Issuu

PA RENT S, A LUMNI A ND FRIEND S OF PA L MER TRINIT Y SCHOOL

THE BLESSING OF TRINITY CHAPEL

SUMMER 202 2

ALUMNI PROFILES HORACIO RODRIGUEZ ‘00 CURTIS LARY ‘17

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! CLASS OF 2022

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 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 the 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.

AERIE

PRESIDENT OF PARENTS ASSOCIATION

SUMMER 2022

Helida Dodd

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja

Brian Gershen ‘98

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Blanca Morales

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021-2022 Marcel Navarro, Chairman

DESIGN

Jesus Socorro, Vice-Chair

Brand Poets

Elizabeth Bacardi, Secretary Jared Kaplan, Treasurer

COPY EDITING Jennifer Agress, Lois Chumbley, Adrianna Truby

Rev. Frank J. Corbishley Patricia Cornish

PHOTOGRAPHY

Vivian More Cortinas

Suzanne Calleja, Anthony McFarlane, Blanca Morales, Claudia Storper

Bishop Peter Eaton Emilio Fernandez

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Lynne Keller

Head of School Patrick Roberts Director of Financial Aid and Sr. Associate Director of Admission Giovanna Arrien Upper School Dean of Students Brook De Melo Gomes Associate Head of School for Communications and Strategic Partnerships Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Director of Alumni Relations Alex Cartaya Chaplain Rev. Dr. Mary Ellen Cassini Sr. Associate Director of College Counseling Ashley Armato Director of Student Activities Susana Cetta Chief Financial Officer Jose Chao Head of Upper School Ashley Chapman Registrar Amy Duarte Director of Parent Relations Denise Gallardo Director of Development Juan Gomez Director of Athletics Dave Lanham Director of Environmental Stewardship Leo Llinás Executive Assistant to Head of School Laura Marandino Director of Annual Fund George Montes School Counselor Adrianna Munoz Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Ashley Armato, Monifa Kelsey, Aldo Regalado Associate Head of School for External Relations Danny Reynolds Director of Technology Gus Sabogal Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs Manjula Salomon Middle School Dean of Students Noël Schael Head of Middle School Peter Tolmach Advisory Coordinator Micah Whitley Associate Head of School for Operations & Real Estate Paul Zamek

Rachel Malueg

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK.COM/PALMERTRINITYSCHOOL

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN

Philip Serrate Kim Vinas Russell Wilson Patrick Roberts (Trustee Ex Officio) Michael Baiamonte (Trustee Emeritus) Jack Brumbaugh (Trustee Emeritus) William Morrison (Trustee Emeritus)

ON THE COVER Celebrating Palmer Trinity’s 50 years in pictures

@PALMERTRINITY

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

@PALMERTRINITY

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE

PTSFANPAGE

HEAD OF SCHOOL MESSAGE THIS PAST YEAR, our Faculty and Staff engaged in some wonderful discussions around the simple, yet incredibly profound story, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse. Written and illustrated by Charlie Mackery, the tale is one centered around a number of powerful themes, including friendship, the importance and need for kindness, and the power of community— being together, celebrating our common humanity, and, well, simply moving through life with a positive outlook and a genuine appreciation for the small things— such as, in this case, the Mole’s particular affinity for sweet cake! Without retelling the story—and, if you haven’t read it, do so today—I must admit that it captures much of the sentiment I feel right now, at the time of this writing. As we conclude what has been a banner year, and as I reflect upon all of our accomplishments in this historic, 50th celebration year, I could not be more proud, or more grateful. In this particular issue of the Aerie, so many of our tangible accomplishments are highlighted. I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy reading about the incredible progress we have made as a School in this historic 50th year, which includes, but is certainly not limited to: record-setting admissions and enrollment, completion of our most transformative capital campaign to date, continued excellence in

college counseling, high marks in our Annual Fund, the formal implementation of our International Baccalaureate program, noteworthy athletic and academic achievements, extensive and global student service, mesmerizing musical and theater performances, newly introduced traditions, and signature events, and more. What might not be captured, in writing, at least, are the “nonquantifiables”—the often quiet, and unseen moments in which a sense of pride forms; a challenge is overcome and confidence is gained; a meaningful time of reflection occurs; a spark of a new idea begins; a new way of seeing things develops; or, maybe most importantly, a new friendship takes hold. As I compose this piece today, it is the official “Last Day of School”—a day in which we will meet as a Faculty and Staff, and “close the books”, so to speak. Today, Summer will begin. It is also the day after our Closing Exercise for our 8th -grade students. And, in what has become a wonderful new tradition, each soonto-be graduate of the Middle School is given an 8th Grade Annual—a collection of statements made by every class member, sharing their favorite memory from their Middle School experience. Accordingly, I have just finished reading all of the heartfelt statements, and one thing stands clear: our students are creating and building lifelong

relationships. These ever-evolving young adults are gaining confidence in themselves and each other, and are learning what it means to be a good partner and member of the community. These newly introduced Falcon high schoolers are also garnering a new appreciation for the significant and life-changing value of friendship, and what it means to be a good partner and peer. And, so, I believe Mackery’s work could just as easily apply to our Palmer Trinity Community, and experience, for as these testimonials prove, we are helping to provide the framework for meaningful, lifechanging moments and relationships to happen. Our Mission calls for such commitment, and we are reminded to recognize the importance of these “non-quantifiables”. As is our mantra, we will continue to encourage our students and the greater community to Lead with Love, and will heed the sage advice of Mr. Mackery: “I’ve realized why we are here”, whispered the Boy. “For cake?” asked the Mole. “To Love”, said the Boy.

CONTENTS BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Welcome to the New Board of Trustee Members

Honoring Senior Athletes

Taking Flight: Retiring Faculty

The Future of Art Making

PTPA News / PTS Theater

Introducing The Gold Standard Breakfast Club

News Around Campus

Sailing into a Bright Future

Highlights of the Past 50 Years

Flying High

New School Year, New Building

BTS@PTS

PERSPECTIVES Hydroponics

A New Aqua Lab at PTS

Becoming Palmer Trinity’s First Female Football Player

Nature and the Human Spirit

A New Asset Class

Sustainable Development

Hope of a Bright Future

IB Diploma Program at Palmer Trinity

50 Years of Serving the Community

EVENTS

Game On: Homecoming is Back

‘Tis the Season: PTS Christmas Tree Lighting

Founders’ Forum

The Blessing of Trinity Chapel

Volunteer Appreciation

Class of 2022

Palmer Trinity Becomes a Purple Heart School

50 Anniversary Gala

Sandy Golf & Tennis Tournament 2022

ALUMNI NEWS Class Notes

We Love Our Graduates

Global Perspectives: Falcons Around the World

Alumni Games

Alumni Legacy Breakfast 2021

Alumni Mentoring Program

Alumni Leadership Donors

Alumni Reunion 2021

In Memoriam: Manuela Flores

Athletic Hall of Fame

2021 Alumni Awards

Alumni Profiles Horacio Rodriguez, Class of 2000

Curtis Lary, Class of 2017

DEPARTMENTS

Head of School Message

Letter from the Editor

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR “ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE; TOGETHER, WE CAN DO SO MUCH.” – HELEN KELLER So much has changed during my 17 years at Palmer Trinity School. We expanded our campus, built a chapel, constructed new classroom buildings, and added athletic fields. Thanks to Head of School, Patrick Roberts, we have started new traditions, such as Lessons and Carols, the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, Bows and Bowties, and the Gala. We have added the International Baccalaureate to our curriculum and are a part of Round Square. We have watched students fly from our Falcon nest into the real world becoming alumni, making a difference in their new communities much as they did here. Now, here we are celebrating Palmer Trinity School’s 50th Anniversary. From two schools (Palmer Prep and Trinity Episcopal) with a combined 300 students to an almost 60-acre campus housing one of South Florida’s foremost independent, coed private schools. What our cherished institution has become in the last halfcentury is a testament to the hard work, extreme generosity, and unfailing love of our PTS students, families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends. We are more than a school community; we are a family. And together, we are formidable. This year alone is proof of our resilience. After two years of uncertainty, we were excited to be able to welcome our students and faculty back on campus, fully in-person and mask-optional. We had our 8th Grade Dance, Prom, and of course Graduation—important milestones our students could not celebrate fully in 2020 and 2021. On page 54, you can read about the return of our legendary Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament, which raised $100,000 for the Sandy Block Financial Aid Fund. In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we held our first-ever black-tie Gala at The Biltmore, raising $240,000 for the Capital Campaign (See photos from it on pages 52 and 53). We were thrilled to launch our International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) this year, which Manjula Salomon, Associate Head of Academics and Global Scholar in Residence, and Orlando Sarduy, IB Program Coordinator, talk about in detail on page 38. We were able to accomplish great achievements with care because of the attention to community safety and each person’s commitment to the Falcon Pledge. After two years of isolation, the faculty and staff value any opportunity to once again be face-to-face with our community, and that includes all of you. Thank you for being such an integral part of the Palmer Trinity School family and for allowing our students to share their daily life with us.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Enjoy this special issue of the Aerie, celebrating 50 years of Palmer Trinity School. I can’t wait to see what the next 50 will bring.

SUZANNE GOTTLIEB CALLEJA

Associate Head of School for Communications and Strategic Partnerships

WELCOME TO THE NEW

BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS LYNLEY WALKER CIOROBEA is a licensed real estate agent and is one of the top-ranking realtors at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty in Coral Gables. She also has a background in advertising and marketing. Ciorobea is committed to serving the community. In addition to her recent appointment to the PTS board of trustees, she was also a past president and founding member of the school’s alumni association. She serves as trusteeship chair of the executive board for St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School; is on the board of trustees for Kieve Wavus Education, a nonprofit summer camp and year-round educational organization in Maine; and has served as a volunteer to interview applicants for Duke University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. She and her husband and two sons live in South Miami. RICHARD ALLEN GRILLO is executive vice president, general counsel and owner of Miami Regional University (MRU) in Miami Springs. Prior to MRU, he was an employment litigation and appeals attorney at the Broward County Attorney’s Office and served on the canvassing board on election laws and the human rights board. Grillo also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve for more than 15 years. His community involvement includes the Peter T. Fay American Inns of Court, Cub Scouts leadership and hosting charitable fundraising events through MRU. Grillo earned his law degree at St. Thomas University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Grillo is a resident of Palmetto Bay with his wife Lara, a fellow PTS alum, and their three young children. DANIEL DIAZ LEY VA, ESQ. is managing partner and co-founder of the boutique law practice Diaz Leyva Group where he supports clients in the areas of real estate and lending. He also serves as outside general counsel advising clients on legal matters across their daily business affairs. In addition to the PTS board of trustees, Diaz Leyva also serves on the board of the Palmer Trinity Alumni Association and is the recipient of a Head of School Alumni Award for his distinguished service to the community. Previously, he served on the Board of Trustees of Miami Dade College and helped establish and served as the executive director of the US chapter of the Consejo Empresarial de América Latina (CEAL), an organization that promotes economic development throughout Latin America. He has also served on the board of directors of Anthem Bank & Trust, Florida Health Choices, CHARLEE Homes for Children, Banyan Health Systems, Latin Builders Association, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, and the University of Miami Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies. Diaz Leyva holds a law degree from the St. Thomas University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami. He lives between Colorado and Florida with his wife Cristina and their two children. DOUGLAS ROTHFELDT is a private wealth management advisor at Goldman Sachs where he counsels entrepreneurs, families, foundations and private companies. He serves on Palmer Trinity School’s Alumni Board and as chairman of the board of the Boulevard Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit investment fund. A graduate of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Edwin L. Cox School of Business where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in finance, all gains from the nonprofit’s investing are donated back to the SMU Cox School of Business BBA Scholars Program to help fund annual BBA scholarships awarded to incoming freshman business students. During his time at SMU, Rothfeldt attended an honors analyst program co-managing the Ann Rife Cox Endowment. Additionally, he completed the International Business Program at Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo, Brazil. 5

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

s n o c l a f r e v e for HONORING SENIOR ATHLETES

ISMAEL ALVAREZ 4 Years Cross Country 2 Years Track & Field 1 Year Lacrosse

HANNAH BARON 4 Years Softball 1 Year Winter Cheer

NATALIE BELL ANDE 4 Years Soccer

JOSE ANTONIO CORREA 4 Years Tennis

GABRIELL A DORTA 4 Years Cross Country 4 Years Track & Field

TESS ANDERSON 1 Year Fall Cheer

BIANCA BARROSO 4 Years Fall Cheer 4 Years Winter Cheer 2 Years Softball

ROBERT CAPO 2 Years Soccer

THOMAS COSTA 4 Years Lacrosse 3 Years Football 1 Year Winter Cheer

ALEJANDRO ELWAW 3 Years Tennis 1 Year Golf

GABRIEL A CRUZ 4 Years Volleyball

ESTEBAN ESPINOZA 2 Years Soccer 1 Year Baseball

CHRISTINA DELGADO 2 Years Lacrosse

ALEX FUMAGALLI 2 Years Basketball

JACK DODDS 2 Years Lacrosse 1 Year Cross Country 1 Year Track & Field

MA XIMILIEN GESLIN 3 Years Golf 1 Year Soccer 1 Year Tennis

SOPHIA ARRIEN 2 Years Winter Cheer 1 Year Fall Cheer 1 Year Cross Country 1 Year Track & Field

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ISABELL A ARTZE 1 Year Fall Cheer 1 Year Lacrosse 1 Year Softball 1 Year Winter Cheer

OLIVIA ASSALONE 4 Years Track & Field

CL ARE LEWIS BATTAGLIA 6 Years Lacrosse 3 Years Winter Cheer

MATTHEW BAUER 4 Years Football 4 Years Lacrosse

LUCAS BAYAS 3 Years Soccer 1 Year Tennis

NINA CHEHAB 1 Year Winter Cheer

BL AKE COBO 3 Years Lacrosse 1 Year Basketball

TIFFANI COOPER 4 Years Fall Cheer 4 Years Winter Cheer 1 Year Lacrosse 1 Year Softball

MARCO GONZALEZ 1 Year Basketball 1 Year Lacrosse

DAMANI HENDRICKS 3 Years Track & Field 1 Year Basketball

NICHOL AS HERNANDEZ 2 Years Basketball

LOURDES INFANTE 2 Years Winter Cheer 1 Years Fall Cheer 1 Year Lacrosse

ANA JIMENEZ 1 Year Fall Cheer 1 Year Track & Field 1 Year Winter Cheer

LUNA K ARSHIS 4 Years Fall Cheer 4 Years Winter Cheer 1 Year Track & Field

BROSNAN LOPEZ 4 Years Lacrosse 2 Years Basketball 2 Years Football

SOPHIA KIORTSIS 4 Years Lacrosse 2 Years Winter Cheer

CAROLINA LOPEZ 2 Years Winter Cheer 1 Year Fall Cheer

ALESSANDR A L ANZ 3 Years Golf 1 Year Lacrosse

HERMOGENES LOPEZ-PULIDO 4 Years Soccer 1 Year Tennis

JESSICA LEATHE 5 Years Soccer 1 Year Track & Field

ANDRE MALHA 3 Years Soccer

LUCAS LEON 4 Years Lacrosse

COLIN MAR ANDINO 4 Years Lacrosse

MARCOS LEON 3 Years Football 2 Years Lacrosse 2 Years Soccer

T YLER McCR AY 3 Years Basketball 1 Year Track & Field

ERNEST ROBERTSON, III 4 Years Football 3 Years Basketball 3 Years Track & Field

WILLIAM M c INTOSH 2 Years Soccer

MA XIMUS MONTEPEQUE 2 Years Cross Country

GARRETT McNAMAR A 3 Years Lacrosse 1 Year Cross Country

MARIA MUNILL A 4 Years Tennis 2 Years Volleyball 2 Years Winter Cheer

VIRGINIA McNAMAR A 1 Year Lacrosse

SOPHIA NAZIAZENI 2 Years Lacrosse 2 Years Winter Cheer 1 Year Fall Cheer

MINNIE ELLE RUZYCKI 1 Year Softball

MICHAEL NIROOMAND-R AD 2 Years Lacrosse 1 Year Basketball 1 Year Football

SINAYA SAR AH SADLER 4 Years Softball 3 Years Fall Cheer 3 Years Winter Cheer

SOPHIA MILIAN 2 Years Volleyball

BRITTNEY MILLS 3 Years Soccer 1 Year Football 1 Year Lacrosse

ALEJANDRO MIYASAK A 3 Years Soccer

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ 4 Year Lacrosse

ANDREW SONDON 4 Years Baseball

GEORGE STARK 4 Years Cross Country 4 Years Track & Field

ALEJANDRO STORPER 5 Years Cross Country 5 Years Track & Field

FELIPE TOBIAS 2 Years Soccer

BR ANDON POTTINGER 2 Years Track & Field 1 Year Basketball

FR ANCESCA SALVATO 4 Years Tennis

DANIELLE WEINBERGER 4 Years Tennis 2 Years Volleyball 1 Year Soccer

THOMAS RINCON 4 Years Soccer

SIENNA SIEGEL 4 Years Soccer

CAROLINE ZAMEK Seven Years Softball 7

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

TA K ING FL IGH T RE TIRING FACULT Y MEMBERS WRIT TEN BY BL ANCA MOR ALES, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

“Birds of a feather flock together” is an old proverb that is often used to describe unity among people. Part of the English language for centuries, this popular saying captures the spirit of our Palmer Trinity School community. As we bid farewell to six outstanding members of our faculty and staff, each of whom came from all over the world, we honor the endless list of positive contributions they made to our community. While these forever Falcons have taken flight to new horizons, one fact remains: The Palmer Trinity School community will always be their “flock.” Here are the beloved faculty and staff who retired this year.

JEAN “DANNY” AUGUSTIN World Languages Faculty; Middle School French AT PTS SINCE 2018. What did you love most about working at PTS? // The harmony in the language department, the support from administration, and the crisis response from the entire Palmer Trinity School community. What’s next? // I will be moving to the Dominican Republic to relax and blend in with the locals. I plan to visit many cities throughout the country and visit other islands in the Caribbean as well.

LOIS CHUMBLEY Library Assistant, Substitute Coordinator; School Bus Coordinator AT PTS SINCE 2006. What did you love most about working at PTS? // I love so many things about working here. I love that I could be here when my children were students and I could watch from the sidelines as they grew and blossomed. I love having the comradery and friends I have here. I love being around the students, watching them mature from sixth graders to seniors. Mostly, I love that my coworkers and friends are so kind and willing to pitch in when difficult situations arise. I love that this place is my family. My only regret is that I didn’t work here longer. What’s next? // I will be moving this summer to Hendersonville, NC to begin the next chapter. I will play a lot of golf, go to breweries with my hubby, sleep in, and chill with my dogs.

CLINT JONES Physical Education; Trainer PALMERTRINITY.ORG

AT PTS SINCE 1998.

What did you love most about working at PTS? // The students—I can’t find a better reason than that. What’s next? // I will be moving to Charlotte, where I will start the next adventure: teaching golf.

TRINIDAD RITTENHOUSE World Languages Department Chair, Upper School Spanish AT PTS SINCE 2005. What did you love most about working at PTS? // For me, Palmer Trinity School was love at first sight. What I love most is the friendly and happy atmosphere we share and the appreciation from our community. Warm, loving, and respectful students and very professional colleagues who enriched my life as both a person and teacher. For 17 years, I have been driving 70 miles a day from Broward to work at my “home away from home.” I can always be myself here. PTS has not been a job, but a life. I have made friends that feel like family. What’s next? // I am staying in the area. I dream of living a life without so many schedules and instead live it at my own pace. I want to continue doing things I already enjoy, like volunteering and traveling more, and dedicate time to my creative side by designing jewelry and beading with pearls and stones again. I absolutely love creating things with my hands and teaching people how to do it themselves! Creating enlivens the brain. This September, I am already planning to walk the last 100 kilometers of the ¨Camino de Santiago¨ pilgrimage in Spain. I truly look forward to my next steps!

ROSELYNE PIRSON World Languages Faculty; French Heritage; Honor Council Director; IB French AT PTS SINCE 2015. What did you love most about working at PTS? // I loved getting the opportunity to meet colleagues with so many different backgrounds, both academically and culturally; working with students who are enthusiastic about learning; being part of the IB pilot program; and, last but not least, getting married in the school’s luxurious courtyard. What’s next? // I am moving to Spello, Italy—just 10 kilometers from Assisi.I will rest for a year, and if all goes well, I will go back to college to study Italian Literature.

MANJULA SALOMON Associate Head of School for Academics; Global Scholar in Residence AT PTS SINCE 2014. What did you love most about working at PTS? // I’m a teacher first and foremost. However, I really loved the invitation to assist the school in its quest to become globalized through Round Square, Global Connections, and the International Baccalaureate program. We’re all global now. What’s next? //I’m going to my house in Massachusetts, which sits on a lake, to enjoy an American summer. Later this fall, I will go to India to sell property, start up my businesses after the COVID-19 pandemic, and see my extended family.

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

THE FUTURE OF A R T- M A K I N G : HOW TECHNOLOGY IS E XPANDING CRE ATIVIT Y

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

BY SANDI WOOD, VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR

TRADITIONAL ART FORMS such as painting and ceramics will always hold their rightful place in the Palmer Trinity art classrooms. However, digital art is quickly becoming an exciting alternative that many feel is the future of art-making. Student artists, with the help of digital technologies, are expanding their horizons wider than ever before as digital art has changed the way students can now express themselves through art.

Purists might question the value of digital art, perhaps thinking it requires less skill than other art forms. It is important to note, then, that digital art-making requires the same understanding of the elements and principles of design and the fundamentals of creative imagemaking. It simply allows students a greater freedom with which to utilize these skills. When I began teaching at PTS in 2006, I was surprised to find that our laptop school had courses like drawing, painting and mixed media – but there was no digital art class. I set about formulating a curriculum centered on what I had been taught in art school, and began offering digital art the very next year. The new course focused mainly on two objectives: to learn basic digital photography skills and to make interesting and beautiful photo collages using Adobe Photoshop. When I became Chair of the department in 2013, I was excited to help the department grow and develop in many ways. We’ve transitioned from single-material courses to integrative classes such as Studio Art. The digital art class, however, remained relatively unchanged. Last year, two of my AP Art students who specialize in Digital Art won top prizes at the prestigious Beaux Arts Student Artist Showcase. JOSEPH POLO ‘23 won Best in Show and JULIANNA CUEVO ‘21 won First Place in the Digital Art category. As I watched my AP Art students move away from traditional methods and materials, and more toward expressive art making through digital means, it became clear to me that our digital art class would need to “keep up with the times.” Graphic design, CGI movies and video games are billion dollar industries that need creative people well-versed in their digital languages. Digital art is also profoundly altering the contemporary art scene—just look at the arrival of NFTs at Art Basel! Considering all of this, I asked some of my AP Art students to come and share their experiences and techniques with my Digital Art class, so that they could inspire those just starting out on the art journey. The Digital Art class now creates projects based on assignments normally created through traditional means, but instead of an analogue paint brush, they are using a digital one. top / “The Creator” by Joseph Polo ‘23, 2021 Beaux Arts SAS Linda Pallot Best in Show Award winner bottom / “Parallel,” Juliana Cueva ‘21, 2021 Beaux Arts SAS First Place High School Digital Art winner 11

W EL L DONE

Falcon Dads Club Provides Food and Fun

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

New to the Palmer Trinity Parent Association (PTPA) this year is the Falcon Dads Club. These grill master dads gather regularly to socialize, network and support various PTS events. The group works closely with the Spirit Committee to support events including athletics and visual and performing arts. This year, Falcon Dad Club made their debut by grilling burgers and hot dogs at athletic and music events, as well as other activities.

To join the Falcon Dads Club or volunteer at one of our many PTPA committees, please contact Director of Parent Relations Denise Gallardo at dgallardo@palmertrinity.org.

P T S T HE AT ER

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

PTPA NEWS

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER”

For this year’s spring production, approximately 75 students were involved in bringing High School Musical to life. Students worked hard to not “stick to the status quo” by presenting a new twist to the 2006 Disney classic. The cast and crew, which included RICARDO ALZETTA ‘22 and JULIA DA COSTA ‘26 as leads, spotlighted the cult favorite’s scheming sibling duo, a surprise appearance by faculty member Michael Stoddard as Ms. Darbus, and of course, plenty of awkward teenage moments. The performance took place at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center with close to 1,000 patrons in attendance.

In addition to High School Musical, this year’s lineup also featured student-led performances in the PTS Studio Theater presented by the Advanced Production Class. “Alex,” written by AVA-RILEY MILES ‘22 is about the experience of a high school girl who discovers herself through poetry. “Vanities,” directed by LAURA FURNISS-ROE ‘22, with lighting design and stage management by seniors, is the story of three friends as they journey from high school to adulthood and all the complications of relationships.

. . . g n i c u d o r Int

THE GOL D S TA NDA RD BREAKFAST CLUB In fall 2021, a new club was formed at PTS: The Gold Standard Breakfast Club. Manny Bloom, who joined PTS this year as Middle School P.E. Teacher and Boys Basketball Coach, was inspired by the steps the Harvard University Men’s Basketball team and USA Basketball took to turn their players into strong leaders. Centered around five standards—positivity, servant leadership, work ethic, leadership, and character—The Gold Standard Breakfast Club meets monthly to discuss and teach young athletes skills that will serve them both on and off the field or court. “We formed this group at PTS to help student athletes become great members of the community, both now and in the future,” said Coach Bloom. “As we continue to add speakers and more great topics, we hope the group continues to expand to other departments.” Helping them become these outstanding individuals are none other than our stellar PTS

Alumni and community. The students have heard a variety of speakers throughout the year, including Head of School Patrick Roberts, Steve Bloom, Alumni LYNLEY CIOROBEA ‘96 and DANIEL DIAZ LEY VA ‘98, and both a faculty and student panel. “The Gold Standard Breakfast Club has given me a sense of direction both on and off the court, and it has done the same for younger teammates who will keep representing PTS long after we leave,” said ALEX FUMAGALLI ‘22. For some student athletes, this club feels like yet another opportunity to bond with their teammates and greater Palmer Trinity School community. “It’s really enjoyable to learn more about the people you see and don’t see everyday,” said ROBBIE ROBERTSON ‘22. Gathering around a table, eating together, and hearing from individuals who are wiser and have more experience “feels like a family reunion.”

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

News Around Campus FORWARD THINKING:

UPDATES ON C AMPUS In keeping up with the times, Palmer Trinity has added new elements to continue to modernize campus. Three Electric Vehicle charging stations are now located near the MDR, an ideal location for both visitors and faculty members alike. We also introduced Turf Tank, a robotic field painter designed to autonomously mark all sports fields on campus, making PTS among the first schools in south Florida to use one.

S TAT E OF T HE A R T: FACULT Y SPACES With the addition of the Student Life building came a new opportunity: a gallery in each faculty lounge. Both spaces on campus—one located in Shafer Hall and the other in the Student Life building— were revamped with cafe-style seating, and each features art by faculty and staff, which includes paintings, photography, ceramics and even rod thread art.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ON YOUR FEET

Eighth-grader, K ATERINA MORIN, was cast as young Gloria Estefan in the musical “On Your Feet” which played at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre from February 9– March 6, 2022. “Katerina is one of the most dedicated and professional students we have here at Palmer Trinity School. Whether playing a lead role or rehearsing for a thespian piece, she puts her heart and soul into it and achieves greatness through preparation, responsibility and a singing voice that exceeds most 40-yearold singers,” shared Michael Stoddard, performing arts and theater instructor. Katerina says, “PTS prepared me to pursue my goals in musical theater because the theater community is so loving, accepting, and supportive.”

PTS WINS THE FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE We are proud to announce that the Middle School science department won first place at the Fairchild Challenge! There were over 200 schools from all over South Florida participating this year. In the middle school category, out of 62 registered schools, we were recognized as the top-scoring overall and were presented for the very first time with the Gold Award and a cash prize of $1,500 to support and enhance environmental activities at PTS. Palmer Trinity School was also awarded the Fairchild Challenge Bronze Award at their annual ceremony for high school. Thanks to Ms. Zurcher, Ms. Metzler, Mr. Apanovitch, Ms. Lamiell, Dr. Llinás, and the brilliant guidance of Ms. Chu, the school was able to complete all eight challenges. Ms. Chu, in particular, was invaluable and credited for spearheading and encouraging all involved. Congratulations to everyone!

CAMIL A GOMES ‘23 EARNS 202 2 SCHOL ASTIC AWARD Since 1923, the Scholastic Awards have recognized some of America’s most celebrated artists when they were teenagers. They are now proud to count CAMILA GOMES ‘23 among their esteemed group of alumni which include Andy Warhol, Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Kay Walkingstick. Camila’s essay/memoir entitled, “rain, birds, and broken windows,” won a Silver Key Award for the Region-at-Large program of the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

BOUNCING BACK:

MIDDLE SCHOOL GARDEN After a COVID hiatus, the sixth grade garden is up and running again this academic year. Students were excited to dig in and plant their basil seeds along with peppers, eggplants, parsley, cilantro, strawberry, and tulsi in nine garden beds. The middle school garden began in the Fall of 2018 as a means to teach sixth graders about the natural world. To make the most of the space on campus, the science department sought ways to create meaningful experiences for our students. In 2020, the school successfully partnered with Commodore Hospitality Group and their restaurants Farinelli 1937 and Strada in the Grove to supply them with organically grown produce. 15

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

SAILING BRIGHT FUTURE INTO A

BY MICHELE BAKER BENESCH ‘89, P’24,’27

Palmer Trinity isn’t just soaring to a brighter future…it’s sailing to it too! Yes, that is correct. Palmer Trinity now has a competitive high school sailing team that just wrapped up a successful inaugural year. The Palmer Trinity High School Sailing Team is a co-ed team open to grades 9–12. The PTS High School Sailing Team started its first competitive season this academic year out of the U.S. Sailing Center in Coconut Grove with a fleet of two 420 sailing vessels, a coach boat and a core team of 5 sailors: BRAYDEN BENESCH ‘24, IGNACIO DELHIERRO ‘25, CARLOS ROIG ‘24, MARIANNA STOL ‘23 and REECE WEBER ‘24. They competed in 8 regattas in Miami, St Pete, Sarasota, New Orleans, Clearwater, Jensen Beach and Davis Island and although didn’t qualify to attend the National Championship Regatta, they finished the season very strong.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

SAILING 101

High school sailing started in 1930 in New England. Today it is experiencing tremendous growth throughout the United States with over 500,000 registered youth sailors competing in the United States. At the national level high school sailing is governed by the Interscholastic Sailing Association, known as the ISSA, and each high school sailing team must be a member of ISSA to compete in high school regattas. The ISSA is broken down into 7 districts, Palmer Trinity is a part of the South Atlantic District, known as the SAISA, which encompasses Florida (except the panhandle), Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Northern Alabama and islands in the Caribbean. There are currently 80 schools as active members of the SAISA.

To understand why and how Palmer Trinity started a high school sailing team, you have to go back to a few years—back to 1984 when MICHELE BAKER ‘89 and BRENT BAKER ‘91 started attending Palmer Preparatory school. That’s when their parents, Don and Rita Baker, became involved with the Palmer School Booster program. Don and Rita volunteered, donated, and made many other contributions to enhance the Palmer community. They were honored with a lifetime membership to the Palmer School Booster Club and their name is still listed on the board featured in the Palmer Trinity Hall of Fame.

Fast forward a few decades, and Michele, along with her husband Scott Benesch, are thrilled to watch their children, BRAYDEN BENESCH ‘24, and KYLA BENESCH ‘27 enjoy and thrive on the same grounds, albeit triple in size, she once did. When Rita passed away, Michele remembered how much her mother loved her time with Palmer’s students, faculty and parents. She also knew her children were passionate and very competitive about sailing. For this reason, Michele took the inheritance she received upon Rita’s death to offer the school a sailing program. ENHANCING PALMER TRINITY’S AUXILIARY PROGRAM The program aims to enhance students’ lives, and expand the school’s auxiliary program. Moreover, it can help seniors be more attractive to prospective colleges. Sailing is a program in which 35 top colleges and universities have fully funded varsity programs and 165 colleges and universities have club programs. So why sailing versus another activity? “There is no better feeling than being on the water in Biscayne Bay with friends after school. We work hard and push each other every day, while having a great deal of fun too,” said BRAYDEN BENESCH ‘24. Sailing is an activity that builds confidence, independence and self-esteem, as well as fostering strategic thinking, decision making and creative problem solving. When we asked CARLOS ROIG ‘24 why he loves sailing, he said, “I would recommend sailing to another athlete because I believe that it builds a team while working on personal skills.” Interested in learning more? Contact our Enrichment Director, Ernest Robertson at erobertson@palmertrinity.org or visit palmertrinity.org/athletics/sailing-enrichment-program.

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

HIGHLIGHTS of the Past 50 Years 1972

1983

PALMER SCHOOL

TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

Founded with Grades 9-12

Founded with Grades 7-8

1988

Addition of 6th Grade to Trinity Episcopal

Past 5 1991

PALMER TRINITY SCHOOL

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Opens with Grades 6-12

1992

Hurricane Andrew Tents were later used for convocations, lunch and classes

1999

Laptop Program Begins

2003

2013

Purchase of Hester Property

Martin Luther King, III Speaks at PTS

2004

2016

First Athletes Inducted into the Hall of Fame Study Abroad Program Begins

2009 Coral Lab Opens

Round Square at PTS

2017

Soaring Campaign Launches

2018

2020

COVID-19 Global Pandemic Alumni Inclusion and Equity Committee Established

2021

First Phase of Campus Completed Academic Building Opens

2022 PTS Celebrates 50th Anniversary

50 Year 2011

Breakthrough Miami Partnership Begins

184th Street Entrance Opens

Complete Soaring to Greater Heights Campaign

Student Life Wing opens

the Future is ours to seize

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

FLYING HIGH BY MATT LEVIN, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS

CELEBR ATING 50 Y E ARS OF ATHLE TIC ACHIE VEMENT Over the course of the past 50 years, there are many athletic achievements to celebrate. From state championships, to district titles, homecoming celebrations, facility expansions, and countless wins, we are so proud of the rich athletic history of our school. Even more important are the memories formed by all of our student-athletes. Through the ups and downs, wins and losses, student-athletes played with and for each other. We hope that the memories formed and lessons learned both on and off the field are everlasting and we look forward to seeing what the future has in store. Go Falcons!

2005 2006 2010 2012 2016 2017

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ALEJANDRO SAMANTHA LANDON PAULINA PRIETO ‘12 VARSITY FOOTBALL Huge crowd on hand MELEÁN ‘05 EVANS ’06 is named MICHELSON ‘10 continued her scores with no time as the VARSITY continued his soccer Miami-Dade 4A-1A continued his golf volleyball career remaining to capture FOOTBALL team career professionally, Female Athlete of career professionally professionally as a its first Conference defeats Pinecrest currently playing the Year, the only as a member member of the Puerto Championship, Prep 49-0 in the first for Guabirá, Bolivia’s Falcon in history to of the PGA. Rican National Team. en-route to four game on the Montaña professional win this distinction consecutive Florida Field as Palmer Trinity football club. Independent Football unveils the brandConference titles new South Campus and Athletic Fields.

Celebrating 50 Years

OF ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT 1986 1987 1988 1991

PALMER PIRATES win the only State Championship as Palmer School in Cross Country

KEVIN MAHAN ‘87 wins the Individual Track & Field State Championship in the 100m Hurdles

LAUREN MARKS wins the Individual Track & Field State Championship in the 3200m race

TAMARA KING ‘94* wins the Individual Track & Field State Championship in the 400m dash

CLINTON THOMPSON wins the Individual Track & Field State Championship in the 800m dash, the first Individual State Championship in School history.

1992 1993

VIRGINIA TRICE ‘93 wins the Individual Track & Field State Championship in the 400m dash

TAMARA KING ‘94* wins the Individual Track & Field State Championship in the 400m dash.

50 YEARS at a Glance 3 State Championships 8 Individual State Champions 3 State Runner-Up Teams 23 Regional Championships

2018 2019 2021 2022

First ever PTS State Championship – ALBERTO FRANCESCHI ‘19 scored in OT to give Varsity Boys Soccer a 2-1 win over Maclay School.

Back-to-back State Champs – MICHAEL GOMEZ ‘19 scores late in the second half to give Boys Soccer its second straight title in a 2-1 win over Shorecrest Preparatory School.

BRANDON POTTINGER ‘22 wins the Individual High Jump State Championship, the first Falcon to win an Individual State Championship since 1993.

REMI BACARDI ‘25 was named Miami Herald’s Golfer of the Year, and voted as Fall Athlete of the Year for Miami-Dade County. BRANDON POTTINGER ‘22 wins his second consecutive FHSAA State Championship in the High Jump.

150+ District and Conference Championships Long standing list of athletes who went on to play collegiately at schools such as Duke University, University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, University of Illinois, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and more. Countless student-athletes and coaches honored as All-Dade, All-State, Player of the Year & Coach of the Year. Expansion to 6 multi-purpose fields, baseball stadium, softball stadium, eight-lane track, 6 tennis courts, multicourt gymnasium, and weight room. 21

BIRDS’S EYE VIEW

AR, NE W S C HO OL Y E N E W B U IL D IN G

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ST 18 , 20 21 , M OR NI NG , AU GU ON W ED NE SD AY ademic kicked off the ac ol ho Sc ity in Tr Palmer of our new ing the opening year by celebrat n cutting ilding. The ribbo Student Life Bu ar y. th the 50 Annivers also ushered in lmer Trinity ’s Wing houses Pa fe Li t en ud St e Th ling of fices, College Counse Admissions and ) spaces, a d Inclusion (DEI an ty ui Eq ity rs Dive Excellence , the Center for ea ar ip sh en tiz Global Ci , faculty Teaching (CELT) in Learning and s, as well as tional classroom lounge and addi ic Dean ities and Academ tiv Ac t en ud St e th es add to the w working spac of fices. These ne 50 years ago. was established ch hi w n tio da un fo building ng was the final The ribbon cutti to Greater e of the Soaring in the first phas d moment This long awaite n. ig pa m ca ts Heigh mpus. at the hear t of ca is now a reality ast Florida, shop of Southe Bi l pa co is Ep e Th in prayer lead the school to ed in jo N, TO d PE TE R EA w building. Hea ngs upon the ne si es bl r fe of d an ed the words K RO BE RT S echo of School PATR IC this year: “Bold ughout campus ro th d un fo w no d ever yone re.” He reminde Past, Bright Futu s accomplished, at the School ha th l al of t en es pr t us. ibilities that awai and all the poss

BTS@PTS INTERVIEWS BY ALEJANDRA MORA ORTEGA ‘23

MEET MINERVA ACOSTA, who ensures that every dish is served with a smile. With her warm and kind disposition, she is known as the heart of the kitchen. SAGE Chef Mauricio Jaramillo refers to her as “the main wheel of the kitchen, bringing everyone to work together.” DO YOU FEEL ACCEPTED IN THE PALMER TRINITY COMMUNITY? I do feel accepted in the Palmer Trinity community. I’ve been working here for various years in the kitchen for all the members of PTS, and it feels like a family. We always receive everyone with a smile in the kitchen and with lots of love. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT PTS? 15 years going on 16. It’s my home. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING HERE AT PALMER TRINITY? I love the kitchen. I love what I do; I do it with love. I like seeing people being satisfied with what I create with my hands. WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I’m Cuban. I got here in 1988. I started working in kitchens two years after I got here, then I got to Palmer Trinity— the rest is history. I feel very proud of my roots. The Cuban community at Palmer Trinity is great. They are so loving and welcoming. WHAT’S SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE? I like to be with my family above all. I love my family more than anything. I try to spend every second of my life with my people. I enjoy my family, my friendships, and I live my life. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? My future is Palmer Trinity. I’d like to work here until I retire. I love my job here. I love creating recipes and dishes and seeing people satisfied with my work.

MEET JOSE VALLADARES, a core member of PTS’ Maintenance crew. Though he graduated with a degree in accounting–which he practiced for about 25 years—he considers himself a perpetual learner. Here, Jose shares about the things that matter most to him. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT PALMER TRINITY? Between two different companies, I’ve worked at Palmer Trinity for six years. I have been working directly for the school for a year and a half, when I was promoted to assistant manager. DO YOU FEEL ACCEPTED IN THE PALMER TRINITY COMMUNITY? Of course. I feel very content here. It’s a beautiful place and I enjoy working at the school. I’ve worked in other places before, but this has been the most welcoming environment. WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I come from Cuba. There’s a big community of us here. We all have a lot of solidarity. Before coming to the U.S., I worked as an accountant from the time I graduated university in ‘81 until moving here 16 years ago. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? Whenever I’m not working, I’m at home with my family. I have two daughters and a wife. I also enjoy listening to music in my time off—I love pop, rock and of course, salsa. I spend a lot of time reading as well. I like to keep informed by reading the news and continue to learn about my trade. Right now I’ve been reading about electronics. WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST? Family above all. I adore my family. I value this country a lot. I was lucky to come here when many can’t. I lived in Cuba for 44 years. This school, this country, Miami…they all feel like a second home to me. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? For the moment, it’s to keep working here. Dedicate my best work and my professionalism to the school. I’d like to stay here in Miami when I retire, but for now, my future is at Palmer Trinity. 23

L S CIENCE

CHOO

PERSPECTIVES

HYDROPONICS HYDROPONICS HYDROPONICS

CREATING A “SPLASH” IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE W R I TTTRENACBIYME T ZLER

Since 2018, Palmer Trinity School has adopted hydroponics as an integral part of the seventh grade Earth Science curriculum. Adopting hydroponics in the classroom is a marvelous STEM, STEAM and Project-Based Learning component for any science curriculum.

LEARNING HYDROPONICS Hydroponic farming, which involves growing plants in water rather than soil, fully immerses students in science-specific concepts including plant nutrition. Students learn about macronutrients, the importance of regulating pH, measuring water quality, and unique lighting requirements—using red, blue, purple and white light. Math concepts are routinely incorporated throughout the hydroponic curriculum utilizing the metric system, the logarithmic pH scale, and many other topics like volume and density.

ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, ART Students at Palmer Trinity School then compared several different vertical systems for growing plants indoors including ebb and flow hydroponics and aeroponics. To incorporate STEM and STEAM into Project-Based Learning, the students were assigned to build a 3D mini-model of a hydroponic facility focusing on sustainability and minimizing land use in communities.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Through extensive research, students designed a unique hydroponic system of their own. Students considered the climate and location in which the system would be constructed: be it a large city, small rural area, or even a shipping container! The students gave extra consideration to areas where weather limits year round food production, and created designs focusing on sustainability and minimizing land use in communities. COOPER RUZYCKI ‘27’s model was even featured on CBS4’s Sunday Morning Science Lab for demonstrating innovative thinking.

Embodying the skills of architects, engineers, and scientists, students created unique designs that utilized efficient and sustainable farming methods, minimized land use, and helped protect our Earth now and in the future. Traci Metzler’s entry in the Global Education Benchmark Group’s awards, “Splish-Splash Hydroponics” was selected as this year’s honorable mention at the primary and middle school level.

Scan here to view a brief video of students harvesting hydroponically-grown lettuce.

THE NEW The Sustainability program at PTS continues to work toward achieving an environmentally sustainable future. As we envision a world that respects our planet and its inhabitants, we look for ways to implement opportunities for education and research. PTS has kept up with the changing times and promoted environmental stewardship on campus, most recently, the Aqua Lab. This new school year allowed for a new space that will serve students for years to come. Using state-of-theart equipment, the Aqua Lab allows students to conduct experiments and scientific investigations in the areas of aquaponics, marine biology, and freshwater ecology.

AQUA LAB A

S T T P

With a complete aquaponics system, students could use the Mini Fish Farm™ to grow fresh, unpolluted fish throughout the year, among other experiments. Here, students could learn more about environmental factors, as they observe the benefits of hydroponics.

be manipulated. In the inaugural year of the IB program, biology students are using the resources in the Aqua Lab to test salinity and pH levels on microgreens and barley. Their experiments in this space will count as a major part of earning the IB Diploma.

The Aqua Lab has the combined benefits of education, exploration, and food production. The different areas in the Aqua Lab for hydroponics and aquaponics are ideal for hands-on learning for all grade levels. Small aquaria such as the CUBE 20 Waterbox for both saltwater and freshwater can be used for independent investigations. Eight Water Garden Duo aquaponics systems are ideal for repeatable experiments where variables can

The Aqua Lab is available for both middle school and upper school students in any discipline at Palmer Trinity School. And it is not just about science! The lab also houses water-related student art work. The space features murals by AIDAN LEV Y ‘21, showing us the intersection between art and science in the work of advocacy.

FEATURES OF THE AQUA LAB The Aqua Lab has state-of-the-art equipment, including a complete aquaponics system: the Mini Fish Farm™. Smaller tanks, including the indoor hydroponics growth system OPCOM Farm GrowBox. CUBE 20 Waterbox aquariums for both saltwater and freshwater investigations.

Thank you to Dr. Leo Llinás and Traci Holstein for their dedication to the Aqua Lab.

BENEFITS OF AQUAPONICS Aquaponics mimics the natural relationship between fish and plants: the waste produced by farmed fish supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purifies the water. Aquaponics uses less water than traditional farming and does not release harmful fertilizer runoff into the watershed.

Water Garden Duo aquaponics systems for independent research. 25

B IT TEN

FOOTBALL PL AY ER

IL L S

‘22

FEMALE

FIRST

PERSPECTIVES

BECOMING PALMER TRINIT Y ’S

They hyped me up whenever I did anything right, and they always encouraged me. One thing I’ll never forget was our preseason game. I had missed my field goal, and not a single person showed any anger or frustration toward me. When I got to the sideline, I was received with encouragement: they all told me not to worry about it or to keep my head up; some patted me on the head or gave me a hug. They seemed to care more about how the missed kick affected me rather than how it influenced the score of the game. That loving attitude continued throughout the entire season. I never once felt left out, neglected or belittled. Ever since 6th grade, I wanted to play football. However, my middle school only had a boys’ team and my parents were afraid I would get hurt playing football with only guys. They always encourage me in whatever I do, but here, they were looking out for my safety. I had begged my parents for years to let me play on a team. This changed during quarantine. On one particular day, while my dad and I were in the backyard working out, I asked him, “If I can hold a plank for five minutes, will you let me play football?” He agreed. Lo and behold, I held the plank for five minutes, and the journey began. Fast forward a few months to spring season of my junior year, when I became the first female on the Palmer Trinity football team.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Scan Here to Learn More

Being the only girl on the football team has been the best experience of my life. It honestly couldn’t have gone better. At first, I was a little nervous that the guys would resent me for interjecting into their boy space, but my nerves went away immediately after I joined the team. I have never fallen so in love with a group of people so quickly.

My coaches also supported me and encouraged me tremendously. They gave me chances when I failed and they congratulated me profusely when I succeeded. And it wasn’t just the boys who made this experience so memorable. Whether it was one of my teammates’ moms walking me to the bathroom so I wouldn’t go alone if my parents couldn’t make it; the cheerleaders making special cheers with my name in them; or even the girls on the opponents’ teams who wished me luck and would tell me how cool they thought it was that I played football—it took an entire community to make this experience unforgettable. Being on this team made me so strong both physically and emotionally. The only downside is that, as a senior, it is now over. I am beyond grateful to my parents, the school, and football family for supporting me throughout this journey. My biggest “I love you” goes to my team. I couldn’t have asked for a better community to support me when I decided to join Palmer Trinity’s boys football team. To my 10 amazing coaches and my 23 amazing brothers: I love you. Thank you for everything.

IT TE

N & PHOTO

AP DB

Y LU

C A M A R T INE Z‘

N AT URE AND THE HUMAN SPIRIT

PERSPECTIVES

It’s not uncommon for me to arrive in the Everglades just before sunrise and stay through the night. I feel at home in the remote sloughs of Big Cypress among the owls and the deer deep through the burnt marl prairies of the Fakahatchee. I lose myself as I explore beneath the surface of freshwater forested wetlands in cypress domes where an abundance of life and vibrant colors surround me. From the opportunity to introduce friends and family to the unparalleled beauty of the Everglades, to the gift of comfort in solitude, nature enhances our wellbeing while taking us away from the day-to-day grind. Palmer Trinity School’s campus is built with this awareness. Our campus sits among lush native landscapes and outdoor areas shaded by oak trees, palms, and adorned by countless orchids. There’s something about the outdoor paths from building to building, walking among the peacocks, that serves as a reset. It’s one of the things I loved the most when I first visited Palmer Trinity before sixth grade, and I know it’s what I’ll remember most fondly when looking back after high school.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Whether deep in our national parks or strolling through our campus, nature has a unique way of impacting the human spirit by providing a sense of connection, gratitude, presence and awe. With or without a camera in hand: get outside and take it all in.

Luca is a nature and wildlife photographer and videographer. He has been exploring the Everglades and documenting his experience for the last four years. His time in the field has taught him the important role that nature and the outdoors play in people’s lives.

PERSPECTIVES

A NEW ASSET CLASS IT TEN BY EDW IN V E S T ME

-P

‘22

SIDE

grown in membership but also by $30,000 in just five years. Palmer Trinity’s CFO, Jose Chao, serves as the club adviser. E D WA R D

STR

‘22

“I have seen the club grow since its founding over 10 years ago to be a wonderful opportunity for both middle and upper school students,” said Mr. Chao, adding that the school oversees the club’s activities to ensure it is keeping with its mission and values. “I, too, have learned from the students, guest speakers and alumni over the years. Unique is that the club currently has over $60,000 in investments: stocks, indexed or exchange-traded funds.”

CARLOS PE

‘2

Every year, the members receive a crash course on how to evaluate a stock: the different metrics, the importance of comparing the company to others in the same industry, and the importance of ethical investing. The club is then divided into five sectors and every three weeks each

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

The investment club was founded in 2007 by alumnus DOUGLAS ROTHFELDT ‘10. Since then, the club has not only

‘22 & CARLOS

RESIDEN T & VI

THE INVESTMENT CLUB’S VENTURE INTO CRYPTO EDWARD STRONG ‘22 AND CARLOS PENZINI ‘22 huddled around a computer anticipating the right moment. After waiting for a good price point, the two, who serve as president and vicepresident of the Investment Club, bought $2,000 worth of Bitcoin for the student organization’s portfolio. It was a pivotal moment for the Investment Club and Palmer Trinity. This decision came after a year of researching and discovering what Bitcoin is: a peer-to-peer version of electronic cash (of fixed supply) which allows online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without a financial intermediary. It is a blockchain using cryptographic proof ensuring the network is immutable and unhackable. This investment marked a step into the group’s bright future.

sector pitches a stock to the rest of the group. If there is a general consensus that the company might be a profitable investment, the president and vice-president, along with the leader of the sector, conduct further research to determine if they will allocate a percentage of the club’s portfolio into the company. To further inspire their members, once a month, the club invites guest speakers who not only provide members invaluable insight of the financial world, but also introduces them to the many career opportunities in finance.

various phone calls discussing

Last year during the pandemic, Edward and Carlos had

Edward presented his findings

the unfamiliar concept of cryptocurrencies. After much consideration and debate, they decided to explore this uncharted land and educate themselves on all things crypto. This year, Edward started his Independent Study on Bitcoin. This provided time for him to dive deeper and use Palmer Trinity’s vast resources. They reached out to parents familiar with the topic and they guided the club to sites and books that would be beneficial to their journey. At the end of the first semester, to the Investment Club officers

and they decided to invest. Some of his reasoning follows:

Subsequent to the mania in December 2017, an estimated 25% of Bitcoin addresses sold their holdings as prices plummeted from $20,000 to $6,000, but since then the number of addresses holding Bitcoin has increased at a steady rate despite the price crashing 50% in May 2021. The continued growth of holders shows that a healthy amount of interest has remained for Bitcoin. Not only has there been a large increase in institutional adoption of it, but also Banks starting to allow their clients to invest in crypto funds.

PERSPECTIVES

Bitcoin provides users with a more efficient and less expensive method of transferring money. Since it is peer-to-peer (no third party) there are minimal fees. Users do not need to have a bank account to use or hold Bitcoin. This allows the two billion people, without a bank account in the world, to transfer money whenever and wherever they want without fees. Bitcoin increases financial inclusivity.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

“As Seniors, we are sad to leave the club but we are sure of its bright future,” said Carlos. They have already selected and prepared the next president, JOHN TURNERSMITH ‘23. Both Edward and Carlos are confident that John and the other members will further increase the value of the club’s portfolio and continue donating to charities and student organizations at Palmer Trinity. “In this growing process, we are excited to see students become familiar with this transformative new asset class,” said Edward. “The plan is for the club to eventually hold its own Bitcoin wallet as it is more secure than our current investment through an exchange-traded fund in which we do not directly hold the asset.”

The club has grown in numbers and has a large population of dedicated underclassmen members. They look forward to further advancement, as the investment club is one of the largest—at almost 70 members—and most influential at Palmer Trinity. As they look to the future, the investment club will carry on its dedication to act as an open environment where any one of any age can participate and learn about traditional investing, and now, new asset classes such as cryptocurrencies.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

CRYPTO? The Palmer Trinity Investment Club recommends the following resources:

BOOK Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous

BOOK Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson

PODCAST The Bitcoin Standard Podcast

PODCAST What Bitcoin Did

WEBSITE coinbase.com

WEBSITE udemy.com

Palmer Trinity School now accepts donations of cryptocurrency thanks to our secure, online donation platform provided by Engiven. Scan the code (left) or visit palmertrinity.org to learn more about donating with cryptocurrency.

EAN

As Literature teachers, we knew that reading stories, both fictional and nonfictional, told by individuals, would likely help students see the complex, nuanced issues of the SDGs as more accessible and impactful. The contemporary literature we selected represented

By optimizing all that we learned through virtual instruction, I believe we can offer meaningful global teaching and learning experiences and achieve similar goals without leaving campus. In fact, it is possible that what we have learned not only serves as a short-term solution, but may also enrich long-term global education practices both within and beyond the campus. By virtue of engagement in this model of instruction, students practice and gain competencies in the use of technologies and methods that will likely shape the future of global work.

Building on tenets of global citizenship such as investigation, perspective, and communication, Ann and I rooted our partnership in the “investigation” of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are an urgent call for action by all countries— developed and developing—in a global partnership ©.

N N A T R U B Y, A C

One of the many ways we create global citizens is through our robust travel programs. However, the restrictions around travel over the last two years due to the pandemic have both limited our opportunities and challenged us to create global initiatives from inside the classroom.

Ann Hansen, a fellow English teacher and administrator at Herlufsholm School in Denmark, shares similar ideas about the possibilities of what can be gained through virtual instruction. Together, we created a virtual partnership where students explore present-day issues, learn about their own and others’ perspectives, engage in meaningful dialogue, and work toward a common goal.

N RIA

Palmer Trinity’s Portrait of a Graduate includes Global Citizens who strive to recognize their universal humanity, while also appreciating their responsibility toward each other and the world.

T TE

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP: LITERATURE, THE UNITED NATIONS’ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, AND A VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

WRI

Sustainable DEVELOPMENT

voices and perspectives from multiple countries including the United States, South Africa, India, and Sierra Leone. We divided students into small groups based on the work of literature they selected; each group included students from both schools. Over the course of four weeks, students read their work of literature, found current articles on the SDG that they determined appeared most prominently in their book, and met regularly. All interaction between students and teachers took place virtually through Zoom. In addition to discussing the book and its connections to the SDG, students answered guided, open-ended questions designed to motivate dialogue and welcome differing perspectives. They practiced sharing their perspectives based on issues such as quality education, poverty, climate action, and peace and justice while remaining open to learning from others. Moreover, students grew to know one another, share insights, and ask self-directed questions without the teachers’ oversight. 33

PERSPECTIVES

Ultimately, students were charged with problem solving, creating original work, and presenting as a group. All meetings moved students toward the final assessment: a Student-led Showcase where each group presents their “Aha Moment” from the entire unit. This assessment posed the greatest challenge for some groups. An “Aha Moment” calls for far more than a summary of what they learned or an answer to a question. An “Aha Moment” reveals what impacts a learner. It reveals what resonates with a learner. It suggests what learning has ultimately taken place. Maybe most demanding of all, students had to decide how they would convey that understanding to a larger, international audience of students, teachers, and administrators. Each aspect of this academic partnership in and of itself could be considered global: investigation of the SDGs, reading beyond national

literature, discussion between students from different countries. However, when all of these elements combine and lead students to work toward a common goal, we move into global citizenship. For example, as we often do when we work in groups, students faced challenges. Surely, the challenges may have been augmented because the students had not met prior and did not have a relationship to build upon. Students had to learn each other’s cultural norms of interaction through their limited visual connection. At times, they turned to Ann or me for guidance, but over time, they sorted through the issues as a group. Here, we see global citizenship truly emerging. Through the process of problem solving, students learned to work through differences and build consensus, while meaningfully and authentically

representing themselves, their schools, and their countries. In each group presentation, students demonstrated command of the issues, empathy for others, an exchange between team members modeling respect, and an understanding of audience and purpose. Presentations engaged the audience through original and compelling interactive games and websites, social media, and artwork.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

tp through firs bal citizenshi lo g d an , c ip mesti tnersh periences, do upon this par ex ng ti nd ec ha fl re In efits, travel ural ng other ben o note the cult m to A t . an ad rt ro o p ab it is im ersion in the f this l backdrop o for a full imm s ca ri w o lo st al hi d an ry, and d sphere, histo t only studie o no m at ts , en re d u lt tu S cu t work. lected tr y that is no SDGs and se ge of a coun ed ua nd ng la te in e th ar tnerships. ross ugh virtual p llaborated ac ro co th le ey ib th , ss re o u p literat areness ion, I look ual anticipat gained an aw d eq h an it s W re u lt cu evelop tr y ntinuing to d ch each coun co hi w to d in s ar ay rw w fo of the pandemic, the one we es such as a ar tnerships as su p is ch ed su at g vi . na lm elections with Herlufsho , and political have created social unrest ac ic te hing er que and dynam m ni al u P r to fo d ar ahead. ok forw experiences I certainly lo ng ni ar le ts d en an d rs and stu Trinity teache ing n and cultivat traveling agai

PERSPECTIVES

. DR . M ARY ELL

REV

HOPE I

E TT

Y NB

OF A BRIGHT FUTURE A REFLECTION AS WE CELEBRATE 50 YEARS

“Hope is a thing with feathers...”

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

EMILY DICKINSON

In a positive worldview, hope is something we choose. According to the quotation, we can’t be a passive observer with hope; we must live it: “The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” (Barbara Kingsolver) HOW DO WE LIVE IN HOPE? HOW WE CHOOSE HOPE DETERMINES HOW WE SPEND OUR DAYS. Are we with people who build us up and support us? Are we active and engaged in life? Are we attuned to listening to our heart, each other and the world? Are we out and about in nature, immersed in our environment? Are we listening to music, reading edifying works and viewing art? Are we finding the beauty and goodness in our lives? Are we grateful for our blessings? CULTIVATING HOPE THROUGH COMMUNITY Working and living in a school community deems that we see life with hope and optimism. Our children become the future and they intuit our attitudes. Over the years, we have faced great uncertainty. Finding supportive people who have weathered the stormy times with us strengthens our communal outlook.

In Episcopal schools, relationships are the linchpin to our identity as a community. Our connection with God, our neighbor and ourselves create richness in our existence. Despite the pandemic, Palmer Trinity School community has been a beacon of hope. We have shouldered each other up. Its sense of community is unique among schools. Reflecting the Baptismal Covenant of the Episcopal Church, a person and their sponsors must declare that they will: “...respect the dignity of every human being.” (Book of Common Prayer p. 305). In everyday circumstances from the Falcon Pledge to keep each other safe to including parents in the life of the school with depth and meaning—as evidenced by the creation of the altars for the Day of the Dead on November 1 in the Trinity Chapel—we celebrate and mourn together. Empathy is a core value at our school; we learn to identify with the suffering of others. When we are consistently in support of each other, we can encourage each other to practice hope. As Jane Goodall, environmentalist and primatologist, reminds us with her mantra at the end of every meeting she attends, “Together we can; together we will.”

HOPE IS FOR EVERYONE It’s difficult to believe one of the purveyors of hope was Anne Frank. Even in the darkest times she relayed: “Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.” People can take away every material good from you, but no one can take away your hope or faith.

Everyone deserves hope. It is our desire that we can join together to provide a vision of the future with positivity and grace. We do not know what is to come but we are able to see brightness if we search for it among the ordinary. Helping others to find hope is part of our journey together. Our time is relatively short in this life, so we need to choose wisely. As the Virgin Mary “ponders and treasures these things in her heart (Luke 2:19)”, we too can ponder and treasure the hopeful opportunities presented to us every day.

A blessing from Henri Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881), a Swiss moral philosopher, poet, and critic:

Life is short, And we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make the journey with us. So… be swift to love, and make haste to be kind. And the blessing of God, who made us, who loves us, and who travels with us be with you now and forever. 37

EMIC A F FA IR S

IB DIPLOMA

W PROGRAM AT RIT AL TEN AS O BY M A N JUL PALMER TRINITY A A S S O C I AT E A D OF S CH ORDI

ON RA CAD

PERSPECTIVES

JOHN DEWEY, AMERICAN PHILOSOPHER AND EDUCATION REFORMER, SAID,

ORL

EH O PC A NDO S A R DU Y IBD

THE IB IS A WAY OF LIVING, AND NOT JUST A PREPARATION FOR LIVING.” Palmer Trinity School prides itself on being an international-minded school through its various worldwide partnerships, such as Round Square and Model United Nations. Adopting the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) was a logical next step in our expanding academic program.

The IB Diploma Program (IBDP) encourages students to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. It seeks to develop global citizens who are informed, principled and active. This education aim aligns well with the Portrait of a Graduate and Service-Living principle.

PAVING THE WAY The path to the International Baccalaureate took three years, beginning in 2018. During this time Palmer Trinity researched and evaluated itself as a school, and investigated the IB Diploma Program, and how the two best fit together to offer a distinct path to student growth. During this process, PTS was in a strong relationship with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Dr. Manjula Salomon had worked with the IBO at every level since 1975, and her position at the School was most helpful in this process. Palmer Trinity School hosted several IBO teams who inspected and verified all aspects of the school that were necessary for the implementation and successful launching of the Diploma Program. In March of 2021, PTS officially received full authorization and accreditation to begin offering to students the IBDP.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

It must be mentioned, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Patrick Roberts and Mr. Ashley Chapman encouraged our application and supported the process fully. Mr. Orlando Sarduy has played an integral role in this work as the IBDP Coordinator. It is to be commended that his main charge, besides teaching, is the IBDP students.

AN ALTERNATE PATH The IBDP at Palmer Trinity School offers students an academic path to develop and distinguish themselves and highlight their varied academic areas of study. In the Diploma Program students take courses in all core disciplines over junior and senior year. The two-

year course design allows for a more continuous and wider appreciation for the disciplines. In the Upper School, most core courses are offered at the College Preparatory, Honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) level. The School has aimed the IBDP program at the Honors level. This approach distinguishes PTS from most other schools and programs, where the target audience is AP-level students. In addition to the core academic requirements, the IBDP students write a research paper of their choosing within the respective subject area. This is the Internal Assessment (IA). It allows a part of the final grade to be assessed internally by the school. Writing is a critical tool for conveying the cognitive path of the student, regardless of the academic topic. The IBDP also gives students a broader perspective on how interconnected disciplines are to one another and how the global society impacts decisions from one discipline area to another. To earn an IB Diploma, students must complete three Higher Level (HL) and three Standard Level (SL) courses over two years. Students can earn a score from 1-7 in each course and must earn at least 24 points total over the six courses to be conferred the IB Diploma. The 1-7 score in each course consists of a research paper (IA) and two to three exams taken at the end of the two-year course. This is a very reasonable and attainable score for most students.

Palmer Trinity’s first IB cohort

Besides these six disciplines, the Core Program is the most distinctive aspect of the IBDP. It consists of the Theory of Knowledge, which explores the means and systems of Knowledge as a Human Development. It is assessed by means of an Exhibition. The next is Creativity, Action and Service (CAS). This is perfect for our School—as we do all of this already. It is assessed by hours kept in Service and by a Reflection Journal. The third aspect of the Core is a 4000-word research paper done on any topic that the student wishes to research with the aid of a mentor across the two years of the program. UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES Currently, PTS offers courses unique to the IB curriculum: IB Business Management, IB Environmental Systems and Societies, and IB Sports Exercise and Health Sciences. Over the next few years, several courses will be included to showcase this rich distinctive curriculum such as IB Film and IB Performance and Literature.

The IBDP gives students various financial incentives in the State of Florida. Students can earn 100% Florida Bright Futures Scholarships, regardless of ACT/SAT score by simply completing the program. Also, many institutions look favorably and actively recruit IBDP candidates as they apply for college and university. It is largely different from AP, which has students for 9 months and offers a one-day exam. The IBDP gives students opportunities to showcase their knowledge and cognitive breadth of learning through their method of assessments—some written over months and graded by the School, and others by exams at the end of two years. In the final weeks of the first-year cohort, Palmer Trinity School sent out applications for the second cohort. The numbers doubled for the second year. It is certainly a credible sign of the teaching and administration of the program. We can now say, authentically: Palmer Trinity Preps for the Planet and its Peoples. 39

PERSPECTIVES

50OFYEARS SERVING WRIT TEN

THE

COMMUNITY

PALMER TRINITY’S SERVICE LIVING PROGRAM represents the space between the heart and the mind. Our school has a rich tradition of community service. Learning has always stretched the bounds of the classroom walls.

and off-campus, have and always are readily available. From our service partnerships in Central America, to South Dakota, to Round Square conferences around the world, the opportunities are endless.

Over the past few months, I have spoken with current students, faculty, alumni, and alumni parents to understand their experience of service at our school. I have had the privilege of getting to know and work with hundreds if not thousands of students, parents, faculty, and staff while overseeing the Student Activities & Service Living program. It has been such a rich experience, one I will never take for granted.

Service Living always reflects the current needs in the world around us. Just this year, we kicked off a backpack supply drive for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The response has been exceptional! We collected 255 backpacks stuffed with new clothing, shoes and school supplies and put them in 30 shipping boxes. Each backpack had a heartfelt note inside written by our Falcons in English and Ukrainian. Our aim is to bring relief and share hope and encouragement with these students and their families.

V IN CE

SA SU T EC DIR

C T TA VI , L MHC ER STU S ND DENT AC T I V I T IE S A

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Our school is dedicated to promoting academic excellence and inspiring students to lead lives of virtue, humanity, and spirit. Service is one of the Guiding Principles of Palmer Trinity School. We encourage vision, initiative, and leadership in serving each other, local non-profit organizations, and the global world. Opportunities for participation in travel service experiences, in middle and upper school service clubs, as well as meaningful IB (International Baccalaureate) Creativity Action & Service (CAS) projects, both on

I will leave you with an excerpt of Mother Teresa’s poem, Do It Anyway, that has hung above my desk at home for the last twenty years, “The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.” In other words, serve with a servant’s heart and you will never go wrong.

MOMENTS & MEMORIES Throughout my life, I’ve volunteered with different organizations and at various events. My favorite so far has been Breakthrough Miami. Breakthrough Miami strives to teach historically under-resourced students from 5th to 8th grade using a student-teaching-student method. Volunteering in this program has helped me develop planning and management skills that allow me to help others succeed and keep people in my community on track and focused. When I became a volunteer and a teacher for Breakthrough, I learned how to create lesson plans and manage classrooms full of students. I learned how to properly communicate with people and how to organize and manage my time wisely. Despite community service benefiting me, I’ve also learned from those I’ve helped. I’ve learned the gift of giving, kindness, and helping others. I have been fortunate enough to see hands-on, how sharing what I’ve learned in my life with others makes a direct positive influence on their lives. Donating my time to a community is something I will always pursue, and programs like Breakthrough Miami will always have a special place in my heart. SINAYA SADLER ‘22

It’s as if it was yesterday, in 1993, I was in the PTS Gym at a Convocation. Our Chaplain, Mr. LaTour, brought Ms. Alvia Palmer-Michel, to share her life story about living with AIDS. Her testimony was incredibly powerful and transformational. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience and you could hear a pin drop. After the presentation, one of the students, John, asked the sincere question to her, “Is there anything you haven’t yet experienced in life that you wish for?” A simple, yet profound question. She told students how she and her daughter, who had died of AIDS, used to dream of seeing snow. Following this convocation, the students were moved to make her dream come true. They quickly organized and raised $700. Atlas Travel donated a free ticket and an anonymous donor matched the gift with another airline ticket for a friend to travel with Alvia. Another anonymous donor generously donated the hotel stay at the Hilton for a weekend visit to the Big Apple. She was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. The students were filled with joy as well. Two years later, she passed away.

My fondest memory of participating in community service at Palmer Trinity is the incredible support I received from the school, my teachers, and friends. While helping a good cause by serving others, I learned commitment, gained insight about myself and the world around me, and learned to work in a team. I also gained an understanding and appreciation for social justice and developed leadership skills that I will hold for the rest of my life. WALEED MNEIMNEH ‘15

LYNLEY WALKER CIROBEA ‘96

After taking part in community service at PTS, through Silver Knight, Girl Scouts and other service clubs, I learned that I loved giving back and desired a job that “helped people.” My husband, Bobby ‘05, and I went on to volunteer throughout college and then lived in Tanzania for the summer after graduating undergrad. We taught English in an orphanage school, and that was the impetus for our family’s nonprofit organization, or NGO, Afrikids. It also cultivated Mr. Moore’s love for teaching! After that summer, I returned to graduate school, to earn a degree in Occupational Therapy, which helped to fulfill my goal of helping people. SAM EVANS MOORE ‘06

Community Service has always been a benchmark of PTS; part of our mission and purpose. Our students have always been willing to give and to serve in so many ways. When I became the Student Activities Director, I asked to combine Student Activities with Community Service. Our students have been impacted for life from many of the projects they have themselves led and executed. Many major projects come to mind; let’s not forget the everyday supply drives that fill an immediate need when tragedies occurred around the world. Our students were always aware of their ability and responsibility to help the less fortunate. I learned more from them and their generous parents more than I could have ever taught them. Keep up the good work, PTS. Follow the words in the school’s motto, “Virtus, Humanitus, et Spiritus.” Those words are all encompassed in our service to others. ELENA DE VILLLIERS, FORMER DIRECTOR OF ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, FACULTY ALUM

EVENTS

GAME ON: HOMECOMING IS BACK Homecoming this year was truly a coming-home for our PTS community. After limited attendance to last year’s game due to COVID restrictions, PTS was ready to celebrate in a big way. Starting on October 4, students participated in various activities: The Ultimate Falcon and Falconcito Shows, as well as festive spirit days. PTS Dads Club provided a BBQ at the homecoming game, and visitors had the opportunity to try various food trucks. But it wasn’t just students having fun—we also welcomed our alumni back for several events.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

On Friday, the Falcon community showed up in full force to show their support for the Falcons, who won against Palm Glades Academy with a final score of 42-6. The community cheered on their Falcons, who stormed through smoke and tunnel to make their presence felt. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped throughout the week, and to the alumni, faculty and families who showed their Falcon Spirit!

EVENTS

‘TIS THE SEASON: PTS CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING WRIT TEN BY BL ANCA MOR ALES

Palmer Trinity School honors many decades-long traditions—but during the 2021 holiday season, it started a new one. On Thursday, December 2, following a joyous Lessons and Carols service, we hosted our first-ever PTS Christmas Tree Lighting on Bacardi Plaza, in front of Trinity Chapel. More than 600 students, teachers and families gathered around the 18-foot tree and enjoyed a milk and cookies bar from Oh My Sweetness, churros from the Santo Dulce food truck, a hot chocolate station and sweet treats from Sage Dining. The biggest surprise of the night came when a Palmetto Bay fire engine brought all in attendance “special visitors from up north,” including Santa Claus (Head of School Patrick Roberts), the Grinch (Head of Upper School Ashley Chapman), and Buddy the Elf (Head of Middle School Pete Tolmach).

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

This beautiful evening was the perfect occasion to gather together and kickoff the festive season. As we laughed, sang Christmas songs, and counted down to the tree lighting, we knew we were ushering in a cheerful Palmer Trinity tradition that generations of Falcons will look forward to for years to come.

Scan to see a video from the event

FOUNDERS’ FORUM ON APRIL 21, 2022, Palmer Trinity held its Founders’ Forum at La Terrazza de Fiola. This event was part of the 50th Anniversary School celebration and was a great opportunity for former Trustees of the School to meet current Trustees and Community Board members. A special thanks goes out to Facundo and Elizabeth Bacardi for hosting this event.

Patrick Roberts, Edward (Ned) Dougherty, Elizabeth Bacardi

Marcell Navaro, Juan Gomez, Andre Carbonell and Marlene Carbonell

Maria Abreu, Chris Dougherty, Sue Nichols, George and Lynley Cirobea, Alan Nichols

Gary Tarbe, Will Selden, Bronwen Rutter, Maria and Tomas Abreu

LInda and Charlie Johnson, Rick and Susy Krissel

Suzanne and Philip Brawner, George Irvin, Ned Dougherty, Tina Lane

Mary Ellen Cassini, Tina Lane, Bixie Matheson, Ann de Velasco

Deborah and Josh Gray, Denise Gallardo, Elizabeth Bacardi, Marcel and Susy Navarro

Raquel and Emilio Fernandez, John Fumagalli, Vivian More Cortinas, Michael Arias, Michelle Beauchamp Aria, Henry Cortinas

EVENTS

THE BLESSING OF

TRINITY CHAPEL

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ON SUNDAY, APRIL 24, Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese of Southeast Florida, LICIA AFFER led the Blessing of the Trinity Chapel service. The Holy Eucharist service was created to honor The Reverend DR. EDWARD “NED” DOUGHTERY, the first Head of Palmer Trinity School. Many distinguished supporters of our community returned to campus to celebrate his ministry and part in establishing Palmer Trinity as an Independent Episcopal School. The day was a culmination of recognition of many of the incredible and generous people who have contributed time, talent, and resources to making our school so successful today.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022, Palmer Trinity School celebrated our volunteers who have dedicated their time and resources this year. Students in the Sforzando Quartet played beautiful music while the crowd gathered together. LUCA MARTINEZ ‘23 opened up the program with his presentation “Wonders of the Wetlands.” SARA FUMAGALLI and KELLI POWELL were

presented with the Volunteer of the Year Awards, and ART BEGUIRISTAIN received the Spotlight Award. We thank HELIDA DODD, who served as President of the PTPA for two consecutive years. Palmer Trinity is blessed to have the many parents, grandparents, trustees, alumni and friends who generously serve our community.

We have 16 committees in total, 40 Grade Coordinators, plus Parent Mentors that serve all of our new families, and Team Parents for each sport at Palmer. That is a lot of parent volunteers. The warmth and beautiful community that our school is known for could not be possible without YOU. And for that, we are truly grateful.” HELIDA DODD, PTPA PRESIDENT 2020-2022

EVENTS

CLASS OF 2022

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! SATURDAY, MAY 14 was a joyful day as we celebrated the graduating class. As Mr. Roberts stated in his remarks, “Within this amazing Class of 2022, we have an outstanding collection of individuals who have big plans and who will make a difference in our greater world... Future politicians, scientists, sports stars, researchers, community leaders, educators, writers, doctors, lawyers, movie producers, artists, and the list goes on…”

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

We would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to our Palmer Trinity

graduates and together with Mr. Roberts, we all say to the newest group of alumni: Know that you are loved. Know that you are supported. Know that we are always cheering for you. Know that you will be missed. Know that we are waiting, and hoping you will return in due time to share your stories with us…And always remember, you may leave Palmer Trinity, but Palmer Trinity will never leave you.

Each and every one of us is courageous. We had the strength to make college decisions, to envision the next chapter of our lives; we had the strength to persevere in classes that we felt were far past our level of ability; and, we had the strength and courage to work through difficult problems with friends and family. This is power.”

REFLECTIONS SARAH KOTLER, CO-VALEDICTORIAN

CLASS OF 2022

We are ready. We are ready to go off into the world. As beautiful and riveting as the last seven years have been, to stay within the life and the routine that we know now, is to not take that vital risk, is to neglect the beauty of life, because we are “limitle22”. We have been and will always be.” SARA RAMOS, CO-VALEDICTORIAN

Palmer Trinity hasn’t thrust us into adulthood. No, it’s been a series of lessons learned. Let me remind you of some of these lessons. Let me remind myself. The Palmer Trinity parking lot has taught us that no amount of driving can improve a person’s parking. It just is what it is. But, Palmer has also taught us how to be good, decent people.” GABRIELA FERNANDEZ (STUDENT SPEAKER) 49

EVENTS PALMERTRINITY.ORG

AT R IC UL AT IO

CLASS OF 2022

American University*

Pepperdine University*

Arizona State University*

Piedmont University

Babson College*

Purdue University*

Barnard College*

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute*

Baylor University*

Santa Clara University*

Bloomfield College

Santa Fe College*

Boston College*

Southern Methodist University*

Boston University*

Suffolk University*

Brown University*

Syracuse University*

Catholic University of America*

Temple University*

Chapman University*

Tennessee State University

College of Charleston*

Texas Christian University*

College of the Holy Cross*

The College of William and Mary*

Cornell University*

The University of Alabama*

Duke University*

The University of Tampa

Emerson College*

Tulane University*

Emory University*

University of Arizona*

Fairfield University*

University of California (Davis)*

Florida International University*

University of Chicago

Florida State University*

University of Florida*

Fordham University*

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)*

George Washington University*

University of Michigan*

Georgetown University*

University of Mississippi*

Harvey Mudd College

University of Richmond*

IE University–Spain*

University of San Diego

Indiana University*

University of Southern California*

Loyola University New Orleans*

University of St. Andrews–Scotland*

Marist College*

University of Virginia*

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

University of Wisconsin*

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Villanova University*

Mount Holyoke College

Wake Forest University*

New York University*

Washington University in St. Louis*

North Carolina A & T State University*

Wellesley College

North Carolina State University

Yale University*

Northeastern University* * Multiple acceptance and matriculations

PALMER TRINITY BECOMES A PURPLE HEART SCHOOL BY BL ANCA MOR ALES, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Each Veterans Day for the past several years, the Palmetto Bay community is welcomed to Palmer Trinity to honor those who have served our country. This year, Trinity Chapel provided the space for a solemn and reverent gathering. Palmer Trinity was also honored with a special award recognizing it as the first private secondary school in the state to become a Purple Heart School. The plaque was presented by U.S. Army Captain PAUL AMATO, a Purple Heart recipient, who shared words of wisdom with students as they watched via livestream. Local veterans were lauded, then treated to a delicious breakfast. Classics, such as the Beatles, played in the background, by DR. HARVIN’S guitar students. Guests included Village of Palmetto Bay MAYOR K ARYN CUNNINGHAM, Miami-Dade commissioners JOSE “PEPE” DIAZ and DANIELLE COHEN HIGGINS, and guest speaker NICHOLAS F. MARANO, Village Manager and retired Colonel of the U.S. Marine Corps, along with veterans and their families.

Scan the code above to hear from our local veterans. 51

EVENTS

Frank and Kim Vinas

Michele Beauchamp Arias and Michael Arias Beth Brockway Serrate, Pat Brockway, Phil Serrate

50 TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

PRESENTED BY PAT BROCKWAY AND FAMILY ON APRIL 2, 2022, Palmer Trinity School hosted its 50th Anniversary Golden Gala at the iconic Biltmore Hotel. It had been a few years since the School had celebrated a Gala so no one knew exactly what to expect or what the turnout would be like. The first sign that the Gala would be a success is when tickets sold out in 10 hours. The demand was still so great that additional tickets were put on sale and those were sold out in 30 minutes! Eventually, 580 guests were able to spend a wonderful evening of community together. A special thanks to Pat Brockway and Family for being the Presenting Sponsors and to all the parent volunteers that worked months to make the Gala such a success . The School was able to raise a little over $240,000 from the event and now everyone is asking when the next Gala is going to be. Patrick and Laura Roberts 52

Maria and Miguel Costa

Patty and Tom Cornish

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE 50 TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GALA:

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Pat Brockway and Family

DIAMOND SPONSORS

PTS Alumni

The Carbonell Family The Cornish Family The Costa Family The Moskowitz Family

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Lopefra Mare Mare Zach and Chirine Mneimneh The Grillo and Valls Family Jenny and Russ Wilson Jesus Socorro, Marcel Navarro, Michael Baiamonte

EVENTS

SANDY GOLF & TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2022 Thank you for another successful Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament sponsored by Northern Trust. After last year’s cancellation and this year’s postponement, the event finally took place on Monday, March 7th, at the beautiful Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club. The weather cooperated and our golfers, tennis players, and volunteers had a memorable time enjoying the beautiful setting with good friends. We had a full field of tennis players and many of them were loyal Sandy Tennis Tournament players who have consistently supported us over the years. We are always happy to see them come back!

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

The golf portion of the tournament was a sell-out once again. 144 men and women hit the links in an effort to help us reach our goal for the Sandy Block Financial Aid Fund. Alumni, past parents, current parents, and community friends enjoyed a day of good food, drink, and friendly competition. Along with raffle tickets, orchid sales, and a few other golf course games, the Tournament raised approximately $100,000 for financial aid! Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors, players, and volunteers who helped make it happen.

ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES 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 or (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 2022-2023 issue of the Aerie.

WELCOME THE CLASS OF 2022 TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

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 and fundraising, and to lead activities and events that build and maintain an active, informed, and engaged Alumni community.

JOE & REBECCA DOOLEY ‘84

VIRGIL GUMA 90’ & KELLY (KIMMEL) GUMA 89’

CHIP WALTER ‘95 AND DAUGHTER GEORGIA WALTER

AMANDA CHRYCY’S ‘96 DAUGHTER HAYLEY THOMPSON

JOE & REBECCA DOOLEY ‘84 — This year Joe & I celebrate our 35th Wedding Anniversary and it all began back in 1984 when we met at Palmer. I knew it was love at first sight when he pulled up in his Turbo Trans Am... we started dating and by the time we graduated we knew we had something special. Heading off to college we found ourselves in Gainesville, FL and were married in 1987. At the time, we settled in Gainesville and our daughter Liz was born in 1992. Currently, we live in Nashville, TN and enjoy life on our farm with our dogs. Some of our free time is spent with local wildlife sanctuaries releasing rehabilitated animals on our property. Along with raccoons, opossums, and turtles some of our more unique critters included a mink, bobcat, and a Cooper’s hawk. Our passion for the ocean has us also sharing our time with a home in Pensacola Beach where we enjoy the ocean and beautiful weather of Florida. VIRGIL GUMA ‘90 met KELLY (KIMMEL) GUMA ‘89 in the 8th grade at Palmer in 1986. By her senior year in 1989 they were great friends. They each went to homecoming with different dates but they gravitated toward each other at the dance. On the way home in the limo they secretly held hands in the dark. Today they live together in Nashville

Tennessee and recently celebrated milestone birthdays and twenty years of marriage with their three children Nicholas is in his second semester studying mechanical engineering at the University of Utah, Katalina who is a highschool senior recently accepted to Duke University and Gianna who is in the fifth grade attending Patrick Robert’s alma mater in Nashville. Nicholas and Katalina both attended PTS in middle school before moving to Tennessee. DAN SOLOMON ‘91 writes, “I’m currently the President of Muscle & Fitness magazine and head of the Mr. Olympia event, regarded as the super bowl of the fitness industry.” CHIP WALTER ‘95 writes, “My daughter, Georgia Walter will be starting as a freshman at Palmer Trinity in the fall. I’m so proud to see her join the Palmer Trinity community and she’s very excited to be a part of PTS.” The daughter of AMANDA CHRYCY ‘96 and Johnathan Thompson, Hayley Thompson, will be starting 6th Grade at Palmer Trinity in the Fall. She currently attends St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School. Hayley is very excited to start middle school and get involved in the many extracurricular activities Palmer Trinity has to offer, specifically cheerleading and golf.

MICHAEL DAVIS ‘97 writes, “I recently retired after 20 years in the United States Army. It has been a long and challenging road, but very worthwhile and rewarding. We plan to stay in Colorado, and I am currently enjoying some time off before starting a new career. My wife Jennifer has been deemed Cancer free after her year long fight against Breast Cancer last year. She is an amazingly tough woman to have fought Cancer and undergone Chemo in the midst of the COVID Pandemic. My daughter’s Maegan and Claire are also doing well. Maegan completed her first year of High School as the only Freshman to have a speaking role in her High School’s presentation of Clue; as well as earning a spot on the School’s Lacrosse Team. Claire is going in to her 8th grade year in force, having been named to her school’s National Junior Honor Society chapter. She has moved on from Gymnastics, after making a mature and rational decision based on medical concerns. Her new passions are Volleyball and Equestrian.” LARA (O’DONNELL) GRILLO ‘98 and RICHARD GRILLO ‘97 are excited to be Palmer Trinity parents! Their eldest son, Richard Anthony Grillo, will join Palmer Trinity’s incoming 6th grade class. Richie currently attends St. 57

ALUMNI NEWS

MICHAEL DAVIS ‘97

L AR A (O’DONNEL) ‘98 AND RICHARD ‘97 GRILLO

ANDY (KIRKPATRICK) ‘04 AND ADRIAN FOLEY ‘02

DAVID MARBERT ‘06

Thomas Episcopal Parish School in Coral Gables.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

NATHAN ZEDER ‘98 and Victoria Zeder tied the knot on March 18, 2022, in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, surrounded by their closest friends and family.

ROBERTO CASTRO ‘00 writes, “I am thrilled to have started a new PTS journey as a parent, now. From day one, the PTS community

NATHAN ZEDER ‘98

TAMAR A RUTTER WALSH ‘02

ASHLEY (PRUIT) ARDEN ‘01

ROBERTO CASTRO ‘00

A J UNDORFER ‘04

PATT Y (LEHTINEN) ‘06 AND MIKE SILVA ‘06

SAM (EVANS) MOORE ‘06

welcomed me and my family with open arms. It’s nice to come back home! I loved my time at PTS and I am sure my daughters, Adriana and Emilia will too. Go Falcons!” ASHLEY (PRUIT) ARDEN ‘01 and her husband John are living back in Miami and their 3rd son, Harrison James was born on 2/15/22 joining big brothers William (3 1/2) and Jack (2 1/2).

BRITTNEY FYFFE ‘06 AND WILSON HERNANDEZ ‘06

RYAN JURNEY ‘04

GR ACE HILL ‘07

ADRIAN FOLEY ‘02 and ANDY (KIRKPATRICK) FOLEY ‘04 write, “We are excited to announce that we had William Henry Foley on October 20, 2021. He is named after Adrian’s Dad and my “Bonus” Dad. We moved to Charleston, SC earlier this month to be closer to family. Although we are sad to leave our friends in Miami, we are excited for this new

adventure and are so happy we made the move out here.” TAMAR (RUTTER) WASH ‘02 and her husband, David, and daughters, Cora and Kaia, are expecting their third baby boy in June. RYAN JURNEY ‘04 and his wife and son, Diana and Matías, were blessed to welcome Madeline

Marie Jurney to the family this January. AJ UNDORFER ‘04 and his wife, Olivia, and their children, Ava and Adam, welcomed Audrey Joy Undorfer into their family on November 3, 2022. They are all overjoyed with their newest addition to their family. SAMANTHA (EVANS) MOORE ’06 started her private practice called Motherhood & Moore which focuses on perinatal, lactation, and pediatric occupational therapy in Palmetto Bay and the surrounding areas. Learn more at motherhoodandmoore.com.

BRITTNEY (FYFFE) HERNANDEZ ‘06 and WILSON HERNANDEZ ‘06 welcomed their third child, Maya, on March 29, 2021. PATRICIA (LEHTINEN) SILVA ‘06 and MICHAEL SILVA ‘06 welcomed their third child, Sofia, on September 4, 2021. DAVID MARBERT ‘06 and his wife, Karla, welcomed baby Kai on April 6th, 2021. GRACE HILL ‘07 and her husband are living in Virginia and welcomed their first son, Dylan Perry Serry on February 3, 2022. NATALIE IMRAN ‘08 writes, “I recently left Rockwell Group to start a new architectural practice

with two other talented individuals and I would love to share more about our new venture! Together we have experience in a variety of sectors — food and beverage, hotel, entertainment, mixed-use and master planning — and we are looking to expand our portfolio as a new firm. We are currently working on a plant based Michelin star restaurant for chef Matthew Kenney, which you can read more about in our launch story via the link below. To learn more about this project visit www.studiovalerius.com” KIRSTEN (FERREIRA) FLOWERS ‘09 and her husband welcomed their

daughter, Olivia Nicole on January 1st, 2022. HAILEY (WOOD) WINDFELDER ‘09 and her husband welcomed their first son. DANIELA AGURCIA ‘10 married her longtime boyfriend, Mario, off the coast of Spain last Fall. After postponing a few times due to COVID they had an intimate wedding surrounded by family and childhood friends. JAVIER URIBE ‘ 10 and CAROLINA PÉREZ ‘10 married on March 4, 2022 in the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. They bought a home in Coconut Grove where they live with their two English Bulldogs. Carolina Perez graduated

We love our Graduates!

FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, The Moms and Dads Committee, made up of parents of alumni, gathered together to organize and assemble care packages for the recent graduates who are in their first year of college. The committee begins by collecting all the college mailing addresses, then volunteers assemble the packages filled with snacks, treats, and a handwritten note from current students at PTS. Once the packages are filled and sealed, they’re sent in the mail to remind our alumni that we miss them and they will always have a home at Palmer Trinity. A special thank you to all the Moms and Dads of Grads led by Kelli Powell and Jeniffer Dylewsky for organizing this special project.

ALUMNI NEWS

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

FALCONS AROUND THE WORLD INTERVIEW BY L AUR A MASSA, HISTORY DEPARTMENT CO-CHAIR

For over ten years, more than 160 students from Palmer Trinity and Colegio Marista Champagnat, in Salamanca, Spain participated in summer or semester exchange programs. Students were enriched by a challenging curriculum and the cultural and linguistic acquisition the experience offered. In 2011, The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), honored Palmer Trinity School by naming it a Global Classroom Award Winner. Our cultural and student exchange programs were top-rated over schools nominated nationwide. Through this program, faculty and students of Palmer Trinity School demonstrate their dedication to raising global consciousness and an enthusiasm for welcoming foreign exchange students into their student body. The following two alums studied at Palmer Trinity for a semester, as part of a student exchange.

MARTA MIRA OSUNA 2013 STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM FROM SALAMANCA, SPAIN Marta Mira Osuna graduated in Biotechnology from the University of Salamanca, a very competitive career that admits only forty students per year. Marta won the Erasmus scholarship to study at the University of Rennes in France, where she was invited to pursue a doctoral degree and won a second Erasmus scholarship. She is now studying and researching under the auspices of the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer scholarship.

1. How did Palmer Trinity contribute to your education? Palmer Trinity has been a cornerstone in both my academic and personal growth. During my time there I was given the opportunity to explore new worlds well past the classical Humanities and Science subjects, which at the time was all that I had studied. I was given the opportunity to take classes such as Dance or Creative Writing, which were not only fun, but also extremely helpful in terms of developing new skills that I now use on a regular basis. Palmer Trinity set the perfect environment for me to mature and discover more of myself, teaching me that even far from home, I can overcome new challenges and continue to learn from the people around me. I would like to make a special mention to Ms. Smith, Mr. Godley and Mr. Saucedo. I thoroughly enjoyed their classes thanks to their passion in teaching and how well they transmitted that to us.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

2. D o you have a memory from your time at Palmer Trinity you cherish?

I have a lot! I really liked the convocations, they were always special and unique. I remember when Martin Luther King, III came to the school to give a talk, and it was incredible! His words were very moving and inspirational. It is one of the memories I cherish the most, and without Palmer Trinity, it could have never been possible. I also enjoyed when we

had live performances, whether it was coming from the talented alumni singing and/or dancing, or from artists like Crist Cab. Another special day for me was the International Festival. The diversity Palmer nurtures really came to life with this celebration and I had a great time with “El asado” de Marcelo, trying typical dishes from almost every corner of the globe and of course, being part of the parade and carrying the Spanish

flag. Even though I’ve never felt the need to show off a flag, especially ours with the history it embeds, this celebration allowed me to feel proud of my roots and share the moment with others that felt the same way. And last but not least, the shark tagging trip I embarked on, the most unbelievable experience ever. I’m very happy I went on this short trip and once again, Palmer is to thank for offering me this unforgettable one in a lifetime adventure.

All in all, Palmer has provided me not only with wonderful memories of a school that is open, fresh and welcoming, but it has put some of the most wonderful people in my life. I would like to give a special thanks to all the people who made this adventure possible and ensured my time there was an unforgettable one, specially to Laura Massa, to Raul Gonzalez and his family to which they made me feel part of, and Ana and Carolina Casariego, I love all you very much.

BELEN VICENTE 2010 STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM FROM SALAMANCA, SPAIN Belen Vicente is a business development professional at AskBio and leader of the Healthcare Entrepreneurship Practice at MIT where she received her MBA focusing on new business models for rare diseases. She was selected as part of the Nova 111 List, as one of the 10 Spanish professionals in the vertical of Healthcare and Life Sciences which brings together the highest talent under 35 years of age.

1. H ow did Palmer Trinity contribute to your education? When I think about it, I am often amazed at the butterfly effect the decision to apply to the exchange program at Palmer had in my life and career. I was a sophomore and exchange student from Spain, so I had to adapt to a new country and language while fulfilling my academic requirements in the USA and Spain. Palmer was unique because it offered an outstanding variety of courses and extracurriculars that I could pick from according to my interests and my level. For example, I could take higher level science courses like algebra or physics honors, which were critical to then continue my STEM itinerary in Spain and eventually access my undergrad in biotechnology. On the other hand, I was able to succeed in English or History because Palmer

offered an ESL program. Rather than memorizing facts, we placed a huge emphasis on analyzing English texts and identifying flawed reasoning, and I learnt to properly write essays or short theses, learnings forever etched on my memory. I keep going back to these because they took my English skills to a whole new level that allowed me to be better prepared for university and then work with international teams for years and even complete graduate education in the U.S. Palmer Trinity was a life-changing experience that paved the way for the rest of my education and career. 2. D o you have a memory from your time at Palmer Trinity you cherish? Something that I loved about PTS was how, from time to time, the whole school gathered in the gym and there would be students

performing or showing some of the things they had learnt. I remember many of these events where we would see our friends as athletes, singers, composers, participating in science competitions, debates, cultural exchanges, etc.—anything was possible! It was the best example of how the school encouraged students to explore their talents and interests, no matter what they were. If something did not exist, the whole staff was supportive and students could create a club. Coming from a far less flexible education system, being exposed to such an environment pushed me to lose my fear of exploring new things and think deeper about what I wanted to do in the future. I remember these gatherings as joyful, a true celebration of the courage it takes to explore the unknown at such an important age. 61

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ALUMNI PROFIL

ALUMNI NEWS

HORACIO R O D RC IL AGS S UO F E2 0 0Z0

lHoracio in his office

Horacio with the contributors of “Despacito”

HORACIO RODRIGUEZ was introduced to the world of music through his family and Palmer Trinity School. During his time at Palmer Trinity, Horacio enjoyed playing the drums in the pep band. Horacio comes from a family of musicians, but for him, it was important to “build his own castle;” so, after graduating from FIU he earned a degree in Audio Engineering from SAE and built a recording studio in Miami. Eventually, he decided that he wanted to learn the business side of the music industry. Through a PTS fellow alum, ROBERTO MARTINEZ RUBIO ‘00, Horacio learned about an internship that was being offered by Universal Music Group in Miami Beach. Horacio landed the internship, went on to get hired as Marketing Coordinator, and worked his way up to become the Senior VP of Marketing for the Latin Music Division (Universal Music Latin Entertainment). Horacio had an amazing career with Universal Music Group supporting artists such as K AROL G, J BALVIN, LUIS FONSI, JUANES, SEBASTIAN YATRA among others and as a key member of the cohort that pioneered the globalization of Latin music with record-breaking hits such as “Despacito,” “Tusa” and “Mi Gente.” When the pandemic hit in 2020, Horacio like many other Miamians, spent a lot of time on his boat in the ocean. During one of his boat outings, Horacio ran into his former boss, Walter Kolm on Biscayne Bay.

left / Horacio with his family below / Horacio visiting the music students at PTS

Before starting his own management company and record label, Walter was actually the person that hired Horacio at Universal after his internship. When Walter saw Horacio, he shouted from his boat “When are you going to come work for me!?” It had been a running joke between them for years until New Year’s Eve 2020 when Walter called Horacio and officially offered him a position as the CEO of his new label, WK Records, and the Head of Music at WK Entertainment. As the CEO of WK Records, Horacio oversees the new label which serves as the home for many big-name artists and as an “incubator for rising Latin acts.” The label has experienced huge success with the release of hits such as “Una Vaina Loca,” “Mi Niña” and “Fiel” by Wisin, Los Legendarios, and Jhay Cortez which reached #1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay and became the #1 Latin song on TikTok globally in 2021. WK Records is currently the largest independent Latin Music company and Billboard recently ranked WK Records as one of the top 10 Latin record labels overall. Horacio’s vision for the future of WK Records is to become a Latin music powerhouse and a leading player in the music industry. Horacio shares,

“Our goal in the long-term is to expand our reach into new content verticals and technologies while always conserving our independent spirit.” Another aspect of Horacio’s new career includes serving as the Head of Music for WK Entertainment which is Walter Kolm’s management company. In this role, Horacio works with talented artists such as Maluma, Carlos Vives, Wisin, Prince Royce and others to help them share their talent and music with the world. Horacio explained, “I believe that the artists I work with have extraordinary talent and my job is simply to help them share it with the world.” Horacio explains, “We are constantly looking for talented artists from all walks of life who are driven to tell their story, deliver great music and pave their own lane in the music industry. Our key to success and the most important quality we seek when entering into a business relationship is for the artist (and team) to view WK as their extended family and a partner in their journey.” On December 1, 2021, Horacio took some time out of his very busy schedule to visit the Music Production students at Palmer Trinity to share

his story and his experience. He explained to the students that a career in one of the many facets of the music industry is completely attainable if you’re passionate about music and work hard. Horacio has achieved enormous success; however, his biggest challenge was overcoming the fear of pursuing a career in a field that seemed so distant. Horacio shared that the key to success when leading his team is effective communication. He recalled Mr. Rosen’s speech class, where he mastered the art of public speaking and communication. While Horacio’s life is oftentimes nonstop with little to no sleep when he’s traveling, Horacio says the music keeps him going. “Music is my love. Second to my family, it is everything to me! The world needs music and my job is to help bring good music to the people.” Horacio feels blessed in every aspect of his life. He has a loving family with two beautiful daughters, Isabella (10) and his new baby girl, Chloe, who was born this February. Not only does he love what he does, he feels fortunate to make a difference in the world through music, which serves as a universal language for so many.

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni Games

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Alumni Weekend kicked off on December 11, 2021 with the Alumni Games. Alumni from various decades returned to Palmer Trinity to play in competitive yet friendly soccer, basketball, and kickball games. We even had a surprise appearance from professional soccer player and alumnus, ALEJANDRO MELEÁN ‘05. A special thank you to ADRIAN FOLEY ‘05 for sponsoring the t-shirts and to Coach Du Feu, Coach Montes, Coach Robertson and Coach Bloom for organizing the games.

KIRSTEN FERRIER A FLOWERS ‘09

CAMIL A AIME ‘10

DANIEL A AGURCIA ‘10

from UM Law in 2017 and dedicates her practice to criminal defense work in Miami, Florida. Javier owns two restaurants in Coconut Grove – Strada in the Grove and Farinelli 1937. He has also started a real estate

KIRSTEN MARBERT YOUNG ‘10

CHRISTINA LUDOVICI ‘10

JAVI URIBE ‘10

business with his brother, DIEGO URIBE ‘08. CAMILA AIME ‘10 writes, “I created my own travel company called Escapadez in February of this year. After working in leisure travel at an agency for a couple of

years, I became independent during the pandemic, where the travel industry suffered a particularly tough time. Once things started picking up I decided it was time to create my own travel company. Escapadez is a tailor-made travel service focusing on luxury and/ or adventure travel. We are 100% focused on creating custom itineraries anywhere in the world and have hotel and airline partners in almost every country. While the world is going through uncertain times of pandemic, war, and whatever else might come our way, one thing is clearer than ever, people are ready to get back to travel. With that uncertainty however, I have found that clients have turned back to agencies to help with the latest updates from countries, assistance on required forms, any last minute changes, etc. During this time the industry has changed in many new ways, and travel is more exciting than ever! I created Escapadez to inspire people to start traveling again, and to assure every client that we can create a trip that they will be comfortable and excited about. www. escapadez.com” BRIANNA HENRY ‘10 and her husband Kris Bowers welcomed their first daughter Coda on February 28, 2022. CHRISTINA LUDOVICI ‘10 married Dogan Dinlecener on April 2, 2022.

KIRSTEN MARBERT YOUNG ‘10 writes, “John and I got married July 10, 2021 on our 10-year dating anniversary. We met on the first day of school in college at UCLA, while he was playing football and I was cheerleading. We now live in Beverly Hills, California with our horribly behaved (but equally adorable) dog, Theo. John is an area manager for Southern Glazier’s Wine and Spirits here in Southern California, and I’m working in Film/Television Casting at Apple TV+.” K ATIE DI FEDE ‘11 is engaged to her boyfriend, Gonzolo Mengotti. The wedding is planned for March 25, 2023 in the Florida Keys. SAVANNAH DOMINGUEZ ‘11 married Matt Morris on January 29, 2022 surrounded by family and friends including PTAlums, GABBY MARQUEZ, DANIELLE FUSTER, MARINA BERTRAND, NINA MAS, LAUREN BUSS PHILIP QUIÑONES, MATÍAS FAILLACE and K ATIE DI FEDE! DANIEL K APLAN ‘11 married his wife Sofi Torrents on January 29, 2022 in Tavernier. It was the coldest and windiest weekend of the year but that didn’t take away from the amazing time they had celebrating their love with all of their friends and family. MARCELL APPLE ‘11 married his longtime girlfriend, Kristina Lauria, at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, FL on April 9, 2022. 65

ALUMNI NEWS

They were surrounded by family and friends and had amazing weather! MARINA BERTRAND ‘11 got engaged to her boyfriend, Esteban Pareja. REBECCA MERRITT ‘11 married Kieran Walsh in Jamaica, in February 2022 surrounded by friends and family including the following Palmer Trinity alumni BRANDON SANCHEZ, CANDY MOO ‘12*, DANIELA ROGER ‘11, ALEX DAUD ‘11, TESSA WOGAN ‘11, MATT

MACNAIR ‘11, JOSE REYES ‘11, MATIAS FAILLACE ‘11, ALEX MENDEZ ‘10, PHILLIP QUINONES ‘11, RODOLFO MARTINEZ ‘13, SYDNEY MERRITT ‘14. ASHLEY DU FEU MUNTEAN ‘12 and her husband welcomed their first baby girl, Charlotte (Charlie) Muntean, right before Mother’s day on May 7, 2022. KRIS REST ‘12 started a new job at Prysm Group, a research-driven economic consulting firm

at the cutting edge of blockchain and distributed ledger technology. DANIEL OMACHONU ‘12 and his girlfriend Taylor Shaw are engaged. They met at a Williamsburg bar called Kinfolk! Daniel asked her to dance and they danced for almost 2 hours straight! The rest is history… They have been together for 5 years since! Daniel proposed on 10/22/21. They went to the top of the Williamsburg hotel, right next to where they met at Kinfolk. Kinfolk

closed down during the pandemic, which made both of them sad, so he wanted to do it very close to where they met and at a place where they have also made special memories. He made a reservation at the hotel rooftop restaurant. He had the hotel rooftop play one of the songs that they first listened to together when they first met: “Japanese Denim.” The song was playing as they walked in and she thought it was a coincidence! Daniel walked

Alumni Legacy Breakfast 2021 KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE OR PASSING ON THE LEGACY

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

As Palmer Trinity celebrates its 50th Anniversary, it is important to recognize the rich traditions and history that make our School unique. During Homecoming Week, we celebrated our alumni legacy families who have chosen to pass on the Palmer Trinity experience to their own children. At the Alumni Legacy Breakfast, alumni who are current parents at our School recounted their favorite memories from their time at Palmer, Trinity, and Palmer Trinity Schools as their children listened. They shared the stories, traditions, and values that make Palmer Trinity such a special place. Thank you to our alumni legacy families for keeping the PTS spirit alive in your homes.

DANIEL K APL AN ‘11

K ATIE DIFEDE ‘11

REBECCA MERRITT ‘11

DANIEL OMACHONU ‘12

up to the rooftop viewing platform with Taylor when the coast was clear, and she saw the rose pedals. She didn’t know it was for her because there was a wedding going on. When she turned around, he was getting something out of his pocket and getting down on one knee. She was totally surprised and she said YES! VANESSA ZABALA ‘12 graduated from medical school and is starting anesthesiology residency this coming summer at the University of Central Florida.

MARCEL APPLE ‘11

SAVANNAH DOMINGUEZ ‘11

PAUL A FR ANCO ‘12

VANESSA ZABAL A ‘12

BEN DAGROSA ‘12 married Alana Fernandez on December 18, 2021 at the Four Seasons Orlando. They celebrated their big day surrounded by family, friends and several PTS alumni. PAULA FRANCO ‘12 got engaged on April 9, 2022 to John J. Ogilby, III. They both graduated from St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School but met for the first time in January 2020. NICOLE KING ‘12 is graduating in May 2022

SAVANNAH DOMINGUEZ ‘11 WITH PTS ALUMS

MARINA BERTR AND ‘11

ASHLEY DU FEU MUNTEAN ‘12

BEN DAGROSA ‘12

VICTORIA ALVAREZ-AR ANGO ‘12

with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. VICTORIA ALVAREZARANGO ‘12 got engaged to her boyfriend, Eduardo Ragolta, and is graduating from Harvard Business School in May 2022. DANIEL McCAIN ‘12 just finished working his first trial, which spanned over 25 days and 140 hours of witness testimony. PAULINA PRIETO ‘12 is going back to play professional volleyball, after having a beautiful girl last year.

FERNANDA ROJAS ‘12 completed a masters in Design + Innovation and is living in Madrid. ASHLEY (K ALBAC) BARRIOS ‘12 graduated with a master’s degree in August 2021 and is a Nurse Practitioner at UM downtown. She is now working on her doctorate. K ATIE BROCKWAY ‘13 and ALEX TORBERT ‘13 met on the first day of high school after Katie had just moved to Miami from a small town in Montana. It did not take long for Alex to swoon Katie into being his cheerleader 67

ALUMNI NEWS

CC L AUS S RO FT2 0I1 7S L A R Y Drones have been around for a long time but were primarily used for military purposes. Over the last 10 years, there’s been an explosion in drone innovation. In recent years, drones have evolved and are being used in several industries including, agriculture, construction, delivery services, law enforcement, and first responders. Drones today can be used for a wide range of functions, including monitoring climate change, crop and farm monitoring, delivering goods, surveillance, and aiding in search and rescue operations. However, one of the biggest challenges that drone users encounter is the short battery life that prevents drones from flying continuously. When the pandemic hit, alumnus, CURTIS LARY ‘17, was graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and he set out on a mission to design, develop, and manufacture an economical autonomous drone that could offer continuous flight; thus Curt’s start-up company, Hextronics, was born.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Curt has always been passionate about STEM. During his time at Palmer Trinity, he enjoyed and excelled in his Math, Science, Robotics, Computer Science, and

PTS students interning at Hextronics.

Guitar classes where he was mentored by some of the most influential teachers in his life including Dr. Nagel, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Trujillo, Mr. Rivera, Mrs. Morin, Dr. Harvin, and others. As a student, Curt also participated in the Agents of Change led by Dr. Llinás and Mr. Ballarezo. This program inspired students to make a difference in the community by teaching them to identify a problem/ need in the community and then create a business that would somehow help solve the problem. After Agents of Change, Curt continued his entrepreneurial journey as a mechanical inventor and he worked on many endeavors before arriving at Hextronics. Through each endeavor, he kept looking for ways to leverage his capability to design technology and support environmental sustainability and social entrepreneurship. With each different venture, he learned more skills in sales/marketing, business development, design for manufacturing, and team management. Fast forward to 2020, Curt launched Hextronics operating out of the garage in his home and based on the philosophy of democratizing drone technology. Curt explained, “We want to build a world where all businesses can have the opportunity to utilize the sky — not just through the sole hands of tech giants as it is now.”

ALUMNI PROFILE You might be asking yourself, what makes Hextronics so unique? The Hextronics drones are designed to have 6 batteries that work with the Hextronics Global drone station which is a robotic battery-swapping mechanism making the drone capable of flying 24/7. The drone can fly for a 10-mile radius before returning to the station to leave the drained battery charging and replace it with a new battery to continue the flight. And why is it useful for drones to fly continuously? Computer vision is the process of analyzing a stream of images and extracting highly-valuable data from them. Hextronics drones work with HexVision to capture and analyze video data. For example, Hextronics partnered with the Miami Beach Police Department to deploy a portable drone station to enforce crowd control and public safety at the Miami Beach model volleyball competition. The video data collected was analyzed and programmed to send alerts in the event of a threat. Although Hextronics had humble beginnings in Curt’s garage with a few other PTS alumni and students who interned with Curt during the summer of 2021, today Hextronics is operating out of a large warehouse in

Original Hextronics team working out of Curtis’ garage.

Miami and has a team of 16 employees with different backgrounds including Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Marketing, Administration, and Manufacturing. Hextronics is currently the largest manufacturer of battery swapping drone stations, with over 50 stations that have been shipped world-wide. They’ve partnered with several leaders in the industry including Flytbase, Drone Nerds, T Mobile, and others to ensure the highest quality product at the most economical price. They also pride themselves on providing exceptional customer service and support through continuous flight monitoring. Curt and his team work around the clock (he even has a bed in the warehouse where he often spends the night) to continue innovating, developing and perfecting new technology. Curt says Palmer Trinity helped prepare him for his career as an engineer and business manager by, “teaching me how to handle large amounts of stress and chaos. There were times when I had to solve a problem in differential calculus while explaining to a classmate how to write a recursive function in Javascript and also take notes for a lecture on Han Dynasty Feudalism all before the next class period. Situations like this were not uncommon, and they taught me how to prioritize and multitask under a tight time period.” Hextronics has made enormous progress in only two years, but Curt sees the future with endless opportunities. He shares, “As we continue to push forward, we are working on Next-Generation drone stations that will be deployed across the country and across the world to aid our first responders, energy/construction teams, farmers, and surveyors. 2022 is set to be an exciting year for the future Hextronics, and yet it is only the beginning! I imagine the possibilities of what autonomous flying robots can really start to do for society. After becoming integrated as a first responder for immediate emergencies, I can see them starting to give back in more ways like routine building inspection, environmental and wildlife tracking, construction progress monitoring, and landscape mapping. Beyond this, even being able to give the flying robots actionable capabilities such as emergency organ transport, package delivery, crop spraying/harvesting, trash collection, and infrastructure maintenance. As for my future, I hope to give back the knowledge and excitement that I have gained for the power of technology and hope to lower the barrier of entry for individuals to get started designing their own systems to bring benefit to everyday life and society!”

ALUMNI NEWS

for their upcoming football season. After many game day baked goods and PTS Proms together, Katie and Alex graduated high school from Palmer Trinity School and both were accepted into the University of Alabama. Alex proposed to Katie at her family’s annual 4th of July Party in Livingston, Montana, and were married on February 5th in the Florida Keys surrounded by their families and PTS alumni friends. The high school sweethearts cannot wait for this new adventure together! FERNANDO BONET ‘13 started a new job as a pilot for American Airlines after working for Spirit Airlines for over 5 years.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

LIZZIE EVERSOLE ‘13 writes, “I was recently promoted to Senior Regional Process Engineer at Amazon. This role allows me to dive into metrics and processes all across the U.S. while partnering with sites in Europe and Australia. My main objective is to reduce variation across multiple site types and aid in standardization to make Amazon run more efficiently. In July, I will be celebrating my 5th year at Amazon.”

MADISON ROSEN ‘14 married her best friend, Sean Watkins on April 9, 2022 surrounded by her family and friends LEA AFTIMOS ‘14 is engaged to Bruce Wilson.

KELLY MALLOY ‘15 is graduating from the University of Miami School of Law, magna cum laude, with a concentration in Intellectual Property this May. She recently completed her term leading the Student Bar Association as Miami Law’s student body President, is an Editor on the University of Miami Law Review, and was just tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor attained at UM. During her time at Miami Law, Kelly also served as President of the Intellectual Property Law Society, President of the Inter-Club Council, Student Bar Association Secretary, and 1L Senator. For her academic efforts and service to the Miami Law community, Kelly received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship, the Litigation Skills Adjunct Faculty Scholarship, the Dean’s Certificate of Achievement in Patent Law, the Joseph H. Bogosian Student Leadership Award, and the Society of Bar & Gavel’s Roger Sorino Award. Kelly also passed the Patent Bar in February and plans to join her family at Malloy & Malloy, P.L., where she has worked as a law clerk for 2 years, upon passing the Florida Bar. She also just celebrated 8 years with her PTS sweetheart, DANIEL DEWITT ‘15.

K ATIE BROCKWAY ‘13 AND ALEX TORBERT ‘13

FERNANDO BONET ‘13

LIZZIE EVERSOLE ‘13

LEA AFTIMOS ‘14

CHARLES BAILEY ‘17 writes, “I live in New York City MADISON ROSEN ‘14

KELLY MALLOY ‘15

Alumni Mentoring Program

The Alumni Mentoring Program was created to connect current students and recent graduates with successful alumni in various professional fields. The goal of this program is to give students real world experiences and for our alumni to help educate and inspire our students as they prepare to enter the real world. This year, we were fortunate to have the following alumni serve as guest speakers for our students.

Ashley Tagliero ‘ 13, a local artist and art teacher, inspired art students to follow their passion and chose a career where they can use their creative talents.

Miranda Ricart ‘14 visited Ms. Holstein’s Anatomy class to discuss the Medical School experience and educate students about the various opportunities in the medical field.

Charles Bailey ‘17, who earned his degree in computer science from UCF and is currently working at Hudson River Trading in NYC, served as a guest speaker for our Computer Science and Investment Club students.

Lynley (Walker) Ciorobea ‘96, a successful Realtor in our community, spoke to the Gold Standard Breakfast Club about the importance of building and nurturing relationships, even if it means going out of your way to help others.

Horacio Rodriguez ‘00, who was recently named CEO of WK Records, spoke to students in Music Production class. Horacio shared his journey through the music industry and reassured students that a career in one of the various areas of the music industry is 100% attainable if they’re persistent and work hard.

Danny Diaz Leyva ‘98 was the guest speaker for our Gold Standard Breakfast Club, showing our students the importance of doing the right thing even when there’s no reward.

Michael Vega Sanz ‘ 14, founder of Lula Rides, spoke to the Investment and Entrepreneurship clubs about being the founder of a successful business and being able to pivot to adapt to market circumstances.

Doug Rothfeldt ‘10, the founder of the Investment Club at Palmer Trinity and current Wealth Management Advisor at Goldman Sachs, continuously mentors the members of the Investment and Entrepreneurship clubs as they learn to navigate the current market and make profitable investments.

Victoria Varela ‘05, the Community Outreach Director at Lotus House Women’s Shelter, spoke to the Social Entrepreneurship and IB students and inspired students to get involved to help end homelessness in our community.

ALUMNI NEWS

and accepted a position as a software engineer at Hudson River Trading. I work on low latency market data and order entry software. It’s a lot of fun and the company is great.” SALMA ATASSI ‘17 writes, “I am currently finishing my first year of dental school and will be starting my second year of dental school in May! Very grateful to all of the opportunities and support I’ve had along the way that has gotten me to this point, especially Palmer!” W YNNE OWRE ‘18 is graduating from the University of Miami this spring and will be attending Rice University for her master’s in viola performance.

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

ELIZABETH (LIZZY) ARRITOLA ‘18 writes, “I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s in Accounting in the Spring of 2022. I will be attending the University of Miami School of Law in Fall of 2022.”

SALMA ATASSI ‘17

NORY ARONFELDT ‘19 writes, “Shortly after graduating from Palmer Trinity in 2019, I fell in love with music in a way I never thought I would. I had always been an avid listener of music and did dance as a child, but I never expected my interests to go beyond that. Then, one day during the summer before I started college, I opened my laptop and began producing music, mostly without knowing it. Eventually, I realized that I couldn’t stop, and soon this random hobby became my life passion. As time went on, through a year of experimentation, I started to develop my own sound, and with that, I soon began branching out to different musical communities all across the world. Fast forward roughly 3 years, and I now find myself preparing for my 2nd album release which will be performed in a show at the Faena Theater in Miami Beach on April 24. This upcoming album is the culmination of an entire year + work in the world of rap music. I applied my previous experience/ affinity for electronic music

ELIZABETH ARRITOL A ‘18

and started bending and warping the expectations of hip hop with a new and creative sound that I cannot wait to release to the world. This upcoming album, selftitled “NORY,” is a fully selfproduced/written/recorded album, most of which was made in my current college dorm room at FGCU.” BRANDON YANES ‘19 attends Florida State University’s College of Business and is completing his Bachelor of Science in Finance in Spring ‘23. He is an active member of the Financial Management Association and Securities Society. He has always had a keen interest in Finance and Investments, and along with his professors’ influence, coursework, and his involvement, it has solidified his pursuit of a Finance career. In March 2022, he was selected to join the FMA Finance Leaders’ Conference in NYC where he collaborated with a team of eleven students in an Investment analysis competition. He had the amazing opportunity to visit the NY Stock exchange,

WAYNE OWRE ‘18

THANK YOU TO OUR ALUMNI LEADERSHIP DONORS GOLDEN FALCON CIRCLE Adam Moskowitz’85 ROSE PALMER O’NEIL CIRCLE Michele (Baker) Benesch ‘89 Beth (Brockway) Serrate ‘85 Andre Carbonell ‘05 Elizabeth (Lane ) Bacardi ‘93 R. HARDY MATHESON CIRCLE Richard Grillo ‘97 and Laura (O’Donnell) Grillo ‘98 Ophelia (Grillo) Valls ‘92 Sean Murphy ‘89 HEAD OF SCHOOL CIRCLE Daniel Diaz Leyva ‘98 Ryan Jurney ‘04 Anne Beaumont (Nichols) Neithardt ‘95 Kemi (Raatama) Edwards ‘89 Douglas Rothfeldt ‘10 Tamara (Rutter) Walsh ‘02 Scott Shelfer ‘89 Boo (Park) Zamek ‘90 Nathan Zeder ‘98 AJ Undorfer ‘04 Jon Greenwell ‘79 and Mary (Eldredge) Greenwell ‘79

NORY ARONFELDT ‘19

attend the ringing of the opening bell, and network with students from other FMA chapters and professional leaders in the business world. Brandon was nominated to

serve as part of the FMA Executive Board at Florida State University. EMMA APPLEBY ‘21 is studying at St. Andrews University in Scotland.

BR ANDON YANES ‘19

EMMA APPLEBY ‘21

Alumni Reunion 2021

After nearly two years of not being able to host a reunion due to the pandemic, alumni from the classes of 2017, 2016, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2002, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1992, and 1991 were thrilled to finally gather together to celebrate. On December 11, 2021, alumni met at The Garden at Ariete in Coconut Grove to reminisce about old memories and make new ones. This event would not have been possible without the help of the Reunion Committee. A special thanks goes out to the Reunions Chairs: CHAD SERRATE ‘17, EMILY (K ALBAC) CANNON ‘16, K ATIE DIFEDE ‘11, MATIAS FAILLACE ‘11, MATT MCNAIR ‘11, KRIS REST ‘12, ANDRES VALVERDE ‘12, SAM (EVANS) MOORE ‘06, JULIO LIGORRIA ‘06, TAMARA (RUTTER) WALSH ‘02, JOHANNA KLINE ‘02, ADRIA “PEACH” REEVES ‘02, KRISTIN (HAYDEN) HARBERT ‘01, CARLOS HUERTA ‘01, WES FARRELL ‘01, ASHLEY (PRUITT) ANDREN ‘01, LYNLEY (WALKER) CIOROBEA ‘96, BRETT FRENCH ‘97, AND DENISE (CIPRIANO) HINMAN ‘91. STAY TUNED: The reunion for the Palmer Pirates and the Trinity Titans has been postponed, but will be rescheduled soon.

1991

2006

1996 & 1997

2011

2001

2002

2012

2016 & 2017

ALUMNI NEWS

Save-the-Dates SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

Battle of the Oar SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Homecoming DECEMBER 1, 2022

Tree Lighting DECEMBER 10, 2022

Holiday Party JANUARY 30, 2023

Sandy Golf Tournament MARCH 11, 2023

International Festival PALMERTRINITY.ORG

MARCH 11, 2023

Alumni Reunion Weekend

IN MEMORIAM

MANUELA FLORES A BELOVED FORMER EMPLOYEE, Manuela Flores, passed away this year leaving behind her sweet influence on campus. Manuela began working at Trinity Episcopal School and was at Palmer Trinity for over 20 years. She knew every student by name. The Palmer Trinity community felt blessed to have Manuela working here. Not only did she care for everyone on campus, but as her surname—which translates to “flowers”—attests, she

lovingly tended to all of the beautiful orchids on campus. Many remember her looking over each plant carefully, monitoring their growth. If any orchid struggled to bloom, she would play music to encourage them to flower— and there are witnesses that it worked! Manuela, or “Abuelita,” as many students called her, was raised in Peru and moved to the U.S. in the 1960s. Manuela and her husband,

Jose, had one daughter, Carmen, a former PTS Admissions staff member. Manuela’s love for children led her to receive a certificate in childcare from Miami Dade College. Her care for students and the beauty she brought to campus through her orchids will never be forgotten by those who knew her. Whenever they see an orchid in bloom, they warmly remember their dear friend, Manuela. 75

ALUMNI NEWS

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee for Tennis EVAN ZEDER ‘01

Evan was born into a family of tennis enthusiasts and began playing at the early age of 6. Evan’s older brother, NATHAN ZEDER ‘98 set the example as a dedicated player both on and off the courts. Their parents, specifically their mother, “drove them to reach goals that had no ceiling… just a floor.” Evan was the #1 tennis player at Palmer Trinity from 7th -12th grade. He earned countless championship titles, was named All-Dade and qualified to compete at the finals in the State Competition. After graduating from Palmer Trinity in 2001 he earned a scholarship to play for the University of Illinois Men’s Tennis team. His team won the Big Ten Championship four times and was the 2003 NCAA Champion with an undefeated season. His 2005 Illinois Class holds the longest winning streak in NCAA history, winning 64 straight matches. After graduating from college, Evan lived in Chicago, Seattle, and NYC and helped start a company named “Athletic DNA,” which became the largest junior tennis apparel brand in the country. Evan currently lives in Miami with his wife Merideth Blalock Zeder and their daughter Rose Zeder. Evan is the Head of Global Sports Marketing for New Balance and is responsible for the signing and management of all NB Tennis athletes including young superstar, Coco Gauff. Evan is grateful for his experiences with tennis which have opened up many doors for him including domestic and international travel opportunities and treasured relationships

PALMERTRINITY.ORG

Inductee for Lacrosse BRENDAN WINKLER ‘98

Brendan began playing lacrosse in the summer of 1992 while visiting family in Connecticut. Falling in love with the sport, he immediately joined the Palmer Trinity lacrosse team as a 7th grader. Brendan served as the starting varsity lacrosse goalie from his Freshman through his Senior years. During his tenure he was a 3x All-State selection, 3x Florida All Star selection, team captain, and was awarded All American honors as a senior. In addition, as a senior, he was selected by a consortium of Florida High School lacrosse coaches to represent the state of Florida at the national North vs. South High School All Star game – where he was one of 50 players selected nationally. He also lettered in football and basketball while at Palmer Trinity. After graduating from Palmer Trinity, Brendan earned a lacrosse scholarship to attend Butler University, a Top 15 Division 1 program, becoming the first lacrosse player from the state of Florida to receive a full lacrosse scholarship to a Division

1 school. While studying finance and economics at Butler, Brendan also made notable strides on the lacrosse field. As a 4-year starter at Butler, Brendan led the NCAA in saves as a sophomore, was a 3x team MVP and 3x team captain as voted by his teammates and coaches, was a 2x AllConference selection, and pre-season honorable mention All American selection as a senior. He was also invited to represent the South region in the annual North vs. South Collegiate All Star game as a senior, in addition to receiving opportunities to play professional lacrosse. After college, Brendan moved to Chicago where he resided for 17 years, continuing his love for lacrosse by serving as President of the Chicago Lacrosse Club for 5 years, and playing for another 15. Brendan currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Allison Siebert Winkler and their two children Lillian Margaret Winkler and Ansel Alexander Winkler. Professionally, Brendan serves as a Managing Director in EYs Wealth and Asset Management Consulting practice where he is responsible for leading all crypto, digital asset and blockchain consulting initiatives in this market sector.

2021

ALUMNI AWARDS ELIZABETH (LANE) BACARDI ‘93

Elizabeth attended Trinity Episcopal School and then Palmer Trinity School after the merger in 1992. Elizabeth was an involved and dedicated student, participating in the drama and musical theater program, sports teams, and serving as her Senior Class President. Elizabeth is the mother of Olivia, a PTS Class of 2021 graduate and current pre-med student at Georgetown, Sealey a recent 2022 PTS graduate, Remi a PTS sophomore, and Lila a 5th grader at St. Thomas Episcopal. Elizabeth believes in the importance of service and giving back to her community. She has dedicated countless hours to the PTS community through her service as a Trustee, a Parent Mentor, a Grade Coordinator, a Soccer Team Parent, an Admissions Ambassador, a Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament volunteer, and an International Festival booth leader. You can frequently find Elizabeth at School organizing events, attending parent meetings, or cheering on our student-athletes. Elizabeth’s dedication, commitment, and service to Palmer Trinity make her a pillar for the alumni community.

ANDREA ORTIZ ‘12

Andrea’s goal in life is to “use her privilege to fight injustice.” As a sophomore at Palmer Trinity, Andrea was one of the first students to participate in a semester abroad in Paris, France, where she was exposed to a Model UN Club and visited UN Headquarters in Paris to sit on the human rights council. During this trip, she was exposed to the world of public policy making, and upon her return to PTS she eagerly started a Model UN Club at school. She dove into an Independent Study with Dr. Regalado, focusing on immigration policy in the US. Andrea graduated PTS as the Valedictorian and went on to study Social Studies at Harvard. Upon graduating she was one of 470 Fulbright Scholars worldwide, giving her the opportunity to return to her hometown in Mexico, to conduct research on how gender affects migration. After her research, she realized she wanted to do more to help those being hurt by the system, so she earned a Master’s Degree from Oxford University in Migration Studies. Upon graduating, she was offered an internship, followed by a career at the UN Migration Agency (IOM) Headquarters in Geneva. Andrea shares, “The reality is that borders exist and people are crossing them. My goal is to develop systems and policies to help people cross in a way that would be beneficial to both sides while considering the human rights of those crossing.”

JOAN SANZ

Joan is the mother of Palmer Trinity alumni, CHRIS SANZ ‘04 and KEVIN SANZ ‘01; however, during her time as a PTS parent, she took on the role as the “Team Mom” to countless athletes on the football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. Joan served as a PTS Booster Club Board Member for eight years, the Editor of the Sports Book for 6 years, and as a team parent for over ten years. Joan is known for treating PTS students as her very own kids, providing them with all the support they needed to succeed. RYAN JURNEY ‘04 shares, “I was fortunate to have Joan Sanz as the Football team mom. Through thick and thin she was our most supportive, dependable, and loving fan. Her presence made us feel at home and team dinners at her house were a rite of passage. She is a Falcon, through and through, and embodies everything the Palmer Trinity family stands for.” Joan continues to support Palmer Trinity through her involvement on the School’s Community Board. She will forever be an ambassador for Palmer Trinity and support students in any way she can. 77

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 6077

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