Lamplighter Class of 2021 issue

8 Senior

Presentations

14 Academic Awards

Pursuing a Learning gets

DOCK Mennonite Academy Class of 2021

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:5-8

Meaningful PERSONALLife 2

CONTENTS Class of 2021 Issue 1

Commencement 2021: Pursuing a Meaningful Life

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8th Grade Celebration

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Senior Presentations: Moving On

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Academic Awards

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Athletic Awards

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EC-Grade 8 Campus Happenings

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Grades 9-12 Campus Happenings

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Alumni News

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Calendar

ON THE COVER: No matter what direction their futures may lead, senior Olivia Mercure and her fellow graduates will have the words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 to guide them. Read about Pastor Josh Meyer’s commencement address starting on page 1.

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Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber Superintendent Dr. Sharon Fransen Assistant Superintendent Bronwyn Histand Principal EC to Grade Eight

Patti Baker Director of Finance and Operations Robert Rutt Director of Advancement Douglas Hackman Director of Admissions Kathleen Gordon Director of Marketing

BOARD OF TRUSTEES James Gunden, Chair Scott Heckler, Treasurer Rina Rampogu, Secretary Natasha Alderfer (’97) Mark Bergey (’88) Suzi Berry Meredith Ehst (’99) Beny Krisbianto Chad Lacher (’93) Sonya Stauffer Kurtz

Lamplighter is published by Dock Mennonite Academy 1000 Forty Foot Road Lansdale, PA 19446 Jay Gordon, Editor Mike Landis, Photography Leinbach Design, Design

2021 Commencement

Pursuing a Meaningful Life

Pastor Josh Meyer used three stories—about a rabbi, a starfish, and a broken bone— to encourage Dock graduates in their pursuit of one of life’s greatest desires.

Dock’s annual Commencement ceremony is a celebration of what graduates have achieved—something which Josh Meyer, pastor of discipling and preaching at Franconia Mennonite Church, acknowledged to graduates.

“Class of 2021, you have lived through so much; you have endured so much; you have persevered through so much,” he told the 85 graduates assembled on the turf of Dock Stadium. “So on this night we celebrate with you. We rejoice with you. And we marvel at your tenacity and your resiliency. Well done.”

Yet he also reminded them that Commencement isn’t just about celebrating what’s already been accomplished, but is “a ceremony of new beginnings, as you take all you learned here, all the ways you have been formed, shaped, and molded here, into the next season of your life.”

Meyer shared three stories to demonstrate for graduates how they might pursue a meaningful life. “That’s ultimately what we’re after; that’s what we all desire—meaning,” he said. “You can go on from here and become successful, you can become wealthy, you can become well-known, you can accomplish great things—but none of that matters without meaning."

The Rabbi The story: An ancient rabbi was walking home late one night after attending a banquet in a neighboring village. He came to a fork in the road; one direction would lead him home, the other to a Roman military outpost. It was dark and late and he ended up taking the wrong fork, arriving at the Roman garrison. As he approached, he heard the loud voice of a Roman centurion calling to him. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” The rabbi was confused, and stood in silence as the guard repeated his questions with greater urgency: “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

The meaning: “These are the questions of life, aren’t they?” Meyer said. “Questions of identity, questions of purpose. Class of 2021, if you seek to lead a meaningful life, you’ll need first and foremost to discover the answers to those questions, and then filter every decision, every choice, every opportunity through the lens of those answers.”

Who are you? This is not your name, not what you do for a living, where you go to school, who you’re related to, where you live or what you like doing, Meyer said. Who are you at the deepest level? Where does your primary identity lie?

What are you doing here? What is your purpose? Why has God placed you on this earth, at this time and in this place and with these gifts and passions?

“These aren’t easy questions to answer,” he said, “but I promise you: doing the good, hard, faithful work of discerning your core identity and your primary purpose will help bring clarity to the rest of life’s inevitable complexity—and that is essential to leading a meaningful life.”

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2021 Commencement

The Starfish The story: A man was at the beach with his wife and two children. They were walking along the water picking up seashells—except they weren’t full shells. They were little fragments of shells that often wash up by the water. The kids were running around gathering handfuls of these broken shells, trying to see who could pick up the most. Suddenly, they saw something floating in the water; just a few feet offshore was a giant starfish, bobbing in the water.

Now if you’re a kid, getting your hands on a starfish is like striking gold, so the youngest son went charging into the water after it. He got halfway to the starfish, then stopped and came back. His father reassured him.

“It’s alright, buddy, you can go. Go get the starfish!” His son went back in after it, and got closer this time, but before he made it all the way, he stopped again and came back to shore. His dad continued to encourage him: “You can do it! You were so close, go back out and grab it.” The little boy ran out one more time, and this time he got all the way there, right next to the starfish. All he had to do was reach out and pick it up, but instead he turned and ran back to the beach. Now the whole family was yelling for him to pick it up. “Buddy, you were right there! What’s the problem? Just pick it up!”

Finally, the little boy yelled back: “I can’t! My hands are full of shells.”

The meaning: My hands are full of shells. “Sometimes we need to say no to good things in order to say yes to the best things,” Meyer told Dock graduates. “And if you want to lead a meaningful life, it will require the difficult but necessary skill of learning to distinguish between the ‘starfish’ and the ‘seashells.’

“The starfish, of course, is what we just talked about: your identity and your purpose, who God created you to be and what God created you to do. The seashells are everything else—secondary matters which can be good but are not ultimate. My word to you tonight is to not become so fixated on the seashells that you miss out on the starfish. Because the quickest path to a life of unsustainable frenzy, the quickest path to a life of quiet desperation, the quickest path to a life devoid of meaning, is an inability to distinguish between primary and secondary matters.”

Meyer said that he has seen many people sacrifice their lives on the altar of secondary things, broken fragments of seashells—career, money, comfort, security, politics, popularity—when there is a starfish of God-given identity and purpose right in front of them, and they miss it. “Friends, don’t do that,” he said.

“Don’t make that same mistake. Be intentional. Be diligent. Be ruthless about prioritizing the truly important matters.”

The Broken Bone The story: The famed cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead was once asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Dr. Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones—some tangible tool that demonstrated advancement.

Instead, Dr. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur that had been broken and then healed. She explained that in the animal kingdom, breaking a leg often means you die.

A broken leg means you can’t run from danger, get to the river for water, or hunt for food. In that state, you’re really just meat for prowling beasts, Dr. Mead said. Few animals survive a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal. Therefore, a broken femur which has healed is evidence that someone cared for the fallen despite no benefit to themself. Someone has bound up the wound, carried them to safety, and tended them through their recovery.

Dr. Mead concluded with this: “Helping someone else through difficulty; that is where civilization begins.

We are at our best as humans when we serve others. So be civilized…serve.”

The meaning: “Not only are we at our best when we serve others, but we actually find the deepest meaning in our own lives when we serve others, particularly those who are hurting,” Meyer said. “If you want to lead a life of meaning, commit to alleviating the suffering of those who are most vulnerable: where there is injustice, where there is oppression, where there is inequality, use your gifts, your voice, your power to do something about it in the name of Jesus. Because your responsibility in this life is not just for yourself, but rather to serve the common good—as the prophet Micah reminds us, ‘to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.’ “Class of 2021," he added, "may your lives be filled with meaning as you discover your identity and purpose; as you prioritize the more important matters; and as you serve others in the name of Christ.”

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"Class of 2021, may your lives be filled with meaning as you discover your identity and purpose; as you prioritize the more important matters; and as you serve others in the name of Christ."

— Josh Meyer, Franconia Mennonite Church Pastor and Dock Commencement speaker

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2021 Commencement

2021 Baccalaureate

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ock’s Baccalaureate service was held for the first time on the turf of Dock Stadium on Friday, June 11, 2021, and featured student reflections from Olivia Yetter and Stanley Saint-Fleur, a faculty reflection by Mrs. Gretchen McTavish, parent reflection by Mrs. Jaselyn Ramos, and a prayer of blessing from Dock parent Mr. Scott Benner. Senior members of Dock’s Touring Choir sang, and the service ended with the traditional candle-lighting around Groff Pond.

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8th Grade Celebration

A unique learning experience Dock Mennonite Academy celebrated its 8th grade students who are moving on to high school in a unique way. The 8th Grade Celebration was combined with the final EXPO Night of the year, when students had an opportunity to display and present some of their learnings from the final quarter of the school year.

As it always does, the Celebration featured the participation of students with their parents.

The opening prayer was given by 8th grader Nate Lacher along with his father, Mr. Chad Lacher.

Reflections were offered by several parent-student pairs, including Isaiah Giesbrecht and Mrs. Tamara Giesbrecht, Savannah Sobetsky and Mrs. Lisa Sobetsky, and Zeke Longacre and Mrs. Linda Longacre.

The Celebration also included performances by Dock’s Advanced Handbells group as well as our choir, Bella Voce.

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Senior Presentations

MOVING ON

In their Senior Presentations, graduates reflected on the losses they experienced because of the pandemic—but they did not let them define their senior year.

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hat is the cumulative effect of four years at Dock? How do students change and grow? What did they learn? In addition to their learning, did they also get wisdom and understanding, as the writer of Proverbs 4:7 implores?

The Senior Presentations required of every graduating student at Dock help to answer some of those questions. These reflective “senior speeches” offer a window into the Dock experience, shining light on lessons learned, challenges overcome, understanding gained, and faith developed. As she prepared to graduate, senior Sara Kennel seemed to have learned perhaps the most important lessons of all.

“This reality of leaving is still surreal to me,” she said in her presentation. “I may not be ready to move forward, but I choose to have the mindset that life ebbs and flows, and you’ll get nowhere trying to fight the current. It is time for change. I cannot carry the weight of these moments as reality anymore, but I can carry their memory.

I will walk away, my mind at peace knowing that my future is unknown; that I will be unprepared for every difficult experience I will face this next year, and the years to follow. This is the beauty of walking with God; that when the ground beneath me becomes unsteady, I will hold His hand, and He mine.”

Savahn Duerksen My purpose is not to judge. My purpose is to listen, and to be in a constant state of learning. My views will never be stagnant, because as I am a flawed human, I will never have everything completely figured out.

I find life in hearing people’s stories. Their struggles, and their mountaintops.

Not one person can stand up and say they are flawless. Everyone has their vices, their addictions, their shortcomings. This is okay. This is what makes life so tragically beautiful.

The most reconciliation can happen when one person listens to another. Each person’s experiences shape the way they react to certain situations. It is important to see people where they are, instead of constantly trying to change them and telling them they are not yet enough.

The power in listening is huge.

I am still young, with my whole life ahead of me. But every single challenge I have faced gives me hope and gives me strength. I want to use my struggles to help others, and to just love. I started high school as an insecure freshman…and I am leaving as a woman with a purpose.

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Lindsey Gouldey Freshman Orientation was a memorable day for me. The best part of that day was the egg toss. My partner was Isabella Benner, and we were ultimately the winners, thanks to our invincible egg. It got to the point where we were standing 30 feet away from each other, chucking the egg as hard as we could, purposely letting it hit the ground, trying to get it to break. Eventually it did, and as we recounted the event through fits of laughter, a beautiful friendship began between the two of us.

Madison Youssef Sophomore year provided me with one of my favorite classes from high school.

Chemistry was the perfect challenge for me. Not only did I enjoy working with numbers, but the chemistry labs taught me another thing about myself: Handson work helps me significantly when learning almost anything. We worked with chemicals, bunsen burners, and many other tools that helped me to understand chemistry beyond the numbers. There’s something about watching it happen right in front of you that just makes it “click” in your brain.

Marciella Shallomita During study hall, I watched the video my mom sent me. It was about two Indonesian girls who were bad-mouthed and slapped at a subway station Lindsey Gouldey

near City Hall for speaking up for an elderly Asian. The news clip made me

Madison Youssef

overwhelmed with anger and sadness. Maybe it was the fact that it happened

Laura Frederick

in Philadelphia or because the girls were Indonesian or maybe I was tired of discrimination against people who look like me. It was only a couple of months ago when I brought up the topic in my Global Eras research paper and my AP English speech. I was late to talk about Asian stereotypes and discrimination, but isn’t it better late than never? I wanted people to talk about it, to be aware. I don’t know how I had the guts to speak up about a topic close to my heart, but I guess there comes a point in life where we feel a drive and sense of confidence to do anything. Maybe God was trying to tell me to do something, to represent.

Laura Frederick Ten Things I Have Learned Throughout High School: #10—I really enjoy learning about STEM and the human body. STEM is the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. I prefer biology and studying the human body, though I have enjoyed physics and chemistry too. On top of all that—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—I enjoyed math. It is shocking to me because I have always seen it as a chore. While I still wouldn’t go do math problems for fun, I can honestly say I enjoyed learning about it, and found it satisfying. I credit much of that feeling to Mr. Yoder and the way he taught Pre-Calc and Calculus AB. I was able to understand it and feel confident. I wouldn’t be able to say I enjoyed learning about math if it wasn’t for the solid foundation he gave me.

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J.D. Bennett One of the first things I noticed my freshman year was the contrast from middle school. There weren’t cameras everywhere, or at least I didn’t see any. The campus is open and you can enter or exit anywhere, or even get some fresh air outside. The real kicker for me was no locks on the lockers. Even with locks at my old school, it seemed like someone’s belongings were stolen and sold off every day. However, there never seemed to be any issues with this here and this is where I realized the mindset was different. Rather than the worst being expected from us, we were entrusted with these privileges and expected to do what is right. We were given trust and it was up to us to keep it. There was nothing for us to lose at my old school because we weren’t given any freedom to begin with. If we misbehaved at all there would be only punishment for the individual. Here, it would affect everyone as a community, and that shaped a culture of caring about how our actions would affect everyone. This has taught me to value my freedoms and gave me a new perspective on how I want to treat others. Rather than expect the worst from people, I want to give respect and

J.D. Bennett

leave it up to them to maintain that level of respect.

Kaci Alderfer

Kaci Alderfer

Olivia Mercure

When Mini-Term came around, I chose to join the Wilderness Expedition. Beyond accounting for some of my best memories from high school, this week off from our regular routine reminded me how I see God through nature. It renewed my appreciation for the outdoors, and kept me engaged in my faith while still being able to have fun with friends. This was easily one of the most impactful experiences Dock has provided for me, and was the first of two things that truly developed my faith this year.

Olivia Mercure As a senior about to graduate, I have a better clarity of who God is. True, raw spirituality only recently has become a factor that empowers my faith. It’s a greater willingness to appreciate culture and people, understanding the need to not understand everything right away, and a stronger desire to let things be as they are, because the unlimited security and love that God offers is infinite. I’ve come to believe that the more personal spirituality has become in my faith, the more obvious it is when and how God shows up. It was this epiphany that inspired lots of thinking and conversation, eventually leading me to take a gap year to serve in Guatemala with my friend Sara Kennel.

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Sean Robinson Mrs. McTavish had a really good connection with her students and always pushed them to do their best. Yes, her class was a lot of work, but it pushed me and forced me to grow as a writer and reader. I never realized how much I had improved until just a couple of weeks ago. When we got back our portfolio books, which contained essays, projects, and notes from our previous years at Dock, I scrambled to read everything. This portfolio was supposed to help me think back and remember so I could write my senior speech. Freshman year was difficult; my handwriting and grammar were terrible and I had a hard time deciphering what I wrote. Sophomore year was slightly better, but when I got to junior year I was amazed. I was reading essays I had written and they didn’t sound like me. I actually had to look at the header and confirm my name was on the paper. I was astonished that I had improved that much in just one year and

“I was reading essays I had written and they didn’t sound like me. I actually had to look at the header and confirm my name was on the paper. I was astonished that I had improved that much in just one year, and I know it was because of [Mrs. McTavish’s] class.”

— Sean Robinson

I know it was because of her class. I learned from that class that success isn’t easy. You need to put in the work, and if you don’t, you won’t see any results. So thank you, Mrs. McTavish, you helped me become a better reader and writer, a better overall student.

Isa Rodriquez Looking back on this time, I now realize all that God taught me in those moments and the good he still had in store. From this trial, I was able to realize the things I was prioritizing in my life and all the empty voids I was putting my hope in. God showed me through this experience what I had been putting my identity in, and for me, that was running. It wasn’t until my ability to run well was completely stripped from me that I realized the issue. When we take pride in something, whether or not we show it, our identity is resting in that. I leaned in and decided to trust God with everything I had through all the unknowns and uncertainties I was facing.

Sean Robinson Isa Rodriquez

In return, He showed me his faithfulness and what it means to truly put my identity in Christ and not worldly things.

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Chuck Tirtasaputra As I leave this place, I will take with me the memories and the friendships I’ve made, the lessons of community, the idea that we are stronger together. Growing up, I’ve always kept things to myself, but Dock has made me change the way I think. Sharing burdens with friends and family is a good thing. It means you don’t have to carry the weight of the world by yourself.

Over the past few years, I have shared things with close friends that I never would have shared before. It was scary at first, but over time, they gave me advice and perspectives that I couldn’t have seen myself. If there’s one thing that you remember from this speech, remember that you’re not alone and that you have people who you can confide in.

Casey Harper A rewarding part of junior year was my time volunteering. I was able to volunteer with different organizations, including Home At Last Dog Rescue, Knights 4 Life, and Milagre Kids School. Volunteering during the school day at Milagre opened up a world of opportunities for me. It allowed me to discover what I want to spend the rest of my life doing—teaching kids with special needs. This experience put me out of my comfort zone. I worked with students that I didn’t know how to help, and in past experiences, I’ve never not known what to do when it comes to kids. Because of this experience, I decided I wanted to major in Special Education because I had a yearning to learn more.

Emily Mellinger Part of the reason I would spend my time in the art building was to get away from the noise. The art building became my sanctuary. I lose track of time when I paint, so much so that I needed to set an alarm on my phone about five minutes before the bell so I could clean up in time. I feel whole when I’m in my studio. It's those moments I spend alone with my canvas, just me and my thoughts. It’s why I want to pursue art therapy, so others can feel what I feel.

Jacob Sprague I am now finishing my senior year. I feel like all of my hard work has been put to good use. I remember when it all started, sitting in the auditorium during my freshman year orientation and listening

Chuck Tirtasaputra

to some seniors speak. They told us to cherish every moment

Casey Harper

of high school, because it may seem like a long time until you’re

Jacob Sprague

graduating, but it will fly by right in front of your eyes. I can confidently say that they were completely correct.

Surprisingly, I also started to really enjoy math class this year. I had Mr. Gehman, and he made learning math fun. It was one of my favorite classes and I looked forward to it every day.

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ACADEMIC

AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIPS

CHRISTOPHER DOCK AWARD The highest honor given to a student, the Christopher Dock Award is presented to one senior male and female in recognition of all-around campus citizenship, leadership, and scholarship during high school. The 2021 winners of the Dock Award are Susan (Libbie) Derstine and Masyiakh (Chuck) Tirtasaputra.

The Christopher Dock Award is sponsored by retired faculty member Pearl Schrack.

CITIZENSHIP AWARD The Christopher Dock Citizenship Award for 2021 was presented to Abigail Neiderer (grade 9), Sophia Lacher (grade 10), Lydia Longacre (grade 11), and Casey Harper (grade 12). The Citizenship Award is sponsored by Lee and Ruth Delp (’64) and State Rep. Steve Malagari. The award is presented to one student in each grade who consistently shows good character, citizenship, involvement and responsibility at Dock, and consistently goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the campus and their classmates.

SCHOLARSHIPS L. Travis Bechtel Scholarship Garrett Nyce is the 2021 recipient of this $1,000 scholarship, sponsored

by Baum Smith & Clemens and named for Travis Bechtel of the Class of 1991. It is awarded to a senior who excels in three of Travis’s high school interests—academics, athletics, and business.

Dock scholarship winners included (l to r) Mirabel Fizzano, Garrett Nyce, Libbie Derstine, Laura Frederick, Casey Harper, Marciella Shallomita, and Kylie Godshall.

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Daniel J. Reinford Scholarship The Daniel J. Reinford Scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors who will be attending a Mennonite college or university. It is based on financial need, grades, and contribution to campus life. Recipients in 2021 include Libbie Derstine and Marciella Shallomita.

Subject Area Award winners: Front row (l to r): EmmaRose Thompson, Sara Kennel, Mirabel Fizzano, Libbie Derstine, Cassidy Williams, Isabella Benner, Marciella Shallomita, Olivia Yetter. Back row (l to r): Garrett Nyce, J.D. Bennett, Sam Alderfer, Bryce Cardy, Laura Frederick.

Not pictured: Yuxin (Bella) Liang, Tongxun (Sherry) Hu, Logan Gillespie

SAM & HELEN LAPP PEACEMAKING AWARD Marciella Shallomita is the 2021 recipient of the Sam & Helen Lapp Peacemaking Award, given to a student who makes a significant contribution to peace on the Dock campus.

SUBJECT AREA AWARD WINNERS These awards are presented to the seniors who have shown outstanding performance in a given subject area as recognized by the Dock faculty.

The awards were presented on May 29 at an awards convocation.

Yuxin (Bella) Liang ­— Charles Clemmer Art Award — Class of 1961 Garrett Nyce and Susan (Libbie) Derstine ­— Paul R. Clemens Bible Award — Moyer’s Chicks/Moyer Realty Logan Gillespie ­— Career Study Award — Harleysville Bank EmmaRose Thompson — Drama Award — Jim and Kendra Rittenhouse Marciella Shallomita — English Award — Gerald and Rhoda Benner

PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD The Perfect Attendance Award is sponsored by Harleysville Bank, and the recipient for 2020-21 is J.D. Bennett.

Isabella Benner — Family & Consumer Sciences Award — Landis Supermarkets Tongxun (Sherry) Hu — Mathematics Award — Dr. Francis Jeyaraj Cassidy Williams — Music Award — Ferne Alderfer Samuel Alderfer and Sara Kennel — Physical Education Award — Landis Supermarkets Laura Frederick — Science Award — Harleysville Bank Mirabel Fizzano — Social Studies Award — S. Duane Kauffman Olivia Yetter — Spanish Award — Living Branches Bryce Cardy — Technology Award — Jen-Tech Systems Laura Frederick — Writer’s Award — Gerald and Rhoda Benner

Abington Hospital-Lansdale Scholarship The medical staff at Abington Hospital-Lansdale presents this $500 scholarship to a senior who wants to pursue a career in the medical field. The 2021 recipient is Kylie Godshall.

The Officer William Chapman Memorial Scholarship This $1,000 award is given to a senior seeking a degree in a public service-oriented field, such as criminal justice, law, education, social work, or medicine. The 2021 recipient is Casey Harper.

Vanessa L. Myers Women in STEM Scholarship This $1,000 scholarship is given to a female senior who plans to enter a STEM-related field. The 2021 recipient is Laura Frederick.

Rotary Club of Souderton-Telford STEM Scholarship The Souderton-Telford Rotary Club awards a $2,000 scholarship to a graduate who plans to major in a STEM-related field. The 2021 recipient is Mirabel Fizzano.

Harleysville Rotary Club Scholarship The Harleysville Rotary Club awards a $750 scholarship to a senior who excels in the Rotary’s 4-way Test and demonstrates how it impacts their life. The 4-Way Test asks four questions about the things we say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Marciella Shallomita is the 2021 recipient.

Visit our website at dock.org/commencement to watch Dock’s 2021 Commencement ceremony, awards convocation, and additional related content.

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Athletic

Awards

Dock recognized a number of student-athletes for their contributions to the school’s athletic program this year.

OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT These student-athletes played at a high competitive level in big games, which contributed to outstanding performances toward individual or team championships. They have met or exceeded the standards set by exceptional players who already received this honor in their sport, and demonstrated strong team-oriented play and positive leadership.

Jocelyn Pfleiger (softball) was a 1st Team AllLeague infielder for two years, and joined the 100-hit club in just three years rather than four. In her senior year, Jocelyn hit .559 and had a record 41 RBIs in just 19 games, helping Dock Softball win its first BAL title since 2014.

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Rey Ramos (soccer) was a 1st Team All-League goalkeeper his sophomore, junior, and senior years. In 32 career starts he allowed an average of less than one goal per game, and as a junior led Dock to league and district titles, as well as a state playoff run to the final four.

Stanley Saint-Fleur (track & field) only ran one year for Dock Track & Field, but was a league champion in four events. He went on to win District 1-AA gold medals in the 400 Meters, 800 Meters, and the 4X400 Meter Relay, and finished his year with a state championship in the 400 Meters, running a Dock record time of 48.63 and winning the race with a dramatic dive across the finish line.

DR. DAVID DOYLE MEMORIAL AWARD “Doc” Doyle passed away from cancer on December 21, 2011, after serving our school as athletic trainer for 12 years. Our student-athletes and coaches highly respected Doc not only for his expertise in athletic training, but also his insights as a sports psychologist, and his strong Christian faith. It is through his legacy that we give this award honoring strong team-oriented play, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

The 2021 recipients of the David Doyle Award are Cassidy Williams (tennis and bowling), Josh Bauman (cross country, track & field) and Isa Rodriguez (cross country, track & field).

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Athlete of the Year honors male and female student-athletes who represent team-oriented play, outstanding contributions to team success, sportsmanship, and leadership.

Jocelyn Pfleiger (basketball and softball), Rey Ramos (soccer and volleyball), and Stanley Saint-Fleur (cross country, track & field).

COACHES OF THE YEAR Congratulations to our 2020-21 Bicentennial Athletic League Coaches of the Year: Tim Eger (track & field, left) and Wayne Benner (softball).

Not pictured: Stacey Vaitis, girls soccer).

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EC to Grade 8

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

BIKES HELP FUEL STUDENTS’ PASSION Dock Discover students kicked off the 2nd quarter by starting a new unit on movement, including a full day of learning about bikes and movement led by Pastor Scott Roth of Line Lexington Mennonite Church. Pastor Scott also is a founder of Bike & Sol, a bike shop outreach that builds community through cycling. After a chapel in which Pastor Scott spoke about discovering what we’re passionate about, Discover students participated in a Bike Rodeo on a course they designed themselves with help from faculty member Mr. Andrew Zetts. Middle School Students enjoyed the competition, and several other Dock classes got the opportunity to cheer them on. It was an awesome way to kick off a new quarter! Learn more about Bike & Sol at bikeandsol.com.

4TH GRADERS LEARN ENTREPRENEURSHIP Mrs. Jane Roth's 4th grade students experienced some hands-on learning on how to design a food truck recently when Downtown Scoop owner, Mr. Kevin Hange, brought his trailer to campus. In addition to learning the design process, students received tours of the trailer and enjoyed a small scoop of ice cream as well! These future entrepreneurs created their own food truck concepts and designs as part of a unit on area and perimeter. Visit Downtown Scoop online at downtownscoop.com

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Grades 9 to 12

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

DOCK STUDENT WINS SOAP BOX DERBY Dock sophomore Maria DeRosa captured 1st place in the Super Stock Division of the Pottstown Soap Box Derby last summer.

It was DeRosa’s first time racing in the Pottstown race after competing in the Souderton and Pennridge races, and also her first time in the Super Stock Division.

She began racing at age 9. The win qualified Maria to compete in the 83rd Annual FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships at Derby Downs in Akron, OH. Congratulations Maria!

STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS LEARN MATH Math can be a difficult subject for young students to appreciate, especially when they don’t see how it is connected to their everyday lives. Helping younger students make that connection was the focus of a group of high school students from Mr. Zach Bower’s Foundations of Geometry class when they visited their counterparts in Mrs. Claire Wanamaker’s Middle School math class recently. The Foundations of Geometry curriculum is based on the project-based learning (PBL) model, and for their first project students were tasked with creating a presentation aimed at teens that combines geometric information and historical facts about geometry to explain the significance of geometry to their lives. Students created a presentation and a video, and also came up with the idea for a game, Geometry Dash. The goal was to provide a “peak moment” experience to help 8th graders remember the presentation better. “Research shows that peak moments can happen in different ways,” Mr. Bower said, “but one way is to incorporate an ‘elevation’ experience—a ‘moment of happiness that transcends the normal course of events through fun and surprise.’ That’s what the Geometry Dash game delivered.”

Thanks to Mr. Bower and to Dock juniors Savannah Landis, Emily O’Rourke, Lauren Gouldey, and Matthias Brockington for helping to make math more fun, and meaningful, for our Middle School students!

HOUSING & DESIGN STUDENTS LEARN FROM A PRO “I love this house.”

That was the reaction of one student in Mrs. Rose Lambright’s Housing & Design class recently when her daughter, Dock alum Beth Lambright (‘08) gave a virtual tour of a model home that her company, Toll Brothers, is now offering nearby in Eagleville, PA. Toll Brothers is the nation’s 11th largest homebuilder, with communities in 24 states coast to coast. Lambright received a marketing degree at Saint Joseph’s University and has now worked in sales at Toll Brothers for five years. Lambright walked students through the process of customizing a home, from selecting floor plan options to a discussion of financing and commissions. Students took a virtual tour of a model home and answered questions about what they had seen. They also presented details of homes they had designed for the class.

Lambright was asked which courses she took in school that had been helpful in her career. Naturally, Housing & Design was on the list, but so were art and business classes, and even psychology courses come in handy in terms of understanding buyer behavior, she said.

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ALUMNI

NEWS

THE BEAT GOES ON…AT THE BALLPARK

A group of Dock alum who go by the name, “The Beat Goes On,” had a reunion of sorts at a Phillies game last July. The group was inspired by former Dock assistant softball and baseball coach Dr. Todd Alderfer ('83) and includes several former Dock baseball players (right), including Ryen Haney (’17), Tyler Alderfer (’16), and Seth Frankenfield (’15, current Dock Athletic Director).

Pictured at the game last season are (l to r, above) Ryen Haney, Ellie Gresham, Seth Frankenfield, Maddison Landis Frankenfield (’16), Bailey Dillon, Tyler Alderfer, Dr. Todd Alderfer, Nick Fresco, Donna Alderfer, Sydney Putera (’21), Kaci Alderfer (’21), Olivia Mercure (’21), and Sara Kennel (’21).

TOURING CHOIR MEMORIES

Past and present Dock faculty members Mr. Tim Swartz, Dr. J. Eric Bishop, Mr. Rod Derstine, Mrs. Gretchen McTavish, and Mrs. Joan Grega gathered for an evening in June to reminisce about the many times they accompanied the Dock Touring Choir on their bi-annual tours through Europe.

We’d like to hear your Touring Choir memories. Email them to alumni@dock.org

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DOCK Mennonite Academy

ALUMNI NOTES

1982

2013

Leonard Dow (’82) has been promoted to vice president of community and church development at Everence, a financial services firm that helps individuals and businesses incorporate their faith and values into financial decisions.

Richard Jay “Ricky” DiLaurenzo passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. He was the son of Richard D. DiLaurenzo and Lillian (Castle) DiLaurenzo. Ricky worked as a landscaper, personal trainer, and safety training and personal defense instructor.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his fiancé, Ashley Jaramillo, and two children, Alayna and Adam.

2003 Kate Baer (’03), author of the #1 New York Times bestseller What Kind of Woman, has published her second book, a collection of “erasure” poems created from notes she received from followers, supporters and detractors. Erasure poems are an artform that “reclaims the vitriol from online trolls and inspires readers to transform what is ugly or painful in their own lives into something beautiful.” Selections from Kate’s first book have appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, The New Yorker, Literary Hub, New York Times, Vogue.com and the Chicago Review.

2019 Carolina Fraser was awarded the Grand Prize in the Amateur category in the 2021 Audubon Photography Awards for her striking photo of a roadrunner (below). It is the second Audubon award for Fraser, who took the top prize in the Youth category in 2016 for her photo of two Great Frigatebirds, which she shot in the Galapagos Islands.

2020 Samantha “Sammy” DiLoreto has enrolled in an accelerated master’s degree program at Duke University. When the two-year program is complete, DiLoreto will have a bachelor of science degree in environmental science from Washington College, and a master’s degree in environmental management, with an emphasis on ecotoxicology and environmental health, from Duke. She is the first Washington College student to enroll in the Duke program.

Photo by Carolina Fraser

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EARLY CHILDHOOD TO GRADE EIGHT

420 Godshall Road Souderton, PA 18964 215.723.1196

GRADES NINE TO TWELVE

1000 Forty Foot Road Lansdale, PA 19446 215.362.2675

WWW.DOCK.ORG Dock Mennonite Academy inspires and equips each student to serve with a global perspective by integrating faith, academic excellence and life-enriching opportunities in a Christ-centered community.

UPCOMING EVENTS EC to Grade 8 Calendar NOVEMBER 2021

November 25-28 — Thanksgiving Break, No School November 30 — Giving Tuesday DECEMBER 2021

December 3 — EC-Grade 8 Christmas Benefit Concert, 7 p.m.

December 10 — Early Childhood Christmas Program December 14 — Elementary Band and Orchestra Concert/4th Grade Musical December 20-January 2 — Christmas Break, No School JANUARY 2021

January 7 — EC-Grade 8 Family Fun Night January 17 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, No School January 20 — Middle School Expo Night, 6:30 p.m.

January 24 — Faculty In-Service, No School January 28 — Early Childhood & Kindergarten Admissions Open House, 8:45 a.m.

CHRISTMAS BENEFIT CONCERT

ARTS DAY

Grades 9 to 12 Calendar NOVEMBER 2021

November 25-28 — Thanksgiving Break, No School November 30 — Giving Tuesday DECEMBER 2021

December 9 — Grades 9 to 12 Christmas Concert December 20-January 2 — Christmas Break, No School JANUARY 2021

January 14 — Student Visitation Day January 17 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, No School January 24 — Faculty In-Service, No School

ARTS DAY FEBRUARY 18, 2022 cour•age / k rij / noun The ability to do something that frightens you, or you know is difficult or dangerous; strength in the face of pain or grief.

Dock students will interpret the concept of courage in creative ways, using music, dance, drama, art, and many other mediums, during Dock’s Arts Day 2022. You are invited to join us for the public performance on Friday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m.