THE MAGAZINE OF WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL
SPRING / SUMMER 2026
Habitat Restoration in the Galápagos
PORTRAIT OF A PENN CHARTER LEARNER The Portrait of a Penn Charter
Houston, We Have a Deadline: Advanced Physics Students Design Spaceships PC’s Upper School students studying Modern and Classical Physics, an Advanced Studies course, design spaceships using concepts typically taught to students pursuing a college degree in physics. The yearlong project demonstrates their knowledge of relativity, particle
Learner articulates the skills,
physics, nuclear physics, electromagnetic waves and quantum communication.
attitudes and competencies
“This spaceship project provides students an avenue to apply their knowledge in a creative, imaginative and rigorous manner while showing that these topics have concrete and tangible applications in our world,” teacher Jonathan Bacon said.
Penn Charter seeks to nurture in our Lower, Middle and Upper School students.
THE PORTRAIT HAS FOUR CORE DOMAINS: COURAGEOUS LEARNER CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNICATOR A Penn Charter learner communicates effectively and responsively to seek, share, and gain knowledge, while actively listening to others. A Penn Charter learner incorporates data and evidence to inform assertions and convey ideas. Constructive communication and silent reflection enable a Penn Charter learner to participate meaningfully in discourse, problem-solving, and positive change.
CHANGE CULTIVATOR COMPASSIONATE FRIEND Read more about the Portrait of a PC Learner at penncharter.com/portrait.
Bacon’s inspiration for the assignment came to him while reading a Star Wars book to his seven-year-old son. “The book provided crosssectional views of some classic Star Wars vehicles and explained the technology behind these sci-fi creations,” he said. “It referenced ion blasters, nuclear power cores, focused lasers and solar arrays—all concepts that are part of modern physics. I thought that students could take what they are learning in class to research, create, design and refine their own spaceship.” In their spaceship designs, students included descriptions of six different subsystems: artificial gravity, propulsion, navigation, communication, power and a system of their own choosing. Because the project was yearlong, students were able to apply to their designs what they were learning in each unit of the course. The final product included a 3D model, a diagram with design highlights, a document that expanded on their ideas and cited research, and an “elevator pitch” for showcasing their designs in a final gallery walk presentation. “We really enjoyed the ability to research our own options for every component,” wrote project partners Matt Dunn and Anay Lodhavia, both juniors. “The project was so independent—all we received were rubrics and due dates, which gave us a ton of flexibility in crafting each subsystem.” Thomas Le, a junior, said the most challenging part of the project was “backing our sci-fi designs with legitimate physics. A lot of the concepts we wanted to include were so advanced and theoretical that finding credible sources was difficult. We could’ve taken the easy route and designed a boring spaceship to the moon, but why would you when you could be traveling at 671,081 miles per hour after five years of acceleration?” Students were also given choices about how to share their designs with classmates and the community. “I learned a lot about myself and my research and presentation styles,” said junior Olive Donaghy. “Instead of writing papers for each subsystem, I made videos with slide decks. I found that I do much better talking through how something works rather than trying to write it all down.” Junior Moyo Adewunmi learned how complex it can be to collaborate in a group setting. “Throughout the project,” he said, “we had difficulty scheduling and conflicting ideas on how to construct specific parts of the spaceship, but by communicating and compromising, we were able to work efficiently while also maintaining group cohesion and balance.” “The people made this project what it was,” said Thomas, who partnered with fellow junior Henry Gelbach. “It's rare to have that kind of sustained collaboration where the creative process itself becomes just as valuable as the final product.” PC
Contents SPRING / SUMMER 2026
FEATURES
14 Journeys of Discovery and Purpose: Global Experiences Bring the Portrait of a PC Learner to Life
20 Learning and Leading in the Middle School
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24 Photography Exhibit: People of Penn Charter
32 Lifting Up Peace and Justice Through Nonviolence: The Hubben Lecture DEPARTMENTS
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OPENING THOUGHTS
From the Head's Office........................................................................................ 2 AROUND CAMPUS
Campus Currents................................................................................................... 3 Commencement.....................................................................................................8 Athletics Achievements................................................................................... 10 All-School Art Show........................................................................................... 22 Clue...........................................................................................................................26 Once on This Island........................................................................................... 27 The Con....................................................................................................................28 ALUMNI
PC Profiles Alexandra Olsman OPC ’08....................................................................... 29 Eric Tulsky OPC ’93....................................................................................... 30 OPC Weekend 2026...........................................................................................34 Then & Now.......................................................................................................... 38 Class Notes.............................................................................................................39
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ON THE COVER THE MAGAZINE OF WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL
SPRING / SUMMER 2026
Students plant native species to protect the habitat of the critically endangered Galápagos petrel. Habitat Restoration in the Galápagos
(Photo: Bryan Perez)
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 •
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THE MAGAZINE OF WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL
David Brightbill Associate Head of School Marcy Sosa Assistant Head of School Paul Hough OPC ’77 Clerk, Board of Trustees
OPENING THOUGHTS
MAGAZINE STAFF
Letter from the Head’s Office
Rebecca Luzi Editor Lisa D'Orazio Assistant Editor
Dear Friends, We hope you are enjoying a restorative summer and finding time to slow down, create lasting memories, and embrace the joy and renewal that this season offers. On School House Lane, we are engrossed in preparations for the 2026-2027 academic year, eagerly awaiting the spirited chatter and cheers of our students in the hallways and on the playing fields, stages and playgrounds. A school simply isn’t a school without children to bring it to life. Alongside preparing for another exceptional academic year, we are planning for a leadership transition as we welcome our new interim head of school. Times of change and transition can be challenging for schools but are also necessary for the health and growth of any institution. They also create opportunities to reaffirm who we are, strengthen the relationships that sustain our community and imagine together what is possible for the future. We look ahead with confidence, knowing that Penn Charter's enduring mission and extraordinary people will continue to guide us. Throughout each stage, each decade, each transformation of Penn Charter's 337-year history, the soul of our school has never wavered. Since our founding by William Penn, we have carried the legacy and responsibility of being the oldest Quaker school in the world. We are grounded, guided and inspired by our enduring Quaker values that are woven deeply into our curriculum, cocurricular programming and community. These values are so much more than catchphrases on a banner or school website. We feel them in the moment of silence before the softball team begins each game; use them to guide the Quaker process that our Upper School students follow when making class decisions; integrate them into our hiring practices; and embed them into the peaceful, intentional ways faculty approach conflict resolution for our lower schoolers. The words found in our school seal, “Good Instruction Is Better than Riches,” are and forever will be central to who we are and what we believe. This issue of the Penn Charter magazine is replete with stories that highlight the richness and breadth of the learning experiences students have at PC. Additionally, we hope they affirm for each of you our commitment to holding fast to our Quaker faith, values and practice—from our middle schoolers, who, inspired by the civic engagement of our Upper School students, created service initiatives of their own, to our People of PC art exhibit, which lifts up our faculty and staff who let their lives speak in myriad ways, and so much more. We are grateful to each of you for your ongoing trust and belief in Penn Charter and all our community stands for—centering justice and integrity, seeking truth and peace, and seeing and honoring the Light within each person. Sincerely, David Brightbill, Associate Head of School Marcy Sosa, Assistant Head of School
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April Torrisi Contributing Editor Sonia Belasco Contributing Editor Michael Branscom Feature Photography Zamani Feelings Wide Eyed Studios Additional Photography Proof Design Studios Design William Penn Charter School 3000 West School House Lane Philadelphia, PA 19144 215.844.3460
www.penncharter.com Penn Charter is the magazine of William Penn Charter School. It is published by the Marketing Communications Office and distributed to alumni, parents and friends of the school. In addition to providing alumni updates about classmates, reunions and events, the magazine focuses on the people, the programs and the ideas that energize our school community.
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CAMPUS CURRENTS
MAY THE FORCE OF STEM BE WITH THEM A Droid Brings Robotics to Life for Fourth and Fifth Graders A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away … Or, more accurately, just this past spring in the Lower School’s Idea Lab, Penn Charter fourth and fifth graders met R2-D2, built entirely by Director of Technology Scott Davis using a combination of 3D printing and engineering. Young Star Wars fans were clearly impressed by the lookalike droid. “I thought R2-D2 was incredible,” fifth grader Malcolm Sullivan said. “I feel that Mr. Davis's hard work has paid off.” “R2 started as a 3D print,” Davis said of his creation. “Once the raw prints were finished and assembled, he went through extensive post-processing to fill any seams and gaps and to make the surfaces smooth, which makes a metallic paint job look convincing. I then fit him with an electronics package consisting of micro-controllers, MP3 boards, motor controllers and an amplifier for lights, sound and movement.” The result is a droid that beeps and bloops like R2-D2, controlled by RC controllers that Davis uses to maneuver him around, trigger sounds and spin his dome—in both directions, just like in Star Wars. “The coolest part was when Mr. Davis took off the head and we could see all the effort and wiring it took to build R2-D2,” fifth grader Aryana Adappa said. “R2-D2 inspired me to believe that people can make something so successful using the same skills we're learning.”
As part of their innovation and design classes, fifth graders learn the fundamentals of 3D design using Tinkercad, a free web app also used for electronics and coding. Once they’ve mastered the basics, they can bring their digital designs to life by printing physical models in the Idea Lab. “Since fifth graders are just beginning their 3D printing and robotics units, it was a great opportunity for them to see an incredible real-world example of what’s possible to create,” said Rachel Evans, Lower School innovation and design teacher. For the robotics portion of the unit, students use Sphero Bolt+ robots, designing and building their own mini-golf course. Then their classmates have to program and code the robots to successfully navigate and “solve” the course. “It’s a fantastic way for them to apply logic and engineering in a hands-on way,” said Dan Stahl, technology coordinator for the Lower School. Davis may have other droids to share with students in the future. “I’m part of a community of droid builders who share their knowledge to help each other out,” he said. “We share our builds at different events such as Comic-Cons, charity events and schools, as well as Star Wars night with the Phillies and Flyers.” PC
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 •
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CAMPUS CURRENTS
Mic'd Up: Penn Charter's New Sports Broadcasting Club Felix Robinson, a junior, grew up listening to Phillies games on the radio with his family. “We never had cable TV,” he said. “So we would sit around the dinner table every evening of the summer listening to Phillies games. That's why I found a passion for sports broadcasting. “When you're listening to a game,” he continued, “there’s no instant replays, there's no graphics, there's nothing to distract the viewer.” Game announcers, therefore, “have to be the center of focus—have to be entertaining.” Felix aspires to be like Scott Franzke, the play-by-play radio broadcaster for the Phillies. “Even when you're not watching the game,” Felix said, “you still have a great image of what's going on and you feel like you're there. You can hear from the tone of his voice how hard the ball was hit. You can hear someone bring the game to life over the radio.” Last fall, Robinson reached out to PC’s Athletics Department to ask if he could broadcast some PC basketball games. Director of Athletics Daniel DiBerardinis loved the idea. DiBerardinis came to Penn Charter from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, which has a popular sports broadcasting program. “We'll walk you through how to do this,” he told Felix, “and we'll buy you the equipment.” The athletics team brought in Bob Long, a friend of DiBerardinis’s who works at La Salle College High School. Long had broadcast many games, including at the University of Pennsylvania’s Palestra, the historic Senior Justin Generals, junior Felix Robinson and senior Avery Williams
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basketball arena built in 1927 that has hosted more games than any other facility in college basketball. “He runs his own sports broadcasting page, and he is an expert on the tech side of things,” said Tyler Sandora, PC’s athletics operations assistant. “He came in to show us how to hook everything up to allow for streaming.” “There was a ton of support for helping me set it up,” Felix recalled. “After basketball season was over, [DiBerardinis and the athletics team] said, ‘Let's take this from just a one-off opportunity and try to make this into an official club.’” Sports broadcasting is a multifaceted undertaking that includes researching teams and players, recording stats, doing live commentary during games, and interviewing players about their game performance. So far, other students have participated in these activities on a game-bygame basis, and Felix hopes that over time a dedicated group of students will consistently cover as many PC sports as possible. The feedback—from students, families and alumni—has been overwhelmingly positive. “It's been really cool to see that it's reaching the Penn Charter community, past and present,” Felix said. You can tune into live broadcasts of select PC sports events on PC athletics’ YouTube streaming channel (https://www.youtube.com/@pcstreaming1689/ streams), and follow the Sports Broadcasting Club’s Instagram account (@pc.sports.broadcasting) for player interviews, live updates during games, and more. PC
CAMPUS CURRENTS
Baked Goods for Good “What we could do best was cook.” With those words, Georgia Gilmore and a group of friends launched the Club from Nowhere in 1955, baking pies and home-cooked meals to sell at mass meetings to raise money for the Montgomery Improvement Association. Funds paid for gas for rides and carpools, giving boycotters ways to get around without using the buses during the 195556 Montgomery, Ala. bus boycott. By protecting members' anonymity, the group built broad, cross-racial support. Fifth graders at Penn Charter learned about Gilmore through a lesson on advocacy in the context of the Civil Rights Movement, taught by Alyson Goodner OPC ’96, director of the Center for Public Purpose. Advocacy, defined as “working to change systems” and “influencing decisions by institutions,” can require people to take on many different roles, from organizer and reformer to helper, change agent and rebel. To honor Gilmore, students took part in an interdisciplinary bake-off, weaving together math, history and Quaker values. After learning about fractions in math teacher Chris Burnett's classroom, each team of students selected a baked good and created a recipe card for it. On the day of the bake-off, they worked together to create their selected dessert in the cafeteria, using their understanding of fractions to make their measurements.
Once the treats had been baked and moved to the Graham to display, teachers and Upper School students who had completed the same challenge in fifth grade acted as guest judges, sampling each treat and scoring teams across multiple categories. Leftover baked goods were donated to Friends Fridge Philly, a community pantry these same students helped start three years ago. Students could also donate staple ingredients like eggs, milk, flour and butter, along with a recipe. “In this project, we hoped to show that math and a little baking magic can make the world a better place,” said Raichl Davenport, fifth grade social studies teacher. “Georgia Gilmore is an excellent example of how a person can use their gifts to help change their community for the better.” “While they start the project with math and desserts on their mind,” Davenport added, “they wrap up this unit with delicious memories and a greater understanding of the power of community.” PC
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CAMPUS CURRENTS
The Power of Small Gestures: PC Middle Schoolers Give Back Cinco Cares
clothing, gently-used athletic gear, blankets,
Royal emphasizes that even the smallest
hats, gloves and other essentials to neighbors
contributions matter: a donated coat, canned
in need. What began as a small winter project
goods or school supplies may become the very
Royal Spurlark, what began as a moment of
evolved into annual coat drives and larger
thing someone depends on that week.
compassion at eight years old has grown into a
community-wide efforts. This year, Royal
remarkable act of service and stewardship for
partnered with Alyson Goodner OPC ’96,
the greater Philadelphia community.
director of the Center for Public Purpose, to
Sometimes the seemingly small gestures can have the greatest impact. For eighth grader
While driving with his cousin to Reading Terminal Market, Royal’s heart went out to people experiencing homelessness, and he felt
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host a drive at school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, while also collaborating with organizations like Lower Merion Little
Last summer, Royal officially transformed Cinco Cares into a nonprofit organization, creating a board made up of his parents, grandparents and close family members. He describes them as “my own little community.” Their encouragement helped him realize that
moved to help. “First it was just a thought,” he
League and St. Margaret’s CYO. Through these
reflected, “then my parents and I sat down and
partnerships, Royal has witnessed the power
took it seriously.” From that thought and with
of community coming together in a shared
the support of his family, Cinco Cares was born.
spirit of care and generosity.
Cares plans to expand its outreach through
Over the past six years, Cinco Cares has
“You don’t need a lot of money or resources
back-to-school supply drives at several
this work was not simply a short-term project but something he hopes to continue and grow throughout his lifetime. Looking ahead, Cinco
become a growing force for good throughout
to make a difference,” he says. “You
locations, broadening its mission to support
the region, collecting and distributing winter
just need a loving and dedicated heart.”
children and families in new ways.
• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
CAMPUS CURRENTS
Popcorn with a Purpose: Uncle TK’s Popcorn
Expanding Horizons: BelieveNBooks
A group of PC seventh graders, inspired by
Seventh grader
their work with Sanctuary Farm during their
Rishi Kapoor
sixth grade Food Security Project last year,
founded the
founded a popcorn company that donates all
Philadelphia
proceeds to Sanctuary Farm, a long-time Penn
Chapter of
Charter community partner that addresses
BelieveNBooks,
health inequities by converting abandoned,
a youth-led
neglected lots into safe, welcoming spaces that
non-profit
promote hospitality, nutrition and growth.
organization
This group of dedicated Middle School
with the mission
students sold popcorn at a number of Penn
of providing
Charter events this school year, including
children with new and gently-used books
PC/GA Day (pictured below) and collectively
to expand their horizons and enhance their
raised over $3,000 to provide fresh produce
understanding of the world. With the support
to families directly impacted by the SNAP
of founder and director Natasha Agarwal, who
benefits freeze last fall.
is currently a sophomore at the University of
Pennsylvania, Rishi took the necessary steps to develop the chapter, and he included Penn Charter in his partnerships. Rishi helped organize the first BelieveNBooks Philadelphia drive for Earth Week, and he and his friends collected over 1,000 books. He then partnered with fourth graders, who have been learning about literary genres this year, to help clean and sort the collection into categories. The books were then donated to PC's longtime partner Tree House Books and will be distributed to families in North Philadelphia this summer. These students and their commitment to serving others are letting their lives speak— reflecting the belief that values are best expressed not simply in words but in action, and that no matter the age, each person has the capacity to answer a call to service. Through their examples, the community is reminded that small acts of kindness, grounded in love and carried forward with integrity, can ripple outward in extraordinary ways. PC
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 •
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commencement 2026
On June 6, our graduating seniors, surrounded by family, friends and teachers, celebrated the completion of their Penn Charter journey while embracing the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead. Paul Hough OPC '77, clerk of the Board of Trustees, led a scripture reading followed by silent worship in the manner of Friends. Seniors Rainer Malhotra and Mireille (Mimi) Ohemeng spoke about the ways their Penn Charter experiences have shaped them, as well as the legacy they will leave behind. After the presentation of diplomas, the ceremony ended with Quakers Dozen performing “In My Life” by Lennon and McCartney, followed by the Penn Charter alma mater, performed by Quakers Dozen and the Penn Charter Band.
Congratulations to the Penn Charter Class of 2026, who have made their mark on Penn Charter—and on each other. Video of the ceremony and more photos at penncharter.com/commencement2026.
“It’s almost as if I perceive a world colored by those I love, as if I’m wearing glasses with lenses of beautiful stained glass where each shard is a moment, a memory I’ve experienced with those close to me. …This vibrant perception is what gives the world meaning, what makes clarity out of the confusion and steadies us through the uncertainty.”
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– Commencement speaker • SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Rainer Malhotra
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! The Class of 2026 enrolled at 76 colleges and universities across the United States. Ninety-two percent of the students are attending one of their top-choice colleges. Amherst College Bard College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Boston College Brown University Bucknell University Catawba College Clemson University Colgate University Dartmouth College Dickinson College Drexel University Duke University Duquesne University Elon University Emory University Franklin & Marshall College Georgetown University Hamilton College Harvard University Indiana University Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Lehigh University Loyola University Maryland Millersville University Moravian University Morehouse College Muhlenberg College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidental College Olin College of Engineering Penn State Harrisburg Penn State University Park Princeton University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rollins College Rutgers University Saint Joseph's University Siena University Skidmore College Southern Methodist University St. John Fisher University Syracuse University Temple University Texas Tech University The Catholic University The College of New Jersey The University of Tampa Towson University Tufts University Tulane University United States Naval Academy University of California, Irvine University of Colorado University of Louisville University of Maryland University of Miami University of Michigan University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Richmond University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of Vermont University of Wisconsin Ursinus College Vassar College Villanova University Wake Forest University Wesleyan University Widener University
Jak Kraemer (pictured) and Rainer Malhotra each received the Phi Beta Kappa Award for excellence in scholarship. Alumni Society president Ed Morris OPC ’94 also presented Rainer with the Alumni Award in recognition of his scholarship, character, leadership and athletic ability.
“Hindsight is 20/20, but we can't quite see what lies ahead of us in the future. But I think it's better that way. …The best moments are the ones that you can't predict, can't begin to imagine, and have yet to see.” – Commencement speaker
Mireille SPRING/SUMMER 2026 • Ohemeng
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ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENTS Congratulations to the student athletes who will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. They join the 17 students who were honored in the fall. Will Adair (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, soccer) Mike Banks (St. John Fisher University, lacrosse) Dom Comitale (Widener University, basketball) Kasey Fleming (Millersville University, basketball) Marleigh Jackson (Johns Hopkins University, basketball) Carly Lewinski (Catholic University, soccer) Andrew Marrone (Vassar College, cross country) Ryan Musial (The College of New Jersey, baseball) Tristan Padgett (Dickinson College, football) Luke Punchello (Ursinus College, lacrosse) Liam Stewart (Moravian University, lacrosse) Alice Summers (Amherst College, lacrosse)
Boys Track The boys indoor team had a strong winter season, with a definitive highlight: The 4x200 relay team turned in one of the strongest performances in program history. The quartet of Nate Keller, Lamir Calloway, Matthew Furda and Ethan Leggett will go down in the record books as breaking the 4x400 record with a posted time of 3:26.08. The 4x200 team of Kalam Id-Din, Keller, Furda and Leggett also set a school record with a time of 1:29.06, one of the strongest relays in PC boys track history, placing sixth at PTFCA Indoor State Championships and qualifying for New Balance Nationals.
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Individually, Dunn set a new program record in the 3000-meter run in
Boys and Girls Track Join Forces
February before following that up with a third-place finish in the two-mile
Another exciting moment for the track program featured the mixed
run at the Eastern State Championships in New York City on March 3.
4x400 relay, which showcased outstanding collaboration between the
They continued to break records in the spring, as they set a new school
girls and boys programs. The quartet of Ethan Leggett, Matt Dunn,
and Inter-Ac Championship record in the 4x100 relay with a time of
Michaela Poland and Logan Lloyd earned All-American honors by
42.55 seconds. The quartet of Keller, Christian Downs, Furda and
finishing fifth at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Their time of 3.33.76
Leggett trimmed one-tenth of a second off the old Inter-Ac mark.
also established a new school record.
• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENTS
PAISAA and PTFCA Champs for Girls Indoor Track It was a season for the ages for the girls winter track team, which repeated as both PAISAA and Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) champions. School records fell like dominoes throughout the season—Marlie Klein broke the PC record for the indoor one-mile run in late January, only for Mackenzie Skelly to break that mark two weeks later at the PAISAA Championships. Skelly also broke the school record in the two-mile run the same day with the fastest time in the event’s history. Additional records set at the PAISAA event came from Keagan Seth (meet and school records, high jump); Zsuzsi Pollock (school record, shot put); and Logan Lloyd (meet record, 200-meter run). Michaela Poland broke the school record in the 400-meter indoor run.
Mackenzie Skelly
Marlie Klein
Logan Lloyd
The distance medley quartet of Skelly, Klein, Lloyd and Gwen Hamilton recorded the fastest time for a Pennsylvania relay team and the second-fastest time nationally, at the Virginia Showcase in mid-January. The 4x800 team of Skelly, Klein, Hamilton and Abby Downin set a Pennsylvania state record at the 118th Millrose Games in New York City. At the PTFCA Indoor State Championship on March 1, Hamilton became a two-time state champion, winning the 800-meter run and joining Downin, Tisa Edwards and Beatrice O’Connell on the victorious distance medley relay team.
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ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENTS
Inter-Ac and PAISAA Championships for Girls Spring Track & Field Girls track continued their success with an extraordinary spring season, winning both Inter-Ac and PAISAA titles for the Quakers. At the Inter-Ac Championships on May 9, the girls dominated the competition, winning the league championship by a huge margin, finishing with 206 team points while Germantown Academy, the second place team, posted 123 points and 2025 champ Episcopal Academy finished with 78.5. First place finishers included Michaela Poland (high jump, 200m), Taliyah Davis (triple jump), Gwen Hamilton (800m), Zsuzsi Pollock (110m hurdles), Mackenzie Skelly (3200m, 1600m) and the 4x400 relay of Logan Lloyd, Gwen Hamilton, Tisa Edwards and Michaela Poland. Meet records were set by Skelly and Marlie Klein in the 1600m (4:45.80) and the 4x400 relay team of Lloyd, Hamilton, Edwards and Poland (3:50.76). They continued their dominating season at the PAISAA championships, outscoring their nearest opponent by 80 points. First place finishes were claimed by Lloyd (100m), Poland (200m, 400m), Hamilton (800m), Downin (1600m), Skelly (3200m), Keagan Seth (high jump) and both the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
Boys Basketball
Girls Swimming
Carter Smith enjoyed a historic triple-double performance of 17 points, 10 rebounds and
At Eastern Prep Championships, the 200-
10 assists in a January game against Hun School.
and 400-meter relay teams of Eila Spaman,
Kasey Fleming had a season to remember, averaging 17.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game while recording the 1,000th point of his career in the Quakers’ win over Kiski School.
Kasey Fleming
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Carter Smith
• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Cate DeMartinis, Lili DeMartinis and Nola Waldbuesser set meet records in both events.
SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
Girls Lacrosse wins Inter-Ac and PAISAA Championships The Quakers enjoyed their strongest season in decades in 2026, riding a wave of magic to multiple program milestones. After their one and only loss on March 19, they embarked on a staggering 24-game win streak, collecting the program’s first Inter-Ac championship since 1999 along the way. PC finished 9-1 against league opponents, a game ahead of Episcopal Academy in the standings, and earned a hard-fought 9-8 win in the regular season rematch against EA on May 1. The two teams met again in the PAISAA championship game three weeks later, with the Quakers claiming a 7-4 victory and the program’s first state title since 2022. Louisville recruit Claire Cho led the way with a team-best four goals. Penn Charter ended its season as the No. 4 ranked team in the nation by USA Lacrosse. The Quakers had a plethora of selections on the allleague team, with goalie and Boston College recruit Maeve Magarity leading the First Team by being awarded the Inter-Ac Most Valuable Player honor. Magarity, also named to the New Balance All-America Lacrosse Senior Game in July, capped off her PC career with 10 saves in the PAISAA title game. Joining Magarity on the First Team were Ana Buckley (Dartmouth), Harbor Campbell (Loyola), Molly Dougherty (Michigan) and Makenna Myers, while Mia DiBenedetto and Lila Marciniak (Northwestern) earned Second Team honors.
Softball On Wednesday, May 13, shortstop Madelyn Bergmann picked up her 100th career hit. She was honored before the team’s first round PAISAA game at the Hill School on May 16.
Assistant Coach of the Year Honors Congratulations to Pete Shaifer OPC ’82 on being named Pennsylvania Independent School Wrestling Tournament assistant coach of the year!
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of Discovery and Purpose Global Experiences Bring the Portrait of a PC Learner to Life by Rebecca Luzi
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
In the 2025-2026 academic year, as part of the school’s commitment to the Portrait of a Penn Charter Learner, students ranging from grades 7-12 had opportunities to travel to several remarkable destinations: Japan; Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands; Italy; and a journey through historic landmarks in Alabama that tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement in America. “We wanted students to have this opportunity to experience the world and see it in ways that they wouldn't be able to in a classroom,” said Marcy Sosa, assistant head of school.
As a part of their trip preparation, students who were enrolled in art,
The students returned having experienced new cultures,
photography and East Asian Studies visited Fairmont Park’s Shofuso
communities, connections and a broader perspective of
Japanese garden together. Students in Literature and the Environment
their place in the world.
learned haiku writing to engage with nature. A World Religion class explored how religion, race and identity intersected in the experience of Japanese-American Buddhists during World War II internment.
Japan
Photography students focused on Japanese photography and artists.
Traveling with the Mindset of Cultural Ambassadors
Another goal was to foster relationships with Tokyo Friends School prior to visiting during spring break. “Through virtual meetings with faculty, we discussed ways our students can build community with their peers abroad,”
The Upper School spring break trip to Tokyo and Kyoto was the
Aponte said. “Looking ahead, we also hope to develop a relationship with
culmination of thoughtful planning designed to enhance students'
an additional partner high school in western Japan. We’d love to find peer
engagement with Japanese-centered topics. By cultivating a cultural
connections in Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe, the sister city of Philadelphia.”
competency before departure, faculty established a strong foundation
Once they finally embarked, the visit with Tokyo Friends was a highlight
that enriched students’ experiences throughout the trip.
for senior Aubrey Hoffman. “The language barrier was intimidating at
Supported by a VITAL professional development grant, last summer
first, but I was genuinely impressed by the Japanese students’ fluency in
a group of four teachers of different subjects—Ryan Aponte (social
English,” she said. “I knew that you get out of an experience what you put
studies), Joy Lai (visual arts), Ben Dziedzic (English) and Michael
into it, so my goal was to fully lean in.”
LoStracco (religious studies and philosophy)—“developed internal
“Watching our students interact with Japanese students and taking small
touchpoints across different courses and departments, with the idea
excursions around different parts of the city were exciting opportunities
that such curricular foundations would cultivate connections with Japan
to see how our kids can relate to others who are half a world away,” said
leading up to and expanding long after our trip,” Aponte described.
English teacher Kristen Kelly. continued on next page
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JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY AND PURPOSE
Students visited UNESCO World Heritage sites, including renowned Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and Shogun estates. They also visited Nara Park—famous for its free-roaming deer that eat from a person’s hand—and immersed themselves in modern Japanese culture such as food, entertainment and technology. The experience held wide appeal for students. “I think that's what I enjoyed on the trip,” Aponte said. “Seeing who was interested in modern Tokyo, the anime and video games; who likes the tech side of it; who likes Kyoto and the ancient sites and nature. I think it hit on a lot of different passions.” Senior Liam Haines stepped out of his comfort zone and tried new foods in the markets, like baby octopus stuffed with a quail egg, and he took advantage of as many optional activities as time would allow. “I went to a Buddhist chanting ceremony one morning,” he said. “I'm really glad I did because it was kind of eye-opening to another culture.” The goal behind introducing students to Japanese culture and identity before this international trip was for students to travel not as tourists but with the mindset of cultural ambassadors. “As global citizens,” Aponte wrote in the VITAL grant proposal, “they [will] embark on the opportunity to connect with peers abroad and learn from a society remarkably different from our own.”
Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands An Understanding of How Big the World Is In early 2020, science teacher Kevin Berkoff was ready to lead a singular experience for Upper School students: a trip to the archipelago in the Pacific Ocean that had played a key role in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. The Galápagos Islands. Then Covid scuttled his plans.
By spring of 2026, Berkoff had reimagined the trip, determined to deepen the student travelers’ connection to the natural world and their investment in saving its fragile ecosystems. The group embraced the challenge: Before the experience was over, the 19 teenagers who traveled to mainland Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands would be the first high school students to reforest a reserve created to protect a crucial nesting colony of a seabird on the brink of extinction. In preparation for the experience, students researched the flora and fauna of Ecuador, as well as its history and culture—an assignment designed to help students engage more deeply with the places, people and wildlife they would encounter. After beginning their trip by exploring the historic capital city of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Center, students and teachers—led by renowned birding guide Andrés Vásquez-–hiked across the mountainous Chakana Reserve, 13,000 feet above sea level. The Jocotoco Foundation, a conservation group, established the reserve as a protected home for the Andean condor, spectacled bear, hillstar hummingbird and other endemic species. “The lives of kids these days are structured,” said social studies teacher Alice Bateman, who chaperoned the trip along with Berkoff and Spanish
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teacher Israel Pacheco. “Their lives are very planned. And so to have the opportunity to be in unique ecosystems 13,000 feet high, above the tree line—it was wild.” Once in the Galápagos islands, the group stayed in San Cristóbal, the main island that teems with sea lions. At night, the beaches would fill with 400 or 500 of the marine mammals, Berkoff said. Other species the group experienced on San Cristóbal and during a day trip to the uninhabited Española Island were Galápagos tortoises, sea turtles, lava lizards, marine iguanas, sea urchins, the Nazca booby, blue-footed booby and, of course, Darwin’s finches. The student explorers swam and snorkeled in the warm blue waters of the eastern Pacific, made ceviche in a cooking class taught by locals, and practiced their Spanish language skills with tour guides and market vendors. With every experience, they became more curious and more interested in local conservation efforts. In the agricultural highlands of San Cristóbal, the Los Petreles Reserve is protected land for the critically endangered Galápagos petrel. Conservationists work to restore the endemic miconia forest and control
endangered or critically endangered. Iniciativa Galápagos, or Galápagos Initiative, is a collaborative effort to recover their population.
invasive blackberry brambles that block access to the birds’ nesting
When junior Parker Grimes heard from conservationists that the
burrows. When PC students planted seedlings and removed the invasive
reintroduction of a tortoise population on San Cristóbal had brought back
blackberry, they became the first high school students to reforest Los
an entire ecosystem, she felt optimistic. “Just that alone has led to a new
Petreles. It made an impression on them.
level of flourishing,” she said. “And that was something that I really took
“I think it kind of struck me how passionate all those people are about
away: It's not hopeless—we just have to work for it.”
conservation,” junior Vivek Patel said. “I feel like if I grew up in the
This experience was eight years in the planning for Kevin Berkoff. What
Galápagos, I might take that for granted. But all these people—they care
were his goals for students? “Cultural immersion,” he said. “And an
deeply.”
understanding of how big the world is. Ecuador is the size of Colorado,
During another journey to the highlands, the group replaced invasive species with native plants at La Galapaguera, a breeding center for the giant tortoise native to San Cristóbal.
has dozens of unique ecosystems, and is home to nearly 10% of the world's biodiversity. The Jocotoco Foundation is leading the way for conservation in Ecuador. My hope is that our students—these Change Cultivators—will take home the message that this conservation model is
According to the Galápagos Conservancy, of the 15 tortoise species
working in Ecuador and could be applied to other places throughout the
identified in the Galápagos Islands, two are extinct, and nine are
world, including in the United States.” continued on next page
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JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY AND PURPOSE
Italy Decoding History Two intrepid Latin teachers, Quinn McIntire and Marianne Master Hon. 1689, who teach Middle and Upper School, respectively, led a group of seventh, eighth and ninth grade students through the Eternal City during spring break. To prepare for the experience, which also included visits to Pompeii and Sorrento, the group spent time leaning into elements of the Portrait of a Penn Charter Learner. As Courageous Learners and Constructive Communicators, they revisited the ancient world and the Latin language that they had studied in sixth grade, explored the Renaissance to better appreciate the sites and works they would encounter, and learned key phrases in Italian. As Compassionate Friends, the young travelers discussed how they would like to be treated, how best to treat each other, and ways they might manage homesickness. The Latin language is everywhere in historic Rome and Pompeii, and McIntire and Master would point out engravings on historic landmarks— such as Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Senate and People of Rome) and Cave Canem (Beware of Dog).
“It was pretty fun to try and decode because in Latin you have to look at the endings of words to see where they belong in the sentence,” seventh grader Sachin Shah said. “And also you have to figure out what the word actually means.” Highlights of the trip, for students, included Rome’s Colosseum and Vatican, the excavated city of Pompeii, and a mozzarella farm in Sorrento, where they sampled homemade cheeses. For Master, a lover of the Latin language and ancient history, it was the awe inspired by the Roman Forum: “It was having this moment of knowing I'm standing in a spot—a physical connection to the ancient world—where for thousands of years people have stood.”
U.S. Civil Rights Trail Bearing Witness to History Perhaps some lessons can only be learned by standing where history happened. This past spring, a small group of Penn Charter students joined peers from other Quaker schools on a civil rights journey through Alabama, traveling together to places that bear witness to the courage, sacrifice and moral conviction of those who transformed our nation. Planned collaboratively by Quaker educators, the experience reflected a shared belief that education is not only about understanding history—it is about allowing history to shape who we become. Throughout the trip, students’ shared experiences became opportunities for reflection, connection and deeper understanding. Together, they explored churches, museums and landmarks—the places and stories that illuminate the courage and resilience of those who advanced the Civil Rights Movement.
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Senior Project Coordinator Sharon Ahram and fellow faculty member Liz Jones worked to prepare students in advance for the emotional weight of the trip. They knew that the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Ala., a six-acre site dedicated to the legacy of Black Americans who were enslaved or lynched, would be deeply affecting. “Liz Jones and I did a lot of work with students to get them psychologically and emotionally prepared for what they were about to bear witness to,” Ahram said, “and to help students build a strong sense of community, knowing that the relationships they formed would become a source of support, encouragement and resilience when things got hard.” Senior Zsuzsi Pollock was sobered by the memorial. “My best friend is from Shreveport, La., and his parish had the most lynchings on any of the plaques I had seen there. It filled me with gratitude that we were born in a time when a Black man from Shreveport and a white woman from Philadelphia could be best friends and not feel threatened.”
Montgomery Square’s sculpture of Rosa Parks’ arrest number after she and other leaders of the Montgomery bus boycott were arrested, by artist Hank Willis Thomas. From left: Lamir Calloway, Kristian Athill, Zsuzsi Pollock, Avery Williams and Michaela Poland.
One of the trip’s many first-person accounts was Carolyn McKinstry, who was 14 years old and inside the 16th Street Baptist Church when the Ku
person today. Moving forward, I hope to use what I learned to have
Klux Klan bombed it in 1963, killing four children.
more meaningful conversations about race, history and justice and to
Students also met with Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice
encourage others to learn more about these issues as well.”
Initiative, which defends those who are marginalized or wrongly
When Ahram looks at the students she traveled with on the U.S. Civil
convicted. Stevenson’s EJI created the Legacy Museum, which senior
Rights Trail, she knows they are Courageous Learners. When they met
Avery Williams considered a highlight of the trip for the way it “connects,
people in the community who had painful stories to tell, the students
compares and reveals the deep similarities between mass incarceration,
were present, they asked questions, they were proximate. “I think it takes
segregation and slavery,” he said. “The Legacy Museum forces you to
tremendous courage to come back and say, ‘Now it’s time to take what
recognize the resilience and importance of Black people not only today
I’ve learned and put it into practice,’” she reflected. “The students have a
but throughout American history.”
deeper connection to all of it and a stronger sense of meaning behind the
Talking to people who were jailed as teenagers for protesting or who lost their homes and jobs for casting their vote was affecting. “What stood out to me most was that many of the people who fought for change were not
work they’re going to do from here on.” Just weeks after returning home, Ahram said, the students expressed a mix of disbelief, frustration and sadness when they learned that the
much older than I am now,” Avery said. “Their courage and willingness
Supreme Court had weakened key protections of the Voting Rights Act.
to make sacrifices made me reflect on my own responsibility as a young
“After standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge and learning about the sacrifices made to secure the right to vote, the news felt deeply personal,” Ahram said. “In that moment of reflecting and watching the news unfold, I could see a clear shift in their thinking—that standing up for justice is not a single moment or single experience in history, but a practice that shows up in everyday choices, conversations and commitments.”
Living Penn Charter's Mission Penn Charter’s Grace Fund supported these travel opportunities so that cost wasn’t a barrier for students. For Marcy Sosa, these four distinct educational journeys offered more than experiential learning. “They also brought to life the Portrait in ways that we could only have hoped for,” she said. “The students were living our mission, our values and the Portrait of a Penn Charter Learner in real life—and exemplifying who we are as a Quaker school.” PC
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LEARNING AND LEADING in the
MIDDLE SCHOOL
When the national spotlight was on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity last winter, PC’s Middle School students, like many other young people, were paying attention. A group of seventh and eighth graders were moved by Upper School students who had participated in a peaceful campus walkout to protest ICE immigration raids. They decided that they, too, wanted to be more than just observers—they wanted to be CHANGE CULTIVATORS. From the start, the Middle School students felt supported in their civic engagement. “Ms. Howard and Ms. Clinchy were open to our ideas,” eighth grader Simon Borish said. “They made it so that everyone would feel safe and welcome in the community but also tried to help us advocate for change.” What might have remained a passing idea instead gained momentum. “I’ve experienced that sometimes middle schoolers don’t get the opportunity to take action because they are told that they might be too young or they can get that opportunity to lead advocacy work later in high school,” said Kathleen Clinchy, director of Middle School.
“I so wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that students are too young to lead. Any age can be a leader—and we’re seeing that here in the Middle School.”
From Inspiration to Intention The students decided to focus their advocacy on fundraising and on educating the PC community. “Our eighth grade civics class definitely inspired us to do something productive for justice,” Inés Sheer said. “We learned about the idea of protest and action, and what a difference this can make.”
Leela Vedanthan, Juliette Torrisi, Andie Shaginaw, Sophia Kilbaugh, Bailey Minyard, Simone Borish, Inés Sheer, Naomi Richter and Iris Castellanos presented to the PC community.
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“We learned about laws, amendments, the Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow laws and people who were advocates for change,” her classmate Juliette Torrisi added. Jim Pilkington, their civics teacher, saw connection between events shaping the country and what students were learning in his classroom. “My classes started the year talking about what it means to be American and different perspectives on this,” he said. “Some of our themes for the year have also involved knowing the rights that citizens have, the powers and limits of the government, and ways of being civically engaged.” “Learning about the Bill of Rights and connecting that to rights that are being threatened right now—that was really important,” eighth grader Leela Vedanthan noted. Students brainstormed with Alyson Goodner OPC ’96, director of the Center for Public Purpose, to creatively and positively spread their message of “love thy neighbor." Inspired by the fashionable use of pins and visual messaging at televised award shows, they created buttons to spread messages of peace, love and equality, even incorporating the iconic Philly LOVE sign. The group distributed the buttons at a lunchtime bake sale. Food, they realized, builds connection. “When someone sees all the baked goods,” eighth grader Andie Shaginaw said, “they might think, ‘I should learn what they are raising money for.’ It’s a subtle way of spreading awareness.” Students were intentional about their efforts. Goodner provided the girls with a list of organizations with which PC has a relationship, and students chose to fundraise for two: Puentes de Salud, which provides healthcare to Latine immigrants, and the Nationalities Service Center, which offers a range of services for immigrants and refugees. Pilkington is always pleased to see students take action. “Civic engagement isn’t something to learn for a class or a grade,” he said. “It’s a vital skill for our democracy to succeed, so for students to have experiences building this ethos early and often is essential for effective democracy.”
The Teach-In In PC’s Middle School, weekly student-led assemblies are a growth opportunity, helping students build public speaking and leadership skills. With a presentation they called “Know Your Rights,” this group of civically engaged students held a teach-in for their peers, defining terms such as undocumented, green card and birthright citizenship. Their goal was to raise awareness of the legal rights of undocumented immigrants, how to become a U.S. citizen, and what the role of ICE is. “They were very clear on making sure their teach-ins were based on facts rather than emotions or opinions,” Clinchy said, noting that the students had built on earlier community engagement experiences, from the sixth grade food security capstone to the seventh grade
Such experiences, Pilkington noted, naturally build empathy, as students must think critically about both their audience and the needs of the organizations they support. The balance among learning, action and service is key. Not every student involved in this project would describe themselves as an outspoken leader, Pilkington said. “Collectively, though, they seemed to motivate each other to see this civic action through. Seeing the confidence they had in developing and delivering the presentation to audiences that involved fifth graders, middle schoolers, upper schoolers and faculty was a great moment. I think they’ve developed a sense of the power of collective action through this process.” PC – April Torrisi
neighborhoods project.
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All-School Art Show Each spring, Penn Charter's Art Show transforms the Kurtz Center lobby into a gallery showcasing the school's remarkable creative range. Every division is represented—pre-K through 12th grade—through painting, drawing, sculpture, fabric work, graphic design, fashion design, photography, woodworking, ceramics and more.
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The Visual Arts and Design Department faculty chooses the theme for the art show by consensus. “We start with a brainstorming session, discuss our ideas and share what resonates with each of us, and work collaboratively on the poster by experimenting with materials and ideating designs,” said department chair Joy Lai. This year’s theme, “Make Your Mark,” underscored how art can leave a significant and lasting impression on both the viewer and the artist. “Our young students love to share their creations,” said Lower School art teacher Karen Riedlmeier. “They beam with pride seeing their work in this more formal setting—and they learn that what they express matters.” Lower School work spans weavings, clay tiles and vessels, wood sculptures, paintings, prints and drawings. Middle schoolers explore a wide range of mediums and techniques, including acrylic and ink painting, clay work, collage, and drawing with perspective, shading and dimension. Teachers encourage students to have an open mindset as part of the Quaker process of continuing revelation. “Students enjoy the freedom of creative expression and learning through process, which can include the disappointment of a collapsed clay structure as well as the thrill of an unintended watercolor effect,” said Jennifer Chernak, Middle School art teacher. For some students in the Upper School, preparing for the art show is an integral part of the curriculum. Each student determines which pieces they would like to share with the community; they write their own artist statements, and help mat, frame and hang the pieces. This helps them
Griffin Lipson, who launched his career at the New York Times, has
learn not only how to create but also how to exhibit artistic work.
photographed many celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington,
In Eva Kay Noone’s Advanced Costume Design class, students focus
Grace Jones and Meryl Streep (see Lipson’s photograph above). Veteran
on a time period of their own choosing and read a play from that era
photographer Keith Helmetag OPC ’71, founder of creative studio
while researching the clothing styles. This year’s class chose the Italian
C&G Partners, has completed award-winning interpretive experience
Commedia Dell’Arte, read scenarios of the period, chose a character,
installations at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Yankee Stadium and NOAA’s
and created both a mask and full costume for their selected character.
Rookery Bay. Helmetag’s work, his website states, reflects a lifetime
They followed the process a professional costume designer would when
shaped by Penn Charter’s values: “His contextual installations were
working on a production.
influenced by his Quaker, sustainable and socially informed schooling.”
In addition to student creations, this year’s show featured eight OPC
“The show is an extension of what it means to be in an artistic community,
photographers: Keith Helmetag OPC ’71, Dave Weigand OPC ’76, James
to have your work seen and appreciated by community members,” Lai
Wasserman OPC ’80, Scott Soens OPC ’93, Wyatt Gallery OPC ’93, Ray
said. “Our hope is that our viewers will be impressed by the breadth of
Bailey OPC ’09, Griffin Lipson OPC ’12 and Nicole DiGiovanni OPC ’15.
our program, awed by the creativity of our students and inspired to make
Their work represents a wide range of styles and career trajectories.
their own art.” PC
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PEOPLE of Penn Charter
P H OTO GR A P H Y E X H I BI T Joy Lai, chair of the Visual Arts and Design Department, had long drawn inspiration from Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, a project he launched in 2010 featuring intimate portraits and personal stories of strangers, largely from New York City. Stanton’s work evolved into a powerful storytelling platform that fosters empathy and connection through deeply personal narratives. Lai had long wanted to create a similar project with her photography students— and this year’s class, she felt, was the right group to launch it.
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Penn Charter community. For the assignment, Lai explained, students learned about poses, angles and backgrounds by examining works by iconic photographers such as Dawoud Bey, Carrie Mae Weems and Irving Penn. Each student then chose an adult in the PC community to photograph and interview, eliciting their memories, inspirations and aspirations. “The goal,” Lai said, “was to celebrate the people who make up the school while highlighting meaningful personal connections.” As a result, students captured black-and-white portraits of their subjects, layering them with colorful artistic designs of their own.
So, in March, the Penn Charter community got its own version of Humans of New York. Lai and her Upper School photography students called it People of PC.
Freshman Sophie Wilmerding said she immediately thought of Shelby Tucker, a Middle School social studies teacher who had been her lacrosse coach, when asked to identify a community member who stands out. Although Tucker had never been her classroom teacher, Sophie remembered seeing her often in Middle School and thinking, she was “just the best.”
Students studied, interviewed and ultimately photographed a number of the teachers and staff members who are at the heart of the
“I asked her what her favorite part of her job is, working at PC, and she said getting to watch her students grow,” Sophie said.
• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Student photographers, from left: Alex DiBenedetto, Sadie Humble, Griffin Small, Bridget Elliott, Grace Straw, Alejo Rincon, Sayna Shah, Elise Hanna, Erin Austin, Soren Walker, Sophie Wilmerding
“I like being able to watch my students go through Middle and beyond,”
is a bright light.” Bridget used warm accent colors to reflect Nakchbandi’s
Tucker told her, “because in other schools you teach Lower School and
personality, because “she is warm and friendly.”
they're off to Middle School in a different location and you might never
The students found that this art project helped them connect with
see them again. But here it’s fun to watch all of my students grow beyond Middle School. This made me realize time goes by really fast.”
teachers in a new way, offering the opportunity to talk more personally and to gain a deeper understanding of them. PC
When planning the photograph, Sophie carefully selected the setting and background. “The Joy in Community banner felt perfect since Shelby brings joy to the PC community,” she said. “I chose purple as my accent color because it feels like her vibe, and it’s also my favorite color. Plus, Shelby is bright and calm.” Sophomore Bridget Elliott selected Yola Nakchbandi, a frequent Upper School substitute teacher. During their conversation, Bridget learned that Nakchbandi had previously taught overseas at a military school in the United Arab Emirates, an experience she described as very different from her experience at Penn Charter. Nakchbandi said during the interview that she would tell her 16-year-old self to attend Penn Charter because its academics, community and opportunities make it an amazing school. “Yola loves how caring the PC community is and how many opportunities students can get,” Bridget said. “She really loves being a part of Penn Charter, and the community loves her! She just has such good energy and
Sophie Wilmerding and Bridget Elliott
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It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party at Boddy Manor. Each of the guests has an alias—Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock and Mustard—the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well, dead. So whodunit? On Nov. 14 and 15, 2025, Penn Charter’s Upper School staged the madcap comedy Clue, based on the cult classic film and the popular board game. Filled with rapid-fire dialogue, physical comedy and plenty of twists, the production kept audiences guessing—and laughing—until the very end. “We wanted to choose a show that would be fun and exciting for the audience,” director Michael Roche said. The play, he noted, was essentially double-cast. “Since this show is all about timing, we decided to have an understudy cast in case anyone got sick. Since the understudy cast put in so much work, we decided they should have their own performance for family and friends. Overall, it was so much fun, and I appreciated how everyone worked as a unit to put on an amazing production.” Ninth grader Miles Downin, who played the butler, found the experience to be a great introduction to Penn Charter. “Coming into Penn Charter as a new student,” he said, “I thought I would be like a little fish in a giant ocean, but by putting myself forward for the play, I met some of the most amazing, kind and smart people. It wasn't just the cast; it was also the stage crew and costume department.” Freshman Audrey Young said the best part of the experience was the sense of collaboration within the cast. “We were all comfortable working together and gave each other room to improvise and try new things,” she said. “We grew as a team, both as performers and as people.” PC See more photos at flickr.com/penncharter/albums.
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With three performances in February, Penn Charter Upper School students brought Once on This Island to life with vibrant music and dance, powerful storytelling and a stage transformed into a Caribbean island. The musical celebrated love, resilience and the power of community. Set against the backdrop of a divided island, Once on This Island weaves together folklore, music and dance to tell the story of Ti Moune, a young girl guided by the gods as she navigates love and sacrifice. The production challenged students to explore complex cultural themes, which they embraced fully. For director Eva Kay Noone, the production was a standout experience. “From the amazing cast, who brought life to the music and dance, to the production crew who created a Caribbean island for them to inhabit, this was a dream production,” she said. “The challenging story did not dissuade our students, and they leaned in to understand the nuances of this show.” For many cast members, the production's strength came from the connections they formed along the way. Junior Chelsea Gadsden reflected on the sense of belonging within the group. “Every person was included and had a friend, and that made putting on such a difficult production fun,” she said. “I always felt supported and celebrated, which translated so well to chemistry and trust on stage.” “The show’s cast is like a team where everyone needs to play their part,” freshman Luke Wakefield said, “and seeing this show come together really helped me realize that.” “This musical helped me grow in so many ways,” junior AJ Bouie added. “I learned to work with different personalities and became good friends with people I might not have met otherwise. It was great being a teammate in an activity other than sports.” Students also found themselves pushed artistically in new ways. Sophomore Norhi Goodman, who played the lead character, Ti Moune, described how the role helped her grow. “Being Ti Moune really pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to be more expressive than I usually am,” she said, crediting the guidance of Noone and the choreographer for helping her bring emotion and depth to the character. PC See more photos at flickr.com/penncharter/albums.
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In the hilarious heist-whodunit The Con, a rare first-issue comic is up for grabs—and the chaos that follows is pure gold. A cast of Penn Charter middle schoolers had the audience roaring with laughter at their hijinks and antics. The play unfolds as a series of vignettes, each a self-contained story: a bat-tastic hero who can't stop clowning around with her nemesis in “The LARP Knight Rises,” a Mario Kart menace who loses it in more ways than one in “A Plumber Cracks,” a Dungeons and Dragons newbie determined to let her inner gnome shine in “The Ballad of Lena Moonfallen” and more. After the show, playwright Tracy Wells saw Penn Charter’s post about the play on social media and reposted it. In a subsequent exchange with Wells, proud director Ari Baker shared photos of PC’s standout production. “I so enjoyed writing The Con and wanted it to be a play that celebrates the unique creativity in each of us,” Wells replied. “It sounds like you had a similar mission as well!” PC See more photos at flicker.com/penncharter/albums.
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PC Profile Alexandra Olsman OPC ’08 BY MARK F. BERNSTEIN OPC ’79
Alexandra Olsman OPC ’08 sometimes likes to unwind by watching the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow. The show’s premise is that ordinary people come in with family heirlooms or with items picked up at a flea market which they hope might be worth something, demonstrating that one person’s goodbye may be another person’s great discovery. Ramp up the stakes by a few thousand
its original form, to understand it in a sophisticated and nuanced way, and
percent and Antiques Roadshow is
to grapple with why we study these ancient languages and cultures and what
not a bad comp for what Olsman does
they have to teach us,” she said.
for a living. She is a vice president and
Olsman’s interest in art was sharpened by the AP Art History course she
specialist in ancient sculpture and works of art for the auction house Sotheby’s. If someone in North America has an ancient Egyptian scarab, a Greek vase or a Roman bust, they are likely to consult Olsman to have it appraised, evaluated and perhaps sold. During eight years at Sotheby’s, Olsman has helped value and sell some truly priceless objects. In December 2021, it was the Hamilton Aphrodite, a first century C.E. Roman sculpture named for the Scottish Duke of Hamilton who once owned it. It went for £18.6 million—nearly $25 million—making it the most expensive classical marble statue ever sold at auction. In January, Olsman assisted with the sale of an Egyptian mummy portrait for $889,000. In addition to appraising it, she spent the auction glued to the phone, fielding bids from remote bidders. During the weeks leading up to the sale, Olsman helped promote interest on social media but could barely contain her own enthusiasm. “This portrait is nearly 2,000 years old,” she marveled, “so why do I feel like I know who he is?” Olsman’s twin loves of history and art trace back to Penn Charter. The ancient world had always fascinated her. In Lower School, she checked out
took senior year. “I think art is the absolute best way to understand what mattered most in a culture’s history,” she said. “This was the final piece in the puzzle for me and solidified that I wanted to study art history and classics in college, which set me on my career path.” Olsman attended the University of Pennsylvania, drawn in part by the renowned collection of ancient artifacts in the Penn Museum, and graduated magna cum laude in 2012. As much as she loved studying classics and art, Olsman chose not to go into academia. Instead, she went into the auction world, starting at Christie’s as a bid coordinator and eventually becoming an associate specialist in antiquities. She jumped to Sotheby’s in 2018 and assumed her current rule in April 2025. Today, Olsman handles Greek, Roman, Egyptian or Near Eastern objects dating from as far back as neolithic times to about 1000 C.E. Besides ensuring that items are authentic, she also checks their provenance, being careful to comply with the rigorous international laws governing when and how antiquities can be taken from overseas. If a piece is going to be sold at auction, Olsman sees that it is photographed, cataloged and dated correctly. She then becomes a salesperson trying, as she says, “to make sure that these objects find great new homes with people.” Olsman also spends a lot of her time appraising objects for insurance and estate tax valuations.
the same book on Greek mythology so often that librarians gently suggested
The market for ancient art, like any other type of art, is cyclical. Currently,
that she let someone else read it.
Olsman said, “We’re seeing a lot of new buyers. We’re in a really good place.”
When she got to Middle School, the Latin language rotation with former teacher Jim Fiorile fit her interests perfectly. “My world was blown,” Olsman
Still, people don’t usually buy antiquities as a speculation. They tend to be in it for the longer term.
said. “I thought it was the coolest thing ever, that you could make history
Why? The answer, Olsman believes, is that collectors are often people like
come alive with language.” She continued taking Latin through Middle and
herself.
Upper School and studied classical Greek “just for fun” as an independent
“For a lot of my clients, when they were young and they went to the Met,
study. She even revived the Latin Club.
they fell in love with a mummy because it’s so compelling,” she said. “And
Longtime PC Latin teacher Marianne Master still remembers Olsman as one
then you’re able to be the custodian of a little piece of that. I think that’s
of her best students. “It was a privilege to see her discover ancient poetry in
really compelling to people.” PC
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PC Profile Eric Tulsky OPC ’93 BY MARK F. BERNSTEIN OPC ’79
F ive members of the Carolina Hurricanes traveled to Milan to compete in the Winter Olympics in February, while the rest of the team enjoyed a three-week hiatus from hockey. General manager Eric Tulsky OPC ’93 remained in Raleigh, preparing for some of the most challenging weeks of the National Hockey League season. Tulsky is the first to acknowledge that his was an unusual path to running an NHL team. His father was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer who earned his law degree from Temple in order to bolster his ability to write about the judicial system. His mother, also a lawyer, was a healthcare compliance officer. As a little boy, he would sometimes wake his parents to gush about a math problem he had solved. Tulsky entered Penn Charter in ninth grade and, like many students from his era, he cites former teacher Alice Davis Hon. 1689 as a mentor. Chemistry came naturally to him, Tulsky says, but Davis made it fun. Sports were also another passion; he ran cross country and track at PC and played Ultimate Frisbee in college. Tulsky is also a lifelong Phillies, Eagles and 76ers fan. (He has dropped his allegiance to the Flyers, for obvious reasons.) As a teen, he co-managed his father’s Strat-O-Matic baseball game, which uses statistics to recreate historical seasons. He still plays fantasy football, although he admits that his team is currently “in a little bit of a rebuilding era.” Unlike, say, the Hurricanes. From PC, Tulsky went to Harvard, majoring in chemistry and physics. As he told The Athletic last year, he studied “metal chalcogenide clusters, ligand exchange and multicluster assembly.” Whatever those are. But he also had a different outlook on his education.
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While some of his best players were off seeking Olympic gold, Tulsky
“I was never really thinking about a career,” he explained. “I was taking
was focused on something silver: the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes were
whatever classes interested me and seeing where it ended up. So I picked
battling for first place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, something they
a major where many of the requirements were things I was probably going
have done regularly over the last several seasons. They have also reached
to take anyway and had as much room for electives as possible. Even in
the conference finals twice in the last three years, but for their expectant
graduate school, I kept that flexibility to decide what I wanted to do later.
fans, that is no longer enough. Tulsky’s job is to figure out ways to get
Throughout my career, I was kind of kicking the can down the road. I don’t
them over the postseason hump, to get them that elusive championship.
know that I’d advise everyone to do that, but it worked for me.”
Carolina’s general manager is unique in a league that tends to be traditional.
For the first part of his career, Tulsky pursued chemistry, earning his
All NHL GMs strive for chemistry. Tulsky actually has a PhD in chemistry.
doctorate at UC Berkeley in 2002. After a brief stint at the Naval Research
Unlike several of his counterparts who were once star players, Tulsky
Laboratory, he spent the next decade working with a series of tech and
doesn’t hold any spots in the league record book. But he does hold 27
biotech companies, doing everything from studying DNA sequencing to
patents in nanotechnology, the field of building miniscule particles into
improving battery capacity to making new inks for printing solar cells.
larger wholes.
His career in that world seemed secure in 2015 when Apple recruited him.
• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
“The job of a leader in any field is to have a vision for how you want to do things and then get people on board with that vision. Getting that buy-in requires understanding people’s thought processes and feelings, and sometimes it’s about being able to sell them what you’re doing makes sense.” – Eric Tulsky OPC ’93
Instead, Tulsky decided to pivot in an entirely new direction.
thought processes and feelings, and sometimes it’s about being able to sell
As he explained his decision to NHL.com in 2024, a tech friend and fellow
them what you’re doing makes sense. Sometimes it’s about being able to
hockey fan helped frame the choice for him. “This is a once in a lifetime
understand their concerns and how you can address them.”
opportunity, and maybe it’ll work and maybe it won’t,” Tulsky recalled
He works closely with the Hurricanes’ coach Rod Brind’Amour, a former
the friend saying. “But I promise you won’t be looking back on your life
Flyer player for whom Tulsky once rooted. Their relationship, he says, is
when you’re 70 years old and saying, man, I wish I had taken another
complementary. “Basically, it’s my job to put together a team and a staff
tech job instead.”
that can win, and it’s his job to get the most out of that group.” Although
Still, Tulsky did not simply jump straight from Silicon Valley to the GM’s
Tulsky says he rarely attends the team’s practices, he does go to every
chair. In a highly unusual way, he had already begun working his way up
home game and most road games.
the hockey ladder. Back in 2011, just as the sports analytics movement
Detractors, many of them fans of teams the Hurricanes have dispatched
was taking off (think of the movie Moneyball), Tulsky began posting about
in the playoffs, criticize the team for being “boring.” Tulsky disagrees
statistical trends on the Flyers’ blog, Broad Street Hockey. He soon started
with that assessment, of course, but judging from the results, their style is
his own hockey blog, and over the next few years his work also appeared
working, whatever one wants to call it. Fans at the Lenovo Center, where
in the Washington Post and the data website FiveThirtyEight .com. All in
the ’Canes play their home games, sport T-shirts reading, “Keep Carolina
his spare time.
Hockey Boring.”
“I stepped in as a translator (for other fans),” he told The Athletic, “from
Still, there is a Hurricane style of play that Tulsky wants to see, one his
math to human, to explain that this is what that says and what it means
analytics team believes is most likely to lead to success. “We play a very
about the players we’re following. It was early enough that there was a lot
fast-paced, aggressive game,” he explains. “Whether we have the puck or
of low-hanging fruit.”
are trying to get it back, we’re never taking our time. If you give people
Tulsky’s work caught the attention of the Hurricanes, who hired him
time, anybody can make a play, so our idea is to apply pressure and make
as a part-time consultant. At the end of the 2014-15 season, they made
it hard for them. That requires a lot of teamwork and a lot of discipline.”
him a full-time data analyst. From there, his rise was swift and direct.
By the time you read this, the NHL playoffs will be well underway, and
Tulsky became Carolina’s manager of analytics in 2017, vice president of
the Hurricanes will be pushing towards their goal. Ask Tulsky if this
management and strategy in 2018, and assistant general manager in 2020.
is the year they finally bring home the cup, and he sounds less like a
After interviewing for GM jobs in Chicago and Pittsburgh, Tulsky was
number cruncher and more like a superstitious fan who doesn’t want
named Carolina’s interim general manager in May 2024. That “interim”
to jinx them.
tag was taken off just two months later.
“I think we have a really strong team,” is all he will say. “In the first half
“Eric is ready for this opportunity," Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said
of the year, we had a lot of injuries, but we still find ourselves among the
in an announcement. "He has a proven history of managing people and
top teams in the league. So as we get healthy down the stretch, it will be
overseeing operations both outside of hockey and over the last decade
interesting to see what it looks like. But I think we’re right there with
with the Hurricanes.”
anyone good.” PC
Analytics is still critically important to Tulsky as Carolina’s GM, but it is no longer his only focus. “The job of a leader in any field is to have a
Editor's note: On June 14, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup,
vision for how you want to do things and then get people on board with
defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to win the championship.
that vision,” he says. “Getting that buy-in requires understanding people’s
Congratulations, Eric Tulsky!
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Lifting Up Peace and Justice Through Nonviolence:
THE HUBBEN LECTURE “Life has meaning, dignity and joy in spite of the many
This year, parents and students were invited
besetting problems of our days. If we ask for it, we shall
to join faculty and staff on the evening
receive inspiration and vision from within to create more sunshine, warmth and light in the world of tomorrow.” – William Hubben
of April 16 for a return to this treasured tradition. The all-school event featured a screening of the documentary Citizen George, which presents the life and work of Philadelphia-based Quaker activist George
Throughout the school’s storied history,
the Hubben Lecture has been one meaningful
Lakey, a nonviolent revolutionary who has
Penn Charter has sought opportunities to
example of connecting faculty and staff to
worked his entire life for justice and peace,
demonstrate, with purpose and intention, its
Quakerism in action by hosting an array of
guided by his ideal of societal transformation.
commitment to Quaker faith and practice
Quaker educators, revolutionaries and citizens
The film was co-produced by OPC parent
throughout the school community. Since 1976,
devoted to peace and social justice.
Natalie Valentine P ’25.
Film director Glenn Holsten, Ingrid Lakey, George Lakey and Michael LoStracco, chair of the Religious Studies and Philosophy Department
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Since his teenage years, George Lakey has
it “inspirational, moving and authentic,
possessed a deep sense of purpose and
raising ideas and connections to Quakerism,
responsibility—a commitment to using his gifts
activism and how to confront growing issues
in service of peace and justice. Citizen George
in our democracy and society. Highlighting
chronicles his lifelong activism, from the civil
this amazing work and George’s passion
rights movement and LGBTQ+ rights advocacy
for working towards a more equitable and
to anti-Vietnam War organizing and climate
just society was impactful to see on the big
justice efforts, while also exploring his personal
screen. Showcasing George’s personal journey,
journey as a husband, father and openly gay
his successes and growth, challenges and
man. Through the voices and stories of those
mistakes, was real and honest.”
who have worked alongside him, the film offers an inspiring portrait of a life dedicated to change, highlighting Lakey’s steadfast belief in nonviolence and the ways he has applied that philosophy throughout his activism.
During the panel, Ingrid Lakey underscored
have any power, is to then figure out what is
for students that they are never too young to
a lever or point of power that they do have
identify and use their power to make change.
and find ways to do something about it,” she
“One of the challenges for young people in our
said. “Every single person can take some kind
society, who are so often told that they don’t
of action.” PC
About the Hubben Lecture The Hubben Lecture is named in honor of William Hubben, a prominent Quaker writer, speaker and educator. Hubben was born in Germany and joined a small but growing group of German Quakers in 1923. The principal of a large German public school, he was dismissed from his position by Hitler's
Immediately following the screening,
government for his beliefs.
attendees heard directly from Lakey himself,
After Hubben and his family emigrated to the United
along with the film’s director, Glenn Holsten,
States, he became the director of religious interests at
and Lakey’s daughter Ingrid Lakey. Inspired
George School in 1935. He became editor of the Friends’
and grounded by her father’s fight for justice,
Intelligencer, later named Friends Journal, in 1943, and
Ingrid is also devoted to Quaker education
joined Penn Charter’s faculty in 1963, teaching English,
and nonviolent activism. Clerk of the Board
religion and German for a decade.
of Trustees at Friends Select School, Ingrid is the founder of the Earth Quaker Action Team,
Hubben died in 1974, and the following year, his colleagues and close friends enthusiastically
and serves as a facilitator and trainer leading
pursued the installation of a permanent endowment fund at PC, with dollars raised to be used for
workshops on anti-racism, diversity, team-
an annual lecture on “Quaker philosophy or modern philosophy as related to Quaker education.
building, nonviolent direct action and conflict.
Hubben’s former colleagues shared that a lecture series for PC faculty and community members
Josh Oberfield, Upper School social studies teacher and interim assistant director of Upper School, remarked on the unique format for this year’s lecture. “I thought the viewing of a documentary, Citizen George in this case, was a wonderful shift in thinking about our
would be “a very appropriate memorial to this much-loved and admired Quaker educator.” Prior Hubben lecturers have included an array of Quaker educators and civically-minded citizens, including Jon Pahl, professor of the History of Christianity at United Lutheran Seminary, whose research focuses on religions, violence and peace-growing; Shan Cretin, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, who focuses on social issues like immigrants’ rights, prison reform, peace and food security; and Barrett Hollister, former Quaker representative to the
Hubben Lecture series,” he said. “Having a
United Nations.
different mode of learning about a topic, or in
One of the earliest Hubben lecturers was Fritz Eichenberg, a Quaker, renowned wood-engraving
this case an individual, was refreshing.” Oberfield was particularly struck by the
illustrator and friend of William Hubben’s. In 1981, Eichenberg visited art classes during the day, then delivered an evening lecture on art in relationship to the spiritual and social well-being.
film’s authenticity and relevance, calling
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33
O P C W E E K E N D 2026
REUN ONS On the beautiful spring weekend of May 1 and 2, Old Penn Charter welcomed its alumni, many of whom were happy to tour the new Richard A. Balderston OPC ’69 Lower School and all of whom were happy to see each other. It was an opportunity to reconnect with teachers who had played an important role in their lives and to honor members of the PC community who are making a difference in the lives of today’s students.
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Derek Speranza (left) is the newest president of the Penn Charter Alumni Society.
David P. Montgomery OPC ’64
Alumni Award of Merit The Alumni Award of Merit is given “to a graduate of William Penn Charter School whose character and outstanding achievement have reflected lasting credit upon this old school.”
Brent Sherwood OPC ’76 In his long career as a space architect, Brent Sherwood was most recently space domain lead for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Before that, he was senior vice president at Blue Origin, where he led programs to develop the lunar Human Landing System, Orbital Reef commercial space station, Blue Ring robotic orbital vehicle, Blue Alchemist lunar resource technology, and other internal in-space flight systems. Earlier in his career, Sherwood worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and at the Boeing Company. Former chemistry teacher Richard Pepino, in remarks about his former student, joked about having Sherwood As is tradition, Brent Sherwood’s name was painted on the wall of the Meeting Room along with all who’ve previously solve the toughest chemistry problems been recognized with the Alumni Award of Merit. and teach labs for the class. Not only that—he designed his own periodic table because he knew he could do better than Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. “I often think,” Pepino said, “Who learned more chemistry? Did Brent learn more chemistry from me, or did I learn more about chemistry and life from my friend? And I know today it’s very close.” In accepting the award, Sherwood spoke of his motivation to explore space. “The age of dinosaurs lasted 19,000 times longer than human civilization has so far,” he said. “If humanity is to have a long future, we must develop space. It holds unlimited opportunities, but it’s also humbling. Space proves how petty, puny and fragile we are. It requires us to act collaboratively, and it will force us to behave more responsibly. The Quaker values this old school has been cultivating for a third of a millennium are needed more than ever. “Each of us has the capacity to become better, to do right, to seek instruction and wisdom rather than chasing riches and other hollow things. PC has privileged all of us to live lives that make a difference, and that obligates all of us to make whatever difference we can with the time we have.” PC
Former chemistry teacher Richard Pepino spoke about his brightest student.
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ALUMNI
OPC WEEKEND 2026
John F. Gummere Distinguished Teacher Award "Honoring those who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, teaching and character, and whose work in their field, rapport with students and colleagues, and contributions to the intellectual field of the school merit recognition.”
Nora Landon Nora Landon, chair of the English Department, received the John F. Gummere Distinguished Teacher Award. In her remarks, she expressed gratitude for her family, colleagues, students and for this old school. “I love walking alongside students as they discover how literature illuminates humanity,” she told the audience. “I delight in the unpredictability of young people—their humor, their curiosity and even their topsy-turvy emotions. Penn Charter has made me a better educator. It would be easy to discount ‘Good Instruction Is Better than Riches’ as an old-fashioned maxim that is irrelevant in today’s world.” But, she concluded, “Being in an institution that makes space for teacher growth is, in fact, better than riches. “Here at Penn Charter, I am fortunate to work and teach alongside colleagues who bring equal parts insight, humor and heart to this work. To the English Department: Working with you is the defining experience of my professional life. … To my students past, present and future: It is the honor of a lifetime to wrestle with the big questions of life right alongside you.”
OPCs of Color Brunch
Nora Landon, chair of the English Department, was celebrated by fellow English teachers, including Sara Moses (left) and Liz Jones.
Multigenerational alumni, along with some of their esteemed former teachers and coaches, gathered for what has become a new tradition.
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
ALUMNI
OPC WEEKEND 2026
Honorary 1689 “Given to a member of the Penn Charter community who has shown extraordinary commitment to the school by demonstrating pride and excellence in the performance of their duties and by consistently providing encouragement and support to the student body.”
Former Head of School Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 (left) and Gail Sullivan Ford (right) celebrated with Kathy and Malcolm Ford Hon. 1689.
Malcolm Ford Malcolm Ford, a Lower School science teacher since 2002, has also served as a diversity coordinator and coached Middle School soccer and baseball, as well as Upper School wrestling and football. In his introduction, former Head of School Darryl J. Ford Hon. 1689 described his brother. “This is Malcolm Ford: service to others lived out in small, consistent, deeply meaningful ways—Malcolm living a life that makes a difference. Titles, recognition, status—these have never meant much to Malcolm. What matters to him is how we treat one another, how we recognize the Inner Light in every person, and how we show up to serve.”
Malcolm Ford Hon. 1689 and his wife, Kathy
Marianne Stowell Master Marianne Master has taught Latin at PC since 1999, also serving over the years as a grade dean and chair of the Language and Culture Department. In 2023, she took on the role of director of the Teaching and Learning Center. When Associate Head of School David Brightbill introduced her, he remarked that the Honorary 1689 diploma “recognizes not only what one has done but how one has lived out the values of this institution. Marianne embodies those values fully with integrity, curiosity and generosity, and an enduring commitment to the growth of others.”
Marianne Stowell Master Hon. 1689 was joined at the ceremony by her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Sylvie.
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ALUMNI
William Penn Charter School
Then & Now Class Notes
1933
Boys varsity soccer: Inter-Ac champions
2025
Boys varsity soccer: Inter-Ac champions • SPRING/SUMMER 2026 38
ALUMNI
Class Notes Penn Charter magazine wants to hear from you, and your classmates do, too! Submit your news and photos at penncharter.com/alumni. Digital photos should be 300 dpi JPEGs.
1943 Edward A. MacNeal shared that he remembers Peter S. Wright, Robert J. Rossheim, Thomas W. Smythe and Jack M. Adams, and wonders if he is the oldest
surviving alumnus. He recalls that the school wanted him to skip second grade, but his parents didn’t because his older brother Dick (Richard H. MacNeal OPC ’40) had and it wasn’t good for him. Edward didn’t skip a grade but was given a key to a Carnegie
Class of 1956 70TH REUNION
music library, where he spent most of the day on his own, only attending certain classes. He remembers that as a time of independence and growth and where he developed a lifelong love and knowledge of classical music. Edward kept up with alumni gatherings and once helped organize a “reverse reunion” when a group of four or five, driven in an OPC van, visited another four or five classmates who were housebound.
1955
Class of 1961 65TH REUNION
Edward B. Fiske writes, “My wife, Sunny Ladd, and I continue to enjoy life at the Carol Woods retirement community in Chapel Hill, N.C., which boasts an abundance of interesting residents and intellectual and cultural stimulation. As is our custom, we will be spending July on an island in Maine, where Sunny’s sons Ethan and Haven and other members of her family congregate, and August at our lakeside cottage in New Hampshire, near my two daughters, Julie and Suzanna. In March, we went on a Viking cruise on the Danube. We have never been big fans of cruises, but as we get older it’s tempting to organize our travels such that we can sit tight and let the sights come to us. I continue to edit the eponymous Fiske Guide to Colleges, now in its 43rd edition.”
1959 James R. Buchanan writes, “I am delighted to report that my wife of 61 years and I are doing well. I look forward to another successful elk hunt this fall. Regards to all of my classmates who have reached their mid80s and have great plans for a continued rewarding life.”
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ALUMNI
Class Notes Kenneth J. Stuart Jr. reports, “I’ve had to reinvent myself after leaving book publishing and a two-hour commute to New York City, to manage the care of my ailing parents in Connecticut. Sold all my assets and started investing in S&P growth stocks and Florida real estate. I spend half the year now in Connecticut and half in Florida. I don’t know why I’m in Florida because I don’t drink, golf, fish or boat; must be the taxes. Married to Deb for 26 years. Daughter Leigh and grandson Henry live in Manhattan, where she was a freelance cellist. Leigh has been in a movie with Robin Williams and on TV in L.A. Law.”
1963 Robert E. Brickley shared some highlights: “Martin N. Krasney recently traveled to meet the Dalai Lama. Or, should I say, the Dalai Lama met Marty. Jeff Fox just published his latest book, Fee$: How to Sell Professional Services; you can get it on Amazon. Looking back on our 60th reunion, what a celebration! Many reconnected then and have stayed in touch since. I now talk to W.B. Starke weekly. Jack Rogers Hon. 1689, too. Charles L. Williams, after an illness, is back skiing at Steamboat Springs. Our Class of 1963 Scholarship Fund, under the guidance of Charles Kurz II, continues to benefit deserving Penn Charter students. Now that most of our class are octogenarians, the question I have for all of us is: What’s next?” Richard M. Dearnley writes, “I’m doing well, though making a few changes to adjust to 80. I'm giving my boat to my brother's daughter because I should probably not be jumping on/off at my age. I have a new right knee; if you need knee surgery, contact me for my ‘knee notes,’ which I wrote up for the five friends who followed me. Still in Little Rock, Ark., and New Jersey in summer.”
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Class of 1966 60TH REUNION
1968 Bruce C. Gill writes, “Richard E. Stanley and I caught up at the Alumni Awards Reception at PC in May. We were both hoping to run into other classmates, but you deadbeats didn't show up! Dick has been teaching languages at a private school in Greensburg in western Pa., but resigned at the end of May, wanting to return to the East Coast and continue teaching (somewhere). I am retired but still working on several historical projects in Philadelphia for the 250th, doing some traveling, and spending winters in Florida where it’s warm. Let us hear from you!”
Andrew B. Hartman moved from Sahuarita, Ariz., to Oro Valley, Ariz., which is closer to Tucson. Peter E. Helmetag shares, “I continue to work at living a sane life on my sheep farm in Vermont. That’s a full time job these days! Seasonal chores occupy the majority of my time: lambing and shearing in the spring, haying and gardening in the summer, logging and harvesting in the autumn and keeping those demanding wood stoves fired through the long, cold winters. My family is well, scattered as they are across the country. They’re happy and healthy. But it’s not all work here for me. I play music; study history, religions and world views; and escape when I can to climb and sail. I just returned from my near-annual rock climbing trip to the AntiAtlas mountains of Morocco, where I feel, next to my farm, most at home.”
ALUMNI
Class Notes Edwin S. Skinner Jr. writes, “Pam and I celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary in April. We also celebrated our granddaughter's 18th birthday and her decision to attend college in Denver. And while we don’t feel old enough, we will celebrate our son’s 50th birthday in June. Life rolls along!”
“Classmates George R. Haines Jr. and Preston C. Bassett were also with me on several of the trips,” he notes. “While I cannot surf well at 75, I still catch a few waves when the weather cooperates near my home in Rhode Island and feel blessed to have had the experiences shared in the book.”
questions he poses. Each episode is only 10-12 minutes long; you can find them on Spotify. Have a listen. It will lift your spirits hearing a young person so excited about the world around him, and you might even see the world yourself in a bit of a different way!” James W. Hunt Jr. writes, “This year I’m celebrating 53 years of happy marriage with my wife, Jane. We’re retired in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. We have two children, four grandchildren and are expecting our first great-grandchild. After traveling to several national parks in the U.S., as well as countries in Europe, we’re satisfied spending time enjoying the amenities of our retirement community. Life is good, and I hope everyone in my Penn Charter class is equally blessed.”
Kenneth J. Young shares, “I got married in late May. Not too many of us are doing that at our age. I have been honored to be named a Distinguished Alum at Penn State University. I’m mostly retired and spending time on cruises and other travel. I continue to live in Tampa, Fla., in a condo along Bayshore Blvd., which I walk every morning. If anyone is coming this way, please give me a call.”
1969 James P. Harbison writes, “I've embarked on a new adventure, doing podcasts with my 8-year-old grandson Robbie called Robbie's Physics. The format was developed by Robbie, and I just chip in by answering
Class of 1971 55TH REUNION
G. Harvey Zendt has spent the last year writing a book that chronicles his adventures while traveling the world in search of great waves to surf. His book, The Gift of Experience, includes surfing stories but also tales of encountering people and cultures that enhanced his understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of humanity. Available on Amazon. His love of surfing began in high school with Joseph D. Goodwin Jr., Robert W. Hendricks OPC ’67 and Henry S. Bender Jr. OPC ’70.
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ALUMNI
Class Notes
1971 R. Keith Helmetag is currently working on a 250th anniversary Battle of Brooklyn installation that will place this Revolutionary War flag bearer at five sites: Fulton Landing, the Old Stone House, the Maryland Monument, Battle Hill and the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument.
Theodore B. Smith continues to work for the Department of Justice after 37 years. Although most of his tenure was as an assistant U.S. attorney in Harrisburg, he now lives in Northern Virginia and works in Washington, D.C. He plays the banjo, hunts and is a proud grandfather to four granddaughters. Ted keeps up with David B. Driscoll and Douglas H. Jones, and hopes to be at their 55th in 2027.
1972 John M. Doelp is a senior vice president at Sony Music Entertainment. He shares, “It's been a crazy year for me. I had a #1 hit for six weeks with an artist named Hozier. Also, the Michael Jackson movie called Michael was released at #1 around the world and is the most successful music biopic in history. I worked on the music for the last two-anda-half years! On the family side, our younger son, Arthur, was married near Newport on Oct. 26, which also happens to be his and his wife's birthday. (Arthur is six hours older than Katie.) Our older son, John II, works for Spotify, and he and the newlyweds live in the Cambridge area outside of Boston. Still doing my music thing and living in Connecticut.”
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1973 Frederick H. Bartlett III enjoyed another year of coaching Middle School boys lacrosse at Penn Charter with coaches David Martina Jr. OPC ’10 and Christopher J. Rodgers OPC ’97.
Peter S. Crosby writes, “The world premiere of my first feature film, Oh My Beautiful Country: Journey to the West, at NYC's Socially Relevant Film Festival, was thrilling to see on the big screen yet dull watching it for the nth time, ego-boosting yet unbelievably humbling, nerve-racking with anticipation easing into peaceful satisfaction. The theater was filled with energy, laughter and a tear or two, with an insightful Q&A. This is my first film in the series of four about traveling to uncomfortable cultural places across the U.S. So, more screenings to come! Thanks for the encouragement and support along the way.”
Wayne D. Van Hest Jr. writes, “My daughter Tara was blessed with triplets and my daughter Brooke had a little girl born in Israel in 2025. Grandfather of four in a year. Life is good. Still working, by choice, and raising a college-aged daughter (#4) with my fiancée.”
ALUMNI
Class Notes
1974
1975
David C. Hahn writes that he recently returned from Zagreb, Croatia, where virtuoso guitarist Divna Šimatović has begun to record all of his works for classical guitar. She will finish the recording, which will become a CD, early next fall. “In the photo is a recording last year of a guitar quartet of my piece ‘Chaconne: Give Peace a Chance.’ Additionally, my two children are currently studying medicine, also in Zagreb.”
Stephen R. Mazda writes, “My memoir, Love & 401(k) Magic: Life Lessons & Short Stories for Success, has been published by Amazon. The audiobook is currently being recorded. Throughout 115 short stories, I endorse Penn Charter over my public school years numerous times. It took 68 years to live it and two years to write it.”
1977
Class of 1976 50TH REUNION
Kurt A. Barwis was named the 2026 Baldrige Foundation Award recipient for leadership excellence. Kurt has been with Bristol Health as the president and CEO since 2006. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and served on the Board of Governors of this prestigious association with over 53,000 members, influencing healthcare leadership across the world. Kurt is also a current board member of the American Hospital Association and is chair of its Regional Policy Board 1, covering all of New England. He is a board member of the Connecticut Hospital Association and serves on the governor's Health Care Cabinet. Alfred E. O'Neill Jr. released his third novel, Funeral of Lies, on Amazon. It is a Philly story of dirty politics, hope and family lies. One professional review said, “..the narrative’s psychological edge is engagingly sharp, as is Evan’s corrosive narration. A dark, jagged, and compulsively readable story that digs deep into grief, politics, and betrayal.”
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ALUMNI
Class Notes
1978 Walter J. Matweychuk Jr. writes, “As a rational psychologist seeking my place in the world of volunteerism, on Aug. 8, 2020, I started hosting a free Zoom meeting every Saturday. The Conversation Hour debuted with 41 attendees. Now, 300 consecutive Saturdays later, more than 170 people from around the world regularly attend. I teach that our attitudes toward adversity determine resilience. Each week, I work with a volunteer, discuss a real problem and teach them how to shift their attitudes, enabling them to change what they can and accept what is unchangeable. Many people who cannot afford psychotherapy attend and read one of the books on this approach, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Go to REBTDoctor.com to get the link to join us. Joe Perrott would be pleased.” David B. Wohl shares, “My choral work ‘The Valley Awakens’ was performed by the esteemed Safonia choir on May 16 in Denver, Colo. The concert featured Colorado composers. From the program notes: “‘The Valley Awakens’ is a celebration of empowerment and unity. As the valley awakens to a new day, full of possibility, so do we. We are as the terebinth tree, whose ‘branches weave and grow,’ and whose ‘roots delve deep in the earth below, holding the earth together as one.’ We belong to one another, and together we are strong.”
1980 William F. Rice writes, “I am the CEO of Billy Rice International and founder of the My Power 6O System. Billy Rice International was recently awarded the Future of Wellness Pioneer Award from Insider Weekly magazine, and recognized in the International Business Journal. I had the privilege of taking my mother,
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
Shirley Rice, at age 90 to her first prom (senior citizen's prom) on April 11, 2026. We had a blast.”
six appearances in the USCAA National Championship. Ben and Ceci have called Charlotte home for 25 years, building their family and community connections. Today, Ben serves on corporate and nonprofit boards and is wrapping up nearly 25 years on Penn Charter’s Board of Trustees. His daughter, Sydney, teaches fourth grade at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte. His son, Bailey, works as a banker in Silicon Valley and is finishing his master’s degree at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. In his free time, Ben enjoys golf and cycling throughout the Carolinas. He remains grateful for the values of character, service and leadership instilled at Penn Charter.
1982 Benjamin E. Robinson III retired from banking in 2016 after serving as chief administrative officer at Prudential, in senior executive roles at Bank of America and as CEO of MasterCard Solutions. He spent five years as dean of the Johnson & Wales University College of Business, where he coached the women’s soccer team to
Class of 1981 45TH REUNION
ALUMNI
Class Notes Ennis S. Sigler writes, “For the past three years, my doors have been open with the intention of deepening the relationships of old through conversations on the things that impact our lives. The result is far more: We remain connected in friendship and fellowship, and you know what? At our age, I’m just happy I'm able to manage any new ache! The 2026 bonfire is coming soon. Join us.” From left: Perry L. Mitchell, Bradley L. Noble, Kenneth A. Murphy, Ali Bailey, Frank Salley, Andrew L. Miller.
1986 P. Timothy Phelps, executive director of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County has been selected as one of City & State Pennsylvania’s 2025 Fifty Over 50 honorees, a recognition celebrating leadership, vision and impact among Pennsylvania’s most accomplished leaders over the age of 50.
1989 Jeremy A. Dubin has been elected as a director-at-large for the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine and has moved into the position of chief medical education officer for Porch Light Health.
1983 Eric M. Wilcots, dean of the College of Letters & Science, was selected to serve as the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s interim chancellor, effective May 17.
Class of 1986 40TH REUNION
Neil B. Tanner was recently named His Majesty’s Honorary Consul to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the United Kingdom. As one of his first official duties, he helped host King Charles III for a high-level strategic meeting with leading CEOs from the energy industry as part of the historic 2026 state visit to the United States. The roundtable, held on April 29 at Rockefeller Center, focused on accelerating the global transition to sustainable energy and strengthening the U.S.-U.K. collaboration on green technology.
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ALUMNI
Class Notes
Class of 1991 35TH REUNION
1994 Edward H. Morris and his wife, He Len, launched OPUS Pickleball Club (“OPC”) in Wyndmoor, Pa., in October 2025. OPUS hosts open play, clinics and corporate events, and offers opportunities to play and learn the game in a community-based environment. Ed writes, “We're happy to have many OPCs, as well as current students and faculty, as customers.”
Class of 1996 30TH REUNION
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
1999 Spencer Reich ran into PC teacher Kristin Kelly (pictured) and Upper School students who were on a spring break trip to Japan. They were at Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama near Kyoto, where visitors are allowed to feed the monkeys. OPCs are everywhere!
2004 Edward P. Morrone had a very exciting move to Nijmegen, Netherlands, right before Thanksgiving with his girlfriend of four years, Sarah Narburgh, who received a wonderful career opportunity there. He adds, “We are absolutely loving this European adventure along with our dog, Dooley, and cat, Binx, and can’t wait to explore this side of the world together. The picture is of Sarah and me along the Waalkade in our new hometown.”
ALUMNI
Class Notes
Class of 2001 25TH REUNION
2009 Kirby Dixon and her history teacher John Burkhart OPC '72 had a brief reunion at the Kimmel Center in April during the HistoryTalks event, for which Kirby was a producer. The event featured conversations among former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden; former first ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden; former secretary of state Hillary Clinton; plus Jason Kelce, Tom Brady and more.
2006 Emily (Bartlett) Walker walked a portion of El Camino de Santiago de Compostela with her mom in April. Also, she applied for postulancy for ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Vermont. Buen Camino!
Class of 2006 20TH REUNION
James H. Grace shares, “My wife, Raina, and I bought a house and moved to Bala Cynwyd last fall. We’ve had a great time starting this new chapter of our lives, while still making every effort to spend time at the shore. My team and I are currently building out a new sustainable finance department at MetLife Investment Management. This lifelong interest in the overlap between business and climate change was sparked by Dr. Nora Comiskey. One can draw a straight line from her AP Environmental Science classroom to today, and I owe her an immense debt of gratitude.”
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ALUMNI
Class Notes
Class of 2011 15TH REUNION
2012 Carolyn M. Grace graduated with first-class honors from Trinity College Dublin after receiving a Fulbright U.S. Student Award to study in Ireland from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Carolyn received a master of philosophy in creative writing with a focus on nonfiction. She is now working on an essay collection.
2016 Jonathan D. Weiss received his PhD in bioengineering from Stanford University last summer and started his career as a mechanical failure analysis engineer in Sunnyvale, Calif., where he helps develop consumer electronics and medical devices. Outside the lab, he continues to enjoy playing guitar in his band and misses the performing arts at PC. Please reach out if you visit the Bay Area.
2017 Leslie A. Goodman celebrated her engagement to Jake Balena in New York City with her close friends, pictured from left, Marlee Zales, Abigail B. Cohen, Juliet Webb and Maya E. Freed.
2015 Emily Barkann passed the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in October, and is now working for Marrone Law Firm, LLC, in Philadelphia. She adds, “I work on criminal defense and civil rights plaintiff litigation, with a focus on police misconduct and wrongful conviction cases.”
Class of 2016 10TH REUNION
Amira M. Martin graduated from the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.
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ALUMNI
Class Notes
Class of 2020 5TH REUNION
DEATHS 1948 William E. Miles Jr., on Sept. 28, 2025.
1951 Charles S. Parmenter, on Jan. 26, 2025.
1952
David K. Colescott, on May 5, 2025.
2019 Annika L. Murray graduated with their master’s degree in family therapy from Drexel University and has accepted a job working as a family-based therapist for at-risk youth in Philadelphia. They have also been conducting research in Drexel's EXCEL Lab with fellow alum Troi Rutherford OPC ’20, studying women with opioid use disorder.
C. Richard Cryer, on May 23, 2025.
David M. Jordan, on Jan. 24, 2026.
2022
Michael P. Ritter, on Oct. 21, 2025.
James Fitzgerald V shares that his brother Russell and the Princeton men’s lacrosse team won the Men's Division 1 Championship, defeating No. 2 Notre Dame 16-9 in the finals.
1953 Dwight E. Conklin, on April 1, 2026.
From left: James, Russell Fitzgerald, James J. Fitzgerald IV OPC ’87.
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 •
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ALUMNI
Class Notes DEATHS 1953
1958
1966 Gerritt H. Argento, on Oct. 9, 2025.
Ralph W. Ervin III, on April 16, 2025.
John E.F. Corson, on May 28, 2026.
Stephen V. Gibbs, on Sept. 16, 2025.
William Matthews Jr., on March 18, 2026.
1954
1967 Robert D. Morrow Jr., on May 24, 2026.
John P. Green Jr., on Jan. 4, 2026.
Thomas C. Oxtoby, on June 22, 2025. James K. Thompson Sr., on Dec. 10, 2025.
Earl S. Vollmer Jr., on Feb. 1, 2026.
1970
1961
1955
Edward C. Driscoll Jr., in 2026. Ranney W. Thayer, on Oct. 20, 2024.
Victor P. Blizard, on Jan. 15, 2026.
1971
1962 Charles Clayton Jr., on July 11, 2025.
William S. Walker, on July 15, 2025. F. Stone Roberts Sr., on Oct. 24, 2025.
William S. Colehower, on Nov. 28, 2025.
Harry L.J. Garrett, on Sept. 5, 2025.
1963 William G. Harbison Jr., on April 6, 2026. Jonathan M. Grohsman, on Aug. 30, 2025.
Robert M. Packer III, on Dec. 14, 2025.
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• SPRING/SUMMER 2026
1974
ALUMNI
Class Notes DEATHS 1976
MARRIAGES 2006
2008
Kamal Marell married Lisa Suarez on April 18, 2026.
Caroline Wilkes married Edward Bambino on July 12, 2025.
2010
2012
Stuart Pasch married Nicole Kus on Aug. 23, 2025.
Tyler J. Earley married Winter Chernak on June 14, 2025.
Mark L. Gravinese, on April 26, 2026.
1990
From left: David Maas, Matthew Domenick, Kathryn Corelli, Sierra Tishgart, Sarah (Weitzman) Williams, Connor Gorman, Rosa Samuels, Scott Kaesshaefer, Brian Teuber OPC ’07, Michael Butler OPC ’07, Andrew Fullen OPC ’07, Nicholas Bambino OPC ’14, Liam Resch, Michael B. McCrossen OPC ’98, Rachel (Fischer) Carroll OPC ’09, Samuel S. Biddle OPC ’07, Blaise Fullen, Jordyn (Shaffer) Amoroso, Anthony DiSalvo.
Steven L. Kushner, on Jan. 26, 2026.
1992 Matthew M. Donnelly, on Feb. 13, 2026.
1995
From left: Thomas Fitzgerald Monzo, Kyle Earley OPC ’19, Kevin Murphy OPC ’13, Andrew P. Murray OPC ’14, Mark Rota, Winter, Tyler, Grant A. Guyer OPC ’11, Shane J. Carr, John J. Moderski.
Seamus Brown, in November 2025.
2002 Michael Swift, on June 11, 2026.
2014 Glynis Braun married Kevin Visco on Sept. 13, 2025. From left: George Braun Jr. OPC ’12, Francesca Braun, Jamie Braun, Kevin, Glynis, George Braun Sr., Caroline Braun OPC ’05, Frank Weber, Francis Weber, Heidi Weber, Blair Weber OPC ’06.
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 •
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ALUMNI
Class Notes MARRIAGES 2014 Isabella Djerassi married Daniel Ackerman on Nov. 22, 2025.
BIRTHS 2014
2007
2012
Leigh Steinberg married Max Kanefield on June 21, 2025.
Thomas Tavy, to James and Bridget (McDugall) Williams, on Jan. 28, 2026.
Bryce Cornelius, to Mike and MaryKate (O’Brien) Boland, on April 15, 2026.
2008
Jack, to Emma Cataldi and Jake Stevelman, on July 18, 2025.
2014 Erich Riedlmeier married Maria Foreman on Dec. 28, 2024. From left: Laura Riedlmeier OPC ’16, John Horan, Karen Riedlmeier (Lower School art teacher), Gavin Hatfield, Maria, Erich, Benjamin Richards, Malcolm Ford Hon. 1689 (Lower School science teacher), Christopher Kurtz, Carl Christoph.
2015 Emily Barkann married Joe Coopersmith on April 18, 2026. The wedding party included Matthew Barkann OPC ’18, Defne Karabucak, Mason Thomas OPC ’14, Jennie Reisman OPC ’17 and Chloe Master OPC '18.
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Adelyn Ann, to Rosa Samuels and Mick McGuire, on March 18, 2026.
Margot Ellis, to Rachel and Garrett Shields, on Dec. 7, 2025.
2014 Ambrose Blaise, to Maria and Erich Riedlmeier, on March 26, 2026.
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