4 minute read
Spirit of a Squire: Unearthing History
Tara Noel '20
By Stephanie R. Leader
One of the spirits of Squirehood is acknowledging and respecting the past while forging a path to the future. One Squire in particular who recognizes this is Tara Noel ’20. Since graduating from Delone Catholic High School, Noel has embarked on archeological journeys that uncovered stories from her own backyard in Gettysburg, Pa., and most recently, a study abroad spring semester and summer archeological excursion in Greece and France where she uncovered artifacts that will shape future historical research.
Having come from a family steeped in Catholic education, Noel immersed herself in a world of learning from an early age. Her mother, Crystal ’94, had a powerful influence on her academic pursuits. “My mom was a teacher at St. Francis School and then became a principal at Sacred Heart School. I followed her where she went, and having that strong base really helped my education.”
While a student at Delone Catholic, Noel could be found dabbling in a variety of extracurricular activities including swimming, Speech and Debate, Spiritual Life, and involvement in honor societies. When it came to her life after high school, she knew her love of learning would clear the way and give her an idea of what her future studies should look like. A desire to stay close to home and the best academic offering brought her to Gettysburg College to continue her education, and she now majors in English and anthropology, with a focus in archeology. “In college, I knew I really liked history, English, reading, and writing. I didn’t know how to incorporate that into a future career, but then I got to college and explored different avenues of academia to know what I was passionate about. It took a lot of hard work to figure out the right path.”
That work included an internship with the Gettysburg National Military Park in the summer of 2021, which launched Noel into a love of excavation and archaeology. “I only had one archaeology-related class before (the internship)... I learned a lot of my hands-on skills (there).” Through that internship, Noel was able to participate in the excavation of an old janitor’s house from the Civil War, participate in a panel discussion for the park, and did metal detection work. Then, for her spring semester in 2023, an archeological study abroad opportunity of a lifetime brought her to The American School of Classical Studies bioarchaeology lab in Athens, Greece, and then the historic Roman harbor town of Lattes, France, for a threeweek program in the summer. The work, although physically demanding, provided Noel with an unparalleled education and understanding of the world in these historic places.
Among the artifacts Noel has uncovered include some that were unexpected. “We’re not digging up lost treasure; we find common items like ceramics, glass, nails, but sometimes you find metal objects like coins that you would not think would be preserved,” she said. “While excavating a floor, I found the top of a water pitcher. That was something that was uncommon to find, especially fully intact.”
Now, Noel is back at Gettysburg College to complete her senior year and would like to continue her already burgeoning experience in archeology and excavation. “One day I hope to get my master’s degree. I am interested in travel writing or working at national parks in the American Southwest. It’s up in the air, but I want to do something that combines my love of writing and travel, in a historically related way,” she said.
While the specifics are still unfolding, Noel’s passions and willingness to take risks will no doubt be cornerstones for her future success. She thanks Delone Catholic for giving her that strong confidence in herself. “Being an alumnus of Delone Catholic, I would say I learned how to work hard and communicate well with others, have a strong faith in myself, faith in God, and faith in the community around me,” she said. “The Spirit of a Squire means being fearless, confident in yourself, and not being afraid to go for what you want.”
