Moravian Academy Journal - Fall 2015

FALL 2015

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

JOURNAL

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MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Moravian Academy Journal Headmaster George N. King, Jr.

Board of Trustees

Robert H. Brown – Chair David H. Myers – Vice Chair Karen Pearce Sonier ’78 – Secretary Chris Weiler – Treasurer Tasha Bolden Dr. James Boylan Samuel Cohen ’98 Joan Duckloe Lawrence B. Eighmy Dr. Daniel Eyvazzadeh ’96 Pamela Larimer Brian Loftus Jaime Mitchell Stuart Paxton Christine Perrucci Joanne Regina Kathleen Waterbury Reilly Christian Rice The Honorable Paula Roscioli ’83 Steven Rothweiler Carole Devey Schachter ’76 Mary Catherine Tachovsky Mary Wilford-Hunt

Honorary Trustees: Margaret Baldock Robert M. McCann Gordon L. Sommers

FALL 2015

JOURNAL

Advisors to the Board:

George N. King, Jr. – Headmaster John Donecker – Director of Middle School Brian D. Kelly – Director of Upper School James L. Kirtland – Director of Business and Financial Affairs Ann S. Mindler ’70 – Assistant Head of School Susan Parent – Director of Lower School Robert J. Zaiser – Director of Institutional Advancement

Editor

Meghan Szvetecz

Contributing Writers Tracy Bozik Stephanie Palmieri Meghan Szvetecz Robert J. Zaiser

MA Asks Faculty and Students, “What Did You Do This Summer?” 2-3 Gaining an Education in Exploration 4 Back to Basics: The Makings of a Maker Movement 6 Primer’s Progress: Checking in on the New Class of 2030 7 Welcome New Board of Trustees 8 Introducing Director of Middle School John Donecker 9 Welcome New Faculty and Staff 10-11 Remembering Carolyn Johnson Conard 35

IN EVERY ISSUE

From the Headmaster 1 Lehigh Valley Summerbridge 5 Photo Galleries 12-19 Institutional Advancement News 22-23 Fields & Courts: Athletics Highlights 24-25 Alumni News 26 Alumni Profiles 27-29 Reunion Weekend 30-31 Class Notes 32-34 From the Archives 37

Designer

Carla Snook

Marketing and Communications Intern Meghan Cote

Printing

Christmas City Printing Co., Inc. The Moravian Academy Journal is published

by Moravian Academy, a non-profit educational institution, 7 East Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 (610-868-4744).

Moravian Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, financial aid awards, and athletic or other school administered programs.

Applicants who are disabled (or applicants’ family members who are disabled) requiring any type of accommodation during the application process, or at any other time, are encouraged to identify themselves and indicate what type of accommodation is needed. © 2015 by Moravian Academy.

Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Postmaster: send changes of address to Moravian Academy Journal, 7 East Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. www.moravianacademy.org

Headmaster

FEATURES

Associate Trustees (Faculty):

Alison Overdorf Marilyn Reiter Diane Taylor

from the

M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Moravian Academy is a church-related school whose Moravian tradition affirms that young people best realize their potential in an atmosphere of love and understanding. We seek to promote the child’s full development in mind, body, and spirit. Since 1742 our tradition has encouraged sound innovations to meet contemporary challenges while recognizing the permanence of basic human values.

S TAT E M E N T O F P H I L O S O P H Y Moravian Academy seeks to fulfill its mission by pursuing these goals: • Provide a strong academic foundation in preparation for college work.

• Help students develop self-respect, dignity, and a concern and respect for others.

• Promote creativity and an appreciation of aesthetic values.

• Help students to develop their physical skills and encourage positive attitudes about health and fitness.

• Engage students in experiences that will develop maturity, independence, adaptability, integrity, and love of learning.

• Help students to become aware of the spiritual dimension of life and further their understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

• Encourage students and their parents to recognize their responsibilities in the educational process and demonstrate their commitment to the purposes and goals of Moravian Academy.

DEAR FRIENDS, As we come to the end of what has been a very successful beginning of Moravian Academy’s 274th academic year, we look forward to all of the wonderful activities and events that will take place in and out of the classroom following the Winter Break. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on some of the notable accomplishments and changes that have occurred during the last few months.

It was so wonderful to see our entire community come together to enjoy the festivities surrounding Country Fair and Alumni Reunion 2015. We honored several deserving alumnae with this year’s Distinguished Alumni and Honorary Alumni awards. Read about Regina “Gina” Low ’60P, Winnie Romeril ’85, and retired French teacher Mrs. Bonnie Wismer on pgs. 27-29.

The Lower School welcomed two new additions: the first grade Spanish Immersion class led by Ms. Veronica Pascuzzi and the Primer program for three year olds (Welcome, Class of 2030!) led by Mrs. Brooke Bauer. The classes are fantastic additions to the Lower School! Both classes have gotten off to a great start; I’m excited to see how they will flourish in the coming months. Be sure to read the story about the Primer Program on pg. 7.

Our student athletes made us #MAProud, as our varsity golf and varsity field hockey teams won Colonial League and District XI championships, and our varsity boys’ soccer team won the District IX championship. Go Lions! Did you happen to notice the hashtag?

We have expanded our social media options with the establishment of several Twitter and Facebook accounts to cover the exciting happenings at Moravian Academy. Be sure to check them daily!

This year marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Middle School as we welcome Mr. Donecker as our Director of Middle School. Mr. Donecker has made it a point to visit classes and attend a variety of activities as he strives to get to know students, teachers, and parents. The Donecker family is enjoying getting to know the Moravian Academy Community, especially Ainsley who is enrolled in kindergarten and Adelaine who is enrolled in Primer.

All of the divisions are benefitting from the recent addition of Makerspaces, which were established as places for students to have hands on experiences that inspire them to think creatively, problem solve, and collaborate. You may read about how these spaces are making their mark on pg. 6.

As is our tradition, we started the celebration of the holiday season with Coffeehouse and Grandparents’ Day programs and concluded it with exquisite Christmas Vespers and Lessons and Carols Services. I wish everyone a happy new year!

Sincerely,

George N. King, Jr. Headmaster

moravian academy journal Fall 2015

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Great Escapes 1.

“My wife, Satoko, and I spent five weeks in Japan traveling, hiking, catching up with friends, visiting family, and taking part in exciting festivals and eating amazing food. I was also able to bring back some authentic Japanese art materials for my students to use in class.”—Mr. Brian Elstein, Lower School art teacher

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“I solo backpacked the 150-mile Vermont section of the Appalachian Trail from Williamstown, MA to Hanover, NH (where I have family). This picture was taken atop Killington Peak, which is the highest point on that section of the trail. It was a phenomenal experience, physically and mentally challenging, but also exhilarating. I startled three bears, had a couple of bad falls, endured a scary lightning storm, and was rewarded by spectacular views, great company, and a satisfying sense of accomplishment.”—Ms. Christina Dolan, Upper School history teacher

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... “what did you do this summer?”

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“I stayed over two months in Valencia, visiting family and friends. I also did some traveling to Madrid, the Costa Brava in Cataluña, Navarra, and the French Basque country. I saw everything from castles and Medieval villages to cosmopolitan cities and landscapes with wild horses—for a country of its size, Spain has much to see!”—Mrs. Lisa Molina-Cheung, Lower & Middle School Spanish teacher

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“I visited the Chaco National Historic Park in western New Mexico to see the ruins from the Native American people and culture known as the Chaco Culture that populated the Chaco Canyon from the 900s to the 1300s CE. My favorite parts of the trip were hiking around the rim of the canyon to see the ruins from above and exploring such an isolated area, 20 miles off the main four-lane highway.”—Mr. Kevin Ferdinand, Upper School history teacher & Outdoor Education Program Coordinator “This summer, I served as the conductor for “Les Misérables” at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University.

I conducted a cast of 30+ actors, many with Broadway credits, and an orchestra of 14 musicians. The production, which ran for 24 performances, broke all records for the Festival including being seen by 10,000+ patrons.”—Mr. Nate Diehl, Lower School music teacher

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“This July, my family made a trip to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia for five days. We had nothing to do; no stress; no pressure to get anything done. It wasn’t just one singular moment where I began to see my family in a different way, but more of a culmination of all the laughs, the off-key country singing, and water tubing that made me think, “Wow, my family really is awesome.”—Drew Warner ’18

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“I interned at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). I attended the last meetings regarding the final implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the post 2015 agenda, and I came up with initiatives and campaigns to particularly target youth about desertification and how they can take part in preventing it.

My internship motivated me to continue pursuing my dream of working at the United Nations in the future and, after learning that desertification is occurring in the United States and not only abroad, I have been inspired to continue to promote and to help foster understandings of land degradation and the UNCCD’s endeavors.”—Nilaya Knafo ’16

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“This summer, I took a month-long intensive course to become certified as an EMT. It was definitely one of the most fun, stressful, intense, amazing experiences I have ever had. Spending a night in the ER, I learned that I never truly understood how far compassion and taking the time for a small conversation can change someone’s life.”—Avani Gandhi ’16

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“Here’s a picture from when I ran a road race with friends from school. I was amazed by how kind my [host] family was and how fast I made friends at school. Guatemalans are extremely kind. I learned that I have a lot in common with people who I thought were very different from me. For instance, my friends at school could talk with me about movies, music, sports, and many other things.”

—Sam Li ’16, on his global exchange trip to Guatemala

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“I was invited to the Poconos by a couple of friends to spend the night. I go to sleep at sometimes a not-so-reasonable hour and wake up in double digit hours. My friends, however, thought that it would be fun to see the sunrise. At six in the morning we all woke up just in time to miss the sunrise. We decided—well my friends decided—to go on a little hike just for fun. On the way down was this amazing image of rays of sunlight filtering through the trees.

All you see in this picture is some cool sunbeams and some people; I also see an opportunity that I could have missed.” —Oliver Scott ’17

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“My summer at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English was beautiful and challenging as always. The conversations and experiences in that community pivoted around the production of two plays: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel) and James Baldwin’s Blues for Mr. Charlie. Conversations about race, privilege, justice, fear, and a host of other issues took place morning, noon, and night around campus, over breakfast, and in classrooms. I felt so grateful to be a part of that discussion.”

—Ms. MacNair Randall, Upper School English teacher

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“This summer, we took a family trip to visit our son, Matthew ’06, who is doing post doctoral research in Munich. Here I am standing in Germany in the Bavarian Foothills to the Alps with Austria in the background.”—Mrs. Debbie Bross, Middle School physical education teacher and varsity field hockey coach

MA asks faculty and students

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GAINING AN EDUCATION IN EXPLORATION THROUGH THE GLOBAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

By Stephanie Palmieri, Program Assistant

Reported by Meghan Cote

“My experience studying abroad has infinitely enhanced my Moravian Academy experience,” said Alison Larkin ’17, who became fast friends with her host sister, Ada, while studying in Barcelona last spring. “It’s so cool to have a friend thousands of miles away from you, who has so many cultural differences from you, but at the same time is so similar to you.”

“While I was preparing for the trip I had some doubts, mainly concerning whether or not it would be safe, being that Guatemala is in fact a developing country with heavy social issues,” said Michael Gibson ’17, who eased his worries through Skype conversations with his host family before departing for his trip this summer. “The program

directors and my host family all worked in conjunction in order to provide the best and safest experience for all of their participants. I hope that one day I will get the opportunity to travel to other Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico and Spain, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the language and culture.”

“Our hope was that we would have someone stay with us and hopefully this child and Rebecca would be able to develop a friendship,” said Mrs. Cheryl Donahue (mother of Rebecca ’19 and Aaron ’14), who hosted Guatemalan exchange student, Natalie, last spring. “Even before Natalie arrived, it was almost as if there was this immediate friendship. It felt like family.”

Global Exchange Program by the Numbers:

1-year anniversary of the exchange with St. Paul’s School, Barcelona 2 students from St. Paul School arrived at the Upper School in September for a -week exchange 5 Upper School & 2 Middle School students arrived at Moravian Academy from the Faces and Our Cultures

program in Guatemala City (mid-October through mid-December)

20 Upper School students are planning to study at the Lycée Notre-Dame Saint Sigisbert School in Nancy, France in 2016

20 students from Lycée Notre-Dame Saint Sigisbert School will arrive at Moravian Academy next April 4

moravian academy journal Fall 2015

Part of what makes Summerbridge so special is our commitment to the community, to local families, and to our graduates. This summer, we had three teachers and five volunteers who were Summerbridge graduates. We’re proud to provide teaching and mentoring opportunities to our graduates, and also enjoy perpetuating our on-going link to Moravian Academy alumni. Sarah Brown ’12, who is double majoring in English and Child Study & Human Development at Tufts University, worked as a writing teacher for the first time this summer.

Students made the most of every minute this summer during a very busy six weeks of hands-on learning. They wrote memoirs, led discussion circles, created self-portraits, pitched original business ventures, learned how to cook on a budget, practiced improv techniques, played sports, and collected hundreds of books for the Cops ‘N’ Kids book drive. They

also designed their own schools, practiced fractions to bake cookies, and made lava lamps, bottle rockets, and a scale model of the solar system.

We also took students on a variety of field trips, including six area colleges— Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College, Kutztown University, Moravian College, Lehigh University, and DeSales University. The summer included our annual Olympics Day games and end of summer celebration, which provided an opportunity for students to cook food for their family and friends.

Changes to our school year program: We are excited to announce the launch of our new program, Summerbridge Saturdays. This program shifts away from our usual after-school tutoring sessions to bi-monthly sessions that focus on college readiness and life skills.

Summerbridge by the Numbers

• 95 summer program students from 10 area schools (Broughal, East Hills,

Nitschmann, Northeast, Holy Infancy, Easton, Harrison Morton, Raub, Trexler, and Lehigh Valley Academy)

• 12 students continued their

proud family tradition of attending Summerbridge

• 16 teachers from 10 colleges

and universities (Kutztown, Lehigh, Lock Haven, Marywood, Moravian, Northampton Community College, Penn State Main, Temple, Tufts, and West Chester)

• 45 guest speakers, many of whom

participated in Summerbridge’s third annual Career Pathways Day

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PRIMER’S PROGRESS

CHECKING IN ON THE NEW CLASS OF 2030

BACK TO BASICS

THE MAKINGS OF A MAKER MOVEMENT AT MORAVIAN ACADEMY It’s time to get back to basics—at least when it comes to the maker movement. It can be said that students have been “makers” long before there was a defined movement, but with the recent establishment of makerspaces in each Division our students now have a new place to create, innovate, and … well … make.

and what doesn’t, and what else we can do to make students innovators and creators,” Mrs. Polefka says. “We are hoping to help students learn these abilities so their creativity and hard work can help change the world some day.”

The Middle School has also breathed new life into an underutilized room, retrofitting the former computer lab in the Devey building for their makerspace. Here, the focus has been on utilizing the space for the launch of the robotics program, organized by math teacher Mrs. Dani Mackavage and science teacher Mrs. JoAnne Daniels.

In the spring of 2015, Headmaster George N. King, Jr. invited directors, faculty, and staff from each division to attend an ADVIS technology conference. The workshops of the day inspired faculty and staff to create such spaces at Moravian Academy. To get started, Lower School Technology Coordinator Sara Polefka submitted a proposal to purchase littleBits, a system of electronic color-coded modules that snap together with magnets and perform a variety of tasks.

Since the debut of a makerspace in the Lower School media room, our students have enjoyed finding ways to tinker with their littleBits kits. “They have loved exploring,” Mrs. Polefka says. “We are learning together all the different ways we can use the kit. The purpose of this space is for creativity and cooperation and making in a variety of ways. Sharing and learning are also important qualities for them to learn.”

during and after school until 5:30 p.m. to utilize an Apple TV, Printrbot 3D printer, LEGOs, a sewing machine (donated by Upper School Director of Theater Mr. Jarrod Yuskauskas), and other basic craft supplies, some of which were donated by math teacher Mrs. Marilyn Reiter.

“At this time, we hope to guide our current robotics students through a basic foundation in robot design and programming,” Mrs. Daniels says.

Proposals from faculty and staff from each division were thoughtfully submitted and plans were soon underway to create spaces in each Division.

The Lower School plans to add a 3D printer, LEGO kits, an iStop animation program for iPads, and other supplies that can be taken apart, put back together, or reshaped into new items.

According to Ms. Patti Davis, Upper School Director of Library and Media Services, “since all Upper School students are now equipped with their own MacBook Airs, the no longer needed computer lab was the perfect place to create a space for project-based learning.”

“The goal for this year is to see what works

Upper School students have had free reign

“We would like to think that students would continue their interest in robotics and coding when they get to the Upper School.” Mrs. Mackavage adds.

Each makerspace has limitless potential to grow and evolve to meet students’ needs.

Mrs. Mackavage and Mrs. Daniels will closely observe how the space is serving students involved in their new elective course, with a close eye on how they can accommodate other activities as well.

“In the future, it would be great to see additional STEM offerings here such as computer program development,” Mrs. Daniels says.

What is a makerspace?

Makerspaces are shared workspaces outfitted with a variety of tools, supplies, and resources that are popping up everywhere from tech start-ups and corporations to schools of all forms. Not merely playing with toys, these spaces allow students to complete classroom assignments and explore personal interests, all the while thinking like an engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur unafraid to try something that may or may not work. The maker movement is often referred to as this century’s Industrial Revolution.

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moravian academy journal Fall 2015

By Meghan Szvetecz

Just a few months into the school year and already members of the first Primer class have assumed the habits of a student.

Hanging up their coats, putting away their own things, assembling in a circle—what were once new concepts have swiftly become routine.

“They’re participating, they’re learning how to share and play together and cooperate, which is all a big deal when you’re three,” notes lead teacher Mrs. Brooke Bauer.

Days are arranged for full- and parttime students, with a concerted effort to combine structure and flexibility, Mrs. Bauer explains.

“Children thrive with structure; I think they seek it out, even at three years old. I also think that as much as they need the structure they need the flexibility. We have a lot of exciting things happening around

For many students, it’s their first time learning outside of the home so Mrs. Bauer arrived prepared to manage regular meltdowns; surprisingly, few erupted, she says. “They were just excited to get in and play, meet their friends, and learn.”

Mrs. Bauer and assistant teachers Mrs. Meghan Hinkle and Ms. Lauren Tulchinsky are constantly assessing the success of assignments, resulting in a completely adaptable curriculum.

The approach is guided by Mrs. Bauer’s 12 years teaching in the Academy’s kindergarten, second, and third grade classrooms, as well as her own “mommy instincts,” she explains. “I’m living it. My daughter is two and a half so I know what the parents are going through.”

Cultivating these foundational skills a full year prior to prekindergarten was a large part of the vision for the program when it was approved by the Board of Trustees in the fall of 2014. And the benefits of expanding the “lifer” experience are already clear.

“It has exceeded our expectations for a three-year-old education,” says parent Mrs. Jenifer Dziewit. “The class size, the approachability and patience of all three wonderful teachers, and the amount of activities planned for a full day is amazing.

Our son comes home happy and singing songs from music class. He is writing his name and making friends; we couldn’t be happier.”

they work things out with friends,” says Mrs. Bauer. Free to have fun, students are unaware that they’re constantly being assessed “with each art project, experiment, math activity, or free play.”

“I am so excited about the opportunity to create and enhance and develop this new program to help it reach its full potential,” Ms. Tulchinsky says.

here and you just have to go with it. I got a call the other day from Mrs. Wetzel who had two violin students interested in practicing for an audience; it was not planned but probably was one of the highlights of their day.”

Amid Spanish lessons, PE, and music classes is a core curriculum centered on learning through play. “Three year olds need to play. That’s how they explore; that’s how they problem solve; that’s how

“The thing that surprised me most about this program is how quickly the kids change and how much growth I’ve seen already since the beginning of the year,” Mrs. Hinkle adds.

The ultimate measure of success is happy students. During the first open house, parents were remarking how their children love coming to school, which, Mrs. Bauer says, “is the number one thing that we need to hear.”

“Every day we are delighted to see our son going to school smiling,” says parent Mr. Joys Riva. moravian academy journal Fall 2015

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MA WELCOMES

NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. James Boylan

Dr. Boylan has been connected to Moravian Academy since 1980 and is a father to three “lifers”: Dr. Alexis Boylan ’90, Gabe Boylan ’95, and Nicko Boylan ’18, who is currently a student at the Upper School.

After completing his training in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Boylan came to St. Luke’s Hospital more than 30 years ago to establish a private practice. He has served as Chief of Gastroenterology at St. Luke’s Hospital and president of the Hospital’s medical staff from 2000 to 2002.

Mrs. Duckloe and her husband, Frederick, reside in the Poconos and have two children who are graduates of Moravian Academy—Gregory and Allison, both Class of 2009.

He is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, and the American Medical Association.

An Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Dr. Eyvazzadeh completed his training and one year of research in general surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He then completed fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Eyvazzadeh is married to Dr. Megan Butler Eyvazzadeh ’96. The couple has three children at the Academy: Lily ’22, Jolie ’25, and Felix ’27.

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Mrs. Duckloe is a Certified Financial Planner and has been a registered representative with Sykes Financial Services LLC since 2004. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a BA in Economics.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Pocono Health Foundation and previously on the Boards of Pocono Medical Center, Christ Church Stroudsburg, Pocono Lively Arts, and Mother of Multiples of Monroe County.

Dr. Eyvazzadeh is an active staff member of St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network, Muhlenberg Hospital, and has recently joined the Eyvazzadeh and Reilly Colon and Rectal Center.

moravian academy journal Fall 2015

Introducing our Director of Middle School

Mrs. Joan M. Duckloe

A native of upstate New York, Dr. Boylan completed his undergraduate studies at the College of the Holy Cross and received his medical degree from New York University. He moved to Virginia for his medical residency and also served in the U.S. Navy.

Dr. Daniel Eyvazzadeh ’96

It’s a New Day with John Donecker

By Meghan Szvetecz

Arriving in Bethlehem and being welcomed by the Moravian Academy community feels a bit like a homecoming for John Donecker. Quaint streets and an historic, academic-centered town are markedly reminiscent of his roots for this Lewisburg, PA native and Bucknell grad.

The move takes Donecker and his family far from his previous appointment at the Sanford School in Hockessin, DE, but happily brings them closer to wife, Mary Doe’s family, and lands daughters, Ainsley ’28 and Adelaine ’30, into a familial school much like the one Donecker says shaped him as a young man.

Admittedly, he is juggling a lot of balls in the air but rather than being daunted by the many tasks that lay before him, this level-headed long-time educator says that it just adds to his excitement for the year.

Q: So what is your initial impression of the MA community?

Mr. Steven Rothweiler

Mr. Rothweiler currently serves as president of the Moravian Academy Parents’ Association. Prior to his appointment as president, Mr. Rothweiler also served as vice president, treasurer, and secretary.

He is a senior programmer at JetPay Corporation and was previously employed at LSI Corporation.

Mr. Rothweiler earned his BSEE from Rutgers University’s College of Engineering and an MSEE from Cornell University’s College of Engineering.

Mr. Rothweiler is married to Mary Anne Lynch and they have a daughter Madeleine Lynch ’21.

A: “Moravian is a place with tons of great tradition and it’s really poised to take off with the new strategic plan. I firmly believe that this school is ready to take that next step and continue to challenge our students and our teachers in this new era of teaching and learning. The students at MA are friendly, and the parents I’ve interacted with so far have been huge proponents of the school and supportive of the faculty.”

Q: Describe the approach to navigating your first year.

A: “My primary objective this year is to take

a look at the whole program of the Middle School, but even more importantly to build relationships—not only with students, but also with faculty and staff. It’s the same thing that I want our students to do—build relationships with each other. I want our faculty to continue to build relationships with the students, our parents to build relationships with our faculty and to continue to build relationships with their kids.”

“I also plan to study, ask questions, and learn, while continuing to share my experiences at other independent schools, including what I’ve seen other schools doing, and what the grand world of independent

schools is talking about and implementing across our country. In this modern era we have to look at things differently. I always liken it to a race: we’re running together, trying to help our students get to the finish line, but if we stop or slow down the other runners (or schools) may have passed us, and that’s not acceptable. We need to be out there in front of everyone else, rather than running at the same pace.”

students are smart, but they’re also good citizens, too. Molding talented students and helping to develop good people in collaboration with their parents is key.

Most students will not remember the daily lessons/themes explored in each academic class, but they will remember key experiences and apply them later in life. The job of middle school educators is to provide a safe learning environment, where students take risks, enjoy their time in class, and grow to be good citizens both in and out of school.”

Q: What is your goal for the Middle School educational experience?

A: “My personal opinion is that middle

school is about skill development and having good experiences that set adolescent students up for success at the Upper School. A great Middle School is not always about how much content you teach students or how much information you pack into a class. Instead, I believe that middle schools should focus on developing lifelong habits and solid academic skills. I want our young students to be able to fly once they get to the Merle-Smith Campus and the way to do that is to make sure that they have the habits and skills they need.”

“I think the other piece to the puzzle of a great middle school experience, and what Moravian Academy and other independent schools do, is character education. Our

Q: Lastly, would you share with us what you were like as a middle schooler?

A: “I was a young man who attended a small public school, but thinking back on my experiences I was lucky enough to have a group of teachers in middle school who cultivated a passion in me, but also showed me that they cared. Every student at MA deserves to have the same experience as I had. It took me until middle school to put all the pieces together. As a student, I would much rather be building, creating, climbing trees, playing soccer, and playing outside than sitting in class. It was an eighth grade teacher who helped me to see that I could do both and it’s one of the reasons why I like to connect with kids this age.”

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NEW BEGINNINGS WELCOME NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MS in education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His daughter, Ainsley, joins the kindergarten class this year, while Adelaine joins the Primer Program.

Kutztown University, and is currently working toward obtaining his master’s degree in Library Science from San Jose State University. He has previously served as a substitute in the Allentown, Governor Mifflin, Easton, Palmerton, Ephrata, and Cocalico School Districts.

FERNANDO CARIZZO

Upper School Driver’s Education Teacher and Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach Mr. Fernando Carizzo is actually not new to our community, as he has been the boys’ assistant varsity soccer coach since 2012. This year, he takes on another role at the Upper School as a driver’s education instructor. Mr. Carizzo has worked with students for many years, and has coached soccer at the club, middle school, high school, college, and professional levels for more than 20 years. His daughter, Ava, also joins the Moravian Academy community as a member of the kindergarten class.

JIANLAN FU

Upper School Chinese Teacher Ms. Jianlan Fu is an experienced Chinese language instructor and native speaker who is certified to teach at the pre-kindergarten level through twelfth grade. She most recently taught multiple levels of Chinese language and Asian American studies at Tacony Academy Charter High School in Philadelphia. Prior to this experience, Ms. Fu taught Chinese language at the Guandong Huangpu Vocational School of Health in Guangzhou, China. Ms. Fu earned a BA in Chinese Language and Literature from Jiangxi Normal University in Nanchang, China, and an MEd in Educational Media and Technology from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN.

ERIC LEADBETTER

Director of Lower School Extended Session Mr. Eric Leadbetter loves mentoring young people and sees potential in everyone he meets. His interests include writing, film, and technology, and he has established strong relationships with the extended/ after-school programming at area colleges and universities. Mr. Leadbetter earned a BS in Child Development/Marriage and Family Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in Education from University of Phoenix.

Director of Middle School

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KYLE GREENWOOD

MICHELE LEHEUP

Mr. Kyle Greenwood arrived at the Middle School this October to serve as interim Director of Media Services, a role he will fulfill for the remainder of the school year. He has a BA in journalism from Pennsylvania State University, a teacher certification in Library Science from

Ms. Michele LeHeup is another familiar face to our community, as she previously worked as a part-time administrative assistant at our Middle School. This year, she joins the Lower School front office as an administrative assistant. A former teacher and educational technology specialist, Ms.

Interim Director of Media Services, Middle School

moravian academy journal Fall 2015

CHANGES IN RESPONSIBILITIES Lower School Mrs. Brooke Bauer – Moved from second grade to Primer Mrs. Vicki Beer – Moved from first grade to fourth grade

RICHARD POLGAR

Upper School Substitute History Teacher

JOHN DONECKER

Mr. John Donecker is an experienced educator who comes to us from the Sanford School in Hockessin, DE, where he was Middle School Dean of Students.

At Sanford, Mr. Donecker successfully led a school-wide initiative to create a new schedule, spearheaded a variety of 21st-century curricular developments, and instituted student-led conferences for parents and teachers. In addition to his administrative duties, Mr. Donecker taught seventh grade geography and coached the varsity boys’ soccer team. He earned a BA in history at Bucknell University and an

LeHeup has taught accounting, web design, computer, business, and personal finance courses in several area school districts over the last nine years. She also served as a principal’s secretary in the Southern Lehigh School District and assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs and office receptionist at Cedar Crest College. She holds a BS in management and business from Cedar Crest College and a teaching certification from Delaware Valley College.

Lower School Administrative Assistant

VERONICA PASCUZZI

Lower School Spanish Immersion First Grade Teacher Ms. Veronica Pascuzzi joins our Lower School as a Spanish Immersion teacher for the first grade class. A native of Argentina, Ms. Pascuzzi has taught prekindergarten and kindergarten in Buenos Aires and stateside at schools in the Bronx, New York. She has had experience developing kindergarten curriculum, translating English instructional materials to Spanish, and training and supervising assistant teachers in classroom management and curriculum development.

In addition to teaching young children, Ms. Pascuzzi has also worked as a graphic designer and website developer. She earned an AS in Early Childhood Education from Borough of Manhattan Community College, a BS in Early Childhood Education from City College of New York, and an MS in Education from Hunter College. Her son, Sebastian, also joins our community as a member of the prekindergarten class.

Mr. Richard Polgar joins our Upper School history department this academic year, filling in for Mr. Christopher Eckman while he is on leave with his family in Argentina. Mr. Polgar returns to his native Bethlehem, PA from the Hyde School in Bath, ME. Throughout his more than 20 years in teaching, Mr. Polgar has also had extended appointments at George School and Friends Academy, both in suburban Philadelphia.

Mrs. Melissa (Hummel) Heffron – Moved from Lower School Extended Session to pre-k assistant teacher Mrs. Meghan Hinkle – Primer assistant teacher, in addition to PE teacher

Middle School Mrs. Meredith McCambridge – Director of Middle School Admissions, in addition to Middle School Dean of Students and eighth grade math teacher

LAUREN TULCHINSKY

Primer Program Assistant Teacher

Ms. Lauren Tulchinsky joins lead teacher Mrs. Brooke Bauer and Primer assistant Mrs. Meghan Hinkle in our new Primer program for three year olds. Ms. Tulchinsky earned a BA in astrophysics from Franklin & Marshall College and has had lead teaching experience in prekindergarten and second grade at Edlin School in Reston, VA. Her style of teaching is hands-on and activity-based, and her interests in quantum mechanics, astronomy, mentoring, and tutoring will broaden the scope of offerings at the Lower School.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Community Picnic

ALL SCHOOL CHAPEL

And Flag Raising

On Tuesday, September 1st, the entire school community gathered at Central Moravian Church for our traditional All School Chapel.

A New School Year Begins

KICKING OFF OUR 274TH YEAR

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To read a transcript of Mr. King’s Meditation, go to www.moravianacademy.org/ 2015OpeningChapelMeditation.

own way if we work hard to fully develop the gifts God has given us.”

Senior Vivek Katara delivered the Benediction, “Prayer of Thomas Merton,” eighth grader Taylor Busch led the responsive reading, and fifth grader Rohan Mehta led both the school prayer and The Lord’s Prayer.

Headmaster George N. King, Jr. delivered the final All School Chapel Meditation of his tenure “Heed Your Callings—The Journey To Fulfillment”—and took the opportunity to remind members of the Moravian Academy community to embrace and appreciate their many Godgiven talents.

He encouraged students, “As the academic year progresses and you have an opportunity to interact with your teachers, ask them how they developed their gifts and talents. Ask them how their gifts and talents are related to their passions.

God has given each of us our own special gifts. Although they may not be the same as John Coltrane’s, we can be great in our

Don’t be like the man in the parable found in the book of Matthew, Chapter 25, who buried his talents; strive to be like John Coltrane, Thomas Edison and a multitude of other people known and unknown.

Develop your gifts and talents to the fullest.”

Following the service, everyone gathered around the flagpole in front of the CE Building for the flag-raising ceremony and to sing our alma mater. This year’s American flag was donated by the family of Mrs. Carolyn Johnson Conard, former honorary Trustee and beloved long-term member of our community who passed away on August 3, 2015. To honor her memory, great-grandchildren London ’27 and Parker ’26 raised the flag.

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RED AND GOLD

Games Day

FATHERS’ LOVEFEAST

and Class Visitation

The 46th Annual

COUNTRY FAIR

The morning of October 21st was filled with sunshine and smiles as the Lower and Middle Schools welcomed our dads for the annual Fathers’ Lovefeast.

Dads began their day by joining their sons and daughters in the classroom, taking part in various projects and observing lessons, before heading to Central Moravian Church for the Lovefeast service.

This year’s Meditation was delivered by Moravian Academy parent, Mr. Faust

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Capobianco IV (Luisa ’21, Elena ’23, and Faust ’26), who recounted the life lessons he learned as a student athlete at a small Catholic high school known more for their losses than their wins. He also spoke of the lessons he learned from his father when he became president of the family company, Majestic Athletic.

The morning concluded with a light lunch in the CE Auditorium, courtesy of the Parents’ Association.

Mr. Faust Capobianco IV

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Upper School

COFFEEHOUSE

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

Before departing for the much-anticipated Thanksgiving break, students in all Divisions invited their grandparents to campus for a very special grandparents visitation day.

Upper School students welcomed their grandparents on November 23rd for a day that began with light refreshments and a welcome by Headmaster George N. King, Jr. Then, grandparents joined their grandchildren for a special Chapel service filled with music and memories.

Highlights included an Invocation “Thanksgiving” poem by Howard Thurman read by Elizabeth Burke ’19, performances by the Upper School Wind Ensemble (directed by Dr. Richard Fanning), and a performance of “In Color,” sang by Upper School French teacher Miss Carolyn Wert accompanied on piano by Mr. Leon Galitsky, Upper School math teacher.

Dr. Fanning shared his memories of becoming a grandparent this year, while Upper School Director Mr. Brian Kelly, Jack 16

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Lutostansky ’19, Alyssa Ahdieh ’16, Samantha Marino ’16, Miss Wert, Adrianna DiMarco ’16, and cousins Shelby Nickerson ’16 and Scotty Crouthamel ’17 all shared touching memories of their beloved grandparents. After Chapel, grandparents stayed for lunch and classroom observation.

Lower and Middle School celebrated their grandparents the following day with a traditional Lovefeast. Grandparents began their morning with classroom visits before heading to Central Moravian Church for the service.

Middle School String Orchestra and the fifth grade class each provided the Ministry of Music, and several Lower and Middle School students shared special memories and poems about spending time with their grandparents. Relatable stories of family vacations, baking cookies, and long-standing traditions touched everyone in attendance with the common theme of love and family. moravian academy journal Fall 2015

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Fourth graders monkeyed around Steve Tobin’s studio.

Eighth graders launched rockets on Wallops Island, VA.

Pre-K visited Seiple Farms.

FIELD TRIPS, RETREATS

and Off Campus Adventures

First graders visited Troxell-Steckle farm where they learned about how Pennsylvania Germans celebrated Christmas in the mid-1800s.

In October our second graders enjoyed a day at Burnside Plantation.

Students and faculty whitewater rafting the Delaware River during the Freshman Retreat.

Sixth graders had a fantastic time at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

Our Lower School three apple-estimation winners delivered 18 pies to the Trinity Episcopal Church soup kitchen.

Third graders visited Peace Valley Nature Center and learned about Native American life. They learned the essentials of how to start a fire and experienced what life is like in a wigwam.

Upper School students decorated pumpkins with residents of a local nursing home.

On the Upper School Day of Service, students visited Iglesia Esperanza, Bethlehem.

Kindergarteners visited the Wildlands Conservancy.

Kindergarteners visited the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley to pay tribute to Veterans and deliver cards and handmade gifts.

Seventh grade visited Washington Crossing First graders enjoyed a day at the park.

State Park.

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Upper School Outdoor Education hike.

Upper School students visited the Civic Theatre of Allentown.

Sixth graders enjoyed many teambuilding activities at their fall retreat.

Mrs. Patrice Kidd and the Middle School Handbell Choir brought music and joy to numerous Lehigh Valley locations in December.

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The Art Gallery Visual arts at Moravian Academy never looked so good! Take a peek of some recent projects from the classrooms of Mr. Elstein, Mrs. Beil, Mr. Brolly, Ms. Maurer, and Mrs. Woodruff ...

Throwing pottery on the wheel offered Ceramics II students a quiet respite from the chaos of the day.

Everyday objects clipped from magazines inspired eighth graders to create unique figures and faces.

Colorful symmetrical monster portraits created by third graders.

Name game: First graders learned to paint their name one block letter at a time.

Mrs. Beil’s eighth grade students used clay to create fruit-formed faces inspired by 16th-century Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

Geometric shape paintings in progress.

Photograms introduced Photo I students to the darkroom, light sensitive materials, and the chemicals needed to develop an image.

Students put the finishing touches on collaborative mosaic panels with Lower School arts teacher Mr. Brian Elstein.

These geometric shape paintings had students in Mrs. Beil’s class working together in a round-robin format.

A mosaic panel up close.

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Self portraits began with patience and a pencil in Mr. Elstein’s third grade class.

A wooden spoon created in Mr. Brolly’s Introduction to Woodworking class.

Inspired by the apiaries on campus, freshmen used pastels on black paper to capture the interesting details of bees in large-scale form.

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SENIOR GIVING

Through their “Give a Gift, Build a Legacy” campaign, the Class of 2015 voted to direct their senior class gift toward purchasing American flags and Moravian Academy banners to be hung across the Merle-Smith Campus.

Each year, the senior giving program encourages seniors to leave their mark on the Academy and these flags and banners will serve as a constant reminder of the impact this class has had on its alma mater.

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT TAX CREDIT FOR TUITION

NEWS

GOLF OUTING A SUCCESS

SAVE THE DATE

MA AUCTION 2016

Sunny skies and a rousing scramble format made this year’s Golf Outing a success. Eighty-five members of the Moravian Academy community enjoyed the challenges of the course at Lehigh Country Club, raising nearly $40,000 to be used to bridge the gap between tuition and the cost of educating students.

The committee is already being formed for next year’s event. Interested in volunteering? Call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 610-332-5291.

Area businesses continue to help the students of Moravian Academy through the EITC and OSTC tax credit programs in Pennsylvania. These state programs allow businesses to take tax credits to make donations to Moravian Academy and provide funds that are used to offer financial aid assistance to those students who need it most.

The next Moravian Academy Auction will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Northampton Country Club. The theme of this year’s event will be an evening in Monte Carlo. This is sure to be a fantastic evening not to be missed!

Donating to Moravian Academy in this way is easy. All a company needs to do is complete a one-page state application and indicate the type of tax program in which they would like to participate—EITC – Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program or OSTC – Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program. Once the credit is approved by the state, the business makes the donation to Moravian Academy and the money goes directly to need-based financial aid.

More than 40 businesses have raised more than $1 million for Moravian Academy in the last 10 years. To learn more, contact Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement at 610-332-5291 or bzaiser@moravianacademy.org.

5K FUN RUN/WALK

SENIOR POST-TERM

Calling all parents, alumni, and members of the Moravian Academy community

Cooler temps and a slight drizzle did not dampen spirits for the more than 50 runners who came out to participate in the 8th annual Fun Run/Walk at Country Fair on October 3rd!

Please join me in volunteering to host a Senior Post-Term experience and give our seniors an inside look at what it is like to do the work that we do.

The top three male runners were: Hunter Zahm ’18, Dylan Carter ’19, and Hugh Brolly ’18. The top three female runners were: Lizzie Stifel ’19, Maya Green ’20, and Justine Dell ’18.

The Senior Post-Term is a short-term internship job-shadowing program that occurs each May, for five to seven days (or the equivalent of 45 hours), during which our seniors are able to explore career options in preparation for college.

This has been a long-standing tradition at Moravian Academy and I remember well my post-term experience 30 years ago. Since then, I have had the pleasure of hosting several seniors over the years, a few with whom I have kept in touch.

This is a great way for our alumni to give back to the Academy and a wonderful opportunity for our parents to have a preview of what their child will experience at the Upper School, in addition to getting to know the incredible young men and women who are graduating from Moravian Academy. For more information or to sign up to host a Senior Post-Term project, go to www.moravianacademy.org/SeniorPost-Term.

Thank you, The Honorable Judge Paula A. Roscioli ’83 22

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Michael Pappalardo ’15 during his Senior Post-Term experience in the Northampton County Sherriff ’s Department. moravian academy journal Fall 2015

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Fields & Courts

UPPER SCHOOL FALL AWARDS CROSS COUNTRY MVP Nilaya Knafo ’16 and Samuel Li ’16 Captain’s Award Nilaya Knafo ’16, Olivia Morton ’16

and Alex Rand ’16

Moravian Academy hosted the annual Lions’ Invitational Cross Country Meet on September 7th.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FALL AWARDS BOYS’ SOCCER Lions’ Pride Award Quantum Leap Award Coach’s Award

Avijit Singh ’20 Ben Haddad ’20 Evan Edelman ’20

GIRLS’ SOCCER Lions’ Pride Award Gabrielle Oudin ’20 Quantum Leap Award Maya Ettle ’20 Coach’s Award Luisa Capobianco ’21 and

Grace Sanborn ’21

FIELD HOCKEY Lions’ Pride Award Quantum Leap Award Coach’s Award

The varsity field hockey team won the Colonial League Championship Title and the District XI Class AA Championship Title, earning a spot in the PIAA State Tournament.

Chasey Augustin ’20 Karilyn Kruklitis ’20 Paige Busch ’21 and Amelia Loftus ’21

The varsity soccer team won the District XI Class AA Championship Title for the second consecutive year, earning a spot in the PIAA State Tournament.

The golf team took home the Colonial League Team Championship Title and the District XI Class AA Title. moravian academy journal Fall 2015

Cory Haldeman ’16 and Colin McQueen ’16 Cory Haldeman ’16 Colin McQueen ’16 Griffin Lombardi ’19

FIELD HOCKEY Captain’s Award

MVP Offense MVP Defense MIP JV Coach’s Award

Katie Persin ’16 and Dana Turner ’16 Mayv Clune ’17 Brittany Romanczyk* Vivian Simone* Julia Reed ’19

BOYS’ SOCCER Captain’s Award Jack Painter ’16 and Tanner Shane ’16 MVP Jack Painter ’16 and Tanner Shane ’16 MIP Peyton Joseph ’16 Coach’s Award Naveen Ailawadi ’19 GIRLS’ SOCCER Captain’s Award

MVP MVP Coach’s Award

Sarah Burcaw ’16, Zoe Delaney, ’16 Ashley Ender ’16, and Lyla King ’16 Sarah Burcaw ’16 Hannah Katz ’18 Caroline Joseph ’18

GIRS’ TENNIS Captain’s Award Rachel Fromer ’16 MVP Skyler Hammond ’17 MIP Taylor de Castro ’18 and Claire Hoffman ’17 Coach’s Award Grace Nixdorf ’19

* Notre Dame of Green Pond student

CROSS COUNTRY Lions’ Pride Award Jack Blobe ’20 and Maya

Green ’20 Quantum Leap Award Jade Farr ’20 Coach’s Award Stephen Ender ’21

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GOLF Captain’s Award

MVP MIP Coach’s Award

Colin McQueen ’16 shot 69 to win the individual Colonial League Championship.

Corey Haldeman ’16 placed second.

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Alumni News MEET THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD

KARALYNNE (CLARK) PARZYCH ’07 After graduating from Moravian Academy, Karalynne attended Franklin & Marshall College, majoring in Government and American Studies, and continued her education at Drexel University School of Law. She currently works as a law clerk for the Honorable Jeffrey L. Finley in Doylestown, PA. In September 2014, she married her Upper School sweetheart, Alex Parzych ’07, and the couple resides in Doylestown but hopes to return to the Lehigh Valley after Karalynne completes her clerkship.

“I appreciate the skills that I learned at Moravian Academy and feel that the school prepared me to succeed in both college and law school,” she says. “By joining the Alumni Board, I hope to be more closely involved with Moravian Academy. It would be a more hands-on way for me to give back to a school that helped to shape both my academic and personal life.”

Alumni Association Executive Board 2015-2016 Samuel Cohen ’98, President John Spurlock ’01, Vice President Karley Biggs Sebia ’00, Secretary Peter Tabbot ’86, Treasurer Christine Cyr Salgado ’86 Lori Davis Fanning ’93 Rachel Large ’08 Norman Navarro ’84 Allison Vasta Nicholson ’98 Karalynne Clark Parzych ’07 Allison Brooks Shimon ’93 Lauren Sorrentino ’94 Wilbur Soulis ’54P Elizabeth Verhalen ’96 Robert Vidoni ’95 Alexandria Wiedorn ’09 26

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Distinguished Alumna Regina “Gina” Low ’60P

MA VISITS YOU Headmaster George N. King, Jr. and members of the Institutional Advancement staff have been visiting and enjoying time with alumni all over the country. Please be on the lookout for emails and other communication regarding a visit to your area. For a list of upcoming events, visit www.moravianacademy.org/ alumnievents.

SOCIAL MEDIA Join our alumni groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, and invite your friends and contacts to join as well. It’s a great way to reconnect with fellow classmates, network, and access news and events.

“Like” the Moravian Academy Theatre Alumni page on Facebook—a place for alumni of the Moravian Academy Upper School Theatre program to share their current theatrical endeavors!

Reunion Class Chairs – Help plan and promote attendance at your milestone reunions (next year, our focus will be on years ending in 6’s and 1’s) Regional Committee Members – Communicate with alumni in your region and help plan local events.

Young Alumni Network – Provide input on events and activities for our recent graduates (10 years or less).

COLLEGE CORNER The College Corner series highlights Moravian Academy graduates currently enrolled in their junior and senior years of college. The articles appear on the Academy website and focus on why students chose a particular college, what they like best about their college experience, what classes they are taking, and extracurricular activities in which they

are involved, as well as how their experience at the Academy helped to prepare them for college. If you are interested in being featured in College Corner, please contact Tracy Bozik, Director of Alumni Relations, at tbozik@moravianacademy.org. Also, be sure to visit our website and read up about our young alumni!

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US! Send us your class notes on the enclosed notecard and we will include your news in the next issue of “The Journal.” Pictures are welcome and can be sent via email. Also, be sure to send us your updated contact information so we can keep you

When you travel to Reunion weekend from South America you’re pretty much guaranteed to always win the award for most miles traveled. But this year, alumna Regina “Gina” Low was in attendance to accept an award of much more importance.

Receiving the Distinguished Alumna Award came as a surprise to Low, who remains modest about the considerable accomplishments of her non-profit, the Association Promoting Education and Conservation of Amazonia (APECA) in Peru.

“I don’t consider what I’m doing as something that is mine. It’s an interest of mine and the fact that it has been successful is great, but it’s only because of the people who have gotten behind APECA. And that’s certainly a lot more people than me,” she says.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED There are many ways to reconnect with your alma mater! If you have some time to give, volunteers are needed in the following areas: Class Agents – Act as a liaison between Moravian Academy and your class, sharing information and soliciting feedback, receiving Class Notes and updating information, and stewarding class fundraising efforts for the Annual Fund and Benigna Cup Challenge.

By Meghan Szvetecz

up-to-date with alumni news and upcoming events!

For more information on any of the alumni opportunities listed here, contact Tracy Bozik at 610-332-5282 or tbozik@moravianacademy.org.

From Tourist to Activist Low first visited northeastern Peru in 1993, curious to observe the ancient spiritual practices of the indigenous people. The journey exposed Low, then 50, not only to the history and culture of this remote area, but also to the extreme poverty of the natives and devastation of natural resources brought on by foreigners.

Upon returning home Low couldn’t shake this feeling that she should do something to help. What she did next she attributes only to listening to her heart and putting into action the Moravian teachings of her upbringing.

She sold her home and whatever contents her grown children didn’t want, then used the money to purchase a river taxi that served as a mobile health clinic and even her residence for more than two years. She didn’t speak a word of Spanish. She wasn’t a nurse or a licensed educator, an engineer or a trained relief worker. And up until this point she didn’t even have a resume to speak of. “It was a big decision but it was an easy one to make,” she recalls.

Low discovered at an early age that she had an interest in social issues and recalls that one of the first times she experienced the joy of giving back was as a Lower School student, collecting donations for the building of a hospital in Nicaragua where classmates’ parents were doing missionary work. When Low’s mother told her she needed to earn the

money herself, she remembers taking fabric scraps and rose petals from their garden to fashion sachets that she sold door-to-door for a quarter.

On a Mission The river taxi was just the beginning for APECA in Peru, which has greatly expanded to meet the needs of the Mestizo people.

Malnutrition, a lack of personal health education, deforestation, pollution—the list of issues is extensive and it’s why Low has spent nearly 80 percent of the last 23 years in Peru.

Progress has been slow but rewarding, and over the years Low has learned how to take it one small step at a time and celebrate victories along the way.

Education is paramount—for the indigenous people and a government that lacks the resources and infrastructure to serve Peru’s poorest citizens. “The country of Peru now knows and respects APECA and what APECA is trying to do. The government doesn’t have the money or the people [to help], but they will cooperate with us and that’s huge,” she says.

Another key to APECA’s success has been Low’s natural ability to form partnerships in order to broaden their reach.

Drinking water is contaminated with parasites, as well as lead and mercury that seep in from nearby oil drilling and gold mining.

With Rotary Clubs in the US and Rotary International, APECA is currently piloting a rainwater collection project, an expansion of their initial clean water project in 2004.

For the last decade, Low has witnessed how clean drinking water has improved the lives of the indigenous people. With better health, families have stopped thinking only about illness and started planting vegetable gardens.

“Get the natives well, then we can help the community move forward,” she explains.

Partnering with the Ministry of Health has allowed APECA to organize essential health care services such as vaccinations, dental care, midwifery training and preventative health screenings for more than 140 communities along the Amazon River.

Deforestation is threatening not only these communities but the wellbeing of the world’s ecosystem, too. And once again, education has

Gina Low considers Moravian Prep as influential in shaping her ideals as her parents. “My parents have since passed away and I delight in the fact that Moravian is still around and I was a part of it,” says Low, who stills keeps in touch with many members of her tight-knit class.

been essential to conservation. When Low grew tired of endless repairs to her water taxi she coordinated the building of a training center, El Fundo, where conservation efforts are literally being cultivated.

Tree seedlings are grown on site and distributed to communities for planting. Over 2,200 trees have been planted and for nearly a decade natives have worked alongside APECA volunteers and volunteers from several other global non-profits to learn how to plant for the future.

Forestry training seminars have ensured that the youth will be able to maintain progress and one day use the trees for building and fuel, while leadership training in partnership with the Ministry of Education empowers youth to work together and with government agencies to serve the needs of their villages.

The goal has always been to build a selfsustaining Peru. APECA’s Board of Directors is now entirely Peruvian and Low says she realizes that it’s time for her to prepare to take a step back and spend more time with APECA, Inc. registered in the US, cultivating donors and partners near her southern California home. Tenacity has taken Low far from her hometown, but even closer to her Moravian roots. “You can’t do it all, but you can do something.”

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Distinguished Alumna

Honorary Alumna

By Meghan Szvetecz

By Meghan Szvetecz

Winifred Romeril ’85

Romeril, volunteer through their Episcopal church and as a teen she spent summers as a camp counselor for disadvantaged youth in Reading, PA. During the school year, Romeril befriended many of Moravian Academy’s former international boarding students, her parents inviting them to spend the holidays with Winnie and her brothers, George ’75, Andrew ’79 and Martin ’84, at Benigna House, which they rented on the Merle-Smith Campus.

“It was like the United Nations at Thanksgiving, with a trail of students from different countries coming to visit. I got used to interacting with people from all walks of life,” she says.

Romeril enjoyed the exposure to different cultures and jumped at her first opportunity to travel, switching her language study from French to Spanish during junior year so she could participate in an exchange trip to Puerto Rico through the Diocese of Bethlehem.

The experience both fueled her passion for travel and influenced her desire to live a life of service. “It got to the point when being outside of my comfort zone was sort of the norm. I like being in situations that are kind of chaotic and a little unstable; I’m comfortable in that,” she says.

If you follow Winnie Romeril’s life’s work then it is easy to see why fellow alumni would have nominated her for this year’s Distinguished Alumna Award. But for Romeril, the honor comes as a surprise, as she is quick to point out that her path has never been conventional.

“I feel like a lot of my classmates have become doctors and lawyers and I’ve sort of meandered around and had all of these different career paths. It’s a testament to the values at Moravian Academy for their consideration of me,” she says.

Leading with a Hopeful Heart From volunteering with the Red Cross as an emergency first responder for the world’s most devastating disasters to acting as an unarmed bodyguard for human rights activists with Peace Brigades International to her current job as a flight paramedic in rural upstate New York, Romeril is driven by a need to help others when they need it most— wherever that may be.

“It’s all been kind of an adventure and I’ve taken advantage of opportunities that have come along,” she says. None of her careers has ever been planned, and while she says she can’t recall any one teacher at Moravian Academy uttering the words, ‘do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ the sentiment seemed to be ubiquitous.

Romeril watched her parents, Robert and Canon Gwendolyn-Jane

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Supporting on the Front Lines The assumption may be that with disaster relief and emergency support she would thrive on adrenaline, but Romeril explains that it’s actually the challenge of maintaining a level head and strategizing next steps.

The Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the earthquake in Haiti—Romeril has been on the front lines of many headline-making events and says she’s taken something away from each experience.

Bonnie Wismer

Recall the teacher who made the most impact on your academic experience and what comes to mind? An inspiring quote they once recited? Exposure to an eye-opening book or movie? More than likely, you would remember the passion for their subject and enthusiasm they brought to the classroom each and every day.

Fostering a Francophile When Bonnie Wismer stepped foot onto the Upper School campus in 1974 she was barely older than the students in her class. A senior at Moravian College, Wismer (Miss Boscia, as she was known then) was encouraged to take on this first teaching experience by French professor and mentor Dr. Dorothy Tyler. Dr. Tyler, who had taught at Moravian Prep years earlier, received a call from Carolyn Conard (former Associate Headmaster and Director of Studies) who was in need of a long-term substitute.

Wismer credits Dr. Tyler for not only connecting her to a place that would become her home for the next four decades, but for imparting to her the basics of successful teaching.

“She was my role model for an effective and passionate foreign language teacher,” Wismer says. “During my years of teaching, I always strived to instill that same excitement for French and Francophone culture in my students.”

It was Dr. Tyler who also encouraged Wismer to spend her junior year of college in Paris, “a necessary requirement for anyone wanting to improve their language skills and learn about the culture firsthand,” she says. “That year in France forever changed me and only deepened my love of France and all things French.”

“Learning to be a learner—that’s what I got at Moravian. They say when you’ve seen one disaster you’ve seen one disaster because every one is unique, but there are definitely aspects that are translatable,” says Romeril, who is often sought out for her expertise in acting as a media officer in emergencies.

It also drove Mrs. Wismer to organize countless trips to Quebec City and France for Middle and Upper School students. And when a former colleague connected Wismer to Madame Pichard at Notre-Dame SaintSigisbert School in Nancy, France, it led to the Academy’s first official student exchange in the 2004-2005 school year and the establishment of an eighth grade pen pal exchange.

But supporting victims requires compassion, too. “A lot of times what I’ll remember about disasters is when I gave someone a hug when they needed it most and they could cry on my shoulder. Sometimes that’s all you can offer—a hug and a little bit of private space so someone can catch their breath again. You’re not going to solve all of their problems but you can support them and give them hope along the way.”

“I am proud of what Madame Pichard and I conceived, and thrilled that so many students have benefitted from this connection between our two schools. The French exchange has survived airline strikes, the swine flu epidemic, volcanic ash from Iceland and even October blizzards, so I hope that it will continue for many more years to come,” she says.

Every decade of Romeril’s life seems to bring with it another open door so she says she’s looking forward to figuring out her next step. Her husband, David Schenck, a crisis counselor, has plans to retire and she’s eager to find a way for them to finally travel together. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know it will figure itself out.”

“From my perspective, one of Bonnie’s greatest contributions to the Moravian Academy community was her work with the French exchange programs,” says Upper School French teacher Kim Sanborn. “It has not been just a beneficial experience for the students; I consider it an amazing professional development opportunity and I now have some close friends in Nancy.”

Following in the Footsteps To see how Wismer followed in the footsteps of her mentor one needs to look no further than her successor since retiring in 2013, Emily (Bross) Quinn ’04. “At the beginning of the 1998 school year I knew little of crêpes, Les Miserables, Mardi Gras, or la Tour Eiffel. Three years later I was hooked,” recalls Quinn, who still remains in touch with her eighth grade pen pal, Juliette.

When Quinn embarked on a college study abroad trip to Avignon, France it was Wismer with whom she exchanged emails. “I felt as though my education did not end after graduating from Moravian Academy. A teacher was continuing to influence my life even from nearly 4,000 miles away,” she says.

After 38 years of exchange trips, pen pals, bûche de Noël and crêpes, Wismer says she only hopes that her former students remember her and her lessons with fondness, “and I hope that I inspired many of them to travel to French-speaking countries and to practice the French they learned.”

Earning the distinction of Honorary Alumna concludes one chapter of Wismer’s history with the Academy and hopefully marks the beginning of another, she says. “It really is a true honor because I have been at Moravian most of my life. I tried to give all I had to give to my students when I was teaching and now as an Honorary Alumna I hope to be able to give in a different way.”

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COMING HOME TO MORAVIAN REUNION WEEKEND 2015

MAKING NEW MEMORIES AT SPECIAL EVENTS

The Moravian Academy Alumni Board annually recognizes influential or inspiring alumni and members of the Moravian Academy community during Reunion Weekend.

Congratulations to our newest recipients: Distinguished Alumna - Regina “Gina” Low ’60P (profile on pg. 27) Distinguished Alumna - Winnie Romeril ’85 (profile on pg. 28) Honorary Alumna- Bonnie Wismer (profile on pg. 29)

Members of the Class of 1960P (left to right): Joseph Gano, Regina “Gina” Low, Richard Weil, and Ernest Normington.

Members of the Class of 1975 (left to right) First Row: Tami Townsend, Henry Koch, Karen Devey Haas, Lloyd Jones, Kimberly Clarke, Duane Gumbs; Top Row: Tom Hoffman, David Barnes, and Kevin Lawson.

2015 Distinguished Alumna Gina Low ’60P receives her award from Alumni Association past President Lori Davis Fanning ’93.

Members of the Class of 1965P (left to right) First Row: Patricia Burkhart Eisenhart, and Thomas Smull; Second Row: Doug Law, Frank Seruga, Jeff Frankenfield, and Nicholas Butterfield.

2015 Distinguished Alumna Winnie Romeril ’85 receives her award from Alumni Association past President Lori Davis Fanning ’93.

Members of the Class of 1965S (left to right): Elaine Carlin Teall, Mary Storer Mahaffey, Phyllis Maghan Orr, and Cynthia Strahler Rhodes.

Great conversations were had at the Sunday Brunch at Benigna House.

Pictured left to right: Charliese King, Nancy Fillman Frankenfield ’64P, and Jean Howell Rinnen ’45P with her daughter, Rebecca.

Members of the Class of 1995 (left to right): Robert Vidoni, Gabriel Boylan, Aimee Walker, Meredith Fretz Merino, Michelle Walson Kuykendall, Alyssa Abo-Lubitz, Zac Cohen, Ginny Van Antwerpen Cohen, Jody Holton, Andy Keller, Meredith Kramer Greenstein, and Greg Feig.

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Moravian Preparatory graduates reminisced during a special reception in the Lower School Gym.

Members of the Class of 2005 (left to right) First Row: Marissa Tinsley, Monica Chen, and Jessica O’Hare; Top Row: Brian Granger, Jared Surnamer, and Gavin McFarland

Andrew McNellis and Panayiotis Vardaxis caught up prior to the Class of 2005’s 10th Reunion Gathering, held at Melt.

Members of the Class of 1985 (left to right): Lynn Ianotta Richardson, Wendy Thompson Sheetz, Susan McCann Blair, and Denise Adomshick Target.

Reunion Lovefeast on October 2nd, 2015: Headmaster George N. King, Jr., Karley Biggs Sebia ’00, Patricia Burkhart Eisenhart ’65P, Regina Low ’60P, Carol Burkhart Normington ’61P, Ann Sloyer Mindler ’70P, Joe Gano ’60P, Lori Davis Fanning ’93, Ernie Normington ’60P, Emily Bross Quinn ’04, Cindy Low Davenport ’58P, Ella Jane Kunkle HA, Sara Litzenberger Polefka ’87, Tom Bross HA, Dick Weil ’60P, Sam Cohen ’98, and Wendy Thompson Sheetz ’85.

Jessica O’Hare ’05 with retired physics teacher Tom Bross at a reception at the AWC.

Current field hockey players donned “throwback” kilts in honor of the 1984 State Championship Team, recognized during half-time of the game.

Members of the Class of 2010 (left to right): Aaron Clair, Yaas Bigdeli, Julie Brau, and Elena Malik. moravian academy journal Fall 2015

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CLASS NOTES 1961

Priscilla Long ’61S had a book of poems, Crossing Over: Poems, recently released from University of New Mexico Press. She is the author of The Writer’s Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life, as well as Where the Sun Never Shines: A History of America’s Bloody Coal Industry. Her shorter works appear widely. They include science, history, creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Her awards include a National Magazine Award.

She lives and writes in Seattle.

1963

D. Brooks Zug ’63P shares that he is still working full-time for HarbourVest Partners, the firm he founded in 1982, and says, “I travel regularly to Europe and Asia, and occasionally to Latin America and the Middle East; but I am moving toward a less active role in 2016. Married to Linda for 46 years, we live in Sherborn, MA, but also spend time the Pocono Mountains, PA, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, and Vail, CO. We have three children and seven grandchildren! I currently serve on the Board of Boston Symphony Orchestra and previously served on the Board of Lehigh University, while Linda is on the Board of Huntington Theatre. I remain active in skiing and bicycling, including recent bike trips in France, Italy, and Slovenia.”

1965

Phyllis Maghan Orr ’65S reports that she just retired after 33 years of teaching. She says, “Parkinson’s has slowed me down slightly, but for the most part I’m doing well!”

1966

Carolyn Banks Maddox ’66S loves living in upstate South Carolina, where she enjoys volunteering at a soup kitchen weekly, as well as knitting, lunches with friends, the beach, and her “grands.”

1969

After a bout with cancer, Rich Nepon ’69P retired from Apple and now volunteers at the REVS Institute in Naples, FL. “They have a fantastic racing car museum! I also am active at The Marco Players Theatre doing tech as well as acting.”

1970

Rich Burke ’70P spent a week in China in April, lecturing at three universities in Guangdong Province. His lectures dealt with a range of topics that included the analysis of fiction in American colleges, American patriotism, and the changing status of women in American society.

1986

Danielle Bliss says, “I am excited to report that after four and a half years living in Paris I have recently moved back to London. In Paris, I was the owner representative for the renovation of a five star hotel on the Avenue George V called the Hotel Prince de Galles. After the project ended, I decided to get back into law firm management and am now the international legal recruiting manager for the law firm, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. I do miss Paris, but am happy to be back in dynamic London. I first moved to London from New York City seven years ago. My decision to move to Paris was due to the need for a change of pace, scenery, and just to take a break, but I happened to get a cool job so I stayed longer than I had originally planned. My plan now is to stay in London, possibly forever (or at least until I retire), but who knows where life will take me next! Keep in touch if you are ever in London.”

’93

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’96

’93

Alexandra Weseloh Roscher was featured in a recent article in The Morning Call highlighting the professional development and training that many teachers do during the summer months. Roscher studied robotics and engineering in a program offered by Bucknell University. She is a Project Lead the Way teacher at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, PA.

Allison Brooks Shimon ’93 and family welcomed a baby boy in July 2015.

Eitan Chaim Shimon joins his three older siblings, Benjamin, Zoey, and Yael.

Class of

’92

Class of

’01

Philip McGonigle shares, “My wife, Suzanne, and I are proud to announce the arrival of our first child, Matthew Quinn, on July 3rd, 2015. Our happy, healthy baby boy weighed 10 pounds at birth and measured 21 ¼ inches. Matthew is an inquisitive little guy who loves music and is excited to join his puppy sister in our home on Long Island. We both feel so grateful and lucky as we embark on this new journey, ready to embrace the many challenges and joys of parenthood!”

William Murphy ’96 and his wife, Reid, welcomed their second daughter, Lindle Louise, 9 pounds, 2 ounces, on May 23, 2015. They reside in Greenville, SC, and also have another daughter, Bennett, who is five.

Class of

’02

Class of

Anderson’s award-wining drawing of “Baby G.”

On May 6, 2015, Samantha Christie Christopher ’92, husband, Ed, and sons, Patrick and Jac, welcomed their newest family member, Fiona Lynn. The family has recently relocated to Stafford, VA.

’73-74

Lucinda Hicks-Beach Quinn ’66S is enjoying retirement from IBM, and recently moved from Danbury, CT to Eastham, MA on Cape Cod. “My grandson, Dean, is six years old and has just entered first grade. Look for me on Facebook—I would love to connect with some of my old Benigna housemates!” She recently caught up with Judith Maltz ’65S (photo above). They were bunkmates in Benigna House during the 1963-1964 school year at Moravian Seminary for Girls and finally caught up with one another!

Class of

Class of

1998

Samuel Cohen was recently named to the 2015 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for his achievements in business litigation.

He focuses his practice on commercial litigation and business disputes, regularly counseling small businesses and large corporations on contracts, employment, product warranties, and zoning disputes.

He was also recognized as a Rising Star

by Super Lawyers in 2014.

Class of

’66S

Class of

Charles Anderson ’01 shares, “In April, I made the trek from New Orleans to Lake City, SC to compete in the South’s largest art competition. I was accepted as an artist with 400 of the South’s premier artists. On the night of the announcement, I was hoping to win at least one of the runner-up prizes so that I at least broke even for my 14-hour trip. Unfortunately, I did not win. Ready to head back to the hotel to beat the traffic, I heard the announcer talking about the top-prize winner. ‘This artist challenges us to create a Culture of Life ...’ the announcer said. Those words were from my artist statement. I was amazed. The announcer called my name and I had the honor of winning the top prize in the largest art competition in the South just five years after I started drawing. The award will allow me to pursue my passion of art in a full-time capacity. I am very grateful for the opportunity.”

Stacy Lipschutz Seltzer ’02, husband, Matthew, and big sister, Gabrielle, welcomed a baby boy, Avi Zachary, on May 26, 2015. The family currently resides in Blue Bell, PA.

Class of

’02

Neil Johnson ’73 and Mary Ann Groner ’74 enjoyed Taco Tuesday at Carney’s on the Sunset Strip! Carneys is a passenger train car from the Union Pacific Railroad that was converted into a burger and taco stand.

Pictured (left to right): Andre Graves (the groom’s best friend/witness), Michael Henderson, Chelsea Severson ’02, and Mary Bozzelli.

At the post-wedding BBQ (left to right): Mary Bozzelli ’02, Alison Lieb ’02, Chelsea Severson ’02, and Cassie Kane ’02.

Chelsea Severson ’02 shares, “I married Michael Henderson on April 3rd at the Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, DC. Mary Bozzelli ’02 served as witness, and Cassie Nesbitt Kane ’02, Alison Lieb ’02, and Geoffrey Finger ’02 attended the reception. I recently joined HMSHost as Corporate Counsel. HMSHost is part of Autogrill S.P.A., the world’s largest provider of food and beverage services for travelers, operating concessions in airports and rest stops around the world. Mike and I live in Washington, DC and regularly travel to New York City, Philadelphia, and once a year to Black Rock City, NV to attend Burning Man and related events and fundraisers.”

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Class of

’02

2003

Maddy Ofrichter shares, “We moved outside of Cleveland, OH, where my husband is the Director of Admissions for Grand River Academy, a boarding school. I am going to be teaching third grade at The Hawken School, located in a suburb of Cleveland. We moved this summer and are exploring our new area, swimming in Lake Erie and meeting new people.”

2005

Charles Philip Harding is pursuing his Ph.D. in Biological Engineering at Utah State University.

Geoffrey Thomas Finger ’02 shares, “Claire Duffett Thomas and I are the proud parents of Louisa Grace Thomas, born on April 18, 2015 in Washington, DC. We will spend the next two years in Cairo, Egypt, working in the US Embassy. We would love to have visitors!”

Jessica O’Hare lives in Concord, NH and works at the Northern Forest Center, a non-profit focused on community development and sustainable forestry.

2007

Bryan Dornseif recently moved back to the Lehigh Valley after four years in Cleveland, OH with PNC Bank. He is now working at National Penn Bank in their Personal Wealth Service department in downtown Allentown.

Kunal Gupta ’07 and Sigourney Labarre ’07 got engaged on July 4th.

Gupta shares, “Snow ball in our junior year was our first date, so getting engaged on the campus of the Moravian Upper School felt right. I proposed down by the art labs where we shared so many memories years ago.”

Bruce Couillard ’48P, of Bangor, PA, passed away in November 2014.

Gladys Owen Munsch ’51S, of Las Vegas, NV, passed away July 19, 2015.

Erin Kara recently received her Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Cambridge, England. Her dissertation thesis was titled “X-ray Reverberation Around Accreting Black Holes.” She is now doing research at the University of Maryland.

2013

DEATHS

Linda Mease Beyers ’60P, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away August 20, 2015.

Jed Schaible ’97, of St. Petersburg, FL, passed away in August 2015.

Audrey Margolis Schoff ’46S, of Sykesville, MD, passed away June 29, 2014.

Devon Wasson shares, “After a summer of research at Bucknell University in Human-Computer Interaction on a project titled ‘Encouraging Positive Behavior in Anonymous Social Networks Using Social Mirrors,’ I will start the semester as president of Bucknell’s ACM Chapter, which is the professional society for Computer Scientists, and as co-chair of the Student Lectureship Committee. In addition, I am a teaching assistant and tutor for engineering and economics classes.”

Eleanor Mount Simmers ’60S, of Harleysville, PA, passed away August 16, 2012.

E. Sandra Sondak ’85, of Stamford, CT, passed away July 20, 2015.

Elizabeth Ann Kift Stephens ’31S, of Hilton Head Island, SC, passed away June 20, 2012.

Thomas B. Trembley ’62P, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away August 22, 2015.

Class of

’15

Olivia Christman ’15 recently completed an exchange program in France. She says, “It was so wonderful!” Olivia with two students from Lycee Notre Dame St. Sigisbert on the banks of Lake Geneva (Lac Le’man). After only a month at home, she left for a year-long NSLI-Y exchange in Taiwan.

Left to right: Kitty S. Merle-Smith Thomas, Carolyn Conard, and Dorothy Burcaw.

REMEMBERING CAROLYN JOHNSON CONARD (1922-2015) Moravian Academy lost a beloved long-time member of our community with the passing of Mrs. Carolyn Johnson Conard on August 3, 2015.

Mrs. Conard was employed at Moravian Preparatory School and then Moravian Academy from 1959 to 1981. Throughout the years, she served as a social studies teacher, Director of Studies, Dean of Faculty, guidance counselor, Head of Upper School, and Associate Headmaster.

Among her many notable contributions to the life of our school, Mrs. Conard was most instrumental in encouraging and leading the successful merger of the Preparatory School and the Seminary in 1971.

She served as a Moravian Academy Trustee and Honorary Trustee since 1982, lending her talents and energy to many Moravian Academy Board committees. She was honored in 1981 for her many years of service, and a flowering tree was planted on the Merle-Smith Campus in her name. In 1986, she honored the Academy by starting

the Carolyn J. and George P. Conard Endowment Fund, which is used for financial aid.

Mrs. Conard was one of Moravian Academy’s most amazing pioneers and trailblazers. In addition to being a great teacher, she helped establish the foundation upon which our fantastic academic and cocurricular programs are based. She was a devoted Trustee and one of the Academy’s most loyal supporters. Her intellect, vision, creativity, and energy will be missed.

Mrs. Conard died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of August 3rd. She had been under hospice care at Kirkland Village in Bethlehem, PA. She was married to George P. Conard II for 56 years before his death in 2003. She is survived by her three children, all of whom attended Moravian Preparatory School—Susan Conard ’66P, Elizabeth Conard ’67P, Gianne Conard ’69P, as well as her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, including two current Moravian Academy students: London Boschen ’27 and Parker Boschen ’26.

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Mrs. Conard’s greatgrandchildren helped to raise the flag at the Opening of School ceremony on September 1st. Pictured (left to right): Elizabeth Conard ’67P, Lindsay Conard-Heiserman ’97, London Boschen ’27, and Parker Boschen ’26. moravian academy journal Fall 2015

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From the Archives May 10, 1969

MORAVIAN ACADEMY ANNUAL FUND 2015-2016 Gifts to the Moravian Academy Annual Fund are powerful investments that ensure our ability to remain a leading educational institution.

Gifts allow us to: Offer a range of educational advantages that give the Moravian Academy experience its distinguished edge.

Hire the finest teachers Maintain new and historic facilities Provide technological enhancements Offer financial aid

Every gift counts, every year. Make your gift today at www.moravianacademy.org/giving

A lot has changed since the inaugural Country Fair, which took place on May 10, 1969 at the former Pleasant Hollow Farms in Coopersburg, PA. Moravian Preparatory School families attending the First Horse Show and Country Fair, as it was known then, enjoyed pony rides and a student horse show, along with many of the games, rides and food that have become synonymous with this now annual fall event.

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MORAVIAN ACADEMY 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEHIGH VALLEY PA PERMIT #583

Founded 1742

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Upcoming Events

Monday, January 18th

No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Friday, January 29th

Parents’ Association Parents’ Night Out

Friday, March 4th- Sunday, March 6th

Upper School Musical

Friday, April 1st

International Family Festival

Monday, April 4th

All School Film Festival Week Begins

Saturday, April 9th

An Evening in Monte Carlo - The Moravian Academy Auction

Friday, April 15th- Saturday, April 16th

Upper School Drama