Reunion Weekend 2020

JUNE 4-7, 2020

Kick off Summer 2020 with four days of fun!

Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7, the campus is all yours.

Your reunion committee has helped the school plan a one-of-a-kind weekend that offers something for everyone. Classes ending in 0 or 5 will celebrate their reunions, and all Mercersburg alumni, their guests, and friends of the school are invited to attend.

How to Register 4Register at mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend 4All-inclusive packages are available at early-bird rates before April 15: 5th reunion class - $100/person (a savings of $215) 25th, 50th, and post-50th reunion classes - $200/person (a savings of $115) All other classes - $265/person (a savings of $50) Packages include three nights of dorm lodging (one bed in a double-occupancy room), campus activities, meals, and alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages. Additional fees will apply for single-occupancy lodging, off-campus activities, and childcare. If dorm lodging isn’t your thing, a list of local accommodations can be found on the reunion webpage.

4Can’t make it on Thursday? Check the online registration form for à la carte pricing.

4Online registration will close Thursday, May 21. Walk-in registrations are welcome, though there is no guarantee for on-campus accommodation. Refunds will be issued through May 15.

SCHEDULE SNAPSHOT AND FAQS Find the lineup of events and a list of FAQs at mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend. The schedule will be updated as programming is added.

Weekend Highlights 4Don’t miss your class photo and dinner on Saturday—a highlight of the weekend.

4Avoid trekking to a hotel—lodge in a dorm so you never have to leave campus.

4Show off your dance moves on Saturday night with live music by the Odyssey Band of D.C.

4The entire campus is your playground: take advantage of the Lloyd Aquatic Center, the Hale Field House, the Jimmy Curran Track, the McDowell Fitness Center, the Smoyer Tennis Center, and the Davenport Squash Center.

4Back to school… learn from faculty members about Mercersburg’s curriculum and what it’s like to be a student today.

4Celebrate your classmates as they share their skills, stories, and accomplishments as a part of the program!

And the Award Goes to…

The Alumni Council invites you to kick off Reunion Weekend on Thursday with a special dinner celebrating alumni, faculty, and staff.

CLASS OF ’32 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Paul Mellott Jr. ’70 and Deborah Simon ’74

ALUMNI COUNCIL MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT Rick Witmer ’70

ALUMNI COUNCIL MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Jim McClelland ’55 and Ivon Rohrer ’60

ALUMNI COUNCIL PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT Maj. Gill Tatman-Tyree ’95

ALUMNI COUNCIL PRIZE FOR SERVICE Andrew Miller ’00

ALUMNI COUNCIL YOUNG ALUMNI LEADERSHIP AWARD Alexis Imler Gray ’05

FACULTY AND STAFF RECOGNITION The Alumni Council will honor faculty and staff retirees and those with 25 or more years of service to Mercersburg Academy. Please see mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend for a full list of honorees.

Keynote Speakers Friday, June 5, at 1 p.m.

RESILIENCE SAVINGS: INVESTING IN SAFE HOUSING EQUITY Peg Hacskaylo ’85, Founder and CEO of NASH Throughout her career, Peg has advocated tirelessly on behalf of women and survivors of domestic and sexual violence to help them avoid homelessness and recover from violence. In the course of her work, Peg has developed new and novel programs, alliances, and approaches that demonstrate the healing power of housing, the potential for survivors to build community, and the exponential value gained from the simple act of investing in resilience. Hear from Peg about the founding of the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) and the National Alliance for Safe Housing (NASH), as well as how she’s taken her work abroad, to help communities realize the savings in helping rebuild survivors’ lives.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER Peg holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University. She is a social work professional and the founder and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Safe Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that survivors of domestic and sexual violence have a full range of safe housing options through improved access, increased resources, and innovative solutions, ultimately catalyzing a safe housing movement. In 2006, she founded the District Alliance for Safe Housing, an organization ensuring access to safe housing and services for victims in Washington, D.C. Peg has provided consultation to federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as with state and local domestic violence, sexual assault, and victims services coalitions and programs. She’s traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan, to conduct site visits and interviews with programs and advocates working on violence against women and girls. Peg lives in Washington, D.C., with her partner.

Saturday, June 6, at 1 p.m.

A HISTORY OF BLACK STUDENT INTEGRATION AT MERCERSBURG ACADEMY Tonya Rutherford ’90, Managing Associate General Counsel at Verizon It’s been 55 years since Mercersburg Academy accepted its first black student, and 30 years since Tonya led the charge to establish what is known today as the Black Student Union. Tonya will help us revisit this important school history by sharing what she’s learned about our first black graduate, Tom Leslie ’66; our first female black graduate, Diane Wynter ’74; the Black Advancement Day executed in 1974 by two black alumni, Raymon Nelson ’75 and Royce Sisk ’75; and her memories from the founding of the Black Student Union in 1989. She’ll also share stories from her own personal journey as a black woman.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER Tonya is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University Law School. After graduating from George Washington, she worked as an attorney for the FCC and as an associate at Latham and Watkins. She has worked as in-house counsel at AOL and Verizon. As managing associate general counsel at Verizon, she leads the legal team that negotiates programming agreements with major content creators for the distribution of content across all Verizon video platforms. She has spoken and moderated continuing legal education panels at the SXSW music and film festival.

She coaches others to accomplish their goals through the power of connection.

Tonya resides with her family in Washington, D.C. Tonya is a founding member of Mercersburg’s African American Student Union (known today as the Black Student Union). As an alum, she has visited and worked with this student group several times. Tonya was a member of the Alumni Council from 2003 to 2009, a volunteer for Mercersburg’s 2019 MLK Day program, and a lead organizer for the Black Student Union reunion in October 2019. She is currently serving a second term on the Alumni Council and is a member of her 30th reunion committee.

Explore Local on Thursday 4ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD 10 a.m. ($35) Join battlefield expert Jeff Driscoll ’68, history faculty member Maggie Howes, and faculty emeritus Ray Larson P ’97, ’01, ’06 for a private guided tour of Antietam, site of the bloodiest battle in all of American history.

Transportation and boxed lunch included.

4WHITETAIL GOLF RESORT 11 a.m. ($35) Whitetail is among the highest-rated golf courses in the Mid-Atlantic. Join head golf coach Doug Smith P ’23 and get your foursome together for a nine-hole scramble.

Golf cart, transportation, and boxed lunch included.

4MERCERSBURG THEOLOGICAL TOUR 2:30 p.m.

Join local minister Rev. Ron Martin-Minnich and School Minister Rev. Will Whitmore to learn more about the expansive theological history of the Mercersburg area.

The walking tour will begin at Trinity United Church of Christ on East Seminary Street and end in the Irvine Memorial Chapel on campus.

Featured Presenters Young Entrepreneur panel with Julianna Dahbura ’10, Taria Griffin ’10, Ethan Keiser ’10, Nikolai Paloni ’10, Leigh Saner ’10, Paul Suhey ’10, and moderator Lois Findlay ’80 Innovation in Education discussion with David Frantz ’60, Board of Regents president emeritus; Jennifer Miller Smith ’97, P ’23, dean of academics; and John David Bennett P ’12, ’19, ’23, dean of curricular innovation Wine tasting with Peggy Raley Ward ’85, owner of Nassau Valley Vineyards 1983 Arctic Expedition reunion with Shawn Rockwell Hardy ’80 and faculty emeriti Tim Rockwell P ’80, ’86, Frank Rutherford ’70, P ’03, ’06, ’06, and Brent Gift Artist reception with Don Freas ’70, sculptor, woodworker, and poet Hands-on robotics demonstration with Andy Brown, science faculty; Julia Stojak Maurer ’90, P ’18, ’20, ’22, ’23, associate head of school for school life; and Brandon Lamer-Connolly ’20

See the online schedule for a full list of sessions led by alumni and faculty. There are more than 30 sessions to choose from!

WORSHIP AND REMEMBRANCE To close out the weekend, join classmates on Sunday, June 7, at 10 a.m. in the Irvine Memorial Chapel to remember and reflect on those members of our community we have lost.

Class Tents Your campus headquarters for the weekend!

This is where classmates will reconnect, visit with faculty, and relax. Plan to bring your Mercersburg memorabilia and Karux for class tent decorations. A panel of judges will award the coveted Class Cup for best tent on Saturday night. Bragging rights are at stake!

Family Fun

Watch your family fall in love with Mercersburg just like you did!

LEGACY CAMPOUT FOR KIDS While you’re attending your class dinner and dance on Saturday evening, children and grandchildren (ages 7-14) can enjoy dinner, games, music, s’mores, and an overnight campout on back campus. Sponsored by Mercersburg Summer Programs, it’s the perfect introduction to Mercersburg—free of charge! Please visit mercersburg.edu/ legacy-campout for more information.

QUAD GAMES—ANYTIME! - Enjoy a game of KanJam, some bean bag toss, and don’t forget your Frisbee or football!

CHILDCARE - Childcare up to 12 years of age is provided

by First United Daycare on Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The fee of $30 per child (per evening) includes dinner and snacks.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY DORM - Select a dorm accommodation for families with young children, providing a kid-friendly environment.

Presorted First Class

100 Academy Drive Mercersburg, Pennsylvania 17236

U.S. Postage PAID Mercersburg, PA Permit #15

Reunion Checklist c Register online c Contact your classmates to encourage attendance c Visit mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend to see who’s on the guest list

c Submit a class note for the school magazine c Make a reunion gift to the Annual Fund in honor of your class

c Gather photos and memorabilia to bring in June Questions? Visit mercersburg.edu/reunionweekend, email events@mercersburg.edu, or call 717-328-6100.

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