Tatnall Today Spring 2015

Spring 2015

TODAY

M A G A Z I N E

Former Olympian Sets a Fast Pace Page 20

Behind the Scenes Page 6

Birders Look to the Sky Page 12

Alumnus Steps onto Lambeau Field Page 22

Behind the Scenes Get a closer look at “The Laramie Project� set and how it brought a tragedy to life Page 6 2

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Birders Look to the Sky Outdoor adventures help seventh graders to appreciate local wildlife Page 12

Spring 2015

Table of Contents

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FEATURES

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All Rise! It’s Mock Trial Time Young “attorneys” make their case at the New Castle County Courthouse

Shaping Hearts and Minds Longtime friends Sarah J. Baylin and Sandy Idstein look back on three decades at the Upper School

Going the Distance with Speed Former Olympian Anthuan Maybank is helping Tatnall’s sprinters to take the next step

Alumnus Steps onto Lambeau Field Justin Perillo ’09 shares his path to the NFL

Helping a Faraway Friend

Small Price Tags, Big Impact

From Pen Pals to Best Friends

Preschoolers make a difference in Mexico

Alumna starts an art gallery that benefits nonprofits and emerging artists

A longtime bond starts in an unexpected way

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Foreword MA GAZINE

Got Grit? Tatnall does.

TODAY

A MESSAGE FROM CHARLIE

In recent years, educators have focused on how best to promote resilience among our students. How do we help prepare them to embrace life’s challenges, manage disappointments and rebound from occasional failures?

With greater intention, teachers have assisted students in reframing their encounters with challenges and obstacles as vital opportunities for learning.

The Tatnall School 1501 Barley Mill Road | Wilmington, DE 19807 (302) 998-2292 | www.tatnall.org

For nearly 85 years at The Tatnall School, we have partnered with parents to prepare our students to approach the vicissitudes of life with grit and balance.

Since my arrival last summer, I have encountered countless students who rely on their resources — remarkable mentors at school, supportive parents at home and dedicated friends and teammates — to approach myriad challenges with thoughtful care and moxie. Several powerful examples of Tatnall grit come to mind:

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

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A senior in February’s production of Showcase (see page 6) was sent to bed with the flu several days before opening night. Realizing that “the show must go on,” the production’s stage manager stepped up, despite the fact that she had never acted on stage. She performed spectacularly for two “debut” shows and returned to her stage manager role when the ailing actor recovered in time for the final performance.

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While driving to this winter’s state championships, a Tatnall swimmer and her family members were hit by another car. Shaken by the significant accident, all family members gratefully walked away without major injuries. Undaunted, the Tatnall swimmer arranged another ride from the accident scene and competed admirably with teammates as they completed an excellent season.

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A member of Tatnall’s Mock Trial Team (see page 10) was sidelined with a severe stomach bug on the second day of competition. With only an hour to rest during the lunch break, this Tatnall “lawyer” returned to the courtroom fray throughout the entire afternoon and, following the simulation, was awarded an honorary gavel for overall excellence.

The students in these examples faced choices between digging in and moving forward or playing it safe and avoiding the risk of an uncertain outcome. Clearly they — and many other students throughout the school — opted to steel themselves for the challenge at hand by tapping into their grit.

In this edition of Tatnall Today, look for more examples that indicate that grit and balance remain alive and well at our school. In addition to Sarah Baylin and Sandy Idstein, Tatnall icons preparing to retire (page 16), and coach Anthuan Maybank, an Olympic gold medalist who inspires scores of Tatnall students and athletes (page 20), you will note the thematic threads of service, creativity, teamwork and resilience running throughout the stories, highlighting our remarkable students, faculty and alumni.

Enjoy and be inspired.

Charles A. Tierney III Head of School 2

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Tatnall Today is published twice a year by Tipton Communications. Copyright by The Tatnall School.

Alumni and faculty articles encouraged.

EDITOR Nicole Fullerton, Tipton Communications, (302) 454-7901

Michael J. Talarico, (302) 892-4333, mtalarico@tatnall.org

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Anita Marcial, (302) 892-4337, marcial@tatnall.org

PHOTOGRAPHY Jim Graham ’77, Aubrey Kingston ’15, Bill Wilson and Tatnall staff

2014-2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES President, Caroline Brown Lintner ’83 | Vice President, Frank J. McKelvey, III | Vice President, Stephen D. Marvin ’88 | Secretary, Carolyn J. Walker | Treasurer, Thomas P. Ferry Peter W. Atwater | Cynthia A. Hewitt ’69 | S. Mark Hurd | Caroline Tatnall Ketcham ’58 | Margaret L. Laird ’86 | Elizabeth D. Maron | Dana M. Nestor | Wendy A. Owen | Mary Lu Currin Pamm ’78 | Rebecca King Rogers ’79 | Thomas C. Shea, Jr. | J. Vincent Watchorn, III ’87 | Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson ’88 | David T. Woods | Terri M. Young

ADMINISTRATION Head of School, Charles A. Tierney III | Head of Upper School, Sarah G. Baylin | Head of Middle School, Stephen P. Esmond, Jr. | Head of Lower School, Deanna L. Bocchetti | Head of Preschool, Aimee C. Neff Business Manager, Paula L. Hager | Director of Athletics, Patrick L. Jones | Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid, Allison M. Price | Operations Foreman, Barry T. Kintz

ALUMNI COUNCIL President, Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson ’88 | Vice President, Rebecca King Rogers ’79 | Secretary, Kay Sierer Hill ’67 | Immediate Past President, Brian J. Carney ’97 Christopher C. Debnam ’81 | Blair C. Dickerson ’72 | Anne Tatnall Gross ’56 | Michele Centrella Harra ’97 | Amanda A. Jacobs ’02 | Susan Chase LeBaron ’64 | Caroline Brown Lintner ’83 | James A. Magee ’89 | Mary Lu Currin Pamm ’78 | Abigail Williams Schneider ’97 | Jonathan B. Silver ’06 | Linda Archangelo Sygowski ’71 | Lexie Hynansky Vadas ’88 | Keith E. Morton ’74

The Tatnall School admits students of any race, color and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Around Campus

Tatnall Students Recognized for Excellence in Fine Arts In addition to the many arts awards received this year, Tatnall’s art students brought home more Gold Key Awards than any other school in Delaware! Our students were awarded a total of 23 Gold Key Awards in the 2015 Delaware Regional Scholastic Art Awards in four categories (drawing, design, fashion and photography). Baiheng Chen ’15, Kristen Newton ’15 and Noah McFoy ’16 were named National Scholastic Medal Award winners in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s biggest art competition for creative teens.

2015 Environmental Educators of the Year Award Recently, Tatnall’s Environmental Science and Field Studies Team, made up of teachers Nancy Flanagan, Greg Mentzer, Karen Barker, Dr. Dean Goodwin, Sharon Kreamer and retired Tatnall teacher, Dr. Peter Bookman, won the Outstanding Environmental Educators of the Year Award from the Delaware Nature Society! The team was recognized for its commitment to expanding and enhancing our curriculum and inspiring our students to become informed, passionate, global citizens with an interest in the natural world.

Hour of Code Makes Programming Fun Students from each division were introduced to coding and explored programming languages such as JavaScript and VRML as part of Tatnall’s participation in the Hour of Code. Created by the nonprofit organization Code.org, the Hour of Code is a global movement that engages millions of students in learning the fundamentals of computer programming.

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Around Campus

Silverman Named 2015 National Eastern Region Art Educator Tatnall Strong. Esmond Strong.

The entire Tatnall community has been sending its positive, healing wishes to members of the Esmond family, who became ill during our recent spring break. Students, faculty and staff have come together to create works of art, banners and T-shirts in support of the family. Additionally, the entire school community recently came to school dressed in black and gold gear for an Esmond family shout-out.

The National Art Education Association (NAEA) has named Tatnall’s Upper School art teacher, Stephanie Silverman, the National Eastern Region Secondary Art Educator of the Year. Since joining Tatnall in 2010, Silverman’s fine art students have won more than half a million dollars in scholarships and prizes for their fine art achievements, as well as regional (230 awards) and national (nine national medalists) recognition at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program.

Easter Seals Celebrates 15 Years of Hopping with Tatnall

Middle School MAD Dash Tatnall’s 8th graders have been committed to their year-long community service project, the “Make a Difference (MAD) Dash.”

Throughout the service project, 8th graders provide meals for families through the Food Bank of Delaware, socialize with residents at The Mary Campbell Center, sort clothing for families in need at the Clothing Center and visit children at Exceptional Care for Children.

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Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore and The Tatnall School are celebrating a 15year partnership of spreading disability awareness to Preschool students through their “Hop-N-ing” program. This year, 56 children from Tatnall raised $1,200 for Easter Seals, based on the number of times they hopped up and down, with contributors pledging money per hop.

Since its inception, the Hop-N-ing event at The Tatnall School has raised more than $35,000 for Easter Seals.

Loving Our Libraries

Favorite Upper School books

Favorite Preschool books

The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green

Can You See What I See? series by Walter Wick The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Favorite Lower School books Guinness World Records Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus by Tom Angleberger The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney

Favorite Middle School books Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus by Tom Angleberger “ The plot is so humorous!

When the principal bans origami, the kids get creative and make fruitigami with snack wrappers.”

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins The Maze Runner series by James Dashner The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney “ I LOVE The World According to Humphrey books, because they are told from the point of view of a hamster who is the class pet. Humphrey goes to student houses and solves some of the problems in the classroom.”

– Alex Popescu ’24

– Devon Chipman ’24

The Ederic Library serves more than 500 students and faculty in the Upper and Middle schools.

The Ederic Library contains close to 10,000 items, including books, DVDs, digital

The Sedgely Library has more than 14,000 books for Lower School students and subscribes to American Girl, Sports Illustrated Kids, Cobblestone, Ranger Rick, Odyssey and other periodicals.

Fun Facts about Tatnall’s Libraries

cameras and tripods, and subscribes to

35 different periodicals.

The Conner Library contains more than 2,500 books,

and Preschool students visit the library each week to check out books.

Did you know that Tatnall’s libraries have a combined

67 laptop and desktop computers for online research?

23 iPads that can be borrowed by students?

G uinness World Records “ I like Guinness World Records because you get to see people do crazy things.

It is cool.”

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Around Campus

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Behind the Scenes Introduced in 1964, Showcase, the advanced theater class offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors, is Tatnall’s longest-running theater production and a keystone of Tatnall’s arts curriculum. Under the direction of Bruce Chipman, Showcase Director for 42 years, and the guidance of Rick Neidig, Technical Director for more than 30 years, students are instructed in acting, technical design and set construction. This year’s production, “The Laramie Project,” is a collage of reactions, taken word-for-word from interviews, media reports and court records, to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming. This year’s set, both intimate and involved, was designed to complement the multiple roles demanded of each actor and convey the theme, mood and tone of the production.

1. The stage was designed to break convention and allow the actors to engage closely with the audience, creating an intense emotional reality.

The normal stage was extended by 30 feet, and six rows of seating, or 142 seats, were removed.

2. Coffee was used to stain the stage and tone down the bright red paint color.

3. A map of Laramie, Wyoming, complete with street grids and landmarks, was painted on the stage. The map reminded the audience that Matthew Shepard’s murder was a real event, set in a specific time and in a specific place.

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4. Mismatched furniture was deliberately used to identify different locations highlighted throughout the production.

7. The different levels built on the stage added visual interest and allowed for fluid movements.

5. Each student remained on stage for the entire two-and-a-half-hour production, and played an average of seven characters. Some students played as many as 12 roles!

8. Three hundred and seventy lighting cues were used to demonstrate mood throughout the play.

6. The actors had to hit 150 marks throughout the production. Each actor had to hit his or her mark at the appropriate place in the script to ensure that the lighting cues matched up with the dialogue.

9. Aside from the addition of small “symbolic costumes,” such as a hat, lab coat or leather jacket, each actor wore blue jeans and a black t-shirt.

Minimalistic costumes ensured that the focus would remain on the nature of each character.

Photo Credit: Aubrey Kingston ’15

Walking in Famous Footsteps All year, students in the third grade eagerly looked forward to Famous Persons Day, a beloved Tatnall tradition, now in its 41st year. Started by teachers Murv Reese and Carole Kelly, the research project, which culminates on Famous Persons Day, extends across the curriculum.

Beginning in January, each student selected a famous person who has made a significant contribution to society. From that point on, the students were busily engaged in activities in each of their classes that improved their research skills. The students read a biography and wrote a book report, while learning to prioritize and categorize important facts and life events. The third graders also created life-size paintings of their selected famous person and drew pictures representing various stages in that person’s life. Last, the students made an iMovie and produced bibliography citations in preparation for their Famous Persons Day presentations.

Finally, on the Friday before Spring Break, each student arrived at school dressed as his or her famous person. In a presentation in front of family members, classmates and Lower School friends, the students gave brief speeches summarizing their research.

The students, acting as their famous person, did a fantastic job and were excited to carry on the tradition.

Jackie Robinson Nick Marvin ’24

Mozart Will Peyton ’24

Harriet Tubman Kaia Yalamanchili ’24

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In the Classroom

“ Abuelito Who” Poetry

For several weeks during the fifth graders’ Latin America unit, students study Mexican poetry, breaking down poem structures to learn about metaphors, similes, color words, repetition and sound. Using MexicanAmerican poetess Sandra Cisneros’ poem, “Abuelito Who” or “Granddaddy Who” as inspiration, the fifth-grade students set out to write a special poem for a grandparent or another beloved elder.

The students created multiple drafts in order to perfect poems that communicated the love they feel for their grandparent or special friend, included personal memories and incorporated literary devices and Spanish words. Before sharing their poetry, the students rehearsed and refined their timing, presentation skills and Spanish pronunciation.

POPI WHO

By Charlie Ruoss ’22 Popi who is a golf club and big golf shoes And asks how are you doing today Who is bacon and eggs Who is a strong 66 years old and still goes on walks Who is as tall as the Empire State Building Popi who tells me you are the best Popi who loves to go to the azul blue and amarillo yellow beach every day Who loves to golf like it is his second job Who is like a good movie and butter popcorn Popi who is all kinds of music Popi who loves to pick rojo red crabs Popi who likes to adventure through the verde green grass Whose skin is as soft as the softest blanket in the world Who throws a football like Matt Ryan Popi who loves his family as much as a tiger protecting his cubs Who gives us nice gifts all the time Popi who is as intelligent as a computer Who is as special as a baby Popi who is as strong as a weight room Asking who loves him Who loves him, who?

The students’ hard work was showcased during a wonderful poetry recital in which the audience laughed (and cried!) as students expressed their gratitude and love in front of family and friends.

MOMMOM WHO

By Grace duPont ’22

TEPPIE WHO

By Katrina Cattermole ’22 Teppie who cleans like Snow White Who is big gold clip-on earrings and long cooking aprons Who calls us her angels Whose little gris gray poodle follows her around Teppie who loves frogs Who has never given up Is a Sudoku book and a pencil Who is always there for me Whose eyes are as bright as the twinkling stars Who can drive a golf ball further than Tiger Woods Teppie who is as happy as a sunflower Asking who loves her Who loves her, who?

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Mommom who bakes chocolate cake And asks about my day Who is fun and happy Who is a box of magic tricks Whose voice is soft and sweet Who tells me I love you with all my heart Mommom who is a yoga pose and a mat Is movies and theater and seasonal cruises Whose eyes are as azul blue as the ocean waves Is playful and caring and loves to read Who used to make pottery With colors like rosado pink and verde green Is an amarillo yellow light guiding my way Whose kitten is cute and cuddly Who loves the ocean but cannot swim Who hugs me tight Asking who loves her Who loves her, who?

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Printing in Three Dimensions This year, Upper School students have had the opportunity to experiment with the Ultimaker 2, a printer that creates three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. In order to create an object, the printer pulls plastic filament from a spool and feeds the filament into a hot print head, which moves back and forth as the print bed moves slowly downward. The object is then created during an additive process in which the head lays down successive layers of material — only a .1-millimeter-thick layer at a time!

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1. P.J. Jenks ’16 shows off the digital file used to create the cone used by Tatnall’s awardwinning Science Olympiad team.

2. During the printing process, successive layers of filament are pulled from the hot print head.

3. Upper School science teacher Josh Gates oversees a printing project.

Thus far, Tatnall’s Science Olympiad team and physics students have benefited from the printer’s ability to create lab apparatus. Most recently, P.J. Jenks ’16 used the Ultimaker 2 to create a cone and stopper for “It’s About Time,” a Science Olympiad competition. During the competition, students were required to build devices that would allow them to measure time intervals between beeps on an audio recording. The team filled the cone with sand and used the stopper to start and stop the flow, allowing them to measure the mass of accumulated sand and determine the time. Tatnall’s Science Olympiad team placed sixth in the state in the competition.

In the future, the printer will be incorporated into additional courses, including Tatnall’s electrical engineering and upper-level art classes, so more students will have the opportunity to use the printer and create custom pieces.

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All Rise!

It’s Mock Trial After pulling on suspenders and a red bowtie, Conner Malley ’18 took the stand at the New Castle County Courthouse.

“I find it hard to believe there is any value in the business,” says Conner about the imaginary textile manufacturer, Denim ‘N’ More. “The value was in the building and other assets destroyed by the fire.”

“Objection!” shouted a student attorney representing Denim ‘N’ More. Judge James Horn listened to arguments about the witness’s credibility, ruling that the witness was qualified to offer such an opinion.

These proceedings were part of the Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition, which is judged by members of the Delaware legal community. About 25 schools, including The Tatnall School, sent teams this year to present a civil case that focused on whether a warehouse fire was set intentionally to secure $950,000 from an insurance policy claim.

“The case is designed with flaws for both sides,” says Ruth Hiller, an Upper School history teacher who started Tatnall’s team ten years ago. “So it’s important to strategize about the evidence and witnesses that are presented.”

Preparation is key, says Donald Kerr ’16, an aspiring lawyer.

“It takes constant practice and time. You can never be too prepared. You never know what questions the witnesses will encounter during the cross examinations or what arguments the other side will present.”

Starting in November, Kerr, Malley and 22 other Tatnall team members met twice a week after school to review their strategies and to practice the tough questions witnesses might encounter during cross examinations.

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Time

Pictured above, The Tatnall School’s mock trial team finished in eighth place at this year’s Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition. On the left are Alex Lintner ’15 and Mia Wilson ’17, and below are David Klemens ‘16 and Christina Morgan ’15, who all earned gavels at the competition.

The Tatnall students received help with the case’s technical details from a fire expert and an insurance valuator. “It was great for the students to see how these professions are applied in real life,” Hiller says.

Attorneys Deb Cuoco, Felicia Kerr and Tom Eubler also helped the students to understand the nuances of the law.

“Mock trial is not easy for the students,” Cuoco says. “These students juggle and time-manage their workloads, theater commitments, sports and many other obligations—and yet, year after year, they rise to the challenge.”

Malley’s photographic memory played a key role in his portrayal of the certified public accountant Noel E.R. Donovan (the initials spell N.E.R.D.) for Tatnall’s plaintiff team.

“Unlike a play, I don’t memorize lines, but try to embody a character for a short amount of time,” Malley says. “I memorized all the details of the case, which helped me to avoid contradicting others’ statements and come across as credible.”

Christina Morgan ’15 enjoyed taking a leadership role in her third year on the team, helping Tatnall’s defense team to demonstrate that the fire had been set by a disgruntled employee. “At the end of the competition, there’s a sense of relief and accomplishment, and it’s one of my favorite parts of mock trial,” says Morgan, who aspires to study law someday.

During the competition, Cuoco enjoyed sitting in the courtroom gallery, watching the students’ hard work and determination pay off.

“Nothing beats the feeling that you get when you hear from one of your former students, and he or she has decided to take the LSATs and apply to law school based on the mock trial experience,” Cuoco says. “It makes it all so worth it.”

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Some of the birds seen during the 2014 campus survey: 28 chimney swifts 16 red-winged blackbirds 15 starlings 11 gray catbirds 7 yellow warblers 4 northern orioles 2 Carolina chickadees

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Early Birders Catch the Worm The idea was sparked during the emptying of a filing cabinet.

Finding annual campus bird surveys from 1965 and 1966, science teacher Karen Barker felt inspired to bring back the spring tradition.

Each May, Mrs. Barker and a handful of students take their binoculars through the woods and streams on Tatnall’s 110-acre campus, recording the number of each bird species they spot.

Dave Panichelle, an operations staff member, also helps the students during the annual three- to four-hour survey.

The data provides insights on how changing habitats and climates are affecting birds. For example, 30 ring-necked pheasants were spotted on Tatnall’s campus in 1965, while only two of the copper and gold birds have been sighted since 1991—the first year Mrs. Barker re-launched the survey. “One reason may be the diminishing of the fields and open spaces they use as their home,” she says.

Seventh graders begin their feathered adventures during a fall research project. Each student creates an iMovie about the habitats, diets and adaptations for survival used by a bird native to Delaware. Around Halloween, the students dress as their bird, filling the science lab with red-winged blackbirds, bluebirds, sparrows and other species.

The students also take bird walks, learning to spot different species, and quickly grab their binoculars for a closer look. “Most kids know birds as things with feathers and wings,” Mrs. Barker says, “but before the ornithology unit, they have no idea how diverse they are.”

From December to March, the seventh graders serve as citizen scientists, tallying the birds that visit an outdoor feeder and entering the data into an online database for Project Feeder Watch, organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This North American survey helps scientists to study the changes in bird populations due to factors such as weather, predation and disease, as well as human activities such as pollution and urbanization. “The students gain insights on how scientists study the environment and come to recognize the importance of collecting data,” Mrs. Barker says.

For students with a strong interest in birding, Mrs. Barker and Mr. Panichelle organize the annual bird survey and a separate birding club. One of the club’s activities is traveling to the World Series of Birding, a 24-hour competition, to count as many bird species as possible within the state of New Jersey. Teams from across the globe participate in the annual event to help raise funds and awareness for conservation efforts.

According to Cornell University researchers, bird watchers are five times more likely to engage in habitat and conservation efforts, such as enhancing land for wildlife and advocating for animals and birds.

“Our students need to be out in nature to care about it and to love it,” says Mrs. Barker, who started watching birds outside her kitchen window as a child. She now finds fulfillment in sharing her passion with Tatnall students. “Not every school lets you do that,” she adds.

Zachary Narimanian ’20 admits that he previously couldn’t tell a warbler from a finch, but now has fun listening to bird calls. For example, the bald eagle makes a high-pitched whistling noise, which is a much weaker sound than the powerful screeching associated with team mascots.

Male and female birds of the same species often have different coloring, and Caleigh Hoban ’20 says it’s helpful to know both colorings to identify the correct species. “Working with my birding partner was the best part. We had so much fun,” Caleigh adds.

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Around Campus

Helping a

FARAWAY FRIEND Thanks to a Tatnall Faculty Grant, developmental gym and music teacher Linda Champagne flew to Morelia, Mexico, and took a twohour taxi ride to visit the ChildFund International operation that helps Luis Angel and 600 other families.

Luis Angel has been a faraway friend of Tatnall’s Preschool since 2004. The Preschoolers identify where Luis lives on a map and draw pictures for their faraway friend. Whenever Luis sends a postcard, a Tatnall teacher will read it to the children in both Spanish and English. Luis often includes a photo of himself with new clothing, shoes and school supplies that he received as a result of the Preschool’s collected change. “So much is learned from this relationship that we have built with Luis,” says Aimee Neff, head of Preschool.

Each November, Preschool students create milk-carton banks and earn pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters for doing special chores and being kind to others at home. More than $9,000 has been donated to help ChildFund International (formerly the Christian

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Children’s Fund) pay for healthy meals, shelter, medical care and clothing for Luis.

“Even though the kids are 3 to 6 years old, we want to show them that they can help others who do not have the opportunities that they have,” says Mrs. Neff.

As part of the visit, Mrs. Champagne toured a one-room facility used as a hospital and a separate center that promotes computer and writing skills for the local children. She also visited a Roman Catholic church, which serves as one of the community’s focal points.

Not able to speak each other’s languages, Mrs. Champagne and Luis drew pictures of their own houses, schools and playgrounds on napkins. The two enjoyed picnics together, eating potato pancakes, corn soup and other Mexican dishes. “He made a definite imprint on my heart,” she says. “Everyone there was rich in kindness and compassion.”

Thanks to the visit, Mrs. Champagne can better help Tatnall’s Preschoolers to understand Luis’s everyday life and his country.

“Being able to share pictures and videos makes Luis a vital member of the Preschool,” she adds.

About Luis’s Hometown in Mexico Tuxpan is derived from the Aztec language Nuhuatl, and literally means “place of rabbits.”

This city is located near the Gulf Coast, about 120 miles from Mexico City.

With more than 70,000 residents, Tuxpan is roughly the same size as Wilmington, DE. Farming is one of the main economic activities, and corn is among the most important produce.

The regional cuisine features ingredients such as corn, seafood, rice, tubers, yucca and peanuts.

Star Values Program The Preschool collects change for Luis Angel as part of our Star Values Program. Throughout the year, activities and literature help students to exhibit the Star Values of friendship, thankfulness, giving, cooperation, love, honesty, patience, perseverance and pride.

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More Than Three Decades

Shaping Hearts It’s hard to imagine Tatnall without the guidance of two of its most enthusiastic educators. Friends and longtime colleagues Sarah J. Baylin, Upper School Head, and Sandy Idstein, Ph.D., Upper School Counselor, will retire from their fulltime positions at the end of this school year. The pair recently talked about their careers, their contributions and each other.

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Minds

What prompted your career in education?

Sarah: I stumbled onto it (laughs). I was going to be a doctor, but didn’t want to dissect cats in freshman biology. I loved history and English.

On my first day in the classroom, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I love interacting with students, seeing their excitement and being witness to their progress.

Sandy: I was the first person in my family to go to college. My dad was an immigrant, and my mom was a farm girl. Mom said, “You can be a nurse or a teacher.” That’s what women did then. At college, I loved teaching and being in the classroom with the kids. I knew it was what I should be doing.

What then?

Sarah: I taught at parochial and public schools and trained English teachers in Libya in the Peace Corps. I was teaching for about 14 years before joining Tatnall in 1979 as a history and English teacher. I became Head of the Upper School in 1995 and still taught English until last year.

Sandy: I’ve been teaching almost 50 years — everything from kindergarten to graduate school. I taught second and third grades in New Jersey, then worked in Delaware as an elementary and special education teacher before moving to Maryland. I joined Tatnall in 1978 as the Middle School reading teacher.

Before I received my doctorate, I took courses in counseling, which I liked, but not enough to stop teaching. At Tatnall, I got the opportunity to become counselor for ninth and tenth grades, and the next year for the whole Upper School, which I’ve done for 34 of my 37 years. Being counselor and teacher is a perfect combination for me.

I’ve taught sociology, study skills, contemporary issues, even English. I now teach Advanced Placement Psychology and will continue teaching it next year. I organized a peer counseling group for students, who to this day say it was one of their best experiences. It’s hard to find this kind of academic freedom.

What else makes Tatnall different?

Sandy: There’s a connection between faculty and students that doesn’t end at graduation. Recently,

one student who graduated 15 years ago reached out to me. I was in a former student’s wedding.

Sarah: Each student has the opportunity to work with teachers who love their jobs and love the kids and want them to thrive. The environment is supportive and safe, but encourages risk-taking.

What do you hope students learned from you?

Sandy: How to listen to others and not jump to conclusions. We all have innate goodness in us, and I hope I’ve helped students realize how good they are.

Sarah: I hope I modeled intelligence, kindness and calmness for them. I tried to do what was best for them individually — to meet with them, talk with them and find a solution for them.

Describe each other.

Sandy: I trust Sarah implicitly. She is very smart — intellectually and emotionally.

On top of that, our kids nearly grew up together.

(Sandy has two daughters, and Sarah has two sons, all of whom graduated from Tatnall.) We’re like an old married couple. She’ll start to say something and I’ll finish her sentence.

Sarah: Sandy is an intelligent and popular teacher who has the ability to convey concepts in a way students understand. She not only counsels students, but also faculty and parents.

She is trusted and held in high regard. In many ways, Sandy is the heart of the school.

Any final thoughts?

Sandy: I’ve had the best job at Tatnall bar none!

I love the kids and teaching, and the faculty. The parents are supportive and care. This has been my big family.

Sarah: I am grateful to be part of this community. I always say Tatnall is the way school ought to be. It’s been a wonderful experience.

Spring 2015 :: Tatnall Today :: 17

Student Spotlight

Yiying Sheng Yiying Sheng ‘15 first encountered horseshoe crabs as a culinary delicacy in China. So during a field trip to the Delaware Bay, she was surprised to see DuPont Education Center researchers studying these 10-legged creatures.

“I wanted to raise horseshoe crabs of my own!” says Yiying, who traveled to Delaware from Shanghai last year, hoping to attend a small school where she could study science and build strong relationships with teachers and students.

Upper School science chair Mrs. Kreamer secured dozens of horseshoe crab eggs for Yiying. Horseshoe crabs take approximately two weeks to hatch from their eggs, and Yiying was excited to have 15 larval crabs emerge from the eggs in the Upper School chemistry lab.

Larval crabs look like tiny versions of horseshoe crabs without tails. In the wild, these larval crabs settle into sandy bottoms of ocean tidal flats for more than a year.

At Tatnall, Yiying raises them in a small aquarium, making sure they have adequate food for survival.

“My strong relationship with my teacher allowed me to raise these crabs on my own and truly set the foundation for my future career in science,” Yiying says.

In June, Mrs. Kreamer and Yiying will travel to Sasebo, Japan. As part of an international workshop, they will join dozens of scientists in discussing the worldwide population of horseshoe crabs and conservation efforts for this key species in the Delaware Bay ecosystem.

“There will be scientists from all over the world attending this conference, even a few from China,” says Yiying. “I am looking forward to networking, expanding my knowledge of horseshoe crabs and launching my career.”

Yiying will attend Lehigh University in the fall, where she will major in chemical engineering. She hopes to continue her research with horseshoe crabs during her Lehigh education. As for her current horseshoe crabs, Yiying plans to donate some to museums and return the rest to the Delaware Bay once they reach a suitable age and condition.

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“ My strong relationship with my teacher allowed me to raise these crabs on my own and truly set the foundation for my future career in science.”

–Yiying

R

During traveling baseball games, the poor conditions of several South Philadelphia inner-city baseball fields astonished Matthew Graesser ’15.

“It suddenly hit me,” Matthew says. He envisioned helping to restore a community baseball field to ensure safety, promote athleticism and encourage others to love baseball.

For his Eagle Scout project, Matthew began renovating the H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Clubs baseball field on North Spruce Street in Wilmington.

With more than 50 volunteers, four full work days and 450 service hours totaled, Matthew’s vision started to become a reality. Local organizations and businesses also donated more than $3,000 to cover the material costs and equipment rentals.

“I will never forget the young children living in nearby neighborhoods who helped me every day during the renovation. Their hard work and perseverance truly inspired me to keep going when I was faced with challenges and defeat,” he adds.

Prior to the field renovation, Matthew dedicated a large amount of his free time to community projects and outreach as a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 99. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, and only 5 percent of Scouts have attained this honor since 1912.

Matthew’s project not only benefited the Delaware community but received state-wide recognition. Upon receiving his Eagle Scout rank, Matthew was also recognized by the Mayor of Wilmington and received the Mayor’s Choice firstplace award at the Jefferson Awards Lead360 Challenge ceremony in May 2014.

Mayor Dennis P. Williams awarded Matthew and his field from more than 40 projects completed by youth in the City of Wilmington.

Matthew plans to continue community service upon graduation in May 2015.

He intends to major in civil engineering and already sees the potential impact his studies and service work can generate in the future.

“I felt as though I made an impact on my own community that will last a lifetime,” says Matthew proudly, recalling the day when he first stepped foot on the newly renovated field. “I know I have left my mark at an early stage of my life.”

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Going the Distance… with

Speed

Last May, Tatnall’s track team found itself in an unusual position at the girls’ DIAA Outdoor Track and Field State Championships. The team’s heralded long-distance runners had done their part, but with one race remaining in the meet, the team still needed a win for the championship.

There was an issue: The last race was a sprint, the 4x400-meter relay. The Tatnall runners would have to line up against girls from schools that were better known for their strong sprint teams. But this race would be different.

The Tatnall girls blew past the field, winning the relay by six seconds and sealing the school’s sixth Delaware team title since 2007.

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Anthuan Maybank Fast Facts T o win the Olympic gold medal, Anthuan finished with a time of 43.87 seconds, besting 400-meter silver medalist Roger Black of Great Britain.

H e is one of only 12 U.S. sprinters to eclipse 44.20 seconds in the 400 meters.

The sprint win might have been a surprise to some, but not to Tatnall’s Assistant Track Coach, Anthuan Maybank. He has been building Tatnall’s sprint program since he started coaching at the school in 2011.

“It’s not only paying off in results on the track. We are getting more and more kids coming up and saying they want to run for us,” Anthuan says.

Anthuan is one of the main reasons for the program’s growing success. He is the kind of man whom student athletes respect and want to be around. It starts with his impressive track credentials.

He began running while attending high school in South Carolina and realized he had a talent for going fast — very fast. He set a South Carolina state record of 46.67 seconds in the 400 meters that stands to this day and parlayed his track prowess into a full scholarship to the University of Iowa. In college, he became a fourtime All American and seven-time Big Ten Champion. Anthuan reached the pinnacle of his sport in 1996, when he anchored the U.S. Olympic 4x400-meter relay team, which bested talented Jamaican and British squads to win gold.

Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Anthuan is a motivational speaker, personal trainer and businessman. In his off time, he leads track programs for underprivileged young people in St. Croix and at a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. Recently, the parents of two of his student athletes stopped him to thank him for the positive influence he was having on their daughters’ lives both on and off the track.

“I see my job as more than just running drills,” he says. “You have to be part coach, part mentor, part psychologist — everything the student athlete needs to be successful, not just in the sport, but in life. I try to help kids feel more confident about themselves. I want the athletes to feel empowered, especially the young ladies. I tell them they never have to feel like they have to take a step back for anyone.”

Anthuan asks his athletes to make a personal commitment to success. It’s the same commitment he made while growing up in South Carolina.

A fter the Olympics, Anthuan spent nearly a decade in France and Germany. He taught himself French well enough to become a sports commentator for Canal France International.

Among

his many accolades, Anthuan is in the Drake Relays Hall of Fame and the University of Iowa Hall of Fame.

A nthuan earned his MBA in 2009 from Wilmington University.

A nthuan serves as a mentor for the Second Chance Track Club and the Wilmington University cross-country team.

Through

his business, Champion Body Strength Training, he has created a program to motivate youth called Building Outgoing Dynamic Youth (BODY).

A nthuan still runs 15 or more miles per week to stay in shape and for the sheer love of the sport. And he’s still fast. He’s trying to gather his old U.S. teammates from the 1996 Olympics to run again at the Penn Relays.

Want to see Anthuan’s Olympic gold-winning run? Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwiO1CwU3UA. “I knew my best chance to get to college was through athletics,” he recalls. “I was in a single-parent household, and my mother kept me focused. She would tell me again and again that if I wanted something, I would have to work for it.”

Anthuan listened. When high school track practice was over and his friends went somewhere to hang out, Anthuan laced up his shoes and put in more work. “It’s a lesson I carried through my life, and one I pass along,” he says.

He tempers it with one other life lesson.

“I always want my runners to remember how much fun they had.

If the students are having fun, they’ll have the energy to compete and the drive to push themselves. If you love what you’re doing, it will last a lifetime.”

Spring 2015 :: Tatnall Today :: 21

JUSTIN PERILLO

AN UNDERDOG’S STORY At some point, Justin Perillo ’09 wants the whole overachiever tag to go away.

But that won’t be easy for the former Tatnall multi-sport star, especially since he was recently featured in a USA Today video, titled “Diary of an NFL Draft Underdog.” It’s a heart-wrenching video, already watched by thousands, that follows Justin as he nervously paces about his Prices Corner home while waiting to find out if he would be selected during the 2014 NFL draft.

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“ People have been telling Justin he can’t do things all of his life, and he just works and works to achieve his goals. We couldn’t be more proud of the way he has conducted himself” – Jody Russell, Tatnall Head Football Coach

Justin was not selected, but there was a happy ending. Just moments after the draft ended, the Green Bay Packers reached out to Justin and signed him as an undrafted free agent. He had achieved his dream; he made it to the NFL. For now, Justin says he carries the underdog tag as a badge of honor, a testament to how hard he has worked on his improbable path from beanpole Tatnall freshman to the 250-pound, 6-foot, 4-inch behemoth who now pancakes defenders and catches passes for the Packers.

“It doesn’t get tiring,” Justin says. “It just motivates me to keep working hard and proving myself every day.”

“People have been telling Justin he can’t do things all of his life, and he just works and works and works to achieve his goals,” says Tatnall Head Football Coach Jody Russell. “We couldn’t be more proud of the way he has conducted himself.”

Justin arrived at Tatnall in 2006, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jason, an accomplished athlete in his own right.

(Jason became captain of the Davidson College football team after graduating from Tatnall.)

“I always wanted to play with my brother, and I knew Tatnall had a great reputation for academics,” Justin recalls of his decision to enroll at The Tatnall School.

Though undersized, Justin joined the football team as a freshman, and his talent earned him immediate playing time. “It was a perfect fit for me. I knew that I could probably start as a 9th grader and get a great education, as well.”

Justin followed the same path as other student athletes, Coach Russell explains.

“That’s a real selling point for our program.

If a student wants to play football, he will get playing time that will help him develop his talents. Justin is one of nine players on

our team who have gone on to Division 1 football schools in the 12 years I have been here.”

It didn’t always look like Justin would continue his football career after Tatnall.

He thought he had a better chance of playing baseball or basketball in college, especially after he was named Delaware’s basketball player of the year in 2009. But his dream was always football, and he credits Coach Russell and then-Tatnall assistant Steve Selk with helping him to realize he could play at the next level.

“They sat me down sometime during my junior year and said I could make it to the next level,” Justin says. “I just had to put in the extra work.”

That meant putting in time in Tatnall’s weight room, a place Justin had managed to fastidiously avoid during his first few years at the school. It now became his home away from home. The extra strength

Going Pro

and speed he developed helped attract a visit from the University of Maine football coaching staff, and after seeing Justin out-muscle bigger players during a Tatnall basketball game, the coaches took a chance and offered Justin a full scholarship to the school.

Justin didn’t start right away at Maine. “I had to wait my turn,” he told The News Journal in 2013. “But sitting just made me work harder.” He turned that effort into a stellar college career. He played in 44 games, caught 128 passes and scored 15 touchdowns. Justin was named a two-time first-team All-Colonial Athletic League player and earned third-team All American (FCS) during his senior year.

Meanwhile, Justin still has much more to prove to himself. For most of the 2014 season, he served as a backup on the Packers’ practice squad. He was activated for the last few games of the year and saw action in two games. But Justin wants to contribute more, and he has turned to a familiar ally: hard work.

Many of Tatnall’s student athletes have gone on to stellar collegiate and amateur athletic careers. A few of them, like Justin Perillo, have taken it a step further and have made their living through professional athletics:

This offseason, he has been working out six days a week to get bigger, faster, stronger and more explosive. He works out at 1614 Fitness in Bear, DE, under the watchful eyes of trainers Mike Womer and Pete Broehl. Many days he can be found on Tatnall’s campus, either in the weight room or working on speed drills.

Jim Krapf ’69 was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1973 after an illustrious career at the University of Alabama.

“You have to work out every day and work out when no one is looking and everybody else has gone home,” Justin says.

Juliet Bottorff ’08 signed with Adidas and the Boston Athletic Association to run professionally.

Jake Bergey ’94 played ten years of professional lacrosse for the Philadelphia Wings.

It is a message he shares with the Tatnall student athletes he meets on campus.

“He always takes time out to talk to the students,” Russell says. “I love it. He shows them what it means to work hard. He worked at my summer camp last year and the younger kids just love him. He’s always willing to give back.”

Spring 2015 :: Tatnall Today :: 23

Alumni Connection

From Classmates to Physicians The strong relationships built at Tatnall often remain in place long after graduation. Take, for instance, physicians Matt Handling ’93 and Drew Brady ’92, both orthopedic specialists and surgeons with First State Orthopaedics in Newark, Delaware. ”Matt was a year behind me in school,” says Drew. “He was a quarterback on the football team. I wasn’t on the team, but was very good friends with one of the running backs. So, we would all hang out periodically — mostly after school during pickup basketball or football games.”

They each went off to college. Drew received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, then graduated from Harvard Medical School in 2000. He was doing a residency in orthopedics at the University of Pittsburgh when his path once again crossed with Matt’s.

“While I was in med school, I did a rotation at University of Pittsburgh and caught up with Drew there,” says Matt, who received a degree from University of Delaware before attending Thomas Jefferson University Medical School in Philadelphia.

“Later, I ran into Drew at a conference in Florida and found out he was planning to return to Delaware. That gave me added incentive to want to return, as well.”

After Pittsburgh, Drew spent a year in Cleveland at MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University on an Orthopaedic Traumatology Fellowship, then started at First State Orthopaedics in 2006. Matt did residencies at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, University Medical Center at Princeton and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Then he took a Fellowship in Sports Medicine at New England Baptist Hospital before joining Drew and the team at First State Orthopaedics in 2008.

Dr. Matt Handling and Dr. Drew Brady

Did Tatnall prepare the two for successful careers?

“Absolutely, 100 percent,” says Drew. He left Tatnall with a year’s worth of college credits before starting Dartmouth, so he moved very easily into academic life there. Even though he took standard math classes at Tatnall, he did so well in the subject at Dartmouth that they asked if he wanted to minor in math.

“I took courses during my senior year at Tatnall that were harder than freshman courses at University of Delaware,” says Matt, who still goes to Tatnall home football games, remains close with friends he made in school and stays accessible to athletes and other students there. He and Drew are often called on to treat people from the Tatnall community through their private practice.

“The best and brightest go to Tatnall, then a lot of us come back and work in the area,” says Drew. “I’m a huge advocate for Delaware. I want to be involved in the community in which I grew up and take care of the people here. I like that I’m a local guy. We have a lot of talent here and need to keep using our resources to make it better.”

A native of Delaware, Matt was influenced to go into orthopedics because of his dad, an athletic trainer at University of Delaware, where Matt has also served as an adjunct professor.

About his former classmate and current colleague, Drew says, “Matt’s a driven guy who goes after what he wants. On the clinical side, he’s very good with patients and takes care of them very well.

He expects perfection and everybody around him steps up to that level.”

“I saw a lot of sports injuries growing up and was interested in physical therapy and medicine.” Matt’s mother taught physical education at Tatnall, and his younger brother, also a Tatnall grad, now owns a physical therapy practice in New Castle.

“We’re both very hardworking,” echoes Matt. “Drew has a knowledge base that exceeds many physicians I’ve met through the years. He has been very helpful in leading me to succeed in orthopedics.”

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Small Price Tags, Big Impact As a college student living in Virginia, Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson ’88 discovered a landscape by Rea Redifer at a garage sale. It was the first of many original artworks that still hang in Wilkinson’s home and one of her inspirations for starting the Cheap Original Cool Art (COCA) Gallery.

“Friends and family were drawn to my artwork,” says Cindy, who serves on Tatnall’s Board of Trustees and chairs the school’s Alumni Council. “But I think many people were hesitant to purchase their own art. They seemed to lack the confidence in their taste and not trust their instincts.”

Located in Union Park Honda at 1704 Pennsylvania Avenue, the COCA Gallery strives to provide a gateway for consumers and emerging artists alike. A variety of oil and watercolor paintings are available for less than $500, and unlike a standard gallery, COCA doesn’t charge a high commission fee, instead giving 70 percent of the proceeds directly to the artist.

The remaining proceeds are donated to charities and used to cover the gallery’s administrative costs. Since 2013, more than $16,000 has been donated to nonprofit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Kind to Kids Foundation and Canine Partners for Life. “If everyone would give back to others just a little bit, a lot would get done” is Cindy’s philosophy.

Cindy is especially proud to collaborate on the gallery with fellow Tatnall alumni. Jim Ursomarso ’88 donates the space at Union Park Honda, while Carroll Ivy Lawrence ’84 helps to market the gallery and spread the word about its bimonthly gatherings.

“Tatnall is a place where you can build confidence in a family atmosphere,” Cindy says. “And it’s still a place where you come back and feel at home.”

“Tatnall is a place where you can build confidence in a family atmosphere. And it’s still a place where you come back and feel at home.”

–Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson

If you’d like to visit or show artwork at the COCA Gallery, go to cocaart.wordpress.com or email cocaart@outlook.com.

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Alumni Connection

From Pen Pals to Best Friends A longtime bond starts in an unexpected way

By Lisa Dill ’84 “I’m Sharon Ford,” the letter began, the cursive words carefully shaped with a fountain pen, “and I have a pony.”

The letter arrived during morning announcements when I was in 5th grade. Our teacher, Kathleen Elsesser, had struck up a conversation with a British teacher from Warwickshire during a summer train ride through Europe and arranged for my classmates and me to become pen pals with his British students.

In my letter back, written in bad American middle-school penmanship with a number-2 pencil, I told her about my pony.

And thus began a steady stream of correspondence. From my mailbox emerged letters stamped with etchings of the queen and glamorous airmail stickers. We sent photos back and forth of dogs and cats and summer vacations; of ponies and horse shows and gymkhanas; of family members and of homes. By 8th grade, we were the only pair still writing.

And we kept at it. Through the joys and pains of high school and college; through broken hearts and broken marriages; through the deaths of friends and fathers and animals. Sharon was my confidant and my escape; I kept no secrets from her, and she kept none from me. We became for each other a safety net, each a repository for the other’s deepest hopes and dreams, failures and successes.

In the spring of 2001, a heavily stamped wedding invitation arrived in my mailbox. After setting a number of contingency plans in place, I set off for London to finally meet my friend of 25 years.

When my plane landed at Heathrow on an August morning, we had never even spoken on the phone.

We were both, we admitted later, a bit nervous. What if we didn’t recognize each other? What if — after all this — we didn’t like each other?

We did. Over the two-hour drive to the house, and the several-day run-up to the wedding, we talked almost nonstop. I met friends and relatives and most of the animals I’d heard so much about over the years. On my first evening in her house, she produced a box with most of my correspondence, dating back to that first letter. I laughed and told her about my box, containing hers.

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I returned to England again in 2004 and 2007, but at last, this spring, Sharon’s husband Rob was assigned to attend a meeting in Randolph, New Jersey. Since I was in town, Sharon came with him and we were able to spend the weekend together in New York City. As before, the intervening time and space didn’t impede the depth of our friendship.

In its 80-plus years, Tatnall must be responsible for hundreds of thousands of important and sustaining friendships formed on its grounds and sanctified in its spirit, and I am grateful to count a number of those as my own. But I will always be particularly thankful for the happy accident of Ms. Elsesser’s train ride, and the transatlantic friendship that’s now nearing its fortieth year, which is worth more to me than I can describe.

Sandy Idstein, the Silver family and Head of School Charlie Tierney

Sandy Idstein with Casey Silver

Silver Family Dedication On Homecoming Saturday, John and Nancy Silver, along with their two sons, Jonathan ’06 and Casey ’05, were present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony that unveiled the Sandra Idstein Tutorial and Conference Center, dedicated by the Silver family, in the Beekley Library. As one of Tatnall’s longest-serving and most beloved teachers and counselors, Sandy had a significant impact on both Jonathan and Casey and played a vital role in their success at Tatnall. Sandy’s lasting influence prompted the Silvers’ thoughtful gift and transformation of part of the library space, which now serves as a study and meeting room for students and faculty members.

Faculty, alumni and friends were all present during the ceremony, which was hosted by the Advancement Office.

Deni Knox and Cecily Harmon

Jonathan and Casey Silver

Randi and John Centrella

Founder’s Society and Red Oak Legacy Society Reception On November 13, 2014, The Founder’s Society and Red Oak Legacy Society reception was hosted by Head of School Charlie Tierney at his home. During the reception, Middle School global studies teacher Ian Sikdar and Upper School history teacher Jennifer Ripel shared their experiences as teachers with a room full of generous Tatnall supporters. Charlie Tierney also spoke about his transition into The Tatnall School family and how each donor’s generous contribution impacts the community.

Held annually, the event recognizes individuals who have made planned gifts to the school or who have made a leadership-level gift of $1,000 or more during the fiscal year.

Head of School Charlie Tierney

Nancy and John Reinhardt

Spring 2015 :: Tatnall Today :: 27

Al and Suzanne Smith with Gina and Charlie Tierney.

Sara Kane ’23 spending time with her grandmother, Cynthia B. Kane.

Paulette Stevens, Victoria Clark and Caroline Brown Lintner ’83

Hannah Morgan ’23 celebrating Grandparents and Special Friends Day with her grandfather, Dave Harple.

Tatnall Grandparents Throughout the school year, a number of events have given our dedicated grandparents the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren and to socialize with and connect with fellow Tatnall grandparents. This year’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day was a huge success, with more than 350 grandparents visiting the Tatnall campus to spend the morning with their grandchildren. Similarly, the second annual Grandparents Social had a phenomenal turnout, with several grandparents traveling from across the country for the event. Most recently, grandparents were invited to attend the Holiday Coffee event in the Laird Performing Arts Center. In addition to the warm beverages, the grandparents were treated to wonderful musical performances from students across all divisions.

Planned Giving Leaves a Lasting Legacy Providing our students with access to new and improved facilities, maintaining our outstanding faculty and expanding our horizons to offer greater resources require ongoing support. A planned gift helps uphold the mission of The Tatnall School and creates an environment that engages and inspires our students.

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Llyn Balakhani, Mehdi Balakhani and Lee Ramunno

To support our legacy through an easy-to-make gift, please consider: I ncluding Tatnall in your will – a gift that costs you nothing now reating a charitable gift annuity – a gift in C which the donor receives a fixed dollar amount in return during his/her lifetime esignating Tatnall as a beneficiary of your D IRA, 401(k) or life insurance – a gift that reduces your taxes

Kerry McCue ’10, Carey Kaiser ’10, Dr. Bruce Chipman and Ana Bowe ’10

Vanessa Nyemb ’06, Thomas Anderson ’05 and Taleah Kennedy ’06

Chris Debnam ’81, Robin Chipman and Keith Morton ’74

Kiadii Harmon ’96, Matt Lintner, Sissy Dent Harris ’89 and Steve Marvin ’88

Thanksgiving Eve Reception Each year, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Tatnall graduates come together in celebration of the holiday season during the Annual Alumni Thanksgiving Eve Reception. This year’s reception, which was held at Kid Shelleen’s in Wilmington, allowed alumni who were home for the holidays to connect with former classmates and Tatnall faculty and staff members.

Rob Pamm ’08 and Chris Pamm ’06

The Class of 1964 and The Endowed Alumni Scholarship This year’s Homecoming weekend was particularly noteworthy, as it was marked by the 50th reunion of the class of 1964. As the first coeducational class to graduate from Tatnall, the class holds a special place in Tatnall’s history! In celebration of the milestone, many members of the class came together during a reception hosted at classmate Valerie Wier Lee’s home.

The class of 1964 has been instrumental in establishing The Endowed Alumni Scholarship, a tribute to former

Head of School Josephine Myers, which will benefit students demonstrating financial need. The class has raised more than $50,000 in initial seed money, with the hope that each 50th reunion class will make a special gift to help build this scholarship.

In addition to the 50th reunion and newly established scholarship, Dr. Larry Lincoln ’64, who spearheaded the creation of the scholarship along with Joe Schell ’64, was the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award.

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Class Notes ’32

’61

Carobelle (Carol) Sutton Hanssmann celebrated her 100th birthday on March 31, 2015. As a member of the class of 1932, the first class to be given diplomas from The Tatnall School, Carol holds a special place in Tatnall’s history.

Lynn Wait writes, “Life is good in Chestertown, Maryland. Besides my own dog and three cats, I’ve had five foster puppies this year. I spent a lot of time gardening for the local food pantry last summer and I keep my 24 hens and rooster on my friend’s farm. I also keep my eye on about six or seven barn cats and bottle-fed an orphaned lamb during the winter.

Besides that, there’s kayaking, knitting and taking courses for seniors at Washington College. Never bored!”

’56 Anne Tatnall Gross writes, “Last summer, I moved to the KendalCrosslands retirement community next to Longwood Gardens and I’m still teaching music part-time at the University of Delaware.”

Margaretta Colt is working on selfpublishing her second book, “Marital Bliss.” As described by the book’s back cover, “Those who love New York, books and bookstores will savor this light-hearted memoir of a fantasyturned-reality, a unique enterprise that flourished in the late 20th century.”

Margaretta hopes “Marital Bliss” will be available by June.

’63 Sandy White, who has a BFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania, creates beautiful oil and pastel paintings, as well as furniturescapes. View her work at www.sandywhitefineart.com.

’77 Jim Graham was recently featured in a Creativity Profile titled “The Eye Has It” in the April issue of Shutterbug magazine. In the article, Jim discussed how he photographs his beautiful landscape images.

Dr. Terry Plank ’81 Named 2015 Commencement Speaker Dr. Terry Plank will speak at Tatnall’s 84th commencement ceremony, being held on Saturday, June 6, 2015. Terry, a geochemist whose research focuses on volcanoes, has experienced tremendous success.

In 2012, Terry was awarded the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Grant. Additionally, in 2013, Terry was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, an organization that has honored outstanding achievement in the physical, biological and social sciences since 1886.

Terry attributes much of her success to her early education at The Tatnall School and was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2012.

“Tatnall was a superior experience.

It gave me the confidence and motivation to achieve,” says Terry.

Jim Graham

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Heather Baldwin Hunter and son Tucker

’80

’89

’94

Over the last few years, Cindy Poole Reeves and her family have moved from Colorado to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and then on to Inverness, Scotland. After spending a couple of months playing on Loch Ness, Cindy accepted a new position with a local firm as a Digital Marketing Executive.

She and her family are enjoying playing tourist on the weekends, exploring the castles and beaches of the Highlands.

Ashley Deadwyler-Jones will celebrate five years in business as a State Farm owner in Silver Spring, Maryland. Ashley is also the new host of a web series called “Good News Baltimore.” Check out the show at goodnewsbaltimore.org.

Heather Baldwin Hunter writes, “I am back…as a parent. My son Tucker is in the tenth grade. He came to Tatnall after graduating from Upland Country Day School. It is great being back and being a part of the Tatnall family again.”

Meredith Lambert

’88 Congratulations to Bill Dugdale, who was recently appointed to the Nemours Board of Managers – Delaware Valley.

’02

Tim Huang

’93

Chapin Spencer

Chapin Spencer writes, “Life is grand in Burlington, Vermont, where I’ve now lived for 20 years. How is that possible?! My wife Rebecca and I have a four-year-old daughter, Zia, who rocks our world. She knows The Tatnall School song because, for some reason, it is still stuck in my head! As if life wasn’t exciting enough, my day job as Director of Public Works for Vermont’s Queen City offers lots of challenges and rewards. If any alumni ever make it up to Vermont, come visit. We’re on the bike path, a block from Lake Champlain.”

Last fall, Tim Huang’s show, “Costs of Living” was selected by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre to be presented in their Songwriters’ Showcase. Tim was also invited to contribute a song to the Broadway Gives Back benefit concert and album, which will support a number of charities. Artists like Sting and Andrew Lippa, who wrote the Broadway adaptation of “Big Fish,” will also be featured.

The biggest news? Tim recently proposed to his girlfriend, Laura, and they will be getting married this fall!

Meredith Lambert, a standout for both Tatnall’s cross country and track and field programs, was inducted into the Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame.

’03 For the second year in a row, Nick Matarese has won an American Graphic Design Award for his business, The Barn, which will be celebrating its fifth anniversary in October. Nick writes, “In the past year, The Barn is proud to have landed some great projects for clients like Disney, Adidas, WORX, The American Lung Association and several minor-league sports teams.”

’04 Ashley Whiting recently got engaged to Matthew Grzybowski. Ashley has a master’s degree in environmental science from Towson University and is employed as the laboratory supervisor at Ultrachem, Inc. Matthew is a journeyman electrician employed by the Department of Defense. Ashley and Matthew live in New Castle, Delaware, and are planning a January 2016 wedding.

Ashley Whiting

Spring 2015 :: Tatnall Today :: 31

Class Notes ’06 Chris Pamm is relocating from New York to Atlanta. He will continue to work for Tremor Video, an online video advertising company, and is excited about the transfer. Chris looks forward to meeting Tatnall alums living in the Atlanta area.

The Technology Forum of Delaware’s 2015 “Idea Challenge” Representing Start It Up Delaware, a Wilmington-based public-private partnership that serves as a hub for entrepreneurs, Mike Gnade ’01, Katie O’ Hara ’03 and Nick Matarese ’03 were part of a nine-member team that won the 2015 Idea Challenge, held by the Technology Forum of Delaware.

Those competing in the challenge were given three hours to develop a high-tech concept that would attract new business and young professionals to Wilmington. The Start It Up team proposed “Beacons,” or solar-powered multi-touch kiosks, which would direct residents and visitors to events and happenings in the city. Additionally, the Beacons would locate parking spaces, provide free WiFi and cellphone charging and offer “heat maps” showing real-time nightlife activity.

Congratulations!

Natasha Dhillon and Elizabeth Grant

’07 Natasha Dhillon and Elizabeth Grant graduated from the American University Washington College of Law in May 2014. Natasha now lives in San Diego, California, and Elizabeth lives in Washington, D.C. Nick Jennison, who is currently traveling around the world with his friend Kyle, hopes to visit all seven continents over the next three years.

The two plan to spend a few weeks at each location they visit, learning the culture and getting to know the locals. Nick and Kyle are also going to work toward their Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificates so they can pick up teaching jobs during their travels and help the locals improve their English skills.

’10 Kyle McFoy, a senior at Appalachian State University, ran the race of his life during the Sun Belt Conference Championships. During the 5,000-meter run, Kyle defeated 16 runners from eight different colleges with a time of 14:31:90. The time was a personal best for Kyle and is also third all-time in Appalachian State history.

32 :: Tatnall Today :: Spring 2015

It’s a girl!

It’s a boy!

Many members of the class of 2001 recently welcomed baby girls! Congratulations to Jeff Katzenstein, Mike Cleaver, Emilie Moeckel Bolduc, Leslie Vinton Speakman, Emily Strode Ng, and Mike Gnade and Rose Bryant Gnade!

Susan Stone Kelley ’99 and husband Jeremy welcomed their son, Jack Stone Kelley, on April 23, 2014.

In Memoriam Bruce Allan Beardwood Former Tatnall Board of Trustees member Bruce Allan Beardwood passed away November 2, 2014.

Matilda “Junie” Beasley Bixby ’55 Matilda “Junie” Beasley Bixby passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015.

Matilda was a member of the Tatnall Class of 1955 and is the mother of Scott Bixby ’80 and Lisa Bixby McGillivray ’81.

Anne MacGaffin Sargent, ’62 Anne MacGaffin Sargent, a member of the Tatnall Class of 1962, passed away after a two-year battle with cancer on January 29, 2015. Anne is the sister of Tatnall alum, Peter MacGaffin ’68.

Robert Kevin Keefe ’77 Robert Kevin Keefe, a member of the Tatnall Class of 1977, and the brother of Tatnall alumna, Tara Keefe ‘79, passed away on February 11, 2015.

Leonard L. “Bucky” Williams, Jr. ’83 Leonard L. Williams, affectionately known as “Bucky,” passed away on November 18, 2014. Bucky is the brother of Dena Williams ’84 and Garrett Williams ’87.

Homecoming 2015 Saturday, October 24 When fall is in the air, that can only mean one thing…Tatnall Homecoming! Please join us on campus to enjoy good food under the big tent, support our athletic teams and reunite with fellow classmates. This year’s Homecoming will be particularly special, as The Tatnall School will celebrate its 85th anniversary. You won’t want to miss it!

Athletic Schedule: Field Hockey (vs. Wilmington Friends) Tatnall Varsity at 11 a.m.

Tatnall JV at 12:15 p.m.

Boys Soccer (vs. Wilmington Friends) Tatnall JV at noon Tatnall Varsity at noon Football (vs. Wilmington Friends) Tatnall Varsity at 2 p.m.

26th Annual Tatnall Golf Classic at Hartefeld National Thursday, May 28, 2015 Event Schedule Registration – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lunch – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shotgun Start – 1 p.m.

Cocktails and Dinner – 5:45 to 8 p.m.

It’s that time of year again!

Please join us for our annual golf outing in support of Tatnall’s financial aid program.

Sponsorship opportunities and open slots for individual players are still available for the fourman, scramble-format outing.

Enjoy a day out on the links!

For more information or to reserve your spot, call Director of Alumni Relations Anita Marcial at (302) 892-4337.

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1501 Barley Mill Road Wilmington, Delaware 19807 (302) 998-2292 | communications@tatnall.org www. tatnall.org

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ADMISSION OPEN HOUSE Saturday, November 7 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Come talk with our teachers, meet other parents and hear about the Tatnall experience from those who matter most…our students! Spend a morning on campus learning what it means to be a part of the “Tatnall family.” The program will include a formal presentation, student panel, Q&A session with faculty and current parents and student-led tours of all four divisions — Preschool, Lower, Middle and Upper schools.