THE HILL NEWS CXVII: ISSUE 8 - SIXTH FORM ISSUE

THE HILL NEWS

Volume CXVII, NO. 8

VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

May 23, 2020

By ELIZABETH HUDAK ’21

lETTER TO THE CLASS OF 2020 FORM ADVISORS Departing Faculty

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Summer on the hill

aDVICE TO MY THIRD FORM SELF

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Sixth form voices on the hill

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Covid-19 iNSPIRed aRT

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C4

College map

aRTIST SPOTLIGHT

sTORIES OF UNFORGETTABLE GAMES

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E11

thROUGH THE LENS: sIXTH FORM EDITION

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C6-C7

A2 | News

The Hill News

May 23, 2020

NEWS

Sixth form connects for a virtual commencement

By RAINA SHAH ’21 OPINION EDITOR

Spring at Hill is one of the busiest and most anticipated times of the year. From dorm cookouts to J-Ball to, of course, commencement, the season is always busy for underformers and 6th formers alike. With the coronavirus forcing the community to be apart during what is supposed to be the culmination of the year, the missed opportunities weigh on students’ minds. “Senior spring” is anticipated by every graduating class. The absence of the experience this year has been discussed nationwide as social distancing and stay-at-home orders have limited the movements and interactions of nearly everyone.

At Hill, there was never a question in the administration’s mind as to whether or not they would try to find a way to make up some of the significant events for the sixth formers. The administration approached this dilemma from the start to try to find the best and safest way possible to celebrate the Class of 2020.

“Our biggest goal right now is to let the 6th form students have a voice, and really advocate for what they want to see given the circumstances we are facing,” said Chief Strategy Officer Lynda Hamilton-Kirk.

Raina Cohen ’20 and a group of her close friends thought that being physically back on campus with everyone would mean

the most to her class. There was talk of a virtual graduation, but many 6th formers wanted something more. They explained that they would rather wait and graduate on campus, so they could all be together one last time and make that famous Dell jump.

Although commencement is the most symbolic of the spring events, there was much more that the 6th formers felt was important to make up. Cohen and many others collaborated to come up with a plan for having one day in the summer, preferably in late July or the beginning of August, where the 6th form could come back to campus for the entire day. There they would have their class Gala and awards ceremony, Baccalaureate, mini Strawberry Festival, Alumni Luncheon, and Commencement followed by a party or dance off-campus.

As soon as the plan was solidified by the small group, it was quickly broadcast to the rest of the Class of 2020 who largely supported the idea. Cohen, Class President Mike Rockovich ’20, and others reached out to collect signatures of, ultimately, around ninety-five percent of the class.

“It was really nice to see that our form was still so connected even though we are spread out all over the world,” Cohen said.

This idea was pitched to the administration who acknowledged the wishes of the students.

Sixth formers head to CA for Gap Year

By ELIZABETH HUDAK ’21 CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This Fall, the Class of 2020 will disperse to dozens of colleges and universities across the world. However, some members of this year’s graduating class will not be heading to any campus just yet. Tassilo Heinrich ’20, Alan Kim ’20, Dylan Thompson ’20, and Michael Wong ’20 will instead be taking a gap year together in Irvine, California where they will be venturing into the world of business and commerce by creating and growing a retail website before they begin classes at their respective schools.

While the beginnings of the trip itself weren’t officially discussed until this past January, the idea to take a gap year to focus on business was born in November during a weekend trip to Los Angeles initiated by Heinrich.

“That weekend showed me how special of a group this was, and that we could achieve great things together with our combination of minds,” Thompson said.

As for their eCommerce goals, the group decided to start this endeavor because all four have some level of prior knowledge and interest to better equip them in pursuing a real business.

According to Thompson, Heinrich’s tangible past experiences will also aid them by providing them with an example.

The group hopes to use these skills to create a for-profit USA themed apparel website catered to US clients.

While the group plans to

start by producing and selling custom pins, they have their sights set on general apparel in the future.

Beyond hopefully turning a profit, both Thompson and Wong expressed excitement in starting a new lifestyle with their friends. The group has already moved into their new house as of May 7.

During their daily built-in work time they will likely be rolling out advertising, connecting with manufacturers, and working together to keep business steady.

As the group begins their yearlong venture on the West Coast, the newest Hill grads are excited to see what they can learn about the world outside of school as well as about themselves.

“I am excited about working with Michael, Alan, and Tass in a work environment because it’s amazing to see how our brains can light up at new ideas. We feed off of each other’s motivation,” Thomson said. “Even if we aren’t as successful as we hope to be, I expect to learn so much about how the world works during this gap year.”

Wong declined to give more specifics about their new business until they “get things up and running,” but said, “it’s something super unique and I’m super excited to see what’s in store for us this next year!”

ILLUSTRATION BY JASMINE WANG ’23

“While we have no choice but to hold many of the signature celebratory events online this May, and we will provide a virtual commencement ceremony on May 23, we remain very confident and enthusiastic about the 6th form returning to campus later in the summer so they can be together, experience this important rite of passage, and jump in the Dell!” said Headmaster Zachary Lehman. “Given this class’s fortitude and love of Hill, I was not at all surprised that they wanted to dispense with virtual events in favor of celebrating their accomplishments on campus. We fully support their plan and look forward

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

to seeing them in the near future. It will surely be the most anticipated and special commencement ceremony in our 169-year history!”

The plan is set as long as medical standards are met in order to remain in compliance with federal and state guidelines.

In the meantime, an “auto parade” took place on May 16 for those who could come to campus. The Class of 2020 has been challenged in many different aspects of life over these past few unprecedented months, but nothing stopped them from virtually collaborating so that they could be physically back together on Hill’s campus once again.

COVID-19’s Effect on Construction Projects

By NOORIE DHINGRA ’21 STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

On March 20, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf, a member of the Hill School’s Class of 1967, ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses.

Although this was a proactive approach before other states would follow suit, it would also be an abrupt transition for Hill to adapt its construction and school schedule in order to comply with the order, notably many of the large projects that were already in place such as the Shirley Quadrivium Center set to open in the Fall of 2020.

According to Robin Rhoads, assistant director of facilities capital and special project services, at that time, the Quadrivium construction was at a point where the building was not water-tight.

The linking building that would connect the two Widener buildings, was open to the elements.

There was still significant roof work that had not been completed. Despite Wohlsen Construction’s best attempts to make the

building temporarily watertight, the building started taking on water from rainstorms, and some damage to the interior occurred. Fortunately, the governor’s shutdown order still allowed for emergency repairs. Wohlsen Construction then applied to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for a limited exemption in order to maintain the state of the Widener buildings. This was to ensure that the structure became watertight through roof repairs and window installs. Other efforts also included exterior brickwork, the installation of the vestibule aluminum curtain wall, and the insertion of doors. Work resumed on April 15 and was estimated to take four weeks to fully complete because of the adherence to strict physical distancing guidelines.

Under strict guidelines, construction for all projects in Pennsylvania resumed on May 8.

In addition to this, the shutdown of the entire country has impacted all manufacturing, so the fabrication of furniture and equipment that are

PHOTO COURTESY OF SMP ARCHITECTS

going into the building is also affected. According to Headmaster Zack Lehman, there is a good chance that the facility will open on time for the Fall trimester. However, in the case that it does not, the temporary science building adjacent to the Dell can be retained for a few more months. Because of the uncertainty, while there is a strong chance that the Quadrivium may still open on time, there will likely be some minor construction activities that could occur during the start of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Despite all of this, “the Shirley Quadrivium will be a first-rate building that will be the envy of those who do not get the pleasure of walking through those doors on a daily basis, regardless of what sub-

The Shirley Quadrivium will be a first-rate building that will be the envy of those who do not get the pleasure of walking through those doors on a daily basis, regardless of what subject they teach.”

– Senior Master of Science Bill Yinger

ject they teach,” said Senior Master of Science Bill Yinger. “I look forward to, more than anything, the first day, when I am waiting for my students in that new classroom, and you guys funnel in to get down to business.”

While the Quadrivium progress will be most affected, according to Headmaster Zack Lehman, most planned projects for this upcoming summer and school year will go forward, while some have even been accelerated.

Accelerated projects include the Class of 2020 Patio, a new patio outside of the East side of Hunt Upper School, and some landscaping and tree projects. Unfortunately, other projects have been postponed because of construction restrictions or concerns that potential delays could be too disruptive to campus operations. These include renovations to the Headmaster’s Office reception area, Meigs House, and the Robins House.

May 23, 2020

The Hill News

B3 | Opinion

OPINION

Letters from the Co-Editors Eva Wu ’20

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVA WU ’20

One week left of high school, and all I can think about is how the Class of 2019 called themselves the “cursed class” because they didn’t get a bonfire during L’Ville Weekend. That was really funny.

If I were on campus right now, I would feel so overwhelmed by nostalgia and melancholy when, really, I am just scared to leave a familiar environment and feel uncertain about my future. I can’t lie to myself that at high school I didn’t have nights when I lay in my bed but wished I was somewhere else, or moments when I felt the world was so small that it just wasn’t enough space to include me. High school was great, but it’s not the best four years of my life (but good for the people who use that phrase), and I’m glad it’s over.

Because when I spent my senior spring away from Hill, as frustrating as it is, I feel so much calmer about graduating, so prepared for and excited about college. There’s nothing wrong with feel-

Tram Anh Tran ’20

ing excited about leaving Hill, and we should be because the future we’ve been dreaming about is right in front of us.

An unexpected pandemic has gotten us all prepared to say our last goodbyes before we even knew it.

It was also during the past two months of my solitude that I understood why Hill can be so difficult to leave. I realized how much I miss being surrounded by friends, mentors, and the loved ones whom I now must part ways with. And for that I am grateful for Hill. I will miss dancing to Taylor Swift’s songs (only the old ones) with my roommate and being asked to turn down the speaker (sorry Annika and Juliana); I will miss shutting off the lights and jumping into my bed as soon as I heard a dorm parent turning my doorknob after lights-out; I will miss the intimidation whenever I sneezed in Doc Malone’s classroom and the urge to look for a tissue box. I will miss having all the conversations with friends and teachers that made me feel there are so many more books to read, brilliant people to talk to, and so much more of this world to see. But I also know that our relationships won’t end just because my time at Hill has. I know that these people will be the first ones I go visit when this is all over. I miss those moments at Hill, but I am also excited to meet up with my friends in NYC with no checkin or lights-out. I am excited to return to Hill as a more mature student who actually has the right to discuss a piece of writing with Doc Malone or Dr. Lake.

If this was a commencement in any other year, I would be so devastated by the idea of leaving these people. But as I write down this letter, I am away, waiting to reunite with and give hugs to the ones I love. And for that I feel blessed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAM ANH TRAN ’20

As I sit outside on a breezy afternoon, a cup of hot tea in my hand, staring at the sunset sky, I remember the words of my mother before I left for boarding school.

Her hands holding mine, teary eyes in the parking lot of Dell, and telling me: “promise me you will take every opportunity that comes your way.” At that moment, I simply nodded, not understanding the extent of this phrase.

In the past three years whenever I thought about those words my mother left me, I simply thought she meant academic opportunities like grabbing that chance to get on the Dean’s List or joining clubs to fill the ten extracurricular spots on my Common App. Throughout my years at Hill, I would always tell myself “I can’t wait for senior spring. I’m gonna do everything I didn’t do in my past three years then.” This was my method of motivation to get through all the lonely afternoons eating alone in my room instead of going to the dining

hall so I could cram in that last mock SAT before study hall or the late nights of reviewing before a test. This was my excuse to sit in the basement of the library on a sunny Sunday afternoon or skip the Pep Rally to finish my essays. I never lived in the moment and always looked to the future. All the opportunities that Hill gave me, I pushed aside to achieve my dream of entering a top college. I thought I had all the time in the world to do all these traditions, activities, socialize, and be happy later.

After all the times of pretending like I had all the time in the world, I had missed out on the real, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities Hill had to offer, meaningful relationships, and memories that would last longer than an acceptance letter. The cup of tea became as bitter as my emotions. I had not fulfilled the promise I made to my mother.

At times like these, I am reminded that Hill is what you make of it. I am reminded that time is a social construct and it is what you make of it. I am reminded that all those moments I wished for the future, I forgot to live in the present.

The overused and so-last-decade acronym, YOLO, suddenly became what I defined that promise as. As my time at Hill comes to an anticlimactic end, I urge you all to take every opportunity that comes your way. You never know, a pandemic might happen tomorrow. And suddenly you could be whisked away from Hill, wishing you could turn back time to go to that pep rally, to sit outside on the quad with your friends, to stay late in the dining hall socializing or to say thank you to your advisers, coaches, and teachers. Don’t wait for happiness – be happy now. You only live once, so live your life at Hill to the fullest.

Letters to the Class of 2020 form advisors

Mr. Steinman

Mrs. Deitrich

By MELISSA XU ’20

By RAINA COHEN ’20 GUEST WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATION 19-20

Well, well, well ...Mr. Steinman…

It appears the day of your liberation is fast approaching! When May 23 comes around, we’ll be throwing the proverbial sock (by graduating) to the proverbial house elf (you). Yep, Dobby is free.

Jokes aside, although being in the Class of 2020 has come with some rather unfortunate circumstances (RIP senior spring), I’m glad that we’ve at least had a great pair of form advisers. I didn’t really know you well my first year at Hill, but since 5th form year – after being in your mechanics class and under your dorm parentage in Markle – we’ve had some quality conversations.

From these past two years, I can say without a doubt that you’re a real one–-and I mean it as the highest sort of praise. Our society has a tendency for formalities and filters, and a lot of people say what sounds good and do what isn’t.

As a pretty pragmatic person, I’m not a particular fan of these smoke and mirror persuasions so I could always count on you for direct, no BS advice. Moreover, the advice was never unsolicited. You got it if we wanted to be alone or didn’t feel like talking about it. You didn’t feel the need to put in your two cents if it wasn’t asked for, and that’s not to say you were uninvolved, because if we needed you, we knew you’d be there.

Along the same line of thought, you understood that we all had things we needed to do, so you never wasted our time. If a form meeting didn’t need to take 45 minutes, you didn’t make

Dear Mrs. Deitrich,

ILLUSTRATION BY TINA WANG ’22

it longer just to fill out the meeting period. It was a quick and efficient process: check-in, meeting, donuts, and done.

So thank you. Thank you for getting “the good pizza” during Markle family nights.

Thank you for the amusing rant sessions at the beginning of almost every physics class. Thank you for not giving me 100000 demerits for all the times I slept through my alarm in a Nyquil-induced haze.

I hope your future classes continue to nourish you with milkshakes and breakfast sandwiches (for all the underformers reading this, the standard order is a sausage, egg and cheese, on an English muffin).

Have a good life, Melissa P.S: On a completely unrelated note, I also like your dog very much (Wesley is perfection).

As someone who has had the fortune of having you as my advisor, college counselor, form dean, and friend for the past four years, it is baffling that our time together at Hill is already coming to an end. There is no way to put into words how thankful I am for everything that you’ve done for me and our entire form in all aspects of life, but I will try.

From the moment you adopted the Class of 2020 for our fourth form year, you have provided everyone with a source of compassion, wisdom, and light. While we all appreciate the iconic candy bowl and crying couch in your office, what has brought even more comfort is your personality itself.

You are someone we can come to when times are hard and need life advice, but you are also someone whose humor and kind heart make every single day better when we pass you in the halls or pop into your office for a quick hello. From surviving white-water rafting by our side, to bringing all of the girls together during the holiday season, to bake cookies, you have been there with us through it all. Particularly this year when the college process was so stressful, you made it evident that you

ILLUSTRATION BY TINA WANG ’22

were there to help whenever we needed you. You have shown us time and time again how much you care about our form, and even more importantly, how much you care about each and every one of us as individuals.

Mrs. Deitrich, thank you for making the past three years transformative for the Class of 2020, and contributing so much to our form’s family. You have truly embodied our “mother hen.” We are so sad that we will not get to experience all of the graduation festivities in-person with you, but we know you are always one call, email, or text away, and someone that we can call a friend for the rest of our lives. We appreciate you more than you know.

Raina (and the entire Class of 2020)

C4 | Features

The Hill News

May 23, 2020

FEATURES Departing Faculty

By OLIVIA MOFUS ’22 FEATURES EDITOR

The spring term is ending, and with it we say goodbye to some beloved faculty members who are moving on to new adventures.

Mr. Jeff Hollway The Hollways are moving to the Kent Denver School in Denver, Colorado next year where Hill’s Associate Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities Jeff Hollway will become the Director of Athletics. The family looks

forward to the mountains and culture of Denver.

“We were fortunate to have such quality people involved in our lives,” Hollway said. “It will be difficult to find a more caring and dedicated community in which to work and live.”

Mr. William Enos “After 42 years of teaching high school math, it’s finally time for me to graduate. I am retiring,” Instructor of Mathematics William Enos said.

Although he expects to be doing something, Enos does not currently have plans for the future. “I am mostly looking forward to having no place

to go and all day to get there,” Enos said. “I do hope to spend time with my grandchildren as soon as it is safe again for us all to get together.”

Enos, who has grown to love and admire so many of his fellow colleagues in his time here, will miss the enthusiasm and energy on campus.

Mr. Andrew Skitko After over 40 years in education and video production, Chair of the Arts Department Andrew Skitko will be easing into retirement.

But don’t worry! He’ll still be around to work on occasional video projects on campus. Skitko looks forward to working on things outside

of Hill’s busy schedule, like woodworking and freelance video engineering projects.

“I will miss using the new TV facility that I’m currently designing for the Quadrivium,” Skitko said.

“And I’ll miss working with students, my advisees, and colleagues.”

Mr. LEN mILLER Next year, Associate Headmaster Len Miller will serve as the head of school at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas, a K-12 independent day school. Miller is very excited about the opportunity to serve as head of school and for the Texas atmosphere. The openness

of the people, their diversity of background, and interest in new ideas are what truly struck him about Saint Mary’s Hall.

“I’ll miss the incredible people at Hill most of all,” said Miller. “My parting words are really simple: a heartfelt thanks!”

mR. aDAM sALO Instructor of English Adam Salo and his family are excited to move to the Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1997. Salo looks forward to teaching a creative writing term course and retooling his journalism class for a term course there.

He will deeply miss his students and colleagues.

“Much has been given to you, and much is expected,” Salo said to the students of Hill. “You have the ability and the opportunity to change the world for the better. Now, what are you going to do with those gifts?”

As new students and faculty arrive at Hill, we are sad to see some leave. Even though we’ll miss them, we thank the departing faculty for their time here, and wish them good luck on their next endeavors!

Mr. Michael Webster Instructor of Mathematics Michael Webster has accepted a mathematics teaching position at the Santiago Christian School, a K-12 private day school in the Dominican Republic. Webster looks forward to the family and people-centered culture of the Dominican Republic. He also looks for-

ward to the weather, learning Spanish, and living in a different country.

“It’s the people and relationships that will be missed,” Webster said. “I will miss the students I won’t get to see graduate next year, and the conversations with students and colleagues in the dining hall.”

DR. NICHOLas Riegel Dr. John W. Riegel Chair of Religious Studies Nicholas Reigel is also not sure of what he will be doing after Hill. But as always, he is looking forward to learning new things.

“Shout out to B period,” Reigel said, “for those very loud, funny, and spirited

debates. To A period for those fantastic, college-level philosophy discussions. To G period for our great mixture of humor and good philosophy. And shout out to my seniors for those amazing poetry discussions and our sea voyage this spring!”

Summer on the Hill

By PHILIPPE JIN ’21 LOCAL NEWS EDITOR

As Hill students start to wind down and finish up their school years, summer is the next thing on their minds. Students look forward to a season of relaxing, bonding, and pursuing their dreams.

By reaching out to over 40 start-ups, Noorie Dhingra ’21 was able to land herself a summer internship at Motivote, an organization focused on increasing voter participation and turnout by using gamification, behavioral economics, and big data – all things that Dhingra has a passion for. Dhingra hopes that this summer she can get a taste of working in start-ups and use this passion to help motivate increase voter turnout, especially for the upcoming 2020 elections.

“Although I haven’t specifically worked at an organization like Motivote yet, my passions revolve around working with people to help the community,” Dhingra said. “Besides that, I have also been pursuing regular independent studies (RIS) since my fourth form year.

This year, I have been pursuing a RIS on healthcare economics and big data.

Considering that Motivote is essentially centered around behavioral economics and big data, it was a no-brainer for me to reach out in hopes of professionally developing my interests.”

When asked how her plans would change during the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, Dhingra acknowledged that many factors were still to be determined and that there is a chance that she would not be able to meet with colleagues at Motivote. Dhingra hopes she can at least work from home. At the end of the day, Dhingra is staying focused on her task – regardless of her surroundings – she hopes to help.

Andrew Chirieleison ’21, another Hill student, plans to spend his summer in the local area.

“Obviously, due to unprecedented circumstances, a lot of people and their summer plans have been placed on hold for the time being,” Chirieleison said. “So, to be completely honest, I do not have a whole lot planned as of right now, but I do intend on spending time with family that I haven’t been able to visit.”

The recently elected as a SGA co-president along with Sasjha Mayfield ’21, Chirieleison sees the summer as a great way to prepare for his important, upcoming sixth form year.

“As always, my main goals for this summer will consist of preparing for the upcoming football season and school year along with relaxing and spending time with family,” Chirieleison said. “I will say, with regard to the SGA, Sasjha and I have and will continue to meet throughout the coming months so that we can hit the ground running next year and prepare for whatever that may look like.”

From a start-up in New York to preparing ones self mentally, logistically and physically for the next school year, summer provides a period for growth and exploration for all of us.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

May 23, 2020

The Hill News

Features | C5

Sixth Form Voices on The Hill What will you miss the most?

I could list things I will miss about Hill for an entire night. If you asked me the same question in 10, 20 years, my list would be fairly identical because these are truly the memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. I will miss the feeling when I spent free periods at the Grille, walked down High Street to Three Brothers, and got an omelette from Mike in the mornings... I will miss the traditions: dressing up for seated dinners, having marshmallow hot chocolate on family nights, L’ville weekends... Most importantly, Hill became my second home not only because it’s called the family boarding school, but because my teachers and friends truly cared for me and were always there for me. I never felt alone because I knew I had a shoulder to lean on: whether it’s my squash team and coach Erasmus, or my advisory with Senora Gomez, or US2E with Reverend Adams. The kind of connection and bonding we share is so precious and rare to find in life. I will miss Hill dearly.

- Sarah Qiu ’20

I mean, what really isn’t to miss from Hill? I’ll miss the time t h a t I’ve spent in my Foster dorm, which is more than I have in my own house during my Hill career. I’ll miss the relationships I’ve made with teachers, dorm parents, and hundreds of students. I’ll miss the weird, late night moments with friends running around. I’ll miss breakfast sandwiches. I’ll miss the busy study halls and free periods I procrastinated in earlier that day. I’ll miss eating around private collections of priceless art. I’ll miss sled days. I’ll miss all of the quality people I’ve come to love here. I’ll miss everything. I’ll just miss Hill.

- Ben Crispin ’20

What I will miss most about Hill is the people. I love the quote that ‘Home is not a place. It is a feeling.’ The feeling I have when I’m at Hill in the classroom, dorms, or hallway is unmatchable. It is the people of our community that make Hill so great: the faculty and staff who care so much about each student, my form which has now become my family, my adviser who has now become a lifelong mentor. Hill is a community of people who are truly their authentic selves, and I will miss getting to see these people each day.

- Liza Moore ’20

“What I am going to miss the most upon graduating from the Hill School will be walking down the stairs to the student center on a spring evening just after sitting in the dining hall with my friends for hours laughing, connecting, and being a family. I am going to miss the feeling that fills me as I finish going down those stairs and push through the doors to the quad to see all of my friends and the Hill community spread out there games of spike ball, J-Ball, and people just simply spread out on blankets having fun. To know I will never experience that again only makes me miss it more. But at the same time, that sadness is filled with gratitude for never having to walk down those stairs to the quad alone. I know I was fortunate enough to have spent each of those spring Saturday nights with my friends, my people, my family.”

- Michael Rockovich ’20

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

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By TIFFANY WANG ’22 LAYOUT

Advice to your third form self

By REVA THARWANI ’20 STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

Over the past several years, the Class of 2020 has had to endure so much. We are the generation that has had to overcome many hurdles whether those were academic or just life events. But the sixth formers have also learned so much. We have grown in every aspect of our lives. As we say goodbye to our years at Hill, there are lessons that we learned along the way that have helped to carve out the people we are today. Looking back, what advice would we give our third-form-selves that we wish we had known way back then?

Caleb Dorsey ’20 looked back at his experience and spoke about the biggest lesson he learned.

“I think the two biggest things I picked up early on in my time at Hill were to manage my time wisely and to ask for help,” Dorsey said. “It’s okay to have fun, but it should not get in the way of obligations. I had a great deal of trouble with that my third form year…”

Hill is such a unique place with so many opportunities. Paige Barcus ’20 reflected back on her experience with a new perspective.

“I think the main piece of ad-

ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE HARTEMINK ’21

vice I would give to my third form self would be to not stress over the little things as much,” Barcus said. “It was not until the beginning of my fifth form year that I truly broke out of my shell and allowed myself to enjoy every aspect of Hill. I

Get ready for life that you didn’t even know could exist for yourselves and the most amazing part of your life up to this point. It is all going to be okay. Just remember to treasure it because sitting where I am right now I would love to go back and relive every moment.

think if I had given myself more time to grow closer with my friends and enjoy everything Hill has to offer earlier, my experience would be ten times better than it already is.”

One of our biggest hopes coming into high school is to build relationships with as many people as possible. Sarah Qiu ’20 reflected back on her desire to have built these connections earlier on.

“If I could turn back time and return to the first day of school, I would encourage myself to step out of my friend circle

and know each one of my classmates on a personal level,” Qiu said. “It wasn’t until my sixth form year when I really got to speak and become close with some classmates whom I’ve never talked to before. I regret not knowing them sooner because of how interesting, kind, and intellectual they are. Before I knew it, four years passed by.”

There can be many challenges in high school. It is easy to get caught up in the difficulties and forget about how special this period of time is. As this academic year comes to an end, Raina Cohen ’20 wished she could remind her third form self to cherish this time.

“Get ready for life that you didn’t even know could exist for yourselves and the most amazing part of your life up to this point. It is all going to be okay. Just remember to treasure it because, sitting where I am right now, I would love to go back and relive every moment.”

The Class of 2020 has overcome so much during our four years at Hill. As we close this amazing chapter in our lives, we all would tell our third-form-selves to be present and to enjoy the ride.

“Ne decamur, ducimus”

May 23, 2020

The Hill News

Features | C6 C5

ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE HARTEMINK ’21

Arizona

Colorado

Florida

Indiana

Arizona State University

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Miami

purdue university

California

Connecticut

Jacksonville University

Pitzer College

Wesleyan University

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Last updated May 20, 2020

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May 23, 2020

The Hill News

ARTS & LEISURE

Arts & Leisure | D8

Sixth Form Artists Spotlight

By TIFFANY WANG ’22 LAYOUT

Liz MacMurray ’20

S

tarting off with just enjoying drawing at home and signing up for a studio art course to complete the arts requirement, Liz MacMurray ’20 – who now advances to the AP level – has been involved with arts at Hill for all four of her years here.

“I have gotten the opportunity to work with Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Richards who are both so knowledgeable and fun when working with art,” MacMurray said. “I have [also] been working with Sabrina Messineo, and Shannon Quintana for the past two years and they are honestly such a great group to work with because they have great insight and advice. It has been such a great two years with this group.”

MacMurray has been working in all kinds of mediums, but her favorite is painting and drawing. She particularly enjoys architectural designs, portraits, and natural landscapes. The piece that MacMurray created at Hill which she is most proud of is of her grandparents’ mountain house in the Poconos.

“They just sold it after 38 years of fantastic memories, and I drew it and gifted it to them as a surprise,” MacMurray said.

Moving forward, MacMurray plans to

take art classes in college, and she continues to try to incorporate drawing or painting into her daily routine.

“I don’t really plan to stop producing pieces because these skills are something I have worked hard to perfect and that I have grown to love,” MacMurray said.

Mary DeLan ’20

“S

inging has been one of the biggest parts of my life for as long as I can remember,” Mary DeLan ’20 said.

“From a young age, I knew that singing was my passion, and I could never imagine living without music.”

DeLan has performed in theater for the past four years and has been a member of Hill Trebles for three years.

This academic year, she was the president of the Ellis Theatre Guild and the co-president of Trebles.

“Despite having a very busy schedule at Hill, if I could go back and change anything, I wouldn’t change a thing,” DeLan said when asked about her singing experience at Hill. “I would like to thank Mrs. Lim and Mr. McGriff, the two people who have not only shaped me as a singer and a performer but as an individual as well. I can’t wait to come back to see all of the fantastic vocal concerts and theatrical productions in the future.”

Regarding her future, Delan plans to continue her journey at AMDA, the American Musical Dramatic Academy.

“Many people ask me why I would want to pursue such a risky career or one that won’t make me money in the long run,” DeLan said. “My response has always been the same It makes me happy, and it makes other people happy.”

Liam Keenan ’20

By STEPHEN GIANNIKAS ’20

L

ARTS & LEISURE EDITOR 19-20

iam Keenan ’20 is a four-yearstudent and the SGA vice president of the school. He’s known for his fast wit, exoitc hoodie collection, and very small feet. But, in this special, 6th form edition, The Hill News is recognizing Keenan for his amazing contributions to Hill’s theatre program.

Keenan is a brilliant character actor, and we asked him to quickly run through his three most memorable performances at Hill.

The first was as Lord Farquaad from 2019’s Shrek.

“Farquaad was so fun to play. This was my first time working with [Director of the CFTA] Mr McGriff. He gave me so much artistic freedom to work with the character and improvise the comedy,” Keenan said. “It was fun to play a character whose comedy is very physically based; the costumes for that production were also so good.”

Second was Amos Hart from the fall of 2020’s Chicago.

“This was actually my favorite role I’ve done at Hill because it was my one serious role at Hill,” Keenan said. “It’s a bit more interesting to me because I have to put more thought and depth into the character, from the way the lines are delivered to the way I carry myself on stage.”

Finally Keenan fondly recalled his performance as Edna Turnblad from winter 2020’s Hairspray.

“Ahhhh Hairspray; that fat suit was insane, I actually fainted a couple of times because of the heat! It was a lot of work, but it was a nice fusion of the comedy of Farquaad and the drama of Amos.

It was enjoyable to get into the mindset of a mother but more specifically a woman out of her time.”

Keenan told the Hill News that singing and acting among fellow Hill students was

indeed enjoyable, but his greatest pleasure lay within the community service opportunities theatre opened to him, where he got to go to underprivileged schools and boys and girls clubs to teach acting and improv to younger kids.

“Everyone loves Robin Williams, I love, love, love Robin Williams!” Keenan said when asked about his inspirations. “His ability to be such a multifaceted actor, starring in countless iconic comedic and dramatic roles, and how he can jump into characters so fully is just amazing and truly inspiring.”

Keenan will continue his acting career at the University of Richmond.

“I was incredibly blessed to be offered a scholarship at UR to major in theatre,” Keenan said. “I’m looking to double major in economics.” Additionally, Keenan hopes to start acting professionally and to collect a few TV or movie credits to his name while living in Virginia.

“I am beyond thankful for the Hill community’s support of the arts,” Keenan said.

“The enthusiasm and love shown to the arts is truly incredible, and I am eternally thankful to Mr. McGriff, Mrs. Lim and Mr. Mckibben for their unending contributions to the Ohana family.”

Messineo says.

Messineo drew inspiration from many sources, but one of the main ones was Jane Austen’s book, “Emma” and the color palette of the latest movie adaptation. Messineo’s main goal with this painting was to get comfortable with the medium again so that she may do more portraits in the future.

Though many are away from Hill at the moment, there are still a few members of the community who live near or on campus. Instructor of the Arts Diane Richards gathered

Tyne Miller ’20, Mariel Pearson ’20, Anna Zitkus ’20, and Giannikas for a photography project on the Hill sign. They used a technique called “light painting” to take pictures where they drew “2020” in the air with LED lights, next to the Hill sign.

“It took many tries to get the picture perfect, but it was worth it,” Zitkus said. “It was nice to see familiar faces and be back on campus for a little bit. I appreciate Ms. Richards for doing this project for our 6th form class and the Hill community.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF SANDY YANISKO

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ MACMURRAY ’20

COVID-19 inspired art

By MOFE AKINYANMI ’21 ARTS & LEISURE EDITOR

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many things have been halted. Schools, public transportation, and major events have all had to take a pause for public safety. However, some 6th formers have not allowed the virus to halt their progress, and have taken the stay-home order as an opportunity to continue their artistic endeavors.

In the jazz band and orchestra, Director of Instrumental Music Margaret Neiswender has been working hard to make sure that musicians are able to continue their musical journeys while away. A hashtag, #songsofcomfort has been used by musicians to tag videos of themselves playing music as a way to express gratitude to the essential workers.

Neiswender brought this to Hill’s music program, and students have been submitting songs through a program called Flipagram to share with the community.

Melissa Xu ’20 played a jazz standard called “There will never be another you,” which was originally recorded in 1942 by Woody Herman, but later popularized by Chet Baker. Stephen Giannikas ’20 played “Le Festin” by Camille, most popularly recognized from the 2007 movie “Ratatouille,” on the guitar.

“It’s whimsical and recognizable, and the chords are not the ones I would typically use,” Giannikas says.

Visual artists have also been showcasing their talents at home. Alejandro Toro ’20 is co-writing a comic with his friend Adam Ying, whom he met at the Pratt Institute Pre-College Summer Program.

“The story is a sci-fi western set on a small desert planet,” Toro said. “We follow Manu – the only person who lives on the planet and the last survivor of his tribe. One day while hunting in the desert, a giant warship crashes from the sky.”

Toro drew inspiration from the Spanish colonization of the Pueblos in New Mexico, and movies such as “Lawrence of Arabia,” “1917,” “Once Upon a Time in the West,” and “Star Wars.” Toro and Ying plan to finish the book by 2021, and they are aiming to get it published by Image Comics. Toro is also writing another comic with Ying for the 2020 Webtoon Short Story contest, which is called “The Port Arthur Diary.” This comic is set during the Russo-Japanese War. Sabrina Messineo ‘20 is working on a portrait for her AP Studio Art portfolio. The piece is focused on a concept called foreshortening, which Encyclopedia Britannica defines as, “a method of rendering a specific object or figure in a picture of depth.” The piece is based on a painting of a girl in a flower field.

“This year I haven’t been able to paint as much as I’d like to, so I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to do it. I also wanted to create similar subject matter for continuity, so this piece is a girl on a beach,”

ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH JIANG ’22

D9 | Arts & Leisure

The Hill News

Co-Editor-In-Chief Elizabeth Hudak ’21 Tess McArdle ’21 Tram Anh Tran ’20 Eva Wu ’20 School News Nari Tung ’21

Features Olivia Mofus ’22 Rachel Liu ’20

Arts & Leisure Mofe Akinyanmi ’21 Stephen Giannikas ’20

Local News Philippe Jin ’21

Layout Tiffany Wang ’22

Sports Tess Gray ’21

Photography & Illustration Claire Hartemink ’21 Melissa Xu ’20

Multimedia Efi Miller ’21

Opinion Raina Shah ’21 Jonathan Carroll ’20

Staff Contributors Reva Tharwani ’20 Alejandro Toro ’20 Raina Cohen ’20 Derek Schmaeling ’21

Noorie Dhingra ’21 Henry Chen ’21 Tiffany Wang ’22 Chloe Han ’22

Tina Wang ’22 Olivia Mofus ’22 Jasmine Wang ’23 Carrie Shang ’23

Adviser Mr. Adam Salo

May 23, 2020

Ellis Theater Guild presents Jury Trial

By CARRIE SHANG ’23 STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

Even though we are no longer on campus, the Hill School’s theater family still prepared a unique, oneof-a-kind production. Beginning on May 14, the Ellis Theater Guild presented Jury Trial, an original play written by CFTA Director Chris McGriff which is unlike anything the students have ever seen before.

Jury Trial takes the audience through time to experience a thrilling mystery set in 2040. Mixing humor with suspense, this show is filled with twists and turns. Viewers are kept at the edge of their seats as the characters battle against a powerful artificial intelligence called ONYX. Jury Trial featured three small casts, each of which brought their unique flare to the gripping tale. Of course, the brand-new, online platform for

this play called for different types of tech which meant that this McGriff production held several surprises for audience.

For some members of the cast, this was, unfortunately, their last opportunity to take part in a Hill School theater production.

“I’m very sad that my theater journey at Hill is coming to an end,” Mary Delan ’20 said. “Some of my most cherished memories were on stage singing with my friends who became my family.”

Indeed, all of the sixth formers have played such an important role in Hill’s theater community not just as talented artists, but also as friends, mentors, and members of this family.

Even though the theater family could not perform with each other in person this term, their shared passion bought them together to present this original theatrical masterpiece.

We would like to dedicate this issue to Mr. Adam Salo. During his career at Hill, he has had a immense impact on The Hill News as our adviser.

We will miss him dearly. @hillnews @The_Hill_News

WEBSITE: thehill.news /whatsoeverthingsarenews

Want to write for The Hill News?

If you are interested in joining our staff, come to our Monday night meetings in the Writing Center during study hall. To submit a letter to the editors or an opinion piece, e-mail ehudak21@thehill.org or tmcardle21@thehill.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL INSTAGRAM

The Ellis Theater Guild continues to bring theatrical masterpieces to life both online and offline.

Comic Corner

Hill Crossword Sixth Form Edition

Across 6. The real name for US 7. Retiring math teacher 13. A spring tradition at Hill 15. Where you may fulfill your religious requirement 17. Pitch where varsity soccer is often played 18. 6th form Spring spoiler 20. Female Form Dean for 6th form 21. Male Form DAean for 6th form 22. Pond you hope to jump into 23. Artist who made the paintings in the Dining Hall

Down 1. Master of the school’s archives 2. 2019-2020 SGA vice president 3. Where to get a cookie or breakfast sandwich 4. Locale of 6th form tea 5. Hill alum who wrote “Old School” 8. Court where varsity basketball is played 9. Faculty member who played in the NHL 10. Students can wear this in the winter 11. Headmaster’s special vehicle 12. Building that will house STEM classes 14. Name on our school pool 16. Best student publication 19. Director of the CFTA

May 23, 2020

The Hill News

Arts & Sports Leisure | E10 D8

SPORTS

Q&A with Spring Captains

By DEREK SCHMAELING ’21 STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

Derek Schmaeling ’21 asked several spring captains about what they are up to and how they are keeping the team together.

Lindsey Coffey ’20

What’s your goal for this season?

My goal for this season is to unite the team.

Where I want us to be more than a lacrosse team but like a family. We don’t have lacrosse or school or many of the things we used to have in our lives, but what we do still have is each other. Lacrosse or not, I want the team to feel connected as if we were still meeting daily for 1.5-2 hours everyday. Times are hard but no one is going through this alone, and I think it’s important that everyone on my team knows that we can get through this together.

OWEN SCOTT ’20

What’s something you have told the team that you want the school to hear too?

Obviously, not having a season was disappointing, but that didn’t make or break this year for Us. We took huge strides as a school.

There was a change in the culture this year that came from the willingness to be great in the offseason. We may not have had a season, but we sure had a winning offseason.

Mack Daniels ’20

How are you keeping the team close?

I believe that we are doing the best job possible at keeping the team close during these unforeseen times. We have four captains, and each captain has a “boat crew” of about 11 guys. We did this to make communication more effective across the board for our team. I do believe that it has been easier to keep in contact this way; Coach Murphy meets with each boat crew once a week. I talk with my boat crew everyday. We have been doing daily workouts and lacrosse challenges at least four days a week to keep the competition aspect going. Coach Murphy has shown us what true, unwavering dedication to a program really is; he checks in with us daily.

LEXI Lombardi ’20

How have your duties as a captain changed due to our current situation?

My fellow captains and I are trying to find ways to connect with our teammates on levels outside of sports. Under normal circumstances my co-captains and I would want to support our teammates on the softball field and off, but due to the situation we have been trying to extend that connection via the internet.

Hill School Boat Club building is underway

By RAINA SHAH ’21 OPINION EDITOR

Although the 2020 racing season came to an abrupt end, The Hill School Boat Club is continuing to look forward. It is no secret that the program has grown vastly over the past few years. The team has more members and energy than ever; the coaching staff has expanded greatly, and even this year generous donors added three new shells to the fleet. However, there is still something missing from what could transfer into significant boat speed and the best possible experience for each rower: a designated space for the team to train and call home.

Over the past few years, the team has used a multipurpose room which has recently become the Dance Studio for winter and land training. From frequently moving the ergometers from the Dance Studio to Sweeney gym, it became clear that the growing team needed a space to be called its own. With the approval of the school and the Athletics Department, very early plans to build such space have been explored over the past couple of months.

“I am really excited by the thought of having a dedicated space for our athletes,” Head Boy Crew Coach Will Scully said. “We have spent years in temporary spaces and closets, forcing us to move around a lot. It is important to get a sense of permanence for our growing program.

This building will reflect our seriousness and competitive intensity.”

The school owns property on the west side of the Eccleston Hockey Rink and is planning to situate the building there.

This facility would feature an indoor rowing tank, a room dedicated for

ergometer training, boys and girls locker rooms, and a multipurpose room dedicated to weightlifting, bodyweight exercise, stretching, yoga, and video review. The indoor tank would allow for eight rowers at a time to have on water experience, both sweeping and sculling, throughout the winter. This is especially beneficial because coaches will get to have a more hands-on approach when teaching proper technique; varsity rowers can get steadystate water work in, and novices can learn how to row before the start of the racing season. The proposed ergometer room will be large enough to fit thirty-two ergs that can also be figured into four eights on slides. This will help the program advance as its goals to participate in eights unfold.

The facility will not only make practices more efficient and give the team a home but also draw attention to the program in terms of recruiting.

“As our crew program has grown, it is clear that our rowers would benefit from a dedicated space to train when not in the water,” Athletic Director Seth Eilberg said. “Hill has acquired land behind our hockey rink that we think could be the right amount of space for an on-campus crew training facility. Grateful for the necessary support to study the project, we have now begun to explore what is possible in this space. We will continue to work hard to ensure that all of our programs enjoy the very best possible facilities; and will address all opportunities to improve, as they arise.”

As circumstances and community interest permit, there is hope that the space will also be used for programming with the wider Pottstown community. It can serve as an introduction to rowing but also to promote community health and well-

As our crew program has grown, it is clear that our rowers would benefit from a dedicated space to train when not in the water.” – Athletic Director Seth Eilberg.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL SNAPSHOTS

The Hill crew program continues to grow and the new boat club building hopes to continue this. ness. This is particularly true as the proposed building will be situated adjacent to Hobart’s Run. The project still needs to be fully planned and funded, and then will take up to 18 months to become ready for movein. Director of Rowing and Head Girls Coach Stephen Ciraolo has been working very hard the past couple of years to ensure that the program would become fast, competitive, and victorious.

In tribute to the sixth formers who have been a crucial part of the team’s development, Ciraolo said that “Great people plant trees whose shade they’ll never sit under.

“The entire arc of Hill crew makes clear that we can contemplate this project only because the enthusiasm, sweat, and total dedication of past and present rowers, their parents, alumni make it so,” Ciraolo said. “Like all great structures, the envisioned HSBC on-campus center would be the physical symbol of a much larger spirit that the rowers of ’21, ’20, and their predecessors have created.”

It is clear that this new addition would not be possible without the increasing energy and work ethic of the program over the years, and the Hill School Boat Club hopes that this new facility will help to carry on this trend.

E11 D9 | Arts Sports & Leisure

The Hill News

May 23, 2020

Stories of unforgettable games Every athlete loves the thrill of competing in their sports’ games/ meets. Some would even say that gameday is sacred. As everyone should know, athletes go through good games and bad games, games that stand out and games that will eventually just group with the rest.

These stand out games are what will stick with these athletes beyond Hill. Here are some stories that are to be remembered for years to come:

By TESS GRAY ’21 SPORTS EDITOR

This sport had brought all these people into my life and this was our last game with all of us together.

I know it will bring more great people into my life, but that was the last time I would play with that special group of people.

Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Jordan Hower ’20

Varsity Girls Basketball Eve Nealon ’20:

It was the last Hill girls ice hockey game of this season. We were playing Culver Academy in the championship game of our tournament. This game was more than a championship to us and the amount of emotion that surrounded it really set this game apart from all the other ones. For the 14 of us, this was our last ever high school hockey game. Many of us have been playing together for as long as I can remember and that game was the last moment we had together with hockey before we all went off on our separate ways. Hockey connected us all. I honestly remember the end of the game better than the actual game. We were all kind of quiet and just waiting around for someone to tell us something even though we had just won 5-3. Then one person started crying so the whole team started crying. I remember hugging each person and crying even harder after I looked at them crying. We must have stayed on the ice for another hour just hugging each other and taking pictures. It almost felt like I was saying goodbye, and in a sense I was. This sport had brought all these people into my life and this was our last game with all of us together. I know it will bring more great people into my life, but that was the last time I would play with that special group of people. I think that game had a powerful impact on everyone, but in our own ways and some more than others.

Our MAPL game against Peddie for girls’ basketball was my first real game back from injury and my first real game of the season which was weird since I was a post grad coming to Hill for basketball. The game was close all the way through but thankfully we got the win. The game sticks out for me for a number of reasons. I couldn’t believe the support we had from the fans. Half my hall was in the bleachers cheering for us and going nuts and I had never experienced my classmates going so wild at a league basketball game in Ireland ever. Secondly, it was one of the best games I played all season. I know the fans played a big role in boosting my confidence that game and I finished with 28 points but my favorite was a buzzer beater three at the end of the third quarter with the assist from Tess Gray. This was also the game where my celebration after scoring a three was born. Most people know that this game got pretty chippy and things got a little rough. What I was most struck by is how each of us stood up for each other, especially our captains. I feel like we became a lot closer as a team after that moment. It made me realize that HGB was way more than a basketball team and we really mean it when we say we have each other’s back. It was my favorite game for a lot of reasons but mostly because it brought us tighter as a team and the better team won in the end.

Varsity Girls Waterpolo Anna Zitkus ’20

Varsity Boys Basketball Caleb Dorsey ’20 I would say this year’s regular season basketball win over Blair will be a game I will never forget. I always hated losing to Blair and the losses were never by more than ten points so they were games we could have won. This game was very enjoyable for me because it was in front of our home crowd on a Friday night and it was fun to get the crowd jumping and screaming on some highlights and the win, of course, made it even better. I had fun that felt supported by the whole school since night and to finally get a win over the team I considered to be a personal rival probably made it mean hadn’t felt energy like that in any game ever. more to me than the younger guys on the team.

My most memorable game was during waterpolo season, my fifth form year.

We played Lawrenceville at home. What stood out was that the entire pool was packed full of people and we couldn’t hear each other speak in the pool. The energy was crazy. It definitely impacted my team because it was the first time we the same game my third form year. We

New to the Sport: Sixth Formers who found a new passion at Hill

By TESS GRAY ’21 SPORTS EDITOR

Jake Barrett ’20 Track & Field “My Hill track and field career has been one of the best experiences I have ever had at Hill,” Barrett said. “For me, it was just one of those things you tried out at first to see if you liked it, and I am so glad I made this decision.”

Other than finding lifelong friends and creating lasting experiences with the team, the support from Head Track Coaches Bill Yinger and Patrick Lake instilled a sense of confidence in Barrett after his first meet, in which he snatched first place “out of nowhere.” After another injured season, Barrett continued to push himself and his teammates year after year. When asked about his favorite race from his Hill track career, Barrett told the story of his last L’ville Weekend.

“Two days before [the meet], when the coaches announced the lineup, I heard my name for the 4x400 relay pool. I wasn’t nervous because there were a few people ahead of me and I wasn’t expecting to actually run in it. This changed very quickly.” Two runners in front of Barrett were injured or sick and “just like that, I was called on to run, the last and most exciting event in all meets. A few minutes before the race, Coach Yinger could tell I was a little nervous to which he said, ‘Yo, all we need you to do is get the baton around the track.’ For some reason, this cooled my nerves tremendously, and I was ready. We ended up winning the 4x400 by a large margin, ‘giving Lville a big slap in the face on the way out the door,’ as Coach Lake would say. Track has shaped my experience at Hill tremendously, allowing me to be closer with people I wouldn’t have been normally and having a lot of fun along the way.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HILL SCHOOL

Anna Zitkus ’20 Crew “Joining crew my 3rd form year, I had no idea what to expect,” said Zitkus. “Everything about it was intimidating: the practices, races, and erging. People quit all the time, so I knew there had to be something really hard about it. After my first week, I knew I wouldn’t be the one to quit. I learned to love rowing, but that was not what has kept me for four years. The best part about rowing is the team and the coaches, and I’m sure all the other seniors would agree with me.”

After the intimidating beginning, Zitkus decided to continue rowing and soon became an integral part of the program. Her teammates describe her

as “loving,” “hilarious,” “hard-working,” and “the first person that pops into their mind when the word friendly is mentioned.” On the river, Anna never complained when practice was tough and always listened to the coaches. Off the river, Anna is the big sister of the team and constantly cares for others. Her positive influence on the team has shaped Hill crew for the better.

Hill crew has also had a huge influence on Anna’s Hill experience.

“During my 3rd form year, the crew team formed an unbreakable bond that would only grow over the next years,” Zitkus said. “It’s unlike a team I have ever been a part of.

People call Hill crew a cult for a reason, and being a part of it has made my Hill experience more than I ever imagined.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HILL SCHOOL

F12 D9 | Through Arts & Leisure the lens

The Hill News

May 23, 2020

THROUGH THE LENS

SIXTH FORM

Moments

“So class of 2020, in these collegiate adventures and beyond, when you feel time flowing between your fingers, cup your hands together and grasp on to as many moments as you can, so that perhaps when you look back in 10 or 20 years , you’ll have a palmful of cherished firsts, lasts, and everything in between.”

- Melissa Xu ’20