The Hill News Senior Issue

THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

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May 23, 2022

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1. Anna Lignelli ’22, Chelsea Mills ’22, Paige Timbrook ’22 capture their last Lawrenceville dance. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAIGE TIMBROOK ’22 2. Jerry Li ’22, Harry Zhu ’22, Yoseph Kim ’22, and Andy Pham ’22 celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Love statue in Philadelphia. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY LI ’22 3. Chloe Han ’22, Adele Harris ’22, Taylor Folk ’22, Lily Heft ’23 hold the cutout of boys soccer manager Rachel Maier ’22 and celebrate after the varsity boys soccer game against Lawrenceville. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHLOE HAN ’22 4. A squirrel is spotted on top of the Chapel gutter last spring. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA LIGNELLI ’22 5. This photo is taken at the sixth form bonfire, featuring (back left to front ) Saagar Sharma ’22, Eddie Proffitt ’22, Jace White ’22, Andres Villarreal ’22, Blake Groff ’22, Alex Glamazdin ’22, Owen Manganiello ’22, Mohamed Rostom ’22, and Dev Sharma ’22.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDIE PROFFITT ’22 6. Jojo Zhu ’22 and ​​ Gaby Henao ’22 enjoy their last month together at Hill during the Sixth Form Tea. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOJO ZHU ’22 7. Pranay Sethi ’22, Gilbert Saunders ’22, Graham Eilberg ’22, and Nick Rafetto ’22 make brownies at the Eilberg house. PHOTO COURTESY OF GILBERT SAUNDERS ’22 8. SGA Co-Presidents Noah Toole ’22 and Sarah Jiang ’22 lead the convocation with flags. PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24 9. Ava Gawronski ’22, Mikhaila Smith ’22, Olivia Kalu ’22, and Toyosi Jaiyesimi ’22 eat sushi on the pitch for Olivia Kalu’s 18th birthday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA GUO ’22 10. A new geese family frequents the Dell pond and road last spring. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA LIGNELLI ’22 11. Bo Kim’s advisory eats lunch at Blue Elephant, featuring (left to right) Eddie Proffitt ’22, Maria Andrade ’25, Blake Groff ’22, Andrew Spatarella ’22, Nick Li ’22, Dev Sharma ’22, and Damien Gianikas ’24. PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDIE PROFFITT ’22 12. This photo was taken in September 2021, featuring a beautiful sunset in front of the library. PHOTO COURTESY OF TINA WANG ’22 13. Soph Coan ’22 gazes out at a Pottstown sunset. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPH COAN ’22

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Hill students bid farwell to Ellen Deitrich

— Page A2 Ned Ide seizes the day as he leaves Hill — Page A2 Hill community prepares for the May 28 commencement — Page B4 Senior artists share their stories of art before and at Hill —Page C5 Sixth form college map —Page D6 & D7 Letters from the Editors —Page E8 Sixth form playlist —Page E9 Hill senior committed athletes reflect on the hurdles and joys of their process —Page F11 Guess who this is?

—Page G12 Then & Now: 2018 vs. 2022 —Page G12

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Hill’s campus is prepped for a summer makeover with new construction projects

By OLIVIA MOFUS ’22 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hill students, especially those who have been on campus for four years, know campus like the back of their hand.

From the historic Admissions Office, to the traditional classrooms in the Athey Academic Center, to the athletic facilities – all these places have hosted students’ favorite memories in the time they’ve spent here.

This summer, a number of predominantly donor-funded construction projects will take place, either renovating buildings or creating entirely new spaces. One project many eagerly await is Madden Stadium at the Far Fields by the Lehrman ’56 Pavilion.

Madden Stadium, named after alumnus Pat Madden ’82, is currently slated to host football, lacrosse and field hockey games. According to Head of School Zack Lehman, construction will begin this summer and will end on Sep-

tember 23, which is when Hill will host its first 2022 home football game against Springside-Chestnut Hill.

“We began considering a stadium of this nature approximately two years ago to upgrade our athletics facilities and continue attracting the best student-athletes,” Lehman stated in an email. “Pat Madden, Hill School Class of 1982, provided some initial funding to study the feasibility of constructing the stadium on Dell Field or alternate sites.”

They first considered Dell Field as a potential location of the stadium, Lehman mentioned, but they decided the JV baseball field and the area between the Lehrman Pavilion and the Far Fields parking lot was more suitable.

Lehman elaborated on Madden Stadium’s features, saying it will include “an artificial multi-sport turf field, lights, stadium seating for 700 people, press box, and a stateof-the-art video scoreboard.”

Lehman mentioned that nu-

merous Hill alumni and parents contributed to the project, including Madden, and they have raised approximately $2.5 million in gifts and pledges to fund construction.

Still, other athletic fields, such as the Dell Field, will continue to hold a special place in many people’s hearts. Athletic Director Seth Eilberg echoed this sentiment.

“Countless unforgettable and historic Hill sports moments happened on Dell Field.

And those moments will only be strengthened by the excitement of creating new memories for Hill Football and our other teams in a first-in-class stadium able to accommodate the entire School community,” Eilberg stated in an email. “Dell Field will remain part of Hill’s celebrated athletics history and a place of victory, as Hill defeated Lawrenceville 10 to 6 on November 6 to end the 2021 football season - the perfect way to close the chapter on this special venue.”

Other athletic facilities,

Madden Stadium will host football, field hockey, and lacrosse games starting in September 2022.

such as Sweeney Gym and the Beech Street Tennis Courts, will also see renovations. Capital Construction Project Manager Rich Bouher spoke to these improvements. Sweeney Gym’s renovation includes replacing the roof, refurbishing the windows, finishing the masonry, and opening up the skylight.

Construction personnel will also restore the tennis courts, add lighting, and replace the

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF RICH BOUHER

gravel lot with a parking lot at the Beech Street Tennis Courts, when the courts are completed.

More construction projects are also on the docket for this summer. Namely, the Athey Academic Center will undergo a comprehensive remodeling, which includes renovating 30 classrooms and adding new furniture, floors, ceilings, LED lights, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning),

and 75-inch touch screen monitors. According to Bouher, the inside of the classrooms will loosely resemble the inside of the current Quadrivium classrooms. He said he hopes this will be the beginning of a longterm renovation of the Athey Academic Building.

Continued on Page B4

Features

The Hill News | A2

May 23, 2022

Hill students bid farewell to Ellen Deitrich

By NICOLE KWAN ’24 STAFF WRITER

As the year comes to a close, many of our well-beloved faculty members are leaving Hill and starting a new chapter in their lives. Ellen Deitrich, the director of college counseling, will be moving to Saint Mary’s Hall School in Texas, where she will serve as the assistant head of school for academics and dean of college counseling. Looking back on her years at Hill, Deitrich said that one of her highlights was her team of counselors.

“We work really well together and they’re really good friends,” Deitrich said. “It’s a very close-knit group.

Sometimes we shut the doors for our department, and we just laugh.”

Deitrich stated that she is very proud of the creation of the Reverse Advisory Board. In this two-day program, Hill brings in college representatives to sit in on classes and visit the Pottstown community. The guests go to seated lunches, watch games, and hear from faculty. This program benefits the college counseling team

and students as the representatives communicate with different faculty and give them a thorough evaluation. Once these college representatives read the applications from Hill students, they feel more connected to the students, having seen the Hill experience. Deitrich pointed out that she is very proud of the way the community, faculty, and staff stepped up to support the program.

One of the biggest changes during her time at Hill was the switch from assigning students to a college counselor in January of the fourth form instead of spring of fifth form so that the counselor can oversee the entirety of the process. Deitrich noted that looking at the two-year instead of one-year plan and getting to know the students a bit earlier really helps the bond between counselors and students and allows counselors to have a deeper understanding of each student.

When speaking about her plans for the future, Deitrich mentioned that, being born and raised in Pennsylvania, moving to Texas is going to be a big change. As the new assistant head of school for academics and

Ellen Deitrich leaves behind a decorated career at Hill.

dean of college counseling, she will oversee the academic program pre-k through 12, as well as the faculty mentoring and parent education programs and the accreditation process.

“You know, for me, it’s very, very, very hard for me to leave Hill, and I love it here. I love the kids – absolutely love the kids here. I wasn’t looking to leave, but the job sort of came to

PHOTO BY NICOLE KWAN ’24

me, and it’s an opportunity for me to continue to grow professionally and do some things I haven’t necessarily done before.”

Although this was “an agonizing decision” for Deitrich, she is incredibly confident that the students will be in excellent hands as the college counseling team is a well-oiled machine that will continue to function

well despite the changes. She assures that each student is guaranteed to have a team of people who care about their process. Deitrich strongly believes that Lauren Hoyt and Jodi Robinson, the people who will take over her position, are extremely qualified, and Deitrich encourages the students to welcome them as the college counseling office moves forward.

Hoyt stated that Deitrich “has been an incredible advocate for students and has worked hard to create a comprehensive program to support all students. Saint Mary’s Hall is lucky to gain such a strong leader, and I am fully confident that she will have a permanent, positive impact on their community, as she has ours.”

Furthermore, she is excited to continue building upon Mrs. Deitrich’s legacy with her partner, Robinson.

Anika Palmer ‘24, who is currently in Deitrich’s advisory, stated that Deitrich “has always been so supportive of us and is always open to talk or help when we need it. Our whole advisory will miss her.”

Amy Winter dials back from managing the Hill’s yearbook

By TIFFANY WANG ’22 VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR

During the Strawberry Festival on May 25, all members of the Hill community will receive the Dial as a concluding symbol of the school year. On that day, as a tradition, students and teachers sign each other’s yearbook pages and comment on the past year’s memories. This year, though undergoing slight difficulties and changes, the Dial maintained its past traditions and continued with some creative elements.

In the Dial, all sixth formers get their own pages, where they write shoutouts to thank those people who accompanied them to graduation and include photos that remind them of the special memories they have made with their friends. “To me, Dial is like a time capsule. It carries our memory of the Hill and its memory of us. I know years later, if I choose to open it by chance, I shall be taken back to the people, the community, and the Hill family through those pages,” Jojo Zhu ’22 explained, as she discussed how the Dial is significant to her after four years at Hill.

Amy Winter, adviser to the Dial, reflected on the importance of the Dial not only to the sixth formers but also to the Hill community as a whole: “It captures the highlights of the school year and often reflects what is going on in the world.” Winter has contributed a lot to this year’s Dial, as she designed most page templates, organized the page content,

The Dial holds memories of the school year.

Amy Winter, manager of student life services, served as adviser to The Dial.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY WINTER

and communicated with all sixth formers regarding the special category photos such as sixth form superlative Winter mentioned that this year’s Dial is special because it has returned to the original navy blue cover. She also remarked that the Dial staff incorporated lots of artistic shots taken by the school’s photographers, which would remind students of how pretty the campus was in the fall, how the chapel was decorated during the holiday season, and how it felt on the first day of spoon banging and singing the school fight song.

However, the Dial staff has struggled in recent years due to the pandemic. “There were no fall sports; there weren’t a lot of activities; clubs couldn’t meet; and many students

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

were off campus. I went back to the 1919 edition of the Dial that was created during the Spanish Flu and was able to see that the editors of that book had the same problems I was having! I was able to see history repeating itself!” Winter said.

She continued, “That’s what makes a yearbook so special; you can look back and see what the school was like through history and see not only how it has changed but ways that it has stayed the same and kept traditions.”

Helen Ling ’23, a member of the Dial staff, was grateful for working on the Dial with Winter. “It was an enjoyable experience. Mrs. Winter is always patient with and nice to us.

Whenever we had questions, she always answered thoroughly with great details.” When asked about what she particularly enjoyed about the process, Ling continued, “By working for the Dial, I have a great platform to know more people at the school and learn more about the various activities offered at Hill.”

Looking into the future, Winter stressed the importance of amplifying students’ voices in this historical book. This year, only a few students signed up for the Dial during afternoon activity, which made it hard to have all the content and design in on time. Therefore, she proposed the probability of turning the Dial into a student-led publication, as she envisions some students devoting their creativity and taking responsibility for the content that goes into the Dial.

Catriona Miller, co-director of the Humphrey Family Writing Center, oversees Hill’s publications and is excited to expand student leadership on the Dial. She mentioned that the Dial is planning to have co-editorsin-chief and staff editors next year so that more students can have the opportunity to make decisions about the yearbook.

Additionally, Miller highlighted the time and effort that Mrs. Winter has devoted to the Dial: “Mrs. Winter has ensured that the Dial has been published the past few years despite the obstacles created by COVID-19. We are so grateful for all her hard work, and I hope that the seniors stop by her office in the next few weeks to say thank you.”

Ned Ide hopes to spend more time with his family and work on his screenplays.

PHOTO BY LUKE GERDEMAN ’23

Ned Ide seizes the day as he leaves Hill

By NATE WHITTEMORE ’23 & LUKE GERDEMAN ’23 STAFF WRITERS

In the realm of beloved teachers at The Hill, Mr. Ned Ide does not go without mention. In his 23-year career as an English teacher at this school, he has impacted the lives of countless students and shaped the academic experiences of many. He certainly has affected the authors of this article. The community has responded to him to such an extent that he was chosen to speak at the Class of 2022 Commencement. So, he has that.

He’s also the person who, when he discovered we were writing this article, told us to “not make it a fluff piece.” A little difficult considering the nature of it, but we will try our best.

Both authors of this piece were lucky to have Ide as their teacher for English 1 third form year. In the classroom, Ide made each student feel comfortable to express themselves. His laid-back teaching style is one thing of note.

“Though Mr. Ide rarely shows up in person, he has been there for me for every step of my Hill career, through every struggle and accomplishment,” Anna Guo ’22 stated, “I am so grateful to have him as my advisor for the past 3 years.”

The Wednesday open floor discussions are something we both remember fondly. These classroom debates would sometimes be on very prominent topics

relevant to the school or current events.

Other times the topics would be very lighthearted. In both cases the debates would be almost entirely student run, Mr. Ide would simply lean back in his chair and watch the chaos ensue. These debates served as both a learning experience, and a true way to connect with his students. I recall a time when Mr. Ide let a student stand up in a debate, just to shut him down. This anecdote has a lesson buried within it somewhere, but the idea that someone should not stand to assert dominance is lost on me.

“He defines Hill and I’ll miss his presence. I am always comfortable in his classroom, and he is constantly looking out for people. He’s one of the hardest people to say goodbye to, but I’m thankful for everything he has done for me,” Guo stated.

Mr. Ide is a man worth remembering. His teaching, his smile, his presence will be missed dearly by us. His humbleness and kindness can be felt by the entire community; he holds himself in a way that says, “my humility makes me better than you”. From his students to his players, his advisees to his protégés, we can all take pride in knowing that he had an impact on our life.

Features

May 23, 2022

A3 | The Hill News

The Ellis Theatre Guild says goodbye to its sixth formers Holly Perna

Geordie Ravara

By LIZZIE HOPPER ’23 STAFF WRITER

Co-president of the Ellis Theatre Guild Geordie Ravara has participated in fifteen shows; most notably, they played one of the six merry murderesses in “Chicago” and served as fight captain for “Hunger Games.”

“Through performing at Hill and learning from Mr. McGriff, I learned how to be myself and not be ashamed of who I was,” Ravara stated. “It made me much more confident academically and socially. I think I’ve come a long way since third form year, and I owe a lot of that to Hill theater’s community and the adults that supervise us.” Ravara will be attending Adelphi University, studying to become an orthopedic surgeon chasing their passion in film and dance.

Since her third form year, Holly Perna has been a part of nine theater productions. Additionally, she served as co-president of The Hill Trebles and secretary of The Comedy Club this school year.

Throughout her four years at Hill, Perna has lit up the varying Ellis Theatre Guild stages, most notably playing the role of Louise in “Gypsy” this past fall. Perna stated, “Since freshman year, walking into the CFTA every afternoon has been my favorite part of the day.

I have made my closest friends in this department, and I wouldn’t trade my time for anywhere else on campus.” Perna will continue to pursue theater and English next year at Northeastern University.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLLY PERNA

Isabella Moranheras

Gaby Henao

Tiffany Lee

Isabella Moranheras has been a part of eleven productions at Hill, playing major roles in “Love, Dot,” “Hairspray,” and “SHOWDAY.” “I decided to try something I had never done before. Theater,” Moranheras stated. “Hill theater truly has gifted me with friendship, passion, and a family and I have no clue what I would do without it,” she stated. “Theater at Hill has truly shaped my entire Hill experience in the best way possible, and it means the world to me.” Moranheras will be attending Syracuse University in the fall. While she isn’t majoring in theater, she PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA MORANHERAS hopes to continue her passion for the arts.

Tiffany Lee has been involved in three shows at Hill, including “Love, Dot,” where she played a leading role. “Leona was really fun to play,” Lee stated. Although she does not plan on participating in theater at Boston University, she hopes to remain involved in the arts in some capacity.

PHOTO BY JASON ZHOU ’23

Gaby Henao has participated in nine shows in the Ellis Theatre Guild. Henao recalled playing Lucinda in “Into the Woods,” saying, “It was such a fun role, and it was very different from the roles I thought I’d get cast in.” Further, Henao stated, “Within Hill Theatre, I have been able to find several of my close friends.

I’m also glad I’ve had the chance to pursue my passion at Hill and additionally realize that this is what I want to do in college.” Henao will continue to pursue acting at Connecticut College in the fall.

Andrew Spatarella

Andrew Spatarella has been a part of ten productions at Hill. Some of his favorites being “Into the Woods”, “Love, Dot,” “Peter and the Star Catcher,” and “Gypsy.” “Hill theatre has helped me grow as a person, I used to be mute freshman year, and now I’m a lot more outgoing,” Spatarella stated, “During my third-form year, for ‘Shrek,’ I stripped in a sparkly tank top as a wolf which prepared me for all the other stuff I had to do. But, I’ve become a lot more outgoing.” Spatarella will be majoring in audio and music production at Lebanon Valley College, where he hopes to pursue theater.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

PHOTO COURTESY OF LILIAN RIZEK

Lilian Rizek

Lilian Rizek has been a part of twelve productions at Hill. Rizek has primarily worked behind the scenes taking on the responsibility of stage manager, prop master, and serving as co-president of The Ellis Theatre Guild. Rizek stated their favorite show being “Jury Trial,” as it was their first time stage managing - they found comfort and a sense of normalcy through virtual rehearsals. Rizek further states, “Hill theater has taught me innumerable skills and provided an accepting community where I have grown confident in my abilities.” Rizek will be attending Trinity College in Dublin and plans to take advantage of their theater courses and participate in the student-run theater group, The University Player.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GABY HENAO

Martin Tran

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

Since he arrived at Hill, Martin Tran has been a part of ten shows, his favorite being “Songs For A New World” from his third form year.

Additionally, Tran has taken responsibility behind the scenes working video for various shows, making numerous contributions as president of the Film and TV Club. Tran stated, “Hill Theatre has been my home for the last four years, and it is a place where I am able to express myself as an artist, collaborate with some of my closest friends, and grow as a human being.” Tran will further his career as a filmmaker at Emerson College in the fall.

Arwen Lutwyche

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

Arwen Lutwyche has been a part of eight theater productions in the Ellis Theatre Guild, primarily serving as the art director for various shows. This entails working backstage on the technical aspects of production, specializing in set design and prop painting. They also curated the artwork for each playbill. Cordelia Davies ’23 stated in an email, “Arwen is a cruel, calculating, exacting artist and a calm, compassionate presence. Arwen is not only the most masterful pun master I have met, but a kind and often sardonic example of the best Hill has to offer.”

Davies also stated, “I cannot do them justice, but they are endlessly, resiliently, forevermore appreciated.” Lutwyche will be attending Muhlenberg College in the fall.

Eight interns of the Hill pursue new opportunities on campus or beyond

By EMERSON LEGER ’25 STAFF WRITER PHOTOS COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

The Hill School offers interns an opportunity to work for a year to receive valuable teaching and coaching experience. After the year, some of the interns are offered full-time positions, while others elect to pursue new opportunities elsewhere. Eight interns came to Hill this year from all over the world and worked in various departments throughout the school from assisting in the classroom to coaching to working with the administration.

Josephine Phillips, from North Wales, Pa., graduated from Penn State, where she predominantly studied finance. She interns for the Colhoun Internship Program, which promotes teaching finance to students. Phillips fostered her passion for finance at Penn State by becoming an ambassador at their Financial Literacy Center. Phillips will not be returning to Hill next year as she will be attending the London School of Economics and Political Science in the summer, and then attending Penn Carey Law in the fall, where she plans to receive her JD. “In addition, I plan on continuing to advocate for financial literacy in our schools,” she stated in an email.

Nathan Taubkin ’17 is a Brody Intern at Hill and graduated from Oberlin College in 2021. In college, he worked as a teacher’s assistant in his college’s film program, but “in terms of real work experience outside of school” interning at Hill is it, he stated in an email. Being a Brody Intern involved being the videographer, the electronic media coordinator, teaching a film class with the Head of School Zack Lehman, and also coaching cross country, JV boys ice hockey and thirds tennis. He first got interested in film and photography in his sophomore year of college and later went to film school in Prague. Taubkin is coming back next year where he will be working as a teaching fellow.

Mckenna Edwards is a Bissell Intern at Hill, where she assists with the photography and environmental science classes. Before Hill, she was the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Franklin and Marshall College. She coaches girls varsity lacrosse in the spring, but in the fall she took pictures of the various games happening, and in the winter she assisted with rock climbing. Edwards is coming back next year as the assistant director of student activities and will still coach lacrosse and teach rock climbing, which she is “very excited about.”

Kris Donaldson is another Colhoun Intern who graduated from Thomas Jefferson University in 2021, where he interned at two different financial firms.

Working at Hill was his first full time job after college. “Funny story, Mr. Lehman actually reached out to me with the opportunity, so I didn’t really search for Hill, I guess they found me,” Donaldson recalled. At Hill, he teaches Economics and AP Economics, coaches soccer in the fall, and thirds tennis in the spring. He will return to Hill next year, where he will “be working with the advancement office while also still teaching financial literacy here.”

Vimbai Mawoneke, who graduated from Bryn Mawr College, is a Bissell Intern in the science and math departments here at Hill. Mawoneke has held a passion for chemistry since high school, majoring in it in college. She found out about the internship on LinkedIn, where Head of School Zack Lehman had reached out to her. A day in her life consists of helping to teach Integrated Math and AP Chemistry, cleaning up the labs before lunch, and after classes during afternoon activities heading to the Warner Center. Mawoneke will not be staying at Hill, as she is heading to California “to do research for public health policy using data from hospitals.”

Samantha Walther, a graduate of Hamilton College and Nichols College, works in the history and language departments. At Nichols, she received her master’s degree in counterterrorism, was the assistant coach for both women’s ice hockey and lacrosse, and also played professional ice hockey. Later, she worked for a counterterrorism think tank, conducting research and gathering intelligence from law enforcement, the military, and other areas of the government on topics of national security. Now, Walther teaches 20th Century History, Arabic, and coaches JV and varsity girls ice hockey and lacrosse. Walter will remain at Hill, living in Lowndes with her dog as a fulltime history teacher, ice hockey and lacrosse coach.

Ben Bala ’16 is from Annandale, N.J. and is a graduate of Seton Hall University. “I found out about interning at Hill through some of my old classmates, who were a part of the internship program last year,” he stated in an email. He interns in the English department at Hill, where he teaches English 1 and 2. After teaching, he assisted with strength and conditioning in the fall, assisted coaching boys varsity ice hockey in the winter and now coaches JV boys lacrosse for the spring.

Bala will continue working at Hill as an English teacher and coach.

Kendra Clarke graduated from Georgia State University in 2021. “I was only out of college for two and a half weeks before I moved here,” she explained. At Hill, she is an intern in the Religious Studies and Philosophy Department. “I teach one section by myself, Worldviews and World Religions, and then I TA for two sections,” she said. Clarke also coached JV girls soccer in the fall, assisted with strength and conditioning in the winter, and coaches girls softball in the spring. Clarke will not return to Hill next year, as she will attend graduate school in London for bioarchaeology.

Campus News

The Hill News | B4

May 23, 2022

Hill’s campus is prepped for a summer makeover with new construction projects Continued from Front Page Notably, Dellside Dormitory will receive a makeover as well: a new roof, a brick veneer, a new front porch, a new ceiling, and air conditioning in the hallways. Bouher said the hope is for Dellside to resemble the Athletic Building. But as of now, it is not a permanent dorm, as they hope to use the vacant lot it resides on for other projects in the distant future.

John Giannikas, Hill’s director of residential life, stated in an email that Dellside will be called Devy Hall in honor of a 1975 alumni who died

young. He further stated that it is a class-funded project for the upcoming 50th reunion of the Class of ’75.

A number of other locations will also receive renovations and improvements, including a remodeling of the Business Office to expand office space, a complete renovation of the Admissions Office, and a renovation of the AV Room in the library to add new 360-degree seating, floors, lights, and added technology.

There are currently discussions about the expansion of the Alumni Chapel to add a total of 90 additional seats,

air conditioning, and toilet facilities. Right now, they are finishing the restoration of the stained glass windows.

Bouher asks that as these projects near completion in the future, students stay out of construction sites and ask for permission if they need access to the restricted areas. “We’re going to do everything we can to keep you all safe,” he said.

Lehman explained, “All of our projects are in service to our mission, an enhanced student and faculty experience, and to sustain our campus for future generations.”

On Commencement Day, Hill sixth formers will walk across the brick on the Quadrangle.

Hill community prepares for the May 28 commencement

By PAIGE TIMBROOK ’22 STAFF WRITER

Dellside Dorm, now called Devy Hall, will resemble the Athletics Building in appearance.

Meigs House, home of admissions, will undergo renovations over the course of this summer.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF RICH BOUHER

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF RICH BOUHER

As the 2021-22 school year comes to an end, the Hill community is continuing to plan for commencement. On May 28, the sixth form class will take part in the ceremony along with many other events leading up to this special day. Over the past few years, however, the format of graduation has varied due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, commencement took place in a tent on Dell Field. All of the normal traditions took place, including the Sixth Form Dance, Alumni Induction Brunch, Legacy Tea, Class Day Gala Dinner, Class Day Gala Awards, Sixth Form Baccalaureate and the traditional jump into the Dell.

With the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, the administration had to make adjustments to the format of graduation in 2020. The sixth formers were sent a box of items representing commencement, including tea cups for Sixth Form Tea, toppings for their ice cream sundaes, a Sixth Form blazer and pin, and a scarf or tie for the Alumni Induction Brunch. In the last week of school, the faculty and staff offered some of Hill’s signature spring events virtually, such as Col-

lege T-Shirt Day, the Dial Dedication, Sixth Form Tea, and the Alumni Induction Brunch. At the end of May, there was a car parade for the sixth form class, as the Quad was lined with posters of each sixth form student. The jump into the Dell took place in 2021, the following year.

In spring 2021, the commencement ceremony was held in-person on the Quad.

“Although it was able to take place outside, it rained and we did not have tents prepared,” Shelley Baumgarten, director of alumni and parent engagement, said.

To compensate for the weather, the students were all given Hill ponchos. Sixth formers, immediate family and speakers were permitted to attend graduation. The ceremony was livestreamed for extended family and underformers. In order to make graduation as safe as possible, the administration decided to send underformers home a few days early, and sixth formers were able to spend the last few days together doing fun, commencement-related activities.

This year, the administration is planning to tent the Quad from the Athey Academic Center to Hunt Up-

per School. The students will march into the tent and walk down the Alumni Walk. They are permitted to bring an unlimited number of guests, as there will be overflow seating on either side of the tent and two large TV screens to display the ceremony.

All of the traditions previously discussed will take place, and fifth and sixth formers are permitted to attend the Sixth Form Dance this year. “I am really excited to do special activities as an entire form, like our last Chapel, the Sixth Form Dinner, and the Sixth Form Dance,” SGA Co-President Sarah Jiang ’22 said.

“I am looking forward to the last laughs that we will have together as a form at graduation. While it may be sad that we are all departing, we all know that we are going to embark on our next journeys beyond Hill,” SGA Co-President Noah Toole ’22 said.

As of May 19, graduation was still planned to be held on the Quad. The construction of the new football stadium may allow for it to happen there in future years, but the administration does not know for sure. “I love the symbolism of having the students walk across the bricks on the Quad at commencement,” Baumgarten said.

SGA co-presidents Jesse Corser-James ’23 and Stefanie Li ’23 discuss future plans

By REID SINGER ’24 STAFF WRITER

Jesse Corser-James ’23 and Stefanie Li ’23, who were elected by Hill’s student body to be next year’s co-presidents, hope to enhance the activities for students and work with David Hoffman, director of student enrichment and activities, to improve the weekend programs that currently exist at Hill.

Corser-James and Li want to stay true to what students want during their time on SGA. They stated in an email, “With the new stadium coming, we hope to have a bunch of events planned there for students to enjoy.”

During the co-pres-

idential debate on April 28, Corser-James and Li mentioned they would like to find various uses for the new Madden Stadium.

Often at school stadiums, high schools will have big games and social gatherings, which these new student leaders would like to make happen here at the Hill starting in the fall.

Another main goal is to enhance the big sibling program so that students who show an interest in participating can all successfully connect to their peer mentors. Li, who is an experienced debater on Hill’s forensics team, explained in the debate that this is a primary goal of hers.

According to head debate coach Nick Malinak:

Jesse Corser-James ’23 and Stefanie Li ’23 are excited to work together on SGA.

“Stef is very successful in debates, as the way she does debate is hard to keep

up with, as she is very insightful.”

Corser-James is a multi-

PHOTO BY JASON ZHOU ’23

sport athlete at Hill. He is on the varsity boys hockey and lacrosse teams. He will

be signing his National Letter of Intent later this year to play Division I lacrosse at Stony Brook University. According to head boys lacrosse coach David Page, Corser-James will be a future captain of the lacrosse team; he always brings the same consistent emotion, win or lose.

Page went on to explain how Corser-James is someone who everyone can rely on to do his job. According to Director of Hockey Sean O’Brien, “Corser-James is a terrific leader and compassionate teammate. His positive attitude, supportive nature, and high competitive level become infectious amongst his teammates. He is consistent in his actions both on and off the ice.”

Arts & Leisure

May 23, 2022

C5 | The Hill News

Senior artists share their stories of art before and at Hill

By ADELYN SIM ’24 STAFF WRITER

An approaching commencement signals the end of an era at Hill. Our current seniors are flipping over brand new pages, their new chapters waiting for publication. For seniors involved in art at Hill, it can mean finishing up art pieces for the APs, a final submission to Hill News, and a time to celebrate their growth as artists.

The year is 2006 - a young Chloe Han watches as her grandfather etches life in parchment. With each stroke, the words flowed animatedly, like magic, right in front of her. Han’s grandfather did calligraphy and carving, which enticed her into the vast world of art, being mesmerized by his work. After she entered Hill, despite not taking art classes before, she was inspired by Ellen Nelson, senior master of the arts, and other students in her class, which led her to huge improvement. In a short period, the young girl was no longer watching as she used to, instead she was making her own art and sharing with the community her beliefs, emotions and her lenses through her work. Han’s love towards her grandpa still shines through her work. Her recent painting titled “Matisse and Grandfather” depicts a portrait of her grandfather with a background inspired by Henry Matisse, one of her treasured artists.

When Tina Wang first saw the facilities Hill offered, such as quality equipment, the studio, and countless accessible materials, she was absolutely mesmerized and thrilled by the unlimited art she would be able to produce. With Nelson’s constant support, Wang carried on her art through her dedication to Afternoon Arts. Wang’s most memorable project at Hill is a series of figure drawing she completed in her freshman year.

She used pitch-black charcoal on thin papers to portray manifold perspectives on the body of a model who was invited to class. The project guided her to learn the basics of human body structure, which was worthwhile to develop further art skills.

Portia Sockel ‘22 collected plastic waste from the Dining Hall to create an oceanic scene.

ART COURTESY OF PORTIA SOCKEL ’22

Similar to Chloe, Portia Sockel found enthusiasm for art through her grandmother. Growing up she was in and out of her grandmother’s cozy attic studio, playing with oil pastels and large construction paper, as the very first introduction to art. Art truly let her express emotions, as Sockel fell in love with its expressiveness, nuance and complexity. Coming to Hill opened myriads of doors and gave her the key to explore art as more than just a canvas. Trust and guidance from Nelson enabled her to expand her inexhaustible art further in college.

Sockel’s most cherishing piece is “Deer Park Skies,” a vinyl tapestry created with plastic waste from the dining hall. Repurposing numerous waste from the pandemic, she constructed an oceanic scene with bluish waves made out of plastic bottles with spray paint. As students in Studio Art can utilize a variety of media, Sockel was free to explore those unique materials to convey her own message about human’s climatic effects on the ocean. “Stick with art past the graduation requirement and try something even if you are scared or nervous,” she said as her final takeaway as an artist.

Chloe Han ‘22 was inspired by her grandfather and Henry Matisse.

ART COURTESY OF CHLOE HAN ’22

Tina Wang ‘22 sketched a model invited in class in her freshman year.

ART COURTESY OF TINA WANG ’22

Wang’s word of advice is “Don’t ever criticize or look down upon yourself, but focus on improving what we lack, honing what we are good at, and casually being inspired by others.” Watching talented young artists comparing their works to others’, Wang pointed out the act of comparison originates from thinking oneself as “not talented or worse.”

She truly hopes artists not to be fixed on strengths and weaknesses, but how to keep making art.

Chloe Han ’22 created art in response to an increase in Asian violence in 2021.

ART COURTESY OF CHLOE HAN ’22

As she departs Hill, she has a few words of advice for fellow creatives: “Don’t try too hard to make your art look good, but try everything you want. Focusing on the visually appealing part will soon make you regret it.

You sure will improve through some failures and mistakes, so remember not to be afraid.”

Sarah Jiang ‘22 used ink to render a studio with color highlights.

ART COURTESY OF SARAH JIANG ’22

Sarah Jiang ‘22 portrayed a scene in a grocery with human organs.

ART COURTESY OF SARAH JIANG ’22

Sarah Jiang was heavily influenced by her fellow artists at Hill as she started to expand her skills and perspectives in art. Experiencing a fresh new world of art, Jiang mentioned, “Being able to learn art not only from my teacher but also my peers is a very unique experience.” She finally gives advice to underformer artists to continuously experiment: “The beauty of art is that even something that even mistakes can become successful artwork, so disregard what you perceive as your strengths and weaknesses and experiment with everything.”

Nam Dao ‘22 painted an abstract scene of urbanity with oil paint.

ART COURTESY OF NAM DAO ’22

Nam Dao experienced twists and turns in art as he experimented with diverse mediums and subjects. While transitioning through acrylic to oil paintings at Hill, he was able to adopt an individualized abstract style. Moreover, Dao has his own peculiar way of pursuing art. Whenever he paints, he lets out all his daily emotional qualms and takes art as a lifelong pain reliever. He suggests every artist at Hill should apply themselves by sending their works to as many competitions and exhibitions as possible.

The Hill News | D6

College Map

May 23, 2022

May 23, 2022

College Map

D7 | The Hill News

Opinion

The Hill News | E8

May 23, 2022

Letters from the Editors

PHOTO BY TIFFANY WANG ’22

Just do it­­­ — no questions asked

By OLIVIA MOFUS ’22 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Zora Neale Hurston said that there are years that ask questions and years that answer. When I read this, I didn’t think much of it. But while on staff and the leadership team for The Hill News, I realized that her quote is the defining sentiment of my time here.

For instance, I’d find myself editing an article or sending out emails at 1 a.m. thinking in my typical woe-isme attitude, “Why am I doing

this? How did I let this happen to me?”

Yes, The Hill News is something that happened mostly by chance. When I was a third former, I had a friend who was on staff who encouraged me to write for the paper. But I only mustered the courage to attend one meeting - the last meeting of the year.

I sat around eating their ice cream and pizza, celebrating the completion of a paper I

never read.

I always questioned why I was Editor-In-Chief and what, if anything, I brought to the table. But like Hurston said earlier, there are moments that answer - for me, it was handing out the paper once a month.

While saying hello to Front Office Manager Kelli Schoenly in the Wellness Center; seeing Capital Construction Project Manager Rich Bouher’s puppy in the Operations Building; speaking with Archivist Librarian Lou Jeffries in the Archives Room; with Reverand Confer Martens on the library steps; Carmelita Robinson ’23 in the common room, and so on. In those moments, I truly felt closest with the Hill community. Those moments were my answers.

Journalism taught me that there’s good and bad questioning. The good questioning is what exceptional writers do every time they pick up their pens; it’s what keeps organizations accountable and helps them evolve. The bad questioning is feeling you don’t belong, believing anyone else would be a better replacement for you.

Even if I thought I was bad at it, I loved it. You shouldn’t let frustration or insecurity stop you from doing it because if you love it, you’ll continue, and you’ll improve. If I let the bad questioning end my Hill News career, I would never have experienced those good moments - I never would’ve felt like I belonged to something bigger.

PHOTO BY TIFFANY WANG ’22

Do not pick your career as a sophomore

By ALEKSANDR GLAMAZDIN ’22 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do in life.”

We’ve all heard this many times, and for some, the future is terrifying. However, my sophomore reaction was something along the lines of “Pffff, how stupid are you if you don’t know what you want to be after high school?”

I had figured everything out already: Hill (4 years) -> Ivy League

University (4 years) -> Investment Banking Analyst (1-2 years) -> Private Equity Associate (2-3 years) -> IB Senior Associate or Vice President (1-2 years) -> IB Managing Director or Senior Vice President -> start my own hedge fund. I’m only 35 and already have an eight-digit income. Living the American Dream in my 57th St

penthouse.

Looking back, I cannot help but chuckle. In my Foster 1W room, I planned out the next two decades of my life. And I wasn’t the only one who did this. These “100%” career tracks extend well beyond finance – I know students who had a similar plan in biotech, engineering, computer science, consulting, marketing and even academia. Quick tip: don’t do this.

It is easy to succumb to the pressures around you and “pick your future” early on, especially as an ambitious student. The career path is often very straightforward, usually pays well, and when your grandparents or any other adults ask you what your plan is, you can always proudly say, “I want to be an engineer/doctor/programmer.”

But do you?

Sure, coding is cool, but do you want to look over thousands of lines of code from a junior developer for five years? Everyone would love to get a Friday Dorsia reservation and listen to Huey Lewis And The News, but do you want to spend 80 hours rearranging logos in PowerPoint or modeling in Excel? You want to be a surgeon, but have you ever seen an open wound? My point is that careers romanticized in the U.S. might not be exactly what they seem.

By choosing your career early, you are depriving yourself of the opportunity to explore. And you need to explore. Yes, you’ve heard this 5000 times, but this is exactly why everyone tells you this. Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do in life. I don’t. If you don’t know, you’ll look, and if you look, you’ll find something that will make you happy.

Journalism: creativity’s knight in shining armor

By PORTIA SOCKEL ’22 VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR

I’d like to think that I didn’t find The Hill News, instead it found me. After learning my plans to study at a California art school were canceled due to a heightening global pandemic, I was severely down-on-my-luck.

Amongst the chaos of virtual learning and distancing, I desired a way to spread my voice and my creativity amidst global

separation. I wrote an article on fashionable masks, stuck a couple of my own illustrations on, and was swept into the world of journalism – and I’m not sure I’ll ever look back.

In all honesty, you will never find yourself with another opportunity like THN. It offers complete creative freedom, the ability to experiment with art

and design, and the chance to command a group of talented and passionate peers – plus freedom of speech (most of the time).

When completing page design and making graphics for the newspaper, there are endless orientations, formats, and topics one can explore. THN staffers can practice journalism, visual arts, and multimedia formats such as photo, video, and audio.

Within THN, know that there

are students ready to write and explore all those other possibilities. Take advantage of the passion and creativity that will surround you within the journalism community, and use it to fuel your ambitions and strengths.

There is always a story, concept, or cause worth pursuing, and within this community, you will be supported and encouraged to find your voice. Use up every word.

Don’t be the “Hill girl” who fuels the patriarchy: A letter to female students

By PORTIA SOCKEL ’22 VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR

You may be able to remember the day you were accepted to Hill or even the day you decided to enroll. The excitement, pride, and anxieties that flooded through your system as you subconsciously became part of a prestigious academic institution meant to shape you into a successful young woman, equipped for life’s challenges. You may remember the first time you tried on your academic dress clothing, worrying that you looked weird or boxy in the menswear attire, fixating on your appearance, wondering if you belonged. These first few doubts and anxieties marked the first time Hill changed a part of you or questioned who you were and who you wanted to be. It

may have been unbeknownst to you at the time, but the atmosphere and expectations that define Hill’s identity were ever-present in your life just as they are now.

No matter if you’re a rising 4th, 5th, or 6th form student, you have surely faced the challenge of “fitting in” at Hill in one way or another.

Whether it be changing the color of your hair, bouncing from group to group, or indulging in the latest self-proclaimed dress code fab, your individuality has been taxed by the pressures upheld by Hill’s social culture. You’ve felt unlikeable, undesirable, and unwanted. In the social sense, these standards separate those who subscribe to them and those who do not or cannot, regardless of

participation or the desire to be included in this culture.

You’ve been ignored, gossiped about, or humiliated due to your lack of something proclaimed vital to fitting in. Maybe you didn’t have the money to buy that Hermes bracelet or balayage your hair to a crisp blonde, and those things hurt you in ways you could have never prevented yourself.

These collectively, socioeconomically, and racially motivated gender constructs that define Hill’s identity, and in turn, the expectations Hill upholds for its female students, are defined not by the institution, but by the students themselves. For 24 years, the women of the Hill have been badgered by sexist remarks and ideologies, and for 24 years the women of the Hill have furthered the implementation

of backstabbing constructs.

Our own friends, peers, and alumni, regardless of gender, have left behind a set of unfair standards that harm the female psyche – standards even we as female students perpetrate against ourselves.

Admitting this isn’t even the first step. I wish I could be more encouraging about the journey to redefining femininity and female empowerment on Hill’s campus, but the reality is that this is only one amongst many instances and battles you’ll fight throughout your time here. The opposition is and will be brutal when this community makes it hard to be different, diverse or, dare I say, “normal.” But having the courage to seek confidence within yourself, to reject those around you who pressure you to look, act or talk a certain

PHOTO BY TIFFANY WANG ’22

way is the biggest step you can take in helping yourself and others feel more comfortable within their own identity here. This action requires reflection and inward thinking, it requires you to admit your wrongs.

This action will allow you to use your newfound wisdom to treat others with deeper respect and acceptance, and those around you will follow in domino effect. It is your duty within your privileged spot here on campus to face your fears and biases with admittance and humility, not only for yourself but for

those around you who suffer at the cost of solidarity.

You’re not crazy or making things up or living through this experience alone. Your stories and truths are valuable, in fact, they’re truths that belong to Hill as much as they belong to you. Your voices and desires make up the values of this campus and your calls for change will echo far.

Speak up for yourself and take care of yourself, but don’t do it alone. Find your army because if you don’t act against the structure and the culture, no one will.

Opinion

May 23, 2022

E9 | The Hill News

Class of ’22 form deans send off their sixth formers

By NOAH TOOLE ’22 STAFF WRITER

From the beginning, Athletic Director Seth Eilberg and Day Student Dean Donna Eilberg have helped our form become close. Pizza and bowling were where we made our first friendships that would only grow stronger with each passing day. It seemed as if we had all known each other prior to our first time stepping foot on campus. Mr. and Mrs. Eilberg helped make this transition easy for us, acting as an extra set of parents to offer us sound advice and guidance whenever we needed it.

Two claps defined us, two claps was how Mr. Eilberg got us engaged in conversation when we would all meet together. To this day, the Class of 2022 still begins all class meetings

with the infamous two claps.

Our culminating moment was the sixth form retreat, kicking off our senior year together, running through the woods and making memories that will last a lifetime.

“I’ve enjoyed having my parents as form deans because it has given me another way to connect with them. They have planned many fun form activities for us and been there for our form whenever we needed it,” Graham Eilberg ’22 said.

Adele Harris ’22 pointed to Eilbergs’ “warm and welcoming presence,” when asked to reflect on having them as form deans. “Even when it’s not related to our form specifically, they are always there to help if we need anything,” she said.

Mr. and Mrs. Eilberg’s efforts have definitely brought our class closer in ways we would not have been able to

do on our own. Their affection for us as individuals extends beyond just being our form deans; they have become our instructors, coaches, advisors, cheerleaders, and biggest supporters.

“You kept us together in a time when the world was falling apart, reminding us of who we were and where we’ve come from with throwback power points and embarrassing pictures,” Anna Schlegel ’22 said.

Mackenzie Shultz ’22 liked Mr. and Mrs. Eilberg as form deans because they “never failed to keep the form connected.” She added, “They always made sure to have fun socials and activities, even during COVID.” We have been fortunate to have Mr. and Mrs. Eilberg have been on our side for the past four years. It’s difficult to capture all of the numerous ways

Athletic Director Seth Eilberg and Day Student Dean Donna Eilberg have served as form deans for the Class of ’22.

they’ve impacted each of our lives. As a class, we are so grate-

ful for you both. Our four years at Hill would have been incom-

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

plete without you, and we will miss you so much next year.

Dell dining was “tent” out of 10

By WESLEY CONNELLY ’22 ARTS & LEISURE EDITOR

If you ask the average third former what word they associate with Hill, I’d wager you get a lot of the same answers. Dress code.

Community. L’ville Weekend.

Traditional. Proper. Things of that nature. Things that, in some way or another, encapsulate that mystic, hard-to-define “Hillness.” But if you ask the Class of 2022 what word they associate with Hill, you’d get a different answer: You’d get “tent.”

Imagine if you will, pulling up to the Hill School for the first day of orientation. Maybe, like many of you, you’re unpacking boxes from a loaded trunk, tearfully saying goodbye to your loved ones, or maybe like me, you’re a day student, familiar with Hill but still not certain of what’s to come. But regardless of who you are, how you got there, and what your living arrangements would be, the tent looks down on you all the same.

A white-topped behemoth with clear plastic walls, a surprisingly spacious interior, and a deafening cry from the air conditioners; ask where it came from, you’d get the same answer—“Used to be the old hockey rink”—and it

would never clear things up. But the Dell Dining tent is a hallmark memory of the Class of ’22 and an all-time-classic Hill moment. Because, despite the noise, despite the freezing cold, Dell Dining—much more commonly referred to by the affectionate moniker “the tent”—developed a cult following by students who associate it with the fond memories of our third form year.

“You wanna grab dinner in the tent at 6?”

“I love the view from the tent when it’s snowing?”

“I can’t believe they brought all these huge tables down the

hill to the tent!”

It was, in short, a great space; the butt of a lot of jokes, and the home to a lot of fun. Many great times from our third form year revolve around sharing that space, and the memory of Dell Dining will live on with the class of ‘22—even as we leave the Hill. In its place has since stood the temporary science building, temporary language classrooms, and now Dellside dorm.

While they all have served their function well, the Dining Tent is a legendary bit of Hill lore, and a tough act to follow.

Editors-in-Chief Visual Managing Editors Campus News Off-Campus News Features Layout Social Media

Opinion Carrie Shang ’23 Arts & Leisure Diemmy Dang ’24 Sports Jason Zhou ’23 Photo & Illustration Anna Carroll ’23 Head Illustrator Jasmine Wang ’23 Head Photographer Ariana Polevshchikova ’23 MoniYah Person-Henderson ’23

Staff Writers & Staff Contributers

Faculty Adviser

@hillnews

Jerry Li ’22 Wesley Connelly ’22 Rose Flaherty ’23 Sarah Jiang ’22 Chloe Han ’22 Erick Sun ’24

Paige Timbrook ’22, Noah Toole ’22, Katie Newkirk ’22, Tina Wang ’22, Luke Gerdeman ’23, Joey Asterino ’23, Augustus Gerhart ’23, Luke Rasmussen ’23, Cole Bilotta ’23, Kade Davidheiser ’23, Jesse CorserJames ’23, Nate Whittemore ’23, Lizzie Hopper ’23, Emilie Kirschner ’23, Caden Olenzcak ’23, Adelyn Sim ’24, Nicole Kwan ’24, Reid Singer ’24, Emerson Leger ’25 Ms. Elizabeth DeOrnellas

Content Policy The Hill News is the student-run newspaper of The Hill School. Content is determined by and reflects the views of the student editorial board and staff and not school officials or the School itself. The Hill News acts as an open forum for student expression where they have complete control over the content produced.

In 2018, the Dining Hall tent housed students while the Millhiser Dining Hall underwent construction.

Olivia Mofus ’22, Aleksandr Glamazdin ’22 Portia Sockel ’22, Tiffany Wang ’22

@TheHillNews1

Want to contribute to The Hill News?

Come to our weekly meetings or contact a member of our staff. To submit a letter to the editor or an opinion piece, email omofus22@thehill.org, aglamazdin22@thehill.org, psockel22@thehill.org, tiffwang22@thehill.org.

thehill.news

/whatsoeverthingsarenews

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUIS JEFFRIES

Sixth form playlist

“Getting older” by Billie Eilish “Sidelines” by Phoebe Bridgers “High for This” by The Weeknd “The Moment” by Tame Impala “Forever” by Chris Brown “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead “Forever Young” by Alphaville “Summer Nights” by LilyPichu “All I Need” by David Choi “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus “Ship in a Bottle” by fin “high school” by nicki minaj

“LËt ya know” by yeat “Hey Ya!” by Outkast “We Are” by One OK ROCK “Cudi Zone” by Kid Cudi “XO” by Beyoncé “Maps” by Maroon 5 “Ribs” by Lorde To access the full playlist, Scan the QR code below:

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

Sports

The Hill News | F10

May 23, 2022

Spring athletes reflect upon their favorite memories of the 2022 season

By ROSE FLAHERTY ’23 SPORTS EDITOR

Editor’s Note: As athletes who participated in spring sports at Hill begin to wind down their seasons, they highlighted the top moments.

Read below to see the takeaways players had from each spring sport.

Softball: “The highlight of my softball season this year was probably the team environment and watching everybody grow as a player because we had a lot of people who haven’t played before. So just watching them improve every game and every day was enjoyable,” Kelly Dempsey ’23 said.

Baseball: Captain Gilbert Saunders ’22 said, “The highlight of our season was the win at Peddie. I would say this year has been a learning experience for me as a player and my team as a whole. I think the win at Peddie was the turning point in our season and the win we really needed to get us going.”

Girls track and field: Sarah Kenvin ’23 said, “A highlight from the spring track season was watching girls who have never run track before experimenting with new events and finding ones they enjoy.

Everyone always finds a way to contribute to the team no matter their experience level. The environment during meets is also always supportive, as people push themselves throughout their race.”

Sarah Kenvin ’23 faces off against a Lawrenceville runner and runs past her to victory.

Boys crew: Owen Manganiello ’22 said one of the major highlights for boys varsity crew this year was “winning all the Manny Flick races for our top two varsity boats so far this year.” Manganiello talked about his team and how he believes that it’s “a good group of guys. Everyone gets along well. We have had some struggles with injury in the finishing part of the season, but the team has done well with adapting and staying focused.” Two boys fours will compete at the Stotesbury Cup on May 20 and 21 and one boys eight will also compete.

Hill boys tennis coach Avinash Vemuri gives a pep talk on match day.

Girls golf: “The 18-hole Swing Against Cancer Tournament, hosted at Peddie, was a highlight of our season because we brought four girls to play. We had to use all four scores, but we ended up getting third in the whole tournament. Each girl showed up for the team that day and played a successful round of golf and everyone had fun for a good cause,” Mckay Allain ’23 said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

Boys lacrosse: “The highlight of the season was definitely beating Avon Old Farms. They are a really good lacrosse team and we were able to come out and beat them. The team put together four quarters of great lacrosse and it was a lot of fun,” Eric Kolar ’22 said.

Girls crew: The girls varsity crew is a close-knit group.

Avery Reigner, ’22 said that a major “highlight of her season was getting Three Brothers with the team at Coach Salatas’ house, laughing, and making lifelong memories with my friends.” Two girls fours will compete at the Stotesbury Cup on May 20 and 21 and two girls pairs will compete at the City Championship on May 22.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

Boys tennis: Managers Anna Carroll ’23, Cate Jacobs ’23, and Ava Carosella ’22 stated, “This season, the boys tennis team proved that their hard work and dedication paid off. For the first time in Hill history, the team brought home the MAPL championship.”

Boys golf: A major highlight of the boys golf season was the team chemistry on and off the course. Thomas Beaudoin ’22 said, “The best moment of our season so far is definitely our ultimate frisbee match against the disc team. We have been performing on the course this year at a high level, but this moment spoke about the chemistry of this special group as we almost won against a well-prepared disc team.” Beaudoin went on to mention the importance of their victory over the Hill’s biggest rival. “Also, we can’t skip beating Lawrenceville at their course for the season opener. Lawrenceville matches are always the most important events in our schedule, and every player stepped up. In the end, we came out on top despite the few amount of practices we had at that time,” Beaudoin said.

Anthony Wise ’22 competes in the high jump in Hill’s meet against Lawrenceville.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

Boys track and field: Track captain Quintin Craig ’23 said, “The highlight had to have been competing at Penn Relays. A few of us got to compete there, and the overall experience was great, especially beating Lawrenceville. It was an upset considering they beat us in a meet earlier this season.”

Girls lacrosse: On April 27, Hill girls lacrosse took down Lawrenceville for the first time in 11 years, with a score of 8-5. Hill clinched the MAPL title for the first time since 2006 with the win. Multiple players mentioned that their hard-fought previous win against IMG Academy gave them momentum leading into the rivalry game against Lawrenceville. The game against IMG was close until the last second and finished with Hill winning 7-6. The team gained confidence going into the game at Lawrenceville. Sixth former Mandy McCarrick said, “It was a great win for our team, but also for the alumni of the program to watch as well.”

Fifth form goalie and captain Sam Cifra had 15 saves in the MAPL game, passing 100 saves on the year and 200 saves in her career.

Girls golf poses near the 9th hole at their home course, Brookside Country Club.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS / SARAH BENDER

Staff Writers Joey Asterino ’23, Cole Bilotta ’23, Jesse Corser-James ’23, Kade Davidheiser ’23, Peter Galindez ‘23, Augustus Gerhart ’23, Emilie Kirschner ’23, Katie Newkirk ’22, Caden Olenczak ’23, Luke Rasmussen ’23 contributed to this report.

Sports

May 23, 2022

F11 | The Hill News

Hill senior committed athletes reflect on the hurdles and joys of their process

By CADEN OLENCZAK ’23 STAFF WRITER

The Hill School Class of 2022 has over 100 students graduating this spring, many of which are students committed to playing collegiate athletics. Throughout their recruiting process both before and during their time at Hill, they each had diverse experiences.

All Class of 2022 athletes throughout the country all experienced bumps in the road on their path to recruitment.

COVID-19, injuries, and other types of adversity made it hard to reach their goals. While all have been impacted, some were able to come out on top.

Will Schaller ’22 is committed to play Division I lacrosse at The University of Maryland. He was born and raised in Maryland. Schaller’s father went to Penn State, a school that was in his final three selections. He ended up choosing the hometown school.

Growing up watching the

Terrapins, Maryland was never actually Schaller’s favorite team.

He said, “I didn’t like them because they beat the teams I was fans of.” Nevertheless, Schaller enjoyed his visit to The University of Maryland and decided to commit there because it is closer to home.

While the school’s location is important to athletes like Schaller, others value family legacy and heritage when choosing schools. Mark McKeon ’22 has generations of family who attended Pennsylvania State University. Ever since he was a child, McKeon’s favorite colors were blue and white, and he dreamed of playing Division I lacrosse for the Nittany Lions.

McKeon said, “Both of my parents went there, and both of my siblings went there, so it’s always been in my blood. It has been a long history of my family, and I’m really proud and humbled to carry on that tradition.”

McKeon’s commitment was not all sunshine and rainbows.

He experienced his fair share of

Mark McKeon ’22 has committed to play lacrosse at Pennsylvania State University.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK MCKEON ’22

Noah Toole ’22 signs his National Letter of Intent to run track at Georgetown University.

adversity as COVID-19 halted his process and made him miss out on his whole senior year. Luckily, he was able to work things out and commit to his dream school.

The pandemic also had a huge impact on Andrew Albert’s ’22 process. Albert was originally committed to Muhlenberg College. COVID-19 forced coaches to slow recruiting and not allow visits. It also caused undergraduate players to stay in college for another year which would severely impact Albert’s playing time, as the Muhlenberg goalie position already has limited availability.

Albert de-committed from Muhlenberg and recommitted with Denison, a Division III lacrosse program. Albert said, “I wasn’t too happy to hear the news from Muhlenberg. I was thinking about de-committing, and the new coach reached out.

A few months later, Denison became my dream school after visiting.” Albert de-committed from Muhlenberg and re-committed to Denison the day after visiting its campus.

Sophia Coan ’22 was among those who de-committed. Her experience was due to stress that was built up after hastily committing. Eventually, Coan was able to push through mental

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAH TOOLE ’22

health problems and recommit to play Division I lacrosse at Xavier University.

Coan said, “I jumped at one of the first offers I got. It wasn’t really the right fit academically.

I don’t think I would have been happy there if I stayed. It was a very stressful time and scary de-committing because I didn’t decommit with an offer already on the table.” The wait in between was very frustrating for Coan.

While Coan’s troubles allowed her to continue playing her sport, Noah Toole ’22 was not as fortunate. Toole aimed to play college soccer but plans changed after he tore his ACL. Falling behind the pace of recruiting, he was forced to switch his target. Months after

recovering from his injury, Toole committed to Georgetown University to run Division I track and field.

Toole said, “I tore my ACL, so that kind of affected my soccer recruiting. I had about 10 offers, and I got them all revoked … so I decided to focus on track because it’s a little bit easier and coaches were more comfortable with me and my situation with the injury.”

All of these athletes were put to the test in their own unique ways. Whether it was mental, physical, or emotional factors, each was able to succeed in their goal of playing college sports.

Through these hardships, they grew and learned.

Scan the QR code for further multimedia on these student-athletes:

Andrew Albert ’22 has committed to play lacrosse at Denison University.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW ALBERT ’22

College Map: Class of 2022 graduates commit to play collegiate athletics across the country Amherst College Bowdoin College College of the Holy Cross College of William & Mary Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Denison University Eastern Michigan University Elmira College Franklin and Marshall College Georgetown University Juniata College Kent State University Kenyon College Lebanon Valley College Lehigh University

Division I Division III The Hill School

The Class of 2022 continues their athletic careers at a diverse range of institutions.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF KATIE NEWKIRK ’22

Pennsylvania State University Sacred Heart University St. John Fisher College Stonehill College SUNY Plattsburgh Trinity College University of Delaware Wentworth Institute of Technology University of Maryland University of Minnesota United States Naval Academy University of Vermont University of Virginia Ursinus College Vassar College Xavier University

Senior Spread

The Hill News | G12

Guess who This is?

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1. Chloe Han. 2. Gilbert Saunders. 3. Eddie Proffitt. 4. Ava Gawronski. 5. Sophia Coan. 6. Anna Lignelli. 7. Adele Harris. 8. Rachel Maier 9. Olivia Kalu. 10. Geordie Ravara. 11. Luke Cawley.

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May 23, 2022

Then & Now: 2018 vs. 2022

Then-third formers Tiffany Lee and Rachel Maier pose in front of Wendell dormitory in 2018. The now-sixth formers recreate the photo in 2022. PHOTO BY ANNA CARROLL ’23

Then-fourth formers Aine Farrell, Anna Guo, and Olivia Kalu dress up for Halloween in 2019. The now-sixth formers recreate the photo in 2022. PHOTO BY ANNA CARROLL ’23

Then-third formers Harry Zhu, Yoseph Kim, and Jerry Li attend a dinner for international students in the Memorial Room in 2018. The now-sixth formers recreate the photo in 2022. PHOTO BY ANNA CARROLL ’23