Director of Communications and Marketing llipsky@pennington.org
Communications Team
Tina Lambdin, graphic designer
Jennifer Taverney, publications manager
John Vogel, digital media marketing associate
Robert E. Martini Associate Head of School
Chad Bridges
Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives
Charles D. Brown
Director of Admission and Financial Aid
Sharon Jarboe
Head of Middle School
Chrissie Knight
Contributing Writers
Margo Andrews, Karen Balerna, Rachel Burke, Jane Bott Childrey ’89, Dolores Eaton, William S. Hawkey, Lisa Houston, Suzanne Houston, Chrissie Knight, Tracy Kuser, Joselle Lamoutte, Lori Lipsky, Jamie Moore ’03, Sanjana Padmanabhan ’24, Sarah Pawlowski, Alicia Reed, Jennifer Taverney, Nate Van Yperen, and Melinda Von Dillen
Contributing Photographers/Artists
Margo Andrews, Karen Balerna, Isabel Berko, Mariana Carella, Lida Castro, Stephanie Cohen, Dolores Eaton, David Hallgren, Stephanie Heyeck, Jim Inverso, Chrissie Knight, Tracy Kuser, Tina Lambdin, Samantha Lambdin, Joselle Lamoutte, Alex Lyttle, Chelsi Meyerson, Julia Molchansky, Lizabel Monica, Jamie Moore ’03, Patrick Murphy ’80, Sanjana Padmanabhan ’24, Mike Schwartz, Tim Scott, Peter Secrest ’13, Jessie Shaffer, Nate Van Yperen, Jessica Lockhart Vincent P’26, and John Vogel
Printing: Prism Color Corporation
The Pennington School 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, NJ 08534 609–737–1838 www.pennington.org
The Pennington School admits students of any race, religion, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression or identity, physical disability, national and ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, employment policies, and athletic and other School-administered programs.
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COLLEGE
COUNSELING:
Spring/Summer 2024 • Volume 65, No.1
Navigating the new college admissions landscape to support every Pennington student and their family, the College Counseling office takes a new approach.
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PLAYWRITING PROJECT:
Grade 10 students participated in a special series of workshops to hone their analytical skills in English class.
ALUMNI PROFILE:
Marissa Tucci ’16 achieves a major milestone in her journey to become a neurosurgeon.
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ADVISORY PROGRAM:
Pennington advisors serve a critical role as advocates for their students’ academic success.
FACULTY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES: A new program of professional development brings teachers out of their classrooms to pursue new ideas to benefit students now and in the future.
54 CLASS OF 2024: The Horizon Experience, Senior Week, and Commencement
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Pennington Families and Friends,
The Class of 2024 started high school during a year when almost the entire world was shut down because of a global pandemic. But despite the uncertainty and trepidation of those events, this class persevered and hit the ground running!
I believe the stories they will tell to their school-aged children in about twenty years will include the year they entered high school and how their hard work, grit, and perseverance paid off in the face of adversity in multiple ways.
Commencement means “beginning” and I trust that Pennington’s graduates will look back on their Pennington education and believe that it represents much more than just the tangible skills and knowledge their Pennington teachers have helped instill in them. We believe we have equipped our students with the ability to think critically, work with a team towards a common goal, question assumptions, and approach complex challenges with creativity, integrity, and objectivity. These vital tools will strengthen our students’ capacity to adapt and thrive in our rapidly evolving world.
Regardless of what the future holds, a Pennington education imparts timeless principles that will serve as anchors throughout every student’s personal and professional journey. It is noteworthy that these ideals were just as important one hundred years ago under the leadership of Dr. Green as they are today.
These principles and virtues extend far beyond academic mastery. Pennington students learn to be empathetic global citizens who appreciate diverse perspectives; this doesn’t happen by chance. They develop spiritual depth through their chapel experiences and conversations with classmates from different religious faiths, and they continue to develop the moral clarity to discern right from wrong and to change their minds when credible evidence disproves an assumption.
I hope that our graduates will let their deeds outshine their words and become architects of positive change with the courage to tackle society's greatest challenges head-on.
It is abundantly clear to me that many of our students will one day have a positive impact on fields like science, technology, business, medicine, engineering, or public service. Others may create works of art that move the human soul. And some may dedicate their lives to causes greater than themselves, like teaching. Regardless of how their legacies take shape, I encourage all of our students to be not just dreamers but steadfast doers as well.
Our Pennington graduates carry the hopes and dreams of countless others who invested in their success. Faculty mentors challenged and motivated them. Their families supported them through inevitable setbacks and made sacrifices for their education. And equally important are the great and proud Pennington alumni, visionary benefactors, and leaders who built this fine, fine School to shape the hearts and minds of the next generation of young citizens.
I think it is fitting to say from the bottom of my heart to each of this year’s seniors: I have great hope for all of you and I am hopeful because of all of you.
Yours in Pennington,
William S. Hawkey, PhD Head of School
Community Day 2024 kicked off in Sparks Gymnasium with guest speaker, educator, and thought leader Christina Monaco Caldwell ’02. She centered a discussion around the concept of authentic joy. Monaco Caldwell, who is a former Pennington School faculty member and an avid surfer and yoga instructor, shared several personal stories with Upper School students, including details from a period of her life when she believed she was “failing at adulting.” Ultimately, Monaco Caldwell discovered that failure is simply an opportunity to reset, and she encouraged those in the audience to examine the ways in which they might be living out of alignment in order to make transformative changes. “Let your process be messy,” prompted Monaco Caldwell. “Obstacles are opportunities to play, work through mistakes, and be silly.”
Play was certainly the order of the day; directly following the morning lecture, students poured onto the Tom Liwosz Turf Field to participate in a series of group bonding exercises involving secret handshakes, movie clues, and a rockpaper-scissors tournament. Observing all the laughter and smiles, Dean of Students Samantha Stern-Leaphart said, “It’s really important to take a pause from time to time to go and play. Even though our lives are busy, when we can find joy in ourselves and each other, that makes for a better learning environment.”
Following a grab-and-go picnic lunch, the students returned to the turf at the Pearl Family Stadium for “Class Colosseum,” which consisted of a series of friendly competitions between Grades 9 through 12. Presiding over the event were emcees
Cassidy Zelt ’24 and Gabrielle Hall ’25. For each game, students selected class champions to compete in contests of skill involving jump ropes, balloons, and hula hoops, as well as a trivia portion which tested each team’s knowledge of popular music. Heading into the final event— tug-of-war—the senior class had a narrow lead, but in the end the junior class emerged victorious, grabbing hold of the coveted Class Colosseum trophy before all grades headed out to class meetings. After congratulating her fellow juniors, emcee Gabrielle reflected on the significance of the day: “A day like Community Day gives us an opportunity, as a student body, to be where our feet are. It creates a safe space where we can be present in the moment,” said Gabrielle, “free from technology, free to celebrate what we’ve already achieved this year and just cut loose and be kids.”
COMMUNITY DAY 2024
COLLEGE COUNSELING
It’s about the journey (not the destination)!
— by Jennifer Taverney
Ask anyone working in or around the realm of higher education and they will tell you that the college admissions landscape looks far different today than it did even ten years ago. For many parents helping their children navigate the process for the first time, the changes can be jarring when they compare the experience with their own from decades prior. In the 1980s, students applied to an average of three schools; today, that average is between eight and twelve different schools. Steadily rising tuition costs, a significantly more competitive applicant pool, the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the surge in early decision applications, the trend towards test-optional requirements, self-reporting parameters, and the recent Supreme Court decision to end
affirmative action are all contributing factors to the uncertainty and stress which can now seem intrinsically linked to the college admissions process. For students and parents alike, these changes can be daunting, which is why a knowledgeable, engaged, skilled, and empathetic college counseling team is absolutely essential. While Pennington has always had an amazing team in place on the college counseling front, the addition of another college counselor was in direct response to that shifting terrain for collegebound students.
Adam Materasso, who first stepped into the role of Director of College Counseling in July of 2022, has already made great strides in helping the department become more fully integrated into the daily fabric of School life. “For a long time, college counseling was often seen as its own island,” says Materasso, “and that was true at Pennington also. There were so many good things happening, but it was more of a ‘self-serve’ model, with students seeking out and receiving the support they felt they needed.” Given how competitive the college application process has become, School administrators recognized the need for a more targeted strategy: to weave a college mindset across the entire Upper School experience and help every student get a head start on their application efforts. In past years, the conversation surrounding college applications typically began during the second half of a student’s junior year. “The biggest change we have made in the counseling office is that we have moved this discussion to the end of Grade 9,” explained Materasso. “It’s not a formal conversation until November of their junior year—which is still earlier than it traditionally has been—but just having that introduction and connection happen earlier limits the anxiety and pressure many students feel about ‘having to go talk to my college counselor.’”
Prior to arriving at Pennington, Materasso served as the dean of enrollment management and college counseling at the Ranney School. He joined an existing college counseling team at Pennington that already had decades of collective experience spanning both sides of the college application process: high school counseling and higher education admissions. With the addition of Materasso, the office now has four full-time college counselors, which allows for a more personalized pairing of approximately twenty-five students per counselor, a smaller ratio than what comparable private schools typically offer.
“There’s a lot of intentionality to what we do,” says Materasso. He believes that the role of the college counseling office is to support a student and their family throughout every phase of the journey with a customized approach specific to that child’s needs, strengths, and goals. As far as Materasso is concerned, the measure of a successful college counselor has less to do with prestigious school names on a matriculation list at year’s end and is much more about the success of individual students. “We want to ensure that we are building relationships with these students that help them learn about themselves, foster real growth in selfconfidence, and enable them to make the most of their Upper School experience,” he states.
It was that very commitment to relationship-building and partnership which first singled out Materasso for the new position. At 6’4" Materasso is hard to miss on campus, but it is his genuine and welcoming smile which makes the biggest impression on everyone he meets. In describing himself, Materasso observes, “I’m a connector. I am really good at building relationships and people tend to remember me.” Materasso’s gift for connection—combined with his rather remarkable ability to remember the individual names and personal details of every college rep he meets—has had a positive ripple effect for the larger Pennington community. “We have been able to leverage those relationships a bit more to help make sure that our students are firmly on the radar of so many colleges and universities,” he says.
Among the additions and improvements which have been instituted during Materasso’s tenure so far is an updated College Counseling Seminar class offered in the third quarter of junior year. The class, which is a requirement for graduation, is taught by the various members of the College Counseling office and covers everything from SAT test-taking strategies and Common Application tips to mindfulness and stress management during the overall application process.
Last year, the College Counseling office worked with the chair of the English department and other Grade 11 English teachers to strengthen this curriculum. Additionally, students are able to complete their general Common Application during this class, which is a substantial piece of the overall college application procedure. According to US News and World Report, there were only fifteen colleges which used the Common App when it was first unveiled in the 1970s; today, more than 500 colleges and universities use it. Students are also given guidance on their college essays so that they are not simply responding to the prompts with vague generalities, but—through self-reflection—they are harnessing their unique experiences to craft a truly exceptional composition.
“The college essay can be challenging,” explains Materasso, “because we train our students not to speak in the first person for academic writing purposes.” Over the course of nine weeks, students are assigned four personal writing prompts. The prompts, which are not graded, help affirm and guide the students and propose questions like, “Discuss a time when a hardship or setback left you feeling vulnerable and then explain how this experience allowed you to grow,” or, “Write about something that you’ve never really gotten over. How does the experience continue to have an impact on you?” While many students tend to procrastinate when it comes to their essays, Materasso believes that these reflective activities are really useful for the students because they provide a starting point in the process. “Of course, students sometimes need to be sold on doing stuff earlier than they need to,” he jokes, “but once they’ve done it, they all agree that it feels really great to be going into the summer before their senior year with so much work already done. All of this is designed to make the process far less stressful for students and families in the fall of senior year.”
employees and I want to be able to draw on all their different strengths and experiences to best aid and instill confidence in our students. Plus, when a student doesn’t know the person interviewing them, it can more closely recreate what the real interview experience will entail,” states Materasso, whose mock interview plans will contain guidelines and rating sheets to help guide participating faculty and staff.
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When families can see around the corner, they don’t dread the process. They leave our program feeling lighter. ”
—Adam Materasso
Of course, the students themselves are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to the college admissions process, and parents are also looking for some sort of navigation for what they expected would be a familiar path. Materasso also believes that, “The support we offer our faculty is so essential to the overall process. So much has changed, and it’s a lot to cover,” he admits, noting that teachers rely upon the College Counseling office to guide their letter-writing when it comes time for recommendations. “They are an incredible resource for the students, but teachers approach things from a different mindset, which may not take into consideration how much admission rates have changed or the specific enrollment measures a university may have recently implemented.”
Practice interviews are another important phase of the preparation process, and Materasso hopes to expand this in the future to include a diverse range of faculty and staff members who may not have any prior connection to these students. “We have an incredible resource with our
There are additional improvements planned, including a new program for students interested in athletic recruitment; Materasso is working with Pennington coaches to identify these students earlier in the process to best serve their needs and interests. In seeking out every possible resource for its students, Pennington is also working in partnership with other schools in the community—both public and private— to hold a biennial college fair and guest lecture event specifically featuring HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Another area targeted for growth and expansion within the college counseling sphere relates to how the office should best adjust their support services for international students. As Pennington’s international community has grown, so too has the need for appropriate cross-training for the College Counseling staff. Currently, Materasso is in the process of obtaining his certification in international college advising through the University
of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. He also emphasizes the conscious effort the College Counseling team has made to “communicate and partner with the educational consultants still based in the home countries of our international students.”
Materasso is poised to unveil a career exploration program which aims to broaden the career options students are considering for future study. “We have found that students are gravitating toward the same six or seven majors, such as engineering, computer science, business, economics, and pre-health,” observes Materasso, “not just at Pennington, but across the nation. Over the last decade, in an effort to filter applications and manage their enrollment, higher education institutions are creating distinct colleges and schools for specific majors.” That translates into even more competition across a rather narrow list of fields, according to Materasso. He is now working with his team to partner with alumni and family members to expose students to a broader and less saturated list of career options. The College Counseling team hopes to hold a full-day career day next January.
Although the college search process is a highlyindividualized endeavor tailored to the unique personality, strengths, and interests of each student, Materasso has certainly noticed some recurring patterns. “‘I wish I had
known this earlier!’ is something that I hear all the time,” laughs Materasso, “which is why we are trying to reverseengineer the college program; hopefully we can eliminate some of the regret or remorse which accompanies dismissed decisions.” By letting students and families know that the College Counseling office is ready to help from the very beginning of their Upper School experience, Materasso believes much of the typical anxiety can be eliminated: “When families can see around the corner, they don’t dread the process. They leave our program feeling lighter,” he says.
When surveying the larger landscape of college applications, Materasso is certainly proud of the strides he and his team have been able to make to address the constantly shifting terrain and he is excited for what lies ahead. When asked to reflect upon his work so far, it should come as no surprise to find that his mind naturally turns to personal connection. “I love being able to stay in touch with our students and getting to hear their ongoing stories. I recently ran into a student I had worked with years ago at the Ranney School while we were both shopping at Nordstrom Rack. This student was now heading off to medical school and needed to buy a suit, and, for me, that’s what this is all about: setting our students up for success such that the sky is the limit. I feel so fortunate that my team and I have the opportunity to help guide these students on their journeys.”
Our College Counseling team, from left to right: Jennifer Roberts, Kerri Ward, Adam Materasso, Sarah Zoll, and Scott Doughty
New Head of Middle School Starts this Summer!
Effective July 1, 2024, Maria Capelle-Burny became Pennington’s Head of Middle School, succeeding Chrissie Knight in the role. Capelle-Burny comes to The Pennington School from Smith Street Arts et Lettres in Brooklyn, NY, where she held the position of assistant head of school and elementary-division director.
Prior to that post, she spent many years at Grace Church School in Manhattan, starting there as an associate teacher in 2011, then taking on increasing responsibilities first as a third-grade classroom teacher, then as an elementary and middle school French teacher, a class advisor to grade 7, a class dean for grades 7 and 8, a scheduler for all grade levels from pre-K to grade 8, and an advisor to families of color. Capelle-Burny also served as a member of the middle school leadership team at Grace Church. She started her career at the International School of Brooklyn, NY, as an associate elementary teacher. Capelle-Burny earned a BFA in theatre and French from Concordia University in Canada and a master’s degree in educational theatre from New York University. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese and is fluent in French.
In his announcement to the Pennington School community, Head of School William S. Hawkey said that Capelle-Burny “is a thoughtful, dynamic educator
who centers her educational philosophy on her students, while maintaining an open door for conversations with colleagues. I know that she will bring an exceptional set of skills and experience to our Middle School, and her talents were evident to our search committee as well as to the parents, students, faculty, and staff she met during her February visit to our campus.”
Capelle-Burny is excited to join The Pennington School, and wrote, “I feel it is essential to impart to students social and emotional skills, coping mechanisms, as well as executive-functioning and time-management skills. When we hold students accountable to high standards and support them as they navigate their way through school life, all while prioritizing their agency, independence, and emotional well-being, we see incredible things happen.” We are delighted to welcome Maria Capelle-Burny to Pennington!
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
March Madness Tournaments Set the Tone for Spring Break
In the week leading up to Spring Break, the Middle School held a “March Madness” Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament with goodspirited face-offs in the dining hall, gym, hallways, and fields of Pennington before the championship round crowned Sagan Tighe ’28 tournament champion. Also adding to the excitement was a dodgeball tournament featuring student team matchups and culminating with a student vs. teacher battle in which the teachers emerged victorious.
Odyssey of the Mind Team Wins First Place!
The Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team walked away with a first-place trophy after an initial round of competition last March. The seven-member team of sixth-, seventh-, and eighthgraders were Lila Batra ’30, Brandon Drucker ’28, Robert Gregov ’29, Cassandra Hanstveit ’28, Grady Meader ’30, Tanusri Reddy ’28, and Nila Sathieshpillai ’29. Congratulations, team!
Kindness Week Spreads Cheer in the Middle School
An annual week-long celebration throughout the Middle School placed the concept of kindness center stage, with a series of activities to encourage self-care and promote empathy and understanding. Planned and led by the MS leadership team, the week featured encouraging kindness through notes, sidewalk chalk messages, appreciation posters, snack swaps, and rock painting.
Cycling for Smoothies in the Middle School
Grade 6 students received a visit from Nicole Fusco, CulinArt’s food service director, and registered dietician and nutritionist Janelle Lacey. Along with an assortment of delicious fruits, the women brought a special bicycle which could power a blender by rotating the pedals of the bike. Students took turns learning just how much fun nutrition and exercise can be.
SPECIAL END-OF-YEAR EXPERIENCES
for Each Middle School Grade
GRADE 8
The eighth-grade class, joined by their advisors, traveled to Washington, DC, for a three-day journey in May, growing in knowledge, bonding with peers, forming strong class memories, and making tangible connections between the classroom and the real world. During the first day, students were guided through their IDU capstone experience by their IDU teachers, which included a memorable visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a walking tour of monuments on the Washington Mall, and reflection time to process the day. Following this, students spent time expanding their knowledge in other curricular areas as well as personal areas of interest, exploring important sites and experiencing life in our nation’s capital. They visited the National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, the National Archives, the National Portrait Gallery, Eastern Market, and even took a walking tour called “Women Climbing Capital Hill.” As part of this academic and celebratory experience, students also attended a Nationals baseball game and enjoyed kayaking on the Potomac River. The group stayed in the historic area of Capitol Hill which allowed them to travel mostly by foot and see life in the city from its political center. Teachers were proud to see their oldest Middle-Schoolers take advantage of this opportunity to practice their curiosity, collaboration, and citizenship skills!
GRADE 7
The seventh-grade class traveled to Harvey Cedars, NJ, located on Long Beach Island, for their first-ever, end-of-the-year overnight trip. This trip provided an excellent opportunity for students to link classroom learning to the real world; gain an understanding of the importance of sustainability; further develop their knowledge of issues related to climate change; and spend quality, technology-free time with their peers. Students visited the Ship Bottom municipal building to meet with Councilman Joe Valyo and learn more about the flooding issues in that area of the island and what the town is doing to prevent ongoing problems. The group also met with individuals from Viking Village Fishery, ALO (Alliance for a Living Ocean), and ReClam the Bay. Students stayed at the Harvey Cedars Bible Conference center and managed to squeeze in some fun with a round of mini golf in Barnegat Light.
GRADE 6
Sixth-graders participated in unique end-ofyear experiences over the course of two days in mid-May. The purpose of these trips was multifaceted: strengthening peer connections, developing a sense of place in our local area, and celebrating a great year while looking forward to what is yet ahead. Students departed campus each day at 8:00 a.m. and returned at 3:30 p.m. Both excursions were relatively close to campus; the students explored some living history at Howell Farm, challenged themselves with an aerial high ropes course in the trees, visited the New Jersey State Museum, and spent an afternoon paddling along the D&R Canal through Princeton. Remaining local was intentional in order to ground students to a specific place, increase their understanding of the area and its history, as well as foster ways in which individuals can be in relationship with the land all around them. Teachers will look to build from this strong foundation next year.
Students Take to the Slopes for Smiles and Camaraderie
In February, students boarded a bus to Shawnee Mountain in East Stroudsburg, PA, for the annual Middle School ski trip. Students could ski, snowboard, snowtube, or hang out in the lodge, where a variety of games and crafts were offered for those needing a break from the slopes and snow.
Puppet Shows Educate and Entertain
Both
Audience Members and Show Creators
Now in its 17th year, Pennington’s seventh-grade puppet show continues to excite and delight its youngest fans: kindergarteners from nearby Toll Gate Grammar School. These shows—the culminating product of Grade 7’s Art-O-Rama course—feature scripts, backdrops, lighting, and puppets crafted entirely by the student teams. This year, under the guidance of senior Micah Bowser, Grade 6 students acted as emcees, with small groups devising raps, poems, and other songs to help introduce each show. In preparation for these performances, students learn about light and shadow as well as color theory, which they then drew from when crafting their puppets. Courtesy of these skits, kindergarteners journeyed to France, Fiji, Spain, Djibouti, and Italy, expanding their cultural knowledge with fun international facts alongside all the giggles and good cheer.
SPRINGTIME CELE BRATI ONS
Grandparents, alumni, parents, students, and friends showed their Pennington spirit at our signature springtime community celebrations. Thanks to all who joined us for being a part of the festivities!
GRANDPARENT AND VIP DAY
Each spring, hundreds of grandparents and friends join us on campus for this special event. Guests this year were treated to faculty presentations, tours, classroom visits, student speakers, and lunch with Dr. Hawkey. As always, the highlight of the day is spending time with grandchildren, which brings big smiles all around! Special thanks to volunteer leaders Marian Disken GP’26 ’27 and Nancy Geiger GP’27 for their efforts in making the day a huge success!
BLACK COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS LUNCH
Students, parents, alumni, and friends of Pennington gathered together in May 2024 for the annual Black Community Connections lunch on campus. The event was a celebration of Black excellence at Pennington and included lunch, networking breakouts, student presentations, and a touching send-off for the Class of 2024 graduates in attendance. Featured speaker Akeya Fortson-Brown ’18 inspired the crowd with reflections on her journey at Pennington and beyond. Thanks to Jane Malloy ’85, Coltrane Stansbury ’92, and Courtney Stewart ’10 for leading the proceedings and to the entire Alumni Diversity Committee for sponsoring the event.
CORSON HOUSE BARBECUE FOR PARENTS OF ALUMNI
In May 2024, Bill and Karen Hawkey hosted a gathering for parents of alumni at Corson House. Attendees representing five decades (1980s through 2020s) of the School’s parent community came together to reconnect with their fellow Pennington parents. Special thanks to event co-chairs Marlynne Marlow P’20, Dora Damiano Mavellia P’15 ’20 ’30, and Lori Washton P’20 who helped organize this lovely event!
Following a busy fall season, PfP ended the year with a flurry of events. Parents attended an informative morning coffee discussion about DEI at Pennington led by Samantha SternLeaphart, dean of students and director of DEI and Peter Secrest, assistant director of DEI, and an evening coffee about helping students with big emotions led by Susie Paige, director of counseling. An informal wine-tasting event also rounded out the year with good cheer!
The new year started with a welcomeback-to-campus coffee bar for boarding parents and an end-of-first-semester celebration for US students. PfP hosted an Upper School Café complete with a hot chocolate bar with all the fixings, a doughnut wall, and a full rejuvenation station featuring healthy treats. It was nothing but smiles all around thanks to all the parents who contributed snacks and volunteered their time to help set up the Café. B
At the end of February, PfP hosted another informative morning coffee with Scott Peeler, dean of academic affairs, to discuss US course selection before families met with advisors in March. Many parents stopped by to learn more about Pennington’s scheduling process and to ask questions, and everyone benefited from the open dialogue.
Pennington parents enjoyed their second Parents’ Night Out experience in March, inspired by Miami’s Food and Wine Event. While the weather wasn’t as toasty as Florida’s, the warmth in the room was unbeatable as parents sampled delicious bites from global cuisines that paired beautifully with the wines of the evening. Hosted in the lovely Wesley Forum, the relaxed evening was just what everyone needed to ease back into a busy spring season. C
After spring break, nature wasn’t the only thing coming into bloom. PfP’s full slate of activities were set to see students, parents, faculty, and staff through to the end of the year. With the help of Pennington’s many generous parents, PfP hosted a teacher appreciation buffet at Wesley House on May 8. Expressions of parents’ gratitude were abundant and teachers and staff
enjoyed a wide selection of delicious treats. As the school year wound down, PfP remained busy on campus. Our annual Spring General Meeting was held on May 16, we hosted Promenade on the Plaza, we helped decorate the senior tent for the Class of 2024 with parent volunteers, we organized parent volunteers for the Middle School’s end-of-year party, and supported the Grade 8 graduation reception. To top it all off, parent interest groups continued to meet all second semester, including eight book group gatherings—thank you to our parent hosts! D
Finally, if you look carefully at the steps of the Yen building, you’ll notice a new addition to the landscape. PfP was proud to support the purchase of outdoor cushions (in Pennington red, of course) that will give students enjoying an outdoor class a softer seat. 2023-24 has been another wonderful year on campus and the PfP board volunteers thank Pennington’s incredible parent community for being an active part of PfP through volunteer efforts and attendance at events. E
Plans for fall 2024 are already underway; if you are interested in getting involved, please email us at pfp@pennington.org
We can’t wait to see everyone in the fall!
Grade 10 students collaborate with playwrights on original English projects
Rachel Burke, Teacher of English
Last spring, I was considering what to teach the following year for our play unit in the tenth-grade English class, American Identities. I’m always looking for something relatable and current so that students can possibly see it performed. A friend of mine, former Pennington English teacher Anna Leader, suggested Grown Ups. She had found it engaging and thought it offered a great deal of content for class discussion.
A few days later the play arrived at my house. Grown Ups was originally performed during the pandemic around a campfire in the playwrights’ backyard. It was an interactive theater experience that at that time was dubbed “The Coolest New Play You Probably Can’t See” by Time Out New York. I knew that teaching this play about a group of camp counselors, who become “adults” for the first time in their lives when a meme divides the nation in two, would resonate with our students. I was excited to imagine my class grappling with the play’s central dilemmas, like “How can we recreate traditions so that they are more inclusive without losing their initial purpose?” and “How do we handle the fact that we are now co-creators of the world when so many of its systems are broken?”
When Anna introduced me to the playwrights, Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox, they mentioned that they had actually led several theater-making workshops with students. This sparked my interest and my focus then shifted from wanting the students to see the show performed live to imagining how my students could create their own mini-plays guided by the playwrights themselves.
When Henriques and Fox arrived on campus just after Thanksgiving break, they immediately developed a
comfortable rapport with the students, which helped them feel safe taking risks. The improvisation and free-writing exercises they guided us through in class led the group to discuss some really vulnerable questions, such as “How is technology fundamentally changing our childhood?” and “Why are there so many ‘fake friends’ in high school?”
In between the first and second visits from the playwrights, the students were tasked with forming small groups and creating an idea that they could pitch to Fox when he came back. While some groups immediately landed on a theme, others really struggled to reconcile their differing perspectives. It was difficult, in the moment, to watch some of my students fail to employ the “yes and” mentality with their peers’ suggestions. In the end, however, helping students see how their seemingly competing ideas might function together was very rewarding. Best of all, as I had a front-row seat to the entire process unfolding in class, there was no doubt in my mind that this work was entirely their work. This was a refreshing change from the day-to-day challenge of teaching English in an era when many people fail to see the intrinsic value of doing their own thinking and infinite opportunities exist for anyone to outsource idea generation.
On the second visit, Fox listened to each group’s ideas, helped them come to a consensus about what to do, and challenged each team to come up with a solution that would accommodate everyone’s goals. Some of the students were thrilled to be told they needed to prepare and serve real food. Other groups, however, were initially confused by Fox’s bespoke requirements for their project. How are we supposed to combine my idea about having a treasure hunt with her idea about
being a clove of garlic? How are we supposed to incorporate a live music video in our scene about high school football? Working through these tensions helped students to practice creative problem-solving and it made their final ideas more nuanced and original.
After a week of writing and rehearsal between the second and third visits from the playwrights, the students were finally ready to perform their plays. Many days I walk into class and see students sitting silently, looking at their phones. On that day however, one group was anxiously wondering how they would find a microwave to bring onstage to prepare Indonesian ramen, another group was in the Wesley Forum running through their graduation speeches that explored their collective fear of “moving on,” and a third group was passing out controllers for their play about a group of thirty-five-year-olds who are addicted to Fortnite. Of course, none of this looked like a traditional English class, but watching my students’ shared decision-making, willingness to step outside their comfort zones, and (in some instances) sheer delight, lent a tangible significance to the day. As the performances unfolded, I watched four male students perform the “We’re All in this Together” dance from High School Musical; saw another student steal the fictional boyfriend of her friend who she thought had been murdered in Hawaii, only to discover that her friend was still alive; and listened to a third student deliver a poignant performance as a lonely, unappealing clove of garlic. It was clear to me that creating and performing these plays had challenged my students in new and important ways, and was undoubtedly an experience that they would not soon forget.
Arts and World Language Honor Society Inductions
Families and faculty gathered in Wesley Forum on Monday, January 8, to recognize the exceptional eleventh- and twelfth-grade students being inducted into seven different societies of distinction. Comprising the inductions were:
Arts Honor Societies
B National Art Honor Society
C Tri-M Music Honor Society
D International Thespian Society
World Language Honor Societies
E French National Honor Society
F German National Honor Society
G Latin National Honor Society
H Spanish National Honor Society
Directly following a welcome address from Head of School Bill Hawkey to open the program, Scott Peeler, dean of academic affairs, gave a brief overview of the requirements for membership to these prestigious societies. A special instrumental performance helped punctuate the evening’s celebration. Moyang (Eliza) Zou ’25 and Xiaona (Jenny) Zhu ’25 performed a duet, each playing an erhu, a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument similar to a fiddle.
Congratulations to all the new honor society inductees on being recognized for their achievements!
Cum Laude Society
The Cum Laude Society is an international organization dedicated to recognizing academic achievement in secondary schools. There are 382 institutions in the Society; most are independent schools. The 2023-24 members of Pennington’s chapter of Cum Laude who were inducted in the spring of 2024 are Emily Howe, William Hyndman, Kieran Karp, Dowon Zio Kim, Samantha Lambdin, Gavin Leeds, Caleb Li, Ananya Madireddy, Mia Seyfarth, and Felix Shapiro. (See photo above)
ACADEMIC NEWS
Perfect Scores for Pennington’s Computer Science Contest Team
For the second year in a row, Pennington's "varsity" computer science contest team was an international co-champion in the Senior Division of the ACSL (American Computer Science League) contest. This year, twenty-five Pennington students participated across “ varsity” and “ junior varsity” teams at the senior and intermediate levels of the competition. The senior team was one of only two teams in a field of 130+ to earn perfect scores across all four sub-competitions
Now in its 46th year, the ACSL organizes computer science and programming contests that span the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. According to team lead Shinyi Li ’24, the group held weekly meetings throughout the year to prepare for the contest. Graduating seniors who were major team contributors were Polaris Hayes, Caleb Li, Lucy Li, Nana Miller, Teddy Molner, and Cici Yu. Additional major contributors this year included Rain Paio ’25, Ethan Li ’26, Dhruv Ramaswamy ’25, Aimee Zou ’25, Jenny Zhu ’25, Siyi Yang ’25, Alex Giller ’26, Samik Mookherjee ’26, and Ethan Qi ’25. Other valuable team members included Anir Suren ’25, Vanessa Samayoa Ramos ’25, Gavin Leeds ’24, Mason Meyerson ’24, Sophia May ’25, Eli Sebti ’25, Zio Kim ’24, and Ian Childrey ’24. According to team advisor Len Leib, who teaches mathematics, computer science, and software engineering at Pennington, the students participating in these classes and the club “become a great community who go off to college confident and well-prepared.”
“WE ARE PENNINGTON” CULTURE FAIR
to the WORLD Market
“We are Pennington” Culture Fair
The Pennington School community is enlivened by many cultures, and we have created an annual event to celebrate them! The third “We Are Pennington” Culture Fair was held on Friday, May 24, with all students and teachers participating alongside many parents! The Showcase featured a few small stages for performances: song, dance, and music! The World Market offered sponsored tables where our students and families shared food, clothing, art, and other artifacts that highlighted their ethnic heritage.
Xiaona (Jenny) Zhu ’25 tied for the top score in New Jersey in the 2024 Physics Bowl. The Physics Bowl is an annual international high school physics competition organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Jenny competed in Division I, which is for students taking their first high school physics class; there were 7396 competitors. She placed 31st globally and in the top 2 in her region (New Jersey) for her division.
Student Research Paper Chosen for Publication in The Concord Review
The start of 2024 brought some welcome and surprising news for Shinyi Li ’24. Over a year earlier, she had finished a 6,000+ word research paper, entitled “From Folktales to Fairy Tales: The Grimm Brothers’ Motivations” for Pennington’s honors thesis seminar course. In January, Shinyi received word that her paper had been accepted for publication in TheConcordReview(TCR), a prestigious honor considering TCR—the only quarterly journal in the world publishing academic research papers by high school students—accepts a mere 5% of the essays they receive.
Seminar teacher Gretchen Overhiser, who encouraged Shinyi to submit her paper to TCR , says, “It was a joy to watch Shinyi become immersed in the historical story of the Grimm brothers! I'm so proud of her hard work on such a fascinating topic and so glad to see it shared with a wider audience through publication in The Concord Review!” Congratulations, Shinyi, on this singular achievement!
PASSPORT
Spanish lunch table on Wednesdays!
All students are welcome at the designated table during lunch periods on Wednesdays, whether Spanish is their first language or they are learning the language for the first time. The lunch table is Spanish-speaking only in a relaxed and friendly environment. It provides a perfect opportunity for students to practice, make new friends, and immerse themselves in the language.
Pennington Sophomore Wins Playwriting Challenge
Sophomore Saskia Cooper was among a small group of student playwrights celebrated at the Phillips’ Mill Community Association’s (PMCA) “Play with Words” competition, a juried one-act playwriting challenge for grades 7 to 12. The sold-out event featured staged readings of each play. Saskia’s original piece, entitled “The Calamity Crew,” is a play about pirates who lack self-confidence, which she wrote after participating in a playwriting workshop at Pennington (see page 16 for more about the workshop).
Marissa Tucci ’16
“Icouldn’t be prouder to see Marissa achieve this goal; her focus and determination are awe-inspiring,” says Lisa Tucci P’16 ’16, recalling the poignant scene when her daughter, Marissa Tucci ’16, graduated this past May from the Tulane University School of Medicine (TUSOM). Family and friends had gathered to celebrate this milestone in Marissa’s journey— with proud father Peter Tucci ’79 P’16 ’16 joining his daughter on stage for the traditional doctoral hooding ceremony. It is a memory the family will treasure forever.
This special moment was a major stepping stone in Marissa Tucci’s path to individual excellence and is a manifestation of her aspirational career goals. Tucci attended Tulane University as an undergraduate, where she graduated magna cum laude with both a bachelor of science in neuroscience and a bachelor of science in public health. In 2020, she began four intense years at TUSOM where she graduated at the top of her class. Now, at the precipice of perhaps her greatest challenge yet, she begins a seven-year neurosurgery residency this fall at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, one of the leading neurosurgical centers and top residency programs in the country.
Tucci’s ambitions took root during her years as a Pennington student. Starting in ninth grade alongside her identical twin sister, Sabrina ’16, Marissa took full advantage of the experience—enrolling in academically rigorous courses, playing on the varsity girls’ basketball team, and participating in various clubs and activities. She especially loved her science courses: “They weren’t always the easiest courses for me, and I had to work hard to do well, but I felt deeply connected to the subject matter. I remember sitting in AP Biology, listening to Dr. Heyeck and thinking, ‘This is what I want to do!’”
Tucci credits her Pennington experience with teaching her the importance of perseverance and sparking an appreciation for teamwork. Most notably, it was Pennington’s service trips to Haiti in 2014 and 2015, in which both Marissa and Sabrina participated, that were transformational and planted the seed for Marissa’s pursuit of medicine as a career. Ten students and six adults (including Lisa Tucci, a registered nurse) traveled to Haiti during spring break to serve the local communities at pop-up medical clinics in three remote villages. The clinics provided care, prescription medications, vitamins, food for patients, and much more. Tucci says, “It was incredibly moving to see the breadth of essential services and medical attention provided by the local and visiting medical professionals, all working together. It was critical, hands-on work to address healthcare inequities. Over the years, I come back to memories of these trips— and now see them as a catalyst for my passion for medicine and public health .”
For all who know the Tucci family, it is undeniable that the family’s love and support, as well as the model set by Marissa’s parents, have also played a significant role in her success. From an early age Tucci understood the powerful possibilities of making the most of the experience. Her father, Peter Tucci ’79 P’16 ’16—who is not only an alumnus but also Chair of Pennington’s Board of Trustees—had imparted to both of his children the importance of trying new things, finding your passions, and gaining the skills and confidence needed to build a bright future. He says, “Beyond doing well in the classroom, it was important to me and Lisa that our girls explored and found their individual sparks. I am in awe of both Marissa and Sabrina, and not just for all they have accomplished at their young ages, but also for finding their voices, taking risks, and leaning in to making a difference in this world. Pennington taught them well…a father couldn’t be prouder.”
Marissa speaks with similar adoration and respect for her parents, and credits them with allowing her to
have that space for discovery. Marissa’s mother Lisa, a retired operating room nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, was a sounding board and critical source of unwavering support for her daughter throughout medical school. Marissa says, “I’d call almost every day. I know my mother understands where I am coming from and gives me honest reflections. My parents are always there for me. I am incredibly lucky.”
Tucci will need to tap into that support system and draw on her exceptional focus and conviction this summer as she begins what will perhaps be the toughest leg of her career journey. Neurosurgery is one of the most challenging and most competitive specialties in medicine—only 0.5% of all registered physicians in the U.S. are neurosurgeons. Those numbers get even smaller for women. As of 2022, there were only 405 women in the U.S. practicing in the field.
These statistics may be daunting for some, yet there is only excitement for Tucci as she begins this next chapter. “Jefferson was my first choice and has an amazing program. I did a month-long internship there and I am looking forward to working with and learning from the incredible faculty, residents, and, most importantly, the patient population at Jefferson. I am going to keep an open mind about where and how I will evolve my interests within the field, but I know that I am going to be immersed in work that I love.”
Now living in Philadelphia to start her residency, Tucci is delighted to be closer to many friends and family and hopes to get back to Pennington for some alumni events on campus. She will, however, miss being in the same city as her twin sister, Sabrina (who has also made the most of her education, receiving both her BS and MS degrees from Tulane University’s School of Science and Engineering and is now serving as the programs supervisor at the Louisiana SPCA).
In the 2016 Penseman yearbook, Marissa and her sister were voted as the seniors “Most Likely to Save the World.” They certainly have our vote!
Marissa (far right) with fellow Pennington students on Haiti service trip in 2015
What does it take to create
On Pennington Giving Day, we come together to support our remarkable students, inspiring educators, and everything that makes Pennington special.
COMMUNITY
PENNINGTON FUND VOLUNTEER LEADERS helped encourage participation on this special day. Twenty-three dedicated parent and grandparent volunteers made calls, sent thank-you notes, created a presence on campus, and collectively spent more than 300 hours to help make it a success!
ALUMNI CLASS COMMITTEE members are located throughout the country and across the globe. These fifty alumni volunteers used social media, personal networks, and email outreach to make this year a record showing for alumni giving (more than $61,000)!
STUDENT AMBASSADORS work with the Advancement Office and represent the School at community events and activities. A highlight for this group each year is helping inspire their fellow students and the campus community to get excited and involved on Pennington Giving Day!
FACULTY AND STAFF support the Pennington Fund on our annual day of giving. Our impressive 100% faculty participation is a point of pride for the School, and leading the charge are faculty liaison Lisa Houston and staff liaison Jill Dionne.
INSPIRED DONORS established challenges and matches on Pennington’s online giving platform. Dozens of alumni, parents, parents of alumni, grandparents, and employees created unique opportunities for inspired giving within our community. These special challenges and matches inspired more than 80% of the day’s total!
For more information about Pennington Giving Day or the Pennington Fund, please contact Director of the Pennington Fund Brooke Buchanan at brooke.buchanan@pennington.org or 609–559–5203.
592 donors represented every constituency
$255,828 raised for the Pennington Fund
Gifts ranged in amount from $1 to $10,000
41 first-time donors
25 donor-created challenges and matches
IMPACT!
A gift to the Pennington Fund, of any amount, on Pennington Giving Day is an investment in the School today and builds momentum for a thriving future. Gifts support all facets of the STUDENT EXPERIENCE, FACULTY EXCELLENCE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, and our CAMPUS AND LEARNING SPACES!
The Advisory Program
Creating the best possible student experience is the ultimate goal of everything we do at Pennington. Through academics, athletics, arts, and other campus activities, students have numerous opportunities to explore, try new things, and flourish during their time on campus. During these years of incredible growth, it is invaluable for students to have guidance from a trusted adult on campus who is an advocate to help navigate the journey. Enter the Pennington advisory program!
Advisors are responsible for getting to know their advisees as both students and as individuals. Ultimately, the advisor becomes the point person for their advisee’s overall growth at Pennington. Along with time spent together in advisory meetings, advisors also support their students in various other ways, such as attending important events throughout the year. Director of Advisory and Student Activities Lisa Houston says, “It's so much fun to hear anecdotes about the ways our faculty engage with the lives of their advisees. I regularly see them in the audiences of plays and performances, at class presentations, and on the sidelines rooting for them.”
Advisor groups are created in Middle School based on interest forms filled out by the younger students, and ninthgrade groups are built using information from the Middle School and the Admission Office. Beginning at the end of Grade 9, students can decide annually to stay with their advisor or request a change. Houston notes that feedback from the School’s Health Check survey illustrated a need for older students to have more of a voice in the advisory program, and by giving this choice to Grades 10-12, students’ satisfaction with their advisor relationships has increased over the last five years. Students are encouraged to take this decision seriously and consider their personal and academic needs as they approach a new school year.
connects every student to a trusted adult on campus
While each advisor-student connection is individual, advisory groups meet together and follow an intentional curriculum to add some structure to the periods and offer the opportunity for students to discuss grade-based topics with their peers. Agendas are often created based upon information from the Community Life committee, Class Deans, and both Middle and Upper Schools, but also leave room for special projects, events, and “flex weeks.” Middle School advisory groups tend to be more structured than Upper School groups, since they spend more time focusing on academic skills and becoming a part of the larger Pennington community. Students also have a voice in crafting the advisory curriculum; for example, more social media topics have been included in recent years due to their requests.
When Houston moved into the role of Director of Advisory and Student Activities in July 2022, she considered how the advisory program could improve and solicited feedback from current advisors across grades to work on planning for the new year. Houston’s new position and focus on advising is purposeful, as the School is placing more importance on each student’s care and guidance outside of the classroom. She says, “The role of an advisor has expanded beyond what we could have ever imagined. Support of students through advisory takes intentional preparation, thought, and practice.” In addition to using faculty and staff surveys, she is regularly attending professional development and collecting resources for advisors. As the School works to fulfill its mission of developing individual excellence in each student, it is critical that every student feels seen and supported personally as a member of the community. The advisory program has and will continue to play a key part in the overall Pennington experience for our students.
“ The role of an advisor has expanded beyond what we could have ever imagined. Support of students through advisory takes intentional preparation, thought, and practice.
”
—Lisa Houston Director of Advisory and Student Activities
ARTS at PENNINGTON
Upper School Student Exhibition: Every year, Pennington’s art teachers compile photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, and ceramics work from student-artists enrolled in level one through Advanced Placement studio art courses across these disciplines. This year’s exhibition was a stunning compilation of work showcasing the results of curiosity, deep exploration of ideas, and developed skills. A reception with the student-artists was held during the school day on May 1.
SILVA GALLERY OF ART
SOLACE THROUGH SOUND
Scan the QR code above to listen to the performances.
This spring, the Pennington Music Collective (PMC) offered an open audition to any students interested in sharing their talent and dedication to their music practice with the community. The result was an evening of solos and a duet that allowed for individual musicianship to shine. Fourteen students performed in the Meckler Library on March 8, captivating their peers and teachers with their performances. President of the PMC Jai Raman ’24 spearheaded and hosted the event—one which will surely become an annual tradition. The event also raised funds for Trenton Music Makers, an organization the PMC holds near and dear to their hearts.
SPRING CONCERTS
Vocal and Instrumental Concerts
In May, sixty-five students in Grades 6 through 12 comprised vocal and instrumental ensembles that performed at our annual Spring Concert in Sparks Gymnasium. Under the direction of Dr. Don Dolan and Mr. Jim Horan, the students performed numbers such as “Come to My Garden” from LittleShopofHorrors , “My Foolish Heart” by Victor Young, “March from Tannhäuser” by Richard Wagner, and a mash-up of “Pure Imagination” and “Over the Rainbow” specially arranged for the Pennington Singers by Mr. Horan. During senior Chapel, saxophonist Jai Raman ’24 said of the music program, “We all had a single goal—making good music together. Every time I walked into rehearsal, I knew I was stepping into a space where I would be uplifted and supported by the people around me.” A joyful evening was had by all.
Book by ROGER O. HIRSON; Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
Director's Note
by Suzanne Houston
PIPPIN is one of my all-time favorite shows. I have incredible and hilarious memories of my sister and I putting the Pippinrecord on and recreating our best Fosse dance moves. We didn’t know the story (I don’t think we even knew who Fosse was!)—we just knew the songs and the weird pictures on the Original Broadway Cast album cover. I remember seeing Pippinat the Washington Crossing Open-Air Theatre, sitting on a blanket in the front row and the actor playing Pippin singing to us. I was in the show as Berthe in high school, and Catherine in college. I directed Pippin in 2007 and saw it on Broadway in 2013 twice. I even quoted the song “Corner of the Sky” on my senior yearbook page. And each time I spend time with the show, I discover something new and fall deeper in love.
Similar to Stephen Schwartz’s show Godspell , Pippinwas originally produced at Carnegie Mellon when Mr. Schwartz was a student. The show evolved and became a 1972 Broadway hit, in great part due to Bob Fosse’s direction and signature choreography. It only helped that the legendary Ben Vereen was cast as the Leading Player. The show was a bit darker in its first professional iteration with the Vietnam War influencing the writing, choreography, and design. In addition to being the first Broadway show to have a TV commercial, the show also holds a place in musical theatre history as one of the most innovatively staged musicals of its time. The 2013 version, directed by Diane Paulus, was much lighter and more colorful with aerial silk performers, acrobats, magic tricks, and a female Leading Player. It’s a show that explores illusion vs. reality, good vs. evil, choice vs. expectations, and the ordinary vs. the extraordinary. So, the theatricality and grandiose nature of the circus fits very well.
In our production, we also chose to set the show at a circus. Our brilliant student designers and painters took the concept far beyond what I ever imagined! Audiences sat under the big top and a traveling group of
performers entertained and delighted them. The Leading Player and company lured people in to attend the coming-of-age story of Pippin, King Charlemagne’s son. Young Pippin longs for fulfillment, for his purpose in life, for his “corner of the sky.” And the Leading Player is all too happy to take Pippin through a variety of experiences to help him find it. Pippin tries various and exciting things, but in the end he boldly decides for himself what it is that brings him true fulfillment.
As part of our production process, we had a workshop with Mrs. Paige and Mr. Secrest about some of the themes of the play and how they relate to our company of young artists. The main theme we focused on was identity and how many young people struggle to find themselves and their corner of the sky. Social media, friends, classmates, parents, coaches, and counselors are a cacophony of voices and ideas swirling around them. Whether we realize it or not, it can be extremely difficult to find one’s own identity; this is especially true when other people have ideas of what we should want to be or do with our lives, or when you realize that you are giving up parts of yourself to fit into a mold someone else designed for you. How complicated it can be to forge your path, go against the voices in (and outside) your head, and still be extraordinary. So, as just as our young hero searches for fulfillment, you might find yourself thinking about what it is that truly brings you joy, what makes you extraordinary, or where your spirit can truly run free. And my advice is, if it’s not already a part of your life, seek it out. Find your corner of the sky.
To my insanely creative colleagues: thank you for helping my ideas come to life and showing me things I didn’t initially see. To our seniors: thank you for seven wonderful years of theatre, and for teaching the underclass folk how it’s done. You are about to embark on an incredible journey of self-discovery...and it’s okay to not have it all figured out just yet. Listen to Berthe: take your time, live in the moment, and don’t forget to come back and tell us all about your adventures.
Directors’ Note
When passengers from different eras find themselves stranded at a mysterious Time Station, they must band together before they are forever lost in the tangled web of time.
It’s About Time was the seventeenth Spring Play under the leadership of Mr. DiGiacomo and Mr. Moore and was written and produced during the sixth Senior Seminar
class taught by Ms. S. Houston. The final play was a jigsaw of all the original ideas from each writer/director. Going through Middle School, COVID-19, and high school together, we were a group that had many things in common, yet we each have a unique personality that was reflected in the play. During the Senior Seminar class, we wrote original scripts about intoxicated hippies, invented games with binaryspeaking mermaids, and directed scenes with a concerning number of technically
advanced children. Therefore, the idea of time travel was eventually used to tie together all of these amazing elements that we would never want to abandon.
The directors would like to thank Mr. DiGiacomo, Mr. Moore, Ms. S. Houston, Mr. Harding, Ms. Wang, Ms. L. Houston, Ms. Eaton, Mr. Secrest, Mr. Totaro, and Mr. Vogel for their amazing work and support throughout the process.
Written by Owen Doughty, Shayna Mehta, Sanjana (Sunny) Padmanabhan, Teagan Walsh, Jiani (Jelly) Wan
Directed by Shayna Mehta, Teagan Walsh, Jiani (Jelly) Wan
by Jonathan Rand
Director's Note
by Sanjana (Sunny) Padmanabhan ’24
I began my theater journey in sixth grade when I first started at Pennington. Theater gave me stability throughout my years and taught me how to have a good work ethic, be confident, and be a team player. With guidance, I was able to grow at my own pace, which shaped me into the leader I am today. The idea of directing the Middle School Play was put into my head during my first show in 2018. I was in the cast and on the tech crew, eager to do anything and everything. Tech crew became the place where I shined, so I never thought I could eventually be the director. Throughout my Upper School years, I returned to my Middle School roots through the Junior Proctor program, tutoring, and now through the Middle School Play. I am forever grateful to Ms. S. Houston for emailing me sophomore year to say I should take drama classes to become a director my senior year. These classes and her knowledge of theater gave me the qualifications to become a director, the kind of director my twelve-year-old self could only hope to be.
When the time came to pick this year’s Middle School Play, I had one requirement: that the show be something fun to brighten people’s day. Theater is about exaggerating emotions, including joy. I wanted chaos and to create an environment where the Middle Schoolers could feel safe to try new things, be weird, and have fun. Ultimately, I chose our wacky play Law&Order:FairyTaleUnit . This is a play with familiar characters put in different situations and forced to face different challenges. In our post-COVID world, theater has gone through many ups and downs, leaving cast/ crew members and our audience with uncertainty. I wanted this play to bring back some of the smiles, but also to leave the audience and Middle Schoolers with hope—hope that art can be created by anyone and bring back those simple joys to our lives. This play is not only a comedic mystery but also includes themes of feeling misunderstood, something I’m sure we all have felt. Theater allows people to learn and teach at the same time; it creates community.
Theatre at Pennington is the place where I started and the place where I will end my Pennington career. This play is my love letter to The Pennington School and my goodbye. I am forever grateful for my seven years in this program which molded me into the creative, assertive leader I am today. I hope to come back and see my Middle Schoolers in the shoes I am in today, continuing the legacy of Middle School Play directors.
In 2023-24, new teacher exchange opportunities inspired Pennington faculty to reach beyond their classrooms.
NEW PROGRAM!
FACULTY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Lugano, Switzerland
In March 2024, I traveled to visit TASIS (The American School in Switzerland), an independent school in Lugano. As an ambassador of The Pennington School, I was delighted by the opportunity to learn and explore through the new teacher exchange program developed under the leadership of Dr. Lida Castro. A core objective of this new teacher exchange is to reflect and grow through onthe-ground experiences.
My goal at TASIS was to explore pedagogical hospitality by way of the virtues. Or, put another way, I wanted to reflect on my approach to teaching philosophy and religion in a context that rooted its mission according to the language of truth, goodness, and beauty. TASIS, with its philosophical foundation in an interpretation of
paideia, was an ideal setting to observe and engage other teachers in the humanities. I wanted to reflect on the art of inviting students into lives informed by the values and practices of the virtue tradition.
Lugano is stunningly beautiful. The campus sits atop a hill that looks out to the bright blue lake and towering mountains. Over the course of the week on campus, I met with administrators, faculty, and students. I observed classes across the curriculum and learned more about the International Baccalaureate program. It was fruitful to have time to listen, observe, and reflect on the teaching profession. It was also rewarding to share the good work happening here in Pennington. Several of the teachers I spoke with were especially interested in our cross-listed seminar, “Climate Change and Storytelling in Science and Religion.” I returned home to Pennington with new ideas, fresh inspiration, and enthusiasm for the ongoing work of developing the Religion program at Pennington. I am grateful for the experience!
— Nate Van Yperen, Department Chair, Religion
Loches, France
I had the opportunity to travel to France this past January for two weeks and visit SaintDenis International School in Loches. Once there, I met with individuals to start planning an upcoming opportunity for students in Grades 9, 10, and 11. This opportunity could include an Art I course that first takes place on the Pennington campus and then travels to the campus in Loches. We will explore the elements and principles of art, practice the concepts, create pieces, find examples in museums, and compile a portfolio of our learning. This exciting experience would not only have students practicing the skills but also touring museums to find examples. As part of the research for this trip, I visited museums and sites in Amboise, Angers, Bourges, Blois, Chartres, Orleans, Paris, Tours, Azay-le-Rideau, and Chateau de Chaumont in Chaumont-sur-Loire. We are hoping to run this course in Summer 2025.
In addition to planning this experience, I conducted research for my eighth-grade Global Perspectives unit on the Holocaust. I had the opportunity to visit multiple Holocaust memorial museums, where I gathered materials and pictures to bring into the classroom.
Lastly, travel is so important, and I’m thankful to have had this opportunity. Experiencing a language barrier, being away from the comforts of home, and immersing myself in a different way of life are all things that I bring back to my experience as a teacher and hall parent.
— Jamie Moore ‘03, Teacher of History
Barcelona, Spain
When the opportunity arose at Pennington to apply for a teacher exchange program in Barcelona, I seized it without hesitation. Little did I know that this decision would lead me on a transformative journey of exploration, learning, and growth. As a teaching faculty member of the Cervone Center for Learning, I proposed collaborating with a school in Barcelona to understand how they work with diverse learners, classify students, and support their faculty. My destination was St. Paul's School in Barcelona, a private school in an exclusive neighborhood of Pedralbes, where I spent a week immersing myself in their educational practices. Though I lacked fluency in Spanish, the students at St. Paul’s are immersed in learning four languages: English, Spanish, Catalan, and French. St. Paul’s prides itself on being an inclusive school, so when students struggle with learning, school administrators must find ways to support them and their teachers. Despite having three school psychologists on site, St. Paul's has no dedicated expert in working with students who learn differently.
My initial plan to collaborate with the school's teachers evolved as I engaged with Claire and Tina, two key figures in the school's administration. They expressed a keen interest in learning from the practices of the Cervone Center, prompting a shift in focus towards sharing insights into our work with diverse learners and supporting faculty. Throughout the week, I engaged with
the school's faculty, delving into discussions on how to address learning differences such as dyslexia, languagebased learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD. From modifying curriculum to implementing executive functioning and motivation strategies, our conversations were enriched by their genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn. I was able to address specific inquiries and share best practices from our own experiences here at Pennington. I also spent time meeting with department heads, observing students, and providing teacher recommendations—a hands-on approach that allowed for meaningful exchanges and collaborative problem-solving.
As my week in Barcelona drew to a close, I embarked on a journey to Madrid, where I had the pleasure of bonding with Pennington colleagues who were leading a student trip. Reflecting on my experience, I am grateful for the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and engage with educators from across the globe. I returned home enriched by my experiences, and I carry with me a renewed sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for the diversity that enriches our educational landscape.
My trip to Barcelona was a journey of exploration and a testament to the transformative power of cross-cultural exchange and collaboration. It reinforced the importance of embracing diversity in education and inspired me to continue seeking opportunities for growth and learning, both within and beyond the confines of familiar surroundings.
Karen Balerna, Teacher of Compensatory Skills, Cervone Center for Learning
STUDENT INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Science and Sustainability IN PUERTO RICO
On March 14, eleven students in Grades 9 through 12 took off for Puerto Rico for a spring break trip focused on environmental science. This unique experience was entirely planned by World Languages Department Chair Joselle Lamoutte and teacher of science Dr. Margo Andrews but the on-the-ground reality exceeded all expectations. The itinerary allowed students to visit the island’s different ecosystems from the El Yunque rainforest to the Central Mountains to the coral reefs and bioluminescent bay on the southern coast. Along the way, students met and worked alongside expert scientists, volunteers, local guides, and family farmers while also learning to live together and gain independence and confidence in some challenging situations.
The students’ preparation for this trip to Puerto Rico began in Pennington with readings, videos, guest speakers, and discussions that introduced students to the island’s history and culture, conflicts between conservation and development interests, the impacts of and responses to Hurricane Maria, and scientific studies being conducted in the areas they were going to visit. Once we arrived on the island we were off to the rainforest, where we were led by scientists along slick, muddy trails to learn firsthand about various important, long-term ecological research projects and to assist in collecting tree and shrimp data. Students also met with young volunteers from Coalición Pro Corredor Ecológico del Noreste to learn about sea turtle conservation and coastal habitats. Back in the city, students led tours through historical sites in Old San Juan that they had researched in advance, and they had fun exploring the city’s food and culture. In the Central Mountains, we adventured in Cañón Blanco with local guide Ricardo and learned about the island’s geology, hiked across indigenous Taíno petroglyphs, and swam in the Río Caonillas and under its waterfalls. Students then visited a small family-run coffee plantation in the mountains where history, socio-economics, and ecology intertwined and we sampled incredible coffee and chocolates. Our final stop was in La Parguera on Isla Magueyes, where we snorkeled the coral reefs and mangroves and visited scientists’ labs where they are researching coral and sea urchin restoration as well as bio-optical oceanography and sargassum impacts. One student shared, “This trip helped me understand and care about environmental science because it took it a step further than just learning in the classroom. [The] hands-on work made it much easier to engage with and learn the science. I now feel like I have a much greater understanding and a new way of thinking.”
The students were not ready to go home when our eight days were up. As amazing as these environmental experiences were, the students reflected on their growth in other areas and the unexpected friendships they had forged during our adventures. With no cell phones for the entire duration, the students reveled in newfound opportunities to get to know each other and themselves, whether they were staying up late talking, watching movies, tearing through books, or just listening to music and hanging out. In the words of one of our student travelers, “We met amazing people, made better connections with each other, and had a great time!”
—Margo Andrews, PhD, Teacher of Environmental Science and Joselle Lamoutte, JD, Department Chair, World Languages
Puerto Rico may be smaller than most US states but the land is so rich in diversity and we were able to experience it all! Starting with our wonderfully muddy rainforest trek, we embraced immersive environmental opportunities, including a visit to Corredor Ecológico del Noreste to learn about the marine environment, a hike through the central mountains of Utado, a tour of the Sandra Farms Coffee Plantation, and an incredible visit with scientists at Isla Magueyes Marine Laboratories, where we learned about coral reefs and went snorkeling in a bioluminescent bay. This trip was truly the opportunity of a lifetime!
Postcards to Pennington
After an incredibly long journey, Beijing greeted us with a fascinating blend of modern day and ancient history, all existing in tandem throughout the city, from the Forbidden City to Tiantan Park. We attended a Peking opera, joined in for some Tai Chi, explored the Great Wall, and indulged in the most delicious cuisine. With the help of the country’s high speed rail, we also visited an ancient water town known for its many bridges called Zhujiajiao and traveled to Shanghai, where even more excitement awaited us. XiWai International School welcomed us with open arms, and we had a wonderful time making new friends and practicing our language skills with the students and staff there.
¡HoladesdeEspaña!
We have learned so much about this amazing country. In the span of a single week, we attended a professional soccer match, shadowed local students in their school, scoured the streets of Barcelona as part of a scavenger hunt, visited markets, museums, and famed churches like SagradaFamilia , strengthened our language skills, and became better citizens of the world! Muchasgracias,España, for sharing your vibrant culture with us and teaching us to embrace the beauty of diversity!
Spring 2024 Student Exchanges
On January 20, 2024, two students arrived at The Pennington School on a cross-cultural experiential learning program from St. Denis International School in Loches, France. They attended classes, lived on campus, and participated in all School events and activities until March 7. Mathilde
Chatagnon and Nina Van Cauberg are in the tenth grade and lived in Buck Hall during their stay.
At the same time, three Pennington students left to study abroad. Anna Fermo ’28 and Brett Sirolly ’26 traveled to Barcelona to live with host families and attend St. Paul’s School there. Emily Birkenstock ’26 traveled to Loches.
Over thirty Pennington students spent their spring break immersed within various cultures and environments as part of the School’s cross-cultural experiential learning initiative. With Pennington faculty members as chaperones, students traveled either to Spain to enhance global perspectives, to China to foster intercontinental friendships, or to Puerto Rico to deepen their understanding of environmental issues.
2024 WINTER ATHLETICS
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Head Coach: Chandler Fraser Pauls ’11
Assistant Coaches: Todd Hursey, Harold Spears ’11, Ryan Stokes
• One of the best seasons in program history—a historic and standard-raising year!
• 19 wins—most in a season for the program since 2013-14!
• Won Mercer County Tournament with a win over Hopewell for the first time since 2009-10
• Victories against Lawrenceville (x2), Peddie, and Hun (x2) for the first time in the same season in program history
• Won against the Hun School for the first time in 30+ years
• Won our first MAPL tournament game in our first year in the program and advanced to the NJISAA Prep A semifinal for the second consecutive year; it was our highest seeding in our NJISAA Prep A tournament history
• Won the Holy Ghost Prep Tip-Off Tournament and the Abington Friends Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament
• Bested teams from Florida, Virginia, New York, and Maryland this year
• Nearly the whole team returns for next year; we look forward to proving ourselves and earning it all over again! Fun times ahead for this tough, unselfish, and connected group
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Head Coach: Markie Watson
Assistant Coaches: Kailee Sobrino, Ryan Karp
• A 13-11 record, making an impressive run at the end of the season
• Mercer County Tournament Invitational Bracket Champions
• Gained a MAPL League Tournament spot in our first season in the league and won our first-round game vs. the Hun School
• Played against Hill School at Penn’s famous basketball arena in Philadelphia, the Palestra
• Morgan Matthews ’24 and Izzy Augustine ’25 made MAPL league teams as well as NJISAA Prep B All State first team; Keke Nwoye ’24 was selected for second team.
• Made it to the championship game of the NJISAA Prep B state final
• Morgan Matthews became the all-time leading scorer for the girls’ program, topping Carly Rice ’18 (1,412 points), and finishing her career with 1,602 points.
SWIMMING
Head Coach: George Ward ’88 Assistant Coaches: Scott Doughty, Lynn Shields
• Varsity Girls’ Swimming finished 3-4 in dual meets and Varsity Boys’ Swimming finished 4-3 in dual meets.
• An exciting new schedule due to entrance into the MAPL league saw us add the Hill School Relays and the MAPL Championships at Peddie School.
• The boys’ team finished second at the NJISAA State Championships while the girls’ team finished fourth.
• 18 swimmers qualified for Easterns at Franklin & Marshall in 2024, where our individual top qualifiers at finals were Riley Edge ’25 and Caleb Collins ’25. The swim program bids fond farewells to six seniors, including girls’ senior captain Mia Seyfarth and boys’ senior captains Owen Doughty and Ian Childrey. In addition, we wish all the best to seniors Alex Lee, Tristan Hocquaux, and William Arthur, who made great contributions to the team.
• All Winter Track meets are away meets, which can be challenging.
• In December 2023, we traveled to Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island for the Bishop Loughlin Games, competing against hundreds of athletes from the greater NY area.
• Our “regular season” consisted of three meets at Peddie and two at Princeton University’s Jadwin Gym, hosted by Princeton High and featuring many large area schools. Tyler Hope ’24 took 1st in the 55m Dash and some PRs started to roll in.
• Regular season ended well at Peddie against five other schools, led by senior Tyler Hope (1st in 45m, 2nd in 200m), Darius Brown ’25 (4th in 45m, 3rd in 200m), Layla Griffin ’27 (2nd in 45m, 2nd in 200m), and Shinyi Li ’24 (4th in 200m, 2nd in 45mHH, 1st in High Jump). Many of those podium placements were PRs, in addition to PRs by Jack Bluni ’24 and Andrew Hofacker ’26, who took 5.98 sec off his 1600m time!
• Penultimate meet was also our first-ever competition in the MAPL Championship, held at Mercersburg Academy. Though we were slightly shorthanded for this one, the entire team ran well and represented Pennington with honor. Garnering points for the boys' team were Tyler Hope and Seamus Manning ’26.
• Our final meet was the NJSIAA Championship in Toms River, NJ, and what a final it was! With seven PRs on the girls' team and five for the boys’ team, we certainly peaked at the right time. Our girls ended up in seventh place with 11.5 points. In a hotly-contested meet, the boys took second place behind Newark Academy, with 58 points. EVERY boy who competed won team points for us!
• Track is a team sport comprised of individual competitions, and this became increasingly evident as our season progressed.
WINTER TRACK
Head Coach: Rick Ritter
Assistant Coach: Nick DeRosa
BASEBALL
Coach: Steven Kowalski
Assistant Coaches: Byron Kou, Ryan Stokes, Chris Wirth-Kenyon ’11
• Finished season with an 11-11 record
• Pitcher Bryce Meccage ’24 broke the School record for career strikeouts with 158 and did not give up a hit all season in 25 innings pitched; he also threw a no-hitter in an 11-0 victory over Blair Academy.
• Landon Hallett ’25 threw a no-hitter in an 11-0 win over Peddie.
• Joe Lifsted ’25 contributed four home runs this season.
GOLF
Coach: Tom Horsley Assistant Coach: Matt Mysliwiec
• Team enjoyed its most successful season in the last few years
• Led by senior captains Liam Hyndman and Alex Brackin and junior captain Matthew Sanderson, the team battled several talented teams in the regular season.
• A challenging schedule and focused practices enabled each player to gain confidence and lower their match scores; this hard work and determination paid off toward the end of the season when the team finished fourth out of seventeen teams in the county tournament and third out of seven teams in the state Prep B tournament. Matthew Sanderson ’25 was third place overall at the county tournament.
• Although seniors Liam Hyndman, Alex Brackin, and Rishi Duggal will move on next year, junior Matthew Sanderson will lead a talented group of underclassmen with the potential to bring the program to even greater heights in the future.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Coach: Ken Palumbo Assistant Coach: Jessie Schaffer
• Boys’ Tennis had another great season, going 9-1 and finishing as the top private school in our area.
• Played our last MCT tournament and tied for third. In first MAPL tournament, finished second with three players in the finals.
• Team record: Boys’ Tennis has only lost a single match in the past five years; we had a 42-match winning streak over that time—a School record!
• Thanks to our amazing team: Dhruv Ramaswamy ’25 played #1 singles and #1 doubles; Ishan Gupta ’24 played #2 and #3 singles and doubles while only having one loss in the regular season. He won the MCT Championship as well as making it to the MAPL finals. He finished his amazing four-year career with 64 wins and only 3 defeats. Rishabh Ramaswamy ’26 played #2 and #3 singles and doubles. He was undefeated in the regular season in both and won the MAPL Championship. Shubh Gangrade ’26 played #4 singles and #1 and #2 doubles and was also undefeated in both. He made it to the doubles finals at MCTs and the singles finals of the MAPL tournament. Henry Fan ’27 played #5 singles and #1 and #2 doubles and was in the finals of MCTs. Declan Karp ’25 played #6 singles and #2 and #3 singles and was undefeated at doubles in the regular season. Garrett Hardt ’24 moved around the lineup at singles and finished his career going undefeated in the regular season at doubles.
GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD
Coach: Rick Ritter Assistant Coaches: Kara Bottino and Nick DeRosa
• One of the team’s most rewarding seasons!
• In dual, head-to-head meets, final record was 6 wins, 0 losses; all other meets were larger group events
• Won first place at Hun group meet with 117 points
• Took second place at Blair group meet
• Took fourth place at States in Newark
• Sixth-place finish at NJ Prep Relays
• Participated in Poreda Invitational
BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD
Coach: Rick Ritter
Assistant Coaches: Kara Bottino and Nick DeRosa
• One of the team’s top-five gratifying seasons!
• In dual, head-to-head meets, final record was 4 wins, 0 losses; all other meets were larger group events
• Sixth-place finish at NJ Prep Relays
• Participated in Poreda Invitational
• Tied for second with Hun at that group meet with 48 points
• Won seventh place at MAPL championship
• Took fourth place in States at Newark
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Coach: Shane Taggert
Assistant Coach: Jay Hayes
• Ended the season with seven wins, which ranks as the fifth best year-end result since 1991 for our Boys’ Lacrosse team!
• Finn Garner ’26 set a new School record of most points in a game against Hightstown with 14 points, 4 goals, and 10 assists.
• The team also made the Prep B semi-finals and were the eighth seed in the Mercer County Tournament.
• Nicky Esposito ’24 scored 51 goals and 17 assists, and his total of 68 points this year tied for fourth alltime in a season. He is the program's all-time leading point leader with 201 career points, and the all-time leading scorer with a total of 151 career goals (and 50 assists)!
• This year was Pennington's first as part of the MAPL league. Nicky Esposito ’24 was named to the AllMAPL team and Ben Watson ’27 received honorable mention.
• The team benefited immensely from the leadership of seniors Owen Doughty, Nicky Esposito, Mason Meyerson, and JT Shamsey. Coach Taggert writes, “I am impressed by and grateful for all that these young men brought to our team as captains.”
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Coach: Kristina McCarthy
Assistant Coach: Markie Watson
• A season of remarkable achievements and memorable moments with impressive victories and notable individual milestones!
• Demonstrated promise early with decisive wins over Peddie and Mercersburg along the way to the MCT Invitational semifinals and Prep B Tournament semifinals
• Hailey Adamsky ’24 scored her 100th career goal against Lawrenceville School.
• Many players (Adamsky, Olivia Davis ’24, Nora Youngblood ’26, and Sara Surtz ’27) received postseason honors that recognized their hard work, dedication, and outstanding play throughout the season.
• The players and coaching staff can look back with pride on a season filled with growth, achievement, and unforgettable moments. Here's to building on this success and striving for even greater heights in the seasons to come!
MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Coaches: Bernie Gurick, Matt Mysliwiec, and Nate Van Yperen
The Middle School Boys' Basketball teams both had very rewarding seasons. The teams improved their skills and gained greater confidence as the season progressed. They learned the importance of teamwork and hard work and had several memorable moments throughout the season.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Coach: Patrick Murphy Assistant Coach: Elizabeth Roehm
Middle School Girls' Basketball fostered a fun yet competitive environment that gave each team member opportunities to further their development as basketball players. That mindset led to great improvement in their performance during competitive situations. Our final record of 7-3, while playing one of our most challenging schedules in recent memory, was a testament to the team's competitive spirit and focus. Ten students participated this season, which ended with a win at Princeton Middle School as Allie Vannozzi ’29 and Luccia Bibro ’28 scored the bulk of the points in a tight battle that was won by our Red Hawks on a final second three-point shot by Gemma Kuser ’29.
SWIMMING
Coach: Taylor Jennings Assistant Coach: Chris Thiel
The Middle School Swim Team wrapped up another successful season marked by dedication, growth, and camaraderie. Throughout the season, the team honed their skills and showcased resilience in exciting meets. They achieved personal bests and fostered a spirit of healthy competition. Beyond the pool, their unity and sportsmanship shone through with each member contributing to a positive and inclusive environment. As the season concluded, we celebrated their athletic achievements, character, and teamwork. It was a season to remember!
Coach: Chauncey Farrington Assistant Coach: Alex Gibbons
A memorable 2024 season featured a team roster which ranged from beginners to experienced club players, all of whom shared a commitment to growth and teamwork. There was a strong sense of fun and camaraderie, and every player had significant time on the field. Players enhanced their skills and understanding of the game, a testament to their hard work and the coaching staff's guidance. One of the standout moments of the season was a victory over PASH, a significant win given the history between the teams. Looking ahead, the foundations that were built this year hopefully set the stage for future successes and more exciting games in upcoming seasons at Pennington.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Coaches: Marianna Carella and Mary Roseen
Middle School Girls’ Lacrosse had a great 2024 season with twenty student participants! The team finished with six wins, two losses, and some major accomplishments—including a win over PDS in the final thirty seconds of the game, thanks to Katherine Kemp ’28! We were fortunate to have a mix of skilled lacrosse players and beginners on the team and everyone’s skills improved as the season progressed. Another season highlight was the great goaltending by Sydney Nutt ’30! Our team this year comprised eight students in Grade 8, nine from Grade 7, and three from Grade 6.
BOYS' LACROSSE
Loyal leader ship donor
Daniel Sheridan ’94 celebrates his 30th Reunion!
As Dan Sheridan ’94 celebrates his 30th reunion this year, all of us at Pennington recognize his loyal and generous support to the School. His impressive track record of giving includes donations to the Pennington Fund in almost every year since his graduation, including twenty years of consecutive giving. Sheridan is also recognized for his leadership giving as a member of the 1838 Society, and his early commitment to the Forever Pennington campaign. Over the years, Sheridan has held various volunteer positions, serving on both the Alumni Association Board and Scholarship Classic Committee.
Sheridan’s generosity and motivation for giving back to Pennington stem from his gratitude for the formative experiences he had both in the classroom and on the field. An avid athlete, Sheridan played on the varsity basketball, baseball, and football teams. He will never forget the feeling of being part of football history at Pennington, winning consecutive state championships including during the 1992 undefeated season. Sheridan recalls how his involvement with athletics at Pennington offered more than training, game play, and trophies. “Fran Durst organized a trip for our baseball team to work at a Zuni tribe baseball camp in New Mexico over spring break one year. It was amazing in every way—not something I would have ever experienced if not for Pennington.”
Sheridan is the chief revenue officer for an HR outsourcing firm and resides in Nashville, TN, with his family. He hopes to see many of his classmates this fall at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend for the Class of 1994 30th reunion celebration!
For more information on being part of your reunion celebration or reunion giving to the Pennington Fund, please contact Assistant Director of the Pennington Fund Traci Scott Karro at 609–559–5554 or traci.scottkarro@pennington.org.
I treasure the memories and life experiences I took with me from my time at Pennington. The experiences, friends, teachers, and coaches I had opened up a whole new world for me and truly changed my life.
”
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATION
The Pennington School held a graduation ceremony on June 6 for 44 students completing studies in its Middle School. After an invocation from Chaplain David Hallgren, Head of School William S. Hawkey, PhD presented opening remarks and was followed by a musical interlude courtesy of the Middle School Singers. Eighth-grader Harry R. Mysliwiec of Doylestown, PA gave the First in Scholarship Address. Chrissie Knight delivered the Head of Middle School’s remarks, followed by another musical interlude, this time featuring the Middle School Instrumental Trio. Presiding over the granting of diplomas were Ms. Knight and Middle School Dean of Students Tracy Kuser; eighth-grade faculty advisors offered remarks about each of the students as their names were called. Robert E. Martini Associate Head of School Chad Bridges then welcomed the graduates to Pennington’s Upper School, and Rev. Hallgren offered the benediction.
HORIZON IN THE GILA
Led by two experienced Pennington faculty members, Horizon in the Gila offered an opportunity for a small group of seven seniors to travel to New Mexico on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the Forest Service’s designation of Gila as an official wilderness area (1924-2024). Leading up to the departure, students learned and practiced skills related to backcountry travel, food preparation, packing, cooking and cleaning, first aid, and “Leave No Trace” principles. In New Mexico, students explored the Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the region. From the monument, the group embarked on a five night/six day backpacking trip into the heart of the Gila Wilderness. On the trip, students were responsible to lead in various ways: group discussions, itinerary planning, navigation, and the logistics of camp life (setting up, breaking down, cooking and cleaning, etc.). Upon returning to The Pennington School, students organized a final project that reflected on their wilderness experience. The students who participated in this unique trip were Jonah Celentano, Owen Doughty, Ben Graziano-Kastner, Sophia Murphy, Alex Philbrick, Charlotte Reinhardt, and Makayla Tudor.
The Horizon program is a capstone project and graduation requirement that helps seniors prepare for their future careers with learning opportunities both on campus and with outside companies and organizations. The month-long experience is split into two distinct sections: the first two weeks are spent on campus with special workshops, seminars, guest speakers, and other hands-on learning opportunities. Topics covered included personal money management, team-building, resume writing, service work, life skills, health and wellness, and etiquette. The latter half of the experience encompasses a multitude of realworld experiences of each student’s choosing. On Wednesday, May 29, the seniors presented their Horizon projects to other students and faculty members as well as parents, mentors, and friends.
Students Study Business in New York City
Nine seniors participated in the Horizon business group this year. Each student conducted an informational interview with a professional in business, completed two certificates in agile methodology and Excel for business as part of the MasterClass Art of Negotiation , and participated in a business seminar on business etiquette and networking. During the second week, the group commuted into NYC and participated in the opening bell of NASDAQ, the closing bell of the NYSE, and visited various businesses including JP Morgan, Robert Douglas, and Point 72 Asset Management. Students learned about potential roles and organizational functions firsthand. Poised to embark on their first year of college, the students discovered the skills most sought after by different organizations during the hiring process. In addition, they participated in a finance night, hosted by BlackRock on May 15, where they were able to meet executives in the field and hear about what is taking place in the market today. Some of the seniors also attended a Tech Night on May 21, hosted by Fox Rothschild LLP, with experts in technology-related topics. The seniors who participated in the business week were: Hailey Adamsky, Lina Ballmann, Onan Benedith, Adam Fisher, Kieran Karp, Nicolette Kirikian, Ananya Madireddy, Jai Raman, and Eli Sebti.
Special thanks to the following guest speakers who contributed to HORIZON 2024!
Alumni Participants
Tori Albert ’10
Chris Auld ’90
Jayden Avery ’19
Alex Bauman ’12
Lillian Childrey ’18
Bobby DiFazio ’12
Obi Ezeife ’05
Sydney Faber ’18
Liam Goldstein ’22
Stevenson Hawkey ’12
Maxwell Henry ’20
Jae Heo ’08
Nico Herrerias ’19
Patrick Higgins ’19
Patrick Janson ’02
Brian Keating ’18
Gillian Kemmerer ’07
Brian Kiley ’10
Emma Kramer ’16
Rahul Kumar ’16
Allison Levine ’14
Tony Nitti ’93
Jared Panson ’18
Casey Ramirez ’08
Austin Shah ’19
Kate Suyo ’08
Quinn Salamandra ’93
Alex Saltstein ’17
Parent Participants
Mike Barkley P’16 ’21
Caroline Chubb Calderon P’26
Edward Craig P’26 ’26
Michael Ehret P’30
Dan Fisher P’24
Johnathan Lennox P’27
Walter Loh P’26 ’27
Cara McClintock P’24 ’26
Mary Ross P’23
Stuart Spodek P’25
Philip Vasan P’19
Michael Weinstein P’27
www.pennington.org
Senior Week kicked off with a magical prom at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia on Saturday, May 25, and never slowed down, offering a steady stream of opportunities throughout the week for students to celebrate and commemorate their achievements here at Pennington. Following Tuesday’s senior Chapel—which featured reflections, memories, wisdom, top-ten lists, and gratitude from the soonto-be-graduates—students posed for college commitment pictures and attended a yearbook-signing party hosted by the Advancement Office which featured ice cream sundaes. Wednesday brought another flurry of activities, from the alumni bridging ceremony to Horizon project presentations and a senior spotlight concert . On the eve of Commencement, students and families gathered under the tent on O’Hanlon lawn for the senior prize ceremony. Afterward, they attended a Baccalaureate service at Pennington Presbyterian Church before returning to O’Hanlon Green for a celebratory dinner to toast the Class of 2024.
SENIOR WEEK
COMMENCEMENT CLASS OF 2024
The Pennington School held its 183rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday, June 1. Head of School William S. Hawkey, PhD granted diplomas and certificates to the 104 members of the Class of 2024, which included students from six states and five countries outside the United States. The Commencement speaker was Dr. Jacob N. Shapiro, professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University. Senior prizes were awarded on May 31. Polaris Hayes of Trenton and Zixi Yu of Belle Mead were valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
Pennington’s teachers, administrators, and curriculum have set our graduates up magnificently to develop the kind of understanding that will help them engage on issues they care about.
“ ”
—Dr. Jacob N. Shapiro Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University
The CLASS OF 2024 will be matriculating at the following colleges and universities:
Arizona State University (Tempe) • Babson College • Bard College • Barnard College • Bentley University • Boston College • Boston University • Brown University • Bucknell University • Bucks County Community College • California Institute of Technology • Carleton College • Carnegie Mellon University • Chapman University • Coastal Carolina University • Colgate University • College of the Holy Cross • Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg) • Dickinson College • Drexel University • Duquesne University • Emory University • Florida Institute of Technology • Fordham University • George Washington University • Georgetown University • Hamilton College • HampdenSydney College • Hampshire College • Howard University • James Madison University • Loyola Marymount University • Marist College • Monmouth University • New York University • Northeastern University • Oberlin College • Penn State University (University Park) • Princeton University • Purdue University • Quinnipiac University • Rutgers University (New Brunswick) • Salisbury University • San Diego State University • Southern Methodist University • Stevens Institute of Technology • Syracuse University • The American University of Paris • The College of New Jersey • The College of Wooster • The University of Tampa • The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) • Trinity College • United States Military Academy at West Point • United States Naval Academy • University of Bristol • University of California (Los Angeles) • University of Chicago • University of Colorado Boulder • University of Delaware • University of Maryland (College Park) • University of Miami • University of North Carolina Wilmington • University of North Carolina at Charlotte • University of Pennsylvania • University of Pittsburgh • University of South Carolina • University of Southern California • University of St Andrews • University of Virginia • Ursinus College • Vanderbilt University • Villanova University • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University • Washington University in St. Louis • William & Mary • Williams College
PHOTOS: B Sara Weinberg ’18 was engaged to Colin Rapa-Slover on April 14, 2024, at Dalton Farms. C Jessica Ratner ’13 married Andy Evanko on November 10, 2023, at Northampton Valley Country Club in Richboro, PA. D Rosie (Sprague) Iovine ’18 married Alex Iovine on July 8, 2023, at Jasna Polana in Princeton, NJ! E Nicholas Hill ’07 and Heather Hill welcomed their baby boy, Kaden, on April 6, 2024. F Stacy Mackin Melton ’07 and her husband Bryant welcomed baby Knox Graham Melton into their family on March 24, 2024. G Jared Keating ’09 and his wife Katy and daughter Hannah welcomed their second child, Jack Michael Keating, to the family in August 2023.
1950s
Norman Litozitz ’52 has retired after more than sixty years of practicing psychiatry and psychoanalysis. He now divides his time between Highland Park, IL, and Palm Beach, FL. He welcomes a call from classmates at any time!
1960s
Bill Balderston ’65 continues to teach after thirty-five years and also serves as an educator activist. He recently attended the Labor Notes conference in Chicago with more than 4,000 union members, including leaders like Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers. In family news, Balderston’s son, David, a lawyer for professional athletes and actors, will be getting married in April 2025!
Jeffrey Sickles ’66 has lived in Tampa Bay, FL, since 2019 and spends time kayaking and boating all over St. Pete and Tampa. He volunteers as a dog walker for local shelters and has a rescued pit bull named Magnum. Sickles is also proud of his other half, Twila Liggett, who created and executive-produced PBS’s Reading Rainbow for 26 years, earning ten personal Emmys. Jeffrey invites any Pennington friends near St. Pete, FL, to reach out. He would be happy to give a tour and reconnect with classmates! H
Kim McDonald ’73 recently celebrated his 50th reunion and reflected on his time as a student in honor of this milestone. He says, “The camaraderie and bonding with my fellow students implanted in me a true skill set for dealing with many situations that occur throughout one’s life. To say that I have enduring friendships from Pennington would be an understatement. These are my brothers and sister (Lynne Lindenthal), who I will cherish my entire life. Thank you, Pennington!”I
Lisa Arzmendy Drury ’79 has been living in Miami, FL, for the last thirteen years with her husband and twin daughters. She was initially a stay-athome mom, but with her children now in college, she is working part-time at a tennis club and orthodontic office. Lisa is enjoying life on the beach and the tennis court. She hopes to hear from others in her class!
Bill Thompson ’84 is living his best life in Boston, MA, with his wife of twentyeight years, Kim Budd. They have two sons: Evan is currently a student-athlete at Colby College; and the family recently celebrated Will’s graduation from Middlebury College. J
Rob Davidson ’85 resides in Saint Louis, MO, with his wife Kimberly and their four children. He works with Danone North America as a senior national sales director. His family returns to the Pennington area annually while en route to summer vacations in LBI.
’89 at jane.childrey@pennington.org.
1990s
Kenji Nii ’93 came back to Pennington’s campus for the first time since he graduated. During his visit, he toured the new buildings and changes to the School’s campus and, of course, made sure to stop by Vito’s (the local pizzeria), which he reported hasn’t changed at all since he was a student. Nii was in the area training for his new position of regional executive support lead at Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Tony Nitti ’93 is a national tax partner at EY, a writer, and inspirational speaker. Nitti kicked off the senior Horizon Program with a thought-provoking presentation about striving for balance, success, and joy, and how to be prepared when life gets tough. B
Coltrane Stansbury ’94 was selected as a recipient of the 2024 “Top 50 DEI Professionals Award” presented by OnConferences this past spring. This award recognizes leaders who have dedicated their careers to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces. Stansbury has also recently started a doctoral program in leadership for organizations at the University of Dayton.
Monique Richards Smith ’95 was selected for the 2024 cohort of WOCIP's Global Leadership Accelerator (GLA) Program, an exclusive group of biopharma leaders. This incredible opportunity will equip her with the essential knowledge and skills to become a champion for health equity in her role as global director at Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. C
Jeffrey Slager-Gorman ’97 is starting a new position as vice president of sales
Nicholas Hill ’07 and Heather Hill welcomed their baby boy, Kaden, on April 6, 2024. He weighed in at 6 lbs 14 oz. [See photo #4 on page 62.]
Stacy Mackin Melton ’07 and her husband Bryant welcomed baby Knox Graham Melton into their family on March 24, 2024. Zeke is loving being a big brother. [See photo #5 on page 62.]
at Pregis. His son, Maxwell, graduated from Cherokee High School and will study pre-med at TCNJ in fall 2024. His daughter, Sailor, turns fifteen this year, and he celebrated his 20th anniversary in June with his wife, Colleen.
Alica Kizekova ’96 relocated from Prague, Czech Republic to Perth, Australia, to begin a new role in January 2024 as a lecturer at Curtin University in the School of Media, Creative Arts, and Social Inquiry.
Francesca DiFazio ’99 wishes her class a happy 25th reunion and looks forward to catching up this fall! She is wrapping up her twentieth year teaching science in Bridgewater and loves her work. She lives with her son in Hunterdon County, NJ, just a few miles from her brother Vincent DiFazio ’04 and his family. DiFazio has been busy working on her garden and started playing T-ball. D
Jared Keating ’09 and his wife Katy and daughter Hannah welcomed their second child, Jack Michael Keating, to the family in August 2023. [See photo #6 on page 62.]
Alex Schwartz ’09 began an exciting new position at the University of Tennessee as the associate athletics director of strategic communications this past October.
2010s
Andrew Agress ’13 visited with faculty member Mark DiGiacomo at the New-York Historical Society this past December. Agress works in visitor services and gave the DiGiacomos a tour of the new exhibits. E
Jessica Ratner ’13 married Andy Evanko on November 10, 2023, at Northampton Valley Country Club in Richboro, PA. Former Pennington Reverend Aaron Twitchell officiated and many Pennington family and friends were in attendance for the celebration, including: Michael Ratner ’14, Kyle Ratner ’21, Marissa Baldoni ’13, Michael Keating ’13, Dane Kunkel ’13, Connor Donovan ’13, Austin Sumners ’14, and Jeffrey Keating ’81. [See photo #2 on page 62]
Dylan Reim ’14 started 2024 with a new role at the World Economic Forum as lead of the Metaverse Initiative. He is excited to be leading a global coalition of stakeholders from industry, governments, and civil society to address the future of technology governance. F
Henry Sheeran ’14 is back in New York after three years in Chicago. He is still writing, directing, and acting! He recently starred in the Atomi Theatre Collective’s productions of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sheeran is also writing a novel called Deserters (a romantic fantasy-horror tale of two ex-soldiers on an implausible quest). This summer, he started post-production on his short film, The Heart is a Motor, a movie about risk, fragility, and the human body through the lens of working on a race car. H
Tony Morency ’17 ran into Senior Associate Director of College Counseling Scott Doughty this past April while working Morency’s popular food truck, “The Fry Boss,” at Newtown Brewing Company. G
29th Annual Scholarship Classic
JUNE 10, 2024
The 29th Annual Scholarship Classic was held at Bedens Brook Country Club in June 2024 and raised more than $44,000 in proceeds for financial aid at Pennington. Community members gathered to enjoy a day of golf, tennis, pickleball, games and prizes, and a well-deserved lunch! This beloved event is an annual milestone in raising funds for scholarship endowment and brings Pennington parents, alumni, and local businesses together in support of this crucial School priority. Thanks to everyone who made this another successful year!
Thank You to the Scholarship Classic Platinum and Gold Sponsors!
Gold Sponsors
We are grateful to the members of the 2024 Scholarship Classic Committee who work throughout the year to ensure a successful event.
Heather Adler P’29
Mike Allen ’09
Matt Biedron ’08
Gina DiVincenzo P’24
Pete Egbert P’16
Alene Frankel P’29
Nick Hill ’07
Annemarie Hofacker P’26
Michael Jingoli ’85
Chris Long ’91 P’12 ’17 ’20
Amy Walton P’25
2010s (continued)
Jacob Essig ’18 was recently promoted to financial and programs analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He was also appointed to the board of directors for Eye to Eye, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the educational experience and outcomes for neurodiverse young people. This spring, Essig visited with his former Pennington teacher, Vicki Picone, in Washington, DC. B
Rosie (Sprague) Iovine ’18 married Alex Iovine on July 8, 2023, at Jasna Polana in Princeton, NJ! [See photo #3 on page 62.]
Sara Weinberg ’18 was engaged on April 14, 2024, at Dalton Farms. She met her fiance, Colin Rapa-Slover, in college. She is beyond excited! [See photo #1 on page 62.]
Mariel Abano ’19 moved to Wisconsin last year with her boyfriend to work as a sourcing coordinator for Kohl's. She has built a wonderful network through her church, the pet-fostering community, dance, and the friends she made through her internship program.
Nicholas D’Amour ’19 has made history as the first archer from the US Virgin Islands to ever qualify for the Olympic Games (Paris 2024). D'Amour secured his place in the men's competition at the continental qualifiers in April. C
Matthew Robertson ’19 was hired by the Walt Disney Company after completing his professional internship there in conservation education. Since April, he has served as an education instructor on the Animal, Science, and Environment team and is currently working at The Seas in Epcot. Robertson is also pursuing an MBA degree at Purdue University. D
Lexi Childrey ’21 spent a semester abroad studying in Madrid, Spain this past year and visited with Marta Ortiz ’20 during her travels. E
In the early months of 2024, Pennington hit the road to visit with alumni for a series of Pennington on the Road regional events.
Washington, DC
Philadelphia, PA
In January, alumni in the Philadelphia area came out to cheer on the Red Hawks as Pennington’s varsity basketball teams played at the Palestra in University City. Following the games, alumni met for lunch at the nearby Misconduct Tavern.
Miami, FL
In February, Pennington headed to Florida for Docktails with Doc Hawk! Head of School Bill Hawkey was a special guest for the regional gathering at Miami's Fontainebleau marina aboard a gorgeous 98-foot sunseeker yacht owned by gracious hosts Jennifer and Michael Weinberg ’91.
The travel series concluded with a Washington, DC meet-up for Pennington alumni and friends. Oliver Cox ’05 and Christopher Liwosz ’02 hosted the event at the Fox Rothschild, LLP office. Everyone enjoyed reconnecting and spending time with special guest Tom Liwosz P’02 ’05 ’09.
Want to join an upcoming alumni event or activity? Learn more by scanning the QR code or visiting pennington.org/community/alumni.
In Memoriam
With sadness we remember the members of the Pennington community who died or whose death we learned of since the publication of our last magazine.
Marylou Sinclair S’40
Eugene S. Shreve ’45
Sue Gardner Shreve S’45
Joseph M. Gavin ’46
Lawrence J. Greenberg ’48
Michael L. Lehrman ’50
Steven N. Pappayliou ’52
Alan R. Faber ’54
Robert E. Gehret ’54
Robert B. Edwards ’55
James W. Hipple, Jr. ’57
Robert B. Cherry ’58
Frederic A. Freese, Sr. ’60
George Solomos ’63
William Kranz ’66
David M. Hineline ’71
Jonathan Chavkin ’75
Janis P. Fishman P’77 GP’20
Gale G. Wayman P’78 ’81
Henry C. Berry, Sr. P’80 ’81
Marjorie Ruch P’80 ’83 FF
Nicholas D. Manukas, Jr. ’87
Stevie Curtis P’92
Arthur R. Hill P’95
Charles F. Mapes, Jr. GP’03 ’05
Doris Mapes GP’03 ’05
Neil Marchesi, Sr. P’05 ’06
Ray Norteman GP’10 ’14
Nicholas O. Osagie ’17
Alison W. Beers P’19
Jeanne Knight GP’21
Frances Sykes GP’22 ’25 ’26
Frederick D. Baatz GP’24 ’29
Hilda Brochon GP’26
David Shapiro P’28
Russell Davis P’29
Lyle D. Rigg FH
S–Alumni Spouse; P–Parent; GP–Grandparent; FF–Former Faculty; FH–Former Head of School
