C S t.
Margaret’s
ommencement
2011
Episcopal
School
Arya Amirhekmat Elizabeth Arriaga Beatrice E. Ary Marcos Avila Andrew C. Balcof Katherine J. Berchtold Kirsten M. Bleiweiss Melissa J. Bond Emily J. Boone Mario M. Brenes Molly K. Brooks William E. Brynjolfsson Eun A Byun Maxwell R. Carpenter Nicholas A. Carpenter Andrew W. Chen In Kwon A. Chung Blakely E. Collier Olivia J. Collins Wyatt C. Corman
Charles C. Cox
Nicole C. Craigmile Victoria E. Davidson
Douglas A. Davis Martin J. Dolan Maryann O. Doudna Michael P. Dougher Devin D. Dreyer Amanda C. Edington Davis N. Edwards Andrea L. Ellis Ashtin S. Evans Katherine G. Everett Matthew S. Faris Bryan A. Flores Jessica T. Fonseca Michael D. Friedman Nicholas J. Geller Daniel N. Golly Mary G. Gordon Sarah M. Greenberg William J. Griffith Brooke C. Grogan Hannah M. Hess Natalie D. Hiles Chloe E. Hoff Adam G. Holden Grant M. Hosinski Dillon J. Itri Michael C. Jones Michael C. Kartiko Shannon O. Kelly Shayna L. Kerry Farrah A. Kharazmi Andrew M. Kim George C. Ko Nicolas Kouris Alexander J. Krafcik Michelle C. Lancaster Peter X. Langton Jonathan F. Li Lauren M. Lindquist Berenice Luna Samuel Malagon Mitchel C. Marmelstein Alison K. Martens William W. McCarthy Anna G. McGregor William R. Mech
Hunter F. Meece
Ramtin K.
Mehrvijeh Kelley D. Meredith James F. Murayama Kristin M. Murray Brett R. Nicholas Stephanie G. Ornelas Sarah J. Paddon Erika G. Page Seema H. Patel Mitchell V. Pok Carlye E. Porrazzo Cameron J. Price Sara E. Reindl Emma S. Rice Shirin Sadri Kayla L. Schmitt George J. Schoeffel Russell J. Sego
Colin A. Shaffer Ashley N. Short Whitney E. Simon
Brennan C. Smith Margarita S. Solazzo Alexandra G. Solon Sarah Sorensen Felipe R. Soto
Zachary L. Stoddard
Erin N. Thomas
Hamida Valji
Jessica W. Warren Laura J. Whitney Valerie M. Wu Matthew K. Yamada
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is pleased to present this commemorative publication focusing on the Class of 2011 Commencement ceremony. For additional articles and photograph galleries highlighting the Class of 2011, including the Bishop’s Spirituality Award winner and events such as the Upper School Awards, Senior Breakfast, Senior BBQ and more, visit http://commencement.smesnews.org.
C
ommencement 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
Commencement Ceremony The Class of 2011 Commencement Ceremony featured addresses by Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut, the Associated Student Body President, Senior Class President, the Valedictorian and the commencement speaker.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Marcus D. Hurlbut, Headmaster
15
Commencement 2011 offers a compilation of speeches presented during ceremonies and services honoring the St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Class of 2011. Speeches have been edited for publication. Editor Nicole Peddy Editorial Board Jeannine Clarke, Jeneen Graham, Stephen Harrington, Marcus D. Hurlbut, Anne Mack, Nicole Peddy Please send comments or questions to the Marketing and Communications Department St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 31641 La Novia San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2752 communications@smes.org www.smes.org
20
22
For additional articles and photograph galleries highlighting the Class of 2011, including the Bishop’s Spirituality Award and events such as the Upper School Awards, Senior Breakfast, Senior BBQ and more, visit http://commencement.smesnews.org. St. Margaret’s publishes responsibly. This publication is printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, using soy-based inks made from renewable resources such as natural pigments and vegetable oils.
26
B a c c a l a u r e at e S e rv ic e At this evening service, the community gathered to hear the Salutatorian Address and to give thanks for the graduating students, their families and the commitment of the school’s teachers and staff.
Candlelighting Ceremony The Upper School student body passed the “light of leadership” from the senior to junior class, inspired by addresses from the Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal, 2011 Associated Student Body President, as well as the 2012 Associated Student Body President.
Senior Banquet Graduating seniors and their families shared a meal outdoors, together with the St. Margaret’s community, listening to faculty addresses.
College Choices Learn where these recent graduates are headed in their academic careers.
C
ommencement Ceremony
T
he St. Margaret’s community gathered on Gateway Field on June 11 to witness the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2011. Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut addressed those gathered, welcomed the guests, presented the Class of 2011 and gave the closing remarks.
“Good evening and welcome to the 26th Commencement at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Thank you for joining us as we gather for one last time to celebrate the Class of 2011. And, thank you, Ali for sharing your incredible musical talent with us one last time. “I would like to welcome and offer special thanks to the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of San Juan Capistrano, Mr. Larry Kramer, who has joined us this evening. I would also like to acknowledge members of the Class of 1986, the first graduating class at St. Margaret’s, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary today. Congratulations and welcome back! “It is a longstanding tradition at St. Margaret’s for the president of the Associated Student Body, to offer a few words at this time. Please welcome Mrs. Lora Allison to introduce our speaker.”
1
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
After the Headmaster’s welcome, Director of Community Life Lora Allison introduced the Associated Student Body President Blakely E. Collier: “For this year’s Associated Student Body President, today’s Commencement Ceremony marks the end of an era. Literally. Her final year of leadership brings to a close 17 years of family dedication and service to this community. Her mother, Kelly, has been tirelessly devoted to every aspect of our school. Her two older sisters graduated in 2006 and 2008 with significant contributions of their own, yet Blakely has not for one minute lived in their shadow. Trying to capture the essence of Blakely is difficult because she is amazing in every facet. Words like creative, generous and dedicated don’t even typify this remarkable young woman. She has character traits that make her a well-respected and effective leader. For four years she has served the student body with endless determination and enthusiasm. This perseverance combined with her imagination simply makes her a force to reckon with. She has been sewing since she was a little girl. This has evolved into designing extraordinary costumes for every Upper School production in her four years; this totals almost 1,000 pieces of art. Clearly this indicates what a talented designer she is, but also serves as a reminder to all of us what hard work can accomplish. She was recently commended by winning a Cappie for Best Costume for Jane Eyre. Blakely is ALL about St. Margaret’s.
we were third graders we would all have our usernames in the folder 2011. Bradley Barnes who was sitting to my left, because we of course had to sit boy girl in the third grade, raised his hand and asked the question that was on most of our minds, ‘why 2011?’ To which Mrs. Suville responded, ‘Well it’s because that’s the year you graduate.’ “The year was 2001. We may have been eight at the time, but we could quickly do the math that we had 10 more years at St. Margaret’s. The room quickly filled with comments, ‘But I’ve already been here for five years’ to ‘I’m going to be so old.’ The best of them all came from the other little boy that sat to my right. He dramatically threw his head and arms back in his chair and exclaimed, ‘It’ll never end!’ That little boy was Max Carpenter, our homecoming king. “Over the years, I have had to agree with little Max. The thought that this would never end came across my mind. Whether it was the times trying to study for finals, the time when Mr. Lakeman benched our whole class for talking or the infamous bounce house incident of seventh grade when we all had to sit in Highland Hall on the last day of school because people from our grade had gone into a bounce house, the thought of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School never ending came into my mind. But for all those times that I thought it would never end, the amount of times I wished it would never end greatly outnumber it.
“So how will we remember this award-winning costume designer? We have felt like the fabric of her latest creation. With tireless devotion, she has taken the St. Margaret’s community and woven together individual voices, lasting friendships and tradition. She has adorned us with special touches and thoughtful accents. Blakely has bound us together like the closing of a zipper and has smoothed our wrinkles and folds. And today, we witness the impact of her leadership and creativity as she sends her classmates out onto the stage of life. “Blakely leaves a large pincushion to fill, but we know that she is destined for great things at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University this fall. Please welcome Blakely Collier.” Associated Student Body President Blakely E. Collier arrived at the podium with her greeting: “Welcome family, friends, faculty, staff and most importantly the Class of 2011. This day has finally arrived. I can remember the first time I ever found out that we graduated in the year 2011. I was in Mrs. Risner’s third grade class and one hot September afternoon, after a lunch packed full of four square and digging for Indian clay, we sat in computer class. Mrs. Suville explained to us that now that
Blakely E. Collier Associated Student Body President Commencement 2011
2
“These years at St. Margaret’s truly have been lifechanging for me. Over the last couple of weeks, as we all have been preparing to move on from our days at St. Margaret’s, I’ve thought a great deal about how St. Margaret’s has changed me. I started to think more about the teachers here who have guided and helped us over the years. Even though we may not fully realize how unique and special they are now, one day we’ll realize that the integrity of Mr. Rocky Parker, the humor of Mr. James Harris and the passion of Ms. Jamie Bunch, and various other characteristics from our teachers, during these years at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School are far from ordinary and that these people have left a mark on us for good. “These teachers have been there for us from when we were little and our biggest problems were forgetting our red sweaters to getting advice on which college to attend in the fall. They’ve been the ones to congratulate us when we triumphed and the ones willing to call us out when we were in the wrong (Mr. Lakeman you were right, I was talking to Whitney that day you benched us all), and all of us are better people because of the honesty and compassion they’ve showed us. I thought about our peers who have been there for us, whether it was the late night phone calls about what was needed in a formal lab report for science or all the reminder emails Huma has sent us over the years. Colin said it best last week: we are family, a crazy chaotic and a tad dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless that we will remember and cherish for decades to come. I’ve thought about the lessons that we’ve been taught that have changed our view on the world, the moments when things clicked in our heads or as Mr. House famously says, ‘we made the connection.’ All of those events that changed us, made us who we are today and something we’ll take with us over the years. “As I thought more about the teachers, lessons and events that left a mark on us, I thought about how the Class of 2011 has changed St. Margaret’s. We as a grade have left a great mark on this place, no doubt in my mind. We started from an early age in Lower School showing our superb athletic skills that we displayed in physical education playing hot foot or scooter board soccer, and whatever your House League might have been (Oxford, of course being the best), we showed our early skills as athletes at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Or, perhaps our mark left on Lower School was the talent that we showed from the musicals to the talent show; they were never the same because of us. From the Britney Spears talent show dance in first grade that consisted of 15 girls and Zack, or maybe the fact that at 10 we had battling bands in our grade; no one can ever forget the battle between the Broken Records and Jake’s Band later to be renamed PG-13. Whether Pioneer Day was better than Africa Day, we will never know, but what we do know is that the Lower School has never been the same after the Class of 2011 passed through. 3
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
A l m a M at e r Hail to St. Margaret’s, gladly we praise you, Thy namesake from Scotland, a legend of love. Home of friendship, school of our learning, Trusting in God who guides from above. Thy halls and courtyards, church and highlands Source of knowledge, wisdom, and truth; Though we may travel the world with its treasures We’ll cherish these memories of our youth. Refrain: So give me the school of the Tartan and the cross, The valley and the river. To God sing thanks and praise, We shall serve you all our days, St. Margaret’s of Scotland forever. Hail to St. Margaret’s, birthplace of scholars, Seeking the good in all women and men. Proud of the crimson and blue of our colors, A banner of courage and peace o’er the glen. As swallows return to San Juan Capistrano, Their history inscribed on the parchment of fame, We hold a light to a noble example, That others might follow and honor God’s name. Refrain: So give me the school of the Tartan and the cross, The valley and the river. To God sing thanks and praise, We shall serve you all our days, St. Margaret’s of Scotland forever. Music adapted from a traditional Scottish melody. Lyrics by 1982 faculty and staff.
“As we left our itchy red sweaters behind and went from three separate classes to one grade in Middle School, we continued to leave our mark as a grade. We came in as little sixth graders, the girls with blue eye shadow and gelled back pony tails and the boys with their voice cracks; let’s just say it was an awkward time for all. We had to deal with new responsibilities in our schoolwork and trying to figure out who you were as an individual.
unforgettable day consisting of the entire senior class singing “Free Fallin’” led by Andrew in Convocation to holding arms in the Senior Quad as we counted down our last moments as current Tartans. We have been an example for other grades, we’ve showed them how to rise from negative situations and how to be role models for younger grades and set the tone of the high school. We will have left this place with a big Class of 2011 imprint on it.
“As a grade, we had our struggles during those years and we soon learned what the term “group punishment” meant, but as a grade we rose above it. From being the only grade to get to go to Catalina twice, to getting to attend some uncomfortable dances that consisted of awkward slow dances to some Backstreet Boys song and dancing to the electric slide, they are memories we’ll take with us. We were able to leave the Middle School by being complimented for having the best behavior seen in years on the D.C. trip and leaving a path for other grades to rise above previous standards and reputations set upon a grade.
“We have for sure left a mark on St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, but now it’s time for us to leave our next mark. We leave today and go off in different directions, but leaving a path of where we’ve been has only just begun. The people who stand beside me today are future artists, teachers, doctors, scientists, activists and much more, who are going to go out into this world and do great things. I can say with certainty that you will hear about the members of the Class of 2011 and their accomplishments because there is no way that this group of people are going to be complacent in this world.
“Then the time came to move on to high school. If the Class of 2011 has left their mark anywhere at St. Margaret’s, it’s the biggest from our last four years in high school. From academics, to the arts, to sports, to the overall high school experience, the Class of 2011 has made a path for grades to follow. As a grade, we have taken hundreds of Advanced Placement exams, members of our grade have played on teams that have won several CIF Championships and during our senior year, for the first two seasons of the year, we had a sweep on a certain school up the 73 in every varsity sport, and have put on amazing plays and musicals consistently for the past four years. “We left our mark on the everyday at St. Margaret’s, as well. Whether it’s the fact that any and every award that has been given out over the four years we’ve been here Matt Yamada has been cheered for, the fact that we have turned class meetings, something that in most grades is a dry, boring 25 minutes of the week, into something entertaining, whether it was Andrew’s riddles, jamming junior, or that one incident with Martin, we’ve made the dull exciting. “As a senior class, we were able to show all other grades how it’s done, starting with retreat. Our 70-plus person whirlpool that we created or singing “American Pie” around the camp fire as a unified grade, to advisory skits that included everything from Taylor’s boys writing poetry about their ex-girlfriends, Mr. Boyle’s advisory shaving Zack’s legs, and Lina’s ladies being able to drench Mr. Sherman and Mr. Boyle in their skit, we started off well and continued it throughout the year with memorable moments that we’ll keep with us for a lifetime.
“So my advice to each of you today is to get on with it; get on with leaving your mark. You all have the capabilities and skills that St. Margaret’s has given us over the years to leave your mark, and I know that you all will. As we leave today and move on to becoming Huskies, Trojans, Boilers, and various other things, remember your years as Tartans and the skills we all acquired here. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and make that path for others to follow. “It has not only been an honor to be a member of the Class of 2011, but to represent the 103 of you for the last couple of years, and I thank you all for that. I’m so proud of the people you all have grown to be and it is of the highest honor to be grouped with all of you. I can honestly say that I can’t wait to see where you all leave your mark on this world, but wherever you go out and make that mark, always remember the school with the Tartan and the Crosssss. Thank you.” Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut introduced Senior Class President Shannon O. Kelly: “The president of the senior class came to St. Margaret’s in the fall of 2004 as a sixth grader. On her application, she was asked about her special talents and encouraged not to be modest—to which she responded, ‘acting, athletic coordination and public speaking.’ When she visited during the admission process, her student host commented that ‘she was willing to participate in class discussions when she thought she might know the answer to a teacher’s question even though she wasn’t very familiar with the curriculum. Shannon would raise her hand with confidence and not be embarrassed to make a mistake. She had a smile on her face at all times.’
“We started the year off strong with memories from glowdown and football games and ended it with an Commencement 2011
4
Senior Class President Shannon O. Kelly then presented the Class of 2011 Senior Gift, addressing those gathered: “Seniors, we are truly one of a kind. Each one of us is impressively unique and together we all march to the beat of our own drum, or in this case, bagpipes. Anything that’s thrown at us, whether it’s our alma mater, countless chapels, or even Convocation, we always find a way to make it “Free Fallin'” and memorable. “We gather here today, sitting awkwardly in front of you on these uncomfortable risers, as a class full of personality. We have charming politicians, a genius who will discover the cure for cancer, a passionate costume designer, an Olympian diver and swimmer, Tony Award winners, veterinarians, clever CEOs, engineers, photo journalists and so much more. We sit as individuals, but we also sit as one. Well, double the one and double the fun. Shannon O. Kelly Senior Class President
“This pretty much says it about Shannon. She has been involved, engaged and smiling since day one and her impact on her class and the school has been profound. She is a dedicated, influential leader willing to shoulder responsibility while eager to involve others in the process. As a student in my constitutional law class this year, there was no topic she didn’t want to discuss and her eagerness to hear the views of others was reflected in her nearly daily question, ‘hey guys, what do you think?’ “This past Sunday, at the annual Cappies award ceremony celebrating the best high school theater programs in Orange County, Shannon’s commitment to theater was richly rewarded when she was recognized as the Best Comic Actress in a Play for her role in Blithe Spirit. She clearly has enormous talent on the stage, but perhaps more importantly it was her humanity that evening that set her apart. There were two casts for Blithe Spirit this year, and when Shannon’s name was called last Sunday, she insisted that her classmate and counterpart as Madame Arcati, Carlye Porrazzo, join her in accepting the award. Pretty impressive! “Given her talent, charm and confidence, it seems perfectly logical that Shannon has outgrown St. Margaret’s and San Juan Capistrano and that she now needs a bigger stage— so, how about New York City and Fordham University? Makes perfect good sense to me! “Please welcome the President of the Class of 2011, Shannon O. Kelly.”
5
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
“We have people in our class who started their journey as curious little preschoolers, and we have people who joined in along the way. A few here, a few there. It doesn’t really matter when any one of us got here because what’s important is that we’re all here now. We’re all graduating, and we’re probably doing it with too many memories to keep track of. “Some of those memories started at the outdoor quad by the Chapel. Sixth grade class meetings with lectures about eliminating scarves from the uniform, learning how to dance Mrs. Otto's “the Fish,” and how to sing Ms. Dunlop’s rock song, “Converge, Diverge, Transform.” It was always a blast. Even back then, we did it all with a style completely our own. “But we couldn’t live in sixth grade forever. Our swing dancing weeks came to an end, and we bid adieu to Middle School by saying hello to Washington D.C. The monuments may have blurred together, and the facts may be a little hazy, but the hole in that hotel wall is as big as ever. What we really remember is the freedom that first big trip afforded us; mainly the freedom of relationships that ended just as quickly as they started. “It’s a good thing too because high school was just around the corner. It didn’t take long for our leftover eighth grade egos to quickly die down. The seniors that year were… legendary. They made sure no freshman entered the Senior Quad so we were left sitting sad and small on the floor below our lockers. It took a few days, but we finally discovered the bleachers by the field. It was there we came to terms with the fact that high school was going to be a much bigger feat than we’d originally thought.
“Or, maybe it wasn’t. The awkward looks passed. Finals always ended and the SAT didn’t kill any of us. Now, it’s senior year and we’re the top 103 kids of the school. There’s no doubt we couldn’t have gotten here without our nagging but loving parents, without our caring teachers and especially without each other. We kicked the year off with a bang at the Senior Retreat and left with a “Whirlpool of Memories”…but that was just the beginning. I think we finally came into our own this year. Each of our 103 personalities has found our niche and found our way to shine. It’s each of us, though, that makes up the whole. That lets our class be the “mooshka” that it is. “And, who we are is something special. As indefinable as we may think we are, we are unique. Take for example this story of how we came up with the theme for this year’s Senior Spirit Week. “I had originally suggested Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban, but somehow Blakely convinced me that “Cowboys and Indians” was the way to go. We shared our idea and everyone agreed. With enthusiasm to spare, we charged forward. Well…things happen and somehow “Cowboys and Indians” turned into a hangman vote between “Communism” and “Woodstock.” In the end, we all decided as seniors, we’re going to “Rock Woodstock.” “And, we did. We rocked it out. We had an RV in the Senior Quad, stacks of hay, and made the freshmen think they had to use porta-potties. It was a free spirited kind of spirit week; definitely our style. “Even though the chickens have since been caged and school is now coming to an end, we’re still finding a way to make these last few moments distinctly our own. Circling up in the Senior Quad to count down the last seconds of high school, blasting music, throwing water bottles—having fun. That’s what this class is about. It’s about our unique personalities all coming together. It’s about the fact that I, the dramatic one of the group, could totally be myself. Crying, well…wailing included. “After the last day of school, I remember going to my best friend Sarah’s house and woefully crying to her mom, bawling, ‘I feel like my puppy just died.’ Well, I’ve never actually had a puppy, but I’m pretty sure I love this class just as much as any furry little doe-eyed pup. We’re each other’s friends, our family, our tribe. We’re the ones that have experienced some of the best and most embarrassing times of our lives with. We all know there’s a great big endless world full of possibilities out there, and that’s exciting. But still, leaving each other is going to be harder than we think. Clichés are cliché for a reason and we can find comfort in knowing that from every end, there is always a new beginning.
“Next year, St. Margaret’s future classes won’t graduate on this field. Instead, the seniors of years to come will walk across the steps of the new Performing Arts Center. They will reflect upon their time at St. Margaret’s—just as we are now—there. Therefore, what better gift can our class give than a small token of wisdom and comfort to let them know, we know how they feel. “It’s big. It’s life-changing and it’s hard to put it all into words. We tried though. “We didn’t use our words, but instead found a few by Louis L’Amour. The famed western novelist wrote, ‘There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.’ These encouraging words will be engraved on these steps, proudly from the Class of 2011. “Seniors, we are going our separate ways next year and are eager for what’s to come. Let us remember our times together at St. Margaret’s and be proud of the distinctly unique legacy we’ve left. We rocked it till the end. And now, I will throw one last shakkah sign for us all and say, ‘Let’s continue to Rock On!’” After the presentation of the Senior Gift, Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal David G. Boyle took to the podium to introduce the Valedictory speaker Jonathan F. Li: “Our Valedictorian Johnny Li stands out as the most talented and accomplished students I have ever encountered in all my years here. While his stellar undertakings in academics and national recognition in math, physics, chemistry and science research are talked about widely and win praise in many venues, Johnny is also a humble and immensely likeable person. As a St. Margaret’s “lifer” in his 14th year at the school, Johnny absolutely lives up to our core values in terms of character, involvement in the community, development of personal and academic talents with balance and breadth, and meeting high expectations. He exemplifies our standards of excellence and makes significant contributions to the life of the school as a leader in and out of the classroom. “Johnny’s record in our Upper School is hard to define. After all, he completed the entire Upper School math curriculum by the end of seventh grade and finished both Advanced Placement physics courses before the completion of eighth grade, in part by self-study, mentored by Mr. Ingalls.
Commencement 2011
6
you name it. From award-winning actresses and scientists to nationally ranked athletes and CIF champions, to our legendary Olympic curling champion, Xav, we have graced the covers of magazines and headlines of The Orange County Register countless times over the past four years. Yes, we have gotten to the top—but not by sitting on our bottoms. We did it by standing on the shoulders of giants, and by giants I mean our teachers, our coaches, our parents and our peers. These are the people who raised us up to where we are today.
Jonathan F. Li Valedictorian
“The time allowed for me to introduce Johnny prevents me from listing all of his achievements, but I’ll try: He has earned 800s on SAT II exams in physics, chemistry and math. He has earned the titles of Advaced Placement Scholar with Distinction, State AP Scholar, and National AP Scholar by taking more AP courses than anyone thought possible. He is a Davidson Fellow in Mathematics, a three-time USA Math Olympian, a two-time member of the U.S. Physics Olympiad Team, co-captain of the JETS Team that took first place in their division at the state level, and an Intel Science Talent Search Finalist. “Johnny thrives on challenge and handles all challenges with poise and equanimity. He epitomizes the joyful pursuit of academic excellence. “Please give our Valedictorian Johnny Li a warm welcome.” Jonathan F. Li approached the podium and presented the Valedictory Address: “Thank you, Mr. Boyle for that generous introduction. Before I begin, I’d like to thank my parents for always being there; Mr. Boyle and faculty for always being there; Mr. Ingalls and Dr. Bob for always being there; my mentors, Dr. Lowengrub, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Franck, and Mr. Rice for always being there; all my friends for always being there; all my Facebook friends for always being there; my sister for sometimes being there; I’d like to thank my pet frog for always being there until a few months ago; and lastly, my TI-89 for always being there.
“For those of you who don’t know me well, I used to have long hair down to my eyes since sixth grade. My hair soon became more than just a feature of ravishing beauty and exquisite charm. It became a constant source of conflict between my parents and me. I argued that it served a purely practical purpose. In the mornings, my hair took on the role of an organic beanie made of strands of protein, keeping my precious head insulated and warm. My parents argued it was ugly. A few months ago I decided, to my mother’s delight, that it was time for a little adjustment. So my friend Nick Carpenter, who also had long luscious locks of hair, met up with me at the local Supercuts. According to my calculations, we both lost about a pound of hair each. It’s simple math really. “Post-haircut, I felt cold and exposed. I realized how much the comfort of familiarity served as a psychological barrier. It was a strange and uncomfortable feeling. However, in challenging myself to embrace change, I gained new perspective. Next year, we will all be getting haircuts, in a metaphorical sense. We will be removed from the people who have kept us insulated and warm. We will feel cold and exposed without the comforts of familiar company, but it will be an opportunity for us to access a clearer—or at least more enlightened vision of the world, pure and uncut.
“Ladies and gentlemen and the Class of 2011:
“The word evolution comes to mind when I look back on the years we have spent roaming this gated patch of land in San Juan Capistrano. We migrated from the woodchip playground in Preschool, to the sand pits of Lower School, to the trailer classrooms in Middle School, and finally to the promised land of the brand new, state of the art Upper School facilities. Through this we have come to the same conclusion as Charles Darwin, ‘it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.’
“It is my distinct honor to represent the class today at one of the finest high schools in the country. Not only are we honored to be a part of this nurturing community, but we are also members of one of the most talented classes in St. Margaret’s history—athletically, artistically, scholastically,
“Freshmen year, the GPA scale changed so that honors classes were worth only half a point instead of a full point. Terrible decision, but we survived. Sophomore year, the Boyle administration formally launched its controversial war on skirts. While it was protested by both boys and
7
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
girls alike, we survived. Junior year, Justin Bieber’s voice dropped and he couldn’t reach high notes anymore. We survived. And just this year in May, when the apocalypse seemed imminent, I asked God if He would please postpone the rapture until after graduation. He listened and here we are today. We’ve gone through a lot of things, changes in faculty, school construction, puberty; the list goes on. I would classify the graduating Class of 2011 as a distinct species under the Tartan family that has adapted to changes and survived. Given our survival rate, I am inclined to believe we will survive more in the future. “As Confucius once said, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ Some of us will quickly learn next year that this philosophy does not apply to severe climate change. When life gives you an East Coast blizzard, I’m told making snowmen won’t change the fact that it’s cold, your miserable, and all the Billabong hoodies in the world can’t save you. But, we’ll survive. When we wake up in the morning we’ll probably be feeling less like P. Diddy when, in the scramble to get to class on time, clad in last month’s dirty laundry, we feel a sudden nostalgia for our old preppy school uniforms. Odds are we’ll survive this too. “Earlier this year, CBS did a short interview with me about my research. In the clip, my mom made a brief cameo explaining my love for numbers. In her five-word debut, she famously said, ‘he always luv da numbas.’ When the clip of the interview was posted online, it quickly spread around the school and overnight my mom became a local celebrity. My mom’s statement was rich and compelling, but she made it crystal clear that my passions were for ‘da numbas.’ “To paraphrase our good friend Wikipedia: ‘Evolution leads to the diversification of all living organisms from a common ancestor.’ In our grade, it has become clear that many of us have found our passions, as well. Colin always luv da soccer, Cameron always luv da swimming, Carlye always luv da singing, George always luv da piano, Jesse always luv da diving, Mitchell always luv da lacrosse, Kirsten always luv da dancing, Mike and Mitch always luv da basketball, Kristen always luv da environment, Seema always luv da hugs, Dan always luv da freshmen, Will always luv da Nicole, and Doug, he always luv da bird. [Don’t make this weird, Doug. Could I get the entire audience to follow me: ‘Do the bird, do the bird, do the bird.’] As you can see, we are a diverse lot, all with our own individual passions. Our unique passions not only represent us individually, but also define us as a whole. It is this variety that makes us such a strong and viable species.
though we are diverse, we are a cohesive group with shared memories. I am going to miss our water fights on hot afternoon days, checking college decisions in the lab, taking Associated Student Body popsicles from the freezer, burritoing people’s backpacks, and watching Doug do the bird. I’m going to miss ordering Wendi’s, and I’m going to miss the orders that Wendi’s would mess up. And most of all, I’m going to miss all of you. We have all formed our own memories of our class. Moving from these high school experiences to college will be a change we will all go through. As we go into the future, we are ready for any changes that come our way, whether it be moving away from home, sharing a room with a stranger, or just getting a haircut. “As we commence into the unknown, we should never forget that we are this diverse group of organisms, descended from a common ancestor—St. Margaret’s. And with that, I wish the Class of 2011 good luck as we get our haircuts next year.” After the Highlander Chorale’s performance of “Finale B” by Jonathan Larson, Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut introduced the Commencement speaker, Former President, Board of Trustees Jeffry L. Stoddard: “Our speaker this evening has a long and distinguished association with St. Margaret’s. A native of Idaho with two degrees from the University of Idaho in business management and accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, Jeff Stoddard and his wife, Kris, joined the St. Margaret’s community in 1996 when they enrolled their two older children, Rachael and Slayton. The following year, little Zachary, a member of the Class of 2011, enrolled in kindergarten.
“The challenges of adapting to change cultivate individuality by encouraging mutation and allowing us to evolve into the heterogeneous clan of Tartans we are today. Even Jeffry L. Stoddard Former President, Board of Trustees Commencement 2011
8
“Please welcome our friend, parent, former trustee and loyal Tartan, Jeffry L. Stoddard.” Accepting the microphone, Former President, Board of Trustees Jeffry L. Stoddard delivered his comments to the community, especially to the parents and graduates gathered on Gateway Field: “Thank you, Marc. Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad my mother is able to hear someone speak so positively of her son.
“For the past 30 years, Jeff Stoddard has acquired and developed dozens of commercial and residential projects in California and Idaho. In 1983, he and his partner, Bob Buie, founded the Buie Stoddard Group, a successful real estate development company that owns several dozen retail and office properties in Southern California. “Over the course of his career, Jeff Stoddard has volunteered his talent, time and treasure to a number of organizations including the University of Idaho Foundation and the University of Idaho Capital Campaign, both of which he currently chairs. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Idaho Outstanding Alumni Award. He clearly gives to places he loves. Fortunately, one of those places has also been St. Margaret’s, and we have been deeply blessed to have had Jeff involved both formally and informally for many years. In 2000, Jeff joined our Board of Trustees and in 2004 he assumed, somewhat reluctantly I might add, the position of president. “In his time on our Board and as a parent in our school, Jeff Stoddard has set the standard for meaningful and effective involvement. His loyalty and intentions are beyond question, he does not ask for nor does he seek attention and/or recognition, and he always strives to do what is in the best interest of the school. In so many ways, it is because of Jeff ’s leadership, vision, loyalty and generous support that the structure to my right is at long last becoming reality. We are honored to have his family’s name on the main building of our Upper School and even more honored that he has agreed to speak to us this evening. “Importantly and in keeping with the person we have come to know well, this is emphatically not a role he sought. In typical Jeff Stoddard style, it took a few calls to convince him to take on yet again another project in service to the school. His initial reaction was shock (are you nuts?), then deflection (why me?), then challenge (how many other people have you called?), then reflection (maybe Kris can help me), then wisdom (I better check with Zack), and then finally, capitulation (if you really need me, I’ll be there).
9
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
“It is an honor to speak to the graduating Class of 2011. It is an honor to sit with the members of the Board of Trustees, faculty and administrators who have given so much to the success of this school. And, it is an honor to stand before the friends and family of these graduating seniors. “When Marc Hurlbut asked me to speak at Commencement, my first reaction was, ‘this must be a prank.’ My second thought was, ‘no, no way. That is not something I am comfortable doing. That is way outside my comfort zone.’ But, Marc is very persuasive. He told me that he preferred having someone who was part of the school community rather than a big name speaker. He gave me a number of reasons why I was right for the task, most of which elude me right now. I thanked him for the honor, but told him that I would like to think about it for a few days. “So I asked my wife Kris what she thought about the idea of me speaking at Commencement. She responded, ‘why would they ask you?... Is this some kind of fundraising scheme that they are working on you?...Again?’ Another family member asked, ‘what would you say?’ “But most importantly, I was concerned what Zack, my graduating senior, thought. So I asked him. He grunted and said, ‘uh…I don’t know. If you want to.’ “Not sure what he was telling me, I had to attempt to translate that. What I came up with was, ‘yes, dad, that would be great. I’d love for you to embarrass me in front of my classmates.’ “I had one other conversation before deciding. That was with Aria’s dad who encouraged me with this, ‘don’t worry, Jeff. Nobody will be listening.’ “Despite this outpouring of support, I wasn’t sure this was a good idea. I was nervous about talking at Commencement and I was afraid that I wouldn’t have anything meaningful to tell graduating seniors. But after thinking about it for a couple of days, I realized that I needed to get over my fear and take advantage of the opportunity.
“After all, what the heck, why not? What’s the worst thing that could happen? The worst thing I might do is prove the truth of the theory every teen has about their parents. That I would do the one thing most feared by all teenagers; that I would embarrass my son in front of all his friends.
off to college. I vividly recall leaving home for college, thinking, ‘oh, man, I’m free!’ Free from parents on me about my room, my hair, my hours and my attitude. Free. No longer subject to their rules. Free to do whatever I wanted. Wide open road ahead; opportunities galore; no restrictions.
“Well…maybe.
“Freshman year of college can be pretty exciting. Exciting because you have that new freedom from parents, unlimited possibilities and a college career that seems like it will last forever.
“But, that’s what I want to talk about. Not about embarrassing my son, but about doing what you are afraid of doing, and what might be uncomfortable for you; about taking personal risks. “But first, I want to say a few words about this class. Class of 2011, you are truly phenomenal. We’ve gotten to know a lot of you and your families during the last 13 years that Zack has been in school here. You are high achievers in the classroom, on the sports fields, in the gym, from Sillers Hall to Carnegie Hall. You have succeeded in every arena you have competed. You are smart, dedicated, talented, and fun to be with. You are multi-talented. Great examples of that are the three seniors who spoke just a few minutes ago. Many of you also have multiple strengths in academics, athletics, music, theatre or leadership. This class has many outstanding individuals, but you also have some impressive group achievements. “The other night, I asked Zack what he thought was special about his Class of 2011. He told me that this class has an important achievement that I was unaware of. No one in the Class of 2011 got kicked out by Mr. Boyle. Or maybe, Mr. Boyle didn’t catch anyone to kick out. And, I suppose that is significant since he reportedly kicked out ten students from the Class of 2010. “Class of 2011, another achievement is you have dominated the Academy League and you have dominated Sage Hill in virtually every sport during the last four years. You have victory banners in the gym to prove it. Part of your legacy is those banners—and they will hang there for a long time. “I asked some of the people who see you every day like Mr. Allen, Mrs. Allison and Mr. Boyle: what is unique about the Class of 2011? “They agreed that this class was different; but different in a good way. They told me that this class trusts each other and trusts the faculty. That you see interactions with adults as a good thing. That you have the ability to communicate and interact with adults in a way few high school students can. And, they all agreed that this class has maturity and wisdom—that you were definitely ready to graduate. “I suspect that all of us here today remember our high school graduation. Honestly, mine seemed pretty boring. What was exciting however, was the thought of heading
“Class of 2011, as you go off to college your parents will give you lots of advice: go to class, study hard, don’t stay up all night, take it easy on the college parties, get good grades, do your laundry, and on and on. “Now, you do need to do all those things. But, I think you need to do something else that is equally important. You need to take personal risks. Here is why: after college, you will be expected to go to work and do what someone else wants you to do. Not what you want to do. The college years are one of the few times in life you have to explore—explore all the things you might be interested in, explore all those things you might want to do with your life. You have the opportunity to write your own script— to become the person you want to be, not the one that people remember from high school. “Take advantage of that opportunity. Take some risks. Do things that make you uncomfortable. Try doing some things that scare you a little. Try some things that look foreign to you. Try something your peers may not consider cool, and try things you are not very good at doing. If you try that, I believe that it may make you stronger, it will probably make you more interesting, and it may open your mind to a career or life interest you never would have imagined. “So, that is my advice to the graduating Class of 2011. Seniors, take some chances. Take some personal risks. Occasionally say, ‘what the heck, why not? What’s the worst thing that could happen?’ “Actually, St. Margaret’s school was founded on the concept of taking a chance. Thirty some years ago when this school was founded by Father Sillers and a group of daring families, it was not a sure thing. It was started with a hope and a prayer and a shoestring budget. The odds were very small that it would become the St. Margaret’s we know today. The odds that it would eventually have facilities like your high school or THAT (points to new Performing Arts Center) were incredibly small. The odds were quite small that a class as talented as yours would graduate from that small startup school.
Commencement 2011
10
“The other subject I wanted to talk about is your personal team. When my oldest child, Rachael, was in college we would discuss what classes she should take, what activities she should explore, where she should study abroad, and what she should do during summers. One summer during this discussion, when she really didn’t like my advice she told me, ‘Dad, you know, college really isn’t a team sport.’ My response was, ‘well, actually it is…especially if I’m paying.’ “My other proposition to you, Class of 2011, is that college should be a team sport. Indeed life is a team sport. The most successful and happiest people understand that you need a team to win. Even Johnny Li needs a team. “As you head off to college, you need to remember that you have a team. It is comprised of your parents, your classmates, your advisors, your mentors, and others who care about you. In the next four years you will have the opportunity to expand this team with new advisors, mentors and friends. Make the most of that opportunity to build your team and then utilize them. Let your team help you. They want to help, but you need to let them know that it is ok to help. Embrace their help and include them in your struggles and successes and you will be glad you did. “Parents, like most of you, when we enrolled our kids here we had no idea what a big part of our life this school would become. This school draws you in. This is more than a school. This is a community. Not only are students’ lives shaped here, but so are the lives of entire families. For us, many lifelong family friends have been formed during those many hours of attending school plays, musical performances, soccer games, volleyball games, football games, school meetings, fundraising galas and back to school nights. It is not just a place students come to learn and grow; St. Margaret’s is a special place that engages the entire family. It’s what makes this place so special. “This school does ask much of us. Not just from students, but also from parents. Many hours of volunteer efforts and many dollars from the family budget are required of us. But, I believe it is well worth the investment. This new building under construction, the Performing Arts Center, will be world-class. It will include state of the art facilities for dance, music and theater. I believe that this building is the embodiment of the spirit of this school. “The willingness to take risks, the commitment to build a powerful team, and the willingness to pull together as a community and contribute time and money to build this special place is what St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is all about.
11
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
“For me, today is a joyous day, but also a sad one. Zack is our youngest child. So not only is our son graduating today, but so is our entire family. Like you graduating seniors, we will be sad not having St. Margaret’s as part of our regular routine. We will miss the faces of students, friends, and faculty who have become our friends, and we will miss Marc Hurlbut talk about the life of the school. “So seniors, I can empathize with your mixed feelings about graduating today. It’s hard to leave a place you love. But, although you graduating seniors are leaving St. Margaret’s, it will always be a big part of you, and a big part of all of us. “Congratulations seniors. I think I speak not only for myself, but for everyone gathered here today—your team—the faculty, the parents, and the friends, when I say, ‘thank you for letting us be a part of your journey through high school.’ May your next four years be as delightful and successful as these last four years have been. After all the years of hard work, it is finally time to celebrate your success. “Let’s hear it for the Class of 2011!” Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut took to the podium once again to present the Class of 2011. “We now come to the moment in the program you have all been waiting for, some of you for 15 years and one of you for 16. For any number of reasons, the Class of 2011 is special not the least of which is that out of its 103 members, 18 began their St. Margaret’s careers in our Preschool with Mrs. Andrews who is here this evening to present the diplomas to this group of “lifers” and six more who joined the class in kindergarten. “While today’s Commencement is a time to send the Class of 2011 off to new and exciting chapters in their lives, it is also a time to honor and express our heartfelt gratitude to the parents of our seniors who have been so integral to the success of this class and to the school overall. All of you have invested enormous amounts of your time and vast sums of hard earned resources to support your children’s education, and we are deeply grateful to each and every one of you for your belief in us and your willingness to entrust your children to our care. “We offer our special thanks also to those of you who are here this evening at the graduation of your youngest child. Many of you have been here for a long time and we sincerely hope that even though you too are officially bringing your St. Margaret’s Episcopal School career to a conclusion, you will return often and stay in touch.
“Recently, I came across a short essay which I commend to all parents here this evening written by Jodi Picoult entitled, “An Open Letter to My Oldest Son as He Leaves for College.” It begins, ‘you were in such a hurry to arrive. There I was a month before my due date packing a bag for the hospital between contractions. There was your father, videotaping through the windshield as he drove. And then suddenly, there you were: long and skinny and undercooked.You were in such a hurry to arrive, and now, 18 years later, I’m having a hard time letting you go. I know the whole point of parenting is getting your child to the point where he can forge his own path. I know that a hatchling who is 6 feet tall and sports size 12 shoes is not really a hatchling anymore. And I know that preparations for this moment have been ongoing—from packing up your clothes to selecting the desk lamp for your dorm room, from writing out directions to help you do laundry, to opening up a bank account in your name—all these tiny hallmarks that let a stranger see, at close range, you are no longer a child but an adult.Yet now that we’re actually in the moment, I feel like there’s something I’ve forgotten. Did I tell you that you have to change the bag inside the vacuum every now and then? Do you have any idea how to sew on a button?’ “I won’t read it all to you—you get the point. Parents of the Class of 2011: we thank you very much! But now we are here to honor and bid farewell to you, the Class of 2011, and to share this wonderful moment with you. “To say that you have made an impact and left a legacy would be an enormous understatement. There is no aspect of school life you haven’t touched and made better. You have distinguished yourselves in so many ways and you have genuinely celebrated the successes of your classmates. You have won academic distinction at the very highest level and brought honor to the school in unprecedented fashion and in unprecedented places, even the White House. You have dazzled us with your musical, acting and dancing talents in Convocation, in Chapel, at athletic events and assemblies (no class has had more singers of the national anthem than yours), in Sillers Hall, at the MACY’s and the Cappies, at recitals, and even at Carnegie Hall. You have been part of and contributed to more athletic championships than any class in the history of the school. You have set records in girls’ tennis (72 consecutive wins) and girls’ track that will be very hard to beat. You have been integral to the founding and sustaining of important programs or clubs from speech and debate, to admissions ambassadors, to the senior/freshman day of service, to an awesome and highly productive school garden.
“Mr. President, it is my honor to present to you the Class of 2011.” After delivering diplomas to the Class of 2011, Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut delivered his closing remarks to the community: “So here we are, at the end of the line in this chapter of your lives. Congratulations to you and your families for many years of hard work and dedication. “As you prepare to leave the school of the Tartan and the Cross, it really is your world now and, ‘oh, the places you’ll go;’ to 68 colleges and universities in 20 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian Provinces. As you move on, remember that from those to whom much has been given, much is expected. Your lives have been touched by a caring, compassionate, and dedicated group of teachers who have broadened your horizons and deepened your understanding of our world today. My hope is that you will give to others as they have given to you and be a force for goodness and justice wherever you go and whatever you do. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go. “In a few minutes you will stand and sing the alma mater one last time, walk down the center aisle, gather for your final photograph in the courtyard, toss your caps in the air and like those caps, scatter in 103 different directions. “But for one last time, take a moment and soak in the surroundings and cherish these memories of your youth. “Safe travels and God speed.”
“You have been willing to speak out about challenging issues and you have broadened our perspectives through the passion of your voice and the strength of your convictions. The breadth and depth of your contributions have been remarkable and you have set the bar high for classes to follow.
Commencement 2011
12
B
ACCALAUREATE sERVICE
A
t the Baccalaureate service, Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut welcomed the congregation: “The Right Reverend Diane Bruce, St. Margaret’s Chaplains, members of the St. Margaret’s Board of Trustees, parents, relatives, alumni and friends, distinguished members of the faculty, and members of the Class of 2011 “Welcome to the 26th Baccalaureate service at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. “It is an honor to welcome you this evening at this very special time in the school year. These Baccalaureate services are part of a long tradition in schools like ours where we join together for one last time in this sanctuary to share a spiritual moment together. For many of you, this will be your last official service in this Church—a place where an important component of your St. Margaret’s education has taken place. “As you move on to new and exciting challenges following tomorrow’s Commencement, it is my hope that you would look back with fond feelings and meaningful memories about your experiences here. From those early days for some of you in Preschool and then in red sweaters to your presence tonight in full academic regalia, you have invested serious time here and I would hope that your spiritual beings have been equally enriched and strengthened through the experience.
15
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
“Tomorrow is truly a new beginning for all of you—a little scary and daunting for some, invigorating and inspiring for others. No one can accurately predict what will happen in the coming chapters of your lives, but we do know one thing for sure: After tomorrow, your lives will be different and I deeply hope better. “Your parents, your teachers and your friends have brought you to this exciting time when you stand on the edge of a great adventure. You are ready.” After senior Kristin M. Murray’s rendition of “Nocturne in C# Minor” by Chopin, and readings of the Old and New Testament, Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal David G. Boyle introduced the Class of 2011 Salutatorian G. Jared Schoeffel: “Our Salutatorian Jared Schoeffel is simply awesome. He is a bright, motivated, creative student, and an independent thinker. As Jared’s advisor, watching him mature from a boy into a self-possessed young man has been one of the highlights of my time at St. Margaret's. Jared has distinguished himself in so many ways, but his fluency in Mandarin is probably the most notable. When I visited Guiyang with Mr. Allen and him this past summer, I got to see Jared interact with native Chinese speakers who were so surprised to hear a Caucasian-American teenager speaking fluent Mandarin Chinese. Jared’s fluency caused something of a stir wherever we went. One citizen commented with approval that Jared had a Beijing accent. Jared has also been such a blessing to me throughout the process of establishing a student exchange program with Guiyang.
David G. Boyle Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal
“Jared’s transcript is a thing of beauty and wonder. He is strong in every discipline, but is drawn to mathematics, science and courses requiring critical thinking skills. Teachers consistently comment on his ability to make connections that many other students miss. Academic passion is a quality that sets Jared apart from peers. He also cares about details. By all accounts, Jared is an excellent and impressive student. “Jared has been equally impressive outside the classroom. You may not know this, but Jared has served very well on student panels for prospective students and their parents. In these events, he has spoken extemporaneously on his school experience with clarity, confidence, humor and humility. Jared founded the Chinese Club on our campus; he plays varsity tennis and is an award-winning founding member of the speech and debate team. Jared will bring the right type of competitive spirit with him when he goes to Georgetown next year. His respect for others distinguishes him and is a signature quality of his strong character. Jared is a genuine reflection of the qualities we hope to see in a St. Margaret’s graduate. We will talk about him for years to come. “Please give a warm welcome to our Salutatorian Jared Schoeffel.”
Senior Kristin M. Murray
Commencement 2011
16
Salutatorian G. Jared Schoeffel approached the podium and addressed those congregated in the Church: “Friends, family, faculty, friends of family, family of faculty, and family of friends, I want to personally welcome you today. As Mr. Boyle so kindly put it, I am the Salutatorian of the Class of 2011. Never have I received such a prestigious award, an award that carries with it the responsibilities of writing yet another essay, and then having to read it before the hundreds who sit before me today. Accordingly, it is my honor to thank my classmates, former teachers, and administration for our years together. In the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, ‘I am a part of all that I have met.’ In other words…You are all a part of me, and I am a part of all of you. “I have been shaped by my time here as a “lifer” at St. Margaret’s. I learned a lot during the four phases of my St. Margaret’s life. Preschool helped me to discover the wonder and joy of play, elementary school taught me many of the basic fundamentals of school, and Middle School not only helped me to further develop academic skills and discover interpersonal relationships, but also taught me the etiquette of keeping my shirt tucked in every single day. High school significantly strengthened my academic plane and helped me discover my passions, but more important, I was challenged by my teachers to learn more about myself as a person. “When I first learned that I was Salutatorian, I asked some of my close friends what I should talk about. Although I got some great suggestions, it wasn’t until I began composing this speech in the car ride over here that I realized that graduation is still a few days away, my diploma could still be withdrawn, and therefore I decided that doing an interpretive dance, having a debate about which type of food makes for the best brunch, or discussing the imports and exports of France in the year 1934, would not be what I would stand before you discussing. So, what was I to do? Well, it turns out when I asked myself that question I found the answer in the words of a now famous commercial that goes something like this: ‘What should I do? Should I admit that I have made mistakes? … Should I tell you how much fun we’ve had? Or should I tell you I am not a role model. Should I stop listening to my friends? They are my friends. What should I do? Should I be who you want me to be?’ “Growing up a Lakers fan, I never liked LeBron James when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and I sure didn’t gain any more respect or admiration for the man when he joined the Miami Heat. But after I saw this
17
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
Salutatorian G. Jared Schoeffel
Nike commercial, other than thinking to myself, how long has this commercial been running for? I began to think about the line, ‘Should I be who you want me to be?’ Now I have a lot more respect for this so called “villain” because of the fact that he did what he wanted to do, and he didn’t let anyone else make decisions for him. He earned this privilege as a result of his hard work and talent. “If you don’t have any idea who LeBron James is, or if you have never seen the commercial, I will try to put my respect for him in terms of clothes and colors. The Lower School uniforms consisted of a red sweater, the same white polo shirt and navy shorts. We had no choice. In Upper School, however, boys had the privilege of wearing four different shirt colors, and two different colors of pants. And in senior year, all seniors had the privilege of wearing any college sweatshirt. Our earned choices evolved from sweatshirts, followed by choice in college selection and/or future career paths. We, the Class of 2011 earned these choices. In fact today, we are honored to have two brave classmates, Adam Holden and Wells McCarthy, who have made the choice to defend our precious constitutional rights and serve our country in the years to come. “Thank you Adam, thank you Wells. “The corollary to LeBron’s question, ‘Should I be who you want me to be?’ is obvious: ‘Should I be who I want to be?’ This query caused me to consider two issues, the first being talent and the second, work ethic. Lebron certainly has both of these characteristics. His abundant athletic talent and obvious dedication to the sport as demonstrated best by relentless practicing and
conditioning allowed him to achieve his superior level of mental and physical conditioning. “When I was a small child, my parents enrolled me in a gymnastics class. Yes, gymnastics, a sport exemplified by athletes who are generally short, highly flexible, agile, coordinated, balanced and graceful. I am fortunate that I never wanted to be a gymnast as I do not fit that type, although I may have amused you watching me trying to do cartwheels at halftime. However, as a freshman I realized that I had a talent for speech and debate, and furthermore—that I enjoyed it. Much to my surprise, I voluntarily got out of bed at the uncivilized hour of 5:30 a.m. on many weekends to ride, and one time to fly, to some outlying location in order to debate unknown teams. One Saturday, when my debate partner, Sam, and I were still just neophytes, our raw talent alone took us into the tournament’s Octafinals, but we were crushed to the point of humiliation in the first round by a more experienced team. With help from a debate coach, we worked hard and improved our natural skills. The next tournament, we met that same team in Octafinals and by a two-to-one vote, we emerged victorious as a heavy underdog. My talent and hard work for this verbal and quick thinking sport has encouraged me to consider a future in law, business, politics or government, and someday—I will be what I want to be. “Each of us here today has a unique talent and the ability to work hard, and the earned choice to incorporate that mixture into our personal and future lives—to be what we want to be. I don’t stand here before you today with answers. I don’t know what works for you and what doesn’t. I suspect that a lot more of you would prefer performing gymnastics to entering a speech and debate event. I know that although I have answered just an iota of important questions about myself, there are still a multitude of questions that are yet to come. Today, I stand before you, my classmates, with a question that I truly believe will help each of you find the answer to the questions that you may have. That question is the same one that I asked at the beginning of my speech, and one that I hope you in turn will ask yourself: ‘Should I be who others want me to be?’ “When we graduate tomorrow, a new chapter begins in our life; everyone has a new beginning, a clean slate and that is exciting. Yet, it’s a scary thought too that in three months we may not see but one or two faces in this room on a regular basis. I will miss our Wednesday advisory and the camaraderie it fostered, and it is sad that I probably won’t have another teacher who on special occasions allowed us to watch James Bond in class, and it just won’t be the same on Mondays without a certain student trying to explain why he walked late yet again into math class
senior year. Fortunately, I am sure our training at St. Margaret’s portends the success that will flourish from yet-to-be accomplished achievements. I look forward to upcoming class reunions. This is our future, and this is the time where we choose what we will do, and who we are. A great Greek philosopher once said, ‘there is just one life for each of us: our own.’ To that I would add, be who you want to be. “I would now like to close as I began—friends, family, faculty, friends of family, family of faculty, and family of friends and each member of the Class of 2011: thank you and God bless. As the Salutatorian Address was completed, Headmaster Marcus D. Hurlbut introduced Baccalaureate speaker The Right Reverend Diane M. Jardine Bruce, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles: “An essential piece of this Baccalaureate service has been the presence of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, the Right Reverend John Bruno. Unfortunately, Bishop Bruno is unable to join us this evening and in his place we are honored to welcome the Right Reverend Diane M. Jardine Bruce. “Bishop Bruce was elected seventh Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles on December 4, 2009, after having served 10 years as Rector of St. Clement’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in San Clemente. “Bishop Bruce is the first woman in the 114-year history of the Diocese of Los Angeles to be elected Bishop. The Diocese of Los Angeles is part of the 70-million member worldwide Anglican community and unites some 85,000 Episcopalians in 148 congregations in the Los Angeles area, including 40 Episcopal schools. “Bishop Bruce became rector of the San Clemente parish in 2000. She was previously associate rector of the Church of the Messiah in Santa Ana and before that she worked at Wells Fargo Bank for 18 years. “Ordained in 1998, Bishop Bruce speaks Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese, and she is currently completing a doctoral dissertation on emergent church ministries. She holds a master of divinity from the Claremont School of Theology and a bachelor's degree in linguistics from University of California, Berkeley. “A native of Pequannock, New Jersey, Bishop Bruce and her husband, Steve, have two adult children: Max and Jardine.
Commencement 2011
18
school and, most important, in life. Thank you, teachers and faculty, for taking the time to help mold these young people. Please be seated. “Clergy, please stand. Class of 2011, take a good look at these priests who have helped mold your spirits and souls through chapels and classes here on campus. Thank you, clergy, for being a spiritual support and bringing the love of God to these young people. Please be seated.
The Right Reverend Diane M. Jardine Bruce
“We are deeply grateful to Bishop Bruce for taking time out of her busy schedule to join us this evening. Please give a warm Tartan welcome to The Right Reverend Diane M. Jardine Bruce.” The Right Reverend Diane M. Jardine Bruce took the podium and addressed those gathered: “Trustees, Headmaster, faculty and staff, clergy, parents and friends, and most important, the Class of 2011, I bring you greetings from Bishop Bruno and Glasspool, and from the entire Diocesan staff. Class of 2011, we are very, very proud of you. “You are at the end of what may have seemed to be a very long time in school, and many of you are off to colleges and universities this fall. Others are off to begin new chapters in their lives. While high school may have seemed to have lasted an eternity, the coming years will fly by—savor every moment. “You all look ready. My only disappointment in being with you tonight and not at the All-School Closing Ceremony, is that I could have seen firsthand all the different colleges and universities you will be attending. I did notice in the picture that was posted on tartantoday.org a senior in the first row with a Cal sweatshirt on. Will you please stand? Anyone else going to Cal, please stand. Cool. I welcome you to my alma mater. No lack of pride on my part, right? “Trustees, please stand. Class of 2011, these people have ensured that St. Margaret’s continues to offer the best education for young people here in South Orange County. Trustees, I’d like to thank you for your dedication to the students. Please be seated. “Teachers and faculty here tonight, I’d like to ask you to stand. Class of 2011, take a good look at these your teachers and the faculty here. These people have helped shape your minds, getting you ready for the years ahead in
19
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
“Parents and friends of the graduates, may I please ask you to stand? Class of 2011, take a good look at your parents and friends. They have been there to nurture you through your school years—and I dare say before this and beyond these years. Parents and friends of the graduates, thank you for giving St. Margaret’s Episcopal School the opportunity to participate in the formation and raising of your sons and daughters. It is a distinct honor to be a part of the lives of young people. Thank you for allowing this school to be part of the life of your family. Please be seated. “Class of 2011 please stand. Take a good look at each other—go ahead, really, I’m not kidding. Your Headmaster spoke of you all, as it was posted on Facebook this afternoon, as follows: ‘The Class of 2011 has distinguished itself in many ways this year through extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions to the life of our school. They have excelled and contributed in the classroom, in leadership roles on campus, in service to the community, on the athletic fields and in the visual and performing arts.’ “Class of 2011, your work is really just beginning. All the people I asked to stand, I asked you to look at and I thanked just now have been part of the shaping of your lives up to this point in time, shaping your bodies, minds and spirits. These people have given of themselves for you—and now it is your turn. The other Bishops and I expect you to leave your mark on this world—a powerful testament to the effort that has been put into you, and the effort you have put into yourselves to get to this moment. “Now, a few thoughts from me: Please, never stop studying, even after you leave here or leave college. Be lifelong learners, for in doing so you will never be ignorant of the needs of this world. When you know the needs of this world, respond to those needs by your choices, your actions and the way you live your lives. “Love this world deeply and the people in it deeply. We need you; this world needs you. Most of all, enjoy! Enjoy every minute of the adventure that lies ahead of you. Life is too short not to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. “Blessings to you all. Amen.”
C
Andlelighting ceremony
I
n his address at the beginning of the Candlelighting Ceremony, Associate Headmaster and Upper School Principal David G. Boyle summarized the ceremony’s meaning and explained how it should be remembered by the graduating class as symbolic of the light of leadership, creating a bond between students and community members, whether they are friends, family or teachers: “Today is the Candlelighting Ceremony. We’ll witness the passing of the flame of leadership from the Class of 2011 to the Class of 2012. The light that will soon glow from these candles is a link to the past and the tradition of leadership that has marked each St. Margaret’s class. On the one hand, we honor the seniors in this important passage that foretells Commencement in a few short weeks. On the other, we assure all present that the juniors will carry forward the spirit that fills the community now, with no loss of continuity. “In a few moments, the seniors and juniors will light their candles and bring light to the darkness. Here today, in the glow from these candles, is the light of leadership. And here today is the light that serves in memory for all time as a constant reminder and beacon of the love of friends, the love of family, the love of teachers and the love of your school. “I will sorely miss this class’ prodigious artistic, academic and athletic talent and accomplishments. We will all miss their spirit, warmth and love, but most importantly the leadership that they are now ready to pass on to our newest group of seniors.” Commencement 2011
20
After lighting her candle, Associated Student Body President Blakely E. Collier addressed those assembled: “The year has all but come to an end. Seniors, as we finish our last day of school tomorrow we leave behind our years in high school—the good, the bad, all of it. As of 3:01 tomorrow we will no longer be current high school students. Whether this is a daunting or exciting fact to you, probably a combination of both for most of us, it is what it is and we must embrace it. “We have grown over the past four years from quite, timid freshmen who were unsure of themselves and learned that when someone tells you your skirt is too short, ignoring them is not a good option; and, in fear of the seniors and their cliques to outgoing and outspoken seniors who are willing to stand up for what they believe, willing to speak up for those who can’t or even willing to climb up into a Bell Tower to ask a girl to prom. I am so proud of the people who you have grown up to be. “Yes, we’ve had our rough patches as a grade from surviving our junior year and the college process and various ups and downs, but after watching all of you on Senior Retreat show your enthusiasm with making whirlpools, planning Senior Spirit Night and making advisory skits about your passed loves, shaving Zack’s legs, and Doug’s bird; I sat in amazement over how much our grade had come together in a few short months. “I can honestly say how honored I am to be in the Class of 2011. I stood before you last May and talked about how as a grade we needed to step up, we needed to show everyone the potential we knew we had, to prove to people that we could be good role models and leaders for the entire high school. As I said those words, I’m not going to lie, I was a little unsure. I knew our grade could do it, but we were and still are a grade who does it our way and sometimes our way hasn’t been the best path. Through setting the tone and being examples, we came together as a grade and became leaders of the school, but today we must pass that leadership. “Juniors, it’s now your turn to be the seniors, the leaders. We pass this torch of leadership to you today hoping that you will continue in the leadership senior classes have shown in the past. Over the last nine months, we have learned that being a senior is more than getting to sleep in, heating up bagel bites in the Tartan Center, and looking really cool in our sunglasses, even though we did look really cool. It meant being role models, it meant showing other grades how you should act; it meant being the best individuals we could be.
21
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
“Juniors, you must step up now, you must show us that you have, as a grade, what it takes to be leaders. I have no doubt though that the Class of 2012 can rise to the occasion. Sophomores and freshmen, you are in good hands for next year. Even though the Class of 2011 unfortunately will not be part of it, I’m sure you’ll have an unforgettable year, because you have great leaders ready and eager to show who they truly are and begin setting the mold of how a senior class should act. And, you will have one excellent Associated Student Body president leading you all next year. “Class of 2012, enjoy next year. Don’t get too wrapped up in SAT scores or wishing the year would end just so you could get to college, because come May, you’ll be wanting the days of being able to just hang out and relax with your friends. “Best of luck with being leaders, even though I don’t think you’ll need it. I mean you have had the Class of 2011 as role models; can’t do much better than that. Thank you, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year with all of you.” As the Class of 2011 passed the flame of leadership to the Class of 2012, Caroline B. Walters, Associated Student Body President for the Class of 2012, took the podium: “Greetings students. Congratulations Class of 2011, you are a tough class to follow with your originality and grace when leading St. Margaret’s this past year. “Fellow students of the Class of 2012, the flame of leadership has officially been passed down to us. But, what does this exchange of fire truly represent? To help me express what this transition means, I will use the lyrics from the famous children’s gospel song, “This Little Light of Mine.” Some of us used to sing this very song in our precious red sweaters in these very pews, along with corresponding hand motions. A portion of the lyrics: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Hide it under a bush, oh no! I'm going to let it shine.” “I find that these lyrics are very representative of how we must approach this new challenge that is brought upon us, Class of 2012. This challenge of fully embracing our new roles as leaders of the St. Margaret’s Upper School, and how we conduct ourselves and present ourselves as a unified class will set the tone for the rest of the school. “So, we must not take this exchange of fire lightly. We must realize and accept the challenge of never letting our leadership ‘hide under a bush,’ but we must let it shine for the rest of our time here at St. Margaret’s.”
S
enior banquet
Rachael Stoddard Senior Class of 2002 Alumna
A
mid the festive atmosphere of the outdoor Senior Banquet, Class of 2002 Alumna Rachael Stoddard addressed the Class of 2011: “I am excited to be here with you all today and to see some familiar faces. It has been fun watching you grow. While there are several of you I have never met, I feel a special connection to your class. “When I was preparing to graduate nine years ago, you were in the third grade. A lot has changed about St. Margaret’s Episcopal School since then—there is a high school where my parking spot used to be and a giant new gym where we ate lunch, not to mention a few new CIF and State Championship banners. “And, you all have changed a lot since then. In 2002, Zack was this little guy, with big hair and a high voice. Now he is the giraffe with short hair and a man voice. Johnny Li was the third grader taking math at only the high school level. Now he is the senior taking college math at the... White House. And Brett was the tall, outgoing kid with a bigger than life personality...who is now... well, not everything has changed. “I remember sitting in the same seat you are now, filled with many emotions— excitement, fear, anxiety—and many questions: What will college be like? Did I pick the right school? Will I make new friends? While all those questions, and many more, rush through your mind, and you prepare to leave a place some of you have called home for 14 years, know one thing: You are about to start a great adventure, and you have a whole network behind you, cheering you along.
Commencement 2011
22
“What makes St Margaret’s special is that no matter how far you go, you will always be connected to this community. The people sitting next to you will be your friends for the rest of your life. You have a bond and a special connection that you just don’t find anywhere else. And, that connection to each other makes this transition, from high schooler to college co-ed, a much smoother process. You are supported not only by your classmates, but the hundreds of other alumni you are joining in the network. “You will make new friends in college and you may lose track of some along the way. But when you need it, the network is here to help you reconnect. The relationships you have built and the experiences you have shared are what add joy, meaning and texture to your lives. Embrace it. “With that, I’d like to be the first to welcome you, Class of 2011, to the Tartan Alumni Association.” This year’s faculty speaker, Upper School French teacher Dr. Robert Giannasi addressed the community gathered at the Senior Banquet: “Good evening, Tartans! “May has always been my favorite month. This year, May is an auspicious month not just because the Class of 2011 is memorializing their high school graduation and being sent out into the world. This month began quite surprisingly with the successful special operation conducted by the Navy SEALs, the operation that killed Bin Laden. According to CNN (all of this information comes from CNN), the U.S. discovered Bin Laden’s secret compound in Pakistan in August of last year. Eight months later, the SEALs conducted their operation. They waited for a moonless night, scheduled the raid for the middle of the night, cut off electricity to the area, flew in on specially modified Black Hawk stealth helicopters that made little noise and were designed to be invisible to radar and to the naked eye on the ground. They brought with them a bomb-sniffing dog to help them negotiate what could have been a gauntlet of improvised explosives. Careful planning and practice made the operation a success. “The eight-month delay between the discovery of the compound and the actual raid was essential in order to prepare for a successful operation. Several months before, an exact replica of the compound was built over the border in Afghanistan and the SEALs trained over and over again until that compound and all its dimensions and idiosyncrasies were second nature to them. Although training with the replica compound was crucial, it’s important to consider all the other preparation and work that made this successful raid possible. For one thing, the technology of those stealth helicopters represents the work
23
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
Dr. Robert Giannasi Upper School French Teacher
of many people from aeronautical engineers to chemists who doubtlessly designed the special painted coating on the outside, not to mention the intelligence and logistical planning. “Beyond those specific preparations, there is the SEAL training program in general, which is grueling and selective. Even the bomb-sniffing dog and his handler had to be trained. All the technology and training is the result of many centuries of technological and strategic innovations. The bomb-sniffing dog, in addition to being trained, is the result of thousands of years of selective breeding— dogs do not exist in nature, they had to be bred into what they are now by countless generations of human breeders. That dog, probably a Belgian-trained dog, was a major asset to the SEAL team. “Just about everyone knows that I am a dog person. For about 10 years now, I have been interested in Great Danes; these are one of the largest breeds of dog. I really like the way Danes look. I like their long droopy jowls, the shape of their head, their short coat that allows their muscles to show through. I like the way they lean against you— Danes are known as leaners. However, big breeds of dog like the Great Dane are not known for their longevity. They have remarkably short lives. In the past two years, I’ve had to euthanize three of my Danes. They were seven, six and two years old when they had to be put down. Their short life span is something that their owners have to accept; it’s part of the breed, it’s something that owners of this breed should anticipate and be prepared for. “Over the winter, after my most recent experience euthanizing one of my dogs, I found myself thinking about time. How quickly my dogs’ lives seem to pass by. And, how brief their lives seem from my perspective. When writing this text, it occurred to me that I am 10 years older since the first time I attended a senior banquet here at St. Margaret’s. Over the past decade, there have been so many changes, not only in technology and communication, but also in how we go about doing just about everything. From my perspective, though, the one thing that remains the same is the age of my students; they are perpetually 16 or 17 years old, while I and my colleagues age at the normal rate (or slightly faster).
“At the beginning of the “Romance of the Rose,” an early 13th century Old French narrative poem, the narrator comes across a painting of old age personified by an old woman. He says that time has changed her and goes off on a one sentence digression on time. The English teachers present may consider this a run-on sentence, but it exemplifies time itself. Originally, this is in eight syllable rhyming couplets, but here is an English translation of that sentence on time: ‘Time, which hurries on day and night, without resting or pausing and which leaves us and flees away so stealthily that it seems to us always to be standing still, but does not stop there at all, nor ever halts in its progress, so that one can never think what the present time is – ask any learned clerk – for before one had thought of it, three seconds would already have passed; time, which cannot linger but always advances, never turning back, like water which always flows downhill, never a drop going back the other way; time, which outlasts everything, even iron and the hardest substances, for time spoils everything and devours it; time, which changes everything, which nourishes everything and causes it to grow and which also wears everything out and rots it away; time, which made our ancestors old, which ages kings and emperors, and which will age all of us, unless death claims us early; time, which has total power to make men old, had aged her so grievously that in my opinion she could no longer prevent herself from entering her second childhood, for I think indeed that she had no more strength or force or wit than a one-year-old child.’ (Frances Horgan 1994) “Time by its very nature means change. Nothing has changed more than communication over the lifetime of the members of the Class of 2011. The kind of communication that I’m giving tonight, one individual addressing a large group, is an old, traditional type of formal communication. It’s one-to-many communication (as Fareed Zacharia says on his show on CNN) as opposed to the many-to-many communication that we saw and still see on social networking sites during this Arab spring. Back when I was in high school, the first aspect any given rebel group had to control in order to effect a coup d’état was the television and radio broadcasts. Once the broadcast stations were controlled, the entire population could be reached and won over. That was the era when just about everyone watched Walter Cronkite read the news every evening. Walter Cronkite talking to America is an example of the one-to-many broadcast communication model. Now, there are so many news sources, not just on TV, but most notably on the Internet that everyone gets information from disparate sources including websites, Facebook and Twitter. This is the idea of many-to-many communication since the sources of information are not centralized. “The Internet has posed a number of problems that are new. One of the most-thorny of these problems is that
of authority. Just looking at a Web page, for example, does not tell you if the information presented is true, factual or current. Anyone can create a Web page at home that looks just as professional as a reputable reference site. The information you gather from the Internet may or may not be accurate, and in any case needs to be examined critically. The Internet is the antithesis of traditional books; historically, the expense of creating a book meant that only important texts were published. Once written down and published, they could not be easily edited or changed. Before the 13th century in Europe, there was no paper and of course no printing press; this meant that each page of a book was a separate animal skin. It was very expensive to create a handmade book. Every letter was written by hand. Publishing anything today on a website is so easy and cheap that just about everything ends up on the Net, no matter what the quality or importance. “As much as the Internet was 20 years ago, writing was a huge step forward for communication in ancient times. Writing an essentially records speech by transforming it into visible marks on a two-dimensional surface. Writing is not language or speech; it is rather the record of speech. In Ancient Greece, Socrates famously argued against literacy. There was a great column in The New York Times a few years ago (September 6, 2007) by Maryanne Wolf entitled, “Socrates’ Nightmare,” on this topic. Socrates, himself was illiterate, as were all great thinkers in Greece at that time. Socrates felt that writing, which was being introduced by the Phoenicians at the time, would be the downfall of civilization. Thinking about the young, he felt that the seeming permanence of a written text would trick students into believing that they were accessing what he called the “heart of knowledge,” when in fact they were accessing someone’s recorded speech. Socrates probably did not foresee how writing would kill or severely reduce human memory. “In the middle ages, very, very few people could read or write. Moreover, the ability to read and write was not viewed as a mark of intelligence. The fact of the matter is that the average individual in the Middle Ages (and in Ancient times for that matter) had a vastly more developed memory than we do today. Merchants easily remembered all their prices, both what they charged and what they paid for goods, as well as all the figures representing credit they had extended to customers and the debt they owed to suppliers. Minstrels memorized lengthy poems (like the “Iliad” or “The Romances of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table”); but they did not think of it as a special feat of memory. Young people learned and were actually taught strategies for remembering everything. Memory was internal rather than external. It was stored on your brain’s hard drive.
Commencement 2011
24
“One-to-one communication between people who were separated by geographical differences could take place only at the speed that a human or a horse could travel. A letter would be dictated by a nobleman to a literate scribe who wrote the words down. The document was transported by horse to its intended recipient who would have his literate scribe read the letter aloud to him. Neither the sender nor the receiver of the information saw the written text or were even capable of reading it. Texts were written to span either space or time (or both). Writers and philosophers read works from the past and felt that they were picking up where others left off, that they were “standing on the shoulders of giants,” so important was this knowledge from the past. They felt that they were building on the intellectual work of their ancestors. “The speed of communication did not increase for thousands of years. Indeed, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, it took two full weeks for the news to reach France. Just a few years later, the first telegraph cable was laid across the Atlantic to connect America to Europe, and not that long after came the telephone, which was a huge milestone in communication. “Today, we write phone numbers down for ourselves so we don’t forget them. Young people often write notes on their hands to remember things. We take notes in class, so that we can review the lesson later. Even the Internet is still in large part textual. And, when we want to retrieve information, we do not simply access the memories in our mind, as the ancients did, rather we consult our smart phones or laptops for the answer. We consult our digital planners to find out what to do each day and refer to the Internet for both trivial and important facts. When I hand back a quiz with a total of 25 points and a student’s score says 22 out of 25, his first reaction is to get out his calculator to figure out what his grade translates to in percentage points. Why can’t young people these days figure this out in their heads? Why should they, though, if they have a working calculator? This is what I mean by externalizing information and memory. “These days, students have more and more trouble looking words up in an analog dictionary since alphabetical order is not second nature to them as it was (and still is) to us old people. This may not be important since dictionaries are now online, and digital searches do not require knowledge of alphabetic order. Nobody writes actual analog letters anymore. Immediate access to ever-increasing, web-based information may further atrophy our memories and keep our thoughts confined to Google search results. “Advances in communication have been most notable in our lifetime. Take, for example, the communication of Abraham Lincoln’s death to Europe that took as long as
the ocean voyage, and compare that to the news of Bin Laden’s death a month ago. Bin Laden was killed in the early morning hours of May 2, but when the president announced the news to the country, it was still May 1 in the U.S. It’s as if humanity had conquered time. The president and his national security team in the situation room of the White House watched a live video feed via satellite in real time of the entire operation in Pakistan. The SEALs apparently had little video cameras mounted to their helmets that beamed the images back to Washington in nanoseconds. The photo of the White House personnel watching the video screen is well-known. This real-time communication impressed me more than anything about the raid. Think of all the work that went into the development of that technology over the past 50 years. In addition to all that technological and logistical evolution and innovation, it was the detailed planning and repeated practice that made the operation a success. “In conclusion, I want to draw a comparison between you members of the Class of 2011 and those successful Navy SEALs; you have benefitted from both the evolution of education over the years, as well as the lengthy preparation your coursework, projects, service experiences and leadership roles represent. What a pleasure it’s been to watch my advisees and the whole Class of 2011 grow into the intelligent, well-educated, civic-minded young men and women you have become over the past few years. You are well prepared for your future. This time in your education is one to reflect back on all the work that you have done and all the preparation you have had, not just in high school, but right from the beginning. You have been trained well; just like our Navy SEALs. “Now, you are moving on to bigger and better things, as you should. Your preparation is not over, though; you will continue to prepare, practice, learn and grow intellectually and emotionally as people. Most of you will be living away from your parents for the first time in a few months. This life change can be intimidating and scary, both for you and for your parents. Don’t be afraid, though, be confident. On the topic of communication, I’d advise you all to call your parents from time to time while you are away... and not just to ask for money. With modern communication, you have no excuses! “In closing, I want to let you members of the Class of 2011 know not just that you’re awesome, but also that you are well prepared for your future. You have all essentially been through the academic equivalent of Navy SEAL training. You are now poised to get out there and change the world, hopefully for the better. So, as you leave St. Margaret’s, my message to you is: leave with confidence. And, thank your parents for all that they’ve done for you to help you mature into the fine young adults that you are. “Thank you.”
25
S t. m a r g a r e t ’s e p i s c opa l s c h o ol
C
ollege choices
Arya Amirhekmat New York University
Michael P. Dougher University of San Francisco
Shayna L. Kerry University of Colorado at Boulder
Mitchell V. Pok University of California, Berkeley
Elizabeth Arriaga Agnes Scott College
Devin D. Dreyer Southern Oregon University
Farrah A. Kharazmi Orange Coast College
Carlye E. Porrazzo University of Southern California
Beatrice E. Ary Bryn Mawr College
Amanda C. Edington Whittier College
Andrew M. Kim Rhode Island School of Design
Cameron J. Price Dartmouth College
Marcos Avila University of California, Santa Barbara
Davis N. Edwards University of California, Santa Barbara
George C. Ko Harvard University
Sara E. Reindl Santa Clara University
Andrew C. Balcof New York University
Andrea L. Ellis Arizona State University
Nicolas Kouris Saddleback College
Emma S. Rice Georgetown University
Katherine J. Berchtold Wake Forest University
Ashtin S. Evans University of Oklahoma
Alexander J. Krafcik Reed College
Shirin Sadri University of California, Los Angeles
Kirsten M. Bleiweiss University of Southern California
Katherine G. Everett Santa Clara University
Michelle C. Lancaster University of Oregon
Kayla L. Schmitt University of Missouri Columbia
Melissa J. Bond Chapman University
Matthew S. Faris Biola University
Peter X. Langton Bard College
George J. Schoeffel Georgetown University
Emily J. Boone University of Southern California
Bryan A. Flores Loyola Marymount University
Jonathan F. Li Harvard University
Russell J. Sego Southern Utah University
Mario M. Brenes California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Jessica T. Fonseca University of California, Riverside
Lauren M. Lindquist High Point University
Colin A. Shaffer Carnegie Mellon University
Michael D. Friedman University of California, Santa Barbara
Berenice Luna Chapman University
Ashley N. Short University of Washington
Nicholas J. Geller California Maritime Academy
Samuel Malagon Claremont McKenna College
Whitney E. Simon Kenyon College
Daniel N. Golly Hofstra University
Mitchel C. Marmelstein Grove City College
Brennan C. Smith Arizona State University
Mary G. Gordon Davidson College
Alison K. Martens Musicians Institute
Margarita S. Solazzo University of San Diego
Sarah M. Greenberg Purdue University
William W. McCarthy Montana State University, Bozeman
Alexandra G. Solon Mills College
William J. Griffith University of San Diego
Anna G. McGregor Stanford University
Sarah Sorensen Brigham Young University
Brooke C. Grogan University of Puget Sound
William R. Mech Chapman University
Felipe R. Soto University of Chicago
Hannah M. Hess University of California, Berkeley
Hunter F. Meece University of Oregon
Zachary L. Stoddard University of Puget Sound
Natalie D. Hiles McGill University
Ramtin K. Mehrvijeh University of British Columbia
Erin N. Thomas University of Chicago
Chloe E. Hoff San Francisco State University
James F. Murayama University of Washington
Hamida Valji Saint Mary’s College of California
Adam G. Holden Point Loma Nazarene University
Kristin M. Murray Duke University
Jessica W. Warren University of Southern California
Grant M. Hosinski Purdue University
Brett R. Nicholas Dartmouth College
Laura J. Whitney University of California, Santa Cruz
Dillon J. Itri University of San Diego
Stephanie G. Ornelas Austin College
Valerie M. Wu Seattle University
Michael C. Jones Saint Mary's College of California
Sarah J. Paddon Davidson College
Matthew K. Yamada University of San Francisco
Michael C. Kartiko New York University
Erika G. Page Lewis & Clark College
Shannon O. Kelly Fordham University
Seema H. Patel University of Southern California
Molly K. Brooks Lehigh University William E. Brynjolfsson Purdue University Eun A. Byun University of California, Berkeley Maxwell R. Carpenter Southern Methodist University Nicholas A. Carpenter University of Notre Dame Andrew W. Chen University of Southern California In Kwon A. Chung University of Michigan Blakely E. Collier New York University Olivia J. Collins University of Washington Wyatt C. Corman Southern Methodist University Charles C. Cox Stanford University Nicole C. Craigmile Elon University Victoria E. Davidson Whitman College Douglas A. Davis Worcester Polytechnic Institute Martin J. Dolan Boston College Maryann O. Doudna University of Washington
Commencement 2011
26
S t.
Margaret’s
Episcopal
C
School
lass of
2011
Arya Amirhekmat Elizabeth Arriaga Beatrice E. Ary Marcos Avila Andrew C. Balcof Katherine J. Berchtold Kirsten M. Bleiweiss Melissa J. Bond Emily J. Boone Mario M. Brenes Molly K. Brooks William E. Brynjolfsson Eun A Byun Maxwell R. Carpenter Nicholas A. Carpenter Andrew W. Chen In Kwon A. Chung Blakely E. Collier Olivia J. Collins Wyatt C. Corman
Charles C. Cox
Nicole C. Craigmile Victoria E. Davidson
Douglas A. Davis Martin J. Dolan Maryann O. Doudna Michael P. Dougher Devin D. Dreyer Amanda C. Edington Davis N. Edwards Andrea L. Ellis Ashtin S. Evans Katherine G. Everett Matthew S. Faris Bryan A. Flores Jessica T. Fonseca Michael D. Friedman Nicholas J. Geller Daniel N. Golly Mary G. Gordon Sarah M. Greenberg William J. Griffith Brooke C. Grogan Hannah M. Hess Natalie D. Hiles Chloe E. Hoff Adam G. Holden Grant M. Hosinski Dillon J. Itri Michael C. Jones Michael C. Kartiko Shannon O. Kelly Shayna L. Kerry Farrah A. Kharazmi Andrew M. Kim George C. Ko Nicolas Kouris Alexander J. Krafcik Michelle C. Lancaster Peter X. Langton Jonathan F. Li Lauren M. Lindquist Berenice Luna Samuel Malagon Mitchel C. Marmelstein Alison K. Martens William W. McCarthy Anna G. McGregor William R. Mech
Hunter F. Meece
Ramtin K.
Mehrvijeh Kelley D. Meredith James F. Murayama Kristin M. Murray Brett R. Nicholas Stephanie G. Ornelas Sarah J. Paddon Erika G. Page Seema H. Patel Mitchell V. Pok Carlye E. Porrazzo Cameron J. Price Sara E. Reindl Emma S. Rice Shirin Sadri Kayla L. Schmitt George J. Schoeffel Russell J. Sego
Colin A. Shaffer Ashley N. Short Whitney E. Simon
Brennan C. Smith Margarita S. Solazzo Alexandra G. Solon Sarah Sorensen Felipe R. Soto
Zachary L. Stoddard
Erin N. Thomas
Hamida Valji
Jessica W. Warren Laura J. Whitney Valerie M. Wu Matthew K. Yamada
S t. M a r g a r e t ’ s E p i s c o p a l S c h o o l
31641 La Novia
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675