline in any way?

In August, 2020, Gomez and Negrin organized a full day of faculty and staff training at Delbarton with diversity expert and author Dr. Ali Michael, on left, to learn more about the topics of racism and racial identity. Michael was impressed that Delbarton committed to the oncampus event – her first in-person presentation since last March.

26

DELBARTON TODAY

Jenna: We’ve been working really hard on this for years, but it made the urgency of this work more visible to everyone. Seeing this national outcry called people in. We received emails from alumni, faculty, kids, everyone was in a moment, frozen, when that happened.

“What can I do?” I think it sped up the timeline because the entire community understood the need. You can’t be a leader in today’s world without understanding the complexities that come with a racialized identity. I’m confident that our boys really do. Five years ago, we wanted the students coming in to feel comfortable. Then we

want to make sure the students have a voice, that they know this is their community. Once they have a voice, we want them to have more people like them, so our community reflects the world around us. We want our students to be leaders. We take our role as educators of the next generation very, very seriously. We want our students to lead ethically, and with equity in mind.

Ultimately, we want everyone to feel that Delbarton is a place where they truly belong.

Q: n

You both have young sons.

What kind of world do you hope for them to grow up in?

Tony: I want my son to grow up in a world where he can love all people, anyone and everyone. That’s the world my mother and father wanted for me as well. A world where he can celebrate his faith.

Jenna: I want my son to empowered to lead, I want him to have a connection to his own culture in that identity. it’s important that he feel proud of being Peruvian. At the same time, he’ll also be a white man and I want him to think carefully about what that means. I want him to be in a world where you can have these discussions, a world where empathy is at the forefront. I want him to live in a world where we don’t need a diversity program.

My Delbarton Experience

By Shawn Ohazuruike ’16

Shawn Ohazuruike ’16 entered Delbarton in 9th grade. An accomplished student athlete, he was a school record-breaking hurdler and won the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 2020 and is currently teaching at a NYC charter high school as he completes his medical school applications.

I can’t imagine how isolating it would have been for a 13-year-old freshman of color, when Delbarton wasn’t as diverse, to enter the student body and expect to assimilate. The MMP’s sheer presence as an organization of students of color and students from urban parts of New Jersey supporting one another was so powerful at the time.

Evidently, it has transformed over time; however, its inception was truly significant, even without a mission statement or an explicit goal at the time.

Peter Wallburg Studios

Stepping off of the bus at Delbarton for the first time was not only scary because I was a naïve freshman surrounded by experienced high schoolers, but also because it was the first time I was surrounded by students who didn’t “look like me.” Questions flooded my mind about whether I was going to fit in and make this strange place feel like home. My fears were quelled by the support of other students of color that attended Delbarton and a young English teacher who recognized the need for a program designed to aid students’ transition from urban areas; hence, the Minority Mentors Program (currently known as DAP) was born.

After graduating from Delbarton, in fall 2016 Ohazuruike entered Dartmouth College. He is currently teaching at a NYC charter high school and applying to medical school.

Watching the MMP develop a mission without sacrificing its original purpose was an amazing part of my Delbarton experience. During the first year of the program, I remember worrying about funding from the school for various activities that the MMP had planned. However, each subsequent year, transforming our ideas into reality became less Fall/Winter 2020

27

Shawn with his parents Francisca Meremikwu and Peter Ohazuruike P’16 at Delbarton Graduation 2016.

The Class of 2016 celebrates graduation with a dip in the fountain.

Jessica Fiddes

and less about the funding because the administration dedicated itself to the program’s success and the mission of achieving schoolwide cultural understanding and eliminating racial bias. Although Delbarton, as a school, has a long way to achieve the standard that the DAP has set for racial understanding, the current DAP moderators Jenna Gomez and Tony Negrin have pushed Delbarton in a direction that can make this mission very possible.

If there is one major takeaway that I took from the latter half of my senior year at Delbarton when I was able to attend major diversity conferences across the country, it was to embrace the singularity of my experience. As a freshman, this was a difficult task because my focus was on fitting in with my peers, but, especially for any student of color walking through Trinity Hall, there is so much power in embracing your color and culture outside of the Delbarton bubble.

Your cultural legacy and your story speak volumes, so share your story.

Ohazuruike was a record-breaking hurdler during his years at Delbarton. In 2016, he won the Morris County title.

28

DELBARTON TODAY

What am I up to now? I am in the process of applying to medical schools; however, my main role at the moment is as a teacher at an NYC charter high school. Even as an educator, I have learned very quickly that I will always be a student, not only in teaching as a practice but in my level of cultural understanding. Some of the students that I currently work with don’t have the luxury of living in neighborhoods with great public school systems, having English as a first language, or having tutors available to them at all hours. Being that person that motivates them to succeed academically reminds me of how fortunate I was to attend a school like Delbarton where the students and faculty treated each other like family.

One Parent’s POV on Diversity at Delbarton

By Marcie Gist P’23, mother of Nigel McSween ’23

A

As a parent of three sons, I am always amazed at how quickly the time passes from the moment you bring them home, to the beginning of their formal education through middle school, high school and beyond. The goal of ensuring my soon-tobe 9th grader, who was full of promise and excited to continue his educational journey, was to land in an environment that would nurture him intellectually while also anchoring him with a firm foundation in faith and an appreciation of service was crucial. We were blessed in that there were several exemplary institutions on our short list but, now the challenge:

Marcie Gist P’23 and her son, Delbarton sophomore Nigel McSween ’23.

Fall/Winter 2020

29

to hone in on the one we felt would be the best fit for Nigel; an institution that values hard work and discipline, yet provides ample latitude for boys to become young men.

Delbarton parent Marcie Gist P’23 shared her Trinidad and Tobago culture with the Delbarton community at last February’s Black History Celebration in old Main.

30

DELBARTON TODAY

For us, Delbarton offered the best combination of these hallmarks while focusing on Nigel’s unique strengths and potential for growth. However, attending Delbarton meant shifting to an environment where the makeup of the student body was different than where he was coming from. Would this variance lead to his feeling less like he belonged? I was pleased to find an administration

that recognized these differences exist and sought to embrace all facets of their students’ diverse backgrounds and cultures. Delbarton is a place that offers organizations like Diversity Among Peers (DAP) where students are encouraged to share in their diverse experiences and support one and other through any challenges, and the Parent Council on Diversity and Inclusion (PCD&I) which seeks to broaden the community’s understanding of various cultures and celebrate those differences. Following the thread of belonging and inclusion, once accepted, new students were welcomed into the Delbarton family and encouraged to attend on-campus activities like sporting events or dramatic performances. During the newly accepted student meeting, the boys were told from this point forward they are a part of the Delbarton family and that there was no need to wait until the school year began to embrace all that it encompasses.

For us, participating in the Brian Fleury Memorial 5K and attending the summer sports camp were great introductions to the Delbarton community. These activities were followed by a summer program which combined academics and athletics and proved to be a bridge to developing early friendships by encouraging competitiveness while fostering a sense of brotherhood. When the first day of school arrived, areas where I may have had concern were already addressed.

For us, participation has been a key to creating a sense of belonging. From food drives to sports and volunteering, each

interaction has reinforced “here, we belong”. The most challenging aspect of the journey thus far has been one of time management and organization.

Throughout the Delbarton community, there is a plethora of activities to participate in or attend and, at first, the inclination is to sign up for them all.

However, with experience comes the realization that you have to take control of your schedule and actively manage the balance between academics and activities to ensure neither one suffers.

We are still fine tuning this balance. For Nigel, the day starts early and at times, ends late.

My experience as a parent has mirrored what my son has experienced with his classmates. Interactions with other parents and the administration have been welcoming and relationships have felt genuine. From serving food at football games to working the tables at the event for incoming students, all of the interactions have echoed the “here, we belong” sentiment. Through events like the Hispanic Heritage Month event,

African American History Month event and other cultural celebrations, families are able to showcase the diverse backgrounds that make up the Delbarton community. The common thread that is apparent through my experiences is that, no matter what our background, we parents share the same focus and commitment to supporting our boys on their journeys to fulfill their potential both academically and spiritually.

When looking for a school, it goes without saying that all parents want an institution that will be the best fit for their child, one whose culture is rich with diversity, value-driven and focused on providing an exceptional education while supporting a young person’s journey to adulthood. One of the biggest takeaways from my Delbarton experience thus far, is that the spirit of the “here, we belong” mission statement is apparent in both word and deed. That fact has been a reassuring blessing for my family.

“The common thread that is apparent through my experiences is that, no matter what our background, we parents share the same focus and commitment to supporting our boys on their journeys to fulfill their potential both academically and spiritually.”

Fall/Winter 2020

31

Delbarton Admissions:

Focusing on Diversity

By Jaime Paris, Delbarton Diversity Admissions Coordinator

S

ince its founding in 1939, Delbarton School’s prototypical student has been perceived as male, white, and affluent.

In today’s increasingly diverse world, however, we are proud that our student population reflects a rich variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. For instance, nearly twenty-five percent of our students self-identify as nonwhite and twenty percent practice faiths other than Roman Catholicism.

In the past few years, Delbarton Admissions has developed a Diversity Outreach Strategic Plan to continue building a diverse student population where every student is not only included but also experiences real belonging. “Here, we belong”, isn’t just a tagline; it is a reality at Delbarton.

Friends enjoy a night of great music, food, dance and culture at our annual Black History Month celebration in February 2020.

Over a decade ago, a Diversity Admissions Caucus was created to make institutional diversity and inclusion a priority. In 2012, Jaime Paris, a faculty member in the World Languages Department, joined the Admissions team as Diversity Admissions Coordinator to work with Dr. David Donovan, Dean of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid, to implement diversity outreach programs. Mr. Paris also sits on the Financial Aid Committee to share input from a diversity perspective on allocation of funds to incoming candidates.

These developments led to a growing program of offcampus and on-campus outreach efforts to cast Delbarton’s admissions net as widely as possible to attract the best and brightest young men. Some exciting specifics:

32

DELBARTON TODAY

Diversity Admissions Caucus (DAC) DAC includes the Diversity Admissions Outreach Coordinator, DAP (Diversity Among Peers) Coordinators, and faculty and staff members. DAC identifies diversity candidates, reviews their applications and recommends candidates for admission. DAC members also form part of other general admissions caucuses to prioritize DEI goals. In a typical year, DAC has been responsible for undertaking an initial review of almost half of all applications submitted to Delbarton.

Community Outreach Efforts School Fairs Delbarton maintains a strong presence at School Fairs in underserved communities throughout northern New Jersey. Our admissions representatives and Delbarton Student Ambassadors meet students and families in person, answer questions, and encourage qualified young men to apply. Jaime Paris forges close, collaborative relationships with the administrators and placement directors from sending schools to develop an expansive pool of diversity candidates.

Secondary School Visits to Schools of Special DEI interest Delbarton also visits and tours sending schools, meeting with administrators and presenting to groups of 7th and 8th grade students. On these site visits, admission representatives distribute literature and deliver talks about Delbarton’s mission, offerings, and transportation and financial aid programs.

Throughout the year, we invite speakers to connect with students on a variety of topics. On October 24, 2019. Dr. Laymon Hicks talked about digging deep to discover perseverance in overcoming challenges and setbacks.

photos by Jessica Fiddes

Fall/Winter 2020

33

Off Site Interviews

Fr. Michael gets to know parents and applicants at our 2019 Open House. In 2020, Covid restrictions meant that the Open House took place online, and included a live Q&A component.

To facilitate students and parents with schedule inflexibility or financial difficulty, Delbarton conducts off-site and after-hour interviews and waives the application fee for all financial aid families. For example, in 2019, Delbarton interviewed ten students and their parents in one day at Robert Treat Academy in Newark.

Relationships with Community Organizations Delbarton connects with community organizations that seek to help young men of underprivileged or underserved socioeconomic backgrounds. We have a long-standing relationship with Platinum Minds and with NJSEEDS, leaders in guiding students from disadvantaged communities toward valuable educational opportunities in private schools. Dr. David Donovan serves on the Advisory Committee of Platinum Minds and Delbarton attends the annual NJSEEDS admissions fair and customizes application opportunities for members of their Young Scholars Program. We typically offer acceptances and meet the demonstrated financial need of two to five NJSEEDS candidates each year.

Roman Catholic Churches

DAP moderators Jenna Gomez and Tony Negrin host a DAP presentation at the Open House, and answer questions for students of color who are interested in applying to Debarton.

34

DELBARTON TODAY

Delbarton also seeks diverse students through strategic outreach to parishes in surrounding communities. Mr. Jaime Paris works closely with Delbarton’s Coordinator for the Benedictines of East Africa and Delbarton School (BEADS) program, Mr. Brian Theroux, to expand and grow parish relationships, particularly during Catholic Education Week when they hold presentations before and after community Masses.

Coffee Houses Thanks to the valuable input of Mr. Tony Negrin and Mrs. Jenna Gomez, this initiative (delayed due to Covid-19) involves the creation of family socials in the homes of Delbarton parents and alumni, offering a relaxed occasion for guests to learn about Delbarton.

Attended by interested families, prospects hear from Delbarton admissions representatives, alumni, and Student Ambassadors.

On-Campus Community Outreach Efforts Group Visits

On campus, Delbarton hosts a number of school, parent, and community groups to visit for the school for a day, meet with our students and faculty, and attend a Q&A lunch with administrators.

Open House Delbarton runs an annual Open House as an opportunity for interested students and parents to learn about our campus and programs. This large event is promoted through targeted outreach channels to attract families from diverse communities. Part of the Open House is dedicated to our Diversity Among Peers (DAP) and Parent Council on Diversity and Inclusion (PCDI) groups which hold informal conversations and information sessions covering the many activities and full calendar of events at Delbarton.

Special Events Basketball Tournament Delbarton hosts student groups from charter schools to engage with our faculty and students. In 2018, for example, we created a middle school basketball tournament and invited Newark KIPP Schools to join us to foster camaraderie through competition.

Players, coaches and visiting family members enjoyed a buffet lunch where DAP members hosted a program of guest speakers and ice-breaker activities.

Coaching Workshops and School Visits Delbarton Admissions collaborates with Green Wave coaches to run coaching workshops at Delbarton and invite teams and players to our athletic events on campus.

Translation and Tech Assistance for Applicants and Families Delbarton is committed to removing any barrier that may impede a candidate and his family from understanding and completing our admissions and financial aid applications. Our Diversity Outreach Coordinator assists parents with language and technological challenges by providing them on campus and individualized guidance throughout the process.

In-Person vs. Virtual Admissions 2020 Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, in fall 2020 Delbarton offered its traditional, in-person admissions process by implementing health and safety measures mandated by the State of New Jersey, including social distancing, masks and facility-cleaning protocols for on-campus Admissions activities.

Recognizing that some families have genuine health concerns surrounding in-person activities, Delbarton also offered a Virtual Track for applicants and their parents.

Requirements included n Online application for every applicant

(application fee waived for financial aid applicants)

n Entrance test (in-person or an online ISEE or

SSAT test) n This year, group learning exercises were

cancelled, as were Student-for-a-Day visits.

Dean of Admissions Dr. David Donovan reports, “Our 2020-21 applicant pool is seeing some of the highest applicant volume in a decade, and we look forward to welcoming a great group of qualified and diverse young men into the Class of 2025 and the Class of 2027 in next fall!�

n Interview and campus tour (in person or via

Zoom call and an online virtual 360 tour)

Fall/Winter 2020

35

Liaising with Advancement and the Marketing and Communications Office

Dean of Admissions Dr. David Donovan chats with accepted students at our 2020 Accepted Students Reception.

Our diversity outreach efforts involve collaborations with other administrative offices at Delbarton. For example, the Diversity Admissions Coordinator interfaces with the Advancement Office on outreach projects to donor families with the goal of growing the financial aid funds available to incoming students. Dr. Donovan works closely with Jessica Fiddes, Director of Marketing and Communications. Together, they explore and implement new strategies for reaching diverse communities and for presenting Delbarton as an attractive and viable educational option for all.

Financial Aid Committee The Diversity Outreach Coordinator sits on the School’s Financial Aid Committee and ensures that diversity interests are given priority consideration when financial aid grants are determined.

The Coordinator also mentors eligible incoming families through the application process to seek available outside funding, such as Tri-County Scholarships, to help offset Delbarton tuition costs.

Admitted Student Events Word of Mouth from Insiders Accepted students receive personal calls from Admissions Committee members and teachers in departments of particular interest. Callers remind accepted students to visit our Accepted Student Portal at delbarton.org/yourein. The Diversity Admissions Outreach Coordinator and DAP coordinators connect with families of diversity and mentor them through the remainder of the contract signing and registration processes.

Meet Diversity Outreach Coordinator (DOC) Jamie Paris Jaime Paris has deep roots in Newark where he lived, studied and worked for a significant portion of his life since immigrating to the United States at age nine from Galicia, Spain.

Mr. Paris studied in the Newark public school system, first as an ESL student at Lafayette Street School and then at East Side High School in the Ironbound. He attended Rutgers University-Newark-through a partial scholarship earned as part of Newark’s Safe Passage Foundation’s sports program for

inner city youth. While working two jobs to aid with tuition, Mr. Paris received a B.A. in English from Rutgers University-Newark, an M.A. in Spanish literature from Montclair State University’s Graduate School and is currently an ABD, PhD Student in Spanish Literature at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Mr. Paris has been teaching Spanish for over 16 years.

Prior to arriving at Delbarton, Mr. Paris began his career in the Bloomfield Public School system before moving on to Discovery Charter School in Newark. He is also currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Spanish and Latino Studies at Montclair State University where he regularly lectures on Spanish and Latin American literature and culture.

Jared Lowy

36

DELBARTON TODAY

Accepted Student Reception Acceptance notifications are sent in late January. Several weeks later, Delbarton hosts an Accepted Student Reception with music, food, and giveaways with many Delbarton faculty members and students enthusiastically welcoming newly accepted young men. Current Delbarton students share “Why Delbarton?” stories for authentic peer testimony.

In 2018, Delbarton hosted a middle school basketball tournament with Newark KIPP Schools. Players, coaches and families enjoyed lunch where our DAP members spoke about their Delbarton experiences.

Delbarton students welcome boys and families to our 2019 Open House.

External Validation Niche.com ranks Delbarton as the #2 Catholic School in the country (Regis in NYC is #1) and our diversity score on the platform continues to improve (it’s risen from C+ to B+ in the past seven years).

Public perception of our value is high, and our diversity outreach continues. Dr. Donovan says, “This is a work in progress that Fr. Michael, administrators and faculty members are deeply committed to. We constantly seek to improve our existing programs and develop new ways of making Delbarton a diverse and welcoming Benedictine Catholic community.”

In February 2020, DAP leader Angel Morataya ’20 greeted guests at our Accepted Students Reception.

Fall/Winter 2020

37

How I Fit In to DAP

By Trip Stockton ’20

In 2018, Stockton was a student speaker at a DAP Young Leaders event in Old Main.

38

DELBARTON TODAY

I wa s I n t r o d u c e d t o d I v e r s I t y among Peers (daP) when I was in eighth grade. My english teacher at the time, Mr. rob Flynn, asked us to form an essential question and answer it through research. one of the questions that I came up with was ‘how does discrimination affect a community?’ to answer this question, I surveyed my fellow Middle school brothers along with all the students involved in daP with various questions related to discrimination within our community. I had already known one of the diversity coordinators, Mrs. Jenna Gomez, as she was my seventh grade world cultures teacher which allowed me to work with her and Mr. tony negrin throughout this project. after I collected

the responses from my classmates, I picked a few responses that stood out to me and presented them to daP during one of their meetings. through this research, I was able to really learn about social justice and the issue of discrimination as a whole which inspired me to become a part of the solution.

From that year on, I dedicated a lot of time to become involved in daP to learn more about cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity as a whole. as I got older and became one of the leaders of the group, I was able to help others learn more and encourage others to learn more about diversity as well. diversity among Peers had a significant impact on my years at delbarton through the various retreats, workshops, conferences, and celebrations of diversity. the urban challenge retreat to camden offered the ability to teach students what it was like to live in an urban area for a weekend with little money while learning about social justice’s impact on catholic social teaching. It was such an impactful initiative that delbarton recently made it a mandatory retreat for all sophomores to experience. one particular social event, which our parents were invited to attend, had a meaningful impact on all attendees. It was called “Parents of young Leaders”, and was established to allow families of daP members and families of non-daP members to get a good look inside the organization and better understand the kind of exercises we were involved in during our workshops. For example, one of the workshops constituted an activity called “silent Movement.” In this activity, everyone stood around in a circle and listened for a daP member to read out identifiers. If

Peter Wallburg Studios

anyone heard an identifier that described themself, they would step into the middle of the circle, take a moment to recognize who is with them in the circle and who is outside the circle, reflect on the significance of each place, then return back to the big circle and listen for the next identifier to be called out.

In addition, our group held an annual Many Voices, One Brotherhood workshop which usually took place on four different days throughout the month of April. This particular workshop encouraged students to learn more about diversity within our community through various activities created by the members of DAP along with Mr. Negrin and Mrs. Gomez.

Diversity Among Peers also allows students to attend two major conferences, one of which was the MidAtlantic Regional Diversity Conference (MARD). MARD was one of the most enriching experiences that I had during my time at Delbarton. Myself, along with five of my Delbarton brothers and fellow DAP members, traveled to Philadelphia for a weekend where we were able to participate in many different workshops and discussions with students from other schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Not only did I learn more about cultural appropriation, mental health, and what it means to be an ally, but this trip gave me an opportunity to connect with my Delbarton brothers on a social level as we toured Philly, spent the night at the hotel, and really got to become lifelong friends.

DAP also organizes many celebrations of diversity. Delbarton’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration was always a great way to kick off the school year with delicious Hispanic food for all in attendance and many cultural presentations prepared by students and parents. For me, one of the most memorable presentations during Black History Month was when Captain Brian Settles, the grandfather of Ashri Settles ’20, presented about black pilots and his career as a pilot. Captain Settles flew 199 combat missions in Vietnam and had a long career as a commercial airline pilot afterwards. It was phenomenal to listen to Captain Settles speak about his illustrious career especially during a time, as he informed us, when there was not a lot of black representation in the airline field. Another great experience was having professional tap-dancer Omar Edwards come to perform and speak to us about the history of tap-dancing in African American culture. Omar’s performance was so impressive that Delbarton invited him back the following year to perform and speak in front of the student body.

Trip Stockton ’20 is studying at Wake Forest University this year.

DAP’s diversity initiatives have helped the entire school learn and grow as a community. I am extremely proud of the impact that we had throughout my time at Delbarton and cannot wait to continue to see DAP thrive for years to come.

Diversity Among Peers had a significant impact on my “years at Delbarton through the various retreats, workshops, conferences, and celebrations of Diversity.”

Fall/Winter 2020

39

Bloomberg Terminals:

Delbarton Teaching Tools

By Tom Brady

Delbarton sponsors teams that compete in the Euro Challenge and the Fed Challenge.

Prior to competing in New York City, both teams make great use of the School’s twelve Bloomberg terminals.

Tom Brady invites alumni to contact him if they are interested in working on Bloomberg Certification at Delbarton. Email him at Tbrady@delbarton.org. photos by Jessica Fiddes

40

DELBARTON TODAY

alk into the Ryan Crane ’95 Business Center during a typical school day, and you are welcomed by images of New York City, a current issue of The Wall Street Journal on the podium, and Delbarton 12th graders discussing the bond markets or the Fed while Bloomberg’s Daybreak or Balance of Power television show blasts news on a large flat screen above.

W

sophomore year through the Business and Economics Club. I quickly became aware of how much there was to learn and how little I knew. The terminals provided an interesting means of exploring the financial world through more than just reading internet articles.

As I became comfortable with the technology, the terminals became a go-to resource for research projects.”

The Crane Business Center, located in the Delbarton Fine Arts Center, debuted in the summer of 2017 as a memorial to a Delbarton alumnus from the Class of 1995, Ryan Crane. The modified classroom hosts four sections of Advanced Placement Macroeconomics classes, the Business and Economics Club, the Investment Club, and participants in both the Euro Challenge and the Fed Challenge. Designed around twelve Bloomberg terminals, the Center delivers business and financial data, news and insight around-the-clock to teach AP Econ students and club members about the forces that shape our global economy. These integrated software platforms are used by business professionals around the world for news, messaging, pricing, and market analytics, and present a unique opportunity for Delbarton students. Only a dozen high schools in the United States offer fullyequipped Bloomberg terminal labs.

Econ students like Matt work throughout the school year to earn Bloomberg Certification by taking the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) course, either in the Crane Business Center or remotely.

As students cover topics like GDP, unemployment, currencies, fixed income, and equities within the AP curriculum, BMC provides supplemental learning through 8-10 hours of self-paced, interactive training modules.

Certification demonstrates that students can artfully navigate the special Bloomberg keyboard, mine data, and perform basic market analysis.

At Delbarton, exposure to this fascinating tool comes early. Matt LeDonne ’20 says, “Before using the terminals in Mr. Brady’s senior AP Macroeconomics course, I was first introduced to Bloomberg my

As a newly-hired trading assistant at Merrill Lynch in the spring of 1984, I spent a Saturday afternoon with Mike Bloomberg and learned how to enter and manage bond trading positions through his young company’s brand new, revolutionary technology. Through the years, as the power of Bloomberg software swelled, my colleagues would routinely remark that we were only using a small fraction of its vast capability. This is most certainly the case for our students today - they are barely scratching the surface of Bloomberg’s potential. The

Students work on collaborative team-building projects using our Bloomberg terminals.

Bloomberg for Education platform we use is simply an introduction into the dynamic network of business communication, but it serves as an outstanding opportunity for our students to engage in experiential learning and gain real-world perspectives on finance and economics.

Delbarton students appreciate their ability to use our Bloomberg terminals.

Dean Smith ’20 reports, “Having access to real time data and analytics through the Bloomberg terminals gave me a great

welcoming alumni back to campus to use Bloomberg for their professional work, to prepare for an interview, or to complete BMC. We also use Bloomberg technology in Mr. Rob Flynn’s 8th grade English class and Mr. Brian Theroux’s Environmental Studies class, and we expect to find a strategic spot in the new Learning Commons for one Bloomberg terminal so that students in all grade levels can more easily access and discover its unique research opportunities.

AP Macroeconomics teacher Tom Brady guides his students through the Bloomberg Market Concepts online course. By the end of the school year, his students have earned Bloomberg Certification.

hands-on introduction to the economy and helped me grasp the fast pace of the marketplace.”

Our goal is to continue to tap into Bloomberg’s potential and expand its Delbarton footprint internally and externally. To this end, we enjoy

The Ryan Crane Business Center, located in the Delbarton Fine Arts Center, debuted in the summer of 2017 as a memorial to a Delbarton alumnus from the Class of 1995, the late Ryan Crane ’95.

Brady also invites industry experts to address his students. In January, Paul Shea P’23, managing director at investment bank Raymond James, explained risk arbitrage using Bloomberg technology to illustrate how his team analyzes the risks, values, and opportunities of corporate mergers.

Fall/Winter 2020

41

Modern Additions to Delbarton’s Sculpture Collection

By Jessica Fiddes

S

ince the early 1900s, St. Mary’s Abbey and Delbarton have been blessed with a remarkable collection of 18th century sculptures; over the past few years Delbarton has added modern sculptural works thanks to generous donations from Jim Petrucci ’82, P’10,’25. In late summer 2020, our collection grew.

Mennin and his assistant put the finishing touches on marble stairway that leads down Old Main lawn to the first of the fifteen stations. photos by Jessica Fiddes

42

DELBARTON TODAY

In August, before classes resumed after a five-month Covid-19 hiatus, several unique sculptural seating assemblages by sculptor Mark Mennin were quietly installed. Four pieces called Classical Interiors appeared by the Delbarton tennis courts, sculpted of chiseled pale grey granite rescued from a bank building in Providence, Rhode Island. Together, the massive shapes form an outdoor living area, and a new stone path was added leading visitors from the road to the seating. A fourth piece carved from granite, Bend, forms a sinuous, polished pale grey bench and rests invitingly by the edge the East Gate pond.

In August, thanks to the generosity of Jim Petrucci ’82, P10,’25, Delbarton acquired several more sculptures created by Mennin including Classical Interiors and Bend.

Stations being installed next to the Delbarton FAC in 2014.

Fall/Winter 2020

43

On October 9, 2020, Stations was the site of the Delbarton community’s Stations of the Cross for Overcoming Racism, including scripture readings, guided reflection and prayers

Keen observers of Delbarton art might associate these new pieces with a multistation installation that arrived on campus six years ago. And they would be right.

In fact, this is the second time Mennin’s work has found a home at Delbarton. On Homecoming weekend 2014, a Mennin sculptural installation, Stations, was unveiled, commissioned for Delbarton by Petrucci. Both men are Princeton University alumni.

Stations is a grouping of contemplative environments assembled beside the Fine

44

DELBARTON TODAY

Arts Center to appreciate, sit or even recline on. While loosely based on the Stations of the Cross, the work features a procession of free-standing constructs that combine Mennin’s sculpted white marble shapes, quarried in Vermont and Italy, with Delbarton’s marble artefacts from Colonnade Row on Lafayette Street in Manhattan. The vintage pieces were quarried in Tuckahoe, NY in the 1820s, used for an iconic residential façade in New York City, then dismantled and later purchased in the early 1900s by Luther Kountze for his summer estate Delbarton.

In 2010, several fragments were acquired by the Metropolitan Museum and

reassembled in its American Wing where they can be seen today.

Stations remains somewhat faithful to the numbered stations in the Roman Catholic narrative, beginning with “Jesus is condemned to death”, represented by descending steps, and leading finally to a resurrection by the fifteenth station. Each installation is a remarkable platform of old and new stone and the work in its entirety offers both beauty plus a special place to rest.

In the distance, Washington Valley provides a natural frame for Stations. This functional art is destined to be admired and enjoyed by Delbarton generations to come.

Classical Interiors and Bend also take advantage of campus views, the former the sweeping vista of lawn and trees from the tennis courts down to Mendham road, and the latter while seated and gazing across the pond.

Both sites offer us a tempting opportunity to pause, rest and reflect.

Fall colors only enhanced our appreciation of this new art among us.

The Delbarton community thanks Jim Petrucci for bringing Mennin’s work on campus, art that so beautifully integrates Colonnade Row artifacts and granite from other quarries and buildings in the northeast. For a property that has featured classical sculptures for one hundred and twenty years, these more modern pieces are a stunning addition.

Former Delbarton Headmaster Br. Paul Diveny and sculptor Mark Mennin examine fragments from the School’s collection of Colonnade Row artefacts. Mennin combined them with modern sculpted white marbles to create Stations.

Meet the Artist Based in Bethlehem, CT sculptor Mark Mennin is known for his monumental carvings in landscape and architecture. He works with saws, torches, chisels, compressors, and jackhammers to chisel, grind, shape, and polish stone and drove a rented forklift to move large sections of stone into place at Delbarton.

Mennin’s work has been exhibited in galleries in New York and abroad and installed in both private and public spaces including Stanford University and Penn State University. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Artforum, Art in America, ArtNews, The Boston Globe, Departures and on the cover of Sculpture Magazine. A member of the graduate faculty at the New York Academy of Art, Mennin has also written on Sculpture for Arts Magazine, ArtNews and Huffington Post. Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he graduated from Princeton with a B.A. in History in 1982.

Fall/Winter 2020

45

around DELBARTON

faculty update

In July, Delbarton Advancement and Marketing & Communications team members Maria Van Kirk, Craig Paris, and Jared Lowy were featured presenters on a Graduway webinar titled “How to increase giving day donor participation by 178%.”

Delbarton’s #DelbartonTogether giving day success story was the main topic of the webinar (and inspiration for the title). Along with representatives from The Taft School and Roman Catholic High School, Delbarton’s representatives shared tips, tricks, and lessons learned to maximize a giving day in the time of Covid.

Tidings

Married faculty members Craig Fleishman and Maureen Pearsall welcomed their son Cade Robert Fleishman who was born on October 16, 2020.

On November 11, 2020, faculty member Dan Szelingowski and his wife Kristin welcomed their third daughter, Elizabeth Wendy Szelingowski, who joins big sisters Klara and Winnie.

With both gyms doing double duty as lunchrooms, this fall Delbarton gym teachers got creative, and often led their students outside to exercise in the beautiful weather we were fortunate to enjoy in fall 2020.

46

DELBARTON TODAY

Matt Kovachik Receives 2020 Trustee Award

On August 31, teacher and Head Lacrosse Coach Matt Kovachik received the 2020 Trustee Award at the annual Faculty Staff Picnic. The Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a history of commitment and service to Delbarton. Matt is pictured here with his wife Liz and children Maggie and Tommy.

Outdoor Gym Classes

around DELBARTON

Ali Michael Conducts Workshop on Race and Education On August 27, Delbarton faculty and staff experienced a professional development training day, Educating for Equity, with Ali Michael, Ph.D, on left, with Diversity Coordinators Jenna Gomez and Tony Negrin, the event organizers. Michael works with organizations and schools around the country to share research and guidance on race and education. The author of Raising Race Questions: Whiteness, Inquiry and Education, Michael is the winner of the 2017 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award. In 2012 she co-founded and is currently Director of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators. She teaches Diversity and Inclusion as a Princeton University faculty member.

7th and 9th Graders Challenge Themselves

On August 28, the Class of 2024 headed to Camp Bernie for a day of outdoor challenges while the Class of 2026 paddled together down the mighty Lehigh River. Both road trips had the same goal: to build bonds of brotherhood among incoming students through shared personal challenges. A good time was had by all!

photos by Jessica Fiddes

Fall/Winter 2020

47

around DELBARTON

Underclassmen Awards On October 7, our 2019-2020 Underclassmen Awards were announced after a four-month Covid delay.

For achievement in mathematics and science, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal was awarded to William Li ’21.

For outstanding academic achievement and superior intellectual promise in the field of science, the Bausch & Lomb Science Award was awarded to Owen Hand ’21, shown here with Science Department Chair Brian Theroux.

The Richard Gilder History Prize recipient is James Reinke ’21, pictured here with History Department Chair John Thompson.

Book awards were presented to last year’s juniors, members of the Class of 2021 who demonstrated academic excellence and intellectual promise, exhibited outstanding personal character, made a significant contribution to the cocurricular life of the school, and earned the respect of both the faculty and their peers.

The Brown University Book Award was presented to: Connor Teehan ’21

The George Washington University Book Award was presented to: Nicolas Gritz ’21

The Columbia University Book Award was presented to: Ethan Cho ’21

The Princeton University Book Award was presented to: John Szymanski ’21

The Cornell University Book Award was presented to: Hayden Kenny ’21

48

DELBARTON TODAY

The St. Anselm College Book Award was presented to: Colin Sutter ’21

The St. Michael’s College Book Award was presented to two recipients this year: Connor Cirrotti ’21 and Christian Lalin ’21 The Williams College Book Award was presented to: Zachary Vincent ’21 The Yale University Book Award was presented to: Patrick Smart ’21

around DELBARTON

Matthew White

St. Benedict Hall Update

In March 2020, when Covid shut down in-person classes, construction began on St. Benedict Hall, the new Delbarton learning commons. The 20,000 square foot addition to Trinity Hall includes an expanded library with group and individual study rooms and a media lab/library classroom. The Pavilion, a multipurpose room, provides additional meeting space for student, parent, and alumni groups. The second floor includes three classrooms and a new fully-integrated Guidance Center where all guidance services, including College Counseling, will be consolidated. A dry summer and mild fall put the project ahead of schedule

and move-in is planned for Spring Break in March 2021, with a formal dedication on May 15, 2021.

Thank you to our donors who made this exciting project a reality at Delbarton. Watch the construction site via live cam at Delbarton.org!

Fall/Winter 2020

49

around DELBARTON

Welcome New Faculty and Staff Members On August 20, Delbarton welcomes eight new members to our Faculty and Staff community…

Back row, left to right:

Middle row, left to right:

Front row, left to right:

Mr. Jake Ross - A former member of the Delbarton faculty and coaching staff, this year Jake returns to teach History, coach and assist in the important work of the Delbarton Admissions department. He has a B.A. from Lafayette College and an M.A. from Seton Hall University.

Welcome back, Jake!

Ms. Courtney Barnes - Courtney is teaching Mathematics and coaching during the 2020-21 school year.

She has a B.A. from Bucknell University and an M.A.T from New York University.

Ms. Stephanie Foti - Stephanie is working as an Administrative Assistant to support members of Delbarton’s Administration.

Mr. Kevin Nasse - Kevin is joining our Athletic Training staff this year.

Mr. John O’Brien - John has joined the Advancement Office as a Associate Major Gifts Officer to assist in fundraising for the School.

50

DELBARTON TODAY

Mr. Hong Hu - Hong is teaching Chemistry and Physics. He has a B.S., M.S. from Tsinghua University (China) and an M.S. from the University of Notre Dame.

Mr. Matt Davis P’22 - A Delbarton dad, Matt joins us as as Delbarton’s Chief Financial and Operations Officer.

Mr. Noah Mengisteab - Noah is teaching History this year, and also moderates the Forensics program. He has a B.A. from Rice University.

around DELBARTON

A Wave for Equity

On November 16, the first day of winter term, Diversity Among Peers DAP’s launched A Wave for Equity, four evenings of game nights and guest speakers to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in business. DAP member Lemachi Enweremadu ’21, pictured above, was the driving force behind Wave for Equity and was assisted by a

committed team of DAP peers. He wrote, “… I believe this event will enhance our cultural identity as a community. As an African American with a plan to go into business, sadly, I face the facts that I am disadvantaged. I am underprivileged. But I face these facts with Delbarton. Delbarton is a home to groundbreaking achievement. Delbarton is home for facilitating change.

Through Delbarton, I face these unfortunate facts with unwavering hope.”

Thank you, Delbarton Mothers!

In September, The Delbarton Mothers’ Guild arranged for the delivery of 18 Delbarton branded Adirondack chairs. Throughout the fall season, seniors in the Garden (still their domain), and underclassmen outside Trinity Hall made great use of the outdoor seating for distanced social gatherings and outdoor ‘study halls’.

Fall/Winter 2020

51

2020

DelEx Externship Program Goes Virtual

By Tom Brady and Jessica Fiddes

Zoom fatigue from Virtual Delbarton classes?

Not these students!

From June 4 through June 25, 88 rising seniors voluntarily participated in DelEX 2020, the school’s first externship program conducted entirely through video conferencing platforms. These virtual meetings, typically 1-2 hours in length, were scheduled and hosted by Delbarton’s alumni and parents who were eager to share their expertise in a wide variety of career fields. Our boys connected with scientists, attorneys, Wall Street traders and salespeople, entrepreneurs, law enforcement agents, surgeons, and representatives from the United States military. They signed up to learn about cybersecurity, agricultural innovation, real estate and construction, computer science, our local political system, and sports management.

Mike Johnson ’12 joined DelEX as a host for the first time this year and says: “The DelEX program is a structure that enables students to get exposure and insight into various industries. No longer can a Delbarton graduate say ‘What does an investment banker do?’, ‘What is it like to go to med school?’, or ‘What is the difference between a mechanical and a software engineer? DelEX provides students with a lens into the professional world and how they may fit into it.”

Delbarton externs embraced these opportunities to explore multiple interests, develop professional communication skills, and forge relationships with new mentors and role models. Matt Johnson ’21 says: “The most important lessons I learned from DelEX are to be open-minded while searching for your career path and to leverage the Delbarton alumni network. Many hosts encouraged us to

52

DELBARTON TODAY

reach out, ask questions, and let them know if they can help in any way because they want to be there as a resource for us and want to see us succeed.”

DelEX 2020 participant and current student body president Quinn Zebrowski ’21 added: “Our alumni network is stronger at Delbarton than any other place.”

This was DelEX’s fifth year, created and administered by Tom Brady P’23 and Matt Campbell ’08 who strongly believe in the value of learning outside the classroom. Brady and Campbell were extremely impressed with the levels of interest, respect, and focus from our boys this year, especially considering the challenges that COVID-19 have presented. Mark Pasko ’91 agrees: “My leadership team and I found it very rewarding to share our education and work experiences with the rising seniors. The students were prepared and energized with insightful questions as they ponder their academic and professional paths.” Bruce Sisler ’90, P ’25, a regular DelEX host, says proudly: “It is clear to me that our country has a bright future with these young men.”

This year’s program began with a May 26 Coaching Session, presented to the students by career counseling experts Elizabeth Ricciardelli P’19, ’21 and Michele Biamonte P’22. During this informative presentation, our boys learned about the importance of personal branding, selfassessment tools, COVID-19 digital citizenship, creating LinkedIn profiles, and networking.

According to host Dr. David Cunic ’97, “empowering and educating students about the

around DELBARTON

dynamics and importance of networking truly gives them a competitive advantage in the real world.”

Alan Rubino P’05, ’16 adds, “DelEX has created an exceptionally important forum for students to begin a proactive assessment of potential future career pathways. It is brilliant to start this process at the beginning of senior year as it begins a most important conversation towards fostering more self-directed career pathway selection choices.”

Soon after the introductory Coaching Session, more than 50 unique externship opportunities were revealed to the participating students via the DelEX website, technology that was developed and custom-made for the Green Wave by Michael Darche ’10 of Catalyze Marketing and Consulting.

Matt Holleran enjoyed the loaded menu of choices: “The sheer number of externships we were allowed to attend made this at-home experience was a blessing in disguise.” Over 40 students participated in 5 or more sessions, Jack Geoghegan ’21 and Joe Udina ’21 participated in over 15 sessions, and Matt Facchine ’21 and Trey Sacus ’21 participated in over 20! Udina says: “I think a recurring theme in each presentation was getting into a line of work that you feel passionate about. Hosts emphasized following your heart, not the money, which is something I feel Delbarton students (including

myself) often get confused. Money is obviously important, but I think happiness is more important.”

Former student body president Matt Van Orden ’08, always one of the boys’ favorite hosts, encourages all community members to participate.

“DelEX is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to Delbarton because you share your story and spend some time bonding with upstanding young gentlemen who are looking for guidance,” says Van Orden. John Ferramosca ’05 describes DelEX as “a remarkable program that helps Delbarton students get exposure at a young age to professional areas they may be passionate about and might consider pursuing. It is a unique opportunity that enables our students to be that

Fall/Winter 2020

53

around DELBARTON

Last year, two Delbarton externs interested in a military career visited the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, courtesy of host Alex Thew ’07. COVID-19 restrictions prohibited any in-person externships this year, but Alex still provided an amazing opportunity for our boys virtually. Says Thew: “DelEX offers a tremendous opportunity to share my path from Delbarton to a career in the U.S. Army. In doing so, I hope to pass along the values to accomplished young men that have guided my career: leadership, citizenship, and resiliency.”

Brady and Campbell are already planning DelEX 2021, which they hope will feature a hybrid structure of virtual sessions and the traditional “onsite” experiences. Owen Hand ’21 thinks that “doing the virtual sessions in the future for hosts who don’t live/work near NJ is a great opportunity.

For instance, I thought Brian Heath’s ’08 session was really interesting but it could only be done virtually because he works in Denver and California.”

much further ahead of the curve when beginning college and their careers.”

Mrs. Carol Van Den Hende P’21 enjoyed working with our young men: “DelEX was a great way to engage with students. I love that they came away with insights about work ethic, adaptability and staying true to your passions.” The future of the program is very bright due to the administrative expertise from Mr. Rick Cimino and Mr. Neil Murphy ’07 and the recent influx of young alums offering to host, including Anthony Volpe ’19, Amaan Chaudhry ’17, Ryan Teehan ’14, Francisco Martinez ’13, JP Campbell ’13, Andrew Christie ’12, Jake Feury ’12, and Chad Heal ’12. Chaudhry jumped at the chance to give back: “DelEX had a profound impact in guiding my early career exploration and connecting me to mentors and opportunities. It is truly a testament to the power of the Delbarton brotherhood.”

54

DELBARTON TODAY

Denny Collins ’21 sums his experience up this way: “The most important lessons I learned were from Steve Colello ’91(always face your biggest fears), from PJ Calello ’90 (to keep an open mind, never give up, and think outside of the box), and from Jason Wyatt ’98 (to stay humble and work hard).”

PJ has the distinction of being the only host to participate in DelEX in each of its five years, and says this about the “long green line” of Delbarton alums: “This is an outstanding way to make a meaningful impact on a Delbarton student by giving him a tangible taste of his future as a member of the Delbarton Alumni Association.”

If you have any questions about DelEX or are interested in participating in DelEX 2021 Check out the delexternship.com microsite for more information, or contact Tom Brady (TBrady@delbarton.org) or Matt Campbell (MCampbell@delbarton.org).

around DELBARTON

On October 9, Delbarton celebrated the rich and dynamic tapestry of Hispanic culture with a lively and colorful outdoor party on campus. The event, sponsored by the Delbarton Parent Council on Diversity & Inclusion (PCDI) featured music from the Univision Radio X 96.3 FM van, cultural exhibits, a community panel discussion with students and parents, food trucks, and the first Copa Delbarton Tournament in school history!

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Fall/Winter 2020

55

around DELBARTON

Festival of Lights: Delbarton Celebrates Diwali

56

DELBARTON TODAY

around DELBARTON

Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. On November 5, at an outdoor event sponsored by Delbarton PCDI parents, guests enjoyed Indian food, music, art, culture and truly spectacular dancing. Those lucky enough to attend left with an understanding of Diwali festivities — think Christmas Eve in hot pink, saffron yellow, neon green and midnight blue — and a true appreciation for the traditions that bind the people of India together culturally and emotionally.

Fall/Winter 2020

57

arts DELBARTON

NEWS

The Arts are an integral a part of the Delbarton Experience. This fall, our goal was to offer a robust a program while maintaining the necessary COVID-19 restrictions.

Studio Arts and Performing Arts courses in our credit-bearing curriculum continued, but in a modified context regarding masks, social distancing and the sharing of materials.

Orchestras, Instrumental Ensembles, Rock Band (instrumentals only) and Theatrical Productions resumed this fall.

Singing, a known COVID-19 contagion factor, took place only outdoors and socially distanced.

This fall, in place of a traditional art exhibit, the Art Department present a video compilation representing a selection of artwork produced by seventeen talented seniors in the 2021 AP Art program: Jack Alexy, John Benitez, Gabriel Benz, Morgan Cecil, Ed Conte, Ben Davis, Tony Farjardo, Owen Hand, Ethan Low, Declan Maseker, Matthew Morfogen, Andrew Rasmussen, Ryan Smith, Tom Stauder, Colin Sutter, Joe Udina and Alex Van Den Hende. Pictured here is a drawing by Colin Sutter ’21. Discover the virtual exhibit at Delbarton.org/arts.

58

DELBARTON TODAY

This fall, Abbey Players actors presented a memorable production of Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information in three performances on October 30, 31 and November 1. Audience members were greeted by Student Ambassadors who conducted Covid-19 health checks. Online playbills were accessed via QR code, and patrons were also offered the option of viewing a live-streamed performance of the Sunday matinee.

In September, Music Director David Blazier conducted an outdoor and socially distanced practice with Schola Cantorum vocalists on Old Main porch.

arts DELBARTON

NEWS

On Sunday, November 8, the Abbey Orchestra Concert took place in the FAC theater with both the Young Abbey and Abbey Orchestras performing. photos by David Blazier

On Tuesday, November 10, our Instrumental Concert included the Delbarton Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Wind Ensembles. Music Director Mr. David Blazier said, “It was really great after such a long time of not having concerts, and the musicians and parents were thrilled to be able to do it.”

Fall/Winter 2020

59

around DELBARTON

Delbarton Parents Navigate Around Covid-19

By Jessica Fiddes

Erin Manahan P’19

Postpone? Cancel? Quit? Not this crowd.

This fall, Delbarton parent organization navigated over, under and through Covid modifications to produce a season of well-attended outdoor events that kept our families safe while connected to the School and to each other. The Delbarton Mothers’ Guild, Fathers & Friends, DPGA Parents of Graduates, Delbarton Arts Council (DAC), Sports Boosters and Parent Council on Diversity & Inclusion (PCDI) worked overtime to offer campus events, ably assisted by Parent Liaison Erin Manahan P’19 and our exemplary Housekeeping and Grounds & Maintenance staff.

Garden tents, signage, mandatory masks, food trucks,

60

DELBARTON TODAY

Erin Manahan P’19

outdoor lighting and heaters – all combined to create a sense of collegiality that welcomed new parents and cemented Delbarton friendships. Parents celebrated diversity with a Hispanic Culture Celebration and Diwali Festival, two very special evenings on campus.

In October, the DMG also feted our teachers with a knock-your-socks off Teacher Appreciation Day of fabulous food and surprise gifts.

THANK YOU to all parents – past and present — who helped Delbarton maintain its signature sense of community in fall 2020. We couldn’t have done it without you!

around Erin Manahan P’19

DELBARTON

This Fall, Delbarton parents hosted/attended the following events…

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

New Family Orientation and Mass Middle School Class Coffee Music Picnic Class of 2024 Coffee Class of 2023 Coffee Class of 2022 Coffee Class of 2021 Coffee Parents of Juniors Social Parents of Seniors Social Fathers and Friends Oktoberfest DMG Kickoff Meeting F&F Kickoff Meeting DPGA Kickoff Meeting Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day Fathers and Friends Be-the-Match Drive PCDI Diwali Celebration PCDI Hispanic Heritage Event Soccer Picnic Football Picnic Thanksgiving Food Collection Christmas Toy Drive Christmas Decoration Set Up Senior Boys Food Truck Luncheon Thank you for your creative problem-solving and resilience, Delbarton parents!

photos by Jessica Fiddes

Fall/Winter 2020

61

around DELBARTON

Admissions Open House Goes Virtual

D

ue to Covid-19 restrictions on large group gatherings, Delbarton hosted a Virtual Open House (VOH) on October 25. Launching at 6:00pm, the VOH opened with sweeping drone footage showing the beauty of Delbarton campus, then continued with a ‘free sample’, our lively 2019-2020 slideshow, Covid-spring and all. Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB spoke about Delbarton’s unique ethos, then introduced Dean of Admissions Dr. David Donovan who welcomed remarks from students Zeke Ehrenberg ’25 and Matthew Johnson

62

DELBARTON TODAY

’21, and Parent Liaison Erin Manahan ’19. The 400+ viewers were invited into our comprehensive Delbarton360 platform that offered a series of thirteen videos, each a snapshot of Delbarton programming. The final chapter of our first VOH was a live Q&A period hosted by Fr. Michael. Positive feedback confirmed that our online event was an effective substitute for our traditional in-person Open House. Check out our VOH anytime at Delbarton360.org/virtual_open_house.

sport

SHORTS

Eight Green Wave Athletes Sign NCAA Letters of Intent

On November 11, 2020, eight Green Wave athletes signed NCAA Letters of Intent to compete for Division I athletic programs around the country.

Here they are, pictured with Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB. Front row: Harrison Van Vliet Lehigh Soccer; Curt Calov - Syracuse University Soccer; Donnie Tedesco Colgate University Lacrosse. Back row, from left, Aidan Lawlor – Bucknell University Soccer; Eric Schroeder Boston College Baseball; Tripp Robinson - Villanova University Lacrosse; Chase Millar – Fairfield University Golf; Jack Alexy University of California Berkeley Swimming. Delbarton salutes these Green Wave athletes on their exceptional achievements!

Jared Lowy

Fall/Winter 2020

63

Baseball

sport

SHORTS

By Jared Lowy

After a cancelled spring season, during summer 2020, Green Wave Varsity Baseball led by Coach Bruce Shatel had a great opportunity to compete in New Jersey’s “Last Dance” baseball tournament.

Having completed their annual spring training trip to Florida Atlantic University March 7 to March 15. The boys were eager and ready to defend their 2019 state championship. In late June, Delbarton varsity players ran practices in preparation for a non-NJSIAA sponsored tournament designed to get NJ players back on the field. Camaraderie from spring training ensured that the team didn’t miss a beat during the first week of the tournament. In pool play, team ‘Tidal Wave’ finished 3-0 with wins on Fleury Field over Morris Catholic, Morris Knolls, and Parsippany. In week 2, Tidal Wave beat Woodridge HS 10-0 to advance to the Sweet 16, and a matchup with St. Peter’s Prep. Tidal Wave trailed by 2 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning, and the team rallied back at the top of the 7th to win the game 10-6.

In the final week, Tidal Wave played Bergen Catholic in the final 4 of the North, ending its season with a 4-2 loss. Tidal Wave players were fortunate to have an experience that other Green Wave spring athletes were deprived of. The coaching staff says, “We are thankful for all of the hard work, enthusiasm, and energy that the young men and, specifically, the members of the Class of 2020 brought to the baseball program, and to Delbarton.”

64

DELBARTON TODAY

photos by Robert Haddad P’20

sport

SHORTS

SPRING ACTION

Fall/Winter 2020

65

sport

SHORTS

Lacrosse

Informed it takes ‘15 days to flatten the curve’, Green Wave Varsity Lacrosse athletes held out hope last spring that they would return to school and to the field. Coach Matt Kovachik maintained communication through daily Schoology posts and emails to replace practices and address skill development, including at-home body weight workouts and conditioning, and mental strength-building too.

The coaching staff held virtual team meetings and hosted weekly zoom meetings with lacrosse alumni guests to share how they handled adversity, and to build connections between players and alumni. Weekly Sunday team yoga (virtually of course) kept the team together, and players and alumni competed in a virtual groundball challenge. Coach Kovachik

met with each Green Wave Lacrosse team to check-in on how they were handling the shutdown. When the season was officially called off, Coach Kovachik personally visited each senior, thanking him for his efforts and commitment to the program, and gifting him with a goodie bag of lacrosse gear. In July, returning Varsity and JV members (with some Class of 2020 players) gathered for two practices and participated in two high school recruiting events. While their spring 2020 non-season wasn’t the way the Class of 2020 wanted to spend their final Green Wave season, Coach Matt Kovachik and his staff worked hard to keep players physically and mentally prepared for challenges, including those related to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Tennis When its 2020 season was cancelled, Varsity Tennis led by Coach John Thompson approached the end of tryouts prepared to field one of the strongest teams in Delbarton history, with three nationally ranked players at singles — Michael Zheng ’22 at first singles, James Lian ’23 at second singles, and John Walentowicz ’21 at third singles. Doubles teams had 8 strong players vying for spots with Rohan Amin ’20 and Connor Ketchum ’20 playing first doubles, and Nicolas

66

DELBARTON TODAY

Gritz ’21, Christian Lalin ’21, Will Robinson ’22, Cameron Scarpati ’22, vying for second doubles spots. During the Covid shutdown, the team met often virtually for games and meetings, and worked together on a community service project. Amin and Ketchum were featured in an NJ.com article on seniors who missed out on their seasons. This spring, many top players return and the Green Wave expects to compete hard on the courts.

Track & Field In anticipation of the 2020 season, Green Wave Track & Field led by Coach Andrew Sherwood had attracted 90 athletes and increased its coaching staff (with Matt Leotti, Aidan Mehigan, and Dan DiMeo) to add new drills and energy to the team. During the lockdown, daily running and bodyweight plyometrics were posted to keep athletes in shape. The distance team logged miles using the Strava app, sprinters ran sprints in their yards or on residential streets while the hurdlers and jumpers borrowed hurdles or constructed their own jumping pits.

Throwers borrowed shots and turbojavelins while the coaches and athletes waited for the final word on the spring season. Sherwood salutes alumni athletes in the Class of 2020 and says, “The team looks to bring back a great core of talent to Passarelli track this spring.”

Golf

Coach Flanagan reports that there was a lot of excitement for the Green Wave Varsity Golf team coming in to the Spring 2020 season. Having gone 12-4 during the 2019 season – winning the NJAC Tournament and a 6th place overall in the Tournament of Champions – the Green Wave Golf team was ready to get back on the links.

In anticipation of the 2020 season, players traveled to Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia where, from February 28-March 3, where players got in multiple rounds of golf, along with much needed team practices. When the boys returned, the season was put on hold, and eventually, cancelled. Coach Flanagan reports, “The boys look forward to hitting the links in the spring of 2021.”

sport

SHORTS

SPRING ACTION

Rugby

Sean Flanagan

In preparation for its second season as an official Green Wave varsity sport, Coach Nick Linfante reports that Green Wave Rugby had just completed tryouts and hosted several on-campus practices before the Covid-19 spring sport shut down.

Players and coaches were disappointed not to face some serious competition against teams from LaSalle (PA), Bishop Hendricken (RI), Fairfield Prep (CT) and Fordham Prep and St. Anthony’s (NY), all great rugby programs. Players made sure they trained at home, staying in shape in the event the call might come to begin their season.

Fall/Winter 2020

67

Football

sport Paul Ricciardelli P’19, ’21

SHORTS

68

DELBARTON TODAY

sport

SHORTS

FA L L U P Delbarton Varsity Football had a historic season this fall, finishing with an undefeated 6-0 record, a New Jersey Super Football Conference title and a #3 final state ranking in the NJ.com Top 20. Coached by Brian Bowers, the Green Wave had high expectations entering the COVIDshortened 2020 season, returning 25 seniors to an experienced roster. The Green Wave opened its season with a big road victory over rival Seton Hall Prep 24-7.

The boys improved to 2-0 after a statement win over DePaul on William Regan Field. On October 16, Delbarton traveled to Ramsey to face its toughest opponent of the season, Don Bosco Prep. The high-powered Delbarton offense, led by senior quarterback Cole Freeman ’21 and RB/WR Gary Lewis ’21, opened the game with a 21-point first half. This was more than enough for the tenacious Green Wave defense as the Green Wave held on late to defeat Don Bosco Prep 27-21 for only the second time in program history.

The boys then hit their stride, outscoring their next three opponents 119-1 while defeating Pope John, Hudson Catholic and St. Joseph Metuchen in the first post season matchup. Delbarton defense stood out all season long, allowing just two touchdowns in

the final three games, and led by standout play from Jake Jarmolowich ’21, Elijah Hills, ’21, Azarai Lewis ’21, RJ Martini ’21, PJ Casale ’22, Chuck Nnaeto ’22, Patrick Caughey ’22 and Matt Gemma ’23.

With a 6-0 record, and a squad ready to take on a top state competition. On Saturday, November 21, players entered William Regan Field ready to confront Bergen Catholic, a perennial state powerhouse. In a heartbreaking conclusion to the season, the game was cancelled minutes before kick-off when a member of the Delbarton football program received a positive COVID-19 test result.

The team finished its banner 2020 season with an impressive record and showed tremendous heart and grit all season long. From the offensive line, to the defensive backs, special teams and everyone in between, 2020 Green Wave Varsity Football players proved that, together, they comprised one of New Jersey’s top teams this season.

Fall/Winter 2020

69

Soccer

sport

SHORTS

Delbarton Soccer, led by coach Dr. David Donovan, returned to Ryan Family Field this fall, for a short COVID19 soccer season. The boys picked up right where they left off last year, finishing 12-1-1 overall, and winning their NJAC division and a sectional state championship title, finishing the season #10 in the NJ.com top 50.

The Green Wave soccer team featured impressive defensive play, along with relentless offensive pressure, with timely scoring. Senior goalies Derek Polanco ’21 and Alex Paulius ’21 were stellar in net, earning seven shutouts in 14 games this season. On offense, the team was led by seniors Curt Calov ’21, Mikey Kopeld ’21 and Emerico Vespucci ’21, juniors Aidan Grant ’22 and Ryan Donovan ’22 along with sophomores Nate Zimmermann ’23 and Josh Hepplewhite ’23.

70

DELBARTON TODAY

Vivienne Zimmermann P’23, Jared Lowy

The team earned big wins over West Morris, Parsippany Hills, Mendham and Chatham this fall, while its only loss and tie came against Montville. Defensively, the Green Wave was led by seniors Christien Merritt ’21, Maximus Cresti ’21 and Harrison Van Vliet ’21. In state sectional playoffs, the Green Wave defeated Pope John and Morris Catholic, outscoring them 12-2, including a 7-2 victory in the final against Morris Catholic.

Congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff on a very successful season under such daunting circumstances.

SHORTS

FA L L U P

The Delbarton Cross Country team, coached

by Chuck Johnson, opened the 2020 season with an uncertain future, and finished the season 6-0 in the NJAC. The Green Wave team went undefeated 6-0 in NJAC meets, defeating Montville, Chatham, Mendham, Parsippany Hills, West Morris and Morristown. Our varsity top eight rose to the challenge in many ways this season, including sophomore Brian Boler ’23 who took first place overall honors at the NJAC Championship with a time of 15:58.44 and won every race he took part in this season.

Boler currently holds the school record for Greystone’s new course at 15:58, a time that ranks him third at Greystone for any course.

Senior captains Patrick Smart ’21 and Dennis Collins ’21 helped keep the group together during an unsettling summer and delayed fall season, putting together one of the most successful cross country seasons in recent memory.

The boys finished the season with an NJAC South Red Division title and second place overall at the NJAC Championship Meet.

Congrats to all the Green Wave runners on a very successful season!

Jessica Fiddes

Chuck Johnson

Cross Country

sport

Anand Majmudar ’22 is US Squash Scholar Athlete

Congratulations to junior Anand Majmudar ’22 who, for the third straight year, earned a US Squash Scholar Athlete Award.

US Squash Scholar Athlete Award recognizes high school students who excel in both the classroom and on the squash court. High School students who have a 3.5 or higher GPA at the end of the school year and have played in four US Squash accredited singles tournaments or approved number of SSP matches are eligible to apply for the award.

Congratulations Anand Majmudar ’21 on his three-peat achievement.

He is pictured here with Green Wave Sqaush coaches, Head Coach Craig Paris ’82 on right, and JV Coach Tom Bennett on left.

Fall/Winter 2020

71

sport

SHORTS

72

DELBARTON TODAY

Congratulations to our Recruited

Athletes from the Class of 2020!

sport

SHORTS

Fall/Winter 2020

73

abbey NOTES

By Br. William McMillan, OSB

The Ordination of Bishop Elias Lorenzo On Tuesday, June 30, Abbot Elias Lorenzo, OSB, was ordained a bishop by Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, during a mass celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark.

Bishop Elias will serve as an auxiliary bishop, assisting in the territory of Union County. Abbot Richard, Fr. Edward Seton, Fr. Demetrius, Br. William, and Br. Finnbar attended the ordination.

Bishop Elias shared about his journey in a recent article in the Advocate, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Newark. From his childhood in Brooklyn, he received a foundation for his faith from his “saints” of parents. Following a period of discernment influenced by the

74

DELBARTON TODAY

Fr. Hilary, Fr. Michael, and Br. Kieran joined Bishop Elias for a special Evening Prayer service the night before his ordination, also at the cathedral.

writings of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk from the mid-20th century, and the Benedictine community at St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, NJ, he entered the community at St. Mary’s Abbey. He served Delbarton School for more than 30 years before serving the Benedictine order internationally, both as Prior at San Anselmo in Rome and Abbot President of the American Cassinese Congregation. While attending a meeting of American Abbots as part of his role as Abbot President, Abbot Elias received the call letting him know the Holy Father had appointed him bishop. His episcopal motto— Nothing is impossible with God—reflects the impact the Benedictines have had on

his life, “They have formed me well and gave me opportunities, none of which I sought. Everything I was asked to do, everything that was placed on my shoulders, I was able to do it by God’s grace. Not by my accomplishments, my gifts, nor by my talents but God’s grace.”

Bishop Elias was ordained alongside Michael Saporito, Regional Bishop for Bergen County, and Gregory Studerus, Regional Bishop for Hudson County. Please join Abbot Richard and the monks of St. Mary’s in praying for Bishop Elias! Ad multos annos!

photos by St. Mary's Abbey

abbey NOTES

Abbey Church Welcomes New Banners During the week of October 16th, the Abbey Church welcomed 24 new hangings which depict the Apostles and Benedictine saints.

Fr. Vincent de Paul Crosby, OSB, monk of St. Vincent’s Archabbey in Latrobe, PA, designed each hanging. The community at St. Mary’s approached him in the fall of 2019 to bring color to the Abbey Church. “Color,” said Fr. Vincent, “is a mystical language, speaking in subliminal ways.”

When meditating over the geometry of the Abbey Church, Chapter 4 of Revelation describing the communion of saints centered around the throne of the Lord. From this meditation, Fr. Vincent concluded on designing images of 24 saints centered on the altar of the Abbey Church. Fr. Vincent hopes that people who visit the Abbey Church will respond with the question, “Who are you?” Each saint was carefully researched and each hanging carefully designed so that they could reflect the person’s identity. For the Apostles, Fr. Vincent added a shield with traditional iconography associated with each saint. For the Benedictine saints, he drew on some aspect of their life, such as a hermitage for St. Romuald or a basket of bread for St. Frances of Rome, a Benedictine oblate. For visitors to the Church, there will be a booklet to learn more about each

one. Fr. Vincent’s development of the hangings reflects several aspects of the Benedictine charism. The wall hangings of the Abbey Church are meant to be contemplated, prayed with, and inspire visitors and monks alike to get to know the saints.

Monastic Community Assists Wave-4-Life Club On Monday, July 6, Prior Edward Seton Fittin ’82 and the monastic community assisted the Wave-4-Life student group from Delbarton School to honor Helene Lens, a woman who recently passed away at Marion Manor without any family to handle burial arrangements. Robert Prout ’74, his son Steven ’08, and daughter Julia of Prout Funeral Home in Verona contributed their services and coordinated with Helene’s social worker at Marion Manor. Helene Lens was originally from Belgium, where she witnessed the Nazi occupation of her country during the Second World War. After enduring Nazi persecution that resulted in the deaths of her father and brother, she immigrated

to the United States. The funeral Mass was held in the Abbey Church, presided by Fr. Edward with Fr. Hilary O’Leary and Fr. Andrew Smith concelebrating. Students from the Wave-4-Life group volunteered as pallbearers and lectors for the Mass.

According to their mission, Wave-4Life is “a team of dedicated students looking to promote a respect for life [which] is of immeasurable value from conception until natural death.”

After the service, pallbearer Owen Hand ’21 said, “This funeral has helped me to weigh the significance of this life versus the significance of eternity. Confronting the fact that, one day, we will all pass away has (continued on page 62)

Fall/Winter 2020

75

abbey NOTES

The Bees are Back!

corner of the abbey orchard, closest to the cemetery. There the bees will enjoy full sunshine.

At the end of last winter, we received the sad news that the bees in our hives had not survived the winter.

This was bad news, because honeybees are important pollinators for the fruit trees in the abbey’s orchard. The abbey’s beehives had been located adjacent to the north side of the orchard, where they had been there for more than fifty years.

According to our beekeeper, Janet Katz, the area had become too shady for bees to prosper. After some discussion, the decision was reached to move the hives at the upper

On Monday, November 9, Ms. Katz delivered four hives to their new enclosure (necessary to deter honeyseeking bears!). In the unusually warm weather, the bees seemed very happy in their new home. Three of the hives were the result of another beekeeper’s need to relocate his hives; the fourth his was what Janet describes as “my ‘driveway bees’. It was a swarm that moved into old equipment I had stacked in my driveway waiting to be sorted through!” So, through good fortune, St. Mary’s Abbey now has four vibrant new beehives.

(continued from page 66)

Monastic Community Assists Wave-4-Life Club helped me to see the importance of living each day in anticipation for our Judgement before God. This is something that I lose sight of very often, so today’s service was a great reminder.” In his homily, Fr. Edward expounded on the Christian belief that life is changed, not ended, at death, “To answer how the dead are raised, St. Paul proclaims the instant transformation of the resurrection changes not just our outward appearance, but the inner reality of who and what we are.” He later explained how belief in the Resurrection leads them to the funeral, “Today, our simple act of kindness for Helene, whom we’ve never met, matters! It says we believe! It says we love without condition. It says Jesus’ victory over sin and death forever changes how we live and love.”

Following the funeral service, Fr. Edward presided at the interment service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Please join the St. Mary’s Abbey and Delbarton community in praying for Helene Lens.

The Abbey’s August Wine Raffle brought in over $24,000 in donations! We had many participants, but only two could win.

Congratulations to the Quinn and Hagovsky families!

76

DELBARTON TODAY

abbey NOTES

Let Us Remember

“If we believe that Jesus died and rose, God will bring forth with Him from the 1 Thessalonians 4:14 dead those who also have fallen asleep believing in Him.”

Robert Closkey ’82, brother of Sean Closkey ’85

Bill Crane, former faculty member and administrator

Maureen Diana, grandmother of Nick Diana ’16

Nancy Feliciano, grandmother of Luke Anselmi ’16 and Nicholas Anselmi ’16, Mother-in-Law of Andrew Anselmi ’83,P’16, Mother of Sole Anselmi P’16

Kenneth Heaton, father of Ken Heaton ’78 and Tony Heaton ’81, grandfather of Anthony Heaton ’11 and Alex Heaton ’13

Rusty Hewit ’98, son of Russ and Nan Hewit P’98,’02,’04, brother of Grant Hewit ’02 and Alex Hewit ’04

Bertram J. Levine, husband of former faculty member and Director of Guidance Shelly Levine Giac Pagano, former faculty member

Peter Albert Pfaffenroth, father of Peter Pfaffenroth ’93

John Regan, father of John ’Jack’ Regan ’68 and Brian Regan ’73.

Frank Reilly, father of F. Brian Reilly ’98 and Patrick Reilly ’03

Kay White Slattery, wife of Mike Slattery ’59

Wendy Szelingowski, mother of faculty member Dan Szelingowski

The Wedding Album

Ryan Amspacher ’10 and Melissa Sanders were married on June 22, 2019 in Saybrook CT joined by many Delbarton friends. Back row: Danielle Zaleskie, Kyle McMullan ’10, John Colavita ’10, David Colavita ’12, Robert Iannaccone ’12, Paul Martin ’12, Best Man Tyler Amspacher ’12, Lauren Kearney, Shannon Otto and Meg Nieslanik. In front: Will Sullivan ’10, Jack McHugh ’10, Collin Corcoran ’10, Ryan Amspacher ’10, Melissa Sanders Amspacher, Tyler Otto ’10, and Dan Kearney ’10.

Fall/Winter 2020

77

Alumni News June Dinner Meeting/Pig Roast

On June 24, the annual June Dinner Meeting – aka ‘Pig Roast’ – took place with a radically refashioned format due to Covid restrictions. Alumni board members were masked and practiced social distancing with the exception of capturing a quick group photo. With Steve Block ’71’s able assistance on tech, the meeting was live streamed on Facebook from the Old Main Terrace. Board reports were delivered, Fr. Michael addressed alumni and retiring Alumni Association President Tim Fitzsimmons ’95 received the ceremonial Delbarton chair as a parting gift. He welcomed incoming President Chris Bury ’91, P’19,’20,’23.

78

DELBARTON TODAY

78 78

Alumni News photos by Jessica Fiddes

Fall/Winter 2020

79

Alumni News

Day at the Races The Delbarton Alumni Association hosted the 11th Annual Alumni Day at the Races at Monmouth Racetrack on Friday, July 31 following Covid protocols. Alumni and families gathered on The Patio Terrace at Monmouth Racetrack for twilight races, dinner and drinks on a perfect July evening, with clear skies, masks on and plenty of social distancing. The Delbarton Alumni

The Carter Cup The 18th Annual Carter Cup—the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Junior Stroke Play Championship—was held (respecting COVID-19 restrictions which meant no group photos) at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, NJ on Wednesday, July 29. The invitational event is named in memory of Michael P. Carter ’00, an accomplished junior player and standout member of the Green Wave golf team who died in a car accident in 2002. Michael was a junior club champion at both Baltusrol and Winged Foot Golf Club, as well as a promising player on the Penn State golf team.

James Allen of Scarsdale, NY, pictured here accepting the trophy from Michael’s mother Mary Lou Carter P’00, claimed the 18th Annual Carter Cup. 80

DELBARTON TODAY

Association of the Jersey Shore sponsored Race 3, and five lucky winners had the opportunity to stand by the Winner’s Circle for a photo with the winning horse.

Pictured here, from left, are John Magnier ’82, Fr. Edward Seton Fittin, O.S.B. ’82, Chris Bury ’91, Bob Joyce ’72 and Tom Timpone ’75.

Alumni News

Homecoming 2020 Alumni Golf Outing While Homecoming 2020 from October 2224 was postponed until May 2021, the Homecoming Golf Outing on October 22 still took place at New Jersey National Golf Club.

Here, Pat Collins ’81 helps deliver the gift bags for our alumni golfers. This year the green blazer was won by Kevin Buchert ’99.

Alumni In-Person and Virtual Events In the past six months, while we were fortunate to host several in-person events like the Alumni Day at the Races, Alumni Golf Classic, Covid-19 restrictions sparked the postponement or cancellation of many more. Included in the list were the Summer Sizzler in Belmar, NJ, Homecoming 2020 on campus (tentatively rescheduled for this May) and some regional receptions. At right is a calendar of events where Delbarton alumni connected with each other, both virtually and in-person, during summer and fall 2020.

6/24/20

Annual Alumni Meeting a.k.a. – ZOOM meeting Pig Roast

7/31/20

Alumni Evening at the Races – Monmouth Race Track

9/2/20

Alumni Board Meeting – ZOOM meeting

9/21/20

Delbarton Golf Classic – Roxiticus Golf Club

9/29/20

Alumni Class Reps Fall Meeting – ZOOM meeting

10/21/20 Alumni Board Meeting – ZOOM meeting 10/22/20 Homecoming Golf Outing – New Jersey National Golf Club 10/27/20 Fr. Michael Tidd: Conversation with Alumni of Color – ZOOM meeting 10/28/20 Alumni Happy Hour with the Headmaster – ZOOM meeting 11/10/20 Alumni Speaker Series featuring Dr. Joe Kim ’89 – ZOOM meeting 11/17/20 DEI Alumni Initiatives – ZOOM meeting 11/18/20 Alumni Board Meeting – ZOOM meeting 11/29/20 Alumni Mass – St. Mary’s Abbey 12/4/20

Platform Tennis Reunion – Trump National Golf Club

Fall/Winter 2020

81

Alumni News

Annual Alumni Golf Classic On September 21, over a hundred golfers enjoyed a great day on the course at Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham, NJ…

Photos by Jessica Fiddes and Jared Lowy

82

DELBARTON TODAY

Alumni News

Alumni Association President Chris Bury ’91, P’19,’20,’23 announces the Golf Classic winners. 1st Place Gross went to the winning team of Chris Coughlin P’99, Tim Coughlin ’99, John Iaciofano ’99 and Mike Santo ’99.

From left, Mark Wells P’23, Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB, Dave Bell P’15,’17,’19,’24 and Joe Spada P’18,’19,’21,’23.

Our Guest Auctioneer, comedian Michael Somerville ’90, far right, with Mike Griffin ’91, Ryan Dooley ’91, P’20 and Alumni Association President Chris Bury ’91, P’19,’20,’23.

Fall/Winter 2020

83

Alumni News

Alumni Speaker Series On November 10, alumni had a great group discussion via Zoom with Dr. Joe Kim ’89, top right, during a call moderated by Alumni Association President Chris Bury ’91, bottom, and Career Networking and Mentorship Committee Chair Matt Gilfillan ’86, top left. Dr. Kim is an infectious disease specialist at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers, an expert who shared important facts and advice with his fellow alumni. This was the first in a series of virtual alumni talks to be offered this year.

Class Notes: 1978

Last spring, Jeff McGovern was grateful, as a frontline physician, that the pandemic was kinder to northwest Pennsylvania and writes, “To all of my brothers at Delbarton: Be of good cheer and continue to work for God’s glory.”

Grant Cowherd and his wife Madison welcomed their first child, a son named Chase Blue Cowherd, on June 10, 2020.

1999

2008

In June, Adrian Korduba (Cornell ’03, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School ’14, LCDR USNavy, MD Emergency Medicine)

84

traveled from Okinawa, Japan, to Camp Lejune, USMC, North Carolina.

DELBARTON TODAY

2003

Chris Butterfield and his wife Nicole married on August 1, 2019 and were expecting their first child in December 2020.

2010

Kevin Sullivan is Director of Advancement of Nativity Prep, a Jesuit school for boys from low-income families.

2016

Michael Donnelly graduated from Bowdoin College where he majored in history, minored in government studies and rowed eight seasons for the men’s varsity rowing team. At Bowdoin, he received the Leonard A. Pierce Memorial Award for

‘sustaining the highest scholastic average during his years in college and who will be continuing his education at an accredited law school.’ Michael entered Cornell Law School this fall.

Making Waves Jay Terzis ’65 Enjoys Second Career…as an Actor Congratulations to dentist Dr. Jay Terzis ’65, pictured here on right, who was named Best Actor in a Leading Role for Vanya in Christopher Durang ’67’s “Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike.” Jay was also nominated Best Actor in Southwest Florida by Broadway World.

Alumni Show Support Green Wave Football This fall, despite Covid restrictions, Green Wave football enjoyed a banner season. Spotted at the first home game of the season were, from left, Kevin Kenny ’78, P’12,’15, Ken Heaton ’78 and Assistant Headmaster for Student Affairs Chuck Ruebling ’79, P’10.

Fall/Winter 2020

85

Making Waves Experienced Alumni Trade Stories In September, Jules Spada ’48 and Jim Maloney ’56 got together at Jules’ house for some reminiscing with the Green Wave, and these two experienced Delbarton alums enjoyed spending some quality time together!

Tony Leotti ’00 Joins Detroit Piston Organization Hats off to Tony Leotti ’00, named Senior Director of Strategy and Systems for the NBA’s Detroit Systems.

Previously, he worked with the Cavs (when they won a Championship in 2016) and most recently was with the NBA League office. Tony’s younger brother Matt Leotti ’06 returned to Delbarton last year where he is a wellrespected Phys Ed teacher, and Assistant Football, Basketball and Outdoor Track Coach.

86

DELBARTON TODAY

Bernie D’Andrea ’57 is Top Hospitality Professional In October, Bernie D’Andrea ’57 was selected as top professional of the year in hospitality by the International Association of Top Professionals. Read a comprehensive profile of Bernie’s impressive career at fox21delmarva.com

Why We Give: Scott and Elizabeth Lenz P’11,’14,’17 Scott and Elizabeth met at the University of Virginia Law School, and then went on to begin their legal careers in New York City. Elizabeth is now retired, and Scott is Chief Tax Counsel at New York Life Insurance Company. Their sons Joe ’11, Tom ’14 and Ricky ’17 all currently live in the Washington D.C. area where Joe is a Disaster Program Manager for the American Red Cross, Tom is a Senior Associate in the consulting practice at KPMG and Ricky is a Senior at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

Private school was not in our original plan for our boys. Our town has a great school system, and our boys were active and enthusiastic participants in local sports and school activities. But when Joe was in 8th grade, we had friends that we greatly admire whose sons were thriving athletically, socially, and most importantly to us, spiritually, at Delbarton, and they encouraged us to apply. Joe enrolled as a freshman in 2007 and the next year Tom enrolled as a 7th grader, and Ricky enrolled as a 7th grader 3 years later.

Seniors and the Social Justice Committee and participated in annual toy and food drives. Joe also participated in one of Abbot Giles’ trips to Appalachia during Christmas season and helped out regularly with the Annual Fund Phonation, which inspired Scott to get involved in fundraising for Delbarton. Currently, they serve as Alumni Representatives, and Joe is on the Alumni Ora et Labor committee.

All three boys played football and served as Campus Ministers. In addition to these foundational commitments, among the three of them they played baseball and rugby, participated in Winter Track, sang in Schola and Benedictones, tutored in the writing center, worked on the stage crew, served as Junior and Senior Deans and Retreat Leaders, were members of the Council of

The best part of our sons' experience at Delbarton were the community, the rigor and the expectations. The Delbarton community sets a very high bar for the boys. As their admissions letters noted, Delbarton offers much and expects much. The totality of the experience brought out the best in them. It never allowed them to just settle or take the easy path. Delbarton teachers, coaches

Elizabeth and Scott Lenz P’11,’14,’17.

and administrators, as well as the monastic community, have absolutely shaped our sons’ characters and their futures. Every season and every activity provided role models and unique friendships.

As any Delbarton parent can tell you, the community is unbelievably welcoming, in keeping with its Benedictine tradition, and all parents are encouraged to get involved from the start. Scott served in Fathers and Friends as Co-Chair of the Annual Fund and as a Night of Dialogue

Fall/Winter 2020

87

Ricky ’17, Tom ’14 and Joe Lenz ’11 in 2013 when Tom and Ricky competed for Green Wave Football. Their older brother Joe also played for the team during his Delbarton years, and their parents Elizabeth and Scott Lenz P’11,’14,’17 got involved as Football Booster Chairs.

one of the preeminent Catholic boys schools in America for generations to come. And we really can’t wait to see the new Field House!

Facilitator and worked on the annual Toy Drive. Elizabeth has been involved in the DMG as Membership Chair, Class mom, Day of Recollection Chair and Rosary Walk Co-Chair. We served as Deans in the Parents Deanery Program, and currently serve on the Delbarton Parents of Graduates Association. We have also volunteered in various capacities for the Baseball and Football programs, culminating with three years as Football Booster Chairs.

The energy and community of football Saturdays, when you could really feel the spirit of Benedictine hospitality, or Holy Thursday Mass at the Abbey, when the congregation gathers around a fire outside the church to begin the Easter Triduum.

During our roughly ten years as Delbarton parents, this wonderful and unique community became a

88

DELBARTON TODAY

second home, even more so for our boys. They became mature, confident young men at Delbarton. It holds a special place in our hearts, and provided all of us with so many gifts and important life experiences.

Helping the best we can financially is the least we can do to pay that forward.

We have been regular supporters of the Annual Fund, which we know is crucial in meeting day-to-day needs of the school. We also supported Delbarton’s capital campaign that led to the construction of the baseball and soccer facilities. We are currently co-chairs of the parents of alumni committee that is involved with the current Brotherhood Campaign.

With Fr. Michael’s leadership, we sincerely believe this campaign will be transformational. In partnership with the monastic community, it will allow Delbarton to continue to be

Our hope is that Delbarton will continue to be a demanding and inspiring brotherhood for the boys who pass through its doors, and that it will be able to offer that brotherhood to as many boys as possible, without regard to financial need. We also hope that Delbarton continues to offer parents that Benedictine sense of welcome, that invites all of us as a community to help enrich our sons’ experiences in this special place.

While it has always been important for us to fully understand and believe in the strategic and financial vision of the school and the Abbey, our financial commitment has been more a matter of the heart and faith. The Delbarton community provides so much to our boys, which lasts well beyond their time on campus. As we did, we would encourage any parent considering a contribution to reflect on that special gift. For us, the rest was easy.

Fall 2020:

Delbarton Masks Up!

Fall/Winter 2020

89

today

DELBARTON

Delbarton School 230 Mendham Road Morristown, NJ 07960 Delbarton.org CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Together, we grow back stronger…

Mary Ketchum P’16,’20

This has been a Succisa Virescit year for Delbarton, a time when we were cut down by a global pandemic and grew back stronger. Our community has never been more committed to our goal of building better boys. Your gift to the Delbarton Fund is an essential resource that funds both anticipated budget items and, at times like these, unanticipated emergency needs.

How you can support the Delbarton Fund:

Make a one-time gift: Online at Connect.delbarton.org Mail a check/credit card gift using the enclosed envelope Call 973-538-3231 x3055 to make a credit card gift by phone

Make a gift of stock: Learn how at Delbarton/org/giving

Make it a match: Double or triple the value of your gift at matchinggifts.com/Delbarton

Every gift, no matter the size, directly impacts each student’s Delbarton experience this year, right now. Thank you for your support of Delbarton!

Support the Delbarton Fund This Year!