The Morristown-Beard School Magazine
2012 2011
WINTER WINTER
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Crimson takes Silver in the 2012 CASE District II Accolades Awards!
Change Service Requested
This installation
is for the
Student Art Nina Cammarata, Grade 12
entire
community; This celebration el i is about bout bout t t h e
School - Peter J. Caldwell
WINTER 2011
Crimson
REMARKS FROM THE HEADMASTER
The Morristown-Beard School Magazine
DEAR FRIENDS of MBS,
BOARD OF TRUSTEES M. Thomas Conway, President Michael Ranger, Vice President Katherine Rohrer, Vice President John Taylor, Treasurer Richard Markee, Secretary
It is my pleasure to share with you where we are in the winter of 2011, and to update you on the state of some of our more significant programs and initiatives.
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BOARD MEMBERS John Adams Penny B. Boorman ’51 Patrick Burke ’84 Mary-Ellen Campbell (Honorary) Paolo Cucchi John M. Egan John F. Fay Wilfredo Fernandez Linda S. George David V.H. Hedley ’64 (Honorary) Allan P. Kirby, Jr. ’49 (Honorary) Sheila Klehm Michael Magner Betsy Patterson John Peirano Joe Robillard Debra Roth Lee Kellogg Sadrian ’89 Barbara Sandelands Roger Schwarz ’66 Haleh Shafaie Monya Taylor ’88 Siobhan A. Teare ’77
Director of Development Alison Cady
Director of Communications Steve Patchett
Associate Director of Alumni Relations Greg WIlliams
Features Writer Carol Selman ‘64
Photography
David Kramer ‘69, Steve Patchett
p.16 MBS Celebrates Homecoming
App Attack
Contents
WINTER 2011
1
Remarks from the Headmaster
2
News Briefs
6
Wilkie Hall Transformed into Technology Center
8
Installation of Peter Caldwell/Speech & Photos
16
App Attack: Young Capitalists Collide in “Stock Wars”
17
Nancy Zhu: Feeling at Home, Far from Home
18
MBS Celebrates Homecoming
20
Crimson Corner Varsity Sports Round-Up
22
Alumni Spotlight: Afi Daitey ’05 - at Harvard
24
Class Notes & In Memoriam
Our new iPad program is thriving. Given the nature of our curricular philosophy and our commitment to maximize student engagement wherever possible, we have followed through on our belief that our students will be central to the process of finding new and creative uses for this technology. We have developed an exploratory, non-prescriptive model, where students may find their own comfort zones so that the iPad simply becomes another tool for use in their ongoing academic and intellectual journey. With a newly renovated Wilkie Hall serving as the technology center, and with the many curricular innovations now coming or soon to be coming online, we are poised to offer a truly transformational academic experience for our students. It is interesting to note that, contrary to what one may think, and some had predicted, the School-wide focus on technology has not led to a depersonalization of our academic enterprise. If anything, it seems to be increasing our human connections and inspiring close, collaborative exchanges. While last spring the anticipation was that 30-40% of the faculty would want to use the iPad in the classroom, in fact, 100% of the teachers opted to try it. We are holding workshops on creative applications that are available, and faculty have shared what has worked particularly well in their own classrooms in front of diverse audiences, including students, other faculty, parents and Board members. Some teachers have found that the iPad has simplified grading and offers the opportunity for giving students oral feedback via sound files. Some also feel that they can keep better track of the work their students produce and their trajectory of improvement. Many students have also expressed similar growth in perception and self-awareness. Beyond the iPad program, this fall we have enjoyed a number of special moments including the inaugural moment for student government and the Headmaster Installation ceremony. The arts have been flourishing; we had a full house for this fall’s Contemporary Music Workshop, and a very successful fall play, The Servant of Two Masters. We have also had a strong fall in sports: girls’ field hockey won the prep championships, girls’ soccer had the best record in the history of the school, girls’ tennis won the prep tournament and the boys’ soccer team made it to the semi-finals of the Prep Championship and the of the States. Finally, we were happy to have a varsity football team back in action this year! With the extraordinary legacy of Alex Curtis providing a solid foundation, along with the constant and ongoing work of all who consider themselves part of the MBS “family,” I am pleased to report that we are poised for continued and even greater success.
Designer
Jennifer DeAngelis
Printer
With all best wishes from campus,
AJ Images
Peter J. Caldwell Headmaster 1
MBS News Briefs
Okun Named Merit Semifinalist Morristown-Beard School senior Harry Okun ’12 is in some pretty elite company after being named a semifinalist in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The pool of nationwide semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. The group was selected out of 1.5 million students who earned qualifying PSAT scores for achieving the highest scores. Okun and the 16,000 other students nationwide now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 Merit Scholarship Awards worth $34 million that will be offered in the spring. To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance. At Morristown-Beard School, Okun is a co-captain of the Quiz Bowl team, culture editor for the student newspaper, a member of the Crimsingers a capella group, and a member of the Business, Finance and Investment Club. He has also been a member of the cross country team and served as a member of the yearbook staff. The group of semifinalists will be whittled down to finalists in February, 2012. Scholarship winners will be announced in April.
MBS Stages Fast-Paced Farce “Servant of Two Masters” Audiences were treated to an evening of plot twists, mistaken identities, and laugh-out-loud comedy as the Morristown-Beard School Performing Arts Department presented this year’s Upper School fall play, The Servant of Two Masters, from November 9th through the 12th. 2
Written by Carlo Goldoni in the style of Commedia dell’arte, The Servant of Two Masters had one foot in the theatrical traditions of 17th Century Italy and the other planted firmly in the contemporary humor of Saturday Night Live! The cast of The Servant of Two Masters included: Harrison Kronfeld ’12 as Truffaldino, Rachel Donahue ’12 as Smeraldina, Susanna Mathews ’12 as Beatrice, Christopher DeBono ’12 as Florindo, Kyle Fisher ’12 as Silvio, Samantha Cocuzza ’12 as Clarice, Rachel Butensky ’13 as Brighella, Austin Fernandez ‘12 as Pantalone, Sailesh Doriaswamy ’12 as Lombardi, Kevin Glancy ’12 as Poddutore, Alexa Rojek ’15 as Assistente, Emily Evans ’14 as Vessitaria, Nancy Zhu ’13 as Agitato, Erin Hargrave-Kerns ’14 as Suggeritore, Rachel Moss ’13 as Patronessa, Julia Sweeney ’14 as Espozina, JD Parker ’15 as Faccino, Pooja Aggarwal ’14 as Cammararie, and Carina Steficek ’15 as Battitora. The musicians are played by Charlie Hill ’12, Spencer Zubrow ’12, and Danielle DiRaddo ’14. Danielle Ciccocicola ’12 was the stage manager for the production along with assistant stage manager Ben Miller ’12. The house manager was Jillian Griffith ’14. Poster art for the production was designed by Ashley Young ’14. The backstage crew included Ben Miller ’12, Peter Hoeller ’12, Kyle Movsovich ’13, Eric Fernandez ’14, Ali Maser ’13, and Kayla Terry ’15.
Harrison Kronfeld ’12, Dylan Krouse ’12, Michael Magner ’12, Casey Miller ’12, Thomas O’Brien ’12, Maura Passione ’12, Elizabeth Pellicane ’12, Alexandra Rakow ’12, Matthew Rosenberg ’12, Devon Seelig ’12, Taylor Silvestri ’12, and Sharon Zelnick ’12. Guests enjoyed getting a jump on their holiday shopping, winning fabulous raffle prizes and baskets of goodies, and catching up with old friends. The fall fashion show is one of the Parents’ Association’s major fundraisers. Proceeds from this year’s event will be used to directly benefit the students and programs of Morristown-Beard School.
Although test-taking was strictly optional, the Trustees and Alumni Board members participated in the daily routine including classes, activities and lunch.
Student Models Hit the Runway on “Fashion Avenue” Guests at the annual Morristown-Beard School fall fashion show enjoyed taking a stroll down “Fashion Avenue” on November 8th at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. The entire MBS community is grateful to co-chairs Elaine Rago and Mimi Sclafani as well as the many parent volunteers, faculty, staff and friends whose hard work and generosity made the day a success. More than 20 MBS seniors appeared on the runway alongside professional models, highlighting fashions by Saks Fifth Avenue at The Mall at Short Hills. In total, more than 80 members of the senior class also participated by walking the runway and presenting a member of their family with a special gift. Morristown-Beard models included: Tyler Braslow ’12, Zachary Chodor ’12, Thomas DePoalo ’12, Rachel Donahue ’12, Will Drucker ’12, Austin Fernandez ’12, Mia Geswelli ’12, Griffin Giordano ’12, Alexis Givens ’12, Zachary Gray ’12, Jessica Greene ’12, Maura Hargrave-Kerns ’12, Reid Harris ’12, John Horowicz ’12,
Huge Response for Food Drive Morristown-Beard School’s September food drive was a huge success, as the MBS community collected more than 2,000 items to benefit The Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Backpack Program. The drive was coordinated by MBS junior Daniel Collins ’13 with the help of teachers Andrea Deventer and Jessica Weinberger. The Backpack Program provides food on weekends to atrisk kids whose only source of regular food may be the free school lunch program. Thanks to the entire MBS community for making the drive so successful, especially Holly Darby’s Middle School advisory and Dr. Samara Landers’ Upper School advisory which donated the most food. As a result of their generosity, these advisories were treated to a special breakfast with Headmaster Peter Caldwell.
Chess Players on the Move
Trustees & Alumni Go Back to School Morristown-Beard School Trustees and Alumni Board members visited campus on Monday, October 24th to see what a typical day at MBS is really like. Trustee and Alumni Board participants included Joe Baker ’65, Tom Conway, Linda George, Loretta James ’62, Betsy Patterson, Joe Robillard, and Haleh Shafaie. Each visitor was paired with a student host for the day and was able to get an accurate glimpse of campus life by sitting in on activities and classes. Students Caitlin Brown ’13, Mike Koslov ’13, Elizabeth Mignon ’15, Jackson Robillard ’16, Lux Saravanapavan ’15, Jaynie Siegel ’12 and Nina Zwarycz ’12 served as tour guides for the day.
Six Morristown-Beard Middle School students experienced the thrill of competition - and were also able to make some new friends - at an all-day chess tournament at Central Middle School in Stirling on October 19th. Morristown-Beard’s team placed fourth in the competition 3
against students from 10 area middle schools including Central Middle School, Delbarton, Oak Knoll School, Newark Academy, Oratory Prep, St. Virgil’s, Morris Plains, Frelinghuysen School, and Ridgedale Middle School. This Consortium regularly participates in fun and friendly competitions, including the Foreign Language Day event in the spring, which has been coordinated by MorristownBeard Middle School French teacher Soni Dougherty and hosted at MBS for the past several years. Middle School science teacher William Lamson said all of the students played extremely well. This year’s MBS Consortium Chess Team players included Ryan Fisher ’16, Dylan Henry ’16, Alexander Ives ’16, Mikaeel Jan ’17, Corey Joskowitz ’16, and Blake Kernan ’18.
section.” Casey as also pursued opportunities to sing outside of class as well. She has performed in spring musicals, has sung the National Anthem for football games, and has performed as part of the Contemporary Music Workshop. She is also a four-year starter on the MBS girls’ varsity soccer team. “A young person with her voice and her strength of character will be a success in all she does,” said Mr. Van Hoven. The Music Student of the Month program is not designed to simply honor extraordinary musicians, but to recognize those students who put forth a tremendous effort to embody what it is to be a good member of a band, choir or orchestra. The program honors students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, personal development, and an overall sense of musicianship.
Casey Miller ’12 Honored for Vocals New Connections With 9th Grade English & History This year’s freshmen are making some new and exciting connections between their English and History courses. The Humanities Program is one of the first major responses to the skills-based, critical thinking enriched curriculum called for by our current Strategic Plan. The program combines what had been separate 9th grade English and History courses into a comprehensive, collaborative and cross-disciplinary course of study that stresses skills over content and is grounded in making thematic connections between history and literature from a variety of cultural perspectives and historical periods. “As they begin their Upper School careers, students will acquire a set of common skills central to the development of a liberal arts education,” said Dean of Faculty John Mascaro. “Plans to expand this approach to 10th grade English and History are already being actively explored.”
Broadway Dancer Teaches Master Classes Congratulations to Morristown-Beard senior Casey Miller ’12, who was selected as a Music Student of the Month by the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Casey was honored on stage during intermission of In The Heights on October 22nd. At Morristown-Beard School, Casey is a four-year member of the chorus and also sings as part of the MBS contemporary a cappella group, Crimsingers. “Since her freshman year, she has shown leadership through her actions. Other students have seen it and have followed her lead,” said MBS Choral Director Bruce Van Hoven. “As a singer, she has grown tremendously during her time here, progressing from an eager freshman with a nice voice to the clear leader of her 4
Broadway dancer Daniel Kermidas visited MorristownBeard School on October 6th and 7th to conduct master classes and discuss the ins and outs of being a professional performer. Kermidas, who was part of Broadway’s first national tour of West Side Story and is co-founder of the Kermidas Dance Company, led students through a number of dance routines including choreography from West Side Story. He also discussed his career path with students and answered questions about auditions and the business of dancing. His choreography credits include Technolite, The Nutcracker, A Night of New York, Wonderland, One Night Only, and Alice in Wonderland. Kermidas’ other credits include So You Think You Can Dance (seasons 4 and 5) and
MBS Spirit Reaches New Heights!
the 72nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He attended Maryount Manhattan College for Dance and Musical Theatre and also studied dance with Amber Perkins, David Parsons, Dereky Mitchell and Joshua Bergasse. Kermidas has taught at Binghamton University and The Dance Connection, in addition to the West Side Dance Center in Randolph, NJ. He returned to Morristown-Beard School in December when The Kermidas Dance Company performs “Cinderella – A Modern Story” in Founders Hall on December 3rd and 4th.
As Scooby Doo, a large group of Super Mario Brothers, and the Rugrats approached the podium at Morning Meeting on October 11th, one thing became abundantly clear - Spirit Week had arrived at Morristown-Beard School! This year’s activities were held from October 11th through the 14th with a full slate of activities aimed at promoting class unity and boosting School spirit to a fevered pitch. The celebration culminated with Homecoming on Saturday, October 15th. Students were asked to dig deep into their closets to participate in Cartoon Character Day, Pajama Day, Class Color Day, and Crimson Day. Special thanks to the Crimson Club for generously donating the Class Color Day T-shirts. On the playing field, the seniors and juniors squared off in girls’ flag football, dodgeball, and boys’ field hockey, with the seniors emerging victorious in every contest. The faculty team took top honors in the tug-of-war competition, beating out several tough freshmen and senior teams.
Middle School Spellers Compete There is an inherent sense of drama and suspense in a spelling bee, and that was certainly the case on October 19th as a dozen MBS Middle School students took center stage in Founders Hall to battle it out in the annual spelling bee. One by one, the students approached the podium to stand in front of an eerily silent audience and wrestle with words like “stethoscope,” “prairie,” “geyser” and “hallucination.” When the smoke cleared, six Middle Schoolers were left standing and represented Morristown-Beard School at Delbarton School in December in a competition against other area students. Last year, MorristownBeard captured first place in the competition, and also had the top overall speller, Amogh Anakru ’17. Congratulations to seventh grader Amogh Anakru ’17, eighth grader Priya Aggarwal ’16, and seventh grader Lucas Fagan ’17 who comprised MorristownBeard’s “varsity” team of spellers. The MBS “junior varsity” team included sixth grader Sarah Yamashita ’18, seventh grader Olivia Land ’17, and seventh grader Ryan Waters ’17.
San Diego Chargers Practice on Campus Before hitting the field to play the New York Jets, the San Diego Chargers tuned up on the Morristown-Beard football field on Saturday, October 22nd. Quarterback Philip Rivers and his teammates did a walk-through practice on Burke Field as members of the Morristown-Beard football team were invited to watch. “For our kids, I think it was an amazing experience,” said MBS Interim Director of Athletics Joanne Dzama. “Since it was a walk-though practice, the Chargers weren’t wearing their helmets or shoulder pads. You could see their faces and see that they’re normal guys – just much, much bigger.” The Jets defeated the Chargers, 27-21, in the contest as Plaxico Burress’ three touchdown catches led New York’s comeback. 5
School Celebrates New Technology Center
BY Steve Patchett
Morristown-Beard School’s new technology center, Wilkie Hall, took center stage THIS FALL as the MBS Board of Trustees hosted a special reception for supporters of the renovation project. ≥ After housing the School’s Performing Arts Department for many years, Wilkie Hall re-opened in September and is serving an important new role as the MBS technology hub. The building is not only providing the necessary infrastructure for programs such as the iPad roll-out, it is also housing all of the technology department staff and boasts a high-tech meeting space for up to 100 people – perfect for internal gatherings, presentations and seminars, as well Parents’ Association and Crimson Club meetings. Most significantly, the renovation supports the School’s curricular evolution by creating new teaching spaces and learning opportunities. The facility also includes two state-of-the-art classrooms, as well as a sound booth/recording studio. At the reception this fall, guests were able to tour the building and see many of its impressive features, including the Talmage Technology Lab, which was donated by Robert Talmage ’53 in honor of Headmaster Valleau Wilkie and Burton Talmage ’49. As a flagship facility on campus, Wilkie Hall represents far more than the renovation of a building – it is a physical representation of Morristown-Beard School’s ongoing commitment to its students and to 21st century learning. 6
Mr. and Mrs. Burton Talmage ’49
A younger mem ber of the Talm age Family test Wilkie Techno s the new logy Lab.
The Talmage Family together to celebrate the Talmage Technology Lab opening.
Sisters Caitlin Trought, MBS Educational Technology Coordinator and Hilary Trought Morris ’97.
≥ Nancy Wilson and Linda George
Darren Burns, John Egan, Tom Grant ’69, Bruce Adams and Mike Ranger.
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PETER CALDWELL Officially Welcomed as
Headmaster A new era at Morristown-Beard School officially began on November 4th as more than 650 people gathered in Founders Hall to watch the installation of the School’s new Headmaster, Peter J. Caldwell. 8
BY Steve Patchett
≥ In his acceptance address, Mr. Caldwell emphasized that the ceremony was more than just the celebration of one person’s assumption of office. He stated that the day was a celebration of the entire MorristownBeard School community, and a time to reflect on the mission and the work of the School. “This installation is for the entire community; this celebration is about the School,” he said. “There is a reason that this building is called Founders Hall, rather than the name of a specific person. You will see on the dedication plaque at the entryway for this building that it says: “A gift from the entire Morristown-Beard School community.” This building and this ceremony celebrate the work of many.” The ceremony itself drew from talents throughout the community, including an invocation by Caroline Bernardon ’18, a benediction by John Pisano ’12, and music by members of the Middle School Chorus, the Upper School Chorus and the Brass Ensemble. The keynote address for the installation was delivered by Edward Strong, a founding partner of Dodger Theatricals. Dodger Theatricals has produced more than two dozen Broadway shows, which collectively have won 50 Tony Awards. Peter was also officially welcomed by Board President Tom Conway, who stated that the School has never been in a better position. “Whether one looks at our admissions and applications, the education taking place in the classroom, technology, the arts and sports, facilities, our college matriculation list or what our graduates accomplish after leaving the buildings (but never really leaving our community), we all understand what a special place this is and would entrust it to only the very best,” he said. “As we look to the future, there is virtually no limit to what we will accomplish. Peter, the Board and our entire School look forward to your passion, enthusiasm, ideas, creativity, caring and leadership. On behalf of the School and every constituent, welcome to MorristownBeard School and may you have unprecedented success.” Mr. Caldwell comes to Morristown-Beard School from St. Andrew’s School, a coed preparatory boarding school in Middletown, Delaware, where he served as Assistant Headmaster. He received his undergraduate degree in History and Music from Bowdoin College and his Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. He taught, coached soccer, skiing, and lacrosse and served as corridor parent at Vermont Academy, where he was appointed Dean of Students at the age of 26. Subsequently, he served as Director of Admission and Financial Aid at Riverdale Country School in Manhattan before joining St. Andrew’s in 1991. During his twenty-year tenure at St. Andrew’s, Mr. Caldwell has been involved in all facets of the school: serving as a history teacher; academic advisor; soccer coach; cello instructor; Director of Admission and Financial Aid; and for the last twelve years, Assistant Headmaster.
Installation Address of Peter Caldwell
11.04.2011
Our Shared Humanity as Shaped by Past and Present ≥ Members of the Board of Trustees, guests, faculty and staff, students, parents, alumni, and friends…thank you. I would like to specifically thank Ed Strong for his thoughtful words. Most importantly, I would like to thank him and his entire family for their friendship. My wife and I are very pleased to be here in this community. Between the two of us, we have sixty years of experience at nine different schools, and neither of us has ever been to an installation before. It is a great honor to be here standing before you. I would like to emphasize that this installation is for the entire community; this celebration is about the School. There is a reason that this building is called Founders Hall rather than the name of a specific person. You will see on the dedication plaque at the entryway of this building that it says: “A gift from the entire Morristown-Beard School community.” This building and this ceremony celebrate the work of many. I would like to begin my reflection with the sense of place that I feel in my four short months as a New Jersey resident and as Headmaster of Morristown-Beard School. The strength of identity and character of this area and of MBS is palpable, and it has made me wonder: Where does a sense of place come from? It seems that it comes from the people who live here now, in the present, and it comes from their remembering historical events. It comes from knowing about the people who lived here in past decades and centuries, but more than that. A sense of place is created by family stories and personal memories and by various forms of art, visual art and literary art, myths, legends, and folk stories that spring from a specific place. Writer-environmentalist Wallace Stegner says that “placeness is created by time and storytelling.” As newcomers to a new neighborhood, a new school, and a new state, my wife and I have perceived a kind of collective consciousness here in these surrounding towns that startles us. In these early months of our life here, we have experienced a visceral awareness of the history of this area, and in the most unexpected moments we have been given history lessons by people who have lived here for longer than we. More often than not we are told “I will never leave this 9
MBS Faculty in academic regalia for the installation ceremony.
well, Marjorie Fernald, Lucinda From left: Laurel Durst, Darcy Cald Caldwell and Alexa Caldwell.
Dr. John Mascaro introduces Keynote Speaker, Edward Strong.
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area. It is where my family is from.” This was not what we expected when we moved to New Jersey. Although we did not know what to expect, we did not anticipate this powerful sense of identity, this sense of belonging, this history. Because New Jersey is the most densely populated state, one would not expect the towns to have a neighborly feel about them. But they do. The small town pride and the power of local history is undeniable. During her first trip to her new dentist, my wife was lectured as she sat in the dentist chair about General Knox’s transporting of the cannon during the Revolutionary War; she learned about a road in Princeton still called “Cold Soil Road” because when the other roads were thawing, it stayed frozen, allowing General Washington’s forces to bring the cannon up to Princeton. When she came home, she said in fifty years, it was the best trip to the dentist she ever had. In a broader sense, we have become aware that it was in Camden that Walt Whitman chose to spend the last two decades of his life, and in Rutherford where William Carlos Williams devoted his career to healing people physically through medicine and figuratively through poetry. In Maplewood, Asher Brown Durand produced breathtaking oil paintings of the landscape. But most relevant for us today is that New Jersey is where George Washington convinced his troops not to give up their service. I know this because a man named Louis told this to my wife and me as we walked down Jockey Hollow Road. We think this man must have been a tour guide for Washington’s Headquarters because he knew even more than the average citizen. He said to us “You have to read the speech that George Washington gave his troops when they were going to leave the army. George Washington said, ‘We cannot spare you.’” When I asked him to tell me more about that speech, he told me to look it up, and so I did. As you Morristown-Beard students would know, I wanted to see both the primary and the secondary documents. As an historian, my interest was piqued. In 1777, the Revolutionary cause was nearly dead. Despite the victories in Trenton and Princeton, the Revolutionary army was utterly depleted. Although many were fighting for the cause and not for the money, they were so destitute, cold,
and starving that they were ready to surrender. With most of the remaining men determined to leave the army when their enlistment was over on December 31st, on December 29th Washington realized he had to do something. I would like to share the words from a sergeant who listened to General Washington and watched him try to convince the men to stay on. This is the way the sergeant described Washington: “He alluded to our recent victory at Trenton; told us that our services were greatly needed, and we could now do more for our country than we ever could at any future period; and in the most affectionate manner he entreated us to stay.” As General Washington spoke… the drum was beating for volunteers but not a man stepped forward. At this, “the General wheeled his horse about, rode in front of the regiment, and addressing us again said, “My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected; but your country is at stake…and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigue and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty, and to your country, which you probably never can do under any other circumstances. The present is emphatically the crisis, which is to decide our destiny” (196). And with these words, Washington was able to hold the army together. So deeply committed to the cause was Washington that he saw his beloved Mount Vernon only twice in nine years, and each of those visits was only for a day. Although Washington was worshipped in a way no other American has been, he never lost sight of his shared sense of humanity with the people he led. This is why he was a great leader. As Robert Frost said, George Washington was “one of the few, in the whole history of the world, who was not carried away by power.” His basic respect and concern for others - along with his charisma and power - allowed him to change the course of history. I share this George Washington moment with you because this is part of what I would like to emphasize
to you, the students of MorristownBeard School: the value of hard work, commitment, and the importance of working for something larger than yourselves. Although Washington came from Virginia, and when we think of him, we think of Mount Vernon, undoubtedly his time in Morristown in the late 18th century became a part of who he was. He chose this area with tremendous care: he chose Morristown because of its perfect geographical location. From here, he could keep an eye on the British headquarters in New York City and afford the protection of the Watchung Mountains and the Great Swamp. Despite the tremendous hardship of the 28 snow storms of the winter of 1779 when he was here in Morristown, and despite the generally gloomy period of his encampment, the Revolution survived this difficult period in New Jersey. For that reason, this place feels hallowed. It is a place that is steeped in social responsibility, fighting for a cause, and working for something larger than yourselves. A sense of place comes from all of these forces that I have mentioned, and it is something we human beings cherish. We have always clung to the concept of where we are from because it is part of what makes us who we are. Most of us probably come from more than one place, and you always take part of your past with you when you leave. I thank my friends from St. Andrew’s School for being here today as a kind of representation of that past that I have in me today. So now I have a specific question for the students of Morristown-Beard School: What do I want you, as students, to remember from your time at MBS? When you think back on your years here, what will you take with you? I hope you will take with you from MBS, from this place, your clear sense of self that your teachers foster in you every day. I hope you will learn the value of commitment whether it is to your family, the community, or a cause. I hope you will take with you an appreciation for the value of hard work in and of itself. I know you can do this
Peter J. Caldwell At a Glance Education Ed.M. Harvard School of Education A.B. Bowdoin College
Professional Experience St. Andrew’s School (1991-2011) Assistant Headmaster Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs Director of Admission & Financial Aid Academic Advisor Riverdale Country School (1986-1991) Director of Admission & Financial Aid Assistant Director of College Guidance History Teacher Vermont Academy (1980-1985) Dean of Students History Teacher Housemaster Soccer Coach
Personal
Married to Darcy Caldwell Children: Tyler and Alexa, 22; Lucinda, 19
Special Interests Playing the cello Reading Skiing Biking Hiking
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because I have seen you happily roll up your sleeves and stretch yourselves in the classroom, on the athletic fields and on this stage. Additionally, I have faith that you will continue to value hard work because you witness every day the commitment of your parents. I have never seen such a hardworking community of parents who offer tremendous support, time, and energy to allow you to be here. I hope you will continue to nurture a passion for giving to the greater good, and this starts with giving to each other in the small moments of every day. During Spirit Week at the senior versus junior boys’ field hockey game, I saw a boy who was trained in emergency medical assistance race to the aid of a player who was injured. This young EMT’s discreet, calming and professional medical assistance was extraordinary. The injury was serious, and the young MBS emergency technician immediately requested my Crimson Crazies t-shirt, which I pulled off, so that he could staunch the bleeding. The fallen hero will be coping with the injury for the rest of the year, but that’s not the end of the story. The next day, the injured boy came up to me, and the first thing out of his mouth was an apology for getting blood on my shirt. I found his gesture astonishing. In the scheme of things, this story represents a small moment about one boy getting injured and another boy helping him. It is also a story about one boy’s care and generosity and the other boy’s courage, strength, and awareness of how we affect others. These are the traits that allow us to give to the greater good. Finally, after devoting so much of my reflection on the past, my ultimate hope for what you students will take with you is the ability to cherish the present. After all my words about the past that shapes us, we need to remember and celebrate the here and now. The past is fixed and unchanging, but the present offers us the ability to create. The present is malleable. It is here with us now. Seize it and shape it. Thank you.
Keynote address of edward strong
11.04.2011
≥ Faculty, students, trustees, alumni, family, friends… Peter, Darcy, Alexa, Tyler and Lucinda. What a happy morning this is.
Peter Caldwell welcomes former
trustee, Polly Campbell
Peter Caldwell chats with John Kowalik, Headmaster of Peck and Daisy Savage.
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and coaches. As a teenager, competing in the Vermont high school ski championships, Peter himself won the Skimeister Award as the best all-around skier in the state. This athletic prowess and dedication to fitness was to continue in college, and indeed to this very day. But for you to fully appreciate the characteristics distilled into Vermonters by life in its verdant if wintry precincts, I share this analysis prepared by the President of Middlebury College in Vermont, John M. Thomas, in the year 1904:
Peter Caldwell embraces Mary DeSalvo at the pre Installation breakfast.
Just look around; let’s take in all the carefully orchestrated production values– the robes, the music, the flourishes, the special stirring in the air, your attentive selves, all signifying an event…a moment…an opportunity…auspices of good things to come. When I think of the hundreds of students, parents and faculty who have flourished under the influence of Peter and Darcy Caldwell over the years, I am proud to be up here to speak for and with the St. Andrew’s School community (many of whom are here with us), as we cheer on the installation of Peter Caldwell as Headmaster of the Morristown Beard School. As a Trustee of St. Andrew’s, I am particularly pleased (and relieved) to know at last the answer to the question often posed behind our closed boardroom doors: when is Peter Caldwell going to be tapped as head of his own school? This sense of inevitability, a tribute from the board to Peter in view of his outstanding service and invaluable contribution to the life of St. Andrew’s, has now resolved and can be fixed to this date: November 4th, 2011. I think all from the St. Andrew’s side would agree– what a lucky day for Morristown Beard. If “all the world’s a stage”, as William Shakespeare would have it, and “one man in his time plays many parts”, (As You Like It, Act II, Scene 7), and I were casting the part of headmaster, Peter Caldwell, the son of boarding school teachers and a veteran of more than a quarter century of distinguished academic life, he, Peter Caldwell, would be perfect casting. But any understanding of the qualities of the man begins with his place of origin: Vermont, the Green Mountain State, where the residents identify themselves either as Woodchucks (native Vermonter) or Flatlanders (recent immigrant). Peter grew up in a town where two school friends out driving their cars who happened to meet each other on Main Street could chat for several minutes unconcerned about interfering with other traffic because there wasn’t any; and he grew up in a household where his father and two brothers were US Olympic Team skiers Peter and
The Vermonter Liberty-loving in the extreme: counting no cause small in which justice is concerned: careless of superficialities; deliberate in decision; droll in speech; piercing to the heart of a matter with shrewd, discerning instinct; never fooled twice in the same way; expecting to work hard for every penny and anticipating a reasonable amount of disappointment; shrewd in a bargain; tough in capacity for work: holding by a cause through thick and thin; and always with more in him than shows in his gait– such is the Vermonter, one of the most picturesque, and certainly not the least useful, of typical American men. Talk about timeless– I would say in the century that has intervened since the crafting of this formula, Peter hasn’t strayed far from the mold… and he has made himself very useful. Peter graduated from Bowdoin College with distinction as a double major in history and music and aside from his academic talents is equally adept on an athletic field (watch out soccer players) or in a concert hall. In fact, the image of Peter with his beloved cello was so ubiquitous at St. Andrew’s that some of the faculty children took to describing him as “that guy with the big guitar”. He has been known to punctuate a chapel talk with a cello solo so beautifully rendered as to leave the audience awe-struck. The portrait that emerges from students and fellow faculty of Peter’s time at St. Andrew’s is stellar: an exceptional leader with a nuanced understanding of what it takes to do things the right way, a skilled administrator with strong relationships with his faculty peers, and a respected authority figure to whom the students gravitate for wisdom and counsel. At this point in my narrative, I need to introduce a forceful player in Peter’s academic and personal life, his wife Darcy. A superb teacher of English and powerful mentor of students in her own right,
his wife,
Darcy is obviously and felicitously the bonus track, the force multiplier, in this deal for Morristown Beard. Like Peter an exceptional athlete, Darcy was captain of her soccer team and All-Ivy for three years during her undergraduate time at Brown; Peter and Darcy met at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where they both took their Masters’ Degrees Darcy
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“In my twenty years as head of St. Andrew’s I never hired two people whose characters, integrity and professionalism were as strong as Peter and Darcy’s. They were respected and loved by both the faculty and students.” following their distinguished college careers. My daughter, who spent a year happily engaged in Darcy’s junior English said simply “after taking her class, I knew how to read.” The Caldwell home on the campus of St. Andrew’s was always full of students, some friends of Alexa, Tyler or Cinda, but often advisees or students of Peter and Darcy. Legendary Sunday morning breakfasts featuring “mounds of steaming eggs, homemade waffles and cinnamon toast, orange juice and gobs of grade A Vermont maple syrup” (to quote one of the participants) were a regular occurrence chez Caldwell. What’s more, Peter bakes all his own bread– no Wonderbread for the Vermonter– and never fails to get his colleagues’ sourdough baguettes to crisp up when they are facing baking challenges. I remember from those long-ago days of anxious parsing of early childhood parenting books the experts’ conclusion that the happiest, healthiest home environmen ts were the ones where all the kids most wanted to hang out. Well, the student population passing through the Caldwell house kind of says it all. Here are some of the salient observations about Peter from his former colleagues that will sustain his administration at Morristown Beard: “His clear sense of right and wrong, combined with his kindness and ability to see into the complexities of any situation, make him an ideal leader.” “Peter had this gift for telling people– faculty and students– when they couldn’t do something, when it was not the right course, or when it was inappropriate. Yet when Peter told you “no”, you never felt like you were shut down or rejected. You simply felt like you’d had good advice, and appreciated the structure and guidance. And like you had learned something.” “Peter gives everyone big bear hugs. He has a huge laugh and he is not afraid to show his emotions, which are never negative. He loves life and wants others to love it too.” 14
“Part of Peter’s genius is his consistency, and his ability to maintain such an even keel: he could always be counted on to be there for an advisee or other student needing some guidance or encouragement.” In their book “Engines of Innovation, The Entrepreneurial University in the Twenty-First Century”, Chancellor Holden Thorp of the University of North Carolina and Buck Goldstein, University Entrepreneur in Residence, ask us to “consider the following: of the eighty-five institutions in existence since 1522– the Catholic Church and Britain’s Parliament among them– (of these eighty-five) seventy are universities”… “hubs of creativity and keepers of an enduring culture of innovation.” What does that say to you about the staying power of the academic world, and the abiding value mankind places on the renewable resource of education? Students, can you see your own school in this continuum of learning, as I do? In attending a school like Morristown Beard, you are holding a precious gift– embrace it, cherish it, make productive use of it, it is the key to your and our future. In the sometimes overwhelming discourse conducted on the myriad channels of communication we have become used to in the modern age, one often hears questions like “Where are the leaders, where are the role models for our young people?” Well, in this instance, two new exemplars of powerful leadership are sitting right in front of you in the persons of Peter and Darcy Caldwell– stick with them, follow them, they will take you great places. This day, this perfect intersection of man and moment, is an occasion for which Peter has been preparing a long time, a culminating event in his career and his life, and a commencement as well. Whatever high standards he sets (and you may be surprised by what he can draw out of you) the hallmark of Peter’s administration will doubtless be a school culture where people are kind to one another, where a helping hand
to a classmate who is feeling down will be worth as much as any glory won in the classroom or on the athletic fields, because that’s the Caldwell way. A former colleague put it this way: “The essence of Peter is his ability to see every student; no one is invisible, everyone has a name (and he uses it!) and everyone is important. He would greet kids walking down the hall, running up the steps to dorm, walking to their practice fields and always with a great presence and enthusiasm. The students trusted him because he told it like he saw it… (and) they always knew what to expect.” My daughter Leda adds: “Mr. Caldwell treats all his students as individuals who are, while clearly teenagers under his authority, also bright young adults at an exciting and formative time in their lives. This approach fosters an immediate sense of mutual respect… (oh, and) if you ever find yourself in a situation (with Mr. Caldwell) where you need a little time to search for your words, simply mention your love of cello music and a nice Vermont sunset and you’ll be fine.” You will have inferred by now how much we will miss the Caldwells down in Delaware. At the same time, we recognize and applaud this fulfillment of destiny and the fantastic opportunity for growth this appointment affords them; we can only marvel at the even higher altitudes their respective careers will attain. In closing, I can think of no finer valedictory embrace from their old friends than these words from a former headmaster, who said: “In my twenty years as head of St. Andrew’s I never hired two people whose characters, integrity and professionalism were as strong as Peter and Darcy’s. They were respected and loved by both the faculty and students.” Morristown Beard, congratulations on your great good fortune and wise choice; Peter and Darcy, long may you run. Thank you.
Education & Athletics: A Caldwell Family Affair The son of boarding school teachers, Peter Caldwell has been deeply immersed in the life of an independent school community since childhood, and his professional experience reflects this fundamental truth: he is a life-long educator. He is also a gifted athlete and coach with expertise in soccer, skiing and lacrosse. But Peter is hardly the only one in his family to have a passion for education – or for athletics. Peter and his wife Darcy, who is also an experienced and well-respected educator, have three children: twins Tyler and Alexa who recently graduated from Harvard and Brown, respectively, and Lucinda, a sophomore at Brown.
≥ Darcy Caldwell earned a B.A. in English & American literature and sociology from Brown University and an Ed.M. in developmental psychology from Harvard University. At Brown, she was co-captain and MVP of the varsity soccer team and she was named to the All-Ivy Soccer Team for three years. For the past 19 years, she has served as an English teacher, department head, advisor, and soccer coach at St. Andrew’s School. Prior to that, she served as an English teacher and a soccer coach at Riverdale Country School, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Northfield Mount Hermon School. She has also taught psychology at Harvard University, and served as Alumni Coordinator and soccer coach at the Collegiate School in New York City. For Darcy, teaching opportunities abound and can happen in every moment of every day in any context. ≥ Alexa Caldwell is currently Associate Director of Admission, an American Studies teacher and a soccer and lacrosse coach at the Asheville School in North Carolina. She graduated from Brown University last May with a degree in
History and Political Science. At Brown, she was the captain of the lacrosse team, Honorable Mention All-Ivy and Academic All-Ivy. At St. Andrew’s, she was All-American in lacrosse and a member of 12 varsity teams. She was captain of the soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams.
≥ Tyler Caldwell is an English Intern and crew coach at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He graduated from Harvard University in May with a B.A. in English and a minor in Chinese. He rowed for four years at Harvard, and his boat won the Eastern Sprints during his senior year as well as The Famous Universities Regatta in China. An AP Scholar and high honors student, Tyler received awards for both athletics and the arts at graduation. At St. Andrew’s School, he was a member of 12 varsity teams, served as captain of the soccer, swimming and crew teams, and was All-State in soccer and swimming. ≥ Lucinda Caldwell is a sophomore at Brown University where she is a high honors student majoring in English and Education. She is also a midfielder on the Brown University girls’ lacrosse team. At St. Andrew’s School, she was a four-sport athlete, playing lacrosse and basketball for four years, running cross country for four years and also playing soccer for one season. As a senior in high school, she captained the lacrosse, cross country and basketball teams, and earned All-American honors in lacrosse. She was also All-State in cross country and earned two MVP awards in the sport. She graduated from St. Andrew’s School Magna Cum Laude. 15
App
Attack
BY Steve
hett Patc
Young Capitalists Collide with “Stock Wars” ≥ iPad apps aren’t just changing the way Morristown-Beard students are learning in the classroom; they are also changing the extra-curricular experience as well. This year, members of the Business, Finance & Investing Club (BFI) are getting a glimpse into the fast-paced world of stock trades and financial markets with the help of the virtual investing app “Stock Wars.” “It’s the hottest app on campus and it has completely changed the level of interest in the club,” said junior Matthew Downey ’13. “I’d say we have two to three times as many members as we did last year.” The app allows students to analyze companies, set up a portfolio, and watch how their stocks would perform in the real world. According to Upper School history teacher Ricky Kamil, one of the advisors of the BFI Club, Stock Wars can be a powerful learning tool.
“It’s a really great, safe way to learn about how markets operate and see what investing is all about,” said Mr. Kamil. “The level of enthusiasm is
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really high. I’ve also noticed that we have a more diverse group of students in the club this year, including many more girls. The app appeals to such a wide range of students.”
Already students are organizing their own Stock Wars tournaments, and plans for a “students vs. faculty” competition is in the works. Darren Burns, Head of the Upper School, recently set up a Stock Wars portfolio (he’s up 3 ½ percent in a down market!), and he reviewed some of his stock picks at a BFI meeting. He encouraged students to invest in companies that they are familiar with, and to buy stocks in products that their families use. “It’s important for our students to see how their power as consumers can influence the market,” he said. “On the weekend, they may go into a store and see that it’s empty. Then they go to a rival store and can’t find a spot in the parking lot; it’s so full. That should tell them something.” Mr. Burns believes the Stock Wars app is not only entertaining, but it can also help
students discover a passion for business and possibly get a jump-start on a career. “It’s exciting that students have found this free app to compete with each other locally and world-wide,” said Burns. “And if they are already gaining this practical knowledge in high school, they are going to be way ahead of the curve when they get into the real business world.” Senior Rex Dyer said that Stock Wars has injected a sense of fun and camaraderie into the club’s weekly meetings. “It’s an innovative game and it gives everyone something to look forward to each week,” he said. “It’s unbelievable how popular this has become. I’ve been getting e-mails and texts from people who I never thought would have any interest in the BFI club.” In addition to weekly doses of Stock Wars, the BFI Club will be hosting speakers and took a trip to the New York Stock Exchange to learn more about financial markets first-hand. The club is led by faculty advisors Ricky Kamil, Mark Hartman, Roger Richard and Alden Hess.
Feeling At Home, Far From Home
Although she is nearly 7,000 miles from her family in Shanghai, China, exchange student Yi Yun “Nancy” Zhu is feeling at home at Morristown-Beard School this year. BY Steve Patchett ≥ Nancy arrived in the United States in August and is being hosted by MBS students Erin and Maura Hargrave-Kerns and their family. “I absolutely love staying with them; I feel so lucky,” she said with a big smile. Nancy is enrolled as a junior at MBS, and is enjoying making friends, attending classes, and participating in other activities at the School. Her command of the English language has made the transition fairly smooth, although it can still be tricky at times. “I find that it is easy to adapt to daily dialogue, but it can be hard to express more profound ideas in class,”
said Nancy. “I can read English well, but the hardest skill for me is listening and understanding – especially if the teachers talk fast.” In China, Nancy attends one of Shanghai’s most prestigious and academically demanding schools, the high school connected to Fudan University. There, she has established herself as an outstanding scholar – earning A’s in all 11 of her subjects and winning a secondary school essay competition. At Morristown-Beard, Nancy is taking a wide array of courses – from Calculus and Physics Honors to U.S. History, Theater, and Advanced
Geosciences. She says going to school in China is completely different from the educational experience at Morristown-Beard School. “Students here can really express their ideas without worrying – you don’t just memorize. In China, students don’t usually talk in class. Even if you have a thought, you don’t usually express it,” she said. Many of Nancy’s favorite classes at MBS are discussion-based and focus on active learning. “One of my favorite classes is Ethics. If you were to learn about ethics in China, you would just memorize the ideas of different philosophers. Here, there is a chance to discuss the ideas.” The classroom format is also quite different. “In China, students stay in one room and teachers rotate in and out of that room. You stay with one group of students all day,” she said. “Here, since we go to different classes, students have a bigger circle of friends. You can be very close to a lot of people.” Outside of class, Nancy’s interests center on the arts. She landed a role in the MBS fall play, “The Servant of Two Masters,” and also performed as part of the CMW show on October 14th. Nancy has helped organize volunteer outreach activities in support of ill and mentallychallenged children in China. She hopes to continue her service to others, especially children, during her stay in the United States. “It kind of reveals who I am,” said Nancy. “I like dedicating myself to others and doing something good. That makes me feel good.” With the Hargrave-Kerns family, Nancy has already visited New York City and the Jersey Shore, and she recently saw a musical at the Paper Mill Playhouse. She said she would like to see more of the United States, and can’t wait to visit Aruba with the family for Spring Break. She would also like to learn more about American traditions and is looking forward to spending the holidays with the Hargrave-Kerns family and their relatives. “They have a big family and it’s interesting to be part of such a large family because I’m an only child,” said Nancy. “It feels so different to have sisters…I love it!” Nancy’s visit is being coordinated by MBS World Language teacher Aline de la Torre through ASSIST, a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for outstanding international students to attend the finest American independent secondary schools on one-year scholarships. To learn more about ASSIST, you can visit www.assist-inc.org. If you are interested in learning more about hosting an exchange student in the future, please contact Aline de la Torre in the World Language Department. 17
MBS Celebrates Homecoming ≥ On a beautiful fall afternoon, Morristown-Beard School alumni, parents and students gathered on campus to celebrate Homecoming on October 15th. The day provided a perfect opportunity for folks to reunite with old friends and classmates, and watch the Crimson sports teams compete. Everyone had plenty to cheer about as the girls’ soccer team, the field hockey team, the volleyball team and the football team were all in action. The girls’ varsity field hockey team picked up the only varsity victory for MBS on the afternoon with a 4-3 win over Randolph. Lizzy Pellicane ‘12 led MBS with two goals, while Delaney Flinn ‘14 and Gabby Hyman ‘15 also scored for the Crimson. The Morristown-Beard JV volleyball team defeated Lacordaire Academy for the other MBS victory of the day. During halftime of the football game against Hudson Catholic, fans enjoyed the annual running of the Kirby Mile. Sophomore speedster Kyle Larsson ‘14 placed first in a blazing time of 5:03, followed by Nick Cornine ‘13 in 5:08 and Ryan Casey ‘12 in 5:25. Micaela Reilly ‘14 was the first place girl in 6:28, just ahead of Natalie Pruitt ‘18 and Caroline Bernardon ‘18. In the Masters Division, Scott McCormick took first place in 5:28, followed by Steve Patchett in 5:33. Marissa Cohen ‘12 placed first in the chicken suit category.
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Crimson Corner
Varsity Sports Round-Up Fall 2011 Field Hockey The varsity field hockey season was a bit of a rollercoaster ride that ended on a high note as the team captured its second prep championship in four years. The Crimson captured the 2011 Prep B Championship following a thrilling 2-1 doubleovertime victory over Montclair Kimberley Academy. Senior Lizzy Pellicane ‘12 scored the game-winning goal with five minutes remaining in the second overtime period as MorristownBeard claimed the title and finished with a 1010 mark. Pellicane led MBS with 16 goals and 6 assists this year and was named First Team AllConference, All-Prep, and Second Team AllCounty. Senior captain Maggie McDonagh ’12 also made First Team All-Conference, All-Prep, and Second Team All-County. Olivia Tedesco ’12 was the team’s second leading scorer with 14 goals and 3 assists. Senior Yin Yin Petersen ’12 earned Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-County and was named All-Prep, in addition to winning the School’s Sportsmanship Award. Freshman Gabby Hyman ’15 made Second Team All-Conference and notched 8 goals and 2 assists.
Boys’ Cross Country The Crimson boys finished with a 4-2 record in dual meets, with losses coming to powerhouse Mountain Lakes and a narrow loss to Kinnelon. The team worked incredibly hard and there were personal records occurring at every meet. Nick Cornine ’13, the team’s top runner and a First
a
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O o sc de Te ’12
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Team All-Conference selection, finished fourth at Preps and had a top-25 finish at the very competitive State Group meet. Ryan Casey ’12 and Kyle Larsson ’14 were named Second Team All- Conference while Drew Hagerstrom ’12 received an Honorable Mention. Spencer Steficek ’13 had some outstanding runs late in the season, and newcomers Andrew Kundrat ’12 and Peter Daly ’14 made solid contributions all season.
Cross Country In their first year of having a true scoring team, the MBS varsity girls did an outstanding job. They compiled a 2-4 record in dual meets in a very strong conference, and continued to make progress over the season. A 4th place finish at Preps and an 8th place finish at the States were just two of the great accomplishments made by the girls this year. Micaela Reilly ’14, was the top runner on the MBS girls’ team, finishing in the Top 10 at Preps and receiving First Team AllConference recognition. Taylor Vessa ’13 also placed in the Top 10 at Preps, and was named Second Team All-Conference. Senior Jamie Cossolini ’12 was named Honorable Mention All-Conference, while Meghan Merriman ’12 received a Coaches Award for her hard work and leadership.
Football Coming off a year playing a JV schedule, the Morristown-Beard football team returned to a varsity schedule in the fall of 2011 – and made significant progress as a program. “It was a season highlighted by great effort and hard work, and I would like to thank the seniors for laying the foundation of a program that is rebuilding from scratch,” said Head Coach Tim Fell. The Crimson finished with a 2-8 record, including a forfeit victory over Dwight-Englewood and a 28-12 home win over Sussex Tech that saw senior running back Zaki Williams ’12 rush for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Williams earned a Coaches Award along with fellow seniors Alex Bruno ’12, Dusty Pribor ’12, and Tyler Braslow ’12. “Our captains, Alex Bruno and Dusty Pribor, were wonderful team leaders for other players,
and I was extremely impressed with Tyler Braslow’s toughness and willingness to play wherever he was needed.” The team looks to the future with optimism, especially since the JV squad compiled an impressive 5-1 record.
Boys’ Soccer The MBS boys’ varsity soccer team finished with an impressive 10-6-1 record and had a stellar showing in the Prep Tournament, falling to Princeton Day School, 1-0, in the semifinials. In the Non-Public State Tournament, the Crimson advanced to the semifinals before losing a very tough game, 1-0, to powerful Montclair-Kimberley Academy. Team highlights included victories over Gill St. Bernards for the first time in five years, a 3-0 win over county semifinalist Whippany Park, and three victories over a strong Kinnelon team. Tyler Terens ’12 scored 30 goals and had five assists and was named First Team AllConference and Third Team All-County. Doran McManus ’12, a two-year captain, was named Second Team All-Conference, while Max Moog anchored the defense and received Honorable Mention AllConference and All-County. In the net, Jake Schreer ’12 notched seven shutouts and was named Honorable Mention All-Conference. The seniors were wellsupported by sophomores, juniors and freshmen – an indication that MBS should continue to be strong for years to come.
Girls’ Soccer The girls’ varsity soccer team finished with an 8-8-1 record. Once again, they played hard into the Prep Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Non-Public State Tournament. The team finished third in a very competitive conference, and seven MBS players received All-Conference recognition. Team MVP Tori Gonzalez ’13 had the highest number of saves in New Jersey for a goalkeeper whose team record was .500 or above. She also led the conference in saves with 182. Gonzalez was named First Team All-Conference along with senior midfielder Casey Miller ’12, who led the conference in assists with 12, and freshman forward Giana Bustamante ’15, who led the conference in goals with 14. Jackie McGinley ’12 and Katherine Bregna ’14 were named Second Team AllConference while Erica Atkinson ’13 and Morgan Bartner ’15 received Honorable Mention. Despite an injury, Carson Fleno ’13 received the Coaches Award for her passion and support of the team.
Girls’ Tennis It was quite a season for the MBS girls’ varsity tennis team. The Crimson finished 12-1 and captured the NJAC Conference Championship as well as the Prep B Tournament Championship. “We had an incredible season,” said Head Coach Alex Holzman. “The girls have worked extremely hard, and clearly they have proved it. I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.” The MBS girls’ tennis team captured the conference championship on October 24th in the final in-season match against Boonton. The Crimson won convincingly, 5-0, without losing a single game. To capture the Prep B title, MBS defeated such schools as MontclairKimberley, Princeton Day School, Stuart Country Day, Pennington, and Ranney. Morristown-Beard’s singles players did a stellar job, led by Maria Sapozhnikova ’14 at first singles, Emily Greuenberg ’12 at second singles, and team MVP Megan Reiling ’13 at third singles. The first doubles team paired senior Jill Raia ’12 with the Crimson’s most improved player, Gina Finelli ’13. At second doubles, Dylan Krouse ’12 was paired with four-year varsity starter Maura Passione’12 as well as Jaynie Siegel ’12, who earned the Coaches Award.
Volleyball It was a milestone year for the Crimson volleyball squad. The girls’ varsity volleyball team finished with a 3-17 record, tripling their victories from last year and posting some amazing come-from-behind wins. The Crimson volleyball squad had its first team of more than 20 girls, successfully played its first JV volleyball season, and had more than one player named to postseason teams. Morristown-Beard also hosted its first volleyball tournament as the “Crimson Fall Classic” was played on September 24th, and MBS posted a win over Morris County Tech. The team was led statistically and emotionally by MVP Tatiana Johnson ’12 as well as Coaches Award winners Mariah Beck ’12 and Alison Maser ’13. With a young and talented squad waiting in the wings, the future of Crimson volleyball looks bright. BY STEVE PATCHETT
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Q: What attracted you to the Teach For America program? What was the experience like at the Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy?
From an early age, Afi Daitey’05 discovered that
I F A eY T I DA ’05
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education and community service could transform lives. Now pursuing an M.Ed. in International Education Policy at Harvard University, Afi is continuing her lifelong passion to make the world a better place – one student at a time.
Q:
How did your passion for education develop? Was there a particular experience or a teacher who influenced you? A: In my mind, education has always been linked to service – in the sense that you devote yourself to a cause bigger than yourself. Through this lens, my passion was ignited by seeing my grandmother’s commitment to service and education through her school, Building for Tomorrow, which she founded in Liberia, West Africa. I’ve also been blessed to encounter several great teachers along the way who have added fuel to my passion for education.
A: I was attracted to Teach For America because of the commitment to social change and its ability to fulfill my desire to be a part of the civil rights issues education reform - of my generation. TFA has some of America’s brightest minds working tirelessly to close the achievement gap for students in lowincome communities and I wanted to be a part of the movement. My two years at Agassi Prep were life changing. Prior to my interview for the position, I had never been to Las Vegas, so the entire experience was brand new. There was some pressure that came with working for a celebrity, but our team of teachers worked hard to ensure that the focus was kept on student achievement.
that excited them outside of the classroom helped me to build strong relationships and positively influence work inside of the classroom. I am also grateful that some of my students still contact me even though I am thousands of miles away from them. Q: What has been the most challenging part of teaching? A: The most challenging part of teaching was acknowledging that many of my students were dealing with very difficult situations outside of the classroom and I couldn’t “save” them from their realities. I would do my best to make sure they were receiving as much love and support during the school day as possible, but I often felt that it wasn’t enough.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about teaching?
Q: At Harvard, you are pursuing your M.Ed. in International Education Policy. What led you to the program? Do you have a specific area of interest?
A: I found the individual relationships I built with my students to be the most rewarding. Getting to know the things
A: Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been pulled towards international relations and development. During my time at
Morristown-Beard, I was active in the Model UN club because of my love for international affairs. The International Education Policy Program offers a perfect combination of education and international development. I am still developing my areas of interest, but my region of interest is Sub-Saharan Africa. Q: What’s next on the horizon for you? Any idea where your career path will lead in the future? A: I will be graduating in May of 2012 and I am currently leaning towards program management as a next step. I would love to run a program or project relevant to developmental issues in SubSaharan Africa. Ideally, I would like to be based in New York City or Washington, D.C. with frequent trips to the continent. This plan isn’t set in stone and I’m open to exploring various possibilities such as working for the U.S. Department of State or in higher education. I would enjoy hearing suggestions from any MBS alumni at afidaitey@gmail.com! 23
CLASS notes
her husband Bill keep busy at Carol Woods, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her three sons live in the Boston area with their families, and they try to get together as often as possible. Her oldest granddaughter will be off to college next fall.
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1970 Delevan “Del” Barrett is currently
1948 Helen Giammattei and her
1928 Frances Smith Tyler shared some fond memories of attending The Beard School during the Jazz Age of the 1920’s. “Miss Beard was the guiding light,” she writes. “And we boarders walked to church on Sunday, two by two, with a chaperone in tow. I remember when Miss Turner arrived and we became ‘college preparatory.’ I owe a lot to Beard’s School as I look back on my long life of 101 years. And I am so happy to see what Morristown-Beard has become. Keep up the good work!”
husband Frank recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. In November, they moved to Marris Grove in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.
Joan Hanford Miller lives with her “fat cat” Oliver in an over-55 community in Neptune, New Jersey near the shore. She turned 80 last December is looking forward to the arrival of her eighth great-grandchild, due in April 2012.
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1944 Barbara Franks Yatsevitch tells us that, “I have maintained all my life that anyone who owns more than two dogs and is not in the dog business is entirely out of their minds. Well, I lost my sanity a few years ago when I drove to Pennsylvania to pick up my third English Cocker Spaniel. I’m thoroughly enjoying my insanity!” Barb continues to enjoy an annual lunch with Trina Leeb Debevoise, who visits Maine every summer.
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Catherine Ann Swartz recently got together with seven of her Beard School classmates. The group spent four days together in Wildwood and Cape May last May and had a great time. Pictured are: Ginny Wilson Thomson Lee, Nancy Dane Wells, Buffy McKim Powell, Ann Phillips McGill’56, Lee Lanning Glenn, Pat Pattyson Eckley and Maria Rost.
Rita Crespin Willens is alive and
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well, enjoying life in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Hope Phillips Hazen is enjoying
1946 Ann Palmer Bayliss says she and
her three grandchildren – ages 2, 7, and 9. She is still selling The Worth Collection of clothing and is “gardening up a storm!” “Life is super good,” she writes.
her husband – hiking, running, relaxing and enjoying their new great nephew. She is now back and work, teaching and coaching at Dwight-Englewood, where she is starting her 37th year.
Members of the Morristown School Class of 1961 returned to campus to celebrate their 50th Reunion on October 14th and 15th. Classmates in attendance included:
Ross Birch, Dexter Blake, Bob Boyer, Coach George Fessenden, Steve Hammett, Jim Lizzotte, Tom McEwan, Dawson McKeown, Joe Paden, Anson Perina, John Scudi, Stephen Sholes and Harry Smith. Alan Cocks and Dave Boulin were also planning on attending, but last minute complications prevented them from making it. Tied for coming the furthest were Tom McEwan from France and Bob Boyer from California. Other classmates came from as far as Arizona (Steve Hammett), Oregon (Jim Lizotte), Colorado (Anson Perina), and Florida (Clark Smith). The group enjoyed a wine reception at Alumni House on Friday night followed by a tour of campus on Saturday before the Homecoming football game and then dinner at Rod’s Steakhouse. Overall, the group had a great time renewing old friendships and catching up on the past 50 years. Many attendees look forward to meeting up with each other again soon.
Marion Ahbe Lord says she had a great time at the 50th Reunion reconnecting with her Beard classmates. “The School did a wonderful job coordinating the event. We all had so much fun that some of us are getting together again soon in Florida!”
1966 Elizabeth Rose Carson had a wonderful although short visit with classmate and best friend Susan Wilder Lemonds ’66 at her beautiful home in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also spent a great month in Boulder, Colorado with
residing in the Gateway Care facility in Eatontown, New Jersey after recently losing his sight. He would love to hear from any classmates.
1974 Debbie Freund Neely tells us that her daughter, Meredith Neely Mintz ’04, is a 2011 graduate of the masters program at Columbia Teachers College. Meredith is now working as the administrative assistant for the Head of the Middle School at the Convent of Sacred Heart in New York City. She graduated from Bucknell University in 2008 as a creative writing major.
1978 Barry Nemet enjoys working out
and says that the remodeling business is booming. He has been rated the Number One Handyman for Maricopa County by “Trade Certified,” and has an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau for three years running. Barry’s son Daniel is in his second year at Arizona State University, where he is a Dean’s List student majoring in mechanical engineering.
1983 Mary Beth Payne Baker is living in Lexington, Virginia with her husband Mac and their children Ellie, age 8, and James, age 6. She loves the rural life, complete with cats, dogs and chickens.
1997 Hilary Trought Morris is enjoying time as a work-athome mom with her daughters, Maddy, 3, and Catherine, 1. She has been running a public relations and social media consulting company, Hilary Morris Public Relations, for almost three years and currently sits on the MorristownBeard Alumni Board. She would love to meet more MBS alumni on Twitter, too! Follow her at @MrsMoNJ.
Vanessa “Chessie” Bigelow Roy and her husband continue to enjoy living in Stowe, Vermont with their two sons. Their second son, Dean, was born on June 1, 2011. They opened their second pizza shop this past May in Waitsfield, Vermont and recently took a family drive up Mount Washington.
1999
Amy Chaiken Wolffe writes
that she had a mini-reunion at The Office in Morristown with
Arlyn Goldberg, Betsy Stern ’79, and Florence Giannone Faul. They also had Cindy Carlson Schollmeyer on
speaker phone while they were there! “Next time we are all in town we will try to plan ahead and get more classmates to join,” she says. “We agreed it’s been way too long, but after a few minutes we were all talking over each other like we did in the cafeteria at Morristown-Beard, with no time in between!”
Alan Cooper and Karla Girelli were married on August 20, 2011 at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont. Members of the MBS community in attendance included (from left to right):
Jeremy Schustak, Courtney Anderson Holmes, Eric Holmes, Steve Levinson, Justin Stecz , Alan Cooper, Dr. Alan Cooper, Barbara Napholtz, and
Jane Cooper ’03. Not pictured is Joe Mauriello. Following a
Alumni Enjoy New York City Reception More than 75 members of the Morristown-Beard community gathered for a festive evening of cocktails on September 15th to welcome new Headmaster Peter Caldwell and his wife Darcy to the MBS community. The event was held The New York Racquet and Tennis Club in Manhattan. Morristown-Beard alumni, current and former trustees, parents and friends had an opportunity to chat with Headmaster Caldwell and gather with their old classmates and teachers including Eddie Franz, Alan Cooper, Alden Hess, Pam O’Connor, Darren Burns, John Mascaro, John Sheppard, Noreen Cassidy, Laurie Hartman and Mark Hartman. Special thanks to David Kramer ‘69 for taking such wonderful photos of the reception. The event was a lot of fun and many attendees continued their conversations at the Homecoming celebration on October 15th.
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out of a class of 1,589 students in the School of Arts & Sciences at Boston College with a 4.0 GPA. Last year, he was elected and served as a Class Senator for the Undergraduate Student Government.
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Catherine “Ann” Phillips Swartz ’49, September 17, 2011, age 80. Born in Orange, Ann lived in West Orange while attending Beard. She later graduated from Colby Sawyer College, married and raised three sons who survive her as do her former husband and four grandchildren. When her children were growing up, Ann lived in Short Hills and was an active volunteer in the docent corps of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum there and with New Eyes for the Needy in Millburn: She was named “Jerseyan of the Month by the “Star-Ledger” during her tenure as presidency there. She subsequently worked in real estate for 20 years and then was an executive administrator
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semester at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Student Art
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Marian Crossfield Bureau ’48, January 27, 2011, age 81. Marian had been living in Washington, D.C., then Gibson Island, Maryland. She is survived by four children.
If you have a Class Note that you would like included in an upcoming issue of Crimson Magazine, please contact editor Steve Patchett at spatchett@mbs.net OR
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THE MISS
In Memoriam
Send Send
RIMSON M EC
70 Whippany Road Morristown, NJ 07960 (973) 539-3032 www.m bs.net
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Senator on the Undergraduate Student Government Council at Loyola University Maryland this year.
Alex Gelbert spent the fall
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The Accolades Awards program includes 40 different categories including alumni relations, communications, design, development, grant writing, magazine, news writing, publications and website.
Challenge Cup Keeps History Alive
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The magazine was judged based on the three issues representing the 2010 – 2011 school year. A panel of experts examined the entries for quality, creativity, innovation, adherence to professional standards, and success in meeting stated objectives.
LOOK FOR YOUR 3D GLASSES in center of magazine PAGE 16
2011
College, earned highest honors for the spring semester.
Crimson Magazine is produced three times per year under the direction of MBS Director of Development Alison Cady, Director of Communications Steve Patchett, and Designer Jennifer DeAngelis along with Features Writer Carol Selman ’64 and Alumni Associate Greg Williams ’05.
THE TECHNOLOGY » ISSUE IN 3D!»
T R U E TO
Crimson Magazine – the Morristown-Beard School alumni magazine – was recently honored with a Silver Award as part of the CASE District II Accolades Awards program.
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Us Your News!
CASE Silver Award
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Max Bevan, a senior at Skidmore
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Ross were married on October 22, 2011. Several Morristown-Beard graduates attended the ceremony and reception at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, including Emily Broeman Farmun ’02, Jacqueline Grant ’02 and Dan Pellenberg ’02.
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Crimson Magazine
The award will be presented on Monday, January 23rd at the annual CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) District II conference at the Mariott Marquis in New York City.
Robyn Newman and Richard
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He also had a big role in Boston College’s 14-10 victory over North Carolina State as he hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass.
fiancée, Blake Fenstermaker, in Summit, NJ and works at MalPractice Insurance in Warren.
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Larmond had four catches for 46 yards in the season opener against Northwestern. He followed up with two catches for 15 yards against Central Florida. In Week 3, Larmond had two more catches for 87 yards against Duke.
Katie Brown lives with her
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“First off, the rehab was more mental than anything. If you don’t have your mind set right you’re not going to come back the way you want to,” Larmond said. “I took an approach to the rehab and the game and gave it my all in summer workouts. I told the trainers to push me and don’t hold anything back. And, now, it’s a blessing from God that I was able to come back out and play the way I was before, actually.”
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After an injury sidelined him last season, former Morristown-Beard football star Colin Larmond Jr. ’08 has been lighting up the football field for Boston College this fall. The Eagles wide receiver set career highs in the fourth week of the season with six catches for 114 yards, including two touchdown catches of 36 and 37 yards. It’s quite a comeback for Larmond, now a junior at B.C., who suffered a left knee injury in last year’s preseason that wiped out his entire 2010 campaign.
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Larmond ‘08 Lights it up for Boston College
honeymoon in Puerto Rico, the couple lives in Gilford, New Hampshire. Alan serves as CFO of Pike Industries in Laconia, New Hampshire.
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for Terra Nova Brokerage Co. in Chester, N.J. During retirement, Ann lived in Chatham and enjoyed tennis, golf, paddle tennis, and her grandchildren’s activities. She was a past member of The Rock Spring Club and the Junior League of Short Hills and the Oranges. Ann participated in many Morristown-Beard Alumni events. Carol Durgom Cranmer ’55, August 6, 2011, age 73. Born and raised in Short Hills, after Beard Carol attended Wells College. She married in 1960, traveled the world and had two children. Carol moved to Kingwood, Texas in 1960 where she had many achievements in real estate. She remarried in 1989. Carol was active in her 50th Beard reunion. She is survived by her two children, three step children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Greg Williams
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Distinguished Alumni
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Board Welcomes
FOUR New MEMBERS
Save-the-Date for Your Reunion!
The Morristown-Beard School Board of Trustees recently welcomed four new members to its ranks – Paolo Cucchi, Wilfredo Fernandez, Joe Robillard, and Roger Schwarz ’66.
Paolo Cucchi
Alumni Weekend
Joe Robillard
May 18-20, 2012 Wilfredo Fernandez
≥ Paolo Cucchi retired recently as CLA (College of Liberal Arts) Dean at Drew University, a post he held for the past 24 years. During his tenure as Dean, he was responsible for the school budget, fundraising, and hiring of faculty. He is currently on the faculty at Drew, as professor of French and Italian and director of the school’s new Baldwin honors program. Prior to his time at Drew, he served as an Assistant Dean at Princeton University, where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Legg-Mason Closed End Funds and is a former trustee of the New Jersey Center for Visual Arts.
≥ Wilfredo Fernandez is a CPA and partner at Citrin Cooperman. His areas of expertise include employee benefit plan audits and tax compliance and reporting. He and his wife, Danette, have two children at MBS, Austin ’12 and Eric ’14. As active members of the MBS community, Will was a parent representative on the Head Search Advisory Board while Danette has held a number of roles with the Parents’ Association including secretary and class parent. Will has also served as Board Chair of St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Passaic County United Way. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Pace University.
Roger Schwarz ’66
≥ Joe Robillard is a hedge fund manager with HHR Asset Management, based in Berkeley Heights, NJ. The firm’s clients include schools and foundations such as the Children’s Aid Society. Joe and his wife, Usha, have quickly become enthusiastically involved in the Morristown-Beard community. They have two daughters as well as a son, Jackson ’16, who is an eighth grader at MBS. Joe earned a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
≥ Roger Schwarz ’66 is an attorney and lobbyist with expertise in renewable energy and environmental issues. He has served as the first Executive Director of the NJ Utilities Association and Senior Governmental Affairs Manager at PSE&G. He is a former Deputy Attorney General and was also executive assistant to two New Jersey Attorneys General. He also serves on the board of the Arc Mercer. After receiving his diploma from The Morristown School, he graduated from Lehigh University and Boston University Law School.
For more information, contact Greg Williams ’05,
Alumni Relations Associate, at gwilliams@mbs.net or (973) 539-3032 x549.