Issuu

Fall/Winter 2021–22

STUDENT ORIENTATION • FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • CERVONE CENTER FOR LEARNING

CONTENTS 3.

16.

28.

44.

Cover image by Stephanie Balazsi

Amazing Summer Camp Experiences for Ages 10-15! Plus exceptional camps for 4-10 year-olds during select weeks

Summers @ Pennington

offers a wide array of options for children and teenagers with almost any interest under the sun. From improv to photography to soccer to boxing to engineering to robotics to mountain biking to camping—there’s something for everyone! Camps are designed for specific age levels. Our specialized small-group summer programs allow kids to devote a full week (or more) to a subject that they love. All of our camps are student-centered, providing plenty of personalized attention to every camper. Camps run from June 20 to August 26. Learn more at penningtonsummers.org.

Summer Arts Sports and Wellness Outdoor Adventure Science and Technology Community Service and Summer Enrichment

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Features: 3. N EW STUDENT ORIENTATION: A carefully designed program for each group of students who are new to Pennington or to the Upper School ensures a successful transition and supports all students on their journey to achieving individual excellence.

16. B LAZING A TRAIL:

Head of School Bill Hawkey and Chair of the Board of Trustees Peter Tucci ’79 P’16 ’16 demonstrate that actions speak much louder than words when it comes to sustainability, developing an affinity for the natural world, and making a difference for Pennington students every day—both inside the classroom and outdoors on our beautiful campus.

28. C ERVONE CENTER FOR LEARNING:

The best practices for teaching students with learning differences are the best practices for all students. This fact is built into all academic programs at The Pennington School.

44. F ACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Ongoing learning for faculty and School administrators enriches all of Pennington’s teachers and the student experience.

Also Inside: 8. New Faculty and Staff 10. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 22. Special Events 24. Middle School News 32. Upper School Athletics 40. Fall Play: Sense and Sensibility 42. Fall Concerts 43. Parents for Pennington News 52. Young Alumni Internship Spotlights 54. Class Notes

Fall/Winter 2021–22 • Volume 62, No.1

Head of School William S. Hawkey, Ph.D. Editor Lori G. Lipsky Director of Communications and Marketing llipsky@pennington.org 609–737–6156 Communications Team Meghan Coates, communications associate Tina Lambdin, graphic designer Julia Molchansky, digital media marketing associate Assistant Head of School for Community Life Chad Bridges Assistant Head of School for Strategic Initiatives Charles D. Brown Director of Admission and Financial Aid Sharon Jarboe Head of the Middle School Chrissie Knight

Contributing Writers Margo Andrews, Karen Balerna, Chad Bridges ’96, Brooke Buchanan, Jane Bott Childrey ’89, Tiernan Close, Elliot Coates, Meghan Coates, Helena Cohen ’27, Mauricio Cohen ’27, Debbie Fermo, Caroline Hall, David Hallgren, William S. Hawkey, Lisa Houston, Suzanne Houston, Monte Huffman ’26, Thomas Huffman ’27, Jiwoo Kim ’26, Chrissie Knight, Lori Lipsky, Julia Molchansky, Patrick Murphy ’80, Emma Normand ’26, Scott Peeler, Jo Prockop, Alicia Reed, Christina Riso, Xavier Sang ’22, Samantha Stern-Leaphart, Muhan Tian ’26, David Thomas, Jessica Vincent P’ 26, Cynthia Wallace P’ 20 ’23 ’26, George Ward ’88, Emma Wells, Susan Wirsig, and Minnie Wu ’26 Contributing Photographers/Artists Margo Andrews, Stephanie Balazsi, Karen Balerna, Lida Castro, Jane Bott Childrey ’89, Tiernan Close, Elliot Coates, Katelyn Coates, Dolores Eaton, Caroline Hall, Molly Hawkey, Lisa Houston, Jim Inverso, Maureen Iorio, Kathy-Lynn Kelly, Chrissie Knight, Tina Lambdin, Lori Lipsky, Keri Marino, Rob McClellan, Julia Molchansky, Hieu Nguyen ’22, Sanjana Padmanabhan ’24, Mark Reilly, Mike Schwartz, Tim Scott, Jessie Shaffer, Caroline Sirolly ’26, Kendra Sisserson, and Susan Wirsig Printing: Prism Color Corporation

The Pennington School 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, NJ 08534 609–737–1838 www.pennington.org All materials copyright © 2021 by The Pennington School unless otherwise noted. The cupola logo is a registered trademark of The Pennington School. The Pennington School®, registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Opinions expressed in Pennington Magazine are those of the authors, not necessarily those of The Pennington School. 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, 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 schooladministered programs.

www.pennington.org

CONTENTS 3.

16.

28.

44.

Cover image by Stephanie Balazsi

Amazing Summer Camp Experiences for Ages 10-15! Plus exceptional camps for 4-10 year-olds during select weeks

Summers @ Pennington

Summer Arts Sports and Wellness Outdoor Adventure Science and Technology Community Service and Summer Enrichment

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

16. B LAZING A TRAIL:

28. C ERVONE CENTER FOR LEARNING:

The best practices for teaching students with learning differences are the best practices for all students. This fact is built into all academic programs at The Pennington School.

44. F ACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Ongoing learning for faculty and School administrators enriches all of Pennington’s teachers and the student experience.

Fall/Winter 2021–22 • Volume 62, No.1

www.pennington.org

A letter from the Head of School The Pennington School William S. Hawkey, Ph.D., Head of School

To all Members of the Pennington Community: This academic year is very special to me because it marked a return to a more traditional year with all of our students, teachers, and staff back on campus together each day. As I write this letter, just before we break for our winter recess, I am grateful that we have not yet experienced any disruption to academic or co-curricular life at Pennington. Despite whatever challenges may still lie ahead, I believe our community has proved we thrive together and make each other stronger. My theme for 2021–22 is “The Power of Community.” I chose this theme because the Pennington community is the foundation for our reputation as a School that cares deeply about all of its members. Our School has a long and storied history from the very early days of its existence in the 1830s all the way up to the present day as an institution that lives out its mission to bring out the best in each student. People talk about the magic of Pennington, and although I agree it is a pretty special place, the magic just doesn’t happen by chance. The Pennington magic happens because there is intentionality behind everything we do, and I hope that some of the stories in this issue of Pennington Magazine will illustrate this for you. In these pages, I hope you will be inspired by the stories of Pennington community members who strive to make a difference on campus, in the surrounding community, and abroad. It’s people like alumnus Leo Eisner ’52, who returned to his alma mater for the first time in 69 years. Please read more about Leo’s story on page 39; I was honored to spend time with him during this special visit in October. Our faculty members are constantly working to “up their game” in order to offer a transformative educational experience for our students (see page 44). A critical component of this effort to maintain faculty excellence is our very own Cervone Center for Learning, which provides important resources for Pennington’s students and teachers alike (see page 28). Our core values at Pennington are the ideals of honor, virtue, and humility, and you see references to these core values all around campus. This year, I am asking each member of the Pennington School community to remember how our values draw us together. The way we act as a community is exhibited in the way we speak to one another, the respect we hold for all individuals regardless of our differences, and even how we follow health protocols to keep each other safe. Our newly updated honor code incorporates our three core values, and they are at the center of how we want our community members to think and act—whether you are here on campus or out in the greater community. Remembering and recommitting to these fundamental values is an annual event at our traditional Convocation ceremony (see page 6) and, I believe, helps to keep us strong even in the face of adversity. No matter who you are, or where you have come from, we share these important values. We are doing important work this year and accomplishing a tremendous amount together. Hail, Pennington, hail!

HONOR. VIRTUE. HUMILITY. 2

112 West Delaware Avenue | Pennington, NJ 08534–1601 | 609–737–1838 | www.pennington.org

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

“Coming to Pennington’s campus for the first time can be overwhelming, so there is no more important event at the start of the year for our students and parents than a successful orientation,” said Chad Bridges, assistant head of school for community life and Upper School dean of students. “The Operations team, Dining Hall team, our faculty, and our staff all played such an incredible role in making this year’s orientation a success.” Months of planning by School administrators and faculty members go into the orientation process to ensure a smooth transition to Pennington for all new students. This year presented a challenge: it was the first time the School held a fully in-person orientation program during a pandemic. All of the necessary health and safety precautions were put into place to ensure a smooth opening week of school. Most of the international students arrived earlier than is customary in order to have time to quarantine before classes began.

ORIENTATION Orientation programs for new students light the path for success at Pennington. Bridges elaborates, “Our dorms were nearly full even before preseason for the play, music program, and athletics. With two days off for Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah, we had to adjust our opening week to capture the most important orientation events while also allowing time for the Middle School to have a successful Launch, for new Upper School students to have time they needed to adjust to their new schedules, and to bring the entire Upper and Middle School student body together for activities in their family groups. Overall, it was a smashing success, culminating with an in-person Convocation underneath the tent on O’Hanlon Green.” For Pennington’s boarding students, orientation is a critical part of easing them into residential life. Prefects and residential faculty welcome boarding students to campus before the rest of the student body arrives, giving them time to get to know each other and their brand new homeaway-from-home. Prefect training happens before the students arrive, and the planning for their training begins in July. “The residential orientation activities center around a lot of community-building,” said Caroline Hall, assistant director of residential life. Last year, the number of residential students at Pennington was reduced due to the pandemic, but this year, the boarding community has returned to full capacity, including many day students who made the decision to transition to boarding for this academic year. “It is terrific to have so many people around,” said Hall. “All of the beds are full, and there’s this energy that is really invigorating.” On September 8, orientation sessions were enjoyed by Middle School students, freshmen, and all other students who are new to Pennington this year. The annual Middle School Launch, led by the Junior Proctors, propelled Middle Schoolers into the new year with a variety of outdoor team-building activities. Senior Peer Leaders led Upper School students through a dynamic orientation that introduced them to each other and to Pennington’s campus. www.pennington.org

A letter from the Head of School The Pennington School William S. Hawkey, Ph.D., Head of School

HONOR. VIRTUE. HUMILITY. 2

112 West Delaware Avenue | Pennington, NJ 08534–1601 | 609–737–1838 | www.pennington.org

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

SUMMER READING

Middle School Launch

The Pennington School values having students interact with different texts, in different ways, with different fellow readers. The faculty Summer Reading Committee meets every fall to propose possible titles for the following summer’s reading selection and activity. School-wide Summer Reading is designed as a community-building activity, structured around the value of reading, and all students and all members of the faculty engage with the reading selection and activities. During Orientation, family groups (typically consisting of four Advisory groups, one from Middle School and three from Upper School) get together to share an experience centered around the text they read. School-wide Summer Reading follows a four-year cycle with a different approach each year, offering most students the opportunity to experience at least one of each of the approaches over their time at Pennington. For Summer 2022, School-wide Summer Reading will be a theme-based selection; a single theme is chosen for both Middle and Upper School, and a selection of book options around that theme will be offered. Students will choose one book to read and at the start of the 2022–23 school year, the selections will be discussed among those who read the same book, led by the faculty members who read the same selection.

All Middle School students participate in Launch, a special orientation designed just for students in this age group to kick off the school year with fresh air and team-building games. Launch is led by the Junior Proctors, a select group of eleventh-graders who continue to work with Middle Schoolers on a weekly basis throughout the year. Before Launch, Junior Proctors are trained in leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. “We packed a great deal of fun into one day,” said Karen Balerna, director of the Junior Proctor program. “Everyone was so happy to be together in person and to be able to talk, laugh, and have a great time together. Our Junior Proctors play an essential role in ensuring that Middle School students are energized, enthusiastic, and excited about the year to come,” explained Balerna. “They plan and lead the Middle Schoolers in games and activities specifically created to strengthen the Middle School community and to ensure that all of our students feel welcome and supported as they start the year. The best part was knowing that this was just the start!” Starting the day in small groups, the students played various name games and “get to know you” activities to get them feeling comfortable, focused, and ready for the day. Next, they formed larger groups for more icebreaker activities so students could have the opportunity to start building relationships with students outside of their small groups. After fun on the South 40 lawn, Middle School students met with their advisors for lunch to review Pennington norms and the schedule for the first day of school. The afternoon provided students with the opportunity to move within three large groups and play a variety of team-building games. Capture the Flag was the all-time favorite! At the end of the day, students were exhausted but happy to have met new friends, reunited

with old ones, and participated in one or two activities that encouraged them to step out of their comfort zone. The JPs and Middle Schoolers now have the rest of the year to get to know each other better, to build strong and important relationships, and best of all, to have fun.

Freshman Orientation

Pennington’s ninth-graders spent an entire day getting to know one another and their Peer Leaders, a group of seniors who are carefully selected to lead small groups of freshmen in carefully organized activities on Friday mornings throughout the school year. Peer Leaders begin the year with a retreat where they bond as a group, solidify their mission, and form goals for the year for themselves and for the freshmen under their charge. These seniors serve as role models and mentors, welcoming the freshmen to the Upper School and lending them support that first year. Pennington’s Peer Leadership curriculum was originally developed at the Princeton Center for Leadership Training, and was first implemented back in 1983 with Bill Hawkey at the helm. Each spring, 30-40 juniors apply to serve as the following year’s Peer Leaders. Peer Leader advisor Erin O’Connell said, “It was fantastic to be able to organize in-person events again this year, both for the Peer Leaders and for the freshman class. This year’s Freshman Orientation was more important than ever since some students had been isolated since the pandemic began in March 2020, so they were adjusting to being in social groups as well as transitioning to high school.” Meeting new people, making new friends, and reconnecting was the focus of the morning. Peer Leaders led numerous ice breakers before breaking into their Peer Groups for the year and had time for discussions and questions and answers. These activities continued in their weekly Peer Leadership outreach on Friday mornings. Peer Leaders are also involved in many School activities throughout the year.

O RI E N TATI O N

SCHOOL-WIDE

Classes begin!

Following the first day of Orientation, Middle School students attended their first classes together, and returning Upper School students joined their new classmates on Thursday, September 9, for the first full day of school. A special schedule for the day allowed all classes to meet for a short time in the morning so that all students could learn their schedules, meet their teachers, and discover more about their coursework for the year. After lunch, a School-wide activity related to the Summer Reading assignment involved crafting haiku inspired by the commonplace notebooks that were compiled by students and faculty members over the summer. The first days and weeks of school went smoothly for students and faculty alike despite having to navigate the transition from hybrid to in-person learning. Chad Bridges noted, “Having a strong orientation program in place starts everyone out on the right note and generates excitement for the year ahead. This year’s Pennington program saw the return of some traditions that we lost due to the pandemic and incorporated some new traditions that we learned during our year away.” The first week of the academic year was capped off by the School’s annual Convocation ceremony on Friday, September 10. Held under a beautiful white tent, Convocation marks the official start of the year, and students are welcomed back to campus and reminded there are many different ways that they can make their own mark on The Pennington School. For more about Convocation, see pages 6-7.

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SUMMER READING

Middle School Launch

Freshman Orientation

O RI E N TATI O N

SCHOOL-WIDE

Classes begin!

Everywhere you look,

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Make

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Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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“

This year’s Convocation ceremony is very special to me because it marks a return to a more traditional year—and despite whatever challenges may still lie ahead, I believe our community has proved we thrive together and make each other stronger.

”

—William S. Hawkey, Ph.D. Head of School

CONVOCATION Pennington formally opened its 184th academic year with its annual Convocation ceremony on Friday, September 10. A brass quintet played as the students entered by grade, followed by the formal academic procession of faculty and trustees. It was exciting to welcome everyone back to campus for the first School-wide formal event since the ceremony in the fall of 2019! The program began with an invocation from Chaplain David Hallgren, followed by the national anthem. After welcoming remarks from Peter J. Tucci, chair of the Board of Trustees and a 1979 alumnus of the School, there were greetings from various School constituencies: Margo Andrews, teacher of environmental science, represented the faculty; Ella Sichel ’26 represented the Middle School; and Akshay Arun ’22 represented the Upper School. In his Convocation address, Head of School William S. Hawkey introduced this year’s theme, “The Power of Community,” and he encouraged students to consider how they can make a unique contribution to the Pennington School community. “I think about Pennington’s long 184-year history often, and it’s exciting for me to envision how each of you will leave your mark on this historic institution,” said Hawkey. “Don’t underestimate the power that each of you brings to this School and to our world. Pennington students past and present are making an impact locally and globally all of the time.” Reflecting upon the challenges of the past year and a half, Hawkey shared his admiration of the resilience of the Pennington community and his hopes for the school year ahead: “Sometimes you can achieve success by being thoughtful and methodical in your pursuit. But there are also times when action and following your instincts can produce great results. Students—the opportunities are limitless and the Pennington community is here to guide you and to support your dreams.”

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021–22

www.pennington.org

“

”

—William S. Hawkey, Ph.D. Head of School

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021–22

www.pennington.org

FAC U LT Y

AND

NEW FACULTY STAFF The Pennington School welcomes new faculty and staff.

of academic and faculty affairs at The New School in New York City, but has also managed a Starbucks, worked for a skateboard company, been a white water guide, and a dog walker. She lives in Hopewell Township. Daniel McKeown serves as Pennington’s lead security officer. He holds a B.A. and an M.A.S. from Fairleigh Dickinson University. McKeown has twenty-six years of law enforcement experience, with roles ranging from patrol officer to detective to patrol sergeant. Prior to coming to Pennington, McKeown was a school safety officer for the South Hunterdon Regional School District. Tatiana Nelson teaches Middle School US History and Government. Born and raised in New York City, Nelson graduated with honors from the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Hunter College. She earned her M.A. in Africana studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and she later worked at the non-profit Mid Bronx Early Childhood Center. Nelson lives on the Pennington campus. Susan Schneider is the director of food services. Schneider is a longtime Sodexo employee, having spent twenty-five years at Blair Academy. She lives in Hillsborough.

This fall, The Pennington School welcomed ten new faculty members: Danielle Bahr, Alexander Gibbons, Emily Kalkus, Joselle Lamoutte, Alexander Lyttle, Tatiana Nelson, Robert Tuckman, Zuyi Wang, Carly Wassel, and Sarah Zoll. Additionally, Michael Aponte, Meghan Coates, Gabrielle Gilmore, Kristen Lopez-Watt, Emily Martin, Daniel McKeown, Susan Schneider, and Traci Scott Karro have joined the staff. Michael Aponte joins our staff as a maintenance mechanic. Aponte’s career has been focused primarily on educational facility operations. Most recently, he was the facility supervisor for Newtown Friends School in Newtown, PA. and CareOne Dementia Facility in Moorestown. Aponte lives in Delran. Danielle Bahr returned to The Pennington School to teach Middle School science as a leave replacement for the fall semester. Bahr, who hails from Portland, OR, earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Duke University and her M.Ed. degree at Stanford University. After helping to open a charter school for low-income students, Bahr moved to Atlanta, GA., where she taught elementary science education at Georgia State University and supervised student teachers. Bahr spent a semester at The Pennington School in 2019, and then taught at Princeton Charter School. She lives in Princeton. Meghan Coates joined the Communications and Marketing Department as communications associate in November. She earned her B.A. from the College of St. Elizabeth and, prior to Pennington, worked at the Purnell School as a college counselor, class dean, and admission associate. Alexander Gibbons has joined the Middle School faculty as an English teacher. After graduating from Fordham University, he worked briefly at an arts education summer program in Istanbul, Turkey, and then taught at a high school in Coney Island, NY. Gibbons lives in Pennington. 8

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Gabrielle Gilmore works in the Advancement Office as the campaign manager. Gilmore holds a B.S. in nutritional science and psychology from Rutgers University. Prior to coming to Pennington, Gilmore was the special projects coordinator and the assistant to the assistant director of advancement at the Lawrenceville School. She lives in Lawrenceville. Emily Kalkus started her career at Pennington in 2013, teaching physics. She took three years off to grow her family, and has now returned to Pennington to teach Upper School science and mathematics. She holds a B.S. and an M.A.Ed., both from Virginia Tech, and she lives in Pennington. Joselle Lamoutte teaches Upper School Spanish. Lamoutte, who grew up in Puerto Rico, studied comparative literature at Princeton University. She spent a decade working as a language analyst at the Federal Bureau of Investigation doing both criminal and counterintelligence work. Lamoutte returned to Princeton University to complete the Program in Teacher Preparation, and she has worked at the Lawrenceville School for the past two years. She lives in Princeton. Kristen Lopez-Watt is the director of leadership giving in the Advancement Office. After earning her B.A. from the College of Wooster, Lopez-Watt worked in the investment industry. She then joined the development team at Stuart Country Day School. Lopez-Watt lives in Pennington. Alexander Lyttle joined the Middle School faculty as a science teacher. An outdoor educator, Lyttle holds a B.S. in adventure education from Plymouth State University. Lyttle lives on the Pennington campus. Emily Martin is the executive assistant to Head of School Bill Hawkey. Raised in Idaho, Martin holds a B.A. from Gonzaga University and an M.A. from The George Washington University. She spent over a decade working as an assistant dean

Traci Scott Karro joined the Advancement Office in November as assistant director of the Pennington Fund for alumni giving. She earned her B.A. at Smith College and an M.B.A. from Fordham University. Prior to joining Pennington, she worked at the Gifft Hill School in St. John, USVI. Robert Tuckman joined the Counseling Department on a part-time basis in November to provide counseling and support for Middle and Upper School students. Tuckman earned his B.A. at Syracuse University and his master’s degree in counseling psychology from Rider University. He holds an LPC license in NJ and PA. Zuyi Wang joined the World Languages Department as a Mandarin and English Language Lab teacher. Born and raised in Beijing, Wang earned a B.Ed. from the University of Hong Kong and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduate school, Wang worked at The Knox School, a boarding school on Long Island, NY. She lives on the Pennington campus. Carly Wassel teaches Upper School English as a leave replacement. She earned a B.A. from the University of Delaware, an M.A. from West Chester University, and a Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After teaching at the college level for six years, Wassel left higher education to teach English at Garrison Forest School in Baltimore County. She lives in Newtown, PA. Sarah Zoll is the associate director of college counseling. Zoll holds an M.A. in higher education administration from The George Washington University and a B.A. from Gettysburg College. Zoll was previously the New Jersey representative for Purdue University. She lives in Chesterfield.

FACULTY NEWS Stephanie Cohen, Erin O’Connell, and Len Leib named University of Chicago Outstanding Educators Teachers of English Stephanie Cohen and Erin O’Connell and Teacher of Mathematics Len Leib were selected as 2021 University of Chicago Outstanding Educators. The university offers newly admitted students the opportunity to nominate teachers who have made an impact in their lives. Minghao “Tony” Li ’21 nominated Cohen and O’Connell, and Shivant Krishnan ’21 nominated Leib. “For over thirty years, the University of Chicago has asked incoming students to recommend their outstanding educators—individuals who challenged them intellectually for the first time, opened new vistas of discovery, or channeled their private interests into paths for intellectual growth,” wrote James G. Nondorf, the University of Chicago’s dean of admissions and financial aid. “True learning is a collaborative experience that depends as much on the dedication of the teacher as it does on the motivation of the student.” Congratulations to Cohen, O’Connell, and Leib on this recognition of the incredible work they do at The Pennington School.

Peter Chase publishes book on history of German words Since July 2020, Teacher of German Peter Chase has been writing weekly articles on the history of German words for Neue Presse USA, a Germanlanguage newspaper based in California. This summer, Chase received funding from The Pennington School to compile a year’s worth of these articles into book form. The resultant publication, Ein Jahr “Herkunft,” is a collection of 52 articles on the etymology of various German words. Chair of the World Languages Department Lida Castro writes, “Peter’s love for the German language transpires in everything that he does...in his classroom, with his students, and in conversations with colleagues. People may not know that he is also highly proficient in Spanish and is able to get by in French. He has dedicated a lot of time to the study of etymology and history, and he is an avid reader interested in all the nuances of the cultural conventions of the language. His book is the result of his unselfish service to the German-speaking community and to all German language learners for more than a year, writing weekly columns. We rely on Peter to better understand a word in a given linguistic context or to find facts about random situations related to language teaching and learning.” Congratulations to Chase on this accomplishment and on his good reviews received so far! www.pennington.org

FAC U LT Y

AND

NEW FACULTY STAFF The Pennington School welcomes new faculty and staff.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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of School Bill Hawkey and other special guests, like Tom Liwosz, joined the party. Just down the street, the classes of 1970 and 1971 (respectively left and right below) celebrated their 50th reunions.

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2021 Highlights

This past October, Homecoming and Reunion Weekend brought hundreds of Pennington community members together for a fun-filled celebration. Over the three-day event, our campus was buzzing with activities, and you couldn’t miss the big smiles on every face—everyone was delighted to be together on campus once again. Thanks to all who attended; you made it a very special celebration of School spirit!

nington PRIDE 10

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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Saturday’s activities included a dedication of the new Lewis Brook Nature Trail and a parent tailgate hosted by Parents for Pennington. There was also plenty of time for alumni to catch up with former teachers, visit student tables on Homecoming Row, and cheer on the athletic teams. Spectators at the afternoon football game were treated to a wonderful halftime show that included the Homecoming Court and the surprise on-field engagement of two Pennington alumni, Gerrit Crater ’17 and Emma Garry ’19 (see page 54 for photo).

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Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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The Pennington School is delighted to honor our 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. The individuals and teams selected were invited to a ceremony this past October during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, and friends and family were on hand to mark this special occasion. Congratulations to these distinguished Pennington alumni and athletes!

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4. Taiko Tatenami Hunter ’95 for Varsity Girls’ Soccer and Varsity Girls’ Softball 5. Daryl Taylor ’71 for Varsity Football and Varsity Fencing, with friends and family 6. 1985 Varsity Boys’ Baseball Team: team members in attendance, from L to R: Lenny Carmichael, Jr. ’86, Dave Huchler ’86, John Harbach ’86, and Pat Picariello ’85 7. Philip Wood ’09 for Varsity Boys’ Cross Country and Varsity Boys’ Track; the award was accepted in his memory by his parents, family, and (in front row L to R) Pennington friends Rachel Filo ’08, Justin Marcus ’09, Spencer Garrison ’05, and Tyler Harris ’09.

8. 2005 Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team: team members in attendance pictured L to R: Julianne DeLorenzo ’07, Casey Rameriz ’08, Juliet Grillo ’06, Kori Washington ’07, Keri WashingtonBah ’07, Gianna Russo ’07, and Jaclyn Pastor Tibbetts ’07

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year, I encourage everyone in the Pennington community to consider how they “Each might make a difference during their time at the School. I believe that each of us can make a mark on this historic institution and leave it in even better shape than we found it.

”

—Head of School William S. Hawkey, Ph.D. at Convocation, September 11, 2021

Make Your Mark! Everyone who is a part of this special community has heard Bill Hawkey, head of school since 2014, and Peter Tucci, chair of the Pennington School Board of Trustees since 2006, encourage us to find a way to make a difference at The Pennington School. During Hawkey’s 40-year tenure, he has contributed a great deal to both the student experience and to the working environment at Pennington. Dr. Hawkey first joined the faculty in 1982 and has held many different positions with increasing levels of responsibility. He has taught psychology, public speaking, and math; he has been the director of counseling; head of Upper School; dean of faculty; and assistant and associate head of school—not to mention coach of the nationally-ranked varsity girls’ soccer team, with over 500 wins under his belt. Tucci is a Pennington alumnus from the Class of 1979 and received his B.S.F.S. and J.D. from Georgetown University. He is a corporate partner at Fox Rothschild and serves as a trustee for numerous entities including Canada Life Reinsurance Company, French-American Chamber of Commerce, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Bordentown Historical Society, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, Inc., and the D&R Greenway Land Trust. He is also the proud parent of twin daughters who graduated from Pennington in 2016 before heading to Tulane University, where Peter is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. It is safe to say that Tucci has been involved in every aspect of The Pennington School since 1975, and his experience as an alumnus, a parent, and a Board member and chair influences his unwavering devotion to the continuing success of this institution. In 2013, Tucci and the Board of Trustees unanimously elected Bill Hawkey to the position of Head of School following the resignation of Penny Townsend, who had been Head of School for the prior eight years and initiated the School’s Building for the Future capital campaign. Under Hawkey’s watch, and with the strong support of Tucci and the Board, the completion of that campaign resulted in the creation of the Kenneth Kai Tai Yen Humanities Building, the makeover of the Middle School, a new Makerspace, new administrative offices in Old Main, refurbishment of Meckler Library, the birth of Wesley Alumni House as the center for advancement and alumni initiatives, a new and welcoming suite of offices for the admission team, adding more space as well as air conditioning to the Dining Hall, renovation of several residential faculty apartments and dormitory lounges and spaces, brand-new and expanded Campus Store, renovated and refurnished Student Center, a brand-new senior lounge, expanded snack bar, a new road encircling the campus and new parking lots, and even a beach volleyball court and dedicated pickleball court space. There are new fountains in Lowelldon Pond and the Campus Center, a pathway between the main campus and Corson House, and a beautiful Archives and Special Collections Room (donated by Peter and Lisa Tucci) that was created to highlight Pennington’s long and storied history. Several new programs have also been brought to life under Dr. Hawkey’s watchful eye: the Peer Leadership program was developed by him, and he led it for twelve years before handing it over to Erin O’Connell. Two new academic programs were established and have grown tremendously: first the Global Studies Certificate Program, then the Applied Science Certificate Program. The majority of sophomores now elect to join one of these two academic programs for their junior and senior years. A new academic schedule with rotating classes was launched in 2016, the Sophomore Character and Leadership Development Program was launched in 2019, and an eSports initiative was brought to life in 2021. 16

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”

—Head of School William S. Hawkey, Ph.D. at Convocation, September 11, 2021

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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BLAZING A TRAIL

A Plan Takes Root In addition to the many initiatives described above, Hawkey and Tucci have broken new ground in other innovative ways as well. Over the past three years, they have spearheaded the design and development of a new Strategic Plan to carry Pennington forward, along with a Landscape Master Plan. It was their dedication to the development of these plans, as well as a keen interest in the ecology of the campus launched by faculty member Dr. Margo Andrews, that sparked an idea for yet another new project to enhance life at The Pennington School—building a new trail on the 55-acre campus to connect the north end of campus to the Lewis Brook. Andrews heads up the Sustainability Committee, comprising faculty, staff, students, and parents who work together on campus issues that include energy consumption, recycling, food waste and composting, landscaping and grounds maintenance, and curricula. They also prioritize the strengthening of community by collaborating with other committees and clubs, organizing School-wide guest speakers and events, and maintaining strong partnerships with the Operations Department and Sodexo. In addition, Andrews oversees the Green Team, a student-led club whose members are focused on minimizing the School’s impact on the environment and fostering a stronger environmental ethic within our community. Andrews has, since her arrival, enhanced and developed interdisciplinary curricula that gets students outdoors, in the pond and brook, in the woods and School garden, and exploring campus ecologies. This environmental education opens students’ eyes to the various effects—both positive and negative—they have on local and global environments and provides them with the tools and opportunities to make a difference in the world. She was instrumental in championing the creation of outdoor classrooms, which were invaluable during the past couple of years as more instruction moved outdoors. She also led the charge for Pennington to receive River-Friendly Certification in fall 2018 from the Watershed Institute.As the campus contains headwaters to two major watersheds (the Raritan River and Delaware River), we teamed up with the Watershed Institute for its StreamWatch program. Students conduct chemical and biological monitoring in Lewis Brook, and they hope to eventually supply water quality data to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Environmental Science and Ecology students also carry out scientific studies and restoration efforts in the adjoining woods. The School’s landscape architects spent a great deal of time walking Pennington’s campus to observe how the land was currently being used and to identify areas of improvement, including places to add more outdoor classrooms. This process revealed that the north side of campus— encompassing approximately 3.5 acres of woods barred from development— was considerably underutilized; the only visitors were faculty children explorers and Environmental Science students performing stream studies. Hawkey, Andrews, and Tucci began to brainstorm about the possibilities. At that time, during the summer of 2019, Tucci had begun building a walking trail on his own property, spending weekends clearing the land, and as the group trudged through the overgrowth, the idea to create a new Pennington trail connecting to the Lewis Brook was born.

Labor of Love Bill Hawkey was actually the youngest certified nurseryman in the state of New York at the age of 15 (at least that is the folklore); his father owns a 18

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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I don’t know of any other heads of school or board chairs who built anything this substantial on their campus with their own hands. The new Lewis Brook trail will serve our Pennington School community for years to come as a place to walk deep into the woods, find a quiet place to think, or just to observe and enjoy the beautiful nature all around us. The trail is also open to the broader Pennington community, so our neighbors in the Borough are all invited to use it.

”

— Chad Bridges, Assistant Head of School for Community Life and US Dean of Students

nursery in Westchester County, NY and Bill had worked there every summer since middle school. Hawkey’s roots to the great outdoors go back even further, as his grandfather also had a tree farm in Upper Saddle River, NJ. Bill spent his first two years in college as a plant and soil science major, and he, Tucci, and Andrews immediately began to identify areas on this part of the campus for trail heads and potential outdoor classrooms. They began tagging those during that summer of 2019 and thinking about how to expand the project. Tucci and Hawkey were eager to do something constructive, and to begin a project that required only “people power,” so work could begin immediately without waiting for the budget process.

many U.S. states are being killed by an invasive beetle called the emerald ash borer, and replanting is now needed in some areas on the land. No trees were removed to make way for the trail, and only all-natural materials were used to construct it.

Open to All On Saturday, October 9, there was a formal ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Lewis Brook Trail during Homecoming Weekend at Pennington. Officiated by James Davy, the mayor of Pennington Borough, Hawkey, Andrews, and Tucci, the ribbon-cutting (actually a vinecutting!) and dedication was the first time many in the Pennington community were able to walk the trail and marvel at the stunning woodland vistas. Some in the group even paused to sit and enjoy the first donation of a rustic wood bench, which invites people to quietly take in their surroundings. Joe Wesley (pictured at right with his wife Marion and Peter Tucci, and with Bill Hawkey and arborists on site) visited the trail that day and was so inspired by the work that he decided to make a significant contribution to the project. His generous gift will provide for clearing approximately 150 dying and dead trees in the Lewis Brook woods. There is the potential for new outdoor classrooms along the way, and the woods have already become a valuable teaching site where students are conducting long-term scientific studies and restoration efforts. The primary goals are to manage and track invasive species, minimize deer browse impacts, and introduce native plant and tree species that will help reestablish the tree canopy and understory.

Although the trail was outlined over the summer of 2019, Hawkey was only able to work on it sporadically that fall, and Tucci joined him in this effort most weekends. Always a busy season as the new academic year gets underway, fall is also when, in addition to his responsibilities as head of school, Hawkey takes on coaching duties for the girls’ soccer team. It was not until January of 2020 that they were able to finally begin clearing the first sections of the path. They started with pruners and axes to cut back overgrown flora like the abundant grape vines, and cleared away a large area of invasive Japanese knotweed with great help from members of the Operations team. Fallen tree limbs were used to mark the sides of the trail, which would later be filled in with wood chips. They spent weekends there working closely together and, once real progress was being made, some of the boarders and faculty families on campus became curious about the work and were invited to join in. About fifteen different students spent time working on the new trail and by February, a big difference was visible to all. Peter Chase and his sons, both Pennington students, helped out many times. Tom Horsley also contributed manpower to the effort. People in the surrounding area would see Hawkey and Tucci working and come over to ask about what they were doing. One neighbor offered to install some birdhouses, and all were delighted to learn that the trail was planned to be open to the Borough community. Mike Van Clef, an ecologist with Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, lent his expertise toward a plan to manage invasive species, such as timing the use of wood chips to prevent growth of Japanese stilt grass. He also walked the woods with Ecology students, teaching them about the various human drivers of changes to the forest. Ash trees throughout Mercer County and

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I think it is safe to say that Bill Hawkey leads by example. He constantly reminds us that we can all make a difference, and that one small group of people can pioneer something that will benefit us all. On the Lewis Brook Trail project, he and Margo and Peter have quite literally ‘paved the way’ for a sustainable future for The Pennington School and made great use of the land on which we live and learn.

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—Charlie Brown, Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives www.pennington.org

BLAZING A TRAIL

Labor of Love Bill Hawkey was actually the youngest certified nurseryman in the state of New York at the age of 15 (at least that is the folklore); his father owns a 18

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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— Chad Bridges, Assistant Head of School for Community Life and US Dean of Students

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—Charlie Brown, Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives www.pennington.org

COMMUNITY SERVICE 20

GIRLS IN STEM

effecting change in Malawi

Over the last few years, Pennington students, led by Susan Wirsig, director of the Applied Science Certificate Program, have built a relationship with a school in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, Africa. When Wirsig first visited Dzaleka, she learned about the many hardships girls there were facing, including water shortages, sanitation issues, and economic struggles. Not the least of these problems was insufficient access to menstrual products, causing girls to miss school while menstruating, and often dropping out altogether. Pennington’s Girls in STEM club set out to help solve this problem, working to create a hybrid sanitary napkin that would meet the needs of the students in Malawi while utilizing less of their limited resources. Through their own tests and collaboration with the girls in Dzaleka, the club developed a successful product. In July, the club won the grand prize in the Lemonade Stand Contest, a competition run by Whalebone Magazine and Faherty Brand, granting them more funding and some marketing expertise for the next steps of their initiative.

Pennington’s focus on community does not end at the edge of campus. Every semester, the students, faculty, and staff participate in a number of different service-oriented initiatives, and this fall was no different. Whether it was through collecting children’s toys, organizing food drives, or running to support a cause, the School came together over and over to effect positive change locally, nationally, and globally. On the local level, students lent support to a number of groups that offer assistance in the neighboring areas. In October, a group of students volunteered at the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry, an organization that collects, sorts, packages, and delivers groceries and fresh produce to those in need of aid. The students contributed by packaging food that was then delivered to families in the Hopewell and Ewing areas. Other students spent their time packing Jared Boxes, which are containers filled

with toys, books, art supplies, and other activities that are donated to pediatric patients at a local hospital. The School community supplied assorted materials, and the students organized the donations into boxes for different ages and genders. The holiday season always brings many shows of generosity across campus. As well as the annual work done in collaboration with local organization HomeFront, the School partnered with Arm in Arm for a Thanksgiving food drive in November. Boxes of food donations were collected from the community and sent to the organization that acts as a resource for local families in need of assistance. Broadening their service to the national level, the Peer Leaders hosted a Run for the Cure in October to benefit a breast cancer awareness organization, the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Community members were able to support

the cause by collecting pledges and running a distance of their choosing either on campus or virtually, as well as through the purchase of T-shirts. Pennington’s Community Service Club also coordinated a donation drive of hygiene products for Afghan refugees living at the McGuire-Fort Dix Air Force Base during the fall semester. The Club plans to support those living at the base throughout the year, as well as sponsor another drive for supplies. Though numerous faculty, staff, and students support the service efforts of the community, Teacher of History Tiernan Close and Chaplain David Hallgren lead many of the community service initiatives on campus. They commended the work done by the students, saying “It is great to see students being socially aware and pulling together to help those in need.”

With an eye to the future, the club’s goal is to create a larger initiative around their product, giving materials, tools, and training to the women in Malawi so they can produce the sanitary napkins themselves as a source of income. They hope to create a ripple effect; women who are able to produce the pads will be working towards economic independence while helping the next generation of girls stay in school.

MALAWI SOLAR POWER CLUB The members of the Malawi Solar Power Club packed individual kits that were sent to Malawi during the end of September. Each kit has the materials to build one solar-powered phone charger. The Pennington students met the Malawi students on Zoom in November and taught them how to connect the circuit components using a soldering iron.

www.pennington.org

COMMUNITY SERVICE 20

GIRLS IN STEM

effecting change in Malawi

www.pennington.org

EVENTS B

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B On Monday, September 13, the Class of 2022 arrived at campus at 6:00 a.m. for the traditional Senior Sunrise. C The opening week of school was very exciting for our residential life students. The group took a trip to the beach, attended a Phillies game, played laser tag on the turf, and enjoyed pizza parties, kickball games, outdoor movies, volleyball, and tennis games against the faculty! D On September 15, Nicholas Cicchetti, a second-year Ph.D. student in radiochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, spoke to students in the Applied Science Program. He shared his experience of working in a nuclear laboratory and gave students a sense of the day-to-day life of a doctoral student. E September 15 is International Dot Day! This day is celebrated all around the globe as a way to boost courage and unlock creative potential. F On September 24, Pennington’s Girls in STEM club attended a workshop led by Michelle Bottomley P’22, Mike Barkley P’16 ’21, and Amy Hutnik P’22. The goal of the workshop was to develop a marketing strategy for the rollout of the club’s patent-pending product, a hybrid sanitary napkin designed for girls in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. Parents Tina Lambdin P’21 ’25, Paul Murphy P’24 ’27, and Scott Gibbard P’19 ’21 ’22 also served as facilitators for the workshop. The group gathered again on October 22 to continue their work and hope to have 1,000 units on the market in early 2022. G Our first Coffeehouse of the school year featured incredible talent and perfect weather! H On September 27, Pennington hosted the first formal residential dinner since February 2020. I Art Club members Avery Sichel ’22 and Hieu Nguyen ’22 carved a pumpkin on October 6 at the Hopewell Valley Arts Council Amazing Pumpkin Carve. Named “Staircase Within,” the pumpkin was displayed in a drive-through exhibit in Woolsey Park in Titusville, NJ. J Our residential students had an amazing time at Hellerick’s Family Farm Aerial Adventure Park on October 2! K Pennington’s English classes welcomed special guest Andre Bradford for a spoken word/poetry workshop on October 12. Bradford is an Austin-based slam poet who has been performing poetry since 2013. He led the students through writing prompts and suggested tips for developing poems such as how to use comedy and express rich emotions. L To get ready for Homecoming Weekend, the Junior Proctors planned a scavenger hunt around the Pennington campus for the Middle School students. M Ecology students took a trip to the Pole Farm area of Mercer Meadows to learn about the ecological benefits of prescribed burning. Jenn Rogers, director of stewardship for Mercer County Parks, taught students about the park’s special grassland ecosystem and showed them how fire benefits the regrowth of desired species while limiting spread of invasive plant species. N During the 2020–21 school year, the Pennington School’s Aviation Club won second place in the national GAMA Design Challenge. Their prize was a custom aviation course from Redbird Flight Simulations. Greg Roark, director of STEM education at Redbird Flight Simulations, visited the campus on October 15-16 for a two-day workshop with our students. O In mid-October, a group of residential students enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at Grounds for Sculpture. P A lucky group of students spent the afternoon watching the NY Giants take on the LA Rams on October 17.

Q On Sunday, October 24, our residential students spent the day in New York City eating, shopping, and seeing the sights! R Students in honors and AP Latin attended a virtual Latin conference on October 29. The event, known as Classics Day, was sponsored by Montclair State University (MSU) and allowed the students to attend sessions like “Virtual Field Trip to the American School of Classical Studies Excavations at Corinth” and presentations led by MSU faculty. S On Friday, October 29, Suzanne Beck P’23 ’25 delivered an interactive presentation about her career in the FBI to a room full of interested students in the Applied Science Program. Beck became a special agent with the FBI in 2002 and currently investigates white-collar crimes and health care fraud. T Twenty students from the Latinx Affinity Club and Spanish classes helped the members of ESWA (Eastern Service Workers Association) in Trenton celebrate Halloween on October 30. Students volunteered to face paint, distribute food, and create games for kids. U On Saturday, October 30, parents of alumni were invited back to Pennington for a post-football barbecue at Corson House! V Pennington School students volunteered at the HomeFront Halloween 5k on October 31. The group dressed like spiders and scarecrows and were excited to help out during this great event. W The World Languages Department hosted our School’s Día de los Muertos celebration on November 1, which included an elaborate ofrenda in the Wesley Forum! X Pennington’s Operations Department led a power tool safety lesson for the Design Engineering class on November 2. The students were in the beginning stages of building a rideon vehicle. Y Pennington School senior cheerleaders and members of the varsity football team were honored during the game on Saturday, November 6. Z On Wednesday, November 10, The Pennington School honored senior Rafael Ponce de Leon, of Pennington, who signed the NCAA National Letter of Intent to play Division I soccer at Villanova University. 8 On Monday, November 15, author and Pennington alumnus Bill Pearl ’65 joined Upper School students interested in creative writing via Zoom to discuss writing as a career. 9 Our residential community enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal during the November 15 formal dinner. : On Wednesday, November 17, Brian Keating ’18 spoke with students from the Pennington Music Collective over Zoom about his experience working with different kinds of audiovisual technology and how The Pennington School helped pique his interest in audio engineering. ; On Thursday, November 19, Pennington welcomed Augustin Pendus P’23 to campus to speak with students as a part of our Applied Science Speaker Series. He is currently working as NASA’s mechanical decision authority lead. < Pennington’s Model UN team began their Thanksgiving Break with a strong showing at the 2021 Rutgers University Model United Nations Conference. = On Wednesday, December 1, Dr. Christine Papa P’21 ’21 ’22 spoke with a room of interested STEM students about how she discovered a passion for dermatology as well as the business end of running a medical practice. a The Dramatic Society hosted its Holiday Coffeehouse on Friday, December 3, in the Dining Hall. Singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, and poets were all welcomed to perform during the event. b To kick off the Winter Break on Friday, December 17, Middle School students put on holiday performances, and each grade participated in a Secret Snowflake where they were able to anonymously give and receive a gift. www.pennington.org

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MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS 24

MS FALL SPORTS By Emma Normand ’26

The beginning of a new school year meant that fall activities were back in full swing. All officially starting in September were soccer, managed by Ryan Stokes, Chauncey Farrington, and Joselle Lamoutte; field hockey, coached by Kate Coates and Mary Roseen; cross country, run by Alex Gibbons and Matthew Mysliwiec; and the new Outdoor Club, led by Alex Lyttle. Middle School soccer kicked off the season strong with a 5-0 win against the Wilberforce School. The team all worked together to build a strong defense and scored many goals. Members of the soccer team say they enjoy playing for Pennington because of the leadership and communication skills the players showcase on and off the field. The MS Soccer A team was undefeated this fall! Field hockey had their first game against Stuart on Tuesday, September 21, and left with a 6-0 win. An eighth-grade member of the team said, “Though I love those moments after a big win when we all have smiles from ear to ear and give each other big hugs, what I love most about MS field hockey is that we gain friends and bond with girls who support each other on and, more importantly, off the field. Being able to be an eighth-grader on the team and leading the younger girls is the most rewarding feeling! Being part of something that’s bigger than me is an unmatchable experience and has helped me through my best and worst days! Go Pennington!” Cross country had their first meet on Wednesday, September 22, against the Wilberforce School. The meet was away, and all the runners put in tremendous effort. One runner said, “In cross country, we are all running our hardest and testing our bodies and minds... in a very laidback setting. Although the tasks at the beginning of the year seemed daunting, and many people couldn’t imagine running the full two miles in a meet, the small yet very connected team always found a way to be calm about it all. Everyone on the team tries to meet their personal goals. Since everyone is at different speeds, you tend to make friends with the people around you, so that’s why the biggest motivation is to pace yourself to stay with them!” Outdoor Club is relatively new to the Middle School and gives students the chance to get outside and discover new hiking trails or skills. The fall activities at Pennington were very successful. Whether a member of the soccer team, field hockey team, Outdoor Club, or cross country team, everyone worked together and strived to achieve their goals. Most of all, the sense of community is what makes any activity special at Pennington, where all students and athletes can be themselves and have fun. www.pennington.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS 24

MS FALL SPORTS By Emma Normand ’26

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

MS NEWS

ENJOY

RESIDENTIAL LIFE By Minnie Wu ’26 and Muhan Tian ’26

PENNINGTON’S PICKLEBALL! By Norah Youngblood ’26

When Pennington opened back up for a new school year, one of the newest attractions on campus was the pickleball court. A pickleball court is a place where students of all grades go to play a game like tennis with friends new or old and have fun outside. Before you learn more about what pickle means to others in the community, we would like to briefly present the history of pickleball. Pickleball was invented in 1965 when two dads with the names of Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell needed to pass time with their families. With pieces of ping pong paddles and wiffle balls they were able to make what we know today as pickleball. This game soon began to blow up really quickly and is known to be one of the “fastest growing sports in the United States.” One of the reasons why this sport has grown so fast is because of its ability to be a sport for any age group, allowing everyone to be involved and have fun. At Pennington, even teachers participate in this fun activity. We asked people around campus who like pickleball, “What does pickleball mean to you?” Eighth-grader Karys said, “Pickleball is a fun game to do with your friends.” Silas from sixth grade added, “It’s a fun game that you get to play and challenge others in a friendly match.” Zay from seventh grade finds a comfort in the game, saying, “Pickleball is like home to me, and when I play pickleball, I feel at peace.” Last, one of our Middle School English teachers, Mr. Gibbons, reflected, ”To me, pickleball encompasses the idea of having a good time and fun. You are also encouraged to be as competitive as you want and just enjoy some fresh air.” It’s been great to see students and faculty of all ages playing together. Overall, pickleball is a very fun activity for everyone, and we hope to see you out there on the court!

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In early November, Pennington Lifers (senior day students who have been at Pennington since sixth grade or boarding students who have been at the School since eighth grade) visited our sixth graders to talk about their Pennington journey and share some sentiments from their time at the School. In return, the Middle Schoolers delivered some doughnuts to thank them for coming. We love seeing the connections our Middle School and Upper School students form!

This year, all Pennington students can gather on campus, and they are all delighted to be together for the 2021-22 school year. An important part of the community, the Middle School boarding students learned to adapt to their new modes of life. They also enjoy the precious time they can use to ponder topics, focus on their work, and, most importantly, build up connections with every person around campus. In early fall interviews, they energetically shared their perspectives and thoughts about our Middle School residential life. It is great to see that our Pennington Middle School students are all diligent in adjusting from their past experiences and are now broadening their horizons to meet new people and try fresh things. We can’t wait to see how they turn their residential lives into a fun and fruitful journey!

“As a part of the MS boarding community, I feel excited, enthusiastic, nervous, uncertain, and at my second home. Even in the morning when I just wake up, I feel excited to talk and play with my friends. In addition, as I have a study hall time with teachers and boarding students, my enthusiasm increases for focusing more on my work and using my time wisely. However, I also feel nervous and uncertain because I am still a bit unfamiliar with the School and boarding life. I still wonder about the dress code, early lunch, late lunch, and Middle School lunch. I also feel so excited to be a part of the School and to do some activities with my Pennington family. For sports, I’m doing cross country, and on September 22 we had a race with Wilberforce School. For this weekend I’m looking forward to the Delaware River floating trip with other boarding students and faculty members.” —Jiwoo Kim ’26

“I think that boarding life is a pretty cool experience because there are a lot of events that take place. For example, students can sign up for different kinds of fun activities. I already went to the mall, Sky Zone, the color run, and tubing on the Delaware River. It is always thrilling to meet new people.” —Thomas Huffman ’27

“Being a boarding student is so fun because I have a roommate, and it is a nice experience. Sometimes it’s hard because I miss my parents or feel homesick, but with this community and this busy schedule of fun, I never have time to be sad.” —Mauricio Cohen ’27

“As a boarding student at Pennington, I can say my time here so far has been better than I expected. At first, when my mom threw me into the whole boarding idea, I thought it would be chaos—bathroom havoc, and no personal freedom or space. Now that I am here, I can say that none of those are true. The food here is good, and there are plenty of things to do on the weekends. Being able to have the leisure of waking up later than usual to a hot breakfast and walking a minute to get to class is something that I will never be able to live without now that I am here.”

—Monte Huffman ’26

“So far, I would like to say that Pennington’s boarding life has been a great experience. It’s an awesome way to meet new people, socialize, and make friends not only from my grade but also from other grades. Everyone is so welcoming and kind. It’s exciting to have a roommate. We have plentiful activities like going to the mall and for ice cream on our own. I soon realized that I have become a part of the community, and it’s exhilarating. The teachers are passionate and will help me with anything. The clubs and sports are fun and instructive. I especially like this because I can get new memories and experiences. Even if I want to try a new sport, students and teachers are very welcoming to me. Before I came to Pennington, I felt it would be hard to live without my parents, but I found out that time flies, and at some point I am even too busy to ever talk to them.” —Helena Cohen ’27 www.pennington.org

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

MS NEWS

ENJOY

RESIDENTIAL LIFE By Minnie Wu ’26 and Muhan Tian ’26

PENNINGTON’S PICKLEBALL! By Norah Youngblood ’26

LIFERS VISIT MIDDLE SCHOOL 26

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

—Monte Huffman ’26

Pennington’s Cervone Center influences best practices of learning for all Pennington students Individual Excellence

The Pennington School is dedicated to developing individual excellence in all of its students. The Pennington School mission is also the secret of its success as an exceptional educational institution. Every Pennington teacher is committed to the goal of helping all students reach their full potential— as learners, as problem-solvers, and as moral and ethical people determined to make a difference in their communities and in the world at large.

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Learning should be a nurturing of success rather than a cataloguing of errors, and the best principles of learning for students with differences or disabilities are the best principles for all students.

CERVONE CENTER ARTICLE

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— Dr. Edmund Cervone, Founder, Cervone Center for Learning

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Small, student-centered classes and character development programs help us achieve these goals, but the biggest differentiating factor at Pennington is that every teacher is equipped with the tools and strategies they need to reach every type of learner, in every discipline. Faculty professional development provides a good deal of knowledge, but one immense and vitally important resource stands out from all the rest: the experience and expertise of the Cervone Center for Learning. The Pennington School was among the first college-preparatory schools to acknowledge the concept of learning differences and to create a specialized program to address them. The Cervone Center for Learning serves students who have the strong intellectual ability to succeed in a rigorous program of study, but who also have a learning difference that could limit their achievement in a typical academic setting. Cervone Center students and teachers have enriched the Pennington community since 1975, well before most other schools. The Cervone Center for Learning program is very highly regarded nationwide and has been a model for similar programs across the country since its inception. Every child is unique, and the truth of this principle is evident in the different ways children learn—in their varying abilities to listen, read, write, think, remember, organize, and focus. Research has shown that there is no uniform learning process shared by all students; there is as much individuality in learning styles as there is in physical attributes, athletic abilities, or artistic talents. At Pennington, we understand that students’ minds are enormously varied, and we believe that effective teaching and

learning requires understanding and working with this natural diversity, which we embrace. Our experience confirms that all students benefit from an approach to education that takes into account their unique natures. The Cervone Center for Learning is highly effective at preparing students for college-level study. The three main goals of the program are to identify each student’s educational difficulties and to address them through individually-tailored academic supports and accommodations; to help each student fully participate in the School’s traditional collegepreparatory curriculum; and for most students to transition out of Cervone Center for Learning classes before or at graduation from Pennington, with the skills and strategies necessary to achieve the independence and confidence that will ensure their success in college. Students play an essential collaborative role in this process.

Organizational and Study Skills The key strategy employed by the Cervone Center is the Compensatory Skills (CS) class, a daily one-to-one class specifically designed to address compensatory strategies for learning for each individual. The CS class is part of a student’s regular schedule; no student is “pulled out” of another class to participate in CS. A CS teacher begins the year by completing a thorough assessment of each student’s strengths and areas of academic need. From this initial assessment process, an educational plan is developed. This Compensatory Skills Plan (CSP) establishes short- and long-term instructional objectives for addressing individual needs within the CS class and for helping students to develop strategies to manage the academic material in their other classes. These strategies include a focus on study and organizational skills, particularly in preparation for tests and the completion of long-term projects. Students are expected to develop an understanding of the way they learn best, and attention is given to how well students are using learned strategies in their work in other courses. There are ongoing conversations between the CS teacher and a student’s other Pennington teachers, and accommodations plans can be and often are adjusted throughout the year based on observed needs. Students also learn to develop self-advocacy skills they can rely upon for the rest of their lives.

ACTION

Pennington’s Cervone Center influences best practices of learning for all Pennington students Individual Excellence

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CERVONE CENTER ARTICLE

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— Dr. Edmund Cervone, Founder, Cervone Center for Learning

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Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

ACTION

T R A NSFO R M ATI O N

Specialized Classes and Boarding Opportunities The Pennington School offers parallel classes in English, mathematics, and Spanish taught by content-area teachers who understand the best methods for presenting course material to students who struggle in a specific academic area. They follow the same general curriculum as a standard course, but the smaller size of the class provides more individual attention. Other than these classes, students enrolled in the Cervone Center program follow a standard course of study. Academic Skills Tutorial (AST) and Mathematics Skills Tutorial (MST) classes are available to any student in need of academic support. Some students enroll in an AST as they transition out of a one-to-one Compensatory Skills (CS) class. Other students may not be enrolled in the Cervone Center, but simply need to learn some additional study strategies. One teacher supervises a tutorial class with a small number of students, and helps them organize their assignments in order to use their time more effectively. Study skills, test-taking strategies, and writing skills are also addressed as needed. Students enrolled in the Cervone Center for Learning program who board at The Pennington School are able to take advantage of educational opportunities outside of the typical school day. The Cervone Center holds its own study hall in the evening Monday through Thursday, and each session is staffed with Cervone Center faculty, who are able to assist with homework and ensure that all academic expectations are being met by students. Boarding can alleviate the need for parents to fill the role of teacher or tutor in the evenings, and students can also often benefit greatly from the highly organized structure of the boarding program, as well as all of the other advantages gained from participating in a boarding program.

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There has been a shift in education, over a number of years, in how we understand learning to occur. Gone are the days when the teacher stands before students and delivers instruction, imparting knowledge as the expert at the front of the classroom. We know now that true learning and understanding happens through the interactions between students and teachers, students and content, and students with one another. It happens when we work collaboratively around the table, around ideas, around certain ways of understanding the world.

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— Jo Prockop, Director of the Cervone Center for Learning

“Any bump in the road can be surpassed if one looks in the right direction.” —Matt Bloom ’13

DIRECTOR OF THE CERVONE CENTER FOR LEARNING

JO PROCKOP

Jo Prockop is the director of the Pennington School’s renowned Edmund V. Cervone Center for Learning, which was first established in 1975 as a college-preparatory program for bright students with learning differences. Prockop has been at The Pennington School for over twenty-five years, first serving as director of academic support, and becoming the director of the Cervone Center in 2003. She earned her B.A. from Bennington College and her M.Ed. degree from Arcadia University. In her role as director of the Cervone Center, Prockop supervises the School’s innovative Compensatory Skills program and guides the Cervone Center faculty members who teach within it. She is responsible for supervising the accommodations plans for all students who need them, and for directing college counseling for students who participate in the Cervone Center program. In addition, Prockop, along with the outstanding Cervone Center faculty, works to ensure that all teaching at The Pennington School reflects a core tenet of the Cervone Center mission, which states that the best practices for meeting the needs of students with learning differences are the best practices for all students. After eighteen years of service as director of the program, she is honored to carry on the mission of the program’s founder, Edmund Cervone, and to support all learners at Pennington. 30

An informed strategic approach to new ways of teaching and learning The past two academic years were some of the most remarkable in The Pennington School’s history. The Pennington School’s thoughtful response to the pandemic illuminated the integral role the Cervone Center plays in Pennington’s overall success as a school. The pandemic required immediate action, informed strategy, and continuous improvements in every corner of the School’s work as an educational institution—and it transformed every aspect of the Pennington student experience. Although the circumstances were challenging, the School was well-positioned to nimbly tackle changes to our learning model, thanks in no small part to the expertise of the Cervone Center for Learning faculty and its integration into the institution as a whole. Pennington is now an even stronger school and more knowledgeable than before about how best to serve the needs of its students and faculty members. In March 2020, the School was immediately able to leverage the strengths and resources of the Cervone Center in its response to the COVID-19 crisis as it began that spring. This institutional expertise is unique among our peer schools and is a great asset to Pennington’s academic core. A small task force was immediately formed to craft Pennington’s approach, at first to distance learning and, later, to blended/hybrid learning. This team of faculty members—Dean of Faculty Debbie Fermo, Dean of Academic Affairs Scott Peeler, Head of Middle School Chrissie Knight, and Director of the Cervone Center for Learning Jo Prockop—was able to draw on the same best practices employed by the Cervone Center faculty to inform this work. These teaching practices, standard at Pennington, allow each student to achieve individual excellence regardless of learning differences or neurotypicality. The team, known “in-house” as the DTLC (Distance Teaching and Learning Committee), also leveraged the Cervone Center’s years of training faculty members to create classroom environments and lessons to help all students—not only Cervone Center students—thrive, whether learning on campus or from home. Pennington’s approach to

teaching in a distance-learning environment had to take into account how students learn and collaborate both face-to-face with their teachers and peers on campus as well as in a distance-learning classroom. It was not possible to simply take the typical on-campus schedule and mirror it for distance learning; they needed to think differently and reimagine it entirely. The team, meeting almost every day, also worked with teachers from every department to identify and focus their lesson plans on the essential skills within their curricula. The dedication of Pennington’s faculty was never more evident than during the past two years, as they transitioned from teaching in the classroom to distance learning, then to hybrid learning, and, this fall, back to the classroom full time. They sometimes traveled to students’ homes to drop off needed supplies, worked closely with parents and families for at-home support, and extended their working times and availability as needed. These educators have served as a model for putting the care for each student above all else, and we are all tremendously grateful for this talented and dedicated team of teachers.

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It’s the qualitative differences we want to see for all learners— their ability to collaborate with one another, to communicate across subject areas, and to think critically about the world and about themselves. These are lifelong skills that they will take and apply in college and into their future careers.

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— Jo Prockop, Director of the Cervone Center for Learning

www.pennington.org

T R A NSFO R M ATI O N

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— Jo Prockop, Director of the Cervone Center for Learning

“Any bump in the road can be surpassed if one looks in the right direction.” —Matt Bloom ’13

DIRECTOR OF THE CERVONE CENTER FOR LEARNING

JO PROCKOP

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— Jo Prockop, Director of the Cervone Center for Learning

www.pennington.org

US FALL ATHLETICS

Coach: Jerry Eure ’75 Assistant Coaches: Blair Thompson, Long Ding, Adam Cooley, Dave Hallgren, and Tom Bock

Several donors generously provided over $650,000 for this project to help make it a reality. “It was another wonderful showing of our community’s generosity,” said Upper School Dean of Students and Assistant Head of School for Community Life Chad Bridges ’96. “We have such passionate Pennington parents—they are great champions of our athletics programs and the School, and so many stay involved even after their kids graduate. I am very grateful for the support shown by our committed donors. They made it happen!”

The 2021 Varsity Football team will be remembered as one of the most improved football teams in many years here. Many important players graduated last year, and the returning players had seen very limited action. The team had fourteen new players who had never played organized football before, so we knew we had to do a lot of teaching, and this would be a rebuilding year. But they exceeded all expectations! Success is not always measured in wins or losses, and by the end of the season this team was able to compete with every other team on our schedule. Yes, they were a better team in November than they were in August.

Construction on the full-field renovation started just after the end of the 2020–21 school year, when the old turf field was dismantled, roll by roll, by Keystone Sports Construction. Over the course of two weeks, the new turf, installed by AstroTurf, came to life. The new 3D-series field boasts a feature called RootZone®—a texturized layer of fibers for improved safety, playability, and durability. The new surface is further enforced by the Brock SP padding applied underneath, making it safer for our student-athletes.

The highlight of the season was beating a powerhouse Peddie team 54-39 in an exciting game away from home. We will miss our seniors dearly, but we know they are moving on to great things, and they have left this program better than they found it! The coaches would like to thank every player, parent, cheerleader, and fan who supported them along the way, and the team hopes they made the Pennington community proud.

The finishing touch was to create the prominently positioned Pennington “P” and to add the needed game lines to the field. Associate Director of Athletics Patrick Murphy ’80, who oversaw the management of the project, said, “This was a total upgrade, and the new surface is far more durable, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. All of this, combined with the new, larger ‘split P’ logo in the center, is a massive boost to School pride.”

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

US AT H L E TIC S

FOOTBALL

After thousands of practices and nearly 800 games, the Pennington School’s turf field has been extensively upgraded. The original turf field, named for recently retired longtime faculty member Tom Liwosz, was purchased secondhand in 2009 from the New York Jets training facility. Ever since, the field has been an essential resource for Pennington’s athletics program and home to some of our School’s most honored annual traditions and community celebrations. It is a place where our students, families, alumni, and friends joyfully come together and share their Pennington pride.

This 2021 season happily returned the cheerleading team to its practice space, and they had their biggest team ever! The team had its very first assistant coach to help keep stunting safe. The team had fifteen returning members, three captains, and nine new freshman cheerleaders. They began the season with a brand-new look with their recently purchased uniforms. Preseason was met with unprecedented enthusiasm, great spirit, and hard work. The new girls caught on fast to the cheers and learned how to stunt and dance. Weeks of preparation went into organizing the Pep Rally, which was held outside on the turf for the first time! There was an electric vibe pulsing through the entire Pennington community out in the fresh air as the students celebrated all the School teams and clubs and the return to campus as a whole. The cheerleaders rocked their homecoming routine and enjoyed cheering back on their own turf as well as traveling to away games. The team designed great banners for the football players to break through and teamed up with the birdcage, called out cheers together, and created a spirited atmosphere for the fans. This year’s theme was “Better as One,” and with the return of everyone on campus, this certainly rang true.

CHEERLEADING Coach: Kathy-Lynn Kelly Assistant Coach: Andrea Popel

www.pennington.org

US FALL ATHLETICS

Coach: Jerry Eure ’75 Assistant Coaches: Blair Thompson, Long Ding, Adam Cooley, Dave Hallgren, and Tom Bock

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

US AT H L E TIC S

FOOTBALL

CHEERLEADING Coach: Kathy-Lynn Kelly Assistant Coach: Andrea Popel

www.pennington.org

US AT H L E TIC S

FIELD HOCKEY Coaches: Wendy Morris and Ellie Paige ’17

GIRLS’ TENNIS Coach: Ken Palumbo

Our 2021 season started with over twenty-five players vying for seven positions. Coach Palumbo knew on that first day that a special year was brewing. The Varsity team final seven included a freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Our JV team was in good hands with Shawn Nicosia. Polaris Hayes ’24, #1 singles, was named the Trenton Times Player of the Year and had a fabulous season going undefeated in the regular season and making it to the finals of the Prep B tournament. Praslin Hayes ’24 was undefeated at #2 singles and Prep B Champion, all without losing a set. Lauren Decker ’23, #3 singles, showed extreme growth in her third year while posting some big wins. Ana Camilia Esparza Pizano ’25 and Gia Villegas ’22 were undefeated throughout the season, making it to the Prep B finals. Amelie Halgan ’23 showed great dedication to the team, playing doubles and singles. She had some big wins throughout the season. Carrie Zhu ’22 gave it her all in every match. A special mention to Juliet Walton ’25, who was this year’s top JV player and was called up to varsity multiple times. The team finished the regular season 10-1 and came in second at the Prep Bs. Coach Palumbo thanks all players for an unbelievable year of dedication, team camaraderie, and fun.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Although we were not able to start the year with the traditional preseason residential camp, we still enjoyed a productive week. Joining us this year as an assistant coach was Pennington graduate Ellie Paige ’17, who was a four-year varsity starter at Pennington as well as a member of the Centennial Conference champions Franklin & Marshall field hockey team! Our season was kicked off with a team run which ended at the Adams house, where we enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast cooked by Isabel’s dad. We had a small varsity squad this year with fourteen players, and eight on JV. Varsity finished the season with a 7-10 record. On October 25, we played one of our best games of the season. The girls played an outstanding and beautifully executed game, with everyone on the roster contributing. It was an exciting 3-0 win over Peddie, before which we celebrated our seniors: Ariana Colner, Lucy Harding, Jules Harris, and Daisy Hutnik. We ended the season with a very lively Race for the Gourds practice, and the team ran together in the Peer Leaders’ annual Run for the Cure. Overall, we enjoyed a team-spirited, hardworking season. Congratulations to Lucy Harding, selected to the Central Jersey Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Star First Team, and to Daisy Hutnik on the Second Team. Both seniors played in the Senior Showcase game hosted by the CJFHCA on December 4 on the Pennington turf field. We wish our four seniors all the best!

GIRLS’ SOCCER Coaches: Bill Hawkey and Patrick Murphy ’80 Varsity Girls’ Soccer had yet another banner season as they finished with a 15-3-2 record, scoring seventy-five goals while only giving up sixteen, and shutting out ten opponents. Bill Hawkey also achieved a significant milestone of his own, ending the season with a personal coaching record of 501-120-41! Senior captains Steph Balerna and Jenna Bluni, along with junior Reagan Amberson, set the tone early in the season that would help sustain the team right up through the Mercer County and State Prep tournaments. The girls secured two trophies of the three that were up for grabs as they won a staggering twelfth Mercer County Tournament title and defeated local rival Hopewell Valley High School 2-1 to win the Battle of Route 31 Cup in an exciting overtime game held over Hopewell’s homecoming weekend. The Pennington team came oh-so-close to securing its 16th NJISAA Prep A title in November against Hun. Pennington outshot and out-chanced Hun during regulation but could not manage to get their opportunities to fall. Regulation time ended with the score tied at 3-3, and as the first overtime period kicked off, Hun capitalized on a play that saw the ball fall to their striker, who then scored to give them a 4-3 victory. Seniors Steph Balerna, Jenna Bluni, Miami Celentana, Mia Cresti, Kiki Griswold, MK Kramli, Eva Guerino, Erin Penders, and Brynne Taranto will be sorely missed. The team will welcome back several outstanding underclassmen next season and for years to come.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Coach: Chad Bridges ‘96 Assistant Coaches: Sean Davies, Ryan Stokes, Andrey Espinoza The Pennington School Varsity Boys’ Soccer team completed another magical season, ending the year with an overall record of 16-2-1. Pennington’s only two losses were against perennial national champion St. Benedict’s. Along the ride, Pennington captured its sixth straight and seventh overall Mercer County Championship and finished with a top-10 national ranking. Pennington recorded a School-record thirteen clean sheets (no goals allowed) and only let in seven goals for the entire season. The team was led by a group of thirteen seniors who made a lasting impact on the program for years to come. Gabe DiPierro, Lukas Gessner, Noah Kooistra, Merrick Liu, Ryan Yang, Rafa Ponce de Leon, Daniel Sampaio, Liam Goldstein, Aidan Keith, Zach Merritt, Mateo Lopez-Castro, Elliot Overhiser, and Ronan Karp have been instrumental in helping the team achieve such remarkable heights. Yang and Ponce de Leon were both recognized as United States High School Soccer All-Americans and will participate in the nationally televised event this spring. During this group’s illustrious career, they have been part of three county titles, three State Final appearances, and are undefeated for their career against Hun, Peddie, Lawrenceville, PDS, and Blair.

www.pennington.org

US AT H L E TIC S

FIELD HOCKEY Coaches: Wendy Morris and Ellie Paige ’17

GIRLS’ TENNIS Coach: Ken Palumbo

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

BOYS’ SOCCER

www.pennington.org

US AT H L E TIC S

CROSS COUNTRY

new

eSports

Coaches: Richard Ritter and Marisa Ferrari

It was another solid campaign for both the Boys’ and the Girls’ Cross Country teams. The boys ended up at 6 - 4 while the girls, though understaffed, hung tough posting a record of 4 - 7. Senior captains Sydney Francis for the girls and Will Cooper and Chris Ly for the boys did a fine job providing the “glue” needed to keep us together through the challenges. Out on the course, the girls were led by Maya Brooke ’24 and Emerson Ross ’25, consistently finishing one - two. The top three for the boys were always challenging each other to do their best, with Cooper, Dray Kolaras ’23, and Ishan Gupta ’24 leading the way in every meet. Along with personal records up and down the roster, there were some wonderful highlights for the season. At the Freshman/JV Mercer County Meet, Ross placed second in the Freshman Meet and Nana Miller ’24 medaled in the JV race! For the boys, it was great to bounce back from an early defeat to Wilberforce and top them the next two times we ran them. Another feel good moment was topping PDS at the Mercer County Meet. An interesting note at the end of the season is that our top two runners on the Boys’ team, Will and Dray, had virtually the same PR for the season; Will ran 17:34.25 at Counties and Dray ran 17:35.00 at States! Though Will will be graduating, it simply paves the way for next year.

team brings NEW SKILLS to Pennington Athletics Last season, the FIFA team made it to the semi-finals and lost to the number-one seeded team in the eastern region. The Super Smash Bros. team proudly took home the championship in the Independent School Esports League Spring Tournament, thanks to the elite gameplay of Garrett Hardt ’24. During the fall season, in addition to gaming, the team organized and executed a FIFA Tournament fundraiser that they plan to make a yearly tradition (results here: tinyurl.com/PennFIFAchamps), performed cost/benefit analysis to guide investment in the club’s computer infrastructure, and knocked the socks off all onlookers with their dance routine at the Homecoming Pep Rally.

Pennington’s eSports program helps to spotlight the diversity of talent among our students by giving them the opportunity to hone and showcase skills that differ from those that are displayed by athletes in other sports. eSports offers recognition for these talents and the work students have put in to improve their game. Like any team sport, eSports helps build a sense of belonging, sportsmanship, and self-esteem in our athletes.

The club’s faculty advisors, David Thomas and Ryan Vogt, emphasize that “the team’s goals are to win championships in every one of our games. We hope to grow in number and in the breadth of games in which we compete. Mostly, our goal is to continue to build an enduring and competitive program, and to imbue it with a spirit of camaraderie, teamwork, sportsmanship, and winning.”

Bottom photo: Elliot Coates, Head of School Bill Hawkey, Garrett Hardt ’24, and David Thomas

The first season of eSports at Pennington finished up in May 2021, and the team was in full swing this fall with nine players heading into winter. The team practices together Monday through Thursday each week and competes online against other schools across the country once a week for each game in the roster. These competitions are organized through two nationwide platforms: PlayVS and HSEL (High School eSports League). Some of these games are individual 1v1 matches and others are 3v3 or 5v5 team matches. Games during this fall season included: NBA2K ‘21 (game day: Tuesdays) - 1v1 Chess (game day: Tuesdays) - 1v1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (game day: Wednesdays) - 3v3 Valorant (game day: Wednesdays) - 5v5 Rocket League (game day: Thursdays) - 3v3 Madden ‘21 (game day: Thursdays) - 1v1 36

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

www.pennington.org

US AT H L E TIC S

CROSS COUNTRY

new

eSports

Coaches: Richard Ritter and Marisa Ferrari

Bottom photo: Elliot Coates, Head of School Bill Hawkey, Garrett Hardt ’24, and David Thomas

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

www.pennington.org

A special invitation to join the Francis Harvey Green Society

Join us as members of the Francis Harvey Green Society by including The Pennington School in your estate plans or by establishing a life-income gift! As committed alumni volunteers and donors, we are honored to represent this wonderful institution. We know firsthand the transformational power of a Pennington education and we are committed to preserving for the future all that makes our School such an extraordinary place. Legacy gifts to The Pennington School are one of the best ways to give back and make an enduring impact. Francis Harvey Green Society members have made planned commitments that are critical to building a strong future for the School. This inspiring community of donors ensures that Pennington continues to provide exceptional learning experiences to every deserving student for generations to come. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you as a fellow member of the Francis Harvey Green Society. Thank you for considering joining us with a legacy commitment to The Pennington School. With deepest gratitude,

John Biddiscombe ’63

Peter Brown ’65

Did you know you can make your planned gift through your will or by making The Pennington School a beneficiary of all or part of your retirement account or life insurance policy? To learn more about gift planning at Pennington or the Francis Harvey Green Society, please contact Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives Charlie Brown at 610–675–4777 or cbrown@pennington.org.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2020–21

Leo Eisner ’52: It’s Never Too Late “It’s never too late to attend your very first reunion, even at 87 years old,” exclaimed Leo Eisner ’52 as he pulled up to Pennington for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend this past October—it had been 69 years since he last set foot on campus. Eisner not only reconnected with his Pennington roots last year, he also became a new Francis Harvey Green Society member, making provisions for The Pennington School in his will. What inspired Eisner to become reengaged with the School and make a planned gift after seven decades? It starts with his student story. Eisner was attending Trenton High School and getting good grades, but his father saw that he was missing important skills needed for a fulfilling life—focus and discipline. Eisner says, “I was already in my sophomore year, and my father saw through my grades and realized I was not taking courses that challenged me and I wasn’t thinking about my future.” Two years at Pennington changed that dramatically. “It was not just care in my studies that was important. At Pennington, I found that I had been missing greater focus in all my pursuits—sports, friendships, interests.” Eisner credits his remarkable experience in part to the small class sizes and attentive and caring teachers (coach Harold Poore is one who stands out). Eisner also developed one of his lifelong credos at Pennington. “For me, the competitive nature of the small school environment was a perfect proving ground to see how discipline and good study habits matter as much as raw smarts or skill. I learned that my future success was going to be a matter of attitude over aptitude.”

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Eisner went on to attend Bucknell University and pursued his successful, and still very active, career in promotional products—and he has no plans on retiring soon. He raised two wonderful sons with his loving wife of forty-four years, Billie, who passed away in 2001. Eisner acknowledges that with his busy career, raising a family, and passion for coaching basketball, he never had down time or carved out space for contemplation. But as the years have passed, life’s precious experiences of love and loss have opened the door to reflections for Eisner. “One morning, I was in bed thinking about how grateful I am for my life and all of the experiences and blessings I’ve had. What made that possible? Where did I get this good fortune for such a wonderful life? And it suddenly struck me. Without my time at The Pennington School, none of what followed would have been possible.” It was that epiphany that spurred Eisner to be in touch with School advancement officers about opportunities to be involved and give back. “Knowing how much I owe to this School, it gives me great satisfaction to include Pennington in my giving plans.” Eisner attended Homecoming and Reunion Weekend and enjoyed every moment. “This was incredible! I will keep attending these reunions and coming back as long as my health allows,” Eisner says. We are tremendously grateful for his generosity and look forward to seeing Leo next year at his 70th reunion!

Where did I get this good fortune for such a wonderful life? And it suddenly struck me. Without my time at The Pennington School, none of what followed would have been possible.

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www.pennington.org

A special invitation to join the Francis Harvey Green Society

John Biddiscombe ’63

Peter Brown ’65

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2020–21

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Where did I get this good fortune for such a wonderful life? And it suddenly struck me. Without my time at The Pennington School, none of what followed would have been possible.

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www.pennington.org

ARTS

by Kate Hamill Based on the novel by Jane Austen

Director’s Note by Suzanne Houston

With its first live audience since the winter of 2020, Theatre at Pennington celebrates women, romance, and the value of true love. 40

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Sense and Sensibility was Jane Austen’s first novel, published in 1811 (two years before Pride and Prejudice). It is based on a story she wrote as a teenager about two sisters named Elinor and Marianne. During Austen’s lifetime, writing as a profession was impossible for women, so she never saw her novels published under her own name. However, she boldly and satirically wrote about the very world she lived in: the class-conscious world of 19th-century England. She included a great deal of humor in her novels to balance the rigidity of the existing order of the era. The themes of personal fulfillment vs. social adherence to the norms of the era were ever-present in Austen’s writing, as was the trope that young women must marry in order to survive out of financial necessity. Interestingly, Jane Austen never married.

Kate Hamill’s adaptation further explores the satirical look at Jane Austen’s world. Ms. Hamill is known for her modern takes on classical writing, and most of her adaptations feature female-driven stories. She also encourages directors to add a unique spin to make the story more accessible for contemporary audiences. In our version, you heard modern songs played in a more “regency” style. You saw some characters in more traditional 1790s costumes, but also a range of fashion styles from the 1990s and today to represent the notion that those who might more freely make decisions might dress that way, too. The ever-present Gossips created the feeling that someone is always watching and judging, and sharing with everyone what they see and hear.

A note about the title: in Jane Austen’s era, “sense” meant what you would probably imagine—practicality, logic, restraint, and obligation to social responsibility. However, “sensibility” meant something closer to “sensitive” or “emotional.” Jane Austen also wrote on the cusp of the Classic and Romantic eras, so many believe this influenced the character design for the two sisters central to the story. You will see in the play that Elinor’s “sense” is what carefully guides her in the story, and Marianne’s “sensibility” makes her much more impulsive and spontaneous. In Elinor and Marianne, my mother might have seen glimpses of my own sister and me in this play. Our students might have, too, which leads me to why I chose this work as the fall play.

In 1995, the film Sense and Sensibility came out starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet as the sisters featured in the novel. I saw the film in the theater several times, and it reminded me of my sisters and me, and our house of four women. Once again this fall, as we navigated this newest phase of our “new normal,” still in masks and dealing with Covid-19 restrictions, I wanted to work on a play that was ultimately joyful and heartwarming. This play immediately came to mind. Thanks to my creative and inventive team and our talented cast and crews, much life and energy occupied the Black Box, Tech Shop, and Dressing Room again this fall.

www.pennington.org

ARTS

by Kate Hamill Based on the novel by Jane Austen

Director’s Note by Suzanne Houston

With its first live audience since the winter of 2020, Theatre at Pennington celebrates women, romance, and the value of true love. 40

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

www.pennington.org

FALL CONCERTS

instrumental The 2021 Fall Instrumental Concert took place on November 15 in the Stainton Hall Lecture Center, where all of the Pennington instrumental groups performed before their first live audience in two years, with Dr. Donald Dolan conducting each of the ensembles.

to play “Blue Bossa” by K. Dorham, and the concert concluded with fan favorites the Rock Ensemble (playing “Red Baron” by B. Cobham) and the Jazz Ensemble, which performed two pieces: “Revelation” by K. Barron and “Old Time Rock & Roll” by G. Jackson and T. Jones.

The Pennington School Orchestra opened the concert with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” followed by P. Fletcher’s “Fiddle Tune,” played by the String Ensemble. The Instrumental Lab then performed “Duet” by W.A. Mozart before the Wind Ensemble took the stage to play “Falcon Fanfare” by B. Balmages. The Instrumental Lab group returned

Instrumental Lab is a class that was added to the Music curriculum about three years ago due to popular demand. The class was created to enable instrumental music students to practice, rehearse, take lessons, and participate in small ensemble coaching groups during the school day and for academic credit.

vocal

It was wonderful to see all of Pennington’s vocalists back in action, together and in-person, at the Fall Vocal Concert, which took place on November 17. 17 The Pennington Singers were the first to perform, singing “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, Danielle Brisebois, and Wayne Rodrigues, as well as “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton (and arranged by our very own James Horan). A capella group SoundProof then sang a medley of songs, “Some Nights”/”We Are Young” by Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff, and Nate Ruess. This was SoundProof’s debut before a live, 42

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

The Rock Ensemble was formed as a sectional rehearsal, comprised of the rhythm section from the jazz band. The winds/brass and percussion from both the jazz band and the orchestra became the Wind Ensemble, and the String Ensemble consists of the strings from the orchestra. These groups debuted at the first ever Fall Instrumental Concert two years ago, just before the pandemic, and are made possible because of a generous gift from a special donor to Pennington’s music program, which has grown exponentially over the past few years and is a focus of #PenningtonPride.

PARENTS

The grade-level welcome parties for parents returned this year after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The parties were well attended by all, and parents of returning students were able to reconnect in person and warmly welcome parents of new students to the Pennington community.

PARENTS for PENNINGTON

NEWS

We are all looking forward to the first in-person Red and Black Bash since 2019! Join us as we gather parents, alumni, faculty, and School administrators to celebrate and support the Pennington School community together. It will be held on campus on Saturday, April 30. We hope to see you there! Parents for Pennington sponsors a variety of clubs for parents, which are a great way to get involved and be an active part of the Pennington community. Here are just a few examples of the clubs that met this past fall: the PfP Book Club offered both morning and evening meetings to make it easier for working parents to attend; the Walking Club had several gatherings in a variety of locations, including Yardley, Washington Crossing, and Pennington; and the alwayspopular Wine Club was also back in person and hosted its kick-off event at Crossing Vineyards at the end of October. This past fall, PfP hosted its first-ever Homecoming event when it sponsored a potluck tailgate on the Saturday evening of Homecoming weekend. It was an overwhelming success! We provided hot dogs, burgers, and vegan sausages from 1911 Smokehouse BBQ, and parents contributed a variety of side dishes and desserts. The feedback we received from attendees was extremely positive. Parents enjoyed being able to connect with fellow parents from across the entire School community.

in-person audience! The group formed last year and all previous performances were recorded. The traditional Chinese folk song “Mo Li Hua” was arranged by Horan and performed by the Pennington Singers, who then went on to sing a moving and inspirational original work by Horan entitled, “Your Turn to Let Freedom Sing (The Ballad of John Lewis).” A new vocal group, the Treble Tones,, sang “All About Adele” by Adele Atkins and Greg Kurstin. The Pennington Singers then returned with the tenors and baritones

to sing “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel, followed by the rest of the group coming back onstage to perform “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. The concert concluded with two songs: “The Man in the Mirror” by Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard; and “Seasons of Love” (from Rent ) by Jonathan Larson, which were performed by SoundProof and the Pennington Singers, respectively. The students did an excellent job, and it was a wonderful November evening in the Stainton Hall Lecture Center.

PfP is pleased to offer a return to in-person social/learning coffees this year. Each month we invite various faculty and staff members to discuss topics that pertain to our students and families. Since September, we have covered subjects such as adjusting to Upper School, DEI initiatives at Pennington, internet and social media safety for teens, and the course selection process. Photos from top to bottom: Grade 9 party at Corson House, photo by Julian Kim; Grade 10 party at Corson House, photo by Julian Kim; Grade 12 party at the home of Clinton and Teresa Lewis, photo by Julian Kim; Members of the Wine Club at Crossing Vineyards, photo by Lisa Hardt www.pennington.org

FALL CONCERTS

vocal

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

PARENTS

PARENTS for PENNINGTON

NEWS

FACULTY PROFESSIO NAL DEVELOPMENT Enriches Pennington’s Teachers and the Student Experience

The Pennington School is committed to recruiting and retaining exemplary educators who inspire a passion for lifetime learning in their students and prepare them for success in college and beyond. Pennington’s faculty is a particular point of pride; there is nothing more important than excellent teaching by dedicated professionals. Being a Pennington faculty member encompasses a number of facets both in and outside of the classroom. These may include serving as a student advisor, coach, club or activity advisor, or faculty supervisor. Faculty members frequently support their students outside of the classroom by attending School activities such as athletic events, dramatic productions, and alumni events. Faculty members are encouraged to lead by example and to provide opportunities that support Pennington’s strong programs in community service, applied science, and global studies. They are also encouraged to develop projects of their own. We achieve faculty excellence by offering a multitude of resources aimed at building effective teaching practices, inspiring our educators to think outside the box, and creating new ways to put students at the center of classroom interactions. The coronavirus pandemic forced the faculty to rethink almost every aspect of teaching and learning at Pennington; although this was a profound challenge, the outcome of new remote and hybrid classroom practices forged stronger programs for this academic year, when all students were back on campus again.

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members to the Design Bootcamp in June of 2020 and then used those “GOA warriors” to serve as subject matter experts to train the rest of the faculty on best practices in the DL environment. In 2021-22 professional development is focused on thinking about how we assess students for understanding and how we use formative feedback at regular intervals as part of that assessment process.

I love it when someone pitches an idea for professional development to me. I love it even more when that idea leads to something we want to try or implement or when that person brings someone else along with them on the journey. Then they come back and inspire other teachers to try something new.

Professional Learning Committees

Professional Learning Committees are comprised of a small number of faculty members from all disciplines who focus on digging into a particular subject. This fall, six PLCs were formed around three topic areas described below. These important committees give faculty members significant opportunities to lead change, contribute to the growth of the entire faculty, and collaborate with other faculty members. The intent of any Professional Learning Community is to positively impact student learning.

How Student-Centered Learning Affects Student Engagement/Learning and Best Practices is one PLC that will determine how student-centered best practices play out in the classroom to promote student learning and teacher effectiveness. How the Daily Schedule Affects Student Learning and Teacher Effectiveness is a separate PLC that will determine how the daily schedule supports student —Debbie Fermo learning, the student experience, and teaching effectiveness. This PLC will do anthropological Dean of Faculty research to determine how the daily schedule affects the lives of students and teachers and share Debbie Fermo became Dean of Faculty in the fall its findings with the School’s Leadership Team to consider changes to of 2019, and since then she has focused her attention on improving the the daily schedule in future. It is important to note that there are many student experience by working tirelessly to augment the tools necessary for factors that go into the schedule, and all aspects will be considered. The great teaching at The Pennington School. Being an effective teacher means Formative Assessment/Descriptive Feedback PLC discusses formative embracing a career of continual learning and possessing a growth mindset. assessment and descriptive feedback in various disciplines and at various In the 2019-20 school year, she began by identifying each teacher’s grade levels with particular attention to best practices. Descriptive professional and personal goals for the year. These goals were then matched feedback includes all types of communication with students that lets with specific opportunities for them to pursue further education on their them know where they are relative to specific skills and understandings topics. As a example of this, the pandemic required teachers to develop an and may include what they need to do in order to grow and improve. excellent distance learning program, and Pennington partnered with Global This PLC will focus primarily on developing sound descriptive Online Academy to scale up quickly. The School sent seventeen faculty feedback practices. 44

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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www.pennington.org

FACULTY PROFESSIO NAL DEVELOPMENT Enriches Pennington’s Teachers and the Student Experience

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Professional Learning Committees

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

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www.pennington.org

F A C U LT Y P R O F. D E V.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Collaborative Classroom Visits

This new program invites teachers who are experienced faculty members to have collaborative classroom visits with both their department chair and with a peer of their choice (departments are assigned to other departments). New faculty members will have a collaborative classroom visit from their department chair, a faculty mentor, and the Dean of Faculty each semester. Before the visits take place, teachers identify practices or procedures they would like to obtain feedback about, such as the mechanics of their planning and/or lesson design, the classroom environment, or actual instruction in the classroom. The faculty visitor then provides a reflection with key takeaways and identifies possible opportunities for further professional development.

Free Elective Class Proposals

Beginning this academic year, teachers were invited to create a new class entirely of their own design. The proposed classes do not have to fall within that teacher’s traditional area of expertise, and the classes can include non-traditional elements such as a travel component. A committee of teaching faculty members will review the proposals and select one new class to be taught each semester beginning in the fall of 2022. Teachers are excited about the prospect of delving into these types of “passion projects” with their students, and we look forward to announcing the new classes early this spring. In addition to all of the new resources for Pennington faculty members outlined above, there are also ongoing professional development opportunities that continue to build each year to support teachers:

Faculty-Peer Mentoring Program

Faculty-peer mentors are broadly and highly experienced senior faculty members. Faculty-peer mentors provide advice and skill development for young, less experienced teachers as they grow with the Pennington School curriculum, creating a formal structure of professional support for new faculty members. These mentors serve as advisors to teachers during the collaborative classroom visit process, and they act as a sounding board and as advocates for all faculty.

Faculty excellence doesn’t happen by accident; the hiring, professional development, and retention of our teachers is a primary focus of this institution. All of these programs are in an effort to grow together as a community of learners. It is critical to the Pennington School mission of developing excellence in all of our students, and we hope that we have given you a glimpse of some of the intentional and ongoing work that happens outside of the careful lesson plans that are created for the classrooms.

As proud parents of four Pennington graduates (Sam ’06, Ben ’11, Grace ’18, and Vincent ’20), Joe and Jeannie are beyond grateful (and endlessly impressed) with the level of care and attention that each of their children received from their Pennington teachers, advisors, and coaches. Jeannie Colalillo describes their new fund as

a huge thank you to all the faculty members who cared about and nurtured what is special in our kids, and in each and every student.

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This endowment fund provides essential support for faculty programs in perpetuity— allowing the School to expand the breadth and depth of its professional development, mentoring programs, and recruitment and retention efforts. We are very grateful for the Colalillos’ generosity and commitment to supporting the Pennington community through their philanthropy. Thank you! Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter

CUM LAUDE Eleven Pennington School seniors inducted into Cum Laude Society

Pennington faculty members are encouraged to earn advanced degrees in their fields, and the School covers a significant portion of the tuition for eligible participants. In addition to tuition benefits, Pennington teachers are welcome to design their own program to study a specific area of focus; these programs can be aligned with planned School trips to international destinations through the World Languages department to help defray the cost.

Investing in the tremendous impact and importance of Pennington’s faculty was the driving motivation for Joe and Jeannie Colalillo P’06 ’11 ’18 ’20 when they established the Colalillo Family Endowment for Faculty Excellence in 2020.

DEBORAH FERMO

Graduate Education Program

PHILANTHROPY at wo work rk “

DEAN OF FACULTY

Debbie Fermo arrived at The Pennington School in 2017 to teach Upper School English. Prior to Pennington, she taught leadership and ethics as a young officer in the Navy. After her active duty service obligation was up, she realized that teaching was her vocation. For a brief time, she taught at a public high school in Norfolk, VA, before transitioning to teach and coach in the independent school world at Norfolk Academy. She was called back to active duty to teach at the Naval Academy as a senior officer in 2010. There, she had the opportunity to serve as associate chair of the English department and on several committees across the campus. It was in this environment that Fermo learned to value ongoing professional development, the significance of a consistent observation and feedback process, and the importance of allowing highly experienced faculty the time and space to be creative and forward-thinking with their teaching. Still a classroom teacher at heart, as well as a seasoned senior administrator, Fermo currently teaches contemporary literature in the fall semester, and the literature of historical conflict (“War Lit” to her Pennington students). Fermo is also earning her second master’s degree, in educational leadership, from the University of Pennsylvania.

Eleven Pennington School seniors were inducted as student members of the School’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society on October 19. The induction ceremony was held in Wesley Forum in the Kenneth Kai Tai Yen Humanities Building. After an invocation from the Reverend David Hallgren, Head of School Bill Hawkey gave a welcome speech. Teacher of Music Donald Dolan provided information about Cum Laude’s history and motto, and Dean of Academic Affairs Scott Peeler introduced the faculty members in Pennington’s Cum Laude chapter. Teacher of Compensatory Skills Dr. Tyesha Elmore was the program speaker. Cum Laude Chapter President Lisa L. Houston then formally inducted the students. Students inducted are within the top ten percent of their class, as determined by grade point average, and the School views selection for membership as one of the highest honors it can confer. 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 new members of Pennington’s chapter of Cum Laude are Akshay Arun, Chi Chen, Ariana Colner, Hexin Jiang, Merrick Liu, Christopher Ly, Avani Prakash, Dahe Wang, Lyuxin Zhang, Minghao Zhang, and Yiwei Zhu.

The new inductees of The Pennington School’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society

www.pennington.org

F A C U LT Y P R O F. D E V.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Collaborative Classroom Visits

Free Elective Class Proposals

Faculty-Peer Mentoring Program

a huge thank you to all the faculty members who cared about and nurtured what is special in our kids, and in each and every student.

”

CUM LAUDE Eleven Pennington School seniors inducted into Cum Laude Society

DEBORAH FERMO

Graduate Education Program

PHILANTHROPY at wo work rk “

DEAN OF FACULTY

The new inductees of The Pennington School’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society

www.pennington.org

H O LI DAYS

HANUKKAH AT PENNINGTON

bags of cheer for

HOMEFRONT

LESSONS AND CAROLS

The Pennington Jewish Community was able to once again hold their annual Hanukkah celebration in person, and on December 1, students and faculty alike enthusiastically took part in the festivities. Held in a tent on campus, attendees enjoyed latkes and gathered around tables to play rounds of dreidel and even decorate their own. This year also included the event’s first klezmer band composed of David Cahn ’22, Gavin Cui ’22, Max Close ’22, and Patrick Powichrowski ’23, who helped set the celebratory mood.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

On Tuesday, December 14, the annual Service of Lessons and Carols was presented in a hybrid format. Residential students and faculty were invited to the Pennington Presbyterian Church for readings and music presented by members of the community, and the whole event was streamed over Zoom for those who were off campus. The program included the Pennington School Orchestra, Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, and Jazz Combo contributing the instrumentals, and the Pennington Singers and Middle School singers led the congregation in carols. As well as selections from scripture, the poem “When Giving is All We Have” by Alberto Rios was read, and Reverend David Hallgren shared a homily entitled “From the Start,” emphasizing finding beauty and comfort in the quiet moments. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to gather together before leaving for Winter Break, while still including those at home in the special celebration.

For the twenty-seventh year, Pennington partnered with HomeFront, a not-for-profit organization working to end the cycle of poverty, to provide support to local families and individuals in need during the holidays. Though the pandemic has put a hold on the traditional on-campus gathering and festivities, the School still came together to show generosity and thoughtfulness during the season of giving. Facilitated by the Peer Leaders and Teacher of English Erin O’Connell, the community put together bags of cheer; advisories, offices, and families signed up to sponsor families and bring in donations. Bags included toiletries, toys, masks, blankets, activities, and more, sent together with personal holiday wishes. Packages were created for seventy families and

twenty-six individuals in all. As well as the holiday bags, the School also ran a coat drive in December, collecting new and lightly used outerwear for men, women, and children. Money earned from the December Barnes & Noble bookfair, organized by the Junior Proctors, also went towards buying books to put under the tree at HomeFront’s Ewing campus. On Friday, December 10, students and faculty finished collecting and packing the bags, and brought two buses full of warmth and cheer to HomeFront. Though adjustments continue to be made to keep the health and safety of the community at the forefront, the truly generous spirit of the Pennington School community still shines brightly during the holiday season and year-round. www.pennington.org

H O LI DAYS

HANUKKAH AT PENNINGTON

bags of cheer for

HOMEFRONT

LESSONS AND CAROLS

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

ALUMNI

HOLIDAY Alumni Receptions Holiday spirit and Pennington pride were overflowing as over 150 alumni and friends gathered for the School’s seasonal celebrations in New York City and Washington, D.C. this past December. On December 1, alumni from the DC area came out for an evening of fun and festivity at the Old Ebbitt Grill. The event, which was generously sponsored by Oliver Cox ’05, Maggie FeldmanPiltch ’10, and Christopher Liwosz ’02, proved to be a great time for old friends to reconnect. All enjoyed spending time with the “stars” of the evening, beloved faculty members Mark DiGiacomo and Tom Liwosz, who brought their signature merriment to the gathering. The holiday fun didn’t stop there! The following evening, just up the coast, alumni and friends met at The Midtown Loft & Terrace in NYC for a special evening full of holiday cheer. Faculty members Jerry Russo, Dolores Evangelista Eaton, and Susie Paige mingled with the crowd, and attendees were delighted to see former Head of School Lyle Rigg and former Head of Middle School Todd Paige on hand for the celebration. The evening included a group toast for a joyous New Year and a moment to thank Board of Trustees member Erich Stegich P’21 for his generous support in making the evening possible.

ALUMNI WEEKEND WEEKEND May 20–21, 2022

Visit www.pennington.org/alumni-weekend2022 for more information.

Thank you to all who came out to celebrate! 50

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

www.pennington.org

ALUMNI

ALUMNI WEEKEND WEEKEND May 20–21, 2022

Visit www.pennington.org/alumni-weekend2022 for more information.

Thank you to all who came out to celebrate! 50

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

www.pennington.org

YOUNG INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHTS ALUMNI on s i t s e u q e th we a s k e d

GRACE COLALILLO ’18

SYDNEY GIBBARD ’19 The Pennsylvania State University | Biomedical Engineering Major

Morehouse College | Business Administration and Management Major

Northeastern University | Finance Major; Data Science Minor

St. Lawrence University | Business and Art History Major

Internship in Corporate Human Resources at Crane Co.

Internship in Research and Development with Johnson & Johnson Ethicon Biosurgery Unit

Internship in Cybersecurity, IT at IBM

Internship with State Street (Boston, MA) on the Share of Wallet team

Internship with Trenton Housing Authority at the Prospect Village and Wilson Homes

How did you find your internship?

I was interning with the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) at Fairfield University when Crane reached out requesting candidates for this internship, and I was recommended. I continued my work for OSE at Fairfield to honor that commitment as well.

I attended a career fair that Penn State was holding for undergrads and provided information to the reps from Johnson & Johnson, sharing my interest and credentials. I was delighted when the recruiter followed up with me about this opportunity.

My neighbor and mentor works within IBM’s IT and cybersecurity department, so I was already familiar with the financial technology sector and the high demand for innovative solutions to meet customer expectations.

I attend Northeastern University in the cooperative education (co-op) program; getting to learn through hands-on employment in one’s chosen field is a big part of what attracted me to the university. This internship came to me through that co-op program network.

As a native of Trenton, I had already established a connection within the Housing Authority through members of my church who are a part of the board. A few years ago, my older brother also interned there when he was in college.

What work and projects have you undertaken as part of your internship?

I worked with vice presidents across business units to streamline processes for human resources data management to ensure data integrity and reporting compliance. I also managed recurring benefits requests to ADP. Currently, I am working on examining key industry metrics and collecting benchmarking data to help the executive team evaluate company performance.

I worked on the Surgicel family line of products, which act as topical absorbable hemostats. I interacted with cross-functional partners daily on three major projects: creating a competitive product intelligence database to inform marketing, developing a prototype demo kit for surgeons, and contributing to the population of a claims database.

This summer internship was focused on logistics of cybersecurity, AI, and cloud security related to sales and trading. We were tasked with focusing on how IBM’s cloud services, such as z15 and Watson, can help companies in the public and private sectors. I also received a financial and accounting certification from IBM for participating in this internship.

This work is part of the Global Markets division, which analyzes client revenue from different products through financial modeling while simultaneously trying to find opportunities to create more revenue. Much of my work was in support of launching our client Gold Lite models. Currently, I am being exposed to different platforms my team uses, like Alteryx, in order to conduct research to find revenue opportunities.

For the past three summers, I have worked as an office assistant to the site manager of the Prospect Village Homes, where tenants come with work orders, rent questions, and various other requests. Since I want to pursue a career in urban planning or real estate development, interning at a housing authority in the state’s capital was an insightful introduction.

What have you learned from this internship?

This internship helped me refine my writing skills. I crafted many memos on behalf of Crane’s executive team and quickly learned to write in the style of the CEO, CFO, and director of human resources. This experience also affirmed that I want to pursue a career in HR, but not in a big, corporate setting. Looking forward, I think I will be most fulfilled having an HR role where I can work directly with team members, helping people find success and satisfaction in their careers.

I was set on going to medical school. I thought it was the only way to make an impact through medicine. But this internship sparked my interest in the intersection of engineering, technology, and medicine, and taught me about opportunities to work in healthcare beyond being a practicing physician. I am now looking more into healthcare consulting as a career path to make a difference in the world.

This internship reaffirmed my choice to pursue a career in business and finance. The experience also helped me connect with alumni from Morehouse, where I go to school. Their advice and support helped build my self-confidence and expand my understanding of what it takes to be successful in corporate America. My biggest takeaway was that, in order to grow, risks must be taken. In order to succeed, have a plan and be able to take feedback as a means to improve yourself.

Beyond my understanding of the models we use, it has been very valuable to work on a team with so many experienced and dedicated colleagues who are willing to put in the time and effort to help me learn. Although my co-ops have given me great insight into the intersection between data science and finance, I want to pursue a more client-facing role in the future with more emphasis on financial analysis and research.

I have gained confidence from this experience. My supervisors challenged me to work independently on new projects, and I was able to strengthen my writing skills, public speaking, and overall professionalism. I am more confident in my voice and in asking for help when I need it. I also learned the importance of building trust in relationships when serving the community. In a place like a housing authority, a big part of the job is creating a sense of overall community, which is done through people-to-people interaction.

What advice do you have for Pennington students who want to pursue similar types of internships during college?

I think we all feel pressure to look for internships right off the bat in college, but I found that many companies are not looking to recruit freshmen and sophomores. So, make the most of your first two years in college. Work hard in class, join clubs, and immerse yourself in the campus community. Focus on what is in front of you and on doing it well—the future opportunity isn’t going to come around if you don’t succeed in the present.

Keep a list of people you meet during your internship on a spreadsheet, with their names, contact information, work experience, interests, etc. so you have all those contacts in one place for the future. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there; set up calls with people in the company who work on a different team than you so you know what the entire company is like, not just your own division.

Look to step outside of your comfort zone. In order to achieve your goals in a professional career, you need to learn how to take feedback and how to leverage networks. I would recommend being active on LinkedIn, which allows you to network with individuals from various executive levels and sectors, and provides more insight into how to differentiate yourself to recruiters and on your resume.

You get out of it what you put into it—network as much as possible! Take the time to create meaningful longterm relationships with your mentors and managers, and show genuine interest in what you are pursuing. I was surprised at how many alumni from Pennington and Northeastern were willing to schedule some time with me to talk about their careers.

My advice is to make use of all the resources and connections available to you. You will find a lot of new opportunities to learn by simply making yourself available and asking questions. I think it is also important to not overwork or stress yourself out. Life is not a timeline or a checklist. Take time to prioritize taking care of yourself and your mental health.

Fairfield University | Business Management Major; Psychology Minor

er s w s n a e h t t he y ga ve

Have you had an interesting college internship or early work experience that you 52

Our young alumni are pursuing their career goals and exploring possibilities with some impressive college internships. Here is a look at five recent graduates who shared more about their recent internship experiences from this past year.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

FLOYD PATTERSON ’18

SIMRAN SHAH ’18

SID SPENCER ’18

would like to share with us? Send us a note about your experience at alumni@pennington.org. www.pennington.org

YOUNG INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHTS ALUMNI on s i t s e u q e th we a s k e d

GRACE COLALILLO ’18

SYDNEY GIBBARD ’19 The Pennsylvania State University | Biomedical Engineering Major

Morehouse College | Business Administration and Management Major

Northeastern University | Finance Major; Data Science Minor

St. Lawrence University | Business and Art History Major

Internship in Corporate Human Resources at Crane Co.

Internship in Research and Development with Johnson & Johnson Ethicon Biosurgery Unit

Internship in Cybersecurity, IT at IBM

Internship with State Street (Boston, MA) on the Share of Wallet team

Internship with Trenton Housing Authority at the Prospect Village and Wilson Homes

How did you find your internship?

What work and projects have you undertaken as part of your internship?

What have you learned from this internship?

What advice do you have for Pennington students who want to pursue similar types of internships during college?

Fairfield University | Business Management Major; Psychology Minor

er s w s n a e h t t he y ga ve

Have you had an interesting college internship or early work experience that you 52

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

FLOYD PATTERSON ’18

SIMRAN SHAH ’18

SID SPENCER ’18

would like to share with us? Send us a note about your experience at alumni@pennington.org. www.pennington.org

CLASS NOTES

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Celebrating new unions

PHOTOS: 1. Alexandra Tringali ’15 became engaged to William Scioscia on October 6. 2. Gerrit Crater ’17 and Emma Garry ’19 were engaged at Homecoming! 3. Sally Quinn Finn ’07 and Patrick Finn married in May 2021. 4. Jesse Lieberman ’08 married MacKenzie Graling on June 5, in Washington, D.C. 5. Jen Mackin Mugnano ’03 and DJ welcomed their first child, a baby girl, Mack James Mugnano, on August 27! 6. Amy Mayes ’06 and Thomas Morgan ’05 are overjoyed to announce the arrival of twins Ella Bright Morgan and Charles Robert Morgan (on the right and left, respectively). 7. Marcella Nehrbass ’05 and her husband, Joshua Sellke, welcomed their first child, Christian Joshua Sellke, on June 19, 2021. 8. Emily O’Hara ’06 and her husband, Diego, welcomed their son, Luca, in February 2021. 9. Catie Hill ’06 and Jeffrey Stevens welcomed their baby girl, Blake. 10. Scott Hill ’10 and his wife, Anne, have a new baby—their son, Riley. 11. Jared Keating ’09 celebrated the first birthday of his daughter, Hannah, in August. 12. Maria Kane ’09 and her fiancé, Dan, welcomed Declan Kane Hocker on October 24. 13. Asya Roberts ’07 and her husband, Ram, celebrated their son’s first birthday in November!

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and LOTS of new arrivals!

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CLASS NOTES

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Celebrating new unions

7 6

and LOTS of new arrivals!

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CLASS NOTES

Wayne N. Smith ’63 and his wife of fifty-two years have lived in many places, including Florida, Georgia, California, and Colorado. In 2019 they relocated to Acworth, GA to be close to their family of two children and three grandchildren. Wayne cherishes his four years at Pennington and is gratified to see how the School has grown and thrived. He would love to hear from some of his classmates and reminisce about their time at Pennington! Left to right: John Biddiscombe ’63, Dixon Clarke ’66, Leo Eisner ’52, Conrad Yungbliut ’55, and Morris S. Fabian ’55

1950s

Morris S. Fabian ’55, along with his wife, Marilyn, attended Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2021 and enjoyed sharing memories with fellow classmates (like Conrad Yungbliut ’55 and his wife, Theresa) and other alumni from the 1950s and 1960s at a special dinner on Friday night. On Saturday, they enjoyed the Head of School breakfast and later that day took part in a special “Gold Guard” dinner and campus and archives tour.

1960s

Francisco Villegas ’60 and his wife, Martha, are the proud grandparents of Felipe, Laura, and Sophia. They grew up quickly! Felipe is now in university, and Laura and Sophia are in high school. Llewellyn Berry ’63 is entering his tenth year as curator and manager of Friendship Gallery in Chevy Chase, MD. He has been a professional artist and photographic arts instructor for more than fifty years. Much of his work can be seen at www.artmajeur.com. He is also currently teaching Zoom photographic art classes.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Lewis Pollack ’64 is semi-retired from the self-storage business and is living part-time in Delray Beach, FL and part-time in Lenox, MA. He is enjoying the good life and is getting married next June to beautiful Renée! Bill Pearl ’65 was in Paris this past November to launch his latest novel, Mission in Paris 1990, published by L’Harmattan, France. The book is the sequel to Hearts on Fire, Paris 1968, published in 2018. He enjoyed his virtual meeting with members of Pennington’s Pennyroyal literary club. When he graduated, he never imagined that he would one day be meeting with Pennington students on Zoom from Paris!

1970s

Gregg Weisser ’72 is reflecting about all of the invaluable lessons learned from his time at Pennington as he heads into his 50th reunion year. He is thinking about the teachers who helped him, the bucolic setting in New Jersey, and the simpler times and safe environment. He says, “Fifty years later, I think of my time spent at Pennington quite fondly and have a couple friends with whom I keep in touch. Some are gone, and a few too soon. I hope that the students of today take full advantage of this precious time in their lives.”

Clara Ma Hsu ’75, director of the Clarion Performing Arts Center, is using her creative talents to bring awareness to the escalation of violence against Asian Americans. She created the “Gai Mou Sou Rap,” which was performed by the Grant Avenue Follies and debuted in May 2021 at the National Unity Against Hate rally in Oakland, CA. (The gai mou sou is a long forgotten cultural symbol of power and strength.) The rap is receiving great attention on YouTube and in the media, and it was selected by the 2021 Palm Beach International Music Awards.

Billy Goldfeder ’74 was honored as the recipient of the 2021 Congressional Fire Service Institute Leadership Award. The award recognizes leaders with exemplary impact on the national level in firefighter advocacy and fire prevention, mitigation, and response. Fellow Pennington graduate and close friend Steve Pegram ’90 joined him in Washington, D.C. for the presentation.

Keith J. Myers ’69 is happily retired in the mountains of North Carolina after forty-three years in the outdoor apparel business. He loves spending time with his four kids and eight grandchildren. Keith attended his 50th reunion at Pennington and had an awesome time!

Left to right: Prince George’s County, MD Fire Department Lieutenant Brian Goldfeder (Billy’s son); Loveland-Symmes, OH Deputy Fire Chief Billy Goldfeder ’74; Loveland-Symmes, OH Fire Chief Ott Huber; Goshen Township, OH Fire Chief Steve Pegram ’90.

Natalie Baxter Strange ’78 and her husband, Alan, have moved to Belgium, where they met over thirty years ago. After five wonderful years of living outside of Amsterdam, they are now located in the university city of Leuven. Her daughter and her family also moved this summer from Massachusetts to St. Andrews, Scotland, and Natalie is delighted to now have them on “her side of the Atlantic.” Her son is also on the move, walking the long-distance E3 trail across Europe from Istanbul to Santiago de Compostela. After not seeing her family in the United States for two years, Natalie had a special visit with everyone last summer in Vermont. She invites any classmates and friends who are ever visiting Belgium to get in touch (contact Pennington’s Alumni Office), and she sends the entire Pennington community her warmest wishes! www.pennington.org

CLASS NOTES

1950s

1960s

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

1970s

CLASS NOTES

1980s

Norman Noe ’87 and “open water swimmer extraordinaire” George Ward ’88 recently participated in a one-mile ocean swim race, Meters for Mike, in Manasquan, NJ, where Norm placed first overall in his age group and in the top twenty out of three hundred swimmers!

Tom Chiodi ’81 had a wonderful time at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend! The Class of 1981 had a good turnout around the fire pit at Friday’s alumni barbeque. Saturday was a gorgeous fall day, and Tom took part in a campus tour led by students and enjoyed cheering Pennington’s football team to victory. Tom shares,“I am proud to be involved as a volunteer and donor in creating a better Pennington, and am thrilled to see so many of my classmates and fellow alumni doing the same. It is a real gift to stay connected to this School, and I love being a part of the Pennington community.”

Matt Colender ’88 sends greetings from Maryland. He has been blessed with a family of five; two kids are in high school and one is in middle school. Matt loves his work as a financial advisor with Edward Jones. Recently he visited NJ and met up with AJ Genovese ’89, and he keeps in touch with Warren Cohen ’88, Tim High ’88, and Steve Poreda ’88. They are doing great and would want Matt to say hello on their behalf. Matt is very grateful for his amazing family and life. He ran the New York City Marathon in 2013 and the Boston Marathon in 2021. He looks forward to reconnecting with other classmates soon! Ryan Ong ’89 embarked on a cross-country trip in the summer of 2021 and, along the way, met up with a number of classmates: Jenifer Willis ’90 in West Virginia, Michelle Symes ’90 in Tennessee, and his lifelong best friends Bernie Hoffman ’89, Kenny Brown ’89, and Michael Wolf ’89 in New Jersey. J.J. Williams ’89 and former faculty member Lissa Kiser met up in Jacksonville, FL, Lissa’s new home, for drinks with fellow classmate Jane Bott Childrey ’89.

Andrew C. H. Juthapornmanee ’84 reports the great news that in October 2021, Thailand’s Education Ministry announced a two-phase plan to reopen schools, while still imposing strict Covid-19 measures. Many schools in Thailand are now able to reopen in person for their second semester after an approval process. His school, Jittrapat Kindergarten School, is proud to be on the lists and hopes to open soon. Robert Riesenberger ’84 recently volunteered at the MOM-n-PA dental mission at Temple University’s dental school, which treats underserved children in North Philadelphia. In August 2021, he participated in the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race for the seventh time. The race is 103 miles, all above 10,000 ft. elevation, and usually takes about ten hours to finish.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

1990s

Members of the class of 1981 at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, October 2021: Front Row L to R: Gerard Lieggi ’81, Tom Chiodi ’81, Renee Witzel Gher ‘81, John Corr, Jr. ’81; Back Row L to R: Bill Schroeder ’81, PJ Vinch ’81, Jeff Karkut ’82, Jeff Keating ’81, George Baxter ’81.

Steve Pegram ’90 gathered with fellow classmates for a mini-reunion dinner in Bordentown, NJ in July 2021. (Pictured above L to R: Sean Dawson ’90, Steve Pegram ’90, Rich Wade ’90, Sandy Durst ’90, Frank Hohman ’90, Jon Bowden ’91, and Gene Walker ’90) Conversations revolved around graying hair, balding, and needing glasses! www.pennington.org

CLASS NOTES

1980s

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

1990s

CLASS NOTES

1990s

2000s

Erica L. Bowman ’91 writes that we lost our dear friend Jamie Brown Wright ’92 this summer to complications from breast cancer. Erica and Jamie had recently reconnected over the loss of Erica’s mother, and she was so happy to have Jamie’s art and spirit back in her life. Jamie will be missed by many. Jamie’s funeral, just like her life, was beautiful: full of art, love, good friends, and flowers. Many Penningtonians wrote her words of encouragement and contributed to her family’s fund in the waning hours, and it was all much appreciated and needed.

Megan Mallouk ’01, a professional aerialist performer, had her first show since the pandemic. It was exciting to be in front of a live audience again! In October 2021, she performed an aerial hoop act in the show Sanctuary, a monthly circus cabaret at Aloft Circus Arts in Chicago, IL.

(continued...)

Donald Marriott ’91 still lives in Banner-Elk, NC and is currently the director of racket sports at Mountain Air Country Club in Burnsville, NC. Donald’s oldest daughter, Mimi, attends NC State University, and his son, Cooper, attends East Carolina University and works full-time in the boating industry. His youngest, Kat, is in third grade and loves school and her friends. Donald’s wife, Ann-Charlott, runs a preschool. The whole family looks forward to winter and the snow that usually accompanies the season. Melissa Decter Smith ’91 came back to campus for her first visit since graduation with Chris Long ’91 this past October. Melissa and Chris met up with fellow classmate Jordan Gray ’91 while they were in town and had a lovely dinner.

Brandon Stoneking ’02 and John Tory Wright ’02 attended the Dover Nascar Race in spring 2021.

Alumni joined together for the birthday celebration: (from L to R: Michael Millstein ’06, Jenn Park ’02, Sara Millstein ’02, Rob Millstein ’99, David Millstein ’02, Lisa Pizzarello Bosken ’99, Dom Paparone ’99, Phil Prassas ’99, and Dylan Prassas ’28, who started at Pennington Middle School this year.)

Brian Methot ’95 lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, son, and myriad furry (and scaly) pets! Like so many, he and his family faced some pandemic-related challenges, but they successfully weathered the storm by remaining safe, working/schooling remotely, getting their vaccinations, and playing lots of board games—and are relieved that life is getting back to normal(ish). Brian works for Emory University Libraries as digital photography coordinator and, in August 2021, completed his Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of WisconsinMadison. He travels to NJ at least once a year to visit family and enjoys stopping by Pennington’s campus to see how much everything has grown and changed. Send your

updates and news to pennington.org/community/ alumni/class-notes, or email Director of Alumni Relations Jane Bott Childrey ’89 at jane.childrey@pennington.org.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Rob Millstein ’99 had a wonderful time catching up and reminiscing with classmates and family at his 40th birthday party this past August. Phil Prassas ’99 and Nick Farr ’08 competed in the Atlantic City Ironman in September. Nick has qualified to compete in the Ironman World Championship in February 2022 in Kona, HI.

John Tory Wright ’02 competed in a 2019 fishing tournament with Ryan Lugo ’02, Liz Lugo, Brandon Stoneking ’02, and Kelly Lenarski, and had some fun dressing up as the Gilligan’s Island cast! Jen Mackin Mugnano ’03 and DJ welcomed their first child, a baby girl, Mack James Mugnano, on August 27! Her arrival made Stacy Mackin Melton ’07 an aunt and Ken Mackin ’72 a grandfather again. (See Photo #5 on page 55) Marcella Nehrbass ’05 and her husband, Joshua Sellke, are pleased to announce they have welcomed their first child, Christian Joshua Sellke, who was born on June 19, 2021. Everyone is doing well; the family currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ. (See Photo #7 on page 55) Catie Hill ’06 and her husband, Jeffrey Stevens, welcomed their first child, daughter Blake, in August 2021. Catie’s younger brother, Scott Hill ’10, also welcomed a new addition to his family this year. (See Photo #9 on page 55) Amy Mayes ’06 and Thomas Morgan ’05 are overjoyed to announce the arrival of twins Ella Bright Morgan and Charles Robert Morgan. Charles and Ella were so excited to meet the world they arrived six weeks early but are doing fine. (See Photo #6 on page 55) Emily O’Hara ’06 and her husband, Diego, welcomed their son, Luca, in February 2021. They live in Alexandria, VA. (See Photo #8 on page 55)

Michelle Hart ’07 writes that Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is publishing her debut novel next spring. Her novel is a work of literary fiction called We Do What We Do in the Dark. Last year, Michelle wrote a note to faculty member Bill Hutnick, thanking him for all he did to inspire her to pursue her career as a professional writer. Tinuke Omolara Oluwatimilehin ’07 got married in 2018, had her first child in 2020, and (as of submitting this note in October 2021), was due soon with her second baby! She recently relocated to the west to attend bible college and currently lives in Colorado with beautiful views of the Rockies. She graduated with her doctorate of pharmacy in 2016 and currently works as a clinical consultant pharmacist for a global consulting firm. Sally Quinn Finn ’07 and Patrick Finn married in May 2021 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Manhattan, NY. Patrick is a graduate of the Peddie school, and their paths crossed at Gettysburg College (although they came close many times during high school)! (See Photo #3 on page 54) Asya Roberts ’07 and her husband, Ram, celebrated their son’s first birthday in November! Happy birthday, Kiyan! (See Photo #13 on page 55) Jesse Lieberman ’08 married MacKenzie Graling on June 5, in Washington, D.C. with Jordan Lieberman ’09, Matt Biedron ’08, and Mike Lang ’08 as groomsmen. (See Photo #4 on page 54) Alexa Carugati ’09 and Kait Kerr ’10 caught the Gotham FC vs. OL Reign game held at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ last June. Nicole Baxter ’12 and Amber Brooks ’09 play for Gotham and the Reign in the NWSL. Gotham pulled out a 1-0 win. It was a reunion of four former Pennington soccer standouts! Maria Kane ’09 and her fiancé, Dan, welcomed Declan Kane Hocker on October 24. (See Photo #12 on page 55) Jared Keating ’09 celebrated the first birthday of his daughter, Hannah, in August. (See Photo #11 on page 55)

www.pennington.org

CLASS NOTES

1990s

2000s

(continued...)

Brandon Stoneking ’02 and John Tory Wright ’02 attended the Dover Nascar Race in spring 2021.

updates and news to pennington.org/community/ alumni/class-notes, or email Director of Alumni Relations Jane Bott Childrey ’89 at jane.childrey@pennington.org.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

www.pennington.org

2010s

CLASS NOTES

Scott Hill ’10 and his wife, Anne, have a new baby— their son, Riley. Riley also has a new cousin, Blake Stevens, the baby daughter of Scott’s sister, Catie Hill ’06. (See Photo #10 on page 55)

Chelsea Totaro ’10 recently opened her own private practice, Positive Mind Counseling and Therapeutic Services. As a licensed clinical social worker, she specializes in the mental health needs of adolescents, college students, young adults, and their families. While she is located in Ewing, all of her services are through telehealth, and she is currently accepting referrals from across New Jersey.

Alexandra Tringali ’15 became engaged to William Scioscia on October 6. The couple have been together for three years and are planning a summer wedding in 2023. (See Photo #1 on page 54) Gerrit Crater ’17 and Emma Garry ’19 were engaged at Homecoming! Gerrit surprised Emma with a special Pennington proposal, when he got down on one knee during halftime of the football game and popped the question (and, of course, Emma said yes!). They say that Pennington was a big part of their relationship. As they dated after Gerrit had graduated, they have many special memories of his visits back to campus to cheer Emma on in her sports games and of special occasions like the proms. They say, “Pennington changed our lives forever and will always stay in our hearts.” (See Photo #2 on page 54)

Michelle Lazzaro ’17 and Chris EggKrings ’18 are both teaching math at the same high school in O’ahu, HI through the Teach for America program. Chris transferred to Pennington during Michelle’s senior year (his junior year) as she went abroad to Spain, so they never met at Pennington. Julia Santoro ’17, who is also working with Teach for America, went to college with Chris at Penn State University and connected these two Pennington alumni!

2020s

Nicholas D’Amour ’19 won his first international medal for archery at the 2021 European Grand Prix in Antalya last April. He also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics representing the US Virgin Islands, and he currently ranks 6th in the world in his sport.

David Curtiss ’21 placed sixth in the Tokyo Olympic Trials finals for the men’s 50 freestyle. He is attending NC State and is already looking towards the 2024 Olympic trials.

Thomas Horsley ’16 and Coach Horsley ran into Brycen Martz ’17 on the golf course this past September. Brycen joined the Horsleys for 9 holes on the links.

Wes Lincoln ’11 graduated from Navy EOD school in Florida this past March. Navy EOD works closely with the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and is classified as Navy Special Operations. Navy EOD personnel are experts in explosives, diving, and parachuting, as well as the tactical skills of a combat fighter. However, in the Navy, EOD is considered to be part of the Naval Special Operations Community. Nicole Baxter ’12 earned her spot with Sky Blue FC after years of hard work and setbacks. She had appeared in four matches during the NWSL Challenge Cup and Fall Series before the club signed her to a full-time contract for the 2021 season.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Sydney Faber ’18 interned this past summer at Citi in New York City in their sales and trading division. She really enjoyed the experience and even had the chance to spend some time with Lily Childrey ’18 in the city. This summer, Sydney will be interning at Morgan Stanley in their institutional equities division before heading into her senior year at Vanderbilt University. Emily Moini ’19 caught up with former cross country coach Rick Ritter at HEPS (the Ivy League Cross Country Championships). Emily was representing Brown University.

Matthew Robertson ’19, a junior majoring in environmental science at Muhlenberg College, spent the fall semester studying oceans and climate change as a researcher and crew member in conjunction with the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, MA. He set sail in November to conduct baseline research on Pacific Ocean pH and CDOM, navigating a blue-water transect from California to the equatorial region then back to Hawaii, and is hoping to use his experience as a springboard for further research and work in this area.

Julien Halgan ’21 was visited by Judy Rossi in Bermuda before he headed to American University in the fall!

FORMER FACULTY Former faculty member Melissa Kiser is enjoying life in Jacksonville, FL—and even more since the birth of her granddaughter, Mary Elliott Mesrobian, in July. Mary lives just a mile away with her parents, David Mesrobian ’01 and Anne Coxe Mesrobian.

www.pennington.org

2010s

CLASS NOTES

2020s

David Curtiss ’21 placed sixth in the Tokyo Olympic Trials finals for the men’s 50 freestyle. He is attending NC State and is already looking towards the 2024 Olympic trials.

Thomas Horsley ’16 and Coach Horsley ran into Brycen Martz ’17 on the golf course this past September. Brycen joined the Horsleys for 9 holes on the links.

Pennington Magazine Fall/Winter 2021-22

Julien Halgan ’21 was visited by Judy Rossi in Bermuda before he headed to American University in the fall!

www.pennington.org

The Pennington School Scholarship Classic

The P e

In Memory

With sadness we remember the following members of the Pennington community who died or whose death we learned of since the publication of our last magazine:

Richard McLaughlin ’45 Carol Collins S’46 Elliott T. Halio ’47 Thomas L. McHugh ’47 John S. Davidson ’48 Thomas L. Todd ’48 William R. Worth ’48 Carol DeYoung S’52 Joel Blumberg ’54 Gerald M. Callaghan ’55 Constance Smith S’55 John Terzano ’57 Gary W. Stabile ’58 Raymond L. Buckman ’59 John H. Greller ’64 Christopher C. Kempf ’65 Donald Motson ’65 Kenneth I. Schactman ’65 David E. Marschka ’67 Patricia Patricelli P’69 ’73 John W. Wilson ’69 Vernon H. Hammond II P’71 Trustee Susan R. Clark ’76 Jane E. Keene ’77 Kenneth B. Cary P’79 John R. Cipriano P’79 ’87 Susan Drury P’79 ’83 GP’11 ’14 ’17 Brian M. Hitt ’82 Howard C. Wolf P’89 Ted W. Cook P’90 ’94 FF Ashunte J. Bennett ’98 Joseph Persichetti P’03 Charlotte Rossi GP’05 ’09 Frank DiGiacomo GP’09 ’15 Anne P. Mathews GP’09 ’12 Richard A. Mathews GP’09 ’12 Susan E. Cohen P’10 John Foster GP’10 ’14 ’18 ’24 Holli D. Garner P’10 Constance A. Norteman GP’10 ’14 Kent Paige GP’14 ’17 William C. Bouton GP’16 ’18 Richard Hess GP’16 ’19 Christine Wainwright P’17 Murray S. Peyton GP’20 George J. Peckham GP’21 ’24 Stephen Stegich GP’21 Linda McDermott GP’24 ’27 George C. Caruso FFS

ool ch

In Memoriam

ington S nn

a r s hip C l a

Save the date! June 13, 2022 The Bedens Brook Club, Skillman, NJ

Platinum Sponsor

Join us on the links and courts for this year’s Scholarship Classic and treat yourself to a day of fun in the sun as we raise money for student scholarships at Pennington. Choose from golf, tennis, pickleball, or just come by for lunch and the silent auction. All are welcome, and we hope to see you there!

Gold Sponsors

ZAHEER, LLC For more information on event sponsorships, please contact Jane Bott Childrey ’89 at jane.childrey@pennington.org.

P–Parent; GP–Grandparent; S–Spouse; FF–Former Faculty; FFS–Former Faculty Spouse

Rain Date: October 17,www.pennington.org 2022

The Pennington School Scholarship Classic

The P e

In Memory

With sadness we remember the following members of the Pennington community who died or whose death we learned of since the publication of our last magazine:

ool ch

In Memoriam

ington S nn

a r s hip C l a

Save the date! June 13, 2022 The Bedens Brook Club, Skillman, NJ

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

ZAHEER, LLC For more information on event sponsorships, please contact Jane Bott Childrey ’89 at jane.childrey@pennington.org.

P–Parent; GP–Grandparent; S–Spouse; FF–Former Faculty; FFS–Former Faculty Spouse

Rain Date: October 17,www.pennington.org 2022

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