Aerie 2018 Summer

PA RENT S, A LUMNI A ND FRIEND S OF PA L MER TRINIT Y SCHOOL NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 6077

8001 SOUTHWEST 184 STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 3315 7 www.palmertrinity.org

David Beckham Visits PTS Alumni Profiles

ZACH KORTH ‘05 AND ANGELA GUZMAN ‘02

Faculty at Palmer Trinity

Marty Migliaccio

CELEBRATING 37 YEARS OF TEACHING

SUMMER 2018

2017

CLASS AGENT

MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY

Palmer Trinity is an Episcopal school dedicated to promoting academic excellence and inspiring students to lead lives of virtue, humanity, and spirit.

Providing a supportive, inclusive environment for students, we emphasize academic distinction, ethical global citizenship, and character. As members of the greater community, we inspire students to lead lives of honor and social responsibility. Palmer Trinity School is committed to diversity and includes students with a range of academic interests, as well as students from diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.

The Aerie is published yearly by Palmer Trinity School for Alumni, parents, grandparents, students and friends. The e-newsletter informs the community of campus events and student and faculty accomplishments.

Send story ideas or comments to avalentin@palmertrinity.org or scalleja@palmertrinity.org.

Palmer Trinity School offers a full-service website, www.palmertrinity.org, where you can 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-newsletter and Aerie magazines online.

Special thanks to Brand Poets (www.brandpoets.com), a strategic design and brand innovation company, who continues to take the image of Palmer Trinity School to the next level.

Gabriella Cepeda gabync99@gmail.com

AERIE

PRESIDENT OF PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Vivian More-Cortinas

SUMMER 2018

PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mason Harris ‘89

Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017–2018

Savanah Milton writes, “Currently I’m a part of the ballroom dance, fencing, astronomy, cooking, and woodturning clubs at Colgate.

Last semester my favorite class was one called Lost Languages and Decipherments.

I’m mostly studying History and Archaeology, as well as German and Latin.”

Alexa Garcia writes, “I’m at Vanderbilt University planning to major in Medicine, Health and Society. I’m taking really

difficult Biology and Chemistry classes, but balancing them out with things I enjoy like a Nonfiction Writing Workshop and General Psychology. I’m truly grateful to have graduated from Palmer Trinity because it is the place where I developed my work ethic and learned to manage my time. This lets me continue to enroll in challenging

courses while still playing club volleyball and being a part of various organizations like Relay for Life, Project Sunshine, and many others.”

Sara Rose Aronfeld writes, “I am currently involved in studying International Relations in London. I am planning on taking Arabic classes.”

Michael Baiamonte, Chairman Hugo Mantilla, Vice-Chair Beth Brockway Serrate ‘85, Secretary Charles Klenk, Treasurer

MANAGING EDITOR

Ashley Valentin

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS

Claudia Storper Vickie Berg

Jeffrey S. Bass Rev. Frank J. Corbishley Bishop Peter Eaton John D. Fumagalli Jared Kaplan Lynne Keller Tina Lane Rachel Malueg Camilo Montana Marcel Navarro Sonia O’Donnell Alejandro Rodriguez Jesus Socorro Harvey B. Sperling Jack Brumbaugh (Trustee Emeritus) William Morrison (Trustee Emeritus)

DESIGN

Brand Poets ADMINISTRATION

Head of School Patrick Roberts Head of Upper School Ashley Chapman Head of Middle School Peter Tolmach Chaplain Mary Ellen Cassini Associate Head for External Relations Danny Reynolds Associate Head for Academic Affairs Manjula Salomon Associate Head for Communications and Strategic Partnerships Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Associate Head for Real Estate Paul Zamek Chief Financial Officer Jose Chao Academic Dean Adrianna Truby Director of Athletics Ernest Robertson Director of Student Activities Susana Cetta Director of Parent Relations Denise Gallardo Director of Technology Gus Sabogal Registrar Vivian Cerione Executive Assistant to Head of School Susie Loiacono Special Events Chriss Wood

Left to right — Alexa Garcia; Sarah Aronfeld; Savanah Milton PA RENT S, A LUMNI A ND FRIEND S OF PA L MER TRINIT Y SCHOOL

SUMMER 2018

In Memoriam

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Our deepest condolences, prayers, and thoughts are with the extended families and friends of these members of our Alumni family, and all those who lost loved ones.

David Beckham Visits PTS

Director of Development Juan Gomez Director of Annual Giving George Montes Director of Alumni Relations Alexandra Cartaya Development Assistant Terri Agress Development Assistant Marilyn Klenk

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK.COM/PALMERTRINITYSCHOOL

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN

Alumni Profiles

ZACH KORTH ‘05 + ANGELA GUZMAN ‘02

Marty Migliaccio

CELEBRATING 37 YEARS OF TEACHING

ON THE COVER

Jing Ma with fellow art students drawing in Mrs. Wood’s class.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

@PALMERTRINITY

LINKEDIN.COM (SEARCH “PALMER TRINITY SCHOOL NETWORK”)

Alexandra Noghaven ‘09 passed away on August 16, 2017 unexpectedly while vacationing in Mexico City with her sister Genevieve Del Sol. She is survived by her mother, Anne Jackaway, and sister, Sibyll Noghaven.

Sarah Fernandez-Mendoza ‘95 passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on November 15, 2017 after battling cancer for 6 years. Sarah is survived by her husband, Sergio Andres Mendoza, and her children Sergio Michael and Anais Carmen.

J. Walter Fribourg Jr. ‘84 passed away on October 29, 2017 surrounded by his family in West Palm Beach, Florida after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his devoted wife, Tracey Fribourg, and son JJ Fribourg.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

@PALMERTRINITY

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE

PTSFANPAGE

SHARE YOUR STORY Contact Director of Alumni Relations, Alexandra Cartaya, at acartaya@palmertrinity.org or (305) 969-4282 SUMMER 2018

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M E S S AG E F RO M T H E H E A D O F S C H O O L

“School’s out, for summer...!”

– ALICE COOPER –

Yes, school is out for summer here at Palmer Trinity School.

With the advent of summer comes the excitement and eager anticipation of what might unfold. Consider the words of the great writer, Harper Lee, taken from my all-time favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird: “Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape.”

Yes indeed, the possibilities of summer are endless.

Maybe you’ll wake up a little later in the morning, having shut the alarm clock off for the entire week.

Maybe you’ll finally begin that book you’ve been planning to read since September.

Maybe you’ll re-connect with an old friend and stay up extra late, passing the time by swapping those ever enlightening “Glory Days” stories.

Maybe you’ll catch a mid-afternoon movie, taking a much-needed break from the humidity and heat of the day.

Maybe you’ll crank up the volume a little louder, playing your favorite summer song just one more time.

Maybe you’ll find yourself in a foreign land, visiting exotic sights unseen, or simply soaking in the comfortable surroundings of home.

Maybe you’ll take a leisurely stroll or go for a run, enjoying the freedom and privilege of solitude, and the mindfulness it can bring.

Maybe you’ll visit family and spend some overdue time catching up with one another, enjoying an extra laugh or two.

Maybe you’ll pursue a new hobby, or find the time to start an activity, sparking your creative juices.

Maybe you’ll finally get around to fixing that leaky faucet.

Maybe you’ll pass the day away by simply doing nothing.

Whatever you choose, this time of the year provides a natural pause to the busy cycle of our crazy lives.

Summertime means moving a little more slowly, decompressing a bit, and letting your mind wander, allowing yourself to just be.

Here on campus, we’ll be hosting Summer Camps, Breakthrough Miami, and we will be putting the finishing touches on the New Classroom Building, as well as getting our classrooms ready to shine in August. I am sure we’ll have some good stories to tell upon our return, and I sincerely look forward to hearing them — and telling a few myself!

For each of you, whatever you have planned this summer, I wish you many opportunities to disconnect, rest, and revive. As American businessman and author, Alan Cohen, so notes, “There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”

Recognize how important it is to seek this virtue, and know how grateful I am for this community.

I look forward to gathering again in August.

PATRICK ROBERTS

SUMMER 2018

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Table of Contents BIRD’S EYE VIEW 06 Honoring Senior Athletes 08 Climate Change Interactive Sculpture 09 A Theatrical Year 10 Breakthrough’s New Associate Site Director Diwali: Be A Light 11 Building the New South Campus 12 Palmer Trinibots Rank #1 13 A Year of Art 14 The Trees of Palmer Trinity 15 David Beckham Surprises the Boy’s Soccer Team PERSPECTIVES 16 #NationalWalkOutDay 18 The Children of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar 20 Cultural Immersion in Indonesia 22 Gathering Knowledge: Round Square 24 Responding to Failure 25 Soaring: Why I Give FACULTY HIGHLIGHT 26 Marty Migliaccio: Celebrating 37 Years of Teaching

EVENTS 28 Soaring to Greater Heights 30 Homecoming 2017 32 PTPA Holiday Party 33 Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament 34 Head of School Circle Reception 35 Blessing of the Animals Day 36 International Festival 38 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

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CLASS OF 2018 40 Graduation ALUM NEWS 42 Class Notes 44 Alumni College Day 47 Alumni Holiday Party 48 Finding Love at PTS 51 10th Annual Alumni Soccer Game 60 Alumni Reunion Weekend 62 Falcons In New York City

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ALUMNI PROFILES 52 Zach Korth, Class of 2005 56 Angela Guzman, Class of 2002 DEPARTMENTS 03 Message from the Head of School 05 Message from the Editor

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M E S S AG E F R O M T H E E D I T O R The Significance of Global Connection “We are a traveling school.” These words, from Dr. Manjula Salomon, Associate Head of School for Academics and Global Scholar, could not be more accurate about Palmer Trinity School. We believe that travel provides students a unique opportunity to explore different cultures and meet new people, both of which cannot always be obtained firsthand from within a classroom.

In April, I attended the Global Connections Seminar in Muscat, Oman. Palmer Trinity School is one of forty schools worldwide that is part of Global Connections, an organization that encourages school leaders to promote international cooperation in their schools. As I connected with these leaders overseas, I was reminded of the genuine privilege of travel.

It’s something that often influences us throughout the course of our lifetime.

When I was twelve years old, my family had a French exchange student, Annick, living with us in Connecticut. Though I was young, my mother let me travel to France and Spain to stay with Annick and her parents for the summer. It seemed like a good learning experience. Back then, we didn’t have cell phones or email, just faith (and fingers crossed) that everything would be fine.

Because Annick was much older than I was, she wanted to spend most of her days alone or with her own friends. I walked the beach daily and met young people of all cultural origins—German, Italian, and French—until one day on my daily walk I heard a family speaking a familiar language: English. I asked them if they were American. They said, “No, we’re British.” As a young child, it didn’t matter to me where they were from; I was happy to hear people speaking my own language!

For three days I met the Hillier family at the same spot on the beach. They were a family of five, and their daughter Sarah was my age. They bought me ice cream, and Sarah and I swam beneath the Spanish sun. Before they left we exchanged addresses, but I wasn’t sure if I would hear from Sarah and her family again.

Three years later, Sarah wrote to me with news that her family was traveling to the United States. They wanted to visit my home and meet my family. I turned to my mother and said, “Mom, some people I met on the beach in Spain are coming to America and want to stop by for a visit.” You can imagine the look on my mother’s face. In the end, she agreed, and the Hilliers came to visit.

Thirty-five years later, my parents are still best friends with the Hilliers. We have been to all of their weddings and they have been to ours. They have been part of our lives in every way. It doesn’t matter where they’re from or what our DNA says, to us, they are family.

I reflect upon this story as our students go to Round Square conferences, to Nicaragua and Haiti for service opportunities, and to other locations around the world. Through this network, our students have no boundaries. They are exposed to endless opportunities, from our own backyard to the deepest corners of the globe. These countries may be different in language, culture, and ethnicity, but we all share a passion for experiential learning and character education.

Palmer Trinity School is part of the Round Square network. Round Square incorporates six ideals of learning: internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, adventure, leadership, and service. By traveling to countries near and far, our students receive an education that broadens their horizons, and contextualizes the content which they continue to learn in the classroom. The international travel that students experience through Palmer Trinity School creates memories and relationships that last a lifetime—something I know very well.

My recent trip to Oman, like all travel programs abroad, left me with a flood of memories. The seminar took us to four schools in Oman: one Indian and three Omani. We traveled into the desert, where I spoke with other educators about building exchange programs with their schools. Surrounded by picturesque sand dunes, my passion for international travel welled up within me. When I returned home, I was happy to be in an environment that cherished the same global values: Palmer Trinity School.

SUZ ANNE GOT TLIEB CALLE JA A S S OCIAT E HE A D OF S CHOOL FOR COMMUNICATIONS A ND ST R AT EGIC PA RT NERSHIP S

SUMMER 2018

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BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Honoring Senior Athletes

MATTIAS ACOSTA

3 Years Soccer

IRENE CALVO

1 Year Fall Cheerleading 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

WILLOUGHBY D’ALEMBERTEPOWELL

4 Years Soccer 1 Year Fall Cheerleading 1 Year Lacrosse

ANTONELLA DIAZBARANDIARAN

1 Year Winter Cheerleading

LUCIE FUMAGALLI

3 Years Winter Cheerleading 2 Years Fall Cheerleading

JOSEBA BADIOLA

2 Years Football 2 Years Winter Cheerleading 1 Year Lacrosse

GABRIELLA DIEZ

2 Years Volleyball

NICOLAS CANDELA

3 Years Football 1 Year Basketball

ALLISON GALGANO

4 Years Softball 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

DANIEL DASS

3 Years Football 3 Years Soccer 1 Year Cross Country 1 Year Lacrosse

MARIA ALVAREZ

4 Years Tennis

NICOLAS ESPINOSA

JAMES BAILEY

3 Years Lacrosse

4 Years Tennis

BRYAN CANNON

4 Years Lacrosse

ZACHRI HALL

1 Year Football 1 Year Soccer 1 Year Track & Field 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

DANIELA DE SOLA

1 Year Basketball 1 Year Lacrosse 1 Year Softball

SAMUEL ANDREW

4 Years Lacrosse 1 Year Football 1 Year Fall Cheerleading

MARIA GABRIELA BENEDETTI

PARISSA EVANS

3 Years Winter Cheerleading 2 Years Fall Cheerleading

3 Years Soccer

NATALIE CETTA

4 Years Volleyball 1 Year Basketball

MICHAEL ASPINWALL

2 Years Cross Country 1 Year Football 1 Year Lacrosse

4 Years Basketball 3 Years Lacrosse

1 Year Basketball

SABRINA BOND

3 Years Winter Cheerleading 1 Year Fall Cheerleading 1 Year Track & Field

KEELIN HERLING

GUSTAVO DERIBEAUX

TYLER FARIAS

4 Years Football 4 Years Track & Field

VERONICA CREED

4 Years Soccer 1 Year Track & Field

CAMILA HIDALGO

SEBASTIAN DIAZ

3 Years Basketball STEPHANIE AZCUY

5 Years Winter Cheerleading 4 Years Fall Cheerleading

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ANTHONY CALDERON

2 Years Track & Field 1 Year Cross Country 1 Year Football

DAVID CUELLAR

3 Years Basketball

LAUREN FERNANDEZ

3 Years Volleyball 1 Year Track & Field

4 Years Winter Cheerleading 3 Years Fall Cheerleading 2 Years Track & Field

CHRIS HUDSON

3 Years Track & Field 2 Years Cross Country 2 Years Football

CHRISTOPHER IGLESIA

3 Years Basketball

CASSIDY LEWIS

3 Years Basketball 2 Years Track & Field 1 Year Cross Country

LUCAS NICOLAS MALDONADO

4 Years Tennis 1 Year Soccer

ISABELLA MARTINO

4 Years Cross Country 4 Years Track & Field

INES MENDEZ

2 Years Fall Cheerleading 2 Years Winter Cheerleading

ALEXANDER NAVARRO

4 Years Football 3 Years Track & Field 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

NICHOLAS PATRICOFF

3 Years Baseball

JACQUELINE PEREZ-RUBIO

4 Years Winter Cheerleading 4 Years Fall Cheerleading 4 Years Lacrosse

MADELYN ROBINSON

4 Years Winter Cheerleading 4 Years Fall Cheerleading 1 Year Lacrosse

ERIK SALGE

1 Year Golf 1 Year Soccer 1 Year Tennis

REILLY SMITHCABRERA

1 Year Lacrosse

4 Years Baseball JOSE SANTANA

4 Years Cross Country 4 Years Track & Field

SHAUNAK MISHRA

LINDSEY SCHOLER VIVIEGHNE M. POSSCHELLE

4 Years Winter Cheerleading 4 Years Fall Cheerleading

CHLOE VAN DER VLUGT

1 Year Fall Cheerleading 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

BRADLEY VAZQUEZ

2 Years Lacrosse

MATTHEW WHITNEY

2 Years Football 1 Year Basketball

4 Years Football 1 Year Baseball

DUNCAN STONER

3 Years Basketball 1 Year Lacrosse

3 Years Winter Cheerleading 1 Year Fall Cheerleading

ALAN MACAULAY

3 Years Baseball 2 Years Basketball

2 Years Football 1 Year Baseball 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

NICHOLAS SONDON

NICOLAS LUDWIG

4 Years Soccer

RAUL SEGREDO

SAMANTHA YANES

4 Years Winter Cheerleading 4 Years Fall Cheerleading

FRANCISCO UNANUE

4 Years Tennis

TAYLOR MURPHY

4 Years Track & Field 3 Years Soccer 1 Year Cross Country 1 Year Winter Cheerleading

MATHEW SCULLIN

4 Years Cross Country 3 Years Track & Field

ANA PAULA ZALLES

1 Year Winter Cheerleading 1 Year Track & Field

SUMMER 2018

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BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Climate Change Interactive Sculpture

By Dr. Llinás, Science Department

In 2007, Miami artist Xavier Cortada created works of art at the North and South Poles to help address environmental issues at every point in between.

For this Longitudinal Installation, Cortada placed 24 shoes in a circle around the North and South Poles, each shoe serving as a proxy for a person affected by global climate change in the world. He placed the shoes inches apart along the lines of longitude crossing the places where these individuals live, conceptually diminishing the distance between them.

Before the ceremony, each student selected a quote from one of the 24 individuals. During the dedication, each participant stood behind their assigned shoe, holding a quote in their hand. Starting at 0 degrees and moving clockwise, each student read their

chosen quotes, figuratively stepping into their shoes.

The voices of the students were impactful as they (symbolically) stood in different places (longitude) around the world and inches away from one another. The interactive sculpture is now on permanent display and shows global problems for what they really are: shared problems.

Below are three quotes shared at the event.

ANDY SHODELL

OWEN REYNOLDS

VANESSA MORALES

+ + +

+ + +

+ + +

“More than 90 percent of our wetlands have completely dried up.”

“The disaster covered almost every corner of this province, rampaging floods, falling trees, damaged houses.

It happened very rapidly and many people did not expect this because they haven’t experienced mud flows in those areas before.”

“In Colorado, climate change means less snow, less water, more wildfires, less biodiversity and less economic opportunity, as there is less water available for development.”

60E, Iran

Alamdar Alamdari, environmental researcher, Fars province

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A decade later, Palmer Trinity School students joined Cortada in dedicating the Longitudinal Installation at Pinecrest Gardens, where the sculpture became a permanent exhibit. The participatory art piece captures voices from 24 individual across the globe who have been impacted by climate change.

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120E, Philippines

Fernando Gonzalez, governor of Albay province

105W, Colorado (USA)

Stephen Saunders, president, Rocky Mountain Climate Organization

A Theatrical Year

By Ashley Valentin

This year the PTS Theatre Department truly shined with it’s adaptation of two musicals and a drama.

The first performance of the year, Dolly Parton’s musical comedy 9 to 5, took place in October at Pinecrest Gardens. The show was a funny and thoughtful look into the harsh environments women in the workplace dealt with in the 1980’s. It revolves around a group of women who are tired of the treatment of their sexist boss and decide to take control of the company and run it how they see fit.

The second performance took place right here on the PTS campus in April. The Theatre Department constructed a tented stage outside of the MDR in April to host the hilarious musical, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. It was an incredibly moving story about friendship, love, and growing up.

And in May, the Theatre Department rounded out the year with an emotional look into tragedy in The Women of Lockerbie, a play that focused on the families of the victims who died in the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist attack. The play was a powerful tale of loss, love, and learning to heal after unimaginable tragedy strikes. All in attendance were moved by both the story and the passionate performances given by the students.

The award-winning PTS Theatre Department brought laughs, tears, and joy through their moving pieces this year, and we look forward to what’s in store next year.

SUMMER 2018

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BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Diwali: Be A Light Ms. Sidhu’s juniors were tasked with an important project during Diwali this year: identify a need in the world and design a project to bring “light” to it. Her students contemplated this task and realized that they had the opportunity to bring light to people right here on our campus.

The students designed and hung up posters around campus to honor the maintenance and security crews. Not only did they surprise the crews with posters, but they also brought them coffee and donuts. By encouraging our maintenance and security, students inspired the rest of the community to go forth and shed light wherever they go.

Iman Sandifer

Breakthrough’s New Associate Site Director

By Jonah Stevens, Breakthrough Site Director

Breakthrough Miami is filled with talented and impressive people, from the scholars and volunteers to the staff and Parent Network. I’d like to officially introduce you to one of them, our new Associate Site Director, Iman Sandifer. Mr. Iman G. Sandifer is a proud native of Hallandale Beach, Florida. His connection to and love for Breakthrough started when he was a Teaching Fellow back in 2012. Back then, he taught Humanities and a Youth Leadership elective. Iman went to Florida A&M University, earning his BS degree in History, followed by a Masters of Educational Leadership.

He also served in other various educational capacities including the Head Royce School Heads Up program in California. Iman loves the arts and public speaking, and is inspired to help the youth because of the vast contributions made by those before him.

Iman says, “My experience at Breakthrough Miami has been very great so far! Having the opportunity to influence the lives of some of Miami’s brightest young minds is a great privilege and responsibility. I cherish my time in this space and I know I will grow both as a professional and overall as an individual because of it. I love being here at Palmer Trinity as well. Everyone is extremely polite and always eager to make you feel like part of the family.”

Please feel free to contact Iman anytime at iman@breakthroughmiami.org.

If any PTS parents are interested in getting involved with Breakthrough Miami, please reach out to our co-chairs Kim Vinas (kimkvinas@gmail. com) or Gisela Segredo (gisela.segredo@gmail.com). There are many opportunities to give back to the community.

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Building the New South Campus This year, the following progress has been made to our school’s South Campus: »

Construction of the new classroom building began with OHL/Arellano, with an estimated completion of July, 2018.

»

Buildings & Grounds began exploring solar power options for the new classroom building.

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New tennis courts were completed in January.

The landscaping surrounding the courts is completed.

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New practice fields were completed in March.

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Eighteen trees along 184th Street were relocated to the South Campus.

»

The Jorge Hernandez chapel design is in progress.

»

The Civica and DPZ design for a new student center and dining hall are in progress.

»

Lace Food Service and Sage Dining consulted with PTS and architects on food service operations and building designs.

SUMMER 2018

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BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Palmer Trinibots Rank #1 This year, the brand new Middle School Robotics Club, dubbed the Palmer Trinibots, made their mark in the world of middle school robotics. The team was made up of three members: sixth-grader Daniela del Rosal and seventhgraders Ben Arnold and Jack Sulkes. On December 9, 2017, the team joined its first ever competition at the W. R. Thomas Annual Robotics Open. It was an amazing event featuring 32 competing teams. During the day-long event the team competed in driving and programming challenges and earned 3rd place out of 32 teams! They also joined other schools’ teams during teamwork challenges and earned 2nd place out of 12 team pairs.

On Saturday, January 20th, the Palmer Trinibots went to their second competition ever: the ACSP Middle School 12

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Qualifier. The team created a STEM Research project focusing on the design and creation of a medical assistant robot and the ethical dilemmas that engineering it might face. They also prepared an engineering notebook chronicling their design, build, and testing processes.

Daniela and Jack presented the project and then moved on to the skills events to drive and run their autonomous programs. Ben was the lead programmer for the autonomous portion.

The Palmer Trinibots won the Skills Challenge award and Excellence award at the competition and were ranked #1 in the State of Florida, #11 in the United States, and #20 in the world out of 1,800+ middle schools.

Artist: Yizheng Huo

Artist: Sophia Elwaw

A Year of Art

By Sandi Wood

Visual Arts classes at PTS are continuing to pursue greater achievements in technical ability and creative decisionmaking. Culminating at the AP Studio Art level, skills gained in classes ranging from digital art to ceramics to painting all work to build confidence in students and allow them to conceptualize and create beautiful works of art.

Artist: Gianna Mencia

Artist: Elizabeth Vallejo

Artist: Shan Deng

Artist: Lucillo Capilla

Artist: Haoqian Xu

SUMMER 2018

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BIRD’S EYE VIEW

THE TREES of PALMER TRINITY The trees of Palmer Trinity, which number well over 1,000, are comprised of 35 plant families, 66 genera, and 76 species. Mr. Roberts, Dr. Llinás, and students in the Eco Club and Theory of Knowledge classes tagged one tree from each species with a plaque.

Each plaque included the common name and the scientific name of the tree species.

The plaques on each tree correspond with the descriptions in the new guide The Trees of Palmer Trinity. The guide, available under the Media and Publications section of the School’s website, encourages users to explore the campus and learn to identify its exceptional multitude of trees.

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David Beckham Surprises the Boy’s Soccer Team

By Ashley Valentin

On March 2, 2018, Palmer Trinity School played host to a soccer superstar! David Beckham visited PTS to celebrate the school’s first ever soccer state championship win. Beckham presented the Varsity Boys Soccer team with signed soccer balls and an award to commemorate their stunning victory.

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PERSPECTIVES

#NationalWalkOutDay

By Rohan Myers, ‘19

M

ARCH 14TH MARKED EXACTLY ONE MONTH since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. It is always commonplace for us to offer our thoughts and prayers after an awful tragedy. But often, this does not create a dialogue in which the extent of the issue at hand can fully be discussed. We need more than thoughts and prayers. That is why we, the students, find it crucial to take the opportunity that has been presented and attempt to bring about much needed change. We understand that our walkout in memory of the seventeen Parkland victims will not

Instead of waiting for others to lead the way for us, we will be at the front lines. We refuse to be ignored.”

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immediately enact stricter gun control laws or change gun culture in this country. However, we hope that those among us will find their voice and recognize its power. Seventeen people were forcefully silenced and now remain voiceless.

It is our responsibility to keep their voices alive. Instead of waiting for others to lead the way for us, we will be at the front lines. We refuse to be ignored. May the seventeen minutes observed on March 14th in remembrance of the MSD victims empower others to fight for what they believe is just.

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PERSPECTIVES

THE CHILDREN OF

Abraham, Sarah and Hagar “Be still and know that I am God.” PSALM 46:10

By Chaplain Mary Ellen Cassini

W

The Lord is our God, the Lord alone is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

» Each human is responsible for his or her moral life.

» Pilgrimages deepen each individual’s relationship with the Divine.

In this global village where we live, finding our commonalities, rather than what sets us apart, is essential to living in peace.

From Christian Scripture in Matthew 22: “Jesus answered when asked about the most important law: …the first is, ‘Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this. ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other greater commandment than these.’” Jesus connects this law to the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is a cornerstone of ethical monotheism.

orld Religions I, Ethical Monotheism: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is a foundational course requirement in the Religion, Philosophy and Ethics Department for all Palmer Trinity students. Dr. Danesh Singh, Mr. Andrew Godley, and I enjoy teaching this critical class which ensures our students grasp the profound meaning of living in a country with freedom of religion.

Furthermore, religion and culture are often inextricable from one another in the world.

All three Abrahamic religions believe in One God, and that how you behave matters to God. These religions descend from Abraham and two different women, Sarah and Hagar. Jesus of Nazareth was born and died a Jew. The Virgin Mary is visited by the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation. Muslims believe that Muhammad was visited by the same Archangel Gabriel, and received the Holy Quran.

In the Book of Exodus, God shares with Moses His identity: “I AM.” In the Jewish understanding, God says, “I will be that which I will be.” For Christians, Jesus Christ is the “logos” or “word.” And the Aramaic word for “God” in the language of Assyrian Christians is ʼĔlāhā, or Alaha. Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word “Allah” meaning “God.” Jews use the word “El” as one of the seventy names for God. From Hebrew Scripture “The Sh’ma” is the essential statement of belief for Jews. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear O Israel: 18

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From the Quran, the love of God is indispensable: “Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto God, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto God).” (Al ‘Imran 3:64) “And whoever wishes to be delivered from the fire and to enter Paradise… should treat the people as he wishes to be treated.” (Hadith, Sahih Muslim) Thus, Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same God; one and united.

Specifically, all three religions believe: » Oneness of God, unity of God, God created the Universe. » Life is eternal with God. » God has given humanity revelation. » Humans have a soul. » Human actions and choices make a difference to God.

» Justice is essential to a good life. » All are to welcome the stranger.

» Fasting purifies, cleanses and reminds people of what is important: God. » Life dedicated to scripture study: for Jews the Torah and the Tanakh, for Christians, the Holy Scriptures of the Hebrew and Christian Testament and the early Mothers and Fathers of the Church, and for Muslims it is the Holy Quran, the Hadith, or sayings from the Prophet Muhammad. » Holy people are found throughout history. They model holy behavior for people living in the present. » Taking care of the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden is every person’s obligation.

According to student Thomas McMichael: “ In World Religions I, we were taught about how Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are all derived from the same source.

Often in the class, the profound question arose: ‘How can there be any racism if we are all God’s people?’ I was enlightened on how messages from the Torah, Bible, and Quran are still very relevant in today’s times.”

All in all, these three major faith traditions have more in common than most people understand. We are called to love God and love one another.

SHALOM, PEACE, SA-LAM.

We are called to love God and love one another.”

Maya Lebowitz, Reverend Cassini, and Noah Pirani: followers of each of the three Abrahamic faiths.

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PERSPECTIVES to work with students in crosscultural environments, to run safer, more educational, and personally meaningful experiences for students.

Cultural Immersion in Indonesia

By A shley Armato, Senior Associate Director of College Counseling and Diversity Coordinator

Above – Yogyakarta cultural celebration on the island of Java.

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I

was incredibly fortunate to travel to Indonesia on behalf of Palmer Trinity last June. As a founding member of the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG), Palmer Trinity is dedicated to training faculty and staff to lead our students in both domestic and international travel. This training was run through Where There Be Dragons, an organization that is considered a pioneer in the field of cross-cultural experiential education, intercultural communication and team-building, and the development of global studies curriculum. While in Indonesia, my cohort and I embarked on travel-leader training rooted in experiential learning and cultural immersion. The shift in perspective allowed us to step into the shoes of students who travel and experience a new culture, language, and country.

During our stay, we participated in workshops and sustained daily conversations focused on generating best practices in crosscultural experiential education.

This professional development opportunity further prepared us

Indonesia is home to over 240 million people and is the world’s 4th most populous country. Essentially, one in every thirty of the people on this planet can be found there. Indonesia is an archipelago of 17,508 islands and is often referred to as the Ring of Fire, as it has approximately 130 active volcanoes. Located at the equator, Indonesia spans the distance from London to Tehran, or from Anchorage in Alaska to Washington, D.C. In addition to being densely populated, Indonesia is without a doubt one of the most diverse countries on the globe. Indonesian culture is difficult to pinpoint; it is comprised of virtually thousands of ethnicities, though most are closely related to the Malays and other people from the larger Polynesian group. While Bahasa Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, there are dozens of other languages spoken regionally among the islands. Indonesia is also religiously diverse; Catholics, Christians, Buddhists and Muslims all call Indonesia home. In fact, Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world.

When I first landed in Jakarta, the country’s capital, I was amazed at the cultural diversity I witnessed.

This was the first time that I traveled to a non-western country where I had absolutely zero knowledge of the language or customs. It was a shock to the senses, but absolutely exhilarating. Much like our students when they travel, I knew I was out of my comfort zone. I will credit the sincere and compassionate people of Indonesia with my ability to quickly acclimate to my surroundings.

Through homestays and purposeful cultural immersion and seminars on Indonesian history, culture and language, I fell in love with my new home and surrogate families. Traveling from the Island of Java to Sulawesi and then finally Bali, I was reminded of

how incredibly important experiential learning truly is. Learning by doing and learning through discomfort are by far the most effective and meaningful ways of engagement with new material. They inspire growth, strength, and newfound confidence.

They remind us of our place in this world, our great privileges, and our responsibility to not simply “do”

service, but rather live service. This travel reminded me why I am so proud to be a member of the Palmer Trinity community. Our dedication to global education and cultural competency ensures that we are fostering a generation of ethical scholars and citizens who will grow to be leaders in an ever-changing, dynamic, and interconnected world.

[PTS’s] dedication to global education ensures that we are fostering a generation of ethical scholars and citizens.”

Above – One of the largest Hindu temples in the world Left – Island of Sulawesi.

Home to the Bajou (nomadic sea gypsies); Orientation day: mapping out our travels.

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PERSPECTIVES

gathering knowledge: round square ...the simple act of serving and engaging with others has a bilateral impact on those involved.”

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Round Square: South Africa

Round Square is “a global network of innovative schools in 50 countries on six continents that share a passion for experiential learning and character education.”

By Hope Franklin ‘19

R

ound Square members pursue this passion through a framework of six fundamentals called the “IDEALS of learning.” The “IDEALS” are Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. Member schools work together to pursue these IDEALS through cross-cultural and international service projects, student and teacher exchanges, and student-led conferences. Round Square intends for these programs to cultivate in the next generation a desire to “discover and embrace the similarities and differences between cultures and nationalities in ways that promote meaningful and lasting understanding, tolerance and respect.” This might sound familiar. These goals and ideals are similar to the ones embraced

by Palmer Trinity School. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that Palmer Trinity joined Round Square.

This past year I was chosen to represent Palmer Trinity at a Round Square student exchange at Wellington College in England and a student-led conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Both were exceptional and helped me grow as an individual on multiple levels. But the conference was special because it marked Palmer Trinity’s ceremonial initiation into Round Square as a new member.

Palmer Trinity’s Dr. Manjula Salomon and Danny Reynolds led the PTS Cape Town team that included me and five other students.

The theme of the conference was “Unite to Ignite the Fire Within.” Students from all around the world attended, including several that I got to know from South Africa, India, Australia, England, Scotland, and Canada.

Students from different schools were organized into smaller “Barraza” groups, much like the Mosaic discussion groups at Palmer Trinity. Discussion topics examined many world issues ranging from poverty to the endangerment of animals and ecosystems. One notable topic foreign to us in Miami is the tragic poaching of rhinoceroses to harvest their horns. This is a significant concern in Africa and for the world’s wildlife ecosystem.

The lively discussion and development of ideas around this and other topics in the Barraza groups highlighted the importance of having students engage in the Round Square IDEALS with people around the world. It not only reinforced the Internationalism component of Round Square; but engaged the Environmentalism, Democracy, and Leadership elements.

The Barraza groups also ventured out to serve others. My group visited a children’s center in an impoverished neighborhood. Yes, we had fun playing with the kids. But the most rewarding aspect was working with them to help maintain their garden and playground area. The event also challenged us to exemplify leadership by organizing activities that encouraged every child to engage. I even had the opportunity to share a favorite childhood game: Simon Says. Still, the event meant a lot to me and showed how the simple act of serving and engaging with others has a bilateral impact on those involved.

So, while I was truly saddened to leave, I was also challenged to find ways to engage more with others going forward.

Before departing Cape Town, we also experienced the Adventure of Round Square: exploring through an outdoor activity of our choice. Some of my fellow delegates went surfing, canoeing with penguins, or mountain biking. I chose to hike Cape Town’s gorgeous Table Mountain. The beauty was indescribable and served as a reminder for us all to discover and experience the incredible creation around us.

Round Square quite literally opened the world to me by giving me opportunities that I could not have imagined. My time at the conference inspired me on a global level. More than just another stamp in my passport, Cape Town allowed me to gain greater knowledge of the world and make friends with others from six continents. It provided me with experiences that lit a passion inside of me to continue forging friendships with people of other cultures and countries because we must discuss and work together to see change for good in this world.

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PERSPECTIVES

Responding to Failure

“Failure is not an option”

By K athleen Lamiell, School Psychologist and Learning Specialist

W

hile that may have been true for an Apollo mission, the truth is that failure is always an option, and it’s one we should embrace for ourselves as an example to our children. Failure is inevitable.

How we define and how we respond to it should be the focus.

Our desire to provide opportunities and experiences for our children is rooted in love. We wish to give them a life as good or better than we have had. We want to protect them, shield them from difficulties, smooth out the rough spots, and clear the path for them to succeed.

Failure, or lack of success, doesn’t feel good, and we want to spare our children that pain. However, if we agree with the premise that failure is inevitable, then we will only be able to put it off for our children for a time. If young people have not learned how to deal with minor setbacks, they will not develop the mindset to take on challenges, nor the resilience necessary to respond to those inevitable more significant failures.

Carol Dweck and her research associates from Stanford University have studied people’s responses to failure for much of the past two decades. She has written and spoken widely about growth vs. fixed mindset.

While her initial research focused on school children and their perceptions of their own abilities to learn, Dweck’s ideas have been expanded to include life coaching, athletics, and even medical practices. TED talks have been given on the topic, conferences and workshops have been delivered, and videos have been created, all around the notion of

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...praise the process, not the person.” growth vs. fixed mindset. A simplified version of this idea is the “I Think I Can” attitude. Effort is important, but trying over and over without developing new skills will not likely result in success. Similarly, some people believe that praise will cause children to be successful. But empty praise such as, “You’re so smart!” or even “I just expect you to do your best, even if that results in a low grade,” often has the opposite effect on our children. Dweck’s position is to “praise the process, not the person.”

The foundation of a growth mindset is effort. That is, while I have not yet been successful at a particular task (solving a quadratic equation, shooting a free throw, playing a piece of music), with continued effort, along with new strategies or approaches, I can achieve success. My response to failure is evidence of my mindset. Viewing the failure as an end point, or outcome,

suggests a fixed mindset—“I’ll never learn this; I’ll never be good at this.”

Viewing the failure as an opportunity suggests a growth mindset —“What can I do differently next time? What can I learn from this mistake? From whom can I get feedback that will help me succeed?” Your mindset affects your approach to future challenges.

In short, an individual’s BELIEF that change and growth are possible, and a FOCUS on process instead of outcome are demonstrative of a Growth Mindset.

It must be emphasized here that this notion of growth vs. fixed mindset is a spectrum, and any individual could lean toward one or the other depending on the circumstances or context.

Developing the ability to view challenges and mistakes as opportunities for growth will help young people respond to inevitable setbacks with greater resilience. Appreciating the need for effort and accepting feedback will help enhance their problem-solving abilities. Real learning requires struggle.

The ability to navigate the rough spots and bumps in the road can only develop by going through them, not by avoiding them.

Come Soar With Us This is our time! Here is an opportunity to build on Palmer Trinity School’s legacy. It is our vision to develop our campus in a way that honors our natural environment and provides outstanding educational facilities exclusive to this area of South Florida. Let’s seize this moment to soar into the future together.

At this moment in our School’s history, we invite you to support our vision for the future as we uphold our school’s motto –

V IRTUS , HUM A NITAS , ET SPIR ITUS With your generous support, we can and will make it all happen.

TOP View of Chapel building; BOTTOM View of Classroom building

www.palmertrinity.org/soaring

Soaring:

Why I Give

By Vivian Cerione, Registrar

T

o me, the Soaring campaign represents the future, our students, and the importance of planning ahead. We want to do our very best to provide state-of-the-art facilities that will foster a strong academic life in the students that are entrusted to us.

Over the last 30 years I’ve been blessed to experience the campus’ growth. Seeing the school grow, building by building, is a dream come true, and the Soaring campaign is the next step towards helping us fulfill our dreams.

I donated to the campaign because I felt that this was the year to give to the school. I’m so thankful for the education my own children received in the years that they attended Palmer Trinity, and I wanted to do the most that I could do to give back.

I can’t think of a better campaign name than “Soaring to Greater Heights” because this campaign really is going to help our school soar.

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FACULTY HIGHLIGHT

Marty Migliaccio

CELEBR AT I NG 37 Y EA R S OF T EACH I NG

Marty Migliaccio has been a beloved Palmer Trinity School teacher for many years. This year, as she begins her retirement, we wanted to look back on her career and celebrate her accomplishments. { Excerpts reprinted from 2009-2010 Aerie Magazine }

What made you decide to become a teacher?

In 1971, I graduated from high school and I was the first in my family to graduate from high school or go to college. At that time, despite the women’s liberation movement, it was the tail end of the thinking that working women were teachers or nurses. Regardless of that thinking, I was going to be a teacher. I decided on History because when I was a junior in high school, I had a young teacher, Mr. Poindexter, who taught U.S. History. He was a really good teacher and made the subject interesting to me. Mr. Poindexter was the reason I eventually got a teaching degree in Social Studies Education.

What was the best thing about your first year at Palmer?

The strong, wonderful friendships that were created. Many of my best friends 26

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today were the people I met in my early years at Palmer. Palmer was a very small school, less than 400 students in the early 1980’s and everyone knew each other. It was a very close knit community of parents, teachers, and coaches who worked and played hard.

Classes were small and we had clubs, sports, and activity periods. There were many opportunities to get involved in many activities other than just the subjects you taught.

What is your most memorable moment while you have been at Palmer?

I think each year our graduation ceremony is beautiful and very heartfelt, but the graduation ceremony of 1992 was particularly special. My goddaughter Sarah graduated from Palmer Trinity in 1992. Her father, Mike Ferguson, was the Head of School at that time and as the students received

their diplomas, each one put a red sticker heart on him. By the end of the graduation, he was covered with hearts and most of the audience was tearing up. Often at graduation, students do stupid stuff, but that year, it was very emotional and very significant for Sarah and her friends. The other memorable moment was when my daughter Lisa Migliaccio ‘04 took her first baby steps in the PTS gym. I was across the gym keeping the clock for a basketball game, so she wasn’t even walking toward me!

What makes Palmer Trinity unique in your opinion?

In my opinion, it’s the small classes, closeness of the community, and the gentle caring approach at PTS. Although we give the students the tools and push them hard to succeed, it is not the pressure cooker that many private schools are today.

Most memorable moments as a coach?

1 } Although I came to Palmer to coach softball, the Athletic Director also asked me to coach varsity volleyball. I said sure, even though I never played volleyball and did not know anything about it. The team went 3-14 that season. Being the competitive person that I am, I went to volleyball camps, studied drill books, and was determined not to repeat that season. Three years later in 1984, 1985, and 1986, the volleyball team went to Sectionals (one game from the State tournament) winning Conference, District, and Regional titles all three years. I am very proud of the girls on those teams. 2 } In 1983, the varsity Softball team won

Many of my best friends today were the people I met in my early years at Palmer.”

the Conference, District, Regional, and lost 1-0 to a Broward County school in the Sectional game, one game from the state tournament. 3 } During a volleyball tournament at Westminster, Lisa served the entire game, all 15 points against Ransom Everglades. The coach, who was my friend, called his timeouts and did everything he could to break her concentration, but she just kept firing bullet serves across the net. It was amazing!

Can you give us some names of former faculty who really made a difference to you and the kids?

Many of the people I met at Palmer in the early days are some of my closest friends today. The following people made a big difference: MICHAEL FERGUSON

Head of School, Dean of Students, Basketball Coach MARK OLIVER

Basketball and Softball Coach ROBERT YARBROUGH

Academic Dean JANE MILLER

Middle School Head, a caring educator, and one of my mentors DAVID GOODMAN

College Counselor and Coach DAVE HEWETT

Athletic Director and Head Football Coach DENISE CRAIN

School Counselor and a mentor to me

What are students most surprised to learn about you?

Most people are surprised to hear the story of my baboon encounter during my second African safari. A large male baboon entered my apartment and proceeded to rifle my suitcase looking for food. It was very scary because he was between Lisa and I. I could not get to her and she was upset and crying.

What do you enjoy most regarding your connection/ communication with Alumni?

More and more, many Alumni return to PTS and I enjoy seeing the former students all grown up with children of their own. So far, I have taught four students whose parent I also taught here at Palmer in the early 1980’s! The subject I have mainly taught over the past 30 years has been Geography. So, in my mind, my former students are still 13 years old. It is fun to see adult Alumni and hear their stories from Palmer and the memories they have of the school while they were here.

Teachers love to see the fruits of their labor in students’ lives. While you are teaching, you don’t always get to see their success, especially the latebloomers. Participating in the Athletic Hall of Fame activities has enabled me to reconnect with many alums over the past few years and have wonderful talks about the good ‘ole days.

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EVENTS

Soaring to Greater Heights

By Suzanne Gottlieb-Calleja

ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 4, 2017 over 400 people gathered under the stars for a spectacular celebration of the public kick-off of Palmer Trinity’s Soaring to Greater Heights Campaign. The purpose of the Campaign is to raise money to fund the development of the Classroom Building, the Student Center/Dining Hall, and Chapel. Guests were treated to food, music, dancing, a bagpipe performance, and a colorful fireworks show. To date, we have raised approximately $8 million towards our overall goal of $13 million. Thank you to all those who have generously donated to the Soaring to Greater Heights Campaign so far.

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EVENTS

By Ashley Valentin

HOMECOMING WEEK is easily one of the most anticipated events of the school year. Between the wacky costumes, the homecoming dance, and the exciting buzz surrounding the homecoming game, this event fires up our school spirit and Falcon Pride in a way no other event does.

Hurricane Irma may have pushed our Homecoming Week back, but that didn’t stop our students from going all out for each day’s theme. Homecoming Shirt Day, Twin Day, Class Theme Day, and Decades Day all saw the whole community coming out in bright costumes and big smiles. This year’s Homecoming Game was the first celebrated on our new Main Athletic Field, and the stands were overflowing with Falcon fans! The week ended with a stunning Homecoming Dance. This year’s Homecoming Week was surely one to remember.

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EVENTS

PTPA Holiday Party ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9TH , the PTPA hosted the Annual Parent Party, “Holiday in Paradise” at the beautiful home of the Befeler family. Nearly 240 parents attended the luau party and celebrated the season with friends and family over dinner, music, and Polynesian dancing.

Palmer Trinity School thanks the co-chairs, Laura Marandino, Kelly Fullerton, Gisel Cruz, Alicia Llanos, and Maggie Ricart, and the committee volunteers, for their hard work and giving the parents a very memorable taste of “Holiday in Paradise.”

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Presenting Sponsor

Fairway Sponsor

ON JANUARY 29, Palmer Trinity School hosted its 17th Annual Sandy Golf Tournament. Held at Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club, proceeds from the event support the Sandy Block Financial Aid Fund, which enables outstanding students to attend Palmer Trinity School by receiving need-based financial aid. Due to the weather, the 8th Annual Tennis Tournament was postponed to February 12.

On that day, we celebrated the grand opening of our brand new tennis courts which our tennis players had the chance to play on. We would like to extend our gratitude to Presenting Sponsor Northern Trust for their incredible support and leadership. Thank you to our generous event sponsors, underwriters, donors, participants, volunteers, and student golfers and tennis players for supporting this remarkable tournament.

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EVENTS

Head of School Circle Reception ON FEBRUARY 22ND, Palmer Trinity School welcomed current parents, alumni parents, alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, and grandparents to Patrick Roberts’ home for the Head of School Circle Reception. This annual event recognizes leadership donors for their generous contributions of $2,000 or more to the Palmer Trinity School Annual Fund.

To learn more about the Annual Fund, please visit www.palmertrinity.org/giving.

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Blessing of the Animals

By Ashley Valentin

This year’s Blessing of the Animals Day occurred during Earth Week as part of a celebration to honor the living creatures with whom we share our planet. Students, parents, faculty, and staff gathered in the courtyard with animals of all shapes and sizes for a blessing. Dogs, cats, bunnies, snakes, lizards, and even a tortoise visited our campus that morning. Thank you Chaplain Cassini and the Vestry for organizing this day.

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EVENTS

ON MARCH 17, 2018, PALMER TRINITY SCHOOL hosted its 18th Annual International Festival. The International Festival celebrates Palmer Trinity School’s vibrant multicultural community and highlights an ongoing commitment to global sustainability and environmental initiatives. The day’s entertainment included a dragon dance, martial arts, salsa performers, and so much more.

Food booths representing countries from across the globe sold signature dishes with cultural significance.

Palmer Trinity School’s various community service clubs put up booths supporting their respective initiatives. In the PTS gymnasium, our 6th annual Indoor World Cup Soccer game took place. Kids participated in a World Cup series, respresenting countries around the world.

The signature event was the flag parade. Led by our Middle and Upper School students, the parade displayed flags from over 50 countries. The parade weaved through the booths and ended at the main stage where the flags were placed on display for all to view.

All money raised at the International Festival goes to support Palmer Trinity School’s global education initiatives.

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EVENTS

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018, Palmer Trinity School celebrated all of the volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to making our school special. Guests were treated to awards, live music, and a tasty and colorful breakfast. Thank you to everyone for your service and commitment to Palmer Trinity.

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SAVE THE DATE

2018 EVENTS August 15, 2018

OPENING DAY / 2018-2019 September 28, 2018

HOMECOMING GAME — followed by —

ALUMNI RECEPTION | ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME | DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS

October 2, 2018

ADMISSION BREAKFAST December 8, 2018

PARENT AND ALUMNI HOLIDAY PARTY

2019 EVENTS January 28, 2019

SANDY GOLF AND TENNIS TOURNAMENT March 2, 2019

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND ALUMNI REUNION CLASSES OF ‘74, ‘79, ‘84, ‘89, ‘94, ‘99, ‘04, ‘09, AND ‘14

May 18, 2019

COMMENCEMENT 2019 If you are interested in attending an upcoming event, please email Alexandra Cartaya at acartaya@palmertrinity.org.

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Congratulations CLASS OF 2018

Reflections...

IZ Z Y S W I F T S A LU TATORIA N “A few lessons I learned from my fancy cake making experience that I hope you will take with you as we enter the next phase of our life are to never give up, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and to never judge a book by its cover. As we embark on our new collegiate lives, it will be tempting to judge people by first impressions. But I implore you to give people a chance because they might surprise you and turn out to be your new favorite dessert. Next, don’t give up if things don’t go according to plan. Our generation is so used to the internet and immediate answers that if we hit a roadblock, our first thought is ‘This is impossible’ and we give up.”

MIG U E L ROT H E CO -VA L EDICTORIA N

C H RIS TO PH E R H U DS O N CO -VA L EDICTORIA N “Never forget who you are. Never lose sight of the values that make you up as a person. Palmer Trinity is a different school. Never, have I seen a place where so many people smile at you.

This school has a kindness and a love in its student body. Our past is not just a memory. It is a force which drives and steers our present selves. As we move our separate ways, we cannot lose sight of this. Moving forward, spread light wherever you go. Shine a light from your heart, not just the wisdom from your mind. Leave a legacy.”

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“We must indulge our uniquely human desire to help strangers, and fulfill our uniquely human capacity to do so.

Any ant can construct a hive for the millions of other ants that look exactly like it, any dog can dig out a den for the packmates that help it hunt for food, but only humans can build a sanctuary.

So as the walls come down, I leave you with this: Use the tools you have been given to build a house. Leave the door open.

And you will make of this world a home. Thank you and Godspeed.”

Graduates

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ALUMNI NEWS

Everyone has a story after they leave Palmer Trinity School – share yours by contacting our Director of Alumni Relations, Alexandra Cartaya, at acartaya@palmertrinity.org and (305) 969-4282.

The Aerie magazine editorial staff also welcomes submissions and suggestions. If you have an idea for a feature story, please contact our Editor-in-Chief, Suzanne Calleja, at scalleja@palmertrinity.org.

As always, we encourage you to keep in touch with your class agent by sending in your Class Notes for the 2018-2019 issue of the Aerie.

Palmer Trinity Alumni Association

MISSION STATEMENT The objectives of the Palmer Trinity Alumni Association shall be to advocate and support Palmer Trinity School and its mission, provide opportunities for alumni involvement with the school, fundraising, and to lead activities and events that build and maintain an active, informed, and engaged alumni community.

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1973

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

1974

CLASS AGENT

Julie (Coleman) Mansfield juliemansfield@comcast.net

1975

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

1976

CLASS AGENT

Andrew Hessen hesstang@aol.com

1977

CLASS AGENT

Craig Zimmett cazfla@aol.com

1978

CLASS AGENT

Thomas Magenheimer tmagmai@aol.com

1979

1981

1985

Lee Sterling psports@bellsouth.net

John Malloy jcmalloy@malloylaw.com

CLASS AGENT

Bobbi Rodgers writes, “I’m a mom of 3 awesome boys, and a grandma of 5. I just celebrated 20 years with the same employer, working with law enforcement and prisons to ensure the safety of those detained. I am a certified US-DOJ PREA Auditor.”

1982

Hart Baur info@miamiumbrellas.com Hart Baur and Elena Essen ‘88 write, “We are thrilled to be getting married this summer surrounded by our family and friends in Virginia.”

1983

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

CLASS AGENT

1980

1984

Dawn (Hoyt) Kidd dhoytkidd@gmail.com

Beth (Moskowitz) Lazar bethm1428@aol.com

CLASS AGENT

Betty Matz Gelsky writes, “I was recently on campus in early June 2017 when my nephew, Leandro De Armas, attended his 8th grade graduation ceremony. I was thrilled to bring my husband to visit with me. Everything looked beautiful and I felt proud to show off my “old” school. I was recently married. My family now consists of my husband and I, my 4 children and his 5.”

CLASS AGENT

Laura Sayegh is living in St. Petersburg, FL and is the founder and president of Laura’s Design Studio.

Lori (Fogel) La Forgia ljlaforgia@gmail.com

CLASS AGENT

CLASS AGENT

1986

CLASS AGENT

Joelle (Wagshul) Steinberg jwagshul@aol.com Josh Tarjan writes, “It’s been approximately 31 years since I graduated from Palmer. As Ms. Mintz, our indefatigable Latin teacher, used to say, tempus fugit. I think this is my first posting in the Aerie, so a quick overview: After college I studied avant garde theater in Poland and Switzerland, and back in the U.S. I got an MFA in theater directing at Columbia University where I met my wife, Amy. I spent many fun years directing theater and writing plays, screenplays and a novel. In Los Angeles, around 2006, I became

a volunteer crisis counselor and suicide hotline counselor, loved it, and decided to change course. After attending a public interest law school in New York, my family and I moved to Miami where I spent four and a half years at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, and where I worked alongside Palmer-Trinity alums Cam Cornish and Patrick Wilson. I recently left the office to start my own practice, The Tarjan Law Firm, focusing on personal injury, civil rights and immigration law. Amy and I have a wonderful eight year old daughter, Oona, who has inherited her parents’ love for theater. In my spare time I play jazz piano, and rumor has it that I play the ukulele now and then.

Drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you! josh@joshtarjan.com.”

1987

CLASS AGENT

Miles McGrath miles.mcgrath@gmail.com

1988

CLASS AGENT

Elena E. Essen elena3k@me.com

1989

CLASS AGENT

Scott Shelfer scott@exactaland.com

Left to right — Hart Baur and Elena Essen; Betty Matz and her husband; Josh Tarjan and his daughter, Oona; Cheri Simpkins SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS

1990

CLASS AGENT

Peter Baumberger psb@kubickidraper.com

1991

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

Evans (Dunwody) Crews is a teacher at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Coral Gables. She has a daughter in the 9th grade who attends Palmer Trinity and a 5th

grader who is excited to start PTS next year.

Cheri (Simpkins) Gardner was recently appointed to the district court of Maryland 5th Circuit Bench in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

1992

CLASS AGENT

Nickaros Sanchoo nickaros.sanchoo@gmail.com

1993

1995

Amanda R. Matalon amandamatalon@gmail.com

Andrew Bennett andrewpbennett@gmail.com

CLASS AGENT

Maggie Rosas-Guyon rosasguyon@hotmail.com

1994

CLASS AGENT

Campbell Walker cwalker@lincolnharris.com Charles Baumberger, Jr. baumberger16@gmail.com

Alumni College Day

CLASS AGENT

Andrew Bennett’s daughter, Sofia Bennett, started as a 6th grader at Palmer Trinity this year. She is a proud Falcon and Andrew is a proud Falcon Father.

ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 9TH Palmer Trinity School hosted an “Alumni College Day” for our seniors. Our alumni shared their advice about college based on their own personal experiences. Special thanks to the following alumni who gave their time to offer guidance to the seniors as they prepare to move onto the next chapter in their lives: Sara Aronfeld ‘17 Alma Campiani ‘17 Ryan Cheng ‘16 Daniel Correa ‘14 Anabel Danon ‘14 Henry Fernandez ‘17 Crystal Ferreira ‘16 Ariana Gomez ‘17 Paula Gutierrez ‘17 Ethan Hill ‘17 Sofia Pedroso ‘14 Gaby Puig ‘17 Miranda Ricart ‘14 Mario Rodriguez ‘17

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Alexis Ruiz ‘17 Matthew Vega-Sanz ‘14 Michael Vega-Sanz ‘14 Michelle Verwaay ‘16 Emily Kalbac ‘16 Alexis Leira ‘16 Francesco Lombardo ‘17 Valentina Lopez ‘17 Valerie Macaulay ‘15 Carolina Maller ‘16 Francisco Martinez ‘15 Sydney Merrit ‘14 Connor Milton ‘15 Hope Morales ‘17

1996

1998

Lynley (Walker) Ciorobea lynley3@gmail.com

Brian Gershen briangershen@gmail.com

CLASS AGENT

Amanda (Chrycy) Thompson achrycy@aol.com

Nathan Zeder nathan@allmiamirealestate.com

1997

Kamal Moo writes, “After PTS I attended USC where I got a B.S. in Music Industry in 2002.

Then I went to Southwestern Law School and graduated with my J.D. in 2005. After passing the bar, I started managing my brother’s (Nabil Moo ‘07) rock band in 2007 and they signed with Epitaph Records soon after. To help promote the band, I thought it would be cool for us to make a six-episode web series called “The Chronicles of ISMFOF” (the name of the band was I Set My Friends On Fire a/k/a “ISMFOF”). I really enjoyed writing those webisodes, so in 2009 I started writing feature screenplays.

Soon after, in 2010, I started my law practice, which still exists today. I mainly focus on music and film law. In 2015, after several years of writing, I decided that I wanted to try and write and produce my own feature film. My wife was horrified, because she’s public school teacher and had no interest in the entertainment business whatsoever. She thought screenwriting was just a hobby for me. I made a deal with her that I was going to write a small script I could produce myself and, if she didn’t like it, I wouldn’t move forward. So, I wrote a script called “The Cabin” (which would become “The Midnight Man”) in just eight days. Lucky for me, she liked the script and gave her blessing for me to move forward. (As any married man knows, no business will succeed unless the wife is on board). That was in August 2015. In January 2016, I was able to secure a $100K investment from one of my law clients. I teamed up with a producer friend who was

CLASS AGENT Michael Davis Andrew Bennett’s daughter, Sofia Bennett’24

Jackie Varela Gil’s daughter, Grace Marie

Kamal Moo

Gil Lang dedicated the last several years of his life working abroad with several nonprofit organizations to improve the living conditions in underprivileged communities.

While in the Dominican Republic, he volunteered with an organization called “Wine to Water,” which is dedicated to providing clean and safe drinking water to those who need it. Recently, Gil moved back to Miami to lead his family business, The Madison Collection, in global ethical growth. To begin accomplishing this large task the company has partnered with Wine to Water to provide clean drinking water to the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Nathaniel Tobin, valedictorian of the class of ‘97, and his wife Maryann, welcomed their second child, Eleanor Jeanne Tobin, last June. She joins big sister, Genevieve, who attends St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School. Nate is an attorney and partner at Kelley Kronenberg and Maryann is the Executive Director of UM’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Panee Cili with mother Maretta (Waln) Chuechunklin ‘73 and son Justin Cili ‘24

Winter Wheeler’s son Titan Alexander

Brett French brettfrench@yahoo.com Michael Davis writes, “I was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. We are still in Boston, and doing well, but may be relocated sometime this summer.”

Nathaniel Tobin and family

The daughter of Max Martinez Miyashiki, Sofia Eva Martinez, showing off her Palmer Trinity pride.

CLASS AGENT

SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS

Left to right — Amber Antonopoulos and husband; Mimi Gamara’s daughter; Mimi Gamara’s daughter.

able to pull a crew together, and we shot the movie over 10 days in March in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. In November 2016, we signed a distribution deal with ITN Distribution, who licensed the movie to eOne, a very large Canadian entertainment company. eOne released the film here in the U.S. through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Overall, things happened much faster than I thought they would. I wrote the movie in August and less than a year later we were filming it. We ran into problems along the way and I’ve realized that the main job of a producer is problem-solving… well, that and raising money. Currently, I’ve been working on new scripts and have a manager who’s helping me to strategize.

Hopefully I’ll get to make more films in the future, but if I don’t, I’m happy that I at least made this one.”

1999

CLASS AGENT

Belinda Frieri belifrieri@yahoo.com Brittney (Hoffman) McCabe bmccabe@palmertrinity.org Jaclyn (Varela) Gil welcomed a new addition to her family, Grace Marie.

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History was made this year when Justin Cili ‘24 started the 6th grade. Justin is the son of Panee (Chuechunklin) Cili and the grandson of Maretta (Waln) Chuechunklin ‘73, making him the first “third generation” student to enroll at Palmer Trinity. While at PTS, Panee was involved in the Student Government and was a starting player on the girl’s soccer team. She made the first team All-Dade in 8th12th grade, and now Justin is looking forward to following in his mother’s footsteps and joining the soccer team. Panee shared, “The biggest thing as an alumni returning to PTS as a parent is the true realization of how important PTS was to me.

I wouldn’t be who I am today if it were not for the experiences and relationships that I gained as a Falcon; and I’m beyond excited for my son to have the same opportunities and more.

PTS has the same feel, but the potential has definitely grown.”

Tradition and legacy are a big part of what make Palmer Trinity such a special school!

Winter Wheeler-Young and her husband, Thomas Young, welcomed their fourth child, Titan Alexander, on January 21, 2018. Titan joins older siblings Roman (age 6), Rex (age 4), and Helena (age 1).

The family resides in Atlanta,

Georgia. In addition to being a parent, Winter is a civil defense attorney specializing in the representation of doctors and lawyers in malpractice lawsuits.

2000

CLASS AGENT

Soozie Klock seklock@gmail.com

2001

CLASS AGENT

Wesley Farrell wesfarrell21@gmail.com Jacob Fuerst is the senior metallurgist for the Remington Outdoor Company. He was shown in the latest Remington TV commercial, titled “Manifesto,” which was broadcasted in the Fall of 2017 on The Outdoor Channel and The Sportsman Channel.

2002

CLASS AGENT

Adria (Jenkins) Simon mz.adria@gmail.com After Graduating from Palmer Trinity, Angela Guzman received her MFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and landed an internship at Apple during

the summer of 2008. Upon her arrival at Apple, she was asked if she knew what an “Emoji” was, and was assigned a mentor, Raymond, who would become a lifelong friend. At the time, the emoji keyboard did not exist so Angela and Raymond were presented with the task of designing these icons that would revoluntionize the way we communicate. Ten years later Angela is working as a designer at Google in Silicone Valley, and she and her husband, Pierre, have a son together.

Amber Antonopoulos married Ernie Sanchez on June 27, 2017 in an intimate elopement ceremony with their immediate families in Napa Valley.

They live in San Francisco, where Amber matched to a competitive, rigorous, clinically-focused dietetic internship program at UCSF Medical Center, where she has been completing supervised practice to become a registered dietitian. They moved to the Bay Area from Los Angeles in 2015 for Amber to return to the University of California, Berkeley (after a stint in the acting industry). She graduated with honors in May 2017 with a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, Dietetics.

Alumni Holiday Party

ON DECEMBER 14TH, over 100 alumni from various decades gathered together at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club for this year’s Alumni Holiday Party. Our alumni gathered together to celebrate the holiday season while reminiscing about their time together at Palmer, Trinity Episcopal, and Palmer Trinity School.

SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS

Finding Love at PTS

Palmer Trinity not only offers its students an exceptional education, but it is also a place where students find love. When these alumni first stepped on to the Palmer Trinity School campus, they made their first step towards their soul mates.

Lauren and Stephen

Lauren Franklin ‘08 and Stephen Ludovici ‘08 met in Ms. Coule’s Alegebra II class during their freshman year of high school. During her junior year, Lauren, a cheerleader, was assigned to bring “good luck treats” to one of the football players, Stephen. Lauren and Stephen began dating later that year, and today they are engaged and planning their wedding in 2019.

and in 2016 they were married. Andy is a graduate of FSU. She is currently the legal assistant to the Chairman at Shutts & Bowen, LLP. Adrian graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, and received a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He’s a realtor-associate with EWM Realty International and a licensed attorney with his own practice, Foley Law, P.A.

Alex and Lisa

Brittney and Wilson

Alex Haynes ‘04 and Lisa (Migliaccio) Haynes ‘04 met at PTS during their freshman year in 2000. They were friends all throughout high school and started dating right after their senior prom. They stayed together during college, long distance, and across two countries! When they both graduated, they lived in South Korea together for a year to teach English and travel. Alex proposed while they were living in South Korea and in April 2011, they got married in Miami. Six years later they’re still happily married, have a 3 year-old daughter, Emily, and a baby girl, Blaire.

Lisa works at an advertising agency in Coral Gables and Alex works as a research program manager at the Sylvester Cancer Center.

Erik and Grania

Lauren + Stephen Erik + Grania

Erik Jacobson ‘01 and Grania (Michel) Jacobson ‘02 met each other in 1997 at Palmer Trinity. Although they never shared classes, they became easy friends by making each other laugh in the hallways. In 2004 while they were back in Miami from their respective universities their friendship began to evolve. They endured two years of a long distance relationship, until moving back to Miami. In 2008, Eric proposed while on a trip to see his brother in Panama and a year later they were married. Now, eight years later, Erik has left the shrimp farming life and moved the family to Ecuador. He is realizing his dream of being paid to shoot, running his own security company in Guayaquil. His enjoyment of the great wide-open lead to building an apiary of over thirty hives with the sweet bonus of selling the honey. Grania had experimented with a number of activities like advertising, design, and teaching but is currently the chef, chauffeur, and concierge to their triplet toddler daughters, born in 2016.

Adrian and Andy

Although Adrian Foley ‘02 and Andy Kirkpatrick ‘04 didn’t speak to each other while they were at PTS, when Adrian returned to Miami in 2012 he reached out to Andy via Facebook and invited her out for drinks.

Andy decided to go out with Adrian that night, 48

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Brittney (Fyffe) Hernandez ‘06 and Wilson Hernandez ‘06 met in 9th grade at PTS. Wilson played on the varsity baseball team, and Brittney used to go and watch his games.

They started dating about mid-way through 9th grade. They were homecoming prince and princess in 10th grade and enjoyed going to all the homecoming events and prom together.

They had a long distance relationship during college and grad-school, and got engaged in December of 2010. They were married in Miami on July 16, 2011 with many of their Palmer Trinity classmates in their bridal party and attending as guests. They have been married for six years and reside in Cutler Bay. Brittney is a first grade teacher at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and Wilson is the Online Marketing Administrator for Africair Inc. They have a two year old son named Gabriel and welcomed another little boy in May 2018!

Brittney and Wilson are grateful that they found each other at PTS, and consider it to be a special place for them and their family.

Bobby and Sam

Bobby Moore ‘05 and Samantha (Evans) Moore ‘06 met in 2003 at PTS. They were introduced to each other by Bobby’s baseball teammate, Wilson Hernandez, and Samantha’s best friend, Brittney Fyffe. They started dating in October of that year and the rest is history! They managed a long distance relationship while in college, and later studied abroad in Adelaide, Australia together. They got engaged in 2010 on a trip to Europe after Sam graduated from college. They planned the wedding while Bobby received his Master’s Degree from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. In the fall of 2011 they moved to Boston while Sam received a Master’s in Occupational Therapy.

Bobby and Sam were married on January 7, 2012. They remained in Boston until their first son, Cameron, was born in May of 2014.

They then moved back to Miami, and Bobby started teaching at Palmer Trinity School.

This past September they welcomed their second son, Carter, during Hurricane Irma.

Above, clockwise from left – Bobby and Sam with their children; Alex and Lisa; Adrian and Andy at their wedding cermeony; Brittney and Wilson surrounded by friends on their wedding day. Opposite page, from top – Lauren and Stephen; Erik and Grania with their triplets.

While these are just a few stories from some of the couples that met at Palmer Trinity, one thing is for sure: PTS is a special place where students make life-long friends and exceptional memories. Below is a list of all the married alumni couples in our records.

Mr. Chad Stark ‘02 and Mrs. Mercedes (Anez) Stark ‘03

Mr. Mason Harris ‘89 and Mrs. Denie (Freyer) Harris ‘89*

Dr. Jason Kosove ‘90 and Mrs. Julia (Arango) Kosove ‘90

Ms. Brittney Fyffe ‘06 and Mr. Wilson Hernandez ‘06

Matthew Lazenby ‘96 and Kristin (Arbuckle) Lazenby ‘98

Mr. Alex Haynes ‘04 and Mrs. Lisa (Migliaccio) Haynes ‘04

Ms. Mary Castellano ‘98 and Mr. JB Garth ‘97

Mr. Jim Hunter ‘73 and Mrs. Sandra (Hicks) Hunter ‘74*

Stewart Magenheimer ‘76 and Deborah (Clark) Magenheimer ‘77 Mr. Jordan Matheson ‘95* and Mrs. Lacy (Dunwody) Matheson ‘94 Ms. Winsy (Dunwody) Pittinos ‘97 and Mr. Andrew Pittinos ‘95 Mr. Jon Greenwell ‘79 and Mrs. Mary (Eldredge) Greenwell ‘79 Mr. Robert Moore ‘05 and Mrs. Samantha (Evans) Moore ‘06

Michael Weinfeld ‘90 and Gina (Jong Tjien Fa) Weinfeld ‘90 Mr. Virgilio Guma ‘90 and Mrs. Kelly (Kimmel) Guma ‘89 Ms. Andrea Kirkpatrick ‘04 and Mr. Adrian Foley ‘02 Dr. Michael Silva ‘06 and Mrs. Patti (Lehtinen) Silva ‘06 Mrs. Jane (Maguire) Sterling ‘83 and Mr. Craig Sterling ‘82

Mr. Andrew Hessen ‘76 and Ms.Mary (McMath) Hessen ‘73 Mr. Erik Jacobson ‘01 and Mrs. Grania (Michel) Jacobson ‘02 Mr. Richard Grillo ‘97 and Mrs. Lara (O’Donnell) Grillo ‘98 Mr. Bryant E. Wright ‘04 and Mrs. Victoria Pineros ‘04 Mr. Collin Ross ‘96 and Mrs. Tracy (Reiter) Ross ‘96* Mr. Joseph Dooley ‘84 and Mrs. Rebecca (Rumenik) Dooley ‘84 Mr. Eddy Robinson ‘87 and Mrs. Yvette (Silva) Robinson ‘86 Mr. Zachary Messa ‘91 and Mrs. Maria (Suarez) Messa ‘90 Mr. Bryan Jones ‘95 and Mrs. Maggie (Tkac) Jones ‘97 Mr. Max Undorfer ‘07 and Mrs. Jesse (Gross) Undorfer ‘04 * Associate alumni SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS

From left to right, row 1 — Dr. Adam Nader; Ian Wogan at his wedding; Garret Navia and family. Row 2 — Lisa Haynes’ daughter Blaire; Santiago Tenorio and wife; Cam Cornish; Corina Lopez.’s son Sebastian

Santiago Tenorio and Giorgiana Cardos (his longtime girlfriend he met in London) got married. Close friends and family gathered in Spain to celebrate their wedding on the 7th of October, 2017.

Fernando Ferro writes, “I got married last year and we are really excited to be expecting a baby boy. On the other hand I have kept working in commercial real estate, licensed now for 12 years, and also opened our 4th restaurant, this one is our third in Coral Gables and it is called Plomo Tequila and Taco Bar. We are looking forward to have more opening this year in Brickell and downtown.”

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2003

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

Dr. Adam Nader is board certified in Internal Medicine and Echocardiography. He is a July 2017 graduate of the Mount Sinai Medical Center Cardiovascular Fellowship Program and is eligible to take board exams in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Cardiology and Vascular Medicine. He received his medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington D.C. and completed his training in Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center of Chicago, IL. Dr. Adam Nader’s private practice provides preventative care, including cardiac screening and risk assessment, as well as diagnosis and

treatment of common and unusual cardiac and vascular problems. His specialty is diagnostic Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiography. He believes that a healthy lifestyle assisted by medicine and technology when necessary, can lead to a long and active life.

He has privileges at Mount Sinai Medical Center and Aventura Hospital.

Michael Scherer visited Palmer Trinity School from Portland, Oregon to speak to the art students about his career in the arts as a global retail design project manager for Nike.

Michael inspired our students to explore careers outside the traditional fields and to find their passion.

2004

CLASS AGENT

Corina (Lopez) Minera cminera@ymail.com Mimi (Jacome) Gamara and her husband, Javier Gamarra, were recently blessed with another baby girl on October 18, 2017.

They now have two little girls, Gabriela and Catalina. They also own a trucking company, hauling freight nationwide.

Aliana Abascal, the valedictorian for her class, graduated from Cornell University and is working as a psychiatrist at West Virginia University.

Cam Cornish writes, “My firm’s name is Cornish Hernandez Gonzalez. I started it with two close friends of mine, Igor Hernandez and Dylan Gonzalez, in August 2017. The three of us

10th Annual Alumni Soccer Game

met in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. In each other, we recognized a passion for advocacy, law, and trial. So we formed a boutique law firm focused on Personal Injury and Criminal Defense. We specialize in litigation and trial law. We provide top tier service and have more experience than lawyers twice our age: between the three partners, we’ve tried over 75 jury trials. We believe in and practice passionate and principled advocacy. And we pair that with responsive customer service.”

Garret Navia writes, “On July 27, 2017, my wife gave birth to our son, Alessandro Navia.

We are excited about the new addition to our family and new chapter in life. We are currently living in Palmetto Bay and I am a director in a private equity group called General American Capital Partners based in Coral

THE TENTH ANNUAL ALUMNI SOCCER GAME was a great day for our alumni, who had an opportunity to relive their high school soccer days while playing on the beautiful new Main Athletic Field. Before the game, the players honored Coach Scott du Feu for his dedication to Palmer Trinity and the alumni soccer players.

There was a great turnout with over 30 players ranging from graduating years of 1981-2013. The game ended in a 5-5 tie and went into penalty kicks where the Blue Team was victorious! Thank you to the alumni who came out to play!

Gables, which focuses on growth investments throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Europe.”

Corina (Lopez) Minera writes, “We recently welcomed another baby boy into our family.

Sebastian Andres was born on December 27th weighing 8 lbs and 22 inches long. We are overjoyed to have him join his big brother Nicolas, who is now 5.”

Lisa (Miggliaccio) Haynes and Alex Haynes welcomed their second daughter, Blaire Sienna, into the world on January 24, 2018.

On November 18, 2017, Ian Wogan married Virginia Ansaldi in a beautiful Palmetto Bay Estate in front of friends and family.

2005

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

Cindy Kohn-Cybulkiewicz and her husband welcomed JulianAlejandro into the world on November 25, 2017.

2006

CLASS AGENT

Julio Ligorria jeligorria@gmail.com Alexandra Fabre is the mother of 2 boys, Luciano, the baby and Maximiliano, 2 years old.

Chelsey (Steuben) Salvatori and her husband Anthony Salvatori are living in Lombard, IL and welcomed Milo Anthony Salvatori to the world on January 8, 2018.

Alec McCluskey is living in Vancouver and working as an

actor. He was featured in a Fitbit commercial and in Lifetime movie, Cocaine Godmother, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Tracy Wilk writes, “This fall I was a part of the opening team and led the dessert program as the Executive Pastry Chef at SaltBrick Tavern, a modern American tavern in downtown Brooklyn. I will be joining the team at the Institute of Culinary Education, as a lead Recreational Chef and Recipe Editor. The school is located in Brookfield Place so if anyone is visiting in NYC and interested in learning some new culinary techniques let me know!”

Maria Luiza Barreto got married in Porto do Patacho in Brazil to Alexander (Sasha) Dzegar in November. Alums Tracy Wilk, Katy Lovell, Ashley Forman and Sofia Cajiga (Granai), all class of 2006, traveled to celebrate their wedding.

From left to right — Cindy Kohn-Cybulkiewicz’s son, Julian-Alejandro; Alec McCluskey; Alexandra Fabre’s children; Maria Luiza Barreto at her wedding to Alexander Dzegar SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI PROFILE

class of 2005

I started at PTS in seventh grade, and I still vividly remember my time there from day one. I entered during the first year of the laptop program at PTS. Back then, Wi-Fi was just taking off and Napster was becoming a thing; the Internet was exploding and we were all racing to keep up— students and faculty alike. Being in a place where I and every one of my peers had constant access to the web and to each other, day and night, made for a completely new and immersive experience that very much shaped my time there. I remember “dissecting” a virtual frog in Mrs. Gross’s 7th grade biology class and thinking that the world was changing very fast.

Everything else was new and exciting, too. There were sports, clubs, fun electives, and many other things to do. Even within the main curriculum, there were courses on topics I hadn’t even heard about; I was literally learning about what there was to learn, and that was exhilarating for a curious person like me. PTS shaped my life—not just in the quality of my education, but also in the range of opportunities I was afforded.

With everything I’d learned at PTS under my belt, I was a shoo-in at the University of Florida, where I entered as a freshman in 2005.

I was able to focus intensely on my field from the get-go. By my sophomore year, I was certain I wanted to go to grad school, get my Ph.D. in physics, and study the universe professionally for the rest of my life. With that in mind, I reached out to professors within the department for undergraduate research opportunities, and by my sophomore year, I was spending my afternoons working under Professor Guido Mueller for the LIGO Project.

LIGO — the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory — is an unbelievable feat of modern science and engineering.

Ever since Einstein theorized the existence of gravitational waves (GW), physicists have been

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...I hope to end up in a place where I can continue to learn and contribute to our understanding of the world around us.”

Above, from left – UV gluing optical cavity; LIGO control room zk Hanford. Opposite page, top – Zach Korth at LIGO; bottom – Inspecting suspension.

trying to find a way to measure them. The problem is that even the strongest GWs were predicted to be incredibly weak by the time they reached the earth. Miraculously, many generations of brilliant people made the detection of GWs possible, and the first signal was registered by LIGO on September 14, 2015. For this, three pioneers of GW detection science were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.

At its core, each LIGO detector consists of a set of “test masses”—one-hundred-pound mirrors made of ultra-pure glass—suspended 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles) away from each other within a giant vacuum tank, with an intricate laser system measuring the distances between them to an accuracy of far smaller than the diameter of a proton. As a GW passes through the earth, it ever so slightly stretches and shrinks the space between these test masses, and these vibrations are detected with the laser system. The majority of LIGO experimental science involves isolating these test masses from the overwhelmingly stronger sources of vibration and noise on the surface of the earth.

With a drastically better understanding of LIGO as a whole, I went back to UF for my senior year and worked on a new experiment involving adaptive optical elements, or controllable lenses. This experiment involved using special, small lenses that we could heat and pass an incoming beam through. After this, we could measure and cancel out unwanted focusing effects within the main detector. This research, along with similar work from other groups, helped design the LIGO Thermal Compensation System.

After graduating with my B.S. in physics from UF, I was lucky enough to be accepted at Caltech to continue working in LIGO at one of its two academic bases. In my first few years at Caltech, I worked on something called a laser gyroscope—a tabletop system used to measure very small tilts of the ground. We humans don’t notice it, but the ground below our feet is constantly moving at a level some trillion times greater than what we try to measure with LIGO. In late 2012, I was given yet another life-changing opportunity when I was awarded the LIGO Student Fellowship, which allowed me to move to one of the actual LIGO detector sites in Livingston, Louisiana for the better part of two years. While there, I served on a small team of physicists and engineers who were installing the upgrades to LIGO that ultimately made GW detection possible, known as “Advanced LIGO.” The work was hard, but it was immensely rewarding. Most days, we worked into the wee hours of the morning when the lack of cars on nearby roads gave us the kind of quiet seismic environment we needed to test the ultra-sensitive apparatus we were working on.

In 2014, I made the decision to move back to Caltech and work on an entirely new project for my thesis. After this, I have no idea what comes next. Whatever happens, I hope to end up in a place where I can continue to learn and contribute to our understanding of the world around us—that’s what’s always kept me going!

I’m very proud of the contributions I’ve been able to make in my life so far. Palmer Trinity has played a major role in my journey, and I’ll never forget that.

SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS L E AV E YOU R

Legacy AT

LEGACY GIVING The best way to ensure the gift of education for generations of students is through a legacy gift. This type of gift keeps on giving, providing funds to prolong our mission to inspire students to lead lives of honor, integrity and social responsibility.

The greatest gift we can give Palmer Trinity School and our students is the gift of education.

J A C K B R UMB A U GH , PA S T B O A R D OF T R U S T E E C H A IR

How does a gift keep on giving? By making a legacy gift to our school’s Endowment fund, the interest earned on your gift may be reinvested in the school. Anyone can make a legacy gift. No matter the amount, each gift builds our Endowment and provides a lasting source of funding for our students and faculty.

We often refer to charitable gifts made through a will or trust as “planned gifts,” as opposed to outright gifts for building and renovation or Annual Fund gifts for ongoing operations. Through a planned gift, you are leaving a legacy for the life of your School beyond your own time.

Contact Juan Gomez at jgomez@palmertrinityschool.org or (305) 969-4241 for more information about leaving a legacy for Palmer Trinity students.

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Left to right, row 1 — Chelsey Steuban and family; Tracey Wilk; Delfina Guemes and husband. Row 2 — Alessia Eiseman and family; Bernarda Reyes and husband; Lauren Franklin. Row 3 — Annie Jensen; Megan Cunningham; Lauren Adamo.

2007

CLASS AGENT

Will Morrison willmorrisonfl@gmail.com Danielle Snyder snyder.daniellelynn@gmail.com Delfina Guemes writes, “I got married in Buenos Aires on October 7, 2017 and it was the happiest day of my life. I am so grateful to have been surrounded by friends and family and to have been able to do the ceremony in the church where generations of my family had also been married.”

2008

CLASS AGENT

Megan Cunningham megancunningham215@gmail.com

Ariel Moger aemoger@gmail.com Lauren Franlin laurenfranklin17@gmail.com Lauren Adamo writes, “I got engaged last March to Joshua Bross and got married in June 2018 in New Jersey!

I am currently working at Overlook Medical Center as an Emergency Room RN in Summit, NJ.” Lauren Franklin writes, “I still work for J.Crew as an Associate Store Manager and I am an active member in the Junior League of Miami – I am on the Nominating Committee this year and was the chair of Volunteer Coordination for the Junior League of Miami Showhouse at Deering Estate in April.”

Bernarda (Reyes) Malavenda married Sebastian Malavenda on December 9, 2017.

Megan Cunningham writes, “In the fall I was awarded the 2017 Meritorious Service Award for Law Student Wellness by the American Bar Association for my creation of the Collegiate Recovery Program at Boston University for students in recovery from alcohol and substance use. I was then subsequently honored by the Miami-Dade County Commission for the award and my efforts in the collegiate recovery field.”

Annie Jensen graduated cum laude from New York University in ‘11 and magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in ‘15. After receiving her law

degree, she began her dream job at Greenberg Traurig as an attorney in the Corporate/ Securities department. During that first year as an attorney, Annie struggled to find a holiday gift for her assistant.

She knew her assistant loved candles, but she wanted to find a way to make the candle more thoughtful by engraving a personal message on the candle container. When she couldn’t find the product she was looking for, she and fellow Greenberg Traurig Attorney Annabelle DeGrazio decided to make it themselves. In June 2017, a few months after Annie got married, Annie and Annabelle launched TAJA Collection, a home accessories company re-defining gifting. The customizable candles (you can literally engrave any message SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI PROFILE

From a curious PTS art student, to the designer of the Emoji

class of 2002 Stay curious. I think that no matter how much or little I may know at this point in time, my curiosity is what keeps me motivated.”

That is the most important lesson that Angela Guzman ‘02, one of the designers of the original emoji keyboard, has learned throughout her revolutionary career. Her creativity blossomed when Angela entered Palmer Trinity as a sixth grader and she was drawn to the art program. Her first project, a papier-mâché 3D assignment, instantly hooked her, and from then on she took every art class she could sign up for until graduation. Six years later, as an AP art student, she recalls sitting outside of her class with her middle school art teacher, Mrs. Alberni, discussing her future career path. Angela chatted with her teacher about wishing to become an architect when suddenly the conversation led to Industrial Design, which she playfully considered at the time to be “small scale architecture.”

After graduating from Palmer Trinity, Angela attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and studied Industrial Design. She knew she wanted to focus on Industrial Design at RISD largely in part because of her conversation with her Palmer Trinity School art teacher. Angela went on to earn an MFA in Graphic Design and during her last summer in college, Apple recruiters visited RISD. At the presentation, Angela waited until everyone was done chatting and she walked up to one of the recruiters and gave him her resume and portfolio link. About a week later they called her for a phone interview.

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Shortly after, she was told she had been selected to be the first intern on the iPhone design team.

She enthusiastically accepted the Internship and after seven consecutive years of art school in New England, Angela moved to Silicon Valley to begin a career that would influence communication between people world-wide!

Once in California, Angela met the team of designers who worked on the first iPhone and was handed her project. She was to draw the original Apple emoji along with her mentor, who became her friend. She describes this experience as “my dream job, getting paid to draw little icons alongside an incredibly talented team. But once they were released, and my family and friends started to use them all over the world, well, that changed things a bit.” Angela believes the best part of this project has been seeing emoji’s in the real world. She explains, “for example, when I walk into a store and there are emoji slippers hanging on a shoe rack or a giant billboard in San Francisco with a football and soccer ball from the set I drew.” Angela describes one of the most interesting experiences she’s had as a young designer was to see the apps she worked on debut at Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco and seeing Steve Jobs demonstrating them. She remembers sitting in the audience and looking at these designs on giant projected screens,

hearing the reaction from the audience, and later that day seeing them across billboards on the highway and on the walls of Apple Stores. “It was a unique experience,” Angela shares.

As Angela looks back on her career, beginning at Palmer Trinity, she describes her Art classes as being “the most influential,” however, the most notable experiences she recalls were the relationships she developed with her teachers. During Angela’s junior year she went through one of the most difficult times in her life when she lost her mother. Angela describes her teachers as her “biggest cheerleaders” during a challenging time. Angela shares, “their support, and those of my friends and family, was immensely valuable during this difficult transition.”

Angela is also thankful for the lessons she learned from being a part of the soccer team. She explains, “my work requires a lot of collaboration and team driven goals, and these are skills I learned by being a part of the high school soccer team.”

Currently, Angela is the design lead at Google focusing on the Assistant, a virtual personal assistant available primarily on mobile and smart home devices. In her role she has managed designers, as well as led design efforts. She also focuses on additional areas, such as hiring and educating budding designers about the inner workings of the industry. As a manager, she mentors her team in the areas of career growth and design direction. As a designer, on the other hand, she collaborates with engineers, researchers, and product managers to create delightful experiences for users. Once the design and implementation are complete, the product launches and millions of Google users get to experience it first-hand.

Angela would like to motivate and inspire young artists by sharing some advice, “Don’t be afraid!

I’ve heard so many times from parents, and even students, the fear of becoming a ‘starving artist.’

“I think any student looking to pursue a degree in design, who worries about this, should familiarize themselves with the vast array of companies and industries that need them. The demand for designers is huge, so don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.”

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ALUMNI NEWS

Left to right, row 1 — Ariel Suazo-Maler; Alums at Paula Vizcarra and Mike Woll’s wedding; Lauren Ashley Patao. Row 2 — Tyler Kalbac and wife; Ashley du Feu and fiancé.

or design you can dream up on the container or lid) were such a success that they have already added vases and diffusers to the collection, and plan to add even more customizable gifts in 2018.

Alessia Eiseman welcomed a baby, Kali Bachrach Eiseman, on January 29th, 2018, with her husband Phil.

2009

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

After graduating from Palmer Trinity in 2009, Ariel Suazo-Maler attended Wellesley, where she studied neuroscience and conducted schizophrenia research at Harvard. While at Harvard, she was able to speak directly with people suffering from the disease and learned how disappointed they were with the treatments available. In an effort to discover another way to treat mental illness, she visited a premier taste lab headed by Dr. Charles Zuker at Columbia University to learn more about the 58

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intersection between food and neuroscience. While continuing her basic science research, she received her master’s at Columbia’s Institute of Human Nutrition where she worked with Dr. Drew Ramsey to understand how dietary interventions for people suffering from anxiety and depression helped with their treatment. After completing her thesis, Ariel wanted to make this food-based form of mental health care more accessible to those in need; so, she developed Elated, a catering company that brings “brainboosting, good-mood-making meals” to your door.

Paula Vizcarras and Mike Woll ‘08 were married in March.

Several alumni attended the wedding: Andrea Buhler ‘09, Laura Chumbley ‘09, Isa Vizcarra ‘11, and Melanie Metal ‘09.

Cole Brockway and Lexie Harrell were married on April 21, 2018 at Dove Ridge Vineyards in Fort Worth, Texas among friends and family.

2010

CLASS AGENT

Annie Morrison annie.morrison2@gmail.com Javier Uribe writes, “I have been working as the Director of Operations for my family-owned restaurants, Strada in the Grove and Farinelli 1937. In February we opened a third restaurant, La Rue Bistronomie, and I am forming a hospitality group that will run all three restaurants, and hopefully more to come in the future. My family owns all three restaurants and runs the business side along with our sole partner and locally known restauranteur, Maurizio Farinelli, who creates the menu and runs the kitchen. Strada in the Grove combines northern Italian cuisine with over 100 different wine selections including some of the best boutique wines exclusive to our shelves and from the best wine regions of the world. Farinelli 1937 is an authentic Italian pizzeria that compliments the old world flavors and traditions of Strada in the Grove and increases the temperature to 800°F in our two custom-made, copper-coated, wood-burning

ovens. La Rue Bistronomie brings an upper-hand brasserie style French restaurant to Coconut Grove. Our menu will incorporate some of the classic dishes that people want to see in a French brasserie while also including a lighter and fresher take on French cuisine that comes from the south of France and an extensive wine list.”

Tyler Kalbac will begin his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Kentucky.

He and his wife Jenni will be moving to Lexington, Kentucky this summer.

2011

CLASS AGENT

Katherine Difede katherinedifede@gmail.com

2012

CLASS AGENT

Giancarlo Falconi g.falconi@umiami.edu Chritina Santilli christina.marie.santilli@gmail.com Stefan Drakulich writes, “I’m in graduate school for

Neuroscience, doing research in analysis of MRIs to elucidate where and how “intelligence” functions in the brain.”

Ashley du Feu will get married on October 6th of this year to Nick Mutean, a native of Georgia. She met Nick during a visit to Oglethorpe University to see another PTS alum, Bailey Evans ‘12. The wedding will take place in Atlanta where Ashley is currently living and working.

Ashley Kalbac married John Barrios on February 25, 2018 at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden among family and friends.

Lauren Ashley Patao graduated from the University of Miami and launched a fashion blog called The Fashionista’s Diary.

Through her blog she has been able to connect with other entrepreneurs and work with some of her favorite stores, such as Nordstrom and Express. Lauren is planning to grow The Fashionista’s Diary in 2018 and launch her online store, Shop Aria Rose.

2013

CLASS AGENT

Nicole Font nicoleafont@gmail.com Dani Almanza dani.almanza@yahoo.com Fernando Bonnet bonetfernando@gmail.com Katrina Rodriguez writes, “I graduated from Cornell University in May 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science. Since then, I have been working for The J.M Smucker Company in Orrville, Ohio. I am a part of the Pet Division, working exclusively on the development of new products under the Milo’s Kitchen and Pup-Peroni brands. I have been enjoying my time in Ohio so far and I am looking to hopefully get a French Bulldog soon!“ Marcus Fernandez is working as a general contractor for Homestar Builders and as an Improv Comedian on the main stage at Just the Funny Theater in Miami, Florida. He performs most weekends on Friday and Saturday.

Nicole Font writes, “I graduated from High Point University in May 2017 with a BA in Elementary Education. I recently began working as a 5th grade teacher at Mater Grove Academy in Miami, Florida.”

Arissa Baiamonte was chosen for the All-Region team for the south in the American Collegiate Rowing Association.

Team members were chosen based on 2,000 meter testing scores, performance of their crew, career racing results, individual performances, and coach recommendations.

2014

CLASS AGENT

Sara Abbassi sabbassi96@gmail.com Andres Alonso earned a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami and is working as the Operations Manager at CMX Cinemas.

Daniel du Feu graduated from St. Michael’s College in May.

He played all three years on the Men’s Varsity Soccer team as a goalkeeper. He started his college career with a 1-0 shutout against Assumption at the 2016 Catholic Cup Championship.

He was named to the NE-10 Conference Commissioner’s honor roll twice. In his final game of his college career, and the team’s last game of this past season, the team defeated nationally ranked Southern New Hampshire University. He was one of the organizers of an event that raised $600 for “Save the Children” after Hurricane Irma.

The money helped children get back to school and return to their everyday lives.

Sydney Merrit has interned at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Baptist Health, and the Holland and Knight Public Policy and Regulation Office in D.C. She will be graduating from George Washington University with a double major in Public Health and Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice, and plans to attend graduate school after graduation.

Left to right, row 1 — Arissa Baiamonte; Katrina Rodriguez; Ashley Kalbac and husband. Row 2 — Cole Brockway and his wife, Lexie; Daniel du Feu; Michael and Matthew Vega-Sanz; Hannah Domit.

SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni Reunion Weekend MARCH 6-17, 2018

On Friday, March 16th alumni, families, and current and former teachers and coaches all came together to honor two individuals who made significant contributions to Palmer Trinity’s Athletics Department.

The Athletic Hall of Fame Committee inducted two new members: Coach Marty Migliaccio, presented by Tammy King, and Kevin Mahan ‘87, presented by Coach Mike Becker.

Athletic Hall of Fame Induction + + +

+ + +

Kevin Mahan ‘87 was inducted into the Palmer Trinity Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments in football, cross country, and track and field. Kevin was a member of the 1986 State Championship Cross Country Team and went on to become the 1987 State Champion in the 100-meter hurdles. He also placed fifth in the state in the 300-meter hurdles and holds the school record in the 100-meter hurdles to this day.

Kevin was a four-time All-Dade honorable mention in track and field and played as a quarterback for the school football team.

His coach, Mike Becker, describes him as a “team leader, quiet, reserved, and serious.

He was a great competitor, yet modest and respected by his peers.”

FOUNDER’S AWARD Brian Gershen ‘98 was a successful student athlete while at Palmer Trinity, playing both baseball and basketball. His classmates voted him “most outspoken” and describe him as a “great friend to all.”

After graduating from FSU with a degree in Business Management, Brian used his charismatic energy to get involved with Palmer Trinity’s Admission Advisory Board, which helped promote PTS among the community during the early 2000’s. Brian has always been ready, willing, and able to help Palmer Trinity in every capacity.

In 2006, he started playing in the Sandy Golf Tournament to help raise money for financial aid. In 2010 he joined the Sandy Golf committee to help organize the tournament, encourage other alumni to participate, and find event sponsors. Brian has volunteered at College and Career Day and has attended almost every alumni event to date. When the Alumni Board was established in 2014, Brian was an obvious candidate. This is Brian’s 4th year serving on the Palmer Trinity Alumni Board and bringing energy and enthusiasm to the Alumni Association.

+ + + Coach Marty Migliaccio was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for her 25 years of service to the Palmer and Palmer Trinity Athletic Departments. From 19812006 Coach Mig led the girls’ Varsity and JV Volleyball and Softball teams to many victories. Her teams were conference champions countless times as well as district and regional champs, making it all the way to the state competition. Coach Mig is loved and respected by her players and is greatly appreciated for her dedication and commitment to Palmer Trinity Athletics.

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Distinguished Alumni Awards

H ead of School’s Award + + + Gil Lang ‘97 has been dedicated to serving the community since he was a student at Palmer Trinity. After graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Gil joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Romania, where he worked in an orphanage filled with children infected with HIV+. After a year and a half in Romania, Gil was hired by the South African government to forge a campaign geared towards one of the biggest problems there: spousal abuse. Gil’s creativity again produced an amazing campaign effecting behavior change to at risk audiences.

When his work in South Africa was over, he came back to the states with a great job at a local prominent advertising agency. However, he became restless and found a job at Fathom Cruise Lines promoting impact travel. Recently, Gil moved back to Miami to lead his family business, The Madison Collection, in global ethical growth. Gil created a partnership between The Madison Company and “Wine to Water” to help provide safe drinking water to those in need.

+ + + Dax Terjera ‘03 was a stellar student at Palmer Trinity, dedicating his time to his studies and the drama program and serving as SGA Class President and on the Honor Council. After PTS, Dax went on to earn a degree in Journalism from Dartmouth. Upon graduating, Dax was hired by NBC News to its News Associates program, a program that took him to NBC headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York. After nearly 6 years launching shows and covering breaking news at NBC, Dax returned to Miami to help build Fusion, the cable network launched by ABC

News and Univision. There he created and executive produced AMERICA with Jorge Ramos, a newsmagazine show.

Together, he and Ramos travelled the world telling stories; their final project together was a documentary film entitled Hate Rising, documenting the rise of hate-groups in America. At the end of the 2016 election, Dax moved to Washington, DC to work at ABC News as a senior producer covering the Trump administration and Congress. He is currently a senior producer on This Week with George Stephanopoulous.

A lumni Reunion

On March 17, alumni and current and past faculty came together at the Rooftop Lounge at the Mayfair to honor the classes of ‘88, ‘93, ‘98, ‘03, ‘08, and ‘13. Former students got a chance to reconnect with friends and teachers while eating tasty food and listening to music.

SUMMER 2018

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ALUMNI NEWS

Falcons In New York City

ON OCTOBER 26, 2017, Palmer Trinity hosted an alumni reunion in New York City. Alumni from the New York area were able to network with each other and reconnect with the school. It was a great night to catch up with old friends and make new ones in New York City.

Michael Vega-Sanz and Matthew Vega-Sanz, developed and launched an ingenious and revolutionary business while in college! “Lula” is an app that allows people, particularly college students, to “rent out” their vehicles while they’re not using them in order to earn extra money. The concept is similar to Airbnb, but for cars.

The brothers have big plans for their business and hope to bring it to the Miami area and even expand it to include boats and motorhomes.

2015

CLASS AGENT

Keenan Rodriguez keenanrodriguez10@gmail.com Isabella N. Ruiz isabellaruiz1029@gmail.com Hannah Domit spent the summer after graduating from Palmer Trinity and before beginning college in NYU obsessing over New York Instagram food bloggers. She was so excited to try all the food in NYC that she created a huge list of restaurants to visit upon her arrival. Once she arrived in New York she began her food exploration, which led to the start of her blog, Hannaeats. Hanna was born in Mexico City, grew up in Miami, and is now based in

Above — Carolina Mallar; Lexi Leira 62

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NYC; so she enjoys showcasing different cultures through her blog. She urges her 4,000+ followers to try new foods and explore culinary corners of the city they may otherwise not come upon.

2016

CLASS AGENT NEEDED

Lexi Leira writes, “I am currently majoring in Writing, Literature, and Publishing with a concentration in Publishing at Emerson College. I am involved with Emerson’s Undergraduate Students for Publishing as the club secretary and assistant treasurer. I am a prose reader for Concrete Literary Magazine, and a staff writer for Emerson’s chapter of Her Campus. I am also currently editorial intern with Rubin Pfeffer Content.”

Carolina Mallar writes, “I am a sophomore at the University of Miami, double-majoring in biology and English Literature.

I also have two minors. My minors are Psychology and Chemistry. I am on the premed track and a member of the pre-medical fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon. I am also a Girl Scout Troop Leader and the chair of the Pediatric Advisory Council at Kendall Regional Medical Center.”

2017

CLASS AGENT

MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY

Palmer Trinity is an Episcopal school dedicated to promoting academic excellence and inspiring students to lead lives of virtue, humanity, and spirit.

Providing a supportive, inclusive environment for students, we emphasize academic distinction, ethical global citizenship, and character. As members of the greater community, we inspire students to lead lives of honor and social responsibility. Palmer Trinity School is committed to diversity and includes students with a range of academic interests, as well as students from diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.

The Aerie is published yearly by Palmer Trinity School for Alumni, parents, grandparents, students and friends. The e-newsletter informs the community of campus events and student and faculty accomplishments.

Send story ideas or comments to avalentin@palmertrinity.org or scalleja@palmertrinity.org.

Palmer Trinity School offers a full-service website, www.palmertrinity.org, where you can 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-newsletter and Aerie magazines online.

Special thanks to Brand Poets (www.brandpoets.com), a strategic design and brand innovation company, who continues to take the image of Palmer Trinity School to the next level.

Gabriella Cepeda gabync99@gmail.com

AERIE

PRESIDENT OF PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Vivian More-Cortinas

SUMMER 2018

PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mason Harris ‘89

Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017–2018

Savanah Milton writes, “Currently I’m a part of the ballroom dance, fencing, astronomy, cooking, and woodturning clubs at Colgate.

Last semester my favorite class was one called Lost Languages and Decipherments.

I’m mostly studying History and Archaeology, as well as German and Latin.”

Alexa Garcia writes, “I’m at Vanderbilt University planning to major in Medicine, Health and Society. I’m taking really

difficult Biology and Chemistry classes, but balancing them out with things I enjoy like a Nonfiction Writing Workshop and General Psychology. I’m truly grateful to have graduated from Palmer Trinity because it is the place where I developed my work ethic and learned to manage my time. This lets me continue to enroll in challenging

courses while still playing club volleyball and being a part of various organizations like Relay for Life, Project Sunshine, and many others.”

Sara Rose Aronfeld writes, “I am currently involved in studying International Relations in London. I am planning on taking Arabic classes.”

Michael Baiamonte, Chairman Hugo Mantilla, Vice-Chair Beth Brockway Serrate ‘85, Secretary Charles Klenk, Treasurer

MANAGING EDITOR

Ashley Valentin

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS

Claudia Storper Vickie Berg

Jeffrey S. Bass Rev. Frank J. Corbishley Bishop Peter Eaton John D. Fumagalli Jared Kaplan Lynne Keller Tina Lane Rachel Malueg Camilo Montana Marcel Navarro Sonia O’Donnell Alejandro Rodriguez Jesus Socorro Harvey B. Sperling Jack Brumbaugh (Trustee Emeritus) William Morrison (Trustee Emeritus)

DESIGN

Brand Poets ADMINISTRATION

Head of School Patrick Roberts Head of Upper School Ashley Chapman Head of Middle School Peter Tolmach Chaplain Mary Ellen Cassini Associate Head for External Relations Danny Reynolds Associate Head for Academic Affairs Manjula Salomon Associate Head for Communications and Strategic Partnerships Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Associate Head for Real Estate Paul Zamek Chief Financial Officer Jose Chao Academic Dean Adrianna Truby Director of Athletics Ernest Robertson Director of Student Activities Susana Cetta Director of Parent Relations Denise Gallardo Director of Technology Gus Sabogal Registrar Vivian Cerione Executive Assistant to Head of School Susie Loiacono Special Events Chriss Wood

Left to right — Alexa Garcia; Sarah Aronfeld; Savanah Milton PA RENT S, A LUMNI A ND FRIEND S OF PA L MER TRINIT Y SCHOOL

SUMMER 2018

In Memoriam

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Our deepest condolences, prayers, and thoughts are with the extended families and friends of these members of our Alumni family, and all those who lost loved ones.

David Beckham Visits PTS

Director of Development Juan Gomez Director of Annual Giving George Montes Director of Alumni Relations Alexandra Cartaya Development Assistant Terri Agress Development Assistant Marilyn Klenk

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK.COM/PALMERTRINITYSCHOOL

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN

Alumni Profiles

ZACH KORTH ‘05 + ANGELA GUZMAN ‘02

Marty Migliaccio

CELEBRATING 37 YEARS OF TEACHING

ON THE COVER

Jing Ma with fellow art students drawing in Mrs. Wood’s class.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

@PALMERTRINITY

LINKEDIN.COM (SEARCH “PALMER TRINITY SCHOOL NETWORK”)

Alexandra Noghaven ‘09 passed away on August 16, 2017 unexpectedly while vacationing in Mexico City with her sister Genevieve Del Sol. She is survived by her mother, Anne Jackaway, and sister, Sibyll Noghaven.

Sarah Fernandez-Mendoza ‘95 passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on November 15, 2017 after battling cancer for 6 years. Sarah is survived by her husband, Sergio Andres Mendoza, and her children Sergio Michael and Anais Carmen.

J. Walter Fribourg Jr. ‘84 passed away on October 29, 2017 surrounded by his family in West Palm Beach, Florida after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his devoted wife, Tracey Fribourg, and son JJ Fribourg.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

@PALMERTRINITY

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE

PTSFANPAGE

SHARE YOUR STORY Contact Director of Alumni Relations, Alexandra Cartaya, at acartaya@palmertrinity.org or (305) 969-4282 SUMMER 2018

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8001 SOUTHWEST 184 STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 3315 7 www.palmertrinity.org

David Beckham Visits PTS Alumni Profiles

ZACH KORTH ‘05 AND ANGELA GUZMAN ‘02

Faculty at Palmer Trinity

Marty Migliaccio

CELEBRATING 37 YEARS OF TEACHING

SUMMER 2018