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’ve been thinking a lot about the connection between sacrifice and service lately. When Sarah (Atwater) Abbott ’99 gave the commencement address to the Class of 2011, she closely tied the two together by describing service that is uncomfortable, unrewarding, sacrificial. As a naval aviator, she puts her life on the line to serve her country. That’s service. In a society where service is too often used as simply a resume-building opportunity to help achieve selfish goals, I am awed by the work of so many alumni, students, and parents who give with no expectation of gain.
St. Andrew’s MAGAZINE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Will Robinson ’97 ASSOC. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Amy Kendig ALUMNI NOTES
Sacrificing to serve others has taken form in students and faculty who traveled to Nicaragua, South Africa, and Haiti to build houses and dig latrines this past year (and will again in the next six months). I see it in faculty members who use their sabbatical year away to research religious education in the Middle East or teach in a public school in Boston. I see it in small ways here on campus every day: the limited free time jettisoned to mentor a kid in town, to search the cold Wilmington streets for homeless men and women to bring them to shelter, or to visit with a friend in need. We don’t have to hurt ourselves to help others, but it feels to me that the greatest service should come with some sacrifice.
Denise Thorn
This August we welcomed back from deployment my cousin and naval aviator, Nelson Keyser ’98. He hadn’t seen his wife or young son since February. I think of the sacrifice they made so he could serve and the restoring joy they felt upon seeing one another in a California hangar.
Bill Cashion, Erin Farrell, Karen Gowen, Joshua Meier
I am inspired by such service and by all who work in the spirit of St. Andrew’s. Go Saints,
CONTRIBUTORS
Tapasya Das ’13, Ben Egan ’13, Terence Gilheany, Alec Hill ’12, Chesa Profaci ’80, Alexandra Porrazzo ’13, Elizabeth Roach, Tad Roach, Nadiri Saunders ’13, Tom Savage ’75, Will Speers, Jonathan Witchard ’13 PHOTOGRAPHERS
MAIL LETTERS TO:
St. Andrew’s Magazine 350 Noxontown Road Middletown, DE 19709-1605 Fax (302) 378-7120 Tel (302) 285-4280 GENERAL E-MAIL:
communications@standrews-de.org —Will Robinson ’97
CLASS NOTES E-MAIL:
classnotes@standrews-de.org Printed by Pavsner Press in Baltimore, Md.
Welcome Home: Lieutenant commander Nelson Keyser ’98 with his wife, Angie, and son, “Cinco,” in August.
St. Andrew’s Magazine is published by the Communication Office for alumni, parents, grandparents and friends of St. Andrew’s School. Copyright 2012.
Mission Statement of St. Andrew’s School In 1929, the School’s Founder, A. Felix duPont, wrote: The purpose of St. Andrew’s School is to provide secondary education of a definitely Christian character at a minimum cost consistent with modern equipment and highest standards. We continue to cultivate in our students a deep and lasting desire for learning; a willingness to ask questions and pursue skeptical, independent inquiry; and an appreciation of the liberal arts as a source of wisdom, perspective and hope. We encourage our students to model their own work on that of practicing scholars, artists and scientists and to develop those expressive and analytical skills necessary for meaningful lives as engaged citizens. We seek to inspire in them a commitment to justice and peace. Our students and faculty live in a residential community founded on ethical principles and Christian beliefs. Our students collaborate with dynamic adults and pursue their passions in a co-curriculum that includes athletics, community service and the arts. We encourage our students to find the balance between living in and contributing to the community and developing themselves as leaders and individuals. 2
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St. Andrew’s Magazine
As an Episcopal School, St. Andrew’s is grounded in and upheld by our Episcopal identity, welcoming persons regardless of their religious background. We are called to help students explore their spirituality and faith as we nurture their understanding and appreciation of all world religions. We urge students to be actively involved in community service with the understanding that all members of the community share responsibility for improving the world in which we live. St. Andrew’s is committed to the sustainability and preservation of its land, water and other natural resources. We honor this commitment by what we teach and by how we live in community and harmony with the natural world. On our campus, students, faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds work together to create a vibrant and diverse community. St. Andrew’s historic and exceptional financial aid program makes this possible, enabling the School to admit students regardless of their financial needs.