PARENTS, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS of PALMER TRINITY SCHOOL
EDITOR
Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja
EDITORIAL ADVISORS
Ben Hoke
Bruce Musgrave
Katrina Murphy
Kathy Vale
DESIGN
R+M Collaborative
EXECUTIVE STAFF (alphabetical)
Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja, Director of Communications and Community Relations
Vivian Cerione, Registrar
Laurette Cestare, Head of Middle School
Jose Chao, Director of Finance and Operations
Ashley Chapman, Head of Upper School
Rita Feild, School Counselor
Ben Hoke, Director of Development
Julian Lentz, Chaplain
Susie Loiacono, Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Sean Murphy, Head of School
Bruce Musgrave, Assistant Head of School for Academics
Danny Reynolds, Director of Admission, College Counseling, and Financial Aid
Jake von Scherrer, Director of Athletics
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Susanna Cetta , Director of Annual Funds and Major Gifts
Peg Musgrave, Assistant to Development
Monica Sanchez, Director of Alumni Relations
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Jennifer Agress, Assistant to Communications
Mike Pena, Webmaster
ABOUT AERIE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2010 – 2011
Joseph J. Kalbac, Jr., Chairman
Susan Ludovici, Vice-Chair
Michael Baiamonte, Secretary Jim Davidson, Treasurer
Ricardo Albarran
Susan Benenati
Paula Brockway
Teresa Carreno
Rev. Frank J. Corbishley (Bishop’s Designate)
Rt. Rev. Leo Frade
Eloise Gonzalez-Geller
Charles Klenk
Vicki O’Meara
Rev. Jennie Lou Reid
Darryl Robinson
Isabel Rodriguez
Magdalena Rothfeldt
Bronwen Rutter
Bishop Calvin Schofield
Gary Tarbe
Jo-Ann Titley
Michelle Torbert
Luis Villanueva
The Aerie is published twice a year by Palmer Trinity School for alumni, parents, grandparents, students and friends.
The PTS E-News (our e-newsletter) keeps the community informed of campus events, as well as student and faculty accomplishments. Send story ideas or comments to scalleja@palmertrinity.org or webmaster Mike Pena at mpena@palmertrinity.org.
Palmer Trinity School offers a full-service website — www.palmertrinity.org — where you can, among other things, look up friends in a searchable directory, find out about the latest news and events, and connect with our Alumni office. We also post back issues of our PTS E-News and Aerie magazines online.
For details about our Alumni Relations program, please contact Monica Sanchez at msanchez@palmertrinity.org, or call 305.969.4210.
The Aerie welcomes submissions and suggestions for magazine departments. If you have an idea for a feature story, please email the Aerie editor at scalleja@palmertrinity.org.
You can also join the PTS community by visiting FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/PTSfanpage
Special thank you to RMC (http://www.rmcollaborative.com/), a strategic design and brand innovation company, who has worked tirelessly this year to take the image of Palmer Trinity School to the next level.
Finally, thank you to Original Impressions, especially our Account Representative Lori Casner, for their continued dedication to Palmer Trinity School.
Research, development, discovery.
This issue of our alumni magazine focuses on these three words. With an article about the founding of the Palmer School by Mark Hayes, English teacher and resident PTS historian, we research our past–later observing our development with my article on Tina Lane and the merger of Palmer and Trinity Schools. Constantly growing, our development is too big to contain in a single issue. However, as Palmer Trinity students continue to excel, our contributors shed light on the latest achievements in PTS sports, art, and theater–not forgetting to mention the recent South Campus Dedication Ceremony to symbolize Palmer Trinity School’s exciting future.
Andrew Miller, Class of 2013, explores art and success through his experience participating in the 2011 Florida State Thespian Festival. How does one judge art? Why is the judge’s impression more important than one’s own? PTS Thespian Troupe 5458 experienced firsthand the joy of performing and the complexity of being scrutinized. In the end, Miller understands something key about theater, and about life: “We may strive for high marks, but at the end of the day, we aren’t driven by them. We’re driven by a desire to continue doing what we love and have a great experience doing so.”
In her article on modern-day research, Ruthanne Vogel, PTS Librarian, unites research (remember the card catalog?), development (online libraries in addition to bricks and mortar structures), and discovery (finding that the digital revolution is both accessible and evolving). When she writes about technological advancement and new ways of learning, she is also talking about time–the way we used to do things versus the way we do them now. She reminds us that conjecture about the future will never end because envisioning the future is all about what we can imagine.
Tina Lane’s vision of the future must have been hopeful when she was Chair of the Board of Trustees of Trinity School, before the merger of Palmer and Trinity Schools. Our VisionAerie focus in this issue, Tina Lane helped steer two distinct groups with shared philosophies on education, community, and faith into the school we share today. My profile on Tina, beginning on page 19, highlights her strength, diplomacy, and leadership–factors that are part of the very framework of Palmer Trinity School.
As for discovery? Discoveries abound at our school with so many engaged students and faculty members. Today, Palmer Trinity School goes beyond what even our founders could have imagined, expanding onto 33 acres of additional property to give PTS students the opportunity to take learning to the next level of exploration. With the recent South Campus Dedication Ceremony, honoring the new land, our Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Joe Kalbac, comments on our growth, saying, “Before us is the opportunity to dream, enhance, and expand.” His charge for our ambition is one we strive to instill at Palmer Trinity School. At Palmer Trinity School, we learn that discovery never ends, and that insatiable curiosity may just be the most important thing we can hope for our students.
Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Director of Communications and Community Relations
THE
PHEBE
FINDING INSPIRATION
ALEX KATZMAN, Visual Arts Department Chair
SEASON OF CHAMPIONS
JAKE VON SCHERRER, Director of Athletics PERSPECTIVES
Sean Murphy Head of School
It seems beyond question
that in a school, research, development, and discovery must be the very lifeblood. Each new human being must be taught or introduced to what there is to know about the surrounding world. Where would we be without biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics? How essential is our study of history, government, economics, psychology, and languages in order to understand other people? And perhaps most important to my way of thinking, what kind of creatures would we be without art, literature and religion?
But we are wise to remember the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem who wrote in the Book of Ecclesiastes, “there is no new thing under the sun” (1:9). I am not suggesting that human beings are not constantly discovering things previously unknown, or inventing gadgets that add in some way to the general commerce, comfort or benefit of people, but I do want to keep in mind that in the midst of all our striving there may be vanity and much wind. That is a humbling thought to both the intellect and the soul.
We risk in this day and age of instant access to all things through the internet, and hardly more difficult access to things themselves through affordable travel, giving short shrift to the education of our souls. As Emerson explains in his essay Self-Reliance, “the soul is no traveler.” The inner life of the spirit, and the hard work of religion, may be crowded out by the incessant demands of the information or the endless and delightful experiences available to us outside ourselves. “At home,” writes Emerson, “I dream that at Naples, at Rome, I can be intoxicated with beauty, and lose my sadness. I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea, and at last wake up in Naples, and there beside me is the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from.”
The great dictum of the ancient world, “Know thyself,” first inscribed at the Oracle of Delphi and commonly attributed to Socrates, should be our constant companion. We should carry it with us so as not to travel away from ourselves inadvertently. The deep mysteries of the self and the tenuous bonds we maintain or let loose with our Creator are a curriculum superior to all others. Of course we are going to continue to study the great subjects of the academy, and we will continue to travel the world over. Don’t get me wrong. Like Emerson, “I have no churlish objection to the circumnavigation of the globe, for the purposes of art, of study, and benevolence.” But, as T.S. Eliot says in “Four Quartets,”
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
We begin and end with ourselves, and we must not forget that essential education. To the extent that it can happen in a school, let Palmer Trinity be a place where research, development and discovery humbly serve the ends of greater life and not vanity, not only for us but for everyone.
This summer, enjoy your explorations and return renewed for the 2011-2012 school year.
In the Heart of It All
By: PHEBE HIBSHMAN Drama Department
“I returned home with a renewed energy for teaching.”
This past school year, I attended the 2010 Educational Theatre Association’s annual conference, In the Heart of it All, in New York City. Joined by theatre educators and professionals from across the nation, I was given opportunities to network and grow as a professional educator and leader through workshops, panelists, and keynote speakers from both the field of education and the entertainment industry. If that weren’t enough, this experience gave me the opportunity to see some of my favorite Broadway shows! Returning home with a renewed energy for teaching, I brought new ideas to the classroom that have had a large impact on our theatre department throughout the course of this year.
Though I loved every minute of it, the highlights of my trip included visiting PTS alumni Katherine Wood, a sophomore at The Juilliard School; and meeting Sean Haynes and Tony award winner Katie Finneran with PTS alumni Cecelia Leal and Christina Ludovici, now students at NYU, at a performance of Promises, Promises. Thanks PTS for this wonderful experience!
Finding Inspiration
By: ALEX KATZMAN Visual Arts Department Chair
“As an artist, much of my research comes from within.”
While I am often inspired by the work of others, ultimately, it is up to me to work through my paintings in an effort to improve my gift. As a mother of two and a teacher, my biggest challenge is always making the time to devote to my own work. I often struggle with choosing my subject matter, but I have found that if I am going to fit painting into my life, I need to paint what is around me. Thus, it is not surprising that my students and our PTS campus provide much inspiration. Recently, I have been working on some landscapes and portraits, trying to make the time to paint a little each day. I find that not only does it sharpen my skills, but it inspires and excites my students to see me working. For my portraits, I chose to paint a few of my ever present AP Art students on tree “slices.” I originally began to paint these because I loved the unconventional material, but I have found that it also makes an interesting statement about their youth: how far they’ve come, and how far they have to go. With our recent construction and tree removal, I am finding these pieces of wood to be even more pertinent in my daily work. I find that by focusing on my daily surroundings, I am always able to make time for my research; serving as a daily reminder of just how much beauty exists right outside my window, inside my classroom, and in my students.
PTS Library by Alex Katzman
“Tessa” by Alex Katzman
“Rebecca” by Alex Katzman
DRAMA
ART
Mrs. Phebe Hibshman, Sean Hayes, Cecilia Leal ‘10, and Christina Ludovici ‘10
Season of Champions
ATHLETICS
By: JAKE VON SCHERRER Director of Athletics
Three separate District Championships this school year for PTS
With various sports teams for our middle and upper school students, Palmer Trinity strives to use sports to teach lessons in hard work, discipline, dedication, sacrifice, and teamwork. Along the way, our teams have their share of–to quote ABC’s Wide World of Sports–“the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” During the 2010-2011 Winter sports season, however, our Palmer Trinity Falcons had a particularly impressive string of success: garnering three separate District Championship Titles. While one championship team is reason to celebrate, three–in the same season–exemplify true success. In the aftermath of their achievement, let’s take a moment to look at these impressive programs, their skilled players, and their inspirational coaches.
New head coach and young team prevail
Welcoming a fairly young team and a new head coach, our Girls Varsity Soccer team brought home their 7th consecutive District Championship title in a rigorous season of challenging competition. Introduced as the new head coach for Palmer Trinity School, Mr. Akram Molaka–a long-time club coach and trainer–took little time
in marking his success on the team.
The key players for this year’s club included Nina Mas, Fernanda Rojas, Sarah Medina, Ashley du Feu, and Bailey Evans. Along with their teammates, these girls accomplished many goals, including a regular-season sweep of Westminster Academy, a fourth defeat of the Westminster Warriors in the second round of the FHSAA Regional Playoffs, and a home-field victory in the District Championship game! With the return of their top two goal scorers and starting goalie, it appears PTS will be primed to bring home an 8th title in the 2011-2012 winter season.
Ready to win, the PTS Girls Basketball Team defeated the Westminster Warriors in a fight for the District Championship title. Though the Falcons missed senior captain Lauren Buss, who sustained an injury a few weeks prior to the playoffs, her contributions to the team throughout the season propelled PTS through their most challenging games, allowing her to simultaneously score several season and career highs for points, rebounds, and steals. This season also saw the emergence of sophomore newcomer Stephane Granada, whose excellence in shooting, passing, and defense made her one of the most exciting players in South Florida. With Samantha Smith, Arissa Baiamonte, and Karina Pino returning for another season, the Falcons appear to have plenty of firepower for
another championship run in 2012. Head Coach James Valle, who has helped build the girls program during his six years at PTS, was recognized for his success by being appointed to the staff of two prestigious postseason All Star events in 2011, including head coach for the victorious South Dade All-Stars.
PTS Basketball dominates the competition
Finally, the Palmer Trinity Varsity Boys Basketball team brought home the District Championship title under the direction of returning head coach Ernest Robertson, Jr. Winning five out of six district games this season, including a “thriller” victory over the Westminster Christian Warriors earlier this year, the Falcons maintained an impressive record. Played before a sold-out crowd in the PTS gym, the Falcons defeated the Warriors in the championship game, earning them the title of District Champion for the first time in four years. Contributing to the Falcons’ success, seniors Jonah Kaplan, Ivan Ramirez, and Matthew St. Germain led their team to victory in their final season game as Palmer Trinity Falcons.
Though championships are not the only thing we celebrate at PTS, we never miss an opportunity to revel in our students’ success! Congratulations to all of the Falcon teams and coaches who competed this past year, especially our championship teams of the 2010-2011 winter sports season.
Ellie Newman ’12 kicks the ball during the Varsity Girls Soccer District Championship game against WCS
Stephane Granada ’13 shoots the ball during a Varsity Girls Basketball game
perspectives
Community Garden
By : JULIAN LENTZ Chaplain
For many years now, Palmer Trinity has been exploring numerous issues around the Earth’s capacity to be sustainable and resilient in the 21st century.
During the past six years, several visible and quiet manifestations have been created by students and faculty on campus, such as a recycling program, the walking path, butterfly garden, mangrove restoration project, and re-usable kitchenware. We also have
a small, attractive school vegetable garden. In short, there has been some Research and Development in each of these ventures.
This year, I taught a course called The World Ecology of Food, a semester study connecting practical gardening and cooking skills within a mindful approach to the subject of global sustainability. Matt Altizer ‘11 finished the semester course, and as we grew small amounts of edible food for our class cooking (i.e. herbs, lettuce, radishes, carrots, parsley, cilantro, tomatoes, beans, chard, and strawberries), we wondered together what it might be like to research and design a “theoretical” PTS community garden. Matt and I explored this question through an independent study this past semester.
Using our current school garden as a smaller model, we are now expanding our research and inquiry to another level. What if, strategically speaking, the school wished to grow a garden on perhaps half an acre? What might this
look like for PTS? This was the focus for our research, as we pondered what essential questions needed to be asked.
Some typical questions we started with: Is there sufficient interest?
What are the school’s needs in such a garden? Where might it be located? How will the garden be planted, maintained, and operated? What on-going jobs need to be done? Who will work in the garden and when? What are the garden’s financial costs? Where will the funding come from? Can the kitchen use the produce? And most importantly, what will the design look like?
To this last question, Matt and I continued our research and development throughout the semester with particular focus on issues of water, produce, energy, and design. Based upon the strategic needs and desires of PTS, perhaps a PTS community garden will bring as much joy to our PTS students, faculty, and staff as our current garden does.
Seniors Francesca Fuertas, Father Julian Lentz, Katie DiFede, Matias Faillace, Marina Bertrand, Alexis Ferraro, Daniel Singer, Natalie Dolgiej, and Kevin Quant build a garden at PTS
Seniors Francesca Fuertas, Katie DiFede, Matias Faillace, Marina Bertrand, Alexis Ferraro, Daniel Singer, Natalie Dolgiej, Kevin Quant, and Father Julian Lentz
PTS Lends A Helping Hand
By: BLOSSOM GROSS Art Department and Community Service Coordinator
How wonderful it is to be a part of a school that puts such great emphasis on serving others, and in what better environment can students explore new ways of helping and discovering more about what they have to offer than at Palmer Trinity?
At our school, there is a direct connection between our mission statement and our Community Service Program. Our mission statement says that our school exists to care about the moral and spiritual growth of our students, and that we want them to develop
PTS baseball players Sam Berk, (organizer), Jokari Birdsong, Chris Miller, Gio Soto, Julian Stark, Quentin Wheeler, Justin Ziegelasch, and Coaches Don Harvey and Albert Soto
social responsibility. Having an effective Community Service Program helps us achieve this. Providing students with exposure to various opportunities allows them to be motivated to serve through the values experienced here on a daily basis; and allowing our students to track their community service hours is an important part of this service-learning.
As Director of Community Service this year, I met regularly with grade-level, student-elected community service representatives and club members in the Inter-Club
Council to help them fine tune their community service plans. Direct involvement in the selection of their own opportunities lets students discover and subsequently follow paths of interest; moreover, it teaches them that what they can do is important, not just for them or for their college resume. Time after time, we have seen students return from a hands-on community service project or service learning experience with an overwhelming emotional desire to do more. This self-investment of planning, time, and energy makes service real and allows students to continue service as a part of their lives long after they leave Palmer Trinity.
There have been many ways for students to get involved in service during both semesters. With so many grade-level projects to
choose from, as well as individual opportunities, more students participated this year than ever before. At the beginning of the school year, we saw the entire PTS community turn out in one way or another to show support at the Tony Trot, honoring one of our students and supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Sixth graders took the lead in a class-sponsored event and organized, promoted, and conducted a peanut butter food drive to benefit a local food bank near the school. In addition, entire families came out for events like Race for the Cure, the Autism Speaks Walk, and a day-long event at His House Children’s Home, to name only a few. Clubs are also heavily involved in service work, as are individual students and grade-level elected community service representatives. National Honor Societies and clubs on campus all have a community service component, and have been hard at work on a number of projects. A look at any of the pictures taken at community service events involving PTS will attest to the fact that our students enjoy helping, they enjoy giving, and they enjoy making a difference. They are the proof that what our students are learning is that what they can do makes a difference to many.
As part of our ongoing effort to help the victims of tragedy in Japan, we continue to sell Japanese books, pottery, and artwork on the bottom floor of the library. By helping our cause, you will not only gain a new appreciation for Japanese people and culture, but you will also be doing something to help others in a time of dire need. So far, our efforts have generated over $2000 in revenue towards the rehabilitation of Japan. We appreciate your continued generosity; and look forward to the opportunities life provides to share our kindness with the world around us.
pictured with children from Community Partnership For Homeless, Inc.
Andrew Bicknell, Matthew Roberts, J.D. Madrill, Daniel Chumbley, Jacob Miguel, and Waleed Mneimneh at Autism Walks
Tony Trot 2011
Sixth graders Andrea Gonzalez and Ariana Gomez participate in their annual Peanut Butter Drive
Notes from China
SEBASTIAN NICHOLLS ‘12
Prologue and epilogue by DR. DOUGLAS JORDAN Music Department Chair
About traveling, twentieth-Century Italian writer Cesare Paevse wrote: “It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things–air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky–all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” For many, including me, the journey is both the challenging and most rewarding part of travel.
Being presented with new circumstances, meeting them without reservation, learning from the process and overcoming what is presented are paramount to one’s accomplishment. This is a philosophy that has always helped me to grow, and one that I believe is valuable for students. This overriding philosophy, coupled with the esprit de corps that can only come through working with a group of like-minded and focused peers toward a goal helped to create an experience that can never again be replicated in the lives of all who traveled on the music tour to China. Working hard, preparing, traveling, relating with others and
sharing the product of long-term study gave the individuals who chose to embark on this journey a complete sense of accomplishment and success. From an educational standpoint, sharing all of these attributes and skills with students has been a foundation of the music programs at Palmer Trinity School for many years. It is critical for students to have a knowledge and awareness of their achievement in relation to that of others, and for them to have an opportunity and the confidence to share their achievements with others; perhaps even the world. This past March, sixty-three students had precisely that experience, when they presented repertoire they had developed over the course of the better part of a year. In addition to concertizing in Beijing and Shanghai, the students, conductors, and teachers had the opportunity to visit and learn about some of the most impressive and famous locales, icons, and relics in the World. Through the experience of creating and sharing music, we–myself, my students, and my fellow music teachers and colleague chaperones–enjoyed an experience that can never again be repeated. The following is a reflection from a student on his journey.
Photo by Mary Ann Casas
As the plane dove in for landing in Beijing, I still couldn’t believe it. We were going to be in China in minutes! I looked out the plane window to try to catch my first glimpse of Asia, but all I could see were a few apartment buildings in what seemed like a desert. By the time the plane landed, there was so much smog in the air that I could barely make out the airport. Three years ago, I would not have even considered this a possibility. Traveling halfway across the world to play music is an incredible opportunity; and when I played in an eight-man band at my school in Brazil, before coming to Palmer Trinity, anything beyond playing in the school band room was a big event.
and beautiful gardens in the middle of a concrete jungle. The buildings, painted mostly red with golden roofs, give the city a great sense of vitality.
Today, I can say that I have successfully played two concerts in Asia.
Even though I had been warned about China’s pollution prior to arriving, it’s initial presence continued to amaze me. I could feel the dry dirtiness in my mouth, and tasted chemicals floating in the air. Furthermore, after hearing so much about the prosperity of China, as well as its growing economy, the inequality I found there surprised me. Beijing is a huge city, made mostly of apartment buildings and complexes composed of the same 70s or 80s modernist design. Though beautiful, the lack of lighting and the similarity between buildings makes Beijing appear dull. The Forbidden City was amazing; a collection of
We climbed the Great Wall of China; a feat much easier said than done. The uneven stairs and steep incline of the mountains make the uphill climb an arduous task; but the view from the top, a series of magnificent, centuriesold constructions, is extraordinary. After Beijing, we went to Xian to see the terracotta soldiers, a clay army made to protect the Emperor’s tomb. There are about 2,000 soldiers at the main site, and that’s only a fraction of all the soldiers originally made. It is humbling to see so many faces, each one unique, but all showing a similar expression of solemnity.
Finally, we arrived in Shanghai, a city with a completely different character. The architecture varies much more than anything in Xian or Beijing; there are huge skyscrapers designed by renowned architects of colonial constructions, and occasional ancient Chinese constructions like the jade
An opportunity that goes beyond the boundaries of the walls of the classroom
Phillip Quinones ‘11, Dr. Douglas Jordan, and Estefan Colindres ‘11
Buddha temple. The air seemed a little cleaner, and it was great to see so much green after seeing nearly no trees during the course of the trip. Every few blocks there are parks, required by law, so the city does not seem so crowded. That night, we went to the boardwalk to see the city center from the other side of the river. Seeing the night skyline was like seeing Times Square for the first time. The buildings are magnificent, and the lighting is almost surreal. The combination of colors, the changing patterns of light, and the setups which created an illusion of motion were all incredibly captivating. The next day, we played a concert at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. At the market, earlier that day, a music student approached me. He knew who we were, where we were from, and looked forward to hearing us play that night. It was great to see that, even though the boy spoke little English, we had a connection through music. Going to China with the band will always be one of the most memorable trips of my life.
It is safe to write that the student reflection above is representative of all who traveled. I have always been gratified to serve at an institution that believes in developing as much of the learner as possible. This providing of opportunities that go beyond the boundaries of the walls of the classroom and campus helps to satiate the curiosity in all of us. I know that the student musicians, conductors, and teachers relish in their experience and share in a bond that is both unique and meaningful. Through these experiences, it is hoped that they will continue to follow their own curiosity and creativity into the future. I will borrow the words of Mark Twain, who most eloquently wrote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” It is hoped and believed that all who embarked on the tour will carry through their lives the following messages; to create that which cannot be taken from them, embark on their dreams, share their knowledge, enjoy and celebrate in their achievement, and always work their hardest.
Images from China by Mary Ann Casas ‘12
Research in the 21st Century
B y : RUTHANNE VOGEL Librarian
Only twenty-five years ago, no time at all in the history of scholarship, but an eternity to today’s students, research was a purely paper experience. One looked up a reference in a bound index (remember the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature ?) and then pulled the journal volume off the shelf. The use of an encyclopedia or a scholarly book or journal required a trip to the library. Books were located by looking up the author, title or subject in a card catalog and then searching the shelves. Limiting the researcher were the open hours of the library and the holdings of that institution. Finding enough information within the time constraints of the project was the major issue facing yesterday’s researchers.
The advent of the computer, first at the institutional level and soon in the home, changed our lives on many levels. The computer is the perfect tool to expand the use of the index as it is designed for the storage and retrieval of information. Computer logic could locate search terms in vast collections of indices in a microsecond (or less) and return a list of results to the user. The first applications for libraries involved automating the library catalog and then linking libraries together. Today it is possible to search the holdings of neighborhood, county, and state library catalogs, or even an international consortium of libraries (see www.worldcat.org/). The next evolution was the online periodical index, opening the window to printed scholarship in newspaper, magazines, and journals from around the globe. These results were limited to citation lists in the early days, and the researcher would still need to locate the physical book or bound journal where the article was housed.
The next step, coming closely on the heels of the automated index, was the full text database. A database is most simply an index which relates multiple types of data (text, images, etc.) and organizes them for easy retrieval. Connected
with the indices to periodicals and books, the database now offered the full text of the articles, often with images and other related content. Using retrieval word logic and statistics, the database also expanded the search and suggested related material to the researcher. Publishers of newspapers, magazines, academic journals and reference books soon joined with online content database providers, and the modern library was born. Because of the same copyright laws and profit structures in the print publishing world, access to these indices and their full text content is limited to paying customers. As in the days of purely print, the library becomes the link between the researcher and the content. The difference now is that researchers need not set foot in the library.
of quality material, it is also overwhelmed by advertisements and data that have not been verified for accuracy. When using the web for research, students can easily be lured by official looking websites with material full of inaccuracies. Using the library databases can help students avoid this issue, but it is also important to develop the critical evaluation skills necessary to find the quality that is available on the free web. From the paucity of information before the digital age, the major issue facing researchers today is ironically the overabundance of material.
Today’s students need information and research skills to be successful. They are faced with a superfluity of digital information from a wide variety of sources. In order to find pertinent and substantive information, they need to first understand the construct and purpose of the research databases they are using. Students also need to understand the pre-digital format of the materials that are retrieved with searches. A newspaper or magazine article, a chapter from an eBook, and a fourth-grader’s essay posted to the web can all look the same on the screen of a computer. Divining the difference between them and judging the quality, merit, and usefulness of each item retrieved is another critical skill.
Today's students need information and research skills to be successful
Along with the development of online fee-based databases, of course, came the exponential growth of the free internet. Using the same storage and retrieval methods, but linking a much vaster network of servers, the World Wide Web connects searchers with content from around the globe. Though the free internet provides a vast amount
The digital revolution offers 21st-century students a great advantage with 24/7 access to resources, and the ability to retrieve needed information from a multitude of devices–from laptops to phones. These materials are becoming more and more affordable to the public as libraries offer free use of their online resources. Most academic material published today is offered in digital format, and content providers are racing to convert historical data. Armed with a skill set of database navigation techniques, search strategies, and vocabulary, along with a thorough understanding of the digital materials available, researchers can experience tremendous success in today’s online world.
Research in the 21st Century...not just books anymore photo by Ruthanne Vogel, Librarian
perspectives Research in the 21st Century
Online Resources Available From
BRITANNICA ONLINE comprises four encyclopedias with full text integrated articles, graphics, animations, audio clips, maps, and videos. Links to quality websites, journal and magazine articles provide up-to-date information about current events topics.
GLOBAL ISSUES IN CONTEXT offers international viewpoints on abroad spectrum of global issues, topics, and current events through continuously updated issue and country portals, multimedia and full text integrated articles.
OXFORD REFERENCE ONLINE provides full-text electronic versions of the Oxford University Press subjectspecific dictionaries and companions.
GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE
LIBRARY is a database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.
LITFINDER covers world literature and authors throughout history with over 150,000 full-text poems, short stories, speeches, and dramatic works. LitFinder also includes biographies, work summaries, author images and a full glossary of literary terms.
OXFORD ENGLISH
DICTIONARY ONLINE provides authoritative definitions of over 500,000 words, from their first recorded occurrence to the modern period through 2.5-million quotations from a wide range of international language sources.
STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER
GOLD is a fully integrated database of curriculum-targeted primary documents, biographies, topical essays, background information, critical analyses, full-text magazines and newspaper articles, photographs, illustrations, audio and video clips.
GENERAL ONE FILE is a source for news and periodical articles on a wide range of general interest and current event topics. Updated daily.
ACADEMIC ONEFILE is the source for peer-reviewed, fulltext academic articles from the world’s leading journals and reference sources. Updated daily.
JSTOR is a comprehensive source for academic scholarship, providing page images from academic journals from all disciplines dating back to the 17th century.
LITERATURE CRITICISM
ONLINE is the largest, most extensive compilation of literary commentary, containing centuries of scholarly analysis and popular commentary from broadsheets, pamphlets, encyclopedias, books and periodicals.
ANNALS OF AMERICAN HISTORY delivers primarysource documents and multimedia elements from the documentary history of the United States.
SOURCES IN U.S. HISTORY
ONLINE: AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a digital archive containing significant documents of the time, official correspondence, personal letters, political speeches, memoirs, histories, biographies, and contemporary reference works.
From The PTS Library
BRITANNICA GLOBAL REFERENCE CENTER contains online content in a variety of global languages from encyclopedias in Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
MAPS 101 offers access to thousands of maps, along with animations, videos, games, activities, topical articles and analysis. Historical, thematic, and political maps from National Geographic are included.
SALEM HISTORY includes the full-text content of printed reference sets on American and World History, with a focus on primary source documents.
SALEM SCIENCE includes the full-text content of printed reference sets on environmental science, forensics, and astronomy.
OXFORD ART ONLINE contains articles on painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, textiles, jewelry, design, supplemented with art images, maps, and line drawings from major museum collections and gallery websites.
OXFORD MUSIC ONLINE provides full text articles, audible musical examples, composer works lists, biographies, timelines, and topical guides.
OXFORD LANGUAGE DICTIONARIES ONLINE provides authoritative, up-to-date translations along with tools and resources to learn and use language more effectively. Languages included: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.
BRITANNICA IMAGE QUEST offers access to more than two million images which have all been rights-cleared for noncommercial, educational use.
SOURCES IN U.S. HISTORY ONLINE: SLAVERY is a digital archive containing significant documents of the time – personal narratives, pamphlets, addresses, monographs, sermons, and political speeches – covering the institution of slavery from the 17th through the end of the 19th century.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCE CENTER provides access to health and medical focused magazines, journals, newspapers, definitions, directories, videos, government documents and other reference information.
GRZIMEK’S ANIMAL LIFE provides online access to the foremost animal encyclopedia, providing coverage on more than 4,000 animal species, including images, videos, illustrations, and maps.
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN DIGITAL offers full-text and full-page images of every issue of Scientific American Magazine from 1993 to the present.
NOODLETOOLS provides software for the entire research process, from search strategy tips, assessing results, recording and synthesize information using online note cards, and formatting a bibliography in MLA, APA, or Chicago/Turabian style.
KIDS INFOBITS meets the research needs of young students, featuring a visually graphic interface and providing full-text, age-appropriate, curriculum-related magazine, newspaper and reference content.
These databases can be found at: http://galesites.com/k12/pts/ or from the PTS website.
The Measure of a Performance
By: ANDREW MILLER ‘13
In sports, it’s easy to determine a winner. The team or individual with the most points at the end of an event simply played better, and is recognized for doing so. This is how competition works; there’s no room for subjectivity. What happens though, if we allow subjectivity a place in competition?
This past Spring Break, PTS’ very own Thespian Troupe 5458 participated in the 2011 Florida State Thespian Festival. While the festival is certainly an excellent place for high school thespians to watch some of the best theater their peers across the state have to offer, in its own way, it is also a competition. Though nobody directly competes with anyone else, performers are in competition with themselves to receive the highest marks possible from their adjudicators. Of course, this being art and not athletics, there is plenty of room for subjectivity. The performers may give the greatest performance of their lives, but if it doesn’t resonate with their judges, they won’t be getting high marks. That’s pretty difficult to swallow if you’re a performer in that position. It’s not just about how good you are anymore; it’s about how much two or three other people like you.
We were in this situation ourselves at States this year. We found that, although our judges gave us high–if not the highest possible–marks in individual categories, our overall scores didn’t seem to reflect that same level of
excellence. Nonetheless, while we received very good marks, it was interesting to look at the way things just didn’t seem to add up. More than one piece appeared to deserve a higher overall mark according to our scores in individual categories and the judges’ comments, and yet there was nothing we could do but accept our rank and move on.
Acting isn’t easy to judge, or to be judged on. It’s all so subjective by personal opinion, bias, and interpretation. Accordingly, receiving marks that don’t feel right is an experience that is anything but fun. Nevertheless, we strive for high marks, but at the end of the day, we aren’t driven by them.
We’re driven by a desire to continue doing what we love and have a great experience doing so. High scores are great, but the experiences we have on the road to achieve them are far more rewarding than any ribbon or pin.
We're driven by a desire to continue doing what we love.
Roberto Morean, Sam Ostwald, Sana Imam and Casey Halwani
Alessandra Sanchez ‘13 displays her Superior ranked costume construction at the Florida State Thespian Festival with design teacher Patricia Almodovar
Andrew Miller ‘13 holds PTS’ first-ever Excellent award for Drop Dead Juliet at the District 8 One Act Festival
Andrew Miller, Sophia Faiella, Sean Murphy, Sana Imam, Ale Sanchez, and Marcus Fernandez
A Home in the Hammock: The Origins of Palmer Trinity School
By: MARK HAYES English Department and Resident PTS Historian
Robert M. Yarbrough, English teacher and longtime Academic Dean at Palmer School
Although not as old as the ridge of oolitic limestone on which its campus sits, Palmer Trinity School–in one form or another–has had a home in the hammock of South Dade county for decades.
With mangroves and Biscayne Bay to the east and the unique ecosystem of the Everglades to the west, the Palmer Trinity campus has been part of the landscape since The Godfather was in theaters, Bobby Fischer beat Boris Spassky, and the Republican National Convention renominated Nixon in Miami. The year was 1972 and the origins of the school, like much of the history of modern Florida, can be traced to the ambitions of 19th-century American industrialists seeking to make their mark on one of the “final frontiers” of their day–the wilderness of South Florida.
Even a casually informed South Floridian will know the name of Flagler–Henry Morrison Flager, that is, the Gilded Age tycoon who made his fortune in oil, railroads, and real estate and who founded the Florida
East Coast Railway, which opened much of the state’s Atlantic Coast to tourism and other development. As this vision of creating an “American Riviera” along the coast flourished, Flagler and other members of the economic and social elite saw Florida as a place not just to vacation, but to cultivate for their own monetary gain.
Another industrialist, William John Matheson, who founded the company that became the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation, built himself an estate in Coconut Grove, and attempted to establish a coconut plantation on Key Biscayne. While successful for a time, the coconut plantations of Key Biscayne stopped shipping by 1933, in the midst of the global economic depression. The Matheson family, which had land holdings
throughout the area, ultimately donated lands that became Crandon Park and Matheson Hammock Park.
One of Matheson’s grandsons, R. Hardy Matheson, the conservationist, was elected to the Miami-Dade County Commission in the early 1960s, running almost exclusively on a platform to stop the building of Seadade, a major industrial seaport. In the end, Commissioner Matheson was instrumental in the creation of Biscayne National Park. President Lyndon Johnson’s signing of the bill creating the unique park in 1968 is considered a landmark of the modern conservationist movement.
In the midst of all this municipal activity, R. Hardy Matheson found time to rezone a particular patch of hammock just to the west of Old Cutler Road. In a communication from Matheson’s office, the roughly 20-acre plot is donated to the Jesuit Fathers so that a “high school or college preparatory school may be established.” It goes on to say that “classrooms, dormitories, a library, a laboratory, chapel, gymnasium, athletic field, and swimming pool would all be included in the future development of the school.”
With the land initially donated, in 1961, to the Jesuits, it was thought for a time that the site would be home
to a new campus for Belen, then recently relocated from Havana, where it had been in operation since 1854. But the leaders at Belen preferred a location more central to the city – not in the wilds of South Dade – and so the plot lay unused for another decade. Years later, a branch of the Matheson family would become involved in the management of Palmer School, with Bixie Matheson [see Tina Lane interview] ultimately playing a central role in crafting the 1992 merger with Trinity Episcopal. The campus library bears the name of Matheson as a tribute to their inestimable contribution.
With Belen finding a home elsewhere, the school-zoned plot eventually came to the attention of the matriarch of the Gulliver School, Mariane Krutulis, who envisioned it as the site for Gulliver Prep, a new high school. In 1971-72, while Gulliver Prep opened at a temporary location, Krutulis arranged for 176th Street to be extended farther west and for the first structure–what is now the Middle School home–to be built. An early member of the Board, Ronald Shafer,
1971: The first structure was built — what is now the Middle School home
a contractor, arranged to have the work done at cost. Although Gulliver Prep opened at its 176th Street location in the fall of 1972, disagreements between Krutulis and members of the Board led to a parting of ways. ”She told the Board they could keep everything at the school,” according to a published history of Gulliver, “from the books to the furniture–everything except the name.”
In January of 1973, the school was
President Lyndon Johnson hands the pen used to sign the Biscayne National Monument bill into law to Congressman Dante Fascell. Also present were Joe Browder, Lloyd Miller and Hardy Matheson.
renamed Palmer Preparatory after one of its donors, Posey Palmer O’Neil. The prominent Palmer family has its origins, as many do, in the rapid economic growth of the Gilded Age. Potter Palmer of Chicago made his fortune first as a retailer–he helped create the Marshall Field’s department stores–and then as a real estate developer behind the growth of the city’s Lake Shore Drive. The great-
granddaughter of Potter Palmer and the daughter of the skeet-shooting, art-collecting, diamond-wearing socialite Rose Movius Staltonsall Palmer, Posey Palmer sent three of her own children to the school in the hammock. The courtyard on the north side of the campus, Posey’s Garden, is named in her honor.
1975: Two instrumental educators were added to the Palmer roster
With a new name, Palmer school quickly found a new mascot–the Pirates, after Black Caesar, the 18th-century buccaneer who prowled the Florida Keys and was a running mate of Blackbeard. However, few people involved with Palmer School could have been sure of its survival. Located in what was then a barely developed area south of the city, with its most significant neighbor being Captain Hester, a Pan-Am pilot and part-time mango farmer, Palmer struggled for an identity. In 1974-75, Palmer School welcomed two educators–both from Ransom Everglades–who would shape the character of the place: Tex Warrington and Bob Yarbrough.
Caleb Van “Tex” Warrington,
“Warrington had a vision, a dream. A superior academic institution with a championship caliber athletic program.”
— JEFF CAPARELLI , Palmer School teacher and coach
Palmer’s first established headmaster, was originally from Delaware – not Texas. An excellent football and baseball player and, simply put, an imposing physical presence, Warrington starred first at William and Mary College, then at Auburn University, finding time in between to start a family, join the Marines, and do his part stateside during World War II. Warrington was a two-time All American center for Auburn, and played three professional seasons in the All-American Football Conference.
In the 1950s, Warrington settled in Florida and became a teacher and coach at Vero Beach High, coaching the football team there throughout the decade. In the 1960s, Warrington tried his hand at politics and even did a stint, in 1967, as a professional coach for the Wilmington Clippers of the Atlantic Coast Football League. He had been at Ransom Everglades for a number of years
when he was brought to Palmer School. As Jeff Caparelli, a former Palmer football coach remembers, “Warrington had a vision, a dream. A superior academic institution with a championship caliber athletic program.” Tex Warrington died in 1993, and the offices at the north end of the gym complex are named Warrington Wing after him.
Joining Warrington and covering the academic side of matters, was Bob Yarbrough, a Mississippi native, veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and a career educator who had taught at Randolph-Macon Academy and Christchurch Academy, the latter where he served as the headmaster from 1957 to 1971. After a few years at Ransom Everglades, Yarbrough joined Palmer School, where he was Academic Dean, chair of the English Department, and, proudly, a teacher of senior students
1940s photo of Tex Warrington as an All-American football player
Palmer School, 1976
until his retirement in 1975. Demanding, precise, and inspirational in the classroom, he worked to convey his great love of the English language to his students.
Stories of Mr. Yarbrough’s gentle corrections abound. One such story was not to refer to young people as “kids,” because a kid is technically a term to describe an adolescent goat. The game show Jeopardy! once received a letter from Mr. Yarbrough suggesting that the announcement “If you plan on being in the Los Angeles area and would like to attend a taping...” be changed to “If you plan to be in the Los Angeles area...” Mr. Yarbrough was also insistent that in his obituary he not be described as having passed away, which was a euphemism he detested. “Don’t
say that I passed away; say that I died.” The Miami Herald followed his wishes upon his death in 2006. The plaque naming the Palmer Trinity Humanities Building in his honor reads, in part, “his legacy of wisdom, compassion, wit, and intellectual rigor will live on in the hearts and minds of those whose lives he touched.”
The wilderness of South Florida no longer, the area now boasts an extensive campus of PTS students, faculty, and staff.
Yearbook photo of Tex Warrington as Palmer Preparatory Headmaster in 1976
Building a School with a Soul
By : SUZANNE GOTTLIEB CALLEJA Director of Communications and Community Relations
This section of the magazine is not called VisionAerie simply because it is a clever play on both visionary, having vision or foresight, and aerie, a house or stronghold perched on a height. Both words suggest an elevated view, and revelation. This clear view of a distant future is a hallmark of Tina Lane, a prominent school board member and catalyst for the 1991 merger between the Palmer and Trinity schools. Although she is humble about her role in Palmer Trinity’s history; in truth, if not for her initial work with Bixie Matheson, Dr. Ned Dougherty, Bill Walker, Alan Nichols, Elliott Dunwody and others, Palmer Trinity would not exist today.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before we can understand the merger, it would help to know more about Tina Lane herself. And, for those who don’t know her, her name may even invoke thoughts of a Beatles song, a fictional character, or a street located in a charming neighborhood. However, what you will soon find out is that Tina Lane may just be one of the strongest and most dedicated individuals you are ever likely to meet.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Tina moved to Miami at age 12, but continued to spend every summer in her home state of Ohio. She attended Hood College in Maryland, and she and her husband, Bill Lane, have been married since 1972. The Lane’s have three daughters, the youngest of whom, Elizabeth, went to Trinity and then graduated from Palmer Trinity in 1993.
Both sides of Tina’s family are Episcopalian, thus making her interest in the Trinity School a natural one. Creating an Episcopal high school could not be done without a vision. As she explains, “Parents wanted to build a strong academic institution that delivered education within a moral
thought of merging the two schools happened over lunch with two smart women. You can read more about the early days of the Palmer School in Mark Hayes’ article on page 15.
Tina Lane’s own experience of those initial days was one of hope. Her personal mantra was to help build a school with a soul, one in which the love of learning was key to its success.
The merger itself, however, was complicated.
According to Dr. Edward (Ned) Dougherty, who became Head of the newly-merged school, “The question was, ‘are these two cultures compatible?’ and the conclusion was yes, they were. We spent long periods of time working through how this merger would work out, merging the boards and faculty. After a year of leadership, in the summer of 1992, Bixie Matheson, Chairman of the Board, resigned from the chairmanship. Lane, who was Vice Chair at the time, became the Chairman of Palmer Trinity.”
We talk often about the need to treat everyone with respect. The core values of the Episcopal Church are embodied and expressed here every day in our lives on campus.
background, so that you are learning spiritually as well as academically. This combination did not exist in Miami at the time; choices were limited for independent schools, and there was no Episcopal high school at that time.”
With a program that integrated strong academics and athletics with a daily chapel service in the church sanctuary, Trinity had the essential components of school and faith. As school board chairperson, she was friends with Bixie Matheson, Chair of the Palmer School. Like many great ideas in our day, the
It is difficult to imagine today what it must have been like to be Chairman of the Board while so much was happening: remaining clearheaded and committed while raising money, trying to obtain permits, and beginning what would soon become a landmark institution. Two dedicated boards worked tirelessly to
maintain the correct vision, and the correct balance. This required both wisdom and diplomacy. Today, Dr. Dougherty says Palmer Trinity is a place to be exceptionally proud of: “There couldn’t be anything more satisfying than to see this school today, to see the results. This is a thriving place, and it makes me feel proud to have been a part of those initial days.”
Today, Sean Murphy and Ned Dougherty agree: learning for learning’s sake is instrumental to our students’ success.
— Sean Murphy
“At the core of what we do here is treat people with respect. The core values of the Episcopal Church are demonstrated every day,” says Sean Murphy, Head of Palmer Trinity School. Today, spiritual
As a family we have been so proud of mom's incredible dedication and commitment to quality spiritual learning. She has certainly been an inspiration for me as I followed her footsteps and entered the world of education. In many ways Trinity, and ultimately Palmer Trinity, was our Mother's fourth child, one that she helped foster and nurture from the very beginning.
— Elizabeth Lane
Elizabeth Lane at Trinity Episcopal School, 7th grade
Edward A. Dougherty
life at Palmer Trinity is abundant, and at the very core of each student’s education. As an Episcopal School, Palmer Trinity welcomes students and families of all faiths and promotes an affirming and inclusive atmosphere. Today the student population represents not only Episcopalian, but also Protestant Christian, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu faiths.
Since the merger, Palmer Trinity’s student
body has doubled, from 300 to 650 students. In the last ten years, SAT scores have risen by an average of 200 points. There are 42 athletic teams, multiple opportunities in dramatic, musical, and visual creative expression, and, most importantly, a strong foundation that will steady us for the expansion into the thirty-three acres purchased in 2003.
Palmer Trinity School encourages a framework of knowledge and faith that will allow students to always learn and always question what they are learning. As for Tina Lane’s 1992 vision to create a school with a soul... both she, along with the Trinity Episcopal School Board, Bixie Matheson, and the Palmer School Board believed our two schools would be stronger together. These women
helped lead the merger of both school cultures, and found a new shared mission and vision.
Although challenged, we have emerged stronger and wiser and look towards the lessons of the past to help us today and in the future.
First Class of 7th Graders at Trinity Episcopal in 1984
Tina Lane and Edward A. Dougherty
This year, Palmer Trinity School hosted its 10th Annual Sandy Golf Tournament and 1st Annual Tennis Tournament to benefit recipients of the Sandy Block Financial Aid Award! Raising over $50,000, we would like to extend our gratitude to all the generous sponsors, underwriters, donors, participants, student golfers, and many volunteers for supporting this highly successful tournament. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s tournament, on January 30, 2012, at Deering Bay!
2011 SANDY GOLF AND TENNIS TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE
GOLF TOURNAMENT
CO-CHAIRS:
Michael Baiamonte
Brian Gershen ‘98
Chuck Klenk
Jon Lawrence ‘98
TENNIS TOURNAMENT
CO-CHAIRS:
Magdalena Rothfeldt
Sonnia Viyella
HONORARY CHAIR:
Chris Block ‘96
COMMITTEE:
Jim Block
Bob Booth
Paula Brockway
Sally Franklin
Joseph Kalbac, Jr.
Lenny Roberts
Lourdes Sardinas
Scott Shelfer ’89
Michael Uzquiano
Howard Wolofsky ’81
Hayes Wood
Nathan Zeder ‘98
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables and Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay,
Bill Ussery Motors Companies
EAGLE SPONSORS
Associated Photo and Imaging
Bal Harbour Shops
Bilzin Sumberg Attorneys at Law
Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc.
– Miami Division
Coventry Health Care
DiBello, Lopez & Castillo, P.A.
The Ethan Johnson Family
Knowles Animal Clinic
Joseph J. Kalbac, Jr. and his partners at Colson Hicks Eidson
Malloy & Malloy, P.A.
Mr. and Mrs. William Morrison
HAT SPONSOR
BankUnited
GOLF BALL SPONSOR
Morris & Reynolds Insurance
BIRDIE SPONSORS
BBVA Compass
Camp Lenny Foundation
Torbert Produce
NET SPONSORS
Merrill Lynch
U.S. Legal Support
Overholt Construction Corporation
Preferred Care Partners
Richman Greer, P.A.
The Serrate Family
Sharp Business Systems
Stewart Tilghman Fox & Bianchi, P.A. Trial Lawyers
Laurie Evans Jo-Ann Titely, Sean Murphy, and Magdalena Rothfeldt
Tennis Tournament Participants
Roy Weinfeld ‘84
Lazenby Sandy Golf Foursome
Volunteer Sally Franklin with Alumni Director, Monica Sanchez
Greg Barnes, Joe Kalbac, and friend
Fox Sandy Golf Foursome
Sandy Golf and Tennis Committee
The 11th International Festival was a hot ticket this year, as always.
Palmer Trinity’s signature event celebrates the school’s vibrant multicultural community and highlights an ongoing commitment to global sustainability and environmental initiatives. On Saturday, February 26th, under perfect South Florida skies, visitors enjoyed savory food choices and an array of worldwide handicrafts at more than 50 unique food and vendor booths. In addition, jazz, classical and rock music, along with dance and theatrical performances, creative arts activities, and Palmer Trinity’s community service programs were all on display. With a Mariachi band leading the way, our International Parade of Flags was a big hit as it wound its way through the festival. Palmer Trinity School offers this wonderful day to more than 1,000 guests from both our own school family and the greater community. Proceeds from the event support Palmer Trinity’s commitment to multicultural initiatives and diversity, as well as our longstanding relationship with a Colombian children’s organization, Fundacion Nutrinfantil. Also, this year we were especially proud to be able to support the feeding program at Colegio Esperanza in La Chureca, at the Open Hearts Ministry at Casa Havila, in Nicaragua.
Ashley Ramkishun ‘11 performs a traditional Indian dance
Gerardo Chavez-Valle ‘15 and Jeronimo Fernandez ‘15
Christian Ramirez ‘16, Danielle Rothfeldt ‘13, Nader Abbara ‘12, and Jonathan Chang ‘12
Marina Bertrand ‘11 and Katherine DiFede ‘11
Sana Imam ‘11 and Elena DeVilliers
PTS Board of Trustees
PTS French Club at the 2011 International Festival
Kristy Joseph ‘15, Mikela Garcia ‘15, and Isabella Ruiz ‘15
PTS families support the event
Brittany Cortazar ‘13
Fabiana Vivacqua ’14, Katerina Coccarello ’13, and Leonardo Rocchiccioli ‘14
Balli Logan ‘15
Felicia Burke ‘11 and Danielle Burke ‘15
On April 11th, 2011, Palmer Trinity School hosted its 20th Annual Book Fair. It was very well attended and we were, again, impressed by the artistry of the themed table decorations.
Guests were taken from China to the beach, from Tiffany’s to the ballet, and many places in between. Palmer Trinity and the 20th Annual Book Fair co-chairs sincerely thank our table hosts, hostesses, and everyone who attended the Book Fair brunch. In addition, a special thank you to Books & Books and to all of the dedicated parents who volunteered during the week-long book sales.
Our author, Mr. Alan Cheuse, provided his audience with much to ponder when he addressed questions on how to embrace the digital reading age while not losing our analog past. He reminded us that a truer understanding of the digital age is possible only when we work through the slower-paced pages of a good book. He articulated that all readers seek to better understand themselves and their world through stories and reading.
Finally, congratulations to our $250 raffle prize winner, Dr. Clara Almanza.
The Book Fair is a favorite event of many in the community, with proceeds benefiting the Matheson Library.
Thank you to the 2011 Book Fair team for your tireless dedication to this year’s successful event!
KARINA DUENAS Co-Chair
CLAUDIA BARANDIARAN-DIAZ Co-Chair
RACHELLE KAPLAN Co-Chair
RUTHANNE VOGEL Librarian
PEG MUSGRAVE Development Office
MONICA SANCHEZ Development Office
Our Cocktail Hour
2011 PTS Book Fair Committee
The Pilgrim Way Books & Books Owner, Mitchell Kaplan
Spooky Tales
Sean Murphy, Diane Lary, and her mother
Alan Cheuse autographs books Joan Sanz is Getting Ahead at Palmer Trinity Out of Africa
Books & Books owner, Mitchell Kaplan, Sean Murphy, Head of School, and author Alan Cheuse
Breakfast At Tiffany’s
South DedicationCampus
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011
A special thanks to Virginia Hester for her support of Palmer Trinity School
We have the blend of the mind and the spirit to celebrate the connection between academic excellence and spiritual growth as we enter an exciting era of opportunity.
— JOE KALBAC
On the beautiful morning of Saturday, May 21st, 2011, Palmer Trinity School families, trustees, alumni, past board members, friends, and past PTS Head Laura Walker celebrated the dedication of thirty-three acres of new property with the South Campus Dedication Ceremony. Over 400 guests were welcomed by SGA President Daniel Omachonu ’12, followed by a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem sung by Roberto Morean ’14. The ceremony featured an opening prayer by Bishop Calvin O. Schofield, a Palmer Trinity School Trustee; speeches by Head of School, Sean Murphy, and Board of Trustees Chairman Joseph Kalbac; a recitation of the Palmer Trinity School
Prayer led by Father Julian Lentz; and a concluding Cornerstone Blessing by Bishop Schofield. In lieu of an appearance by District 8 Commissioner Lynda Bell, who was called suddenly out of town, Commission Aide Gissette Espinosa delivered a Proclamation announcing Saturday, May 21st, 2011 as “Palmer Trinity School Day.” A special lunch for all South Campus Dedication attendees, faculty, and staff followed in the Main Dining Room.
This was a momentous day for Palmer Trinity School!
Photos by Scott du Feu and Dave Cutler
Aerial view of new Palmer Trinity School South Campus
Shaina Jean ‘13, Biraaj Mahajan ‘12, Adam Harris ’12, Carlos Singer ’13, and Sarah Perez ‘13
Bishop Calvin O. Schofield
Nancy Michelson
Commision Aide Gissette Espinosa presents PTS proclamation to Sean Murphy
Joe Kalbac, Chairman, Board of Trustees and Sean Murphy
Maria Vanegas leads student volunteers
Ben Hoke, Director of Development and Greg Barnes
Diane Lary with her son, Curtis Lary ’17, and daughter
Crowd seated for ceremony
Manuella Flores and her family
For more information, contact Ben Hoke at bhoke@palmertrinity.org or (305) 969-4244.
The Palmer Trinity School imagine Campaign has raised over $8.9 million since 2007 with a variety of different gifts, including annual fund, endowment, grants, and capital gifts.
Opening our South Campus provides a wonderful opportunity for your family to participate in the Imagine Campaign. Whether you want to support the general endowment, or give to our beautiful new front entrance, roads, much-needed athletic fields, or more than 1,000 new trees, gifts by June 30th will help finish the Imagine Campaign and prepare South Campus for continued progress.
The Imagine Campaign for Palmer Trinity School is the first phased, multi-year fundraising effort undertaken by Palmer Trinity School. Our Board of Trustees began this effort in August 2007 and will complete the campaign by June 30, 2011. Palmer Trinity’s comprehensive campaign counts every dollar raised from August 2007 to June 2011 to reach our goal of $10 million.
The Imagine Campaign for Palmer Trinity School is the most ambitious fundraising project in our history. To surpass our goal, we ask everyone in the community to consider giving to the Campaign. Every Annual Fund, Endowment, and now Phase I dollar raised counts as we hit this home stretch to June 30. The Imagine Campaign will touch every aspect of school life from this day forward, and we ask that you affirm your commitment to this special place by helping us realize this vision.
We honor and thank all who have supported the School’s journey thus far, and we ask each of you to imagine how far we can go.
Class Notes strengthen the connection of our Alumni community to their classmates and their alma mater.
Monica Sanchez, Director of Alumni Relations (305) 969-4210 | msanchez@palmertrinity.org
1983 MARY (JOYCE) WILBURN marywilburn@bellsouth.net
1984 PETER CUTTER guycutter@aol.com
1985 DALE BENNETT RB9999@aol.com
JOHN MALLOY jcmalloy@malloylaw.com
1986 JOELLE (WAGSHUL) STEINBERG jwagshul@aol.com
1987 ETIENNE FONT etienne@claimscounsel.com
1988 ELENA (ESSEN) ENDARA partyuv5@bellsouth.ne t
AlumNews is the first section Alumni turn to when they receive the Aerie Magazine, so this section is full of exciting and updated information. To send us news for our next issue, please log on to www.PalmerTrinity.org and click ‘Alumni.’
1989 SCOTT SHELFER scott@exactaland.com
1990 PETER BAUMBERGER psb@rbrlaw.com
AlumNews
us on FACEBOOK! Search: Palmer Trinity, Trinity, and Palmer School Alumni Network and Palmer Trinity School Fan Page.
ALDEN (DUNWODY) PIMENTEL Pimentel@bellsouth.net
1991 DEREK FISHER derekfisher7@gmail.com
1992 JOY (BERG) JOHNSON jeremyandjoy@yahoo.com
1993 AMANDA MATALON amatalon@arnoldoil.com
1994 CHARLES BAUMBERGER catcay@yahoo.com
CAMPBELL WALKER cwalker@lincolnharris.com
1995 KAITLIN BLAZEJACK kkblaze@gmail.com
1996 LYNLEY (WALKER) CIOROBEA lynley3@yahoo.com
1997 BRETT FRENCH brettfrench@yahoo.com
1998 BRIAN GERSHEN briangershen@gmail.com
PRESTON DICKERSON prestond@hotmail.com
NATHAN ZEDER nz1305@aol.com
1999 BELINDA FRIERI belifrieri@yahoo.com
2000 SOOZIE KLOCK seklock@gmail.com
2001 WES FARRELL wesfarrell@floridaattorney.com
2002 ADRIA (JENKINS) YOUNG juiceeasapeach@aol.com
2003 DAX TEJERA dax.tejera@gmail.com
LAURA ATECA laura.ateca@gmail.com
2004 CORINA LOPEZ celopez721@gmail.com
2005 KATEY O’REGAN katey613@yahoo.com
2006 BRANDON MCNARY bmcnary@citco.com
ED LUCKMANN luckmann.e@neu.edu
AMANDA OMACHONU amandaom22@gmail.com
2007 WILL MORRISON willmorrison07@yahoo.com
2008 ARIEL MOGER aem2178@columbia.edu
MEGAN CUNNINGHAM megan215@gwu.edu
2009 JESSICA MAZON jessica.mazon@gmail.com
MARCEL CONTRERAS marcelc28@aol.com
NATALIA MATALLANA natismata@hotmail.com
2010 VICTORIA FERNANDEZ vifer18@gmail.com
2011 ALEXA CAJIGA KATIE DIFEDE
BILL SAUNDERS ‘73
I never had Mr. Yarbrough but I do remember him. I also had an amazing math teacher Kevin Saunders (no relation). Mr. Applebaum was also a great teacher. During my first year at Palmer, there was no paved road. Because of the shape and acoustic quality of the modules you would sit in one class and hear perfectly the class next door. My experience at Palmer taught me to challenge, to investigate, to dig deeper and not just to accept facts as presented. I learned to go beyond memorizing facts, dates and events and look for root causes, for cause and effect and motivators for what was happening. Palmer reinforced my love of reading and taught me study skills that made college adjustment so much easier for me than for friends I had from public school. This sounds awful on the surface but I think public schools encourage a “herd” mentality as they try to push huge numbers of students through the same program year after year. At Palmer I received individual attention and was allowed to go outside the normal curriculum and even encouraged to explore new and different things. Before Palmer I had never cared much for poetry, but my English teacher opened up an entire new world. History came alive and I devoured history books mostly due to the passion awakened by my history teacher. I wanted to do more and study more and I think it was because of the individual attention afforded by the smaller class size and approach that Palmer used. Break out of the herd and grab hold of a different future. Palmer actually prepares you to learn throughout your entire life, but more importantly to think for yourself and be a leader and not just a follower. After all, if you are not at the head of the herd the view never changes.
1973
Bill Saunders works for the Payment Strategy team for AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular). Bill is head of Lead Payment Systems and Operations (aka Finance Manager.) This July, Bill will celebrate 32 years total with the phone company.
He lives in Woodstock, GA.
GREG MILLER ‘77
The most influential teacher I had was Mr. Yarborough. He was most impressive in his teaching skills and his vigor at ramming vocabulary words down our throat. An awesome individual, with zeal to teach! A person who truly cared about the students he taught, as well as any student. A rare breed, and if schools are fortunate enough to have teachers such as these on board, they should by no means take that for granted!!
As far as impacting my collegiate experience, I was faced with culture shock. Attending and graduating from a small private school (54 in graduating class) to three months later I faced a massive state institution. It is imperative that PTS students be prepared for the transition to collegiate life. I was not, and I basically received no support from my parents, so that is another important factor. I was essentially thrown to the wolves, and I almost washed out in my first year. Preparation is necessary if the kids are going to successfully acclimate themselves to the hectic, no holds barred college life. A lot of influences, both positive and negative, abound, along with an abundance of stimuli that first year, which will set the tone for the rest of their lives. They need support, whether they realize it or not. Rebecca Aikman is another teacher I was most fond of. She was most influential in my pursuit of a foreign language at FSU. A.J. West is a name that pops up in my sights. He was an awesome individual, and I learned a lot from being on the Golf Team. He was the type of individual whom you could go to with any burden. I only wish I had accessed this great faculty to prepare for my future in college. Counseling and guidance, as you can see, is something I would vehemently promote so as not to squander an opportunity for a good education as I did. I was definitely not one who was devoted to my future, and now I’m paying the penalty. I would emphatically advise anyone with the privilege and opportunity to attend PTS, especially with all it
has going for it now, to hunker down and focus on what’s important, and to not get caught up in extracurricular activities that are self destructive. A plan, preparation and guidance are essential to future success and be a leader and not just a follower. After all, if you are not at the head of the herd the view never changes.
1977
Clif Freeman is a Senior National Sales Executive for Coca-Cola Refreshments on their Sonic Account Team. He lives in Cumming, GA. Shawn Youmans lives in Bellevue, WA and is the Executive Vice President Supply Chain Management for The Odom Corporation.
1979
Jon and Mary (Eldredge) Greenwell both class of 1979 will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in May. They have lived on Hilton Head Island since 2000 and they have two children. Katie (20) is a sophomore at TCU and Hunter (14) is in the eighth grade.
1980
Dawn (Hoyt) Kidd is a Middle School Math Teacher in Austin, TX at the Texas School for the Deaf. She and her husband, Kelly, are enjoying life in Austin, Texas. Son Colton and daughter Mary Dawn are grown and (almost) out of the house. They enjoy racquetball, indoor rock climbing, and the occasional ski trip.
HOWARD WOLOFSKY ‘81
I look back on my experience at Palmer School with great pride and satisfaction. The hands on approach by the teachers, coaches and administrators created a foundation of knowledge and self confidence that has served me well in college, business and community. The friends I made remain an integral part of my adult life. I encourage anyone focused on providing excellence in education for their child to look closely at the great work being done at Palmer Trinity.
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1981
Bobbi Hall Rodgers is JJDPA Project Coordinator at G4S Youth Services, LLC in Deerfield Beach, FL. Bobbi writes, “Currently working with juvenile justice systems in Florida, Rhode Island and Texas; monitoring law enforcement for compliance with a Federal Act on the safe holding of juvenile detainees. I was recently married in 2009 to a great guy from Maryland. I have three sons and one step-daughter. John Clyde and James are the children of myself and former Palmer graduate John Wilson (1981). John Clyde, 26, is in the restaurant business and James, 22, works at his father’s company. Jeremy, 18, is a senior this year and headed to the U.S. Army Reserves and college in Orlando, Florida. And Christina, also 22, is graduating from USF this year and headed to Wake Forest University for her Master’s and Doctorate in Genetics.
Ed McLean recently celebrated his 28th Wedding Anniversary with wife Karen. Ed is the Sales and Marketing Manager with Choice Farms–a Miami import floral company that sells and distributes Ecuadoriangrown roses. Ed writes “Still rooting hard for the Hurricanes and traveling to various AKC dog shows around the U.S and exhibiting bull terriers. Home base is Ft. Pierce but I am still working in Miami during the week. Amos won “Best Colored Bull Terrier Puppy” in mid-October at the Montgomery Kennel Club Show in Pennsylvania which is the nation’s top all-terrier show. Andrew Vorzimer and his wife Danielle live in Encino, CA and are happy to announce the birth of their son, Ethan Dylan Vorzimer, on 12/4/10. Andrew is the CEO/ Managing Partner of Egg Donation, Inc. & Vorzimer Masserman, P.C. After Palmer School, Andrew attended University of Miami, Whittier College School of Law and received a BBA and JD. Joe Gong writes, “Hi all! I’ve spent over 10 years living in Seattle and have focused on both the real estate and banking industries. While I’m
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2011
Classes of 1973 - 1978
At The Home of Andy Hessen '76 and Mary McMath '73
Thank
In honor of Palmer School’s 35th Reunion
Jan (Risi) Field ’77, Lisa (Arnold) Franklin ’74, Sean Murphy, Julie (Coleman) Mansfield ’74, and Susan Sheldon Siniscalchi ‘74
Andy Hessen ’76 and Mary McMath ’73, Julie (Coleman) Mansfield ’74, and Susan (Sheldon) Siniscalchi ‘74
you, Andy and Mary!
Class of 1981
At Sports Grill
First Row: John Crowder, Lee Sterling, Cindy Gargano, Marizy Kaskell, Teri Teijeiro, Bobbi Hall Rodgers, MaryAnne (Dooley) O’Dea, Jan (Sokol) Katz and Glenn Lurie. Second Row: Suzanne Hollub, Ed McLean, Chris Pedersen, Melissa (Goodman) Royer, Tony Bowker, Burford Smith, Mike Bagnell, Joe Herring and Andrew Robertson.
Mike Bagnell, Ed McLean, Joe Herring and Lee Sterling
Patrick Murphy ‘01
I know my business background and innovative problem solving skills will bring a much needed new look to Congress.
Patrick Murphy and former President Bill Clinton
When it comes to helping those in need, the Palmer Trinity community never hesitates to lend a helping hand. Alumnus Patrick Murphy ‘01 continues the Palmer Trinity standard of outstanding citizenship, giving back to those affected by natural disasters. After graduating from PTS and the University of Miami, Murphy spent time working at Deloitte and Touche as a CPA; auditing fortune 500 companies before he started Coastal Environmental Services. Serving as the company’s Vice President, Murphy oversees disaster relief projects within the United States and abroad.
Last year, Patrick spent six months in the Gulf of Mexico operating a fleet of oil skimmers brought in to clean up the BP oil spill. On the international level, Murphy has ensured Coastal Environmental’s role in helping with the rebuilding effort in Haiti, following the tragic 2010 earthquake. “Rebuilding Haiti’s infrastructure gives the country the opportunity to move forward while also giving Haitians jobs in the construction process,” stated Murphy. Coastal Environmental is an affiliate of Coastal Construction, a leading construction firm in the country, named as one of the nation’s top “Green Contractors.” Additionally, Patrick is the Co-Chair of Coastal Cares, which guides Coastal Construction projects for large contributions to local and regional charities; including the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, United Way, Camillus House, and Education Fund/Teach-A-Thon.
Most recently, Murphy has taken to civil service, announcing that he will run for the United States House of Representatives as a democrat in District 22. Patrick noted “I have always had an affinity for politics and serving my community. I am tired of politicians spending more time bickering with each other, rather than finding solutions to our country’s problems. I know my business background and innovative problem solving skills will bring a much needed new look to Congress.” Murphy’s campaign announced that he raised an astounding $350,000 in the first quarter of fundraising, making Patrick the top fundraiser in the nation of democratic challengers. “We have a long road ahead of us, but I am so confident in our campaign team and our constitutes that – come November 2012 – we will come out of this thing, winners”.
For more information, please visit www.patrickmurphy2012.com
Patrick Murphy ’01, Maria Vanegas, and Kevin Sanz ‘01
currently remodeling/rebuilding various types of real estate assets and working with many non-profit groups on their portfolios, my goal is to relocate back to the east coast to be closer to my family and so I can attend UM/Heat games, more Palmer Reunions & get great Cuban food and Joe’s stonies whenever I want! I expect to rejoin the real estate corporate environment in Florida and the northeast. I look forward to returning home and hope all is well in your corner of the globe!”
Melissa (Seide) Rubin and husband, Andy, live in Potomac, MD and she
to the Entertainment section of the Miami Herald, recently invited PTS Senior, Diana Ruiz ’11 to assist him as a freelance writer on several assignments. She recently interviewed Motley Crue drummer and DJ Tommy Lee, and the article was published in the Miami Herald and on the website www.insidecelebrities.com.
Miami native and martial arts expert
Daniel Rosenberg, a graduate of Palmer School and who later earned his MBA from the University of Miami in 1991, has completed his first book Uchi-Deshi on his life in the ring. After graduation from UM,
is Vice President at the Humane Society of the United States.
HART BAUR ‘82
My years at Palmer created several layers for me that allowed me to succeed in college in ways that would have been difficult had I attended a larger high school. Palmer opened up many avenues; academic, athletic, and social. By allowing us these opportunities, Palmer helped me create a strong personal identity, a mindset for exploring new opportunities and the confidence to not fear failing in those new quests. In essence, my time at Palmer helped develop the attitude that I still carry with me to this day. That the only true failure in life is failure to try.
examples for them. Ironically, many of these stories resonate with other people, which is why I decided to get this published. For example, when I share the story about the broken leg I suffered while fighting in Mexico, it is graphic. It is also an example of how I had to have a complete paradigm shift in my thought processes and mental imagery to heal, get stronger, and survive emotionally. The word Uchi-Deshi is a Japanese phrase with deep cultural meaning. The literal translation is one who is a “Livein Disciple or Student” of one of traditional martial arts or of Japan. I was very fortunate to be taught in the “Traditional” ways by Okano Sensei. I learned old school martial arts and from a culture which has prided itself on its martial skills for 1000 years. The great part about growing up in Miami is that I was able to see life without an ethnic compass. From the girls I dated to the friendships I have maintained throughout my lifetime; color, race, and religion were never really a consideration because of the broad diversity of our city. I always judged people by their actions, rather than superficial titles.”
me by pushing me hard and rewarding me with more than grades. I will never forget him nor will I forget most of the teachers and faculty who were a part of that period in my life I call high school! He was the first person to demand something of me that proved truly rewarding to give. He was stubborn and pushed hard until determination to prove to myself that I was a capable researcher and writer replaced my fear and self-doubt. I received more than a grade from Dr. Yarborough. I learned that challenge should be embraced, not feared; that my potential is limited only by my own drive, will, and belief in me.
1984
Rosenberg went on to compete in martial arts across the globe. He was part of the historic first U.S. National Karate team to be invited to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO in 1989 and competed for Team USA from 1986 through 1994. “I originally wrote this book for my children Skye and Connor to share with them some of my real-life challenges and the processes as well as the mental imagery I used to overcome the challenges and succeed. Equally as important, was a cycle in life that I wanted them to understand. That is the cycle of Challenge-StruggleTriumph. Successful people and organizations constantly challenge themselves. I wanted them to see this. I use personal challenges which I faced, some of which are very dark and graphic, to illustrate real life
ASHLEY (EDMONDS) COOKE ‘84
Teachers like Mr. Yarbrough made it possible for me to find myself and recognize my capabilities. Going to Palmer literally changed my path in life. Never in a million years would I have thought I would go on to receive my Ph.D in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. I never had much confidence in myself until teachers like Mr. Yarbrough instilled confidence in
On Wednesday, November 3, 2010, Roy L. Weinfeld, P.A., celebrated its ten year anniversary at Perricone’s Marketplace and Café. Over 50 guests attended, including judges, clients and colleagues. The firm concentrates in creditors’ rights and collections litigation. The firm represents institutional clients and businesses in State and Bankruptcy Courts throughout Florida. The firm is located on Brickell Avenue and is a Trustee Member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Roy is a graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Miami Program in 1998 and a Facilitator thereafter. The firm is an active member of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Brazilian Chamber of Commerce of Florida. Roy graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 1995 after receiving his Bachelor of Arts, Honors Program, from the University of Miami in 1989.
Suyain George writes, “I am so happy and excited to announce that George & Associates has joined Realty Executives Miami-Dade. George & Associates will now be able to assist with all Real Estate needs. Realty Executives Miami-Dade is a full service Brokerage firm. In other words everything from residential sales and leasing, to commercial properties. We are in 26 countries worldwide and have numerous global real estate networks.”
Hart Baur, a contributing writer
DAN ROSENBERG '82
ED M C LEAN '81
A psychologist and a photographer, Dr. Ashley (Edmonds) Cooke lives in Annapolis, MD and she works as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist at Booz Allen Hamilton in the Military and Intelligence arenas and somewhat of a professional photographer. Ashley writes, “I love my work and as for my photography I’ve had four one-woman exhibitions in the last year and a half. My photography is hanging in a gallery in Annapolis, Maryland and sales are decent on my website (www.redbubble.com/ people/cookeadr2003). I photograph orchids only and have just produced a prototype book entitled “Alien Discovery: A New Perspective on Orchid Life.” Orchids, I have found, are full of a life of their own. The focus of my work is to find “beings” within the orchids and have people reflect and discuss what the beings might be. I have found that people see different things, and this may be personality-based... very similar to Rorschach Tests! It is a wonderful
opportunity for my own creativity to influence the creativity of others!”
BETH (BROCKWAY)
SERRATE ‘85
“My time spent at Palmer spanning six years from 1979 to 1985 have taught me the importance of community, relationships, giving, and most of all a feeling of belonging. The nurturing, caring attitude of the teachers and staff allowed me to excel both academically and athletically. The hammock covered campus made this a truly serene place to open your mind for learning. I am truly blessed for having been a part of such an incredible institution whereby individualism as well as the spirit of a collective body is encouraged.”
primary in 2012.” Andrew is married to Kim and lives in Harpswell, ME.
1986
Marialicia (Silva) Schmidt lives in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama with her husband Michael Schmidt.
EDNA (STURGE) FURST
‘86
In college I majored in English and History. I often found that I had already read or studied most of the literature that was assigned reading during my freshman and sophomore years, as I had been in the “honors” English classes throughout high school. My summer reading allowed me a deeper understanding and helped set me apart from my classmates. As
new way of viewing the theater and a passion that is hard to put into words. His enthusiasm was infectious and I became very involved and was his student director for every staged show through my senior year. At graduation, I received the senior drama award, in the form of a leather bound book of Shakespearean plays. I still have it to this day! While I did not pursue a career in theater, as I have a very practical side, I do use the skills I learned under Richard’s tutelage every day in my professional life. I am an Executive Sales Associate in the oncology division of a large pharmaceutical company and I have to present to large and small groups on a daily basis. Whenever I get nervous prior to a presentation, I tap into what I was taught back in
1985
Andrew Ian Dodge writes, “I am honored to be able to announce that I am now a candidate for the US Senate for the great state of Maine. I shall be running in the Republican
I entered my sophomore year of high school, a new drama teacher started at Palmer by the name of Richard Rosen. I had never been involved in drama, though I had been exposed at an early age to the theater by my parents. Richard literally gave me a
(continues on page 41)
drama class at Palmer! Palmer was a safe and caring environment where as a student, I was able to thrive and grow as a student and as a person.
ETIENNE FONT ‘87
I knew even then that Palmer was helping me prepare for college in a way that other schools could not, principally because of the teachers that I had. I was also fortunate enough to take AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature. I was the only student in AP Spanish Literature. What other school could you find that would dedicate one teacher to one student? I was able to use the AP scores to get 12 college credits, essentially making me a second semester freshman at Bentley College,
BETH (BROCKWAY) SERRATE '85 AND FAMILY
JUDGE SHEPHERD, MONICA ESPINO, AND ROY WEINFELD '84
JAMES AND EDNA (STURGE) FURST '86
ALIEN DISCOVERY BY DR. ASHLEY (EDMONDS) COOKE '84
Class of 1986
Class
1991
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2011
At Rusty Pelican
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2011
At Havana Harry's
of
Class of 1986 Reunion
Tessa (Vergara) Bonnells, Denise (Cipriano) Hinman, Carin (Ross) Johnson, Elena DeVilliers, Richard Rosen, Caroline Goodwin, Marty Migliaccio, and Charles Ross ‘93
Rachel Dooley, Deana (Cipriano) Hinman, Marialicia (Silva) Schmidt, Alan Ehrlich, Ed Moloney, Chris Cohen, and Joelle (Wagshul) Steinberg
Chris Bridges, Mike Stone, Carin (Ross) Johnson, Denise (Cipriano) Hinman, Tessa (Vergara) Bonnells, and Elyse (Furgang) Lopez
right out of High School. I recall when I was admitted in 10th Grade, the headmaster letting me know that it was nearly compulsory to join a sport, since they needed to field teams and they needed bodies. This may not sound like much, but I was able to participate in a team sport and I never thought before going to Palmer that I could. Well I ended up lettering in cheerleading; I was a male tumbler during football season, soccer, and track and field. I also had the opportunity to dance as the first male dancer and do drama appearing in four plays during my three years at Palmer. The school always encouraged me to participate, and I am sure it helped me stand out in my college admissions. I am sure every alumnus has a different story of what made their experience at Palmer School shape that they are, and that alone is testimony to the fact that High School shapes the person you become. Palmer allowed me the opportunity to experience every activity high school has to offer. I was never denied the opportunity to participate. The small student body allowed every teacher to get to know me, and the varied curriculum challenged me.
1987
Richard Cipriano opened his own restaurant in Palmetto Bay called Cipriano’s Deli.
Craig J. Faggen is a Managing Partner at Triton Pacific Capital and brings over 15 years of experience in developing and implementing strategic initiatives and structuring numerous large and highly complex capital markets transactions. As a
founder and partner of Triton Pacific Capital, Craig was instrumental in the due diligence, structuring, and closing of several billion dollars of transactions. Prior to founding Triton Pacific, Craig worked in Arthur Andersen’s Capital Markets Group, where he acted as a financial advisor to a number of public and private companies on various transactions including IPOs, securitized debt transactions, equity private placements, dispositions and M&A related opportunities. Craig earned his B.A. in economics at U.C.L.A. and his Masters Degree at M.I.T.
Mario Sariol works here in Miami at Verdeja & De Armas. He’s a C.P.A. with specialization in non-profits and schools with over 30 clients including Ransom, Gulliver and PTS throughout South Florida.
ELKIE (SMOLENY) WIENCZKOWSKI ‘88
Palmer was a wonderful school that fostered my love for community, friendship, and academic success. I truly enjoyed the years I spent at Palmer and am proud to be an alumna of such a wonderful school. When I arrived at the university, I quickly realized that from an academic standpoint I was significantly more organized than my peers. This not only positively translated to managing heavy course and project loads, but more significantly, it allowed me to extract and organize key points during lectures and assigned readings. I feel that the organizational skills that I received at Palmer School
have truly had a lifetime impact on me and the success of my career.
1988
Elkie (Smoleny) and Brian Wienczkowski are expecting their second child in June.
Chris (Frigo) Carter married Kenyon Carter in January 2010 in Miami. They live in Atlanta, GA. Chris is the marketing director for the Golf Finance Division of Textron Financial. Kenyon is a professional musician (saxophonist) and recording artist. His first smooth jazz album is available at www.kenyoncarter.com (Chris works with him on all marketing communication efforts!) Chris writes, “The album is great for cocktail and dinner parties and makes a great gift. We would love to hear from you!”
DARREN ZEMNICK ‘89
Palmer School made me a well
rounded individual that helped me juggle day to day tasks between school and athletics. This continued in my professional career with juggling many priorities while getting all done consistently and accurately. Ms. RG (now Elena De Villiers), COACH, Goodwin, Mig, and I could go on and on, assisted in making me the person I am today, always pushing me to the next level, and expecting nothing but the best from me. Strive for success, enjoy life to the fullest, and take no prisoners. There was a staff that cares about your children’s day to day lives and their future.
1989
Darren Zemnick is the Director of Human Resources at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, CA.
Laurie Valenzi writes, “I am a Marketing Director for an independent sales firm (The SG Group) in the Professional Audio/ Video industry. Our company is based out of California, but I am able to work from home here in Houston. I have been in the AV industry since 1997 and love it.”
CHRIS VON GRIEKEN ‘90
Since our high school was so small it was actually a bit of a shock to me when I got to the University of Miami, and I was just a number on campus. I personally feel that my high school experiences more than my collegiate experience shaped who I am today.
LUIS DE LA CRUZ MUNOZ '88, DANA COSLEY LAMBO '92, ELENA DE VILLERS, JULIE NEWMAN '90, MIKE VILLASANA '87, MAGGIE ROSAS-GUYON '93
ETIENNE FONT '87
ELKIE (SMOLENY) WIENCZKOWSKI '88
CHRIS (FRIGO) CARTER '88 AND KENYON
I attribute all my success to my high school experience; it shaped me morally and professionally. The friends that I made at Palmer are friends for life. We are and will always be a family, and I am not just referring to the students but also the coaches and faculty. Before Facebook was around, we were already keeping in touch with each other, and doing business together. I have always said that I can only hope that my children have the same high school experience that I did.
1990
Virgilio Guma is the Managing Director of a commodities trading firm located in Coral Gables called Veotoro Management, LLC. He and his wife Kelly (Kimmel) Guma ‘89 live out on Key Biscayne with Nicholas (age 8) and Katalina (age 6). The Guma family celebrated the coming of spring by welcoming Gianna Marie Gumá on March 21st 2011. Virgil writes, “Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2011 from all of us who graduated over 20 years ago from Palmer and Trinity and remain great and close friends!”
Will Ezell is the Chief Technology Officer for an open source software company called dotCMS and he lives in Andover, MA.
Chris (Van) Grieken is President of ARG Group in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
Louis Rosas-Guyon is a business technology expert, author and speaker. He specializes in helping small business executives choose the right technologies to enable growth. An 18year veteran of the tech industry, Louis has seen how the right technologies can make the difference between success and failure. Ten years ago he founded R-Squared Computing to help businesses make smarter tech decisions. To date he has helped over 100 companies to be better, faster and cheaper than their competition. He is the author of two management books about business technology, Nearly Free IT and Firm Wisdom.
1991
Dan Solomon writes, “We are now living in Parkland, FL and we’ll soon celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Our 4 year-old son Nicholas keeps us really busy, he’s fast discovering a love of baseball. On the business side of life, my work remains in the area of broadcast media & production in the health and fitness industry. Feel free to visit the ‘Solomon Media Group’ at www.DigitalMuscle.com.”
Derek Fisher lives in Adelphi, Maryland with his wife, Kari. At PGH Consulting, Derek is a Senior Commercial Real Estate Appraiser.
1992
Sarah Ferguson and husband Travis welcomed their second child, Foster Robert McGhee Sheppard, on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 weighing 8lbs. 12oz. and measuring 20” long. “Big brother Vaughn is thrilled!”
Jesse Dougherty serves as the Upper School Director at Friends Select in Philadelphia. Jesse recently implemented a program on the Middle East after procuring an EE Ford grant to cover the expenses. Friends Select has received funding for the next five years. Next year, the program will focus on Central America. Jesse and his family owe much to his terrific education at Trinity Episcopal School.
and real estate newspaper, Miami Today, and later became the Director of Communications for the Greater Miami YMCA. I wanted to teach, though, and go back to school. So I moved on to Atlanta, GA where I obtained my Ph.D in Rhetoric and Social Theory from Emory University in 2005. Luckily, I got a job right away. I am currently an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Memphis. I just published my first book, which looks at Bill Clinton’s political speeches. I love my job, and am inspired every day by memories of the many great teachers we had at our special school. My wife, Laura, and I have been married for eight years. We have two boys, Diego (age 4) and Jesse (age 1.5) and live in a small neighborhood in the heart of Memphis, TN. Our plans for the future are vague yet developing.” Krista Kellogg was recently named Chair-Elect of the National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees. She also serves as Chair of the Outreach Committee, a member of the Development, Governance and Research Committees, interim incoming Chair of the Foundation’s South Florida Community Division Board and Chair of the 2011 National Volunteer Leadership Conference. Krista is the Marketing Director at the law firm of Stearns Weaver Mille. Previously, she worked as the Marketing and Recruiting Manager at the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery and as Assistant Director of the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning at the University of Miami School of Law. Krista is married
Tony de Velasco writes, “After I graduated from Palmer Trinity, I went to Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. During my time at Guilford, I studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico and interned with the State Department in Washington, DC. Once done with college, I moved to Ecuador to teach English. I lived in Tena, a small town in the Amazon, for a year. I loved it. After getting back to the States, I wrote for a business
RICKY JOFRE '90
DAN SOLOMON '91 WITH ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
KRISTA KELLOGG '92
and lives in Palmetto Bay with her husband, Aaron Merideth. “Come on 92ers... I know you’re out there.”
STEPHEN SMITHIES ‘93
The Palmer Trinity experience made me a stronger and better man. Teachers that truly affected my college experience were Father Parry, Mrs. Pulumbo (now Mrs. Truby), Mr. Kjeldson, and Mr Friesenbrock (Freeze). Each teacher I named cared and they were interactive within the class rooms. In sports, all of my coaches affected me. They all pushed me because they knew my talent level. As a junior, I was named second team All Dade and honorable mention all state for football. Coaches Dave Hewett and Gary Robinson both pushed me. Gary Robinson introduced football to Trinity Episcopal School. Gary Robinson also introduced the sport of Lacrosse. The sport of lacrosse helped me get into college and taught me about what the word team meant… team means family! My team helped me get three first team All State Honors, one All American runner up, and one All American. I also played in the North/South game.
PATRICIA KING ‘93
I talked with the Baiamontes when they were considering sending Arissa to Palmer as she was getting ready to leave middle school. I told them how someone had once made the comment to me that Palmer isn’t a school, it’s a family. That is exactly how Palmer is (though you can get a really amazing education there too). Upper class students are like your big brothers and sisters; there may be a little friendly teasing every once in a while, but they help you out when you need it (like Michelle Baker driving me home when I forgot my glove for softball). Teachers also serve as extra parents (You couldn’t stay home when your mom was out of town, Coach Oliver knew and would find you.) Your friend’s mom always made sure you had a ride home after practice (I will never forget Mrs. Moses for that.) Even though Ferg wasn’t my teacher at
the time, he was constantly reminding me to get my Algebra grade up.
1993
Patricia King is a Regulatory Analyst for Compliance Implementations at Assurant here in Miami, FL.
Corey Hunter finished a residency at NYU in PM&R in 2010 and will be completing a fellowship at Cornell in Pain Management this June. Then, Corey will be joining a private practice in Vero Beach this July. Corey attended PTS for 6 years and it really prepared him for the competitive atmosphere of an education in medicine.
Steve Smithies works for a company called Nutritious Creations in Miami. Nutritious Creations has over 30 varieties and several categories of baked goods. The company also sells a complete line of healthy cookies, oat bars, brownies, muffins, muffin tops, also the first ever “Hybrid Cookie” and is constantly creating new formulas while performing research and development in the area of food manufacturing.
1994
Julie (Riera) Powless writes, “My husband, John, and I have been living in Seattle for a few years. I’m working on a Master’s in Counseling and the two of us are thoroughly enjoying each day with our baby boy who is just turning one.”
Campbell Walker is now a Vice President of Leasing for Lincoln Harris in Charlotte, NC. Lincoln Harris is one of the nation’s most accomplished full-service real estate companies.
NICOLE ZAMORA ‘95
I believe the academic rigor, small class size, and supportive teaching staff of Palmer Trinity prepared me for the challenges that college life brings. At Palmer Trinity, I was always encouraged to do my best by the teachers and coaches I worked with. This level of support is an attribute that I make sure to incorporate into the classrooms I impact and the
teachers I coach as an Elementary Math & Science Resource Teacher. Palmer Trinity was a wonderful school that fostered my love for community, friendship, and academic success. I truly enjoyed the years I spent at PTS and am proud to be an alumna of such a wonderful school.
1995
Zander Bowen writes, “I am currently living in Gallon Jug, Belize which has been my home for the last 11 years. I am the general manager of a 133,000 acre private nature reserve on which we practice sustainable logging, eco-tourism at our jungle lodge, beef cattle production, shade grown organic coffee, organic vegetables and produce some specialty hot sauces. I reside on the property with my wife Jacalyn (7 years) and two children Ace (7) and Liza (6). My job is both challenging and rewarding as my family and the rest of the managers and employees mostly live on site.
(continues on page 45)
Being bilingual has come in handy as I work with people from the United States, England, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and, of course, Belize. My goals in the short to medium term are to implement biomass electricity systems to reduce our dependence on diesel, secure export markets for our hot sauces, implement a recycling program for our various project areas on the property and develop educational opportunities for secondary and tertiary institutions through our jungle lodge (Chan Chich). I have hosted a few PTS alumni and would be proud to host any others interested in seeing the project.”
Anne Beaumont (Nichols) Neithhardt married David Neithhardt in September 2010. Nicole (Sanders) Zamora is a Math & Science Resource Teacher at Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, FL.
JULIE (RIERA) POWLESS '94
ZANDER BOWEN '95 AT GALLON JUG, BELIZE
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2011
Class of 1996
At Norman's 180
Jessica Corry, Monica (Cervera) Sijan, Lynley (Walker) Ciorobea, and Nick Sijan
Juan Carlos Quintana, Stacie (Larco) Cooper, and Garrett McNamara Ryan Marx and Guest, Lee Seidlin, and Amber Goethel
Bridges Aderhold owns Miami’s GAB Studio to support local emerging artists. The goal is to provide a venue for artists who are up and coming in South Florida. Bridges is a local photographer with 20 years of experience shooting for magazines, catalogs, advertising, art reproduction and fine art. He started the studio in 2009 with an idea to help emerging artists.
LYNLEY (WALKER) CIOROBEA ‘96
To this day, my closest friends in the world went with me to Palmer Trinity School. They were bridesmaids in my wedding, they are godparents to my sons, and I truly believe that the relationships formed at PTS are ones that last a lifetime. I still keep in touch regularly with many of my teachers as well, and I truly feel honored to be a part of the PTS family. There is something magical about this place that stays with you forever - and I know how fortunate I am to have spent 6 years there.
GARRET M C NAMARA ‘96
The most important thing I would share with a prospective or current family about my time at PTS is the lifelong relationships I made there. The friends I made during my time at PTS are some of my closest friends to this day. Not only are they great friends but they are some of the most positive and motivated people I know. These relationships still inspire me to do my best to live my life in a positive way and we continue to motivate and support each other even now into our early thirties.
1996
Amanda (Chrycy) Thompson and her husband Jonathan welcomed a baby girl, Hayley Elizabeth, on October 11, 2010.
Lesley (Taylor) Kline writes, “In 2010, Jordan and I had a son named Cash Taylor Kline. We still live in Miami and I just celebrated my 10 year anniversary of working in the corporate office of Macy’s.”
Blanca Navas-Diaz graduated from FIU with a major in Television Management. Today, Blanca works for the Walt Disney Company and Radio Disney as an Account Executive. She is married to Juan Manuel Diaz and her family has grown to three kids, with the latest addition, their baby boy Juan Carlos born in August. Their other kids are 6 (Sofia) and 9 (Felipe). Blanca writes, “I have been working for the Walt Disney Company for 11 years. My newest venture here at the Walt Disney Company is joining the Radio Disney Miami Team. Before that I worked for ABC Radio Networks for 5 years and Disney Channel for 5 years as well. It has been a great ride working at this amazing company!”
MAJOR MICHAEL DAVIS ‘97
I believe that my time at Palmer Trinity was instrumental in preparing
me for success in all walks of life. The learning environment created by the exceptional faculty, staff and coaches, goes above and beyond what can be found at many of the public schools in Miami. It fostered a drive to better myself, which has served me well in the pursuit of my Bachelor’s, and Master’s Degrees. The attention to detail instilled by the educators, prepared me to face many of the challenges that I saw in my time at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. I believe that much of the work ethic that served me well in college and currently as an officer in the U.S. Army was cultivated during my time at Palmer Trinity. In short, Palmer Trinity provides a superior education that prepares their students to succeed in any environment.
1997
Michael H. Davis was promoted
(continues on page 48)
to Major in the U.S. Army on November 1, 2010. He is currently serving in Baghdad, Iraq on his third tour. His wife, Jennifer, and two daughters live in Atlanta, GA.
Brett French and his wife, Meg, welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth, in November 2010. They have a two year old daughter named Ashley.
Maggie (Tkac) Jones and Bryan Jones ’95 welcomed their second child into this world in November 2010.
Joshua Repensek is now President of Scan2USB in Miami, FL. Ticyana (Motta) Moyra lives in Vitoria, Brazil and is a Manager at SCM.
1998
Rosa (Gonzalez) Guarda is working on a research study for the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies regarding drugs and violence in the Americas. She is leading a multi-site pilot study in Latin America and the U.S. to examine substance abuse, interpersonal violence, and risky sexual behavior among Hispanic women. The study, which supports the national initiative Healthy People 2010, explores the socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with these highrisk practices and will facilitate the creation of culturally-tailored interventions and treatment strategies. Gladys-Katherina Hernando writes, “I’m currently in my first year of
GEORGE AND LYNLEY (WALKER) CIOROBEA '96, FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL LAURA WALKER, CAMPBELL WALKER '94, FR. BILL WALKER AND CHRIS WALKER '90
AMANDA (CHRYCY) THOMPSON '96
MICHAEL DAVIS '97
Laura Vogel ‘09
By SUZANNE GOTTLIEB CALLEJA
Laura Vogel, PTS
Class
of ’09, has embraced the
world of research at the University of Miami.
Prepared with a strong background in mathematics and science, she faced many choices for major study at the university level. The tipping point for her decision came from a discussion about the green initiatives taking place at Palmer Trinity. Remembering her readings and coursework from the senior seminar Universe Story, Laura realized that the future of the environment depends on changes we make now. Deciding to major in Environmental Engineering, Laura was accepted into a National Science Foundation, Oceans and Human Health, in the Spring of her freshman year – conducting experiments to study microbial bacteria issues in sand on public beaches. She worked with a research team collecting
sand samples, testing their bacterial content, and analyzing the enormous amount of collected data. The study resulted in the submission of an academic paper to the journal Environmental Science & Technology. During her sophomore year, Laura continued her laboratory research, working as part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates program sponsored by National Science Foundation. The sand analysis was expanded to a multibeach study, involving a wave tank, where laboratory simulations were tested against real life results.
Getting involved in research early has opened all kinds of doors.
— LAURA VOGEL
Outside of the laboratory, Laura continued to work on the analysis of the data and the conclusions that could be drawn from the results of the various experiments. She submitted her research to the EPA National Beach Conference and was accepted as a poster session presenter in March 2011.
A week after that conference, Laura traveled with a team of engineering students to the American Society of Civil Engineers Southeast Student Conference. There, Laura placed third in the environmental engineering competition, where she treated water for humic acid. She was also recognized for her research work in the 2011 Research, Creativity, Innovation Forum
hosted by the University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Research. Her poster presentation won third place out of the 50 student submissions in the microbiological sciences category. Recognized for her academic achievements, Laura was recently inducted into Chi Epsilon, the Engineering Honor Society, and will be one of ten students selected from the University of Miami undergraduate body to present at the 6th Annual ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference. A recent alumna of Palmer Trinity School, Laura is just one example of a PTS student taking her knowledge and passion to new heights at the university level.
Laura Vogel conducts research simulation in a wave tank
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2011
Class of 2001
At The Home of Wes Farrell
Class of 2001 Reunion at the Home of Wes Farrell
Grania Michel ’02, Stephanie May, Elsa Frieri ‘02, and Kristin (Hayden) Hebert
Alex Obregon, Elena De Villiers, and Felipe Serrano
Carlos Huerta, Maria Vanegas, and Felipe Serrano
Graduate School at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in the Master of Public Art Studies (Art and Curatorial practice in the public realm) program. I also got engaged this past August while on vacation in Berlin and will be getting married in July to my college sweetheart, Joel Woodman. It’s a very exciting time.” Marc Thomes and his wife live in Atlanta and he recently started an MBA program at Georgia Tech while also practicing law.
BRITTNEY (HOFFMAN) M C CABE ‘99
Most of my peers spent the first year of their collegiate experience feeling anxious and overwhelmed with the demands of their new work load. Because of my education at PTS, I knew how to study, understood the importance of time management, and was able to participate in extracurricular activities and sports while simultaneously meeting the demands of my advanced course work. I attribute the successes of my first few years in college to the academic preparation I received as a PTS student. I cannot say enough about the incredible faculty and staff at PTS. Without their guidance, support, and mentorship throughout my four years at PTS, I would not have had access to many of the important life and learning skills I continue to use today as a working professional. AT PTS, I was encouraged to face challenges with courage, succeed with humility, and advance with compassion. These lessons provided me with a solid foundation upon which I’ve built a successful academic and professional career. I would highly recommend PTS to any parent or prospective student because of my personal gratitude for everything the PTS community has made possible in my own life. As a student at PTS, I not only received an excellent education that paved the way for a future of academic and professional achievement, but I also gained a new family. It’s been over 10 years since my graduation from PTS, and I remain in contact with most
of my classmates and many of the teachers and staff members I knew during my high school experience. I continue to return to PTS for Homecoming games and alumni events because I care about what happens to the PTS community, and they care about what happens to me
1999
Brittney (Hoffman) McCabe shares, “After 10 wonderful years together, I married my long time partner Kara McCabe on November 13, 2010. We were joined by our family and friends–including many of my fellow Palmer Trinity School graduates–and celebrated our commitment with a festive ceremony and reception at the beautiful Miami Event Space in the Miami Modern District. I was beyond thrilled to have so many of my PTS friends, and their growing families, share this incredible moment with me and my wife. Even after many years out of Miami, and outside the PTS classroom, I still consider these friends among my most cherished.”
Construction Group, Inc. This is a newly formed affiliate specializing in disaster relief and clean-up efforts ranging from small oil leaks to multi-million dollar catastrophes. Prior to joining Coastal, Murphy was an external auditor for Deloitte & Touche in Miami.
Eduardo Abreu attended the
2001
Kevin Sanz earned his Masters in International Commercial Real Estate at FIU. He has also earned his CCIM, which is a very well regarded designation for commercial real estate brokers.
Patrick Murphy is running for Congress in District 22 and is now Vice President of Coastal Environmental Services at Coastal
NJ in June 2008 and they have two daughters, Sofia Christina born in March 2009, and Victoria Isabel born March 2011. They just bought their first home in Weston, CT.
2002
Rebecca Ray continues to love her work with Access Hollywood out in Los Angeles. “The Globes, Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys were all exciting to work. Our new morning show Access Hollywood Live is doing well and the premieres, parties, junkets, and other red carpet events I cover continue to keep me busy!”
DAX TEJERA ‘03
Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 2005. From then to January 2008, he worked in private banking at UBS in NYC. Currently, Eduardo works at Lazard Asset Management in NYC as Product Specialist. He was promoted to VP in March 2011. He married Kristen Novack (she is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Nursing School) from Glenrock,
Without question, the curriculum and reputation of Palmer Trinity School was at the forefront of my admission to Dartmouth. And upon arriving in New Hampshire as a freshman, I was continually amazed at how much of a head start I had in the classroom, given the rigors of the PTS experience. The support, encouragement, and diversity that characterize Palmer Trinity served as the best possible prep that any Miami secondary school could offer. Almost weekly I find myself in a personal or professional challenge whose solution lies in my experience at Palmer Trinity. Our school gives students the tools they need to empower and embolden themselves into future leaders. It’s truly a microcosm of the real world. Whether it was the challenges I faced in Student Government and the Honor Council, or the exploration I engaged in through Drama and Convocation, PTS constantly reminds me of the first instances in which I was forced to think, behave, and react like an adult. Because of it, I feel like a have a very big heads up on the world. Palmer Trinity School was without doubt the most formative experience of my youth. The advantages students gain from the intimacy and personality of the place are undeniable and invaluable. I feel privileged to have walked these halls.
SANZ BROTHERS
BRITTNEY (HOFFMAN) M C CABE '99 WEDDING
class notes
2003
Jessica Johnson writes, “I’m currently living in Hong Kong, working as a private tutor. I plan to be here until June 2011, after which I’m going to Guatemala for a month for intensive language study. I’ll spend the summer doing cycling tours of the US and some of Canada. I don’t have definite plans for the fall, but am currently weighing options, including teaching in Vietnam, working in Germany, or school in Melbourne or in the States.”
Ciara Michel officially signed a contract to play professional volleyball, taking her talents to Alemannia Aachen, a member of Germany’s 14team national first league, Bundesliga. Michel, a four-year standout for the University of Miami at the middle blocker position from 2004-07, established herself as the sixth alltime in kills (962), seventh in total attempts (1,993) and 10th in kills per
set (2.24). In 2007, she was selected to the Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team while also serving as a team captain for the Hurricanes. Upon graduation from UM, Michel ventured to Australia, spending two-and-a-half years there while also spending a semester studying abroad at Monash University in Clayton, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. Most recently, she was working on a Master’s Degree from the University of Melbourne. She also worked at a notfor-profit organization, Foundation for Young Australians, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities to underprivileged youth. In the meantime, she found time to play professionally for the Melbourne University Team. Michel was noticed while playing for the University of Melbourne. In order for Michel to prepare for the Olympic Games, she decided to make the move to Europe and specifically Germany with the “Ladies in Black.”
Rebeca Alvarez is now in her last year of med school at UF and planning a Master’s in public health next year at U.M.
Jania Drakes is the Guest Relations Manager at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel in Barbados. After getting her master’s at FIU, she returned home. After finishing her degree in psychology, Celine Aftimos is off to see the world in 2011. Her itinerary includes Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Brazil, Chile, Tahiti, India, Lebanon and Mexico!
Jamaal Douglas is playing pro basketball in Finland.
Dan Pimentel, “After graduating University of the Pacific in business, Dan’s first full time work assignment was at the Luxury Marketing Council in New York City. This was an outstanding opportunity to work amongst the finest luxury brands as a business development manager. The position while ideal, ended after a year when the economic downturn forced layoffs. Dan recalibrated quickly and decided to go back to school and follow one of his passions. Dan entered and completed the French Culinary Institute and trained in the preparation of classical cuisine. This culinary education and business education, has led to a position as Chef Tournaut in a quality Manhattan French restaurant.”
Dax Tejera writes, “I’m happy to report that I’m producing a two hour news show daily, “Jansing & Co.,” which airs from 10am to 12pm on MSNBC. In addition to being a part of the show’s development, launch,
and daily run, I have been part of MSNBC’s breaking news team, which most recently brought me to Tucson to cover the awful story out there.”
KYLE RUTTER ‘04
The teachers, coaches, and faculty at Palmer Trinity School elevated my thinking and challenged me to work harder not only academically but also on the baseball field. My high school experience helped ignite my passion for baseball, which led me confidently through 4-years of collegiate baseball and later into my career with the Boston Red Sox.
2004
AJ Undorfer wed his college sweetheart, Olivia, in Dallas, TX on October 16, 2010. Many PTS Alumni were in attendance to celebrate with AJ.
CONGRATULATIONS TO AJ UNDORFER
Ryan Jurney married Crystal Crocker.
Lisa Migliaccio and Alex Haynes ’04 got married on April 16, 2011.
Chris Sanz is in final year of law school at FIU and is doing very well.
Jenna Pimentel graduated from Santa Clara University magna cum laude and then sought a graduate degree and obtained her Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) at San Francisco Academy
JAMAAL DOUGLAS '03
'04!
ANDRE HAMOUI '03 WITH DEAN OF STUDENTS, MS. JUDI JENNINGS AND HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL, MR. ASHLEY CHAPMAN
DAX TEJERA '03
Asia shooting the beautiful and exotic cities of Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and Singapore. She has followed her passion and her work is now professionally displayed in award winning travel brochures. www.jennalynphotography.com
2005
Lauren Santa Cruz-Yepes writes, “This summer as part of my last semester of grad school I had the opportunity to travel to Eastern Europe. This project was part of a collaborative initiative with local European journalists and 10 University of Miami Multimedia Journalism graduate students. In an effort to break down negative stereotypes of Roma gypsies we travelled over a period of 4 weeks to Sofia, Bulgaria, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Prague, Czech Republic. The product was a website containing 25 short video stories about 3-5 minutes in length, all telling stories of Roma people in 5 countries in Eastern Europe. I am very fortunate to be able to do what I love, which is tell people’s stories and travel the world. You can check out our stories for the Roma project at www.roma. glocalstories.org. Also, in March, I travelled to Calcutta, India as part of an effort to shed light on the United Nations Millennium Development
of Art. She has maintained a perfect graduate GPA and was delighted to determine that she was one of a few students elected as a California Elite Scholar. She is currently on photographic assignment in Southeast
been an adventure all on its own!”
Ben Reid recently married Kate Fuquay Reid.
Phebe Hibshman visited Katherine Wood, daughter of beloved PTS bookstore employee the late Jackie Wood, at the Juilliard School where Katherine is in her second year studying acting. Katherine graduated from NYU in 2009.
Carlos Abreu attended Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and he graduated in 2009. Recently, he obtained a Masters in International Management from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a Masters in International Management from CEMBS (Global Alliance in Management Education) from the National University of Singapore in December 2010. Currently, Carlos works at The Avascent Consulting Group in Washington DC as an analyst.
Francesca Fernandez opened a frozen yogurt shop in Coral Gables. She recently celebrated the oneyear anniversary of My Yogurt Bliss, a self-serve yogurt bar where customers completely customize the frozen treats. Francesca tells us, “The yogurt at My Yogurt Bliss is healthy because it provides active live cultures. The milkshake is as healthy as you want it to be.”
Goals. You can check out those stories at www.mdg.glocalstories.org. I am currently working on my M.A, thesis, following the last traveling train carnival in the U.S. That has definitely
After graduating in May 2009 with a double major in Psychology and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, Alejandro Melean decided to pursue his dream of playing professional
JENNA PIMENTEL '04 IS ZEN
LAUREN SANTA CRUZ-YEPES '05
RYAN JURNEY '04
LISA MIGLIACCIO '04 AND ALEX HAYNES '04
KATHERINE WOOD '05 AND PHEBE HIBSHMAN
FRANCESCA FERNANDEZ '05
LOREANA VON PLOCKI '05 AND HORACIO RODRIGUEZ '00
soccer. Alejandro made his professional soccer debut on April 02, 2010 for La Paz Futbol Club in La Paz Bolivia, a modest Club in the Bolivian Professional League where he started for 40 games and had a very good and
consistent performance. On January 2011, he was signed by Oriente Petrolero from Santa Cruz, Bolivia the defending National Champions. Immediately, he made a great impact grabbing a spot on the starting eleven players. Oriente Petrolero is currently leading the Bolivian Tournament with 7 wins and 2 losses, totaling 21 points while simultaneously playing the Santander Libertadores Cup which is the South American version of the European Champions League. Alejandro is considered by the sports media as one of the best uprising players in the League and his name is being considered for a future call to the Bolivian National Team. This is a great accomplishment, considering that he only became a professional soccer player only one year ago.
BRITTNEY FYFE ‘06
PTS taught me to always reach higher. When I decided to look at Vanderbilt and I was accepted, I knew that it was the place for me. Mr. Reynolds had encouraged me to look at Vanderbilt and he felt that it was a good fit for me. It certainly was, and I enjoyed every minute of my experience. I attribute my work ethic and perseverance to the lessons I learned while at PT, as well as the coaches and teachers that invested in me as
a young person, not just a student. PTS is a family. There is a support system that is incomparable with other school communities. There are opportunities for students to discover themselves through different outlets and be challenged academically. Students learn how to give to their community and the greater world.
SHAWN ADDERLY ‘06
PTS made me a particularly strong writer and public speaker which have aided me during my time in college. As an undergraduate researcher in Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign I have presented the work I do at a number of events. One such event was at a National Science Foundation workshop held in Park City, Utah, where I
presented my research to academics and researchers. I have never had problems presenting my work because of the numerous opportunities to develop public speaking skills while I was at PTS through participating in debates and being a member of the student government. As a staff writer for the Daily Illini, the student newspaper at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I have had over 60 stories published. While the Daily Illini isn’t exactly the New York Times, my stories have been featured in a number of places including the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media Blog. I attribute this success to English department faculty member Mark Hayes for convincing me that having good writing skills was an important and learnable skill. The faculty at PTS played a large role in helping me develop critical thinking skills that have served me well during my studies in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and also during my time in industry. At PTS I was always encouraged in the classroom to develop a more complete understanding of the material I was learning about whether it was American History or Chemistry. During my internships at Motorola and through my research as an undergrad student at Illinois, I was often faced with major engineering challenges. I think because PTS taught me to examine different points and to question assumptions, I was always able to find an innovative solution to the design problems I was faced with.
The time you spend interacting in the classroom with the faculty at Palmer is priceless. I never realized how the ability of being able to have one-toone interaction with a teacher on a regular basis would prove so beneficial to me. One of the best things I like about PTS was that although it had high academic standards it did not feel like a stressful environment.
2006
Mariana Blanco is living in Denver, having graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder where she majored in Psychology and Linguistics. She is working in the field of social services as well as pursuing her interests in yoga and the culinary arts. Before graduating, she spent a summer in Cambodia, volunteering with the Cambodian Children’s Painting project.
Julio Ligorria writes, “I was working for a political consulting firm as a junior political analyst for a brief time and decided to stop and focus on finishing the translation of my mother’s book from Spanish to English. I am also looking for people interested in donating to the cause and spreading my mom’s message to those who need it the most. That’s pretty much it; I’m finishing up school this year and look forward to hit the ground running. I have pretty good job references so I’ll be shooting for a position at Stratfor (a strategic forecasting company).
Jeffrey Lumish is getting a Masters in Electrical
SHAWN ADDERLY '06
ALEJANDRO MELEAN PLAYS PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN BOLIVIA
Class of 2006
David Marbert, Patty Lehtinen, Mike Silva, and Wilson Hernandez
Mike Silva and Wilson Hernandez
At Fado
Engineering at Georgia Tech.
Shawn Adderly is an undergraduate researcher in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. He is also a staff writer for the Daily Illini, the school’s student newspaper. Shawn will be joining IBM after graduation.
Brandon McNary writes, “I work for Citco Fund Services in their Private Equity (PE) group. It’s a brand new group–only about 9 months old. It’s really awesome to be in, as PE is gaining steam as a result of recent changes in financial regulation. As it is one of the most visible groups in Citco; there is a vast opportunity to further myself in the company. Only five months into my current role, I was promoted from Junior Analyst to Analyst. I currently administer the two largest funds in the group. These two funds combined have assets under management close to the billion dollar mark. Administration is an umbrella term which basically describes a basket of things we do for our clients. A lot of my day to day activities are handling investor inquiries, accounting, and disseminating investor specific fund information. While it seems like a small amount; there is never enough time in the day to finish it all! While being at Citco is a treat, it is in New York which means that 5 months out of the year I am an ice cube. Also, can someone send me Chicken Kitchen at your earliest convenience?”
Samantha Evans writes, “Last summer, I volunteered in Arusha, Tanzania with my fiancé, Robert Moore ’05 for five through a volunteer agency called International Volunteer Headquarters We volunteered at a day school for children who were either orphans due to AIDS or their family has been affected by the deadly disease. POSA (Positive Steps in Arumeru) is an organization that primarily deals with AIDS education in Usa River, which has an abnormally high percentage of the population living with HIV. From our first day, Bobby and I were thrust into a small “classroom,” constructed of tarp wrapped around four trees. No concrete. The children sat on a make-
shift mat on the floor. No desks, no tables, no books. The students ranged from 2 years – 7 years old, and yes they were all taught in the same classroom! We were astounded that we were expected to teach addition and subtraction to 2 year olds! Beside these obvious infrastructural barriers, our munchkins did not speak a word of English. Bobby and I quickly learned the most essential words in Swahili: sikileza (listen), andika (write), hesabu (count), angalia (look), and of course, acha piga (don’t hit). After our first transitional day, we came back to POSA with posters and books and decided to split up the students into two classes: baby class and big kid class. The students are in class from 8 a.m. till noon. At around ten, the school serves ugi (porridge), which for many of these children is the only substantial meal of the day. Bobby and I knew how hard this experience emotionally would be for us, but we couldn’t truly grasp the hardships these children’s families go through. We visited many of their homes while we were there. Most of our students live in mud houses with only one room, one bed, and with about 6 family members. We fell completely in love with our students and knew our connection couldn’t end once we left Arusha. Tanzania does have affordable public education (government schools) for the students to attend once they “graduate” from POSA, but the price of these schools is still too much for the families of the students we were with. Also, the percentage of students who actually finish primary level at the government schools and the percentage of students who enroll in secondary school are incredibly low. Our buddies living in harsh conditions have the odds against them. Education IS the way out for these students. Bobby and I have sponsored two students to attend a private boarding school in their area, which enables them to be entirely surrounded by a positive, educational environment. We are currently working to create a nonprofit organization that would help us find sponsors for the children. Bobby and I, as well as my family, went back to Arusha over spring break to visit the school and to fortify our relationship
LAST
SUMMER, SAMANTHA EVANS '06 VOLUNTEERED AT AN ORPHANAGE IN ARUSHA,
WITH FIANCE
WHERE THEY ARE STARTING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO FIND SPONSORS FOR THE CHILDREN THEY WORKED WITH
with POSA. It is our hope to assist the school at POSA itself, as well as to send the students who “graduate” from POSA to this great school (called Usa River Academy) which would greatly help improve their lives.”
2007
Christopher “Kit” Faiella who just finished his term as president of his fraternity (Chi Phi), while working as an intern in the admissions office, just made Dean’s List. He was nominated for the Meek Leadership award and is waiting to hear back from Teach for America. Kit has been involved in missions since high school. “I went to Honduras for three summers and was the coordinator for two of those trips. And I was part of an Episcopal youth team that worked in Mississippi immediately after Hurricane Katrina.”
Alec Santos McCluskey writes, “I am still in Canada, in Vancouver, and I will graduate with a biology degree in ecology and I am trying to get into medical school. Meanwhile I work as a bartender at a private golf club and I am training for a half iron man next summer.”
Monty Sibley is a senior at the University of Florida in Gainesville and is currently majoring in Finance. He wants to work in investment banking upon his return to Miami after graduation.
Ashley Pemsler writes, “I am graduating from the University of Rochester in May and am attending in the fall the Warner School of Education at University of Rochester to get an M.S. in Mental Health Counseling. I am still working for the Healthy Living Center which is a research institute that helps people
TANZANIA
ROBERT MOORE '05,
KIT FAIELLA '07 GRADUATED FROM OHIO WESLEYAN
make healthy lifestyle changes.”
Nicole Mouriño is a contemporary Cuban-American artist based in Miami, FL. Nicole’s paintings offer an optimistic fantasia into the subtly grotesque moments of American adolescence. Often expansive, her works invite the audience into a painterly world of visual naiveté, quarrel, and excitement. She examines a playground of artistic contradiction (Subconscious vs. Conscious, Figuration vs. Abstraction, Graphic vs. Painterly, Aesthetic vs. Conceptual) while maintaining a truly universal language of bold cultural humor.
Bentley University senior Andrea Farah earned All-Tournament honors as the Bentley Invitational volleyball tournament this fall.
Christopher Narchet will be graduating in May from Fordham University of New York with a major in Finance and a minor in Economics. He is presently doing an internship in the Brooklyn NY District Attorney‘s office and plans to attend law school in the Fall.
Christian Ehrenhaft writes, “I originally went to Loyola University in Chicago but left after one year and have attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando since my sophomore year. Since late freshman year, I have been majoring in Criminal Justice and once I get my bachelor’s degree I plan to move to Washington D.C. and become a police officer. I will graduate this year in August and, before I do, I’m working on getting an internship with Florida Department of Law Enforcement, United States Probation Office, or Orlando Police Department.
Courtney Clark writes, “I will be graduating from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at UGA with a Bachelor’s of Journalism, Magazines on May 13, 2011. I am graduating with honors, and have loved every minute of being a Georgia Bulldog! This year, I have again served as Managing Editor for the Pandora Yearbook, but also took on the role of Art Director for Ugazine, the campus magazine. I’m also interning at Athens
Regional Hospital in their Corporate Communications office, as I have also become interested in healthcare communication. It’s been a great four years, and I can’t wait for what’s in store! I will, hopefully, be moving to New York in June to pursue a career in magazine publishing.
Brittany Kalbac writes, “Over Spring Break I went with a team of 13 to Granada, Spain, to partner with missionaries Shawn and Deb Galyen, UVA grads Robyn, Carson, and Julia, and Raíces, a cultural center in the heart of the city that will develop into a campus fellowship at the University of Granada. Raíces, a Christian NGO, has 3 primary branches: cultural exchange, social work, and spiritual discovery. This trip was primarily a mission trip with the goal of engaging in cultural conversations; many Spanish students are marked by apathy, so our conversations were intended to combat that spirit of indifference. In following the mission of Raíces, we hosted a cultural event each night of the week: a talent show, which featured flamenco music and dance, bluegrass, country and jazz pieces, and a reading of Garcia Lorca; a global food night, where we sampled dishes from Poland to Peru; and traditional American carnival-style games which ended in playing fútbol with the World Champions! Throughout the week, we raised money and spread awareness about Project Rescue, an organization that aims to remove and restore women and children who have been in sexual slavery. It was so fun getting to talk with Spaniards, learn about their culture, and share my own culture, while also challenging them to ask deep life questions of purpose, meaning, hope, and belief. I enjoyed the wonderful paella and tortilla Española, La Alhambra, flamenco, architecture, and a chance to let Spanish roll off my tongue, but I am reminded of how blessed I am to be there serving a God who delights in all nations and loves them.”
Melissa Hew writes, “I am currently finishing my fourth and final year at Tulane University in New Orleans, I will be graduating with a B.A. in
Environmental Studies, and will be receiving a double minor in Marine Biology and International Development. Last spring I had the privilege of studying in Singapore at the National University of Singapore. While there I had the opportunity to travel to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and India (the highlight of my travels). Right now, I am working as a tutor at STAIR (Start the Adventure in Reading), a program that provides students (grades 2-3) at risk of academic failure with assistance in reading. I also work as a teacher’s assistant at Audubon Charter School. I work closely with preschool and kindergarten children, and while the job can at times be tiring, it is nothing less than rewarding. Along with three other Tulane students, I am in the process of starting a social venture called Aquaponics Modular Production Systems (AMPS). Our mission is to produce sustainable, environmentally friendly food production systems that combine aeroponics, hydroponics and aquaculture to provide healthy, local nutritious food. We are aiming to serve people affected by social inequality and anthropogenic and natural disasters by assuring local access to pure, fresh, organic foods. Alfredo Osorio writes, “I’m currently a senior majoring in Electrical Engineering at Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois). The university is pretty close to Chicago and is right next to Lake Michigan.
The weather is pretty rough, especially coming from Miami! I was definitely not prepared for the first winter, but I managed to survive. Classes were canceled for the first time since 1979 on February 2nd due to a huge blizzard. That was pretty awesome. I have enjoyed the courses for my major. One course involved building a burglary alarm system. It took over 30 hours to complete, since the circuit board had to be soldered and the timing of the siren had to be just right. I’ve been involved in some activities at Northwestern. One of them is the solar car team. As a member of the electrical team, I was able to work on the sensor board that monitors the car’s battery pack for dangerous temperatures and the air gap circuit which changes the gears of the solar car. I also participated in the Northwestern design competition last year where each team created a robot to compete against each other. It has been such a great experience. Graduation is this June. It is amazing how fast time flies, but I am really excited for what the future will bring. I will be sure to visit Palmer Trinity again soon after graduation!
TYLER KALBAC '10 AND BRITTANY KALBAC '07 AT UVA WITH THEIR FAMILY
Alumni Holiday Party
At The Grove Spot
On December 8, 2010, over 100 people attended the
of the
staff and faculty
Beth (Brockway) Serrate ’85 and Marty Migliaccio Phil and Beth (Brockway) Serrate
Elena DeVilliers and Mickey Ferro ‘87
David Malek ‘99, Brittney (Hoffman) McCabe ’99, Dana Rifkin ’99, Marco Carega ‘99, and Max Martinez-Miyashiki ‘99
Ed McLean ‘81 and Hart Baur ’82
Marty Migliaccio and Meridith (Roy) and Bobby McGlynn
Mickey Ferro ‘87, Edgar Belaval ’89, Leonor Belaval, and David Diaz ‘87
holiday alumni party at the Grove Spot in Coconut Grove. Head of School, Sean Murphy and several members
current
of PTS joined the group for a festive evening.
Eddie Martinez ‘87, Mickey Ferro ‘87, Rachel Dooley ‘86, Patricia Reinhart ‘86, David Diaz ‘87, and Elena DeVilliers
Ben Hoke, Director of Development, John Malloy ’85, James McGehee ’85, Sean Murphy, Head of School
A.J. Undorfer ‘04, Maria Vanegas, and Ryan Jurney ‘04
Jon Esnard ‘04 and Alba Gosalbez ‘06
Lisa Migliaccio and George Antoniades ‘04
Yiannis Zavitsianos ‘99 and Sean Murphy, Head of School
George and Lynley (Walker) Ciorobea ’96 and Monica Sanchez, Director of Alumni Relations
Richard Rosen and Adria (Jenkins) Young ‘02
class notes
Will Morrison is finishing his last year at Chapman University as a Business/Econ Major. His plans are to move back to South Florida and job hunt. He is captain of the Chapman Lacrosse Team heading for their 4th year in the MCLA championships in Denver, CO.
2008
Cam DiFede is a Dickinson College junior where he’s a standout wide receiver and captian for the varsity football team.
Joey Coulter has signed with Richard Childress Racing to drive its second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in 2011. Joey recently finished eighth in the 2010 ARCA Racing Series point standings, his second full season of competition, on the strength of his first series victory
with six other top-five finishes. He also earned the Bill France Four Crown Award, which showcases driver talent on four distinct types of race tracks during the month of August. In 2009, his rookie year, he finished fourth in the point standings, earning two pole positions and seven top-five finishes. “We’re excited to have Joey Coulter join RCR and to expand our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program in 2011,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Joey is a very talented young driver who has had a lot of success in every series he’s competed in so he will be a great addition to our Truck Series program.”
Coulter made his racing debut in 1998 driving go-karts, winning more than 50 races and multiple Florida state championships through 2005. He graduated to the Florida FASTRUCK Series in late 2005 where, in less than two seasons, he won four races and finished fifth in the 2006 point standings. He competed in the former USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and the Whelen All American Late Model Series in 2007 and 2008, earning his first stock car victory in December 2008 at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. “Driving for Richard Childress Racing is an unbelievable opportunity for me,” said Coulter. “My goal when I was a kid was to make it into NASCAR and to be able to do so with an organization like RCR is a dream come true.”
Ryan Wilson: I’ve been a few places those three years post-high school, the one in between those two being spent traveling out of
Miami. As for academic pursuits, I am currently finishing up at Miami-Dade College this April, and then have two options in terms of where I may go post-AA degree.
Alex Sachs competed in the Miami Olympic Class Regatta in the 49er class.
the Choir Manager and a Resident Dorm Advisor to 30 freshman men. Lauren Adamo writes, “I started my clinical rotation in the nursing school at UM last fall. It was the hardest semester so far, but I made it through and this spring semester is much easier. I am really enjoying nursing
Joro Forman is attending Denison University and is playing Varsity baseball. Joro is an Economics major.
Matthew Tillett, a junior at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, just completed a successful run in the musical “Violet”. He was cast in the role of the lead character’s rascal father, who introduces her to liquor at 13 and teaches her to add and subtract by playing cards in the song, “Luck of the Draw.” Matthew also sings in the College Choir and the College Ensemble Choir, as well as being
and my rotations through maternity and pediatric nursing. I have one year left and then I’ll take the NCLEX and become a registered nurse. I love being at UM and transferring here was the best decision I ever made. Go Canes!”
Ariel Moger writes, “New York is wonderful! I have been here for three years now and I still feel like I have so much left to see and do. I love Columbia University because it provides countless opportunities to explore this vibrant city. For example, I am currently taking an art history class that is part of Columbia’s core curriculum entitled Masterpieces of Western Art. The best aspect of this class is that we visit museums in the city, including the MoMa, the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Frick Collection, in order to view the works of art that we are studying. Similarly, in the Masterpieces of Western Music class that I took my sophomore year, my class went to the Metropolitan Opera to see “Aida”. New York City is one of the few cities in the world where you have access to the actual things you study in class, and I have spent most of my college career taking advantage of this unique and invaluable experience. This summer
ALEX SACHS '08
JOEY COULTER '08 RACES ON
JORO FORMAN '08 PITCHES FOR DENISON UNIVERSITY
WILL MORRISON '07
I will be studying abroad in Paris! I was accepted to Columbia’s Reid Hall Program to take advanced French classes and I will spend a majority of my summer immersing myself in French culture and language. The remainder of my summer will be spent working for marine biologist Gerard Loisel on Key Biscayne.”
Stephen Ludovici will be graduating cum laude with a B.A. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Florida. He was awarded the Anderson Scholar of High Distinction last September. Stephen will be attending UF Law School this fall on a merit scholarship.
2009
Gregg Steinman, a sophomore at Moravian, started a Hillel on campus that has been highly endorsed by the administration.
Hugh Morrison is enjoying his sophomore year at University of Denver. He is majoring in International Studies and minoring in Spanish, Business Administration and Marketing. He takes full advantage of the outdoor opportunities in Colorado and hopes to study abroad next fall.
Paula Vizcarra has made Dean’s list all three semesters at Rollins College. She was elected Pan-Hellenic Chair on the Executive board of ChiOmega Sorority which she joined last semester and also been a Peer Mentor for incoming students.
Emily Tarbe is very happy in her sophomore year at FSU. She interned over the summer with the physical therapists at Dr. Dan Kalbac’s office. Hailey Wood is a very active sophomore at High Point University where she is pursuing a degree in Strategic Communications and has made the Dean’s List. In the past two years Hailey has been selected as a University Ambassador, the Director of Social Media for the HPU Student Marketing Committee, and serves on the Communications Advisory Board. She is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority where she serves as Social Chairman. Hailey plans to travel abroad to Italy next spring.
Melanie Metal was just accepted to Greenpeace in San Francisco. Greenpeace only accepts very small percentage of applications.
Andrea Buhler just got an internship with Vogue.
Lawrence Flick is living in NYC and working several jobs.
Mark Allen attends American University and runs cross country. In his last race, he finished 3rd (American went 1-2-3-4) and reached the 14:45 target for the 5,000 meter-indoor (IC4A qualifying standard). This has been a very good year for Mark. He is more comfortable with the demanding training schedule and he has performed magnificently in his studies and on the field. Every race, so far in the Indoor season, has been a PR. Mile: 4:23, 3000 meter: 8:33, 5000 meter: 14:45 (8th best time in Patriot league). The outdoor season is promising... but this is a process, a long process... he is training hard and has a great Coach in Matt Centrowitz.
She is active in her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega and plays Club Volleyball. Michael Stacks told us that he was selected to be a part of the cadre for Cadet Field Training at Camp Buchner. He would be in the group responsible for training the sophomores in an advanced field training techniques and tactics. He plans to choose geospatial information systems sciences which focus on satellite imaging, mapping and science. At one point, he was thinking
freshman at Louisiana State University, has made the LSU Tigers Men’s Lacrosse Team. Erik is a former Falcon team captain and three-time member of the Miami Herald AllDade Lacrosse Team. Erik joins his brother, Angel Diaz (junior lacrosse player at the University of Miami) as the second family member to currently play collegiate lacrosse. Kirby Battle is a freshman at High Point University and she plays club soccer, majoring in
Kirsten Ferreira is enjoying her college years at Elon University. She has made the Dean’s List every semester she has been there. Chosen to be an Orientation Leader this year, she was assigned a group of incoming freshman and is their “mentor” during their first weeks of school. She also was asked to participate in a leadership program that Elon offers which provides classes, speakers and projects to those students who demonstrate leadership skills. While studying abroad in Australia, she took a class on the aboriginal culture of the country.
about minoring in German. He really connected with his German teacher at West Point and had a love for Germany which grew out of his PTS Band trip to Berlin and Leipzig. He has friends, he is evolving, and takes great pride in excelling in strenuous physically and mentally demanding situations. Grey Soman attends Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He has a double major in Business and Psychology.
2010
Erik Quisenberry-Diaz, a current
Political Science and new member of Kappa Delta Sorority.
Cecilia Leal, Christina Ludovici, and PTS Drama teacher Phebe Hibshman visited Miami native Katie Finneran backstage after watching her Tony award winning performance of “Promises, Promises” in New York this month. Cecilia is in her first year at NYU Tisch School for the Arts in the experimental wing. Christina is in her first year at NYU.
Joan Ronstadt and Nadia Tahoun started a website www.floatmagazine. com. In their website, they are quoted stating, “We have a passion for all things music (from bands to fans and everything in between). Float’s main purpose is just that, to continue a passion. Feel free to float around the page.” Joan is a student at American University in Washington D.C. studying journalism and Nadia is attending Parsons School of Design, New School University in NYC.
Annie Morrison, a freshman at Georgetown University, wants to learn as many languages as possible and to have a study abroad
MARK ALLEN '09 AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
CECILIA LEAL '10 AND CHRISTINA LUDOVICI '10, DRAMA TEACHER, MRS. PHEBE HIBSHMAN, AND KATIE FINNERAN
experience. She has enjoyed her first year at Georgetown and says “she couldn’t imagine being in college anywhere else.”
Belle Verwaay is studying at Dartmouth and enjoys spending time in the art room.
Andres Policastro is playing lacrosse for Vanderbilt University Club Lacrosse Team.
Felix Castillo made the baseball team at Babson College.
Trae Kerdyk attends Eckerd College and will doing an internship at Dynasty Marine in the Florida Keys this summer. This company collects specimens for aquariums all over the world. As ardent supporters of the influential world of public aquariums, Dynasty Marine’s technical staff pursues the goal of effectively serving
its aquarist customers by discovering, acquiring and acclimating rare and difficult-to-capture large and small sea creatures for public display. Dynasty’s deep-water divers, experienced collectors & lab technicians specialize in rare marine acquisitions.
Victoria Fernandez writes, “I will be working at the Dartmouth Technical Research Center (DTRC) at InTime as an administrative assistant intern. Basically it is a web-based database where third year medical students can learn with virtual patient cases. It is currently used in over 130 medical schools in the U.S. and Canada.
This term (January to March) I also worked as a tutor for America Reads.
The federal “America Reads” initiative includes a vital national service component. The goal of this campaign is to ensure that every child can read independently by the end of the third grade. Children who do not read early and read well are held back at the start of their education–and possibly for the rest of their lives. The America Reads program at Dartmouth allows students in the Federal Work-Study Program to be employed as in-school K-5th grade tutors (approximately 1525 minute drive from Dartmouth). Tutors may work individually or with small groups of children each week. They stay with the same children throughout the term, and preferably, throughout the year. Through steady reading sessions and creative activities, tutors work to instill a love of reading in children.” (A little blurb from the Dartmouth website about the program) I worked at a
GMCC in White River Junction and Samuel Morey Elementary. My time at Dartmouth has been incredible. I have made many good friends and had tons of fun with the seasons. I have gone skiing at the Dartmouth Ski-way, ice skating on Occom Pond, sledding on the Dartmouth Golf Course and attended almost all home hockey games. Winter Carnival was a blast and I helped build the snow sculpture–a castle. I participated in the Dartmouth Mr. and Ms. Big Green participation the first night of the carnival, a ridiculous competition, ending up in third place. (Picture of me at the competition in my “Dartmouth Flair”–an outfit consisting of ridiculous articles of clothing. Also Sebastian DeLuca, 2014 Class President). I was the only ‘14 or Freshman in the competition.
Former Faculty
Jan Bekkevold is now teaching at Ransom Everglades School. Richard Rosen writes, “Thank you for sending me the latest copy of Aerie. It was a magnificent issue! Excellent job. Right now I’m directing Prelude to a Kiss for the Players of Safety Harbor, and producing You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown for the City of Oldsmar. They are supposed to do a feature on me next quarter for the magazine Destinations. Regards to
all PTS!” We were all excited to see Richard at our Reunion Weekend!
In Memoriam
Shirley Donnangelo passed away Monday, February 7, 2011 Russellville, AR. She was a teacher with Palmer School for 20 years. Left to cherish her memory are three children, Linda D. Drane and husband Mark of Memphis, TN, Ralph Donnangelo & wife Janet of Russellville, and Barbara D. Moore of Atlanta, GA.
ADAM WILSON '10, CHRISTINA LUDOVICI '10, CECILIA LEAL '10, RAUL GONZALEZ '10, AND DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION, DANNY REYNOLDS IN NYC!
VICTORIA FERNANDEZ '10 AT DARTMOUTH
BELLE VERWAAY '10 AT DARTMOUTH
Chip Walter ’95 & Ian Wogan ‘04
It was an amazing experience.
Chip and I showed up the day before the Challenge on SUP (Stand Up Paddleboards), and as we were the first two racers to attempt the Challenge, many people questioned whether or not we would actually complete it. This was great motivation for us, and we needed it!
On the first day of the race, we launched from Ft. Desoto and went straight across Tampa Bay It was difficult from the start, and we spent seven hours fighting a headwind and waves for ten miles. It was physically and mentally exhausting, but we kept paddling through the first day for a continuous 25 hours.
By the end of our first day, we had paddled about 50 miles. We beached our boards and gear, laid everything out to dry, and allowed three hours for warm food, rest, and rehydration. When the tides flowed in our favor, we complete the “Ultra marathon” portion by reaching our first checkpoint, 70 miles from Ft. Desoto to Placida, FL.
Upon arrival in Placida, we began to understand how difficult this challenge would actually be. Veterans of the race, including the “Chief” and
race manager “Pelican,” said this year had been the worst for weather. By this point, the Coast Guard had already been called to rescue a racer who had been blown three miles out to sea.
Over 25% of the racers had dropped out, and one was even sent to a local hospital to be treated for hypothermia. The conditions were treacherous, but we were determined to finish the race.
After recovering, we set off on sunny day three to reach the next checkpoint. As we sailed past sailboats that had launched 30 minutes before us, we began to face strong headwinds in the open water of Charlotte Harbor, just near Three Sisters Island and Devilish Key. After two hours, we made it across a six-mile stretch of open water, finding shade and shelter amongst the mangroves. It was good to get out of the sun to once again plot our route, but as we came out of the mangroves, we were surprised and delighted to catch a tailwind! We opened our “chutes”–a Palmer Trinity School Sandy Golf Tournament umbrella and “wind” paddle–and cruised along Pine Island, riding the wind for 18 miles. We found ourselves in absolute darkness at the southern
tip of Pine Island, navigated a few channels, and arrived at Ft. Myers Bay. After 30 miles of paddling, we stopped at a nearby dock for some rest and relaxation. We came across a boat crew who proved very helpful! Not only did they give us a place to park our boards, but they also housed us, fed us a warm plate of couscous and venison, and quenched our thirst with ice-cold wheat sodas. This experience alone made the trip worthwhile, and we set off the next day with a stash of Captain Kibbe’s own smoked fish!
After this departure, we found ourselves victim to one of the most difficult stretches of the trip. We felt like we were going nowhere as we paddled four hours against the wind and tide, completing only eight miles. From there, it was another open-water paddle for 10 miles.
After a much needed rest, we found a sheltered inter coastal waterway to cruise, and continued 12 miles until we arrived, by nightfall, at the greater Naples area. Stopping to review the maps, we realized we were still 70 miles out from the next checkpoint, and a
massive storm front was approaching. As we continued on, it dawned that we were about to embark on the most treacherous portion of the journey, and had to make a critical decision on whether or not to continue. Whatever decision we made, it had to be made fast. Nearly midnight, we realized we would need to cover 10 more miles that night, and another 50 miles a day for the next four days.
In fair conditions, this would have been attainable, but not with the approaching ominous weather, over 40 mph winds, and temperatures dropping in the low 40s. It was a tough decision to make on many levels–physically we were ready, but to continue into an uncontrollable situation meant defining our efforts as reckless. Regretfully, we were forced to stop. However, we now have an opportunity to use this program as a jumping off point for awareness programs about sustainability at an elementary school level.
Over the next few months, Chip and Ian will participate in several other races around the country. Stay tuned!
Class
The journey will be fulfilling. It will be empowering. Everything that we have learned here at Palmer Trinity, in and out of class, will take us beyond what we today think is possible.
— SHIRIN RAZDAN, Valedictorian
Everyone here today has helped contribute to the framework of our futures and I think that you all should feel comfortable knowing that we are well prepared for what lies ahead. Palmer Trinity has been a catalyst to successful and happy futures and I am excited to see exactly what those futures entail.
— AMY GROH, Salutatorian
I feel great confidence in our class; and say “thank you” to my peers for just being there, to our teachers for their guidance, to our parents for making all of this possible.
— NIC CADENA , Senior Speaker
Ivan Ramirez, Jonah Kaplan, David Torbert, Matthew MacNair, Alexis Ferraro, and Daniel Kaplan
PHOTO BY ANAIS GANOUNA
Juan Nicholls
PHOTO BY ANAIS GANOUNA
Sophia Faiella
PHOTO BY ANAIS GANOUNA
Raul Gonzalez and Francisco Geller Taylor Haas and Sana Imam
Amy Groh, Shirin Razdan, and Matias Faillace Daniela Roger, Diana Ruiz, and Brendan Sanchez
Daniel Alvarez, Erica Vazquez-Bacardi, Karina Peiro, and Julian Narchet
Savannah Dominguez, Sophia Faiella, Brenda Aguera, and Nicole Alfonso
Natalia Colombo and Natalie Dolgiej
Andres Campano, Alexis Capellades, Adam Block, and Estefan Colindres
Francisco Geller, Juan Nicholls, Adriana Alvarez, Daniel Singer, Scott McConachie, Robert Altizer, Andres Campano, John Thompson, and Blake Monteith
Alexandra Daud, Alexandra Delamo, and Jordan Dewitt
All photos not already credited are courtesy of Monica Hopkins Photography
Paulina Collins, Marina Bertrand, and Matthew Benenati
Class of 2011
Seniors participate in the annual PTS senior “hat toss” around the Victory Bell
PHOTO BY BILL STANARD, ACADEMIC COMPUTING CHAIR
INCLUSIVE SOULFUL DIVERSE STIMULATING FAMILY SUPPORTIVE
UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESPECT TRANSFORMATIONAL FRIENDLY
PERSONAL RESPECTFUL PEACEFUL ENERGETIC LOYAL GLOBAL
UNBELIEVABLE SAFE GLOBAL CARING FRIEND MEMORIES THRIVING
WARM GROWING SPECIAL CHALLENGING HOME SPIRITUAL
COMFORTABLE DEDICATION SMART STIMULATING HOPEFUL
POTENTIAL GENTLE ENRICHING
INNOVATIVE CHALLENGING
SCHOLARLY VALUES TOLERANT PREPARATORY
RESPONSIBLE ACADEMIC COLLEGIAL ETHICAL CENTERED
ADVENTURESOME MULTIFACETED PROGRESSIVE DYNAMIC
KNOWLEDGE FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPMENT THOUGHTFUL
WELCOMING CREATIVE
Student volunteers at South Campus Dedication on May 21, 2011: (L to R) Vanessa Zabala ’12, Emily Eckblom ’12, Gina Tomasetti ’12, Cristina Hernandez ’12, Alejandro Rey ‘14, Sebastian Nicholls ‘12
