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P:01

Summer / Fall 2015

Graduation 2015 On June 6,

Solebury School graduated 52

exceptional seniors. pg. 6 >

Global Education Trips Students

explored Germany, upstate New Yorkâs

Adirondack Mountains and Arizona. pg. 16 >

Alumni Weekend A look back at a

festive spring weekend and a chance for

Solebury alumni to reconnect. pg. 22 >

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Board of Trustees

2015-2016

Scott Bolenbaugh Pâ09 Chairman

Tom Hunt â74 Pâ16 Vice Chairman

Alan Sheriff Pâ08 â16 Secretary

Joan Reinthaler â53 Treasurer

Jay Abbe â59

Bette Jane (BJ) Booth Pâ11

Dan Cohen â63

Andrea Devereux Pâ14

Jonathan C. Downs â71 Pâ03 â08 â09

AndrÃ©e Newsome Falco â63

Dr. Ellen Faulkner Pâ06 â11

Jeremy Fergusson â63

Barbara Fordyce Pâ07 â13

Stan Jablonowski Pâ13

Josh Perlsweig â03

John Petito Pâ96 â03

Mike Sienkiewicz â56

Anne C. (Annsi) Stephano â58 Pâ77 â78 â81

Derek Warden â79

Navarrow Wright â88 Pâ16 â19

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Thomas G. Wilschutz

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Bill Berkeley â49

Chris Chandor â60 Pâ86

Alan Donley â55

Betsy Bidelman Meredith â54 Pâ81

Richard Moss â48

Eric Shaw â55

Jean Tappan Shaw â53

On the Cover: Solebury Schoolâs

Class of 2015 gathered for their official

photo before the graduation ceremony.

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Solebury School SUMMER/FALL Magazine

Editor

Jennifer K. Burns

Director of Advancement and External Affairs

Associate Editor, Magazine

Beverly Berkeley

Director of Communications and Marketing

Associate Editor, Almaâs Update

Renee LaPorte

Director of Alumni Relations and Gift Planning

Contributing Writers

Gail Acosta, Beverly Berkeley, Jennifer K.

Burns, Hannah Dorph â15, Lauren Eckstein,

Jonathan Fleming â16, Deb OâReilly, Holly

Victor â89, Kate Voynow â16, Tom Wilschutz

Design & Production

Proof Design

Photography

Beverly Berkeley, Steve Barth

Please send change of address to:

Solebury School

6832 Phillips Mill Road

New Hope, PA 18938

Phone: 215-862-5261

Fax: 215-862-3366

Email: [email protected]

Â© Copyright 2015 Solebury School

www.solebury.org

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Features

Departments

Contents

Fall 2015

6 Graduation 2015 On the morning of Saturday, June 6, friends, family, faculty and

staff joined our 52 seniors in the Athletic Center gymnasium to

celebrate graduation day.

16 Global Education Trips With spring break comes the opportunity for students to

expand their horizons.

22 Alumni Weekend

30 Almaâs Update Catch up on Alumni News

2 A Note from the Headof School A message from Tom Wilschutz

3 Beyond the Books News and events from Solebury School

14 Athletic News

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I sometimes wonder, what would the Solebury School freshman

in 1925 have thought of smart phones, the Internet, Google, iPads

or Netflix/Twitter/Facebook? Could they have imagined that their

great-grandchildren would have the world at their fingertips, able

to share thoughts and ideas far and wide in just a few keystrokes?

Create their own custom manufacturing plants via 3D printing?

Eradicate polio and other infectious diseases?

In his book, The Singularity Is Near, author Ray Kurzweil posits

that the computing power of machines will surpass that of the

human intelligence in approximately 2045 at which point those

machines will then go on to build smarter and smarter machines,

finally freed from the albatross of human intelligence. Whether

Kurzweil has it right or not, time will tell. However, itâs clear that

the pace of technology is not going to slow, let alone reverse itself.

As we as a society continue to produce engineers and scientists

who continue to fuel this technological revolution, we must also

educate social scientists, activists, philosophers and ethicists who

can critically reflect on the human condition in a world where

machines may well outthink us, and perhaps replace most of us in

the fields in which we toil. It is not necessarily a future we should

fully fear nor necessarily fully embrace, but it is a future we

should seek to intentionally shape.

Therein lies the role for Solebury and like-minded institutions.

We continue to offer a balance to our students, believing that

English and Painting and Dance are as important as Math and

Physics and Biology. We believe that rote memorization and

jamming content into young minds in service to standardized

testing outcomes is, at its best, misplaced and misguided. At its

worst, we educate generations of future policy makers whose

definition of learning and knowledge is fatally flawed. We

believe that curricular experiences like Teach2Serve, Ethics,

Biomedical Ethics and The US and the Arab World are just as

critical to the developing mind and character of adolescents as

anything labeled Advanced Placement. These categories are not

placed in opposition to each other, value judgments like good

and bad are not applicable. Rather it is to highlight the choice

of balance, of educating the whole human so she/he is able to

understand the critical questions that must be explored: Why?

Is this a good development? What is the moral/ethical dimension

in this moment? It is more critical than ever that we educate

our students to understand that the capacity to achieve some

invention/advancement/development does not necessarily mean

we shouldâwe have the responsibility to critically examine

whether we should pursue this new path.

And so, we celebrate 90 years of learning. We look back to the

past to prepare us well for the future, and we embrace change,

not merely for the sake of change, but when it enhances our

progress in fulfilling our mission and better serving our various

constituencies. For example, you may have noticed that this issue

of the Solebury School magazine looks rather different than ones

that have previously arrived in your mailbox. In this issue, youâll

read about our programs and whatâs happening on campus and

in the lives of Solebury School alum. And youâll see that weâve

updated our look to reflect the Solebury School of today. We love

to hear your thoughts â please send them our way at magazine@

solebury.org.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Solebury: The Magazine and

celebrate with us the persistence of the idea our four founders

had some 90 years ago, that education can be achieved in an

environment that nurtures and respects the student, engendering

in them a passion for learning in a joyful environment.

Head of School

A Note from Tom Wilschutz

2 The Magazine

For whatever reason, we humans

tend to ascribe landmark status to those

moments when quintiles and deciles are

attained. So, itâs with a feeling of celebration

and pride that we kick off our 90th year,

offering our unique Solebury School brand

of independent school education.

Summer / Fall 2015

P:05

How often do you take a good,

long, hard look in the mirror? For most

of us, self-evaluation happens rarely.

But at Solebury School, and many other

independent schools, it happens every

10 years, when the school undertakes a

self-study to earn reaccreditation. The

rigorous year-long process involves

in-depth analysis, introspection and scrutiny. Yet, for Solebury

School, going through reaccreditation during the 2014-2015

school year was viewed as both an obligation and an opportunity.

âSchools are busy, busy places,â said Tom Wilschutz, Solebury

Schoolâs Head of School. âWe would never devote one-and-a-half

years to a self-examination if it wasnât important. If youâre a good,

healthy school, you can take advantage of this. Solebury is a good,

healthy school. The process itself is productive. It brings together

a lot of keen minds. We got good input and good insights.â

Solebury Schoolâs reaccreditation process was administered

by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools

(PAIS), a not-for-profit organization offering support

and services to more than 100 independent schools in

Pennsylvania and Delaware. To earn reaccreditation, Solebury

School spent months preparing documents, reports and data.

The process culminated in late October 2014 when Solebury

hosted a team of educators from other PAIS independent

schools who held meetings, visited classes, took tours of the

campus and spent time evaluating, observing and dissecting

nearly every aspect of the school.

Hanna Howe, Solebury Schoolâs librarian, served as

the chairperson of the PAIS steering committee. While

reaccreditation is truly a school-wide effort with faculty, staff

and administrators all doing their part, Howe orchestrated the

completion of the necessary documents and helped prepare the

school for the PAIS visit. She said the process was demanding,

but also a valuable experience for the school.

âI do think itâs good for the school to have outside eyes look at

our practices and culture,â said Howe. âThe visiting team takes

care to listen to what we want to be doing and reports back on

whether we are fulfilling our own mission. They try hard to help

us be the best us, not try to force or expect us to be a school we

donât want to be. Itâs an interesting and useful exercise to be

asked, âAre you who you want to be?ââ

This spring, the PAIS visiting committee granted reaccreditation

to Solebury School and delivered a 48-page report that included

both commendations and recommendations. Wilschutz said he

thought the document was thorough and comprehensive. âI think

they understood us,â he said.

PAIS praised Solebury School for many of its core values

and philosophies. The visiting committee recognized how

the school fosters a unique community where students can

connect with faculty, and where each student feels understood

and appreciated. The schoolâs success in integrating boarding,

day and international students was also noted, along with

the culture on campus that encourages students to think

independently and explore their individual interests. PAIS also

praised Solebury for developing faculty and staff members who

are committed to the school and devoted to the students.

The PAIS report also included some suggestions and ideas

for the school to consider. Wilschutz said that he, along

with an administrative team, have already compiled many

of the ideas into an itemized spreadsheet and are currently

discussing action plans for some of the items. For example,

a team is developing more comprehensive emergency drills

for unique situations, such as evacuation drills and lockdown

drills. Another team is considering creating a more uniform

style guide for school documents and publications. Others are

working to broaden the schoolâs community service program,

offering more service learning opportunities for students.

These discussions that grew directly from the PAIS report are

exactly how an obligation becomes an opportunity. Wilschutz

said his goal is to use the report to âkeep looking at best

practices and keep seeking ways to improve Solebury School.â

âIâm really happy with how we organized ourselves and the

progress weâve made,â said Wilschutz. âThere are clear

roadways on what needs to happen and in what sequence. This

has all been a good process.â

Solebury School Reaccredited

PAIS Report

www.solebury.org 3

Beyond the books

Summer / Fall 2015

P:06

4 The Magazine

Freerâs trip was made possible by

the John and Linda Brown Faculty

Enrichment Award. The award,

established by Solebury Schoolâs

Home and School Association, honors

John D. Brown â67, Soleburyâs Head

of School from 1989-2008, and Linda

Brown, Director of Advancement from

1989-2008, for their years of service.

The endowment is designed to allow

a Solebury faculty member to pursue

a personal interest that sparks their

enthusiasm for education.

For Freer, who teaches biology,

environmental science and evolution,

traveling to Ecuador and the Galapagos

Islands allowed him to tread on the

lands where Charles Darwin developed

his theories, explore the diverse biology

of an area known for its flora and fauna,

and view the effects of ecotourism on

precious natural resources.

âIt was a tremendous trip,â said Freer,

as he scrolled through more than 1,000

photos and 100 videos from his travels.

âI always talk about Darwin in my

classes, but to be there and understand

what he was seeing was amazing,â said

Freer. âExperiences like that will bring a

lot to my classes.â

For part of his trip, Freer traveled

with Global Exploration for Educators

Organization (GEEO), a non-profit

organization that runs travel programs

designed for teachers. Following the

GEEO tour, Freer traveled to Ecuadorâs

remote Sacha Lodge to explore the

dense rainforest. Along the way, he

saw sea lions, sea turtles, blue-footed

boobies, marine iguanas, monkeys and

penguins. He even swam with six-foot

white-tipped reef sharks.

âI knew people did it,â he said. âBut the

first time, I was like, Oh, thereâs a shark.

Then, all of a sudden, there were 30

sharks. I was filming underwater, and on

the video, you can hear me. Iâm thinking,

âStay calm, stay calm,â but Iâm saying,

âHoly cow.ââ

Beyond the books

Jon Freer

Earns John and Linda Brown

Faculty Enrichment Award

When Jon Freer, Solebury School educational technologist and

science teacher, returned from his two-week trip to Ecuador

and the Galapagos Islands this summer, he said that his trip

had no highlights. He quickly elaborated that it was impossible

to pick favorite moments from his trip. Every single moment of

those 14 days was a highlight.

Jon Freer at the center of the earth in Ecuador.

Faculty News

Summer / Fall 2015

P:07

www.solebury.org 5

During his two-week trip, Freer not

only swam with sharks, but came

face-to-face with a Galapagos tortoise,

visited the Darwin Research Center,

kayaked, snorkeled, hiked through lava

caves and learned enough Spanish to

ask for directions when he got lost.

Freer said he overcame his nerves in

his effort to maximize every moment of

his trip.

âIf we were snorkeling, I was the first

in, the last out,â he said. âIf there was an

opportunity to do something, my answer

was âyes.â I sometimes lean toward shy

and hesitant. I got over that. I was like,

âThereâs sharks there? Letâs go.ââ

Freer dreams of developing a course

at Solebury School that incorporates

everything he learned on his trip. The

course would teach geology, biology,

evolution, the history of Ecuador, basic

Spanish language and would culminate

in a class trip to Ecuador. Yet for now,

he is compiling his photos and videos

into lessons that he hopes to share in

his classroom and with the community.

Overall, Freer seems driven to share

what he learned.

âI feel inspired by the love of places

and seeing things,â he said. âThatâs the

passion I can share. Itâs really exciting

to bring the things that excite you as a

teacher. It makes the classroom a more

exciting place to be.â

Anthony Porter

Receives the First

Above and Beyond Award

Solebury Schoolâs Home and School

Association has created an award to recognize

the extraordinary dedication of Solebury

School faculty and staff.

The Home and School

Above and Beyond Award

for faculty and staff was

created using a portion of

the proceeds from the La

Dolce Vita: The Sweet Life

annual auction. Each year,

a stipend will be awarded to

an individual who has truly

exceeded the expectations

of their position in ways that have enriched the communityâs

experience.

This year, Anthony Porter was recognized as the first Above

and Beyond Award recipient. Anthony has been a fixture on

Solebury Schoolâs dining hall staff for the last eight years.

Anyone who walks into the dining hall is met with a smile

and kind word from Anthony. Need a helping hand? Anthony

is the first to offer. In addition to his work in the dining hall,

Anthony also assists with coaching and conditioning the

schoolâs wrestling team. An accomplished musician and

vocalist, Anthony is a frequent contributor to the schoolâs

music program. âWhen we thought about the intent of the

Home and School Association to recognize someone in our

community who goes above and beyond, we all immediately

thought of Anthony,â said Tom Wilschutz, Head of School. âHe

truly epitomizes this award in his approach to every task, every

assignment, everything he does, every single day, at Solebury.

Anthony is the most amazing colleague I think I have ever

worked with in my professional life.â

The Home and School Above and Beyond Award is available

for additional contributions. For more information or to make a gift,

contact Jennifer K. Burns, Director of Advancement and External

Affairs, at 215-862-5361 x183 or [email protected].

Jon in the Galapagos, hanging with the turtles.

Anthony Porter and Tom Wilschutz

Beyond the books

Summer / Fall 2015

P:08

6 The Magazine Fall 2015

P:09

www.solebury.org 7

âBe open. Be open to

an impromptu walk in the woods on

a Wednesday. Be open to striking

up a conversation with a stranger

reading a book you love.Be

open to the things

your teachers are

exposing you to.

It took me a while to figure it out, but

all of those things are really great,

and each has the potential to be

incredibly important. They are

important because

they are things in the

world, just like youâre a person in

the world. The facts, the ideas, the art

you study throughout the course of your

education are important because they

exist, and because they are all for you.â

Graduation

2015

The Friday evening before graduation day

begins the celebration of our seniors.

The school hosts a special Senior Dinner where faculty members highlight

senior accomplishments with award presentations. Matt Angle â15,

Sasha Scudder â15 and Keson Bullock-Brown â15 shared their high school

experiences. Susie Lenovitz â15 and Josh Reinstein â15 conveyed their personal

feelings in original poems, with a special performance by Ilona Wilde â15.

Senior Class officers Sara Bosak â15, Hester Krog â15 and Sasha Scudder â15

presented the Class of 2015âs gift to the school, a contribution toward the

refurbishment of the beverage station in the Herbert S. Boyd Dining Hall.

Dr. Helen Matthews,

2015 Faculty Commencement Speaker

To view full story and speeches, visit www.solebury.org/student_life/graduation-2015/index.aspx

Susie Lenovitz â15 recited an original

poem during Senior Dinner

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: Shannon Foley â15 and Milo Luciano â15 BOTTOM LEFT: Hailey Tasch â15 and her mother, Laina Tasch â86 Pâ14 â15

BOTTOM MIDDLE: Lucas Santiago â15 and his father, Euclides Santiago Pâ15 BOTTOM RIGHT: Erynn Lynch â15 (left) and Cassidy Patterson â15

Summer / Fall 2015

P:10

8 The Magazine

On the morning of Saturday,

June 6, many friends, family,

faculty and staff joined our 52

seniors in the Athletic Center

gymnasium to celebrate their

graduation day.

Senior speakers included Zonia Rueda â15,

Hester Krog â15 and Yuriy Dmitriyev â15.

Dr. Helen Matthews, Head of World

Languages, was selected by the class as this

yearâs faculty commencement speaker. With

high school diplomas in hand, our newest

alumni headed out into the world with

dreams and expectations for the future.

âI have come a long way

in these three short years, from a guy with a

tough Russian accent on the edge of packing

my suitcases and returning to the Ukraine to the

person standing in front of you, giving a speech

and heading in a few months to a competitive

university. Solebury turned me

into a better person, even

though I never got rid of my amazing accent.â

â Yuriy Dmitriyev â15

Graduation 2015

TOP RIGHT: Friends and family gather in the Athletic Center. BOTTOM

RIGHT: Christina Sappington â15 and her family

TOP LEFT: Vikki Rueda-Juarez â17 (left) and Zonia Rueda â15 (right)

with their mom, Zonia Juarez-Perez Pâ15 â17 MIDDLE LEFT: The Todd

siblings, Ryan â09 (left), McKenna â13 (middle) and Schuyler â15 (right)

BOTTOM LEFT: Hanna Dorph â15 with her mother, Carolyn Dorph Pâ15

Summer / Fall 2015

P:11

www.solebury.org 9

The Number One Ranked

in the Class of 2015

Abigail Mott â15

Abigail Mott earned the number

one rank in the class of 2015 with

the highest cumulative GPA. Abigail

attends Brown University.

The Dorothy

MacBrien Award

Hester Krog â15

Given in memory of Dottie MacBrien

Pâ79 by her husband Hugh and son

Chris `79, this award goes to a senior

for his or her contributions to making

Solebury School a better community

and for demonstrating a willingness to

help others. Hester is attending The

California Institute of The Arts.

Frank Ammirati Math

& Science Prize

Yuriy Dmitriyev â15

This prize is given in honor of Frank

Ammirati Pâ73 â79 â81 â82, who taught

math and science at Solebury for more

than 30 years. The recipient of this award

is a senior who excels in both of these

disciplines. Yuriy Dmitriyev attends

The George Washington University.

The William P. Orrick Award

Milo Luciano â15

The Orrick Prize honors William

Pendleton Orrick, Headmaster of

Solebury School from 1948-1968, and

is the gift of the Dr. Marvin Solomon

Family and John Lippman `75. It is

awarded to a senior who has made the

greatest academic improvement during

his or her time at Solebury.

The Mike Mullen Award

Anastasia Babicki â15

This award is presented to the senior

class member who has exemplified Mikeâs

characteristics of hard work, honesty,

and love of the Solebury community and

its natural surroundings. Stasia attends

Eckerd College.

Senior Awards

Leaders for Today and the Future

Faculty members

presented five

named awards

and special prizes

to outstanding

seniors.

Abigail Mott â15 with Steve Buteux

Hester Krog â15 with Ali Ludington and

Shawn Rowley Wright

Anastasia Babicki â15 with Diane Downs

Milo Luciano â15 with Steve Buteux Yuriy Dmitriyev â15 with Cari Nelson

Summer / Fall 2015

P:12

10 The Magazine

The Founders Award

JR Madey â16

The Founders Award, established by John

A. Silver, III â57 and Betsy Orth Hill â57,

is intended for a member of the junior

class who exudes personal maturity,

integrity, intellectual curiosity, a sense of

responsibility to the school community as

well as a society in general, sympathy for

others and courage.

activities on campus and encouragement

of understanding within the community.

Christina attends Manhattanville College.

The Bryn Mawr College

Presidentâs Book Award

Kate Voynow â16

This award goes to the member of the junior

class who embodies the core characteristics

of a Bryn Mawr woman: a driven and

passionate learner with a clear sense of

purpose who is inspired by and celebrates

differences and who seeks to transform

herself, her community and the world.

The Home and School

Community Service Prize

Zonia Rueda â15

This prize is given

to the student

who has made the

most outstanding

contributions to

the Community

Service Program at

Solebury School.

Zonia attends

Ursinus College.

The Lucien Peebles â65

Scholarship Prize

Carlos Lewis-Miller â16

Kim Willard-Mack â16

The Lucien Peebles Scholarship Prize

is funded by Robert and Barbara Hillier

and presented to a junior who embodies

Lucienâs qualities of hard work and

intellectual curiosity.

The Commitment to

Diversity Award

Christina Sappington â15

Established by

the Class of

2014, this award

is presented to

students who have

demonstrated

enthusiasm

for diversity

through his or her willingness to cross

social boundaries, respect of Soleburyâs

diverse population, participation in diversity

Special Awards

Presented on Prize Day

Graduation 2015

JR Madey â16 with Tom Wilschutz

Carlos Lewis-Miller â16 and Kim WillardMack â16 with Scott Eckstein and Tom

Wilschutz Kate Voynow â16 with Tim Gallen

Summer / Fall 2015

P:13

www.solebury.org 11

The Princeton Book Award

Kim Willard-Mack â16

This award goes to a member of the junior

class for outstanding academic achievement

and exemplary community service.

The College of the

Atlantic Book Award

Neal Hafner â16

This award is given to a community-minded

junior who is curious and self-directed,

possessing a genuine love of learning across

multiple academic disciplines.

The Rachel Carson

Book Award of

Chatham University

Leah Hunt â16

This award goes to the junior who has shown

a passion for the environment and interest

in writing or the sciences. It includes a

scholarship to Chatham University and an

invitation to a reception on campus.

The Director of

Studies Award

Matthew Angle â15

Zonia Rueda â15

The Director of Studies Award goes to a

student or students in any grade whose

actions in and outside the classroom

demonstrate intellectual curiosity, love of

learning for its own sake, and speculative

habits of mind. Matthew attends The

George Washington University and Zonia

attends Ursinus College.

The Dean of

Students Award

Max Brewington â16

The Deanâs Award is given to a student who

participates in and gives to the community

unselfishly. It is given to a person who sees

a need in the community and helps without

being asked.

The Smith College

Book Award

Jenny Liang â16

This award goes to the junior or

sophomore who exemplifies the academic

achievement, leadership qualities and the

concern for others that characterize the

thousands of woman who have graduated

from Smith College.

Kim Willard-Mack â16 with Tim Gallen

Jenny Liang â16 with Tim Gallen

Matthew Angle â15 and Zonia Rueda â15

Max Brewington â16 with Annette Miller and

Neal Hafner â16 with Tim Gallen Leah Hunt â16 with Tim Gallen Bill Christy

Summer / Fall 2015

P:14

12 The Magazine Fall 2015

The accomplishments of Soleburyâs

Class of 2015 are significant. Many of

them are athletes, including a black

belt in tae kwon do and a school

record holder for the 800 meters in

Track and Field. The Class of 2015

included one of the top pianists

in China, a Bucks County Poet

Laureate finalist and award-winning

filmmakers. Several were recognized

for their academic achievements,

including a gold medal winner in

the National Spanish Exam and a

National Merit Scholar honoree.

The Class of 2015 have been no

strangers to giving back. Locally,

students helped restore areas in New

Jersey and New York after the wreckage

created by Hurricane Sandy. They have

been leaders, mentors, tutors, teachers

and supporters, working with programs

such as Alexâs Lemonade Stand, Girls

on the Run and Project Eye-to-Eye.

Additionally, students have taken their

efforts overseas, working in places like

Nicaragua, Guatemala, Tanzania, Laos,

Cambodia, Thailand and South Africa.

They have also utilized Soleburyâs house

system to create friendly competition in

fundraising efforts like Penny Wars or

food drives.

Solebury School Class of 2015

Where Theyâve Been and Where Theyâre Going

In June, Solebury graduated 52 exceptional students.

Their success demonstrates the ongoing drive and

passion that Solebury students share.

Graduation 2015

P:15

www.solebury.org 13

Albright College

American University

Auburn University

Babson College

Bard College

University of Bath

Bennington College

Bentley University

Bloomsburg University

of Pennsylvania

Boston University

Brooklyn College

of the CUNY

Brown University

Burlington College

Butler University

California Institute of the Arts

California Polytechnic State

University, San Luis Obispo

California State University,

Northridge

University of California, Merced

University of California,

Santa Cruz

Cedar Crest College

Chapman University

Colgate University

University of Colorado

at Boulder

Columbia College Chicago

University of Dallas

Delaware State University

University of Delaware

University of Denver

DePaul University

DePauw University

Dickinson College

Drew University

Drexel University

East Carolina University

Eckerd College

University of Edinburgh

Elmira College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical

University â Daytona Beach

Emerson College

Emory University (Emory College)

Fairfield University

Farleigh Dickinson University â

Florham Campus

Farleigh Dickinson University â

Metropolitan Campus

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Southern College

Fordham University â Lincoln

Center Campus/Rose Hill

Campus

Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin Pierce University

The George Washington

University

The George Washington

University (College of Arts &

Sciences)

The University of Georgia

Goucher College

Hamilton College â NY

Hampshire College

Hampton University

University of Hartford

Harvard University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii Pacific University

High Point University

Hobart and William Smith

Colleges

Hofstra University

Howard University

Humboldt State University

Indiana University at

Bloomington

Indiana University at

Bloomington (Kelley School of

Business)

Indiana University of

Pennsylvania

Iona College

Ithaca College

Ithaca College (School of

Humanities & Sciences)

Johnson & Wales University

Juniata College

Kean University

Kutztown University of

Pennsylvania

La Salle University

University of La Verne

Lafayette College

University College London

Loyola University New Orleans

Lycoming College

Lynchburg College

University of Maine

Manhattanville College

Marist College

University of Mary Washington

Marymount California University

Marymount Manhattan College

Mercer County Community

College

Miami University, Oxford

University of Miami

Michigan State University

Montclair State University

Moravian College

Mount Saint Maryâs University

Muhlenberg College

University of New Hampshire

New York University (Steinhardt

School)

University of North Carolina

at Wilmington

Northeastern University

New York University Abu Dhabi

Oregon State University

University of Oregon

Pace University, New York City

University of the Pacific

Pennsylvania State University,

Abington

Pennsylvania State University,

University Park

Pennsylvania State University,

University Park (Smeal College

of Business)

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

Point Park University

Purchase College State

University of New York

Purdue University

Quinnipiac University

Randolph-Macon College

University of Redlands

University of Rhode Island

Richmond, The American

International College in London

Rider University

Rochester Institute of

Technology

Roger Williams University

Rutgers University â New

Brunswick

Saint Josephâs University

Santa Monica College

Sarah Lawrence College

Savannah College of

Art and Design

Scripps College

Seton Hall University

Shippensburg University

of Pennsylvania

Spelman College

St. Maryâs College of Maryland

Stetson University

Stonehill College

Suffolk University

Susquehanna University

Temple University

The New School â

Eugene Lang College

Tyler Junior College

Ursinus College

University of Vermont

University of Vermont

(College of Agriculture

& Life Sciences)

Virginia Tech

Virginia Wesleyan College

Wagner College

Warren Wilson College

University of Warwick

Washington College

University of Washington, Bothell

Wells College

Wesleyan University

West Virginia University

Wheaton College (MA)

Widener University

The College of Wooster

Yale-NUS College

We wish the Solebury School

Class of 2015 the best in all

of their future endeavors

and look forward to seeing

them, and other recent

grads, back here on campus

on January 5, 2016 for

Young Alumni Day!

Members of Solebury SchoolâsClass of 2015 were accepted

to more than 100 selective colleges and universities in the

United States and beyond.

Summer / Fall 2015

P:16

14 The Magazine

Frank Ammirati Most Valuable

Senior Athlete Award

Anastasia Babicki â15

Darvin Johnson â15

Anastasia Babicki â15 has been a valuable teammate and

supporter of Solebury athletics since her first year as a seventh

grader. In total, she has played 15 of the 18 seasons she has been

at Solebury, playing for the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse

teams. Rob Eichem, the Director of Athletics, noted that she

would ask for more games to be added to the schedule. She was a

true standout in every sport she played, acting as a leader during

games and practices. Through her dedication and enthusiastic

spirit, she not only earned three varsity letters during her senior

year, but also most improved in girls basketball and MVP in field

hockey and lacrosse.

Since arriving in the ninth grade, Darvin Johnson â15 has been

unstoppable. Hitting the ground running, literally, he has been a

Spartan since his first trimester on campus. Despite his calm and

collected attitude, he shows fierce competition on the field; as a

result, Darvin has earned an impressive collection of accolades.

A four-year letter winner in basketball and two-year in Track and

Field, Darvin finished first in the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles,

200m dash, and was a member of the winning 4x400m relay team

all at the league championships. He also scored the most points for

a male athlete in Track and Field this season. His dedication and

hard-work especially showed when he won 6th place in the 300m

hurdles at the state meetâall while on a bum leg!

Coach of the Year

Tonya Grant Brown

The Coach of the Year is selected by the Director of Athletics.

The criteria for the award include team success during the

season, taking into account the level of competition and

difficulty of the schedule; demonstrated ability to improve

the athletic performance of the team and/or the individual;

and demonstrated respect for officials and opponents, and a

consistent philosophy of fair play.

Tonya Grant Brown is

the coach of the Varsity

Girls Basketball team.

Although she has

only been coaching at

Solebury for two years,

her success has not gone

unnoticed. This past

season, her team set a

season record of 13-6.

Solebury won overall in

the Penn-Jersey League

Playoffs, capturing their

first title since 2006. The win marked a perfect 10-0 in league

play. Additionally, two of her players, Denia Campbell â17 and

Qiana Vigo â18, who both scored 22 and 14 points respectively

in the championship, were selected to play an all-star game at

Girard College. In these two years alone, Brown has made a

name for Solebury and proven herself an outstanding coach.

Solebury Athletes

Honored at Awards Banquet

AthLetics NEWS

Anastasia Babicki â15 and Darvin Johnson â15

Tonya Grant-Brown, Coach of the Year

with AD Rob Eichem

Summer / Fall 2015

P:17

www.solebury.org 15

Fall Awards

Girls Soccer

Most Valuable Player:

Max Brewington â16

Coachesâ Award:

Carol Wright â16

Most Improved Award:

Vikki Rueda-Juarez â17

Boys Soccer

Most Valuable Player:

Matthew Ludak â15

Coachesâ Award:

Carlos Lewis-Miller â16

Most Improved Award (2):

Benjamin Roxey â18, Joshua Zolkewitz â18

Cross Country

Most Valuable Player (2):

Ilona Wilde â15, Nick Lavery â16

Coachesâ Award (3):

J.R. Madey â16, Emma Black â16,

Lina Freudenberg â16

Most Improved Award (2):

Jessie Forest â15, Andrei Benoliel â18

Field Hockey

Most Valuable Player:

Anastasia Babicki â15

Coachesâ Award (2):

Sara Bosak â15, Hailey Tasch â15

Most Improved Award:

Afrah Boateng â16

Winter Awards

Girls Basketball

Most Valuable Player:

Denia Campbell â17

Coachesâ Award:

Qiana Vigo â18

Most Improved:

Anastasia Babicki â15

Wrestling

Most Valuable Player:

Thomas McKinnon â17

Coachesâ Award:

Noah Sadoff â16

Most Improved Award (2):

Ryuta Utsumi â17, Gianluca Sturla â20

Boys Basketball

Most Valuable Player:

Curtis Thompson â16

Coachesâ Award (2):

Milo Luciano â15, Darvin Johnson â15

Most Improved Award (2):

Gabe Kass â15, Devin Matchett â16

SpringAwards

Golf

Most Valuable Player:

Matthew Clobes â15

Coachesâ Award (2):

Matthew Angle â15, Ryan Davis â15

Most Improved Award:

Gabe Kass â15

Girls Lacrosse

Most Valuable Player (2):

Anastasia Babicki â15, Cassidy Patterson â15

Coachesâ Award (2):

Claire Maloney â15, Shannon Foley â15

Most Improved:

Olivia Lutz â18

Softball

Most Valuable Player:

Julia McDonald â16

Coachesâ Award:

Sara Bosak â15

Most Improved Award:

Chloe Wang â16

Boys Tennis

Most Valuable Player:

Chen Yan â15

Coachesâ Award (2):

Michael Francesco â15, Haolun Liu â16

Most Improved Award: Samuel Alter â15

Baseball

Most Valuable Player:

Dylan Foley â16

Coachesâ Award (2):

Keson Brown â15, Wei-Han Tang â15

Most Improved Award:

Benjamin Roxey â18

Track & Field

Most Valuable Player (4):

Darvin Johnson â15, Lucas Santiago â15,

Vikki Rueda-Juarez â17, Ilona Wilde â15

Coachesâ Award (4):

Ian Berwick â15, Carlos Lewis-Miller â16,

Jessie Forest â15, Lina Freudenberg â16

Most Improved Award (4):

Daniel Sheriff â16, Carol Wright â16,

Andrei Benoliel â18, Ariel Bonneau â16

Athletic Award Recipients

Summer / Fall 2015

P:18

16 The Magazine Summer / Fall 2015

P:19

Fall 2015 www.solebury.org 17

Global Education

Trips

Some students traveled overseas for a cultural

immersion experience in Hamburg, Germany, while

some opted to flex their muscles on the icy Adirondack

slopes of upstate New York. Others traveled to the

warmer climate of Arizona to learn the customs and

traditions of the Hopi and Navajo tribes, complete with

a community service project and sightseeing at some

stunning U.S. landmarks, including the Grand Canyon.

With spring break comes the

opportunity for students to

expand their horizons.

into Solebury Schoolâs Global Education Program.

Hereâs a glimpse

P:20

German Student Exchange

Our Global Education Program was highlighted by a student

exchange with the Helmuth Hubener School (Stadtteilschule

Helmuth Hubener) in Hamburg, Germany. A group of

Solebury students with chaperones traveled to Hamburg

during spring break in March, and in April, Solebury hosted a

group of German students here in the United States. While in

Germany, Solebury students explored Hamburg on foot and

by boat, took an excursion to the Baltic Sea and visited the

cities of Berlin and LÃ¼beck.

TOP RIGHT: Erik Daughterman â18 and Claire Maloney â15 visited the

historic Holstentor building (the Holsten Gate) in LÃ¼beck.

RIGHT: While in the States, the German exchange students visited

Philadelphia, stopping for a photo op at the famous LOVE sign.

BOTTOM: Solebury students with their German counterparts at an

ice skating rink in Hamburg.

P:21

Adirondack Mountain Adventure

Students interested in a winter sports adventure took part in an exciting

trip to the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. The group stayed

in a private lodge on the grounds of Adirondack Rock & River, a lodging

and guide service center that is popular with the Adirondack climbing

community. Students tested their comfort zones while on snowshoes,

ice climbing an 80-foot wall with licensed guides and cross-country

skiing. âThere is no greater feeling than seeing someone try new things

and succeed,â said Stacie Anastasio, Soleburyâs Athletic Trainer and

trip chaperone.

TOP LEFT: Students stop to take in

the view while snowshoeing on the

first day of the trip.

TOP RIGHT: Students gather at the

base of the ice wall, preparing to

climb.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Neal Hafner â16 and

Aaron Schurman â20 try their hand at

ice climbing.

LEFT: The group ranged from seventh

graders to seniors.

Summer / Fall 2015 www.solebury.org 19

P:22

20 The Magazine

Day 2 â

(Hopi Nation)

No internet access here so tonight I decided

to sit outside and write. Itâs so quiet here. The

only thing I hear is the howl of coyotes in the

distance. The night air is cool and dry and the

sky is so clear. Iâve never seen so many stars

in my life. I feel very awake right now and

connected to the universe. I am so thankful for

this experience.

Arizona, the

American Southwest

Fifteen students and three chaperones traveled to Arizona

to learn the culture and traditions of the Native American

tribes of the Hopi and Navajo Nations and participate in

a community service project. Students had time to hike

among the stunning red rocks and cactus plants of Sedona,

AZ. A visit to the Grand Canyon served as a magical grand

finale to their experience.

During their trip,

students documented

their experiences in

their journals.

Hereâs a sampling.

Day 1

We started the day at the Heard Museumâs

Native American Indian Market and Fair

in Phoenix. Watched the Hopi and Navajo

ceremonial dances like the Kachina, hoop and

snake dance â the dance for rain to grow the

corn, dance for the harvest, dance to celebrate

life and rite of passageâ¦ Learned about

the clothing they wear for different dances

and how they made them and what they

represented. Ended our first day in Sedona just

in time for a sunset hike to the top of a vortex.

Itâs so surreal here â the cactus, the red rocks,

like being on a different planet. My soul is

content. I love learning about Native American

culture through the experience and not from

a book. Tired, time to sleep. Hiking in the

morning then off to the Hopi. Must remember

to THANK Mom and Dad for letting me go.

Summer / Fall 2015

P:23

Day 3

Our Hopi guide, Ed, took us to the First Mesa today, a village

on top of a plateau. You can see for hundreds of miles in all

directions. Ed says that the Hopi people are known for longdistance running, as itâs about 30 miles away to the next village.

Ed got special permission from the Tribal elders to take us to

the Kachina house, a very sacred place where the Kachina

spirits live during the ceremonies. I feel honored to have a

glimpse into their world.

Day 4

Some of the Hopi women taught us how to make fry bread with

them for tonightâs dinner. We prepared and cooked the flat

bread outside. We took dough the size of ping pong balls and

pinched it into discs and then slapped it quickly between the

palms of our hands to flatten it. I accidently dropped one in the

dirt, oops! I threw it over the fence for the rez dogs to eat, they

are so thin. In Hopi tradition, the woman serve the men first. Itâs

their way to thank the men for their work the fields all day. Fred,

Jared and Jack are really liking this as they get to eat first.

Day 5

Arrived at the Grand Canyon! Iâve always dreamed of coming

here and now I am HERE. We watched the sunset at the south

rim. Itâs incredible! Every moment the sun drops in the western

sky, the canyon changes colors. I am humbled by this place â so

magical, so big. It makes me feel so small and all the things I

worry about irrelevant. Someday when I have children I will

bring them here and share this with them.

www.solebury.org 21

OPPOSITE PAGE: Students hiked a trail while experiencing the

awe-inspiring Grand Canyon.

TOP LEFT: While hiking through the Navajo Reservation near

Flagstaff, AZ, students paused in the Canyon de Chelly to

photograph the ancient White House Ruin cliff dwellings, as

famous photographer Ansel Adams once did in the 1940s.

TOP RIGHT: Ilona Wilde â15 participates in one of the Hopi and

Navajo community circle dances in Phoenix.

MIDDLE: Students gather at the First Mesa Youth Center, where

they cleaned a neglected basketball court before an upcoming

tournament as part of their community service project.

Summer / Fall 2015

P:24

Visit www.solebury.org/alumni/alumniweekend-2015-highlights/index.aspx

for more photos

20

15

Alumni

Weekend

Solebury School

Spring was in full bloom for Alumni

Weekend, a time when all classes are invited

back to campus to reconnect with each other

and Solebury School. The weekend kicked

off at the home of Brett Webber â85, who

celebrated his 30th Reunion by graciously

opening his Bucks County home to his

fellow alumni for a Friday evening reception,

complete with delicious food and beverage

and a live bluegrass band.

22 The Magazine

THIS PAGE: Alumni from the 60s through the

aughts enjoyed reconnecting.

P:25

John Petito â96 and Lana Whitehead â96

once again hosted the Alumni Barbeque,

where dozens of alums enjoyed burgers, ribs,

beverages and catching up with each other and

their favorite teachers. Saturday culminated

with the schoolâs annual dinner action, La Dolce

Vita: The Sweet Life (see page 24). On Sunday,

friends said goodbye at brunch in the Herbert S.

Boyd Dining Hall.

Save the Date

for next yearâs

Alumni Weekend,

April 29 â May 1, 2016.

On Saturday morning, alumni joined Tom Wilschutz, Head of School,

in the Memorial Garden to celebrate the lives of Solebury Family

members who are no longer with us. The Memorial Garden was

established in 2005 by family and friends to honor the memory of

Stephen Mueller â55 and Philip Guthrie â69.

Later, Tom Wilschutz updated interested

alumni on the current State of the School.

Families gathered for class photos at the dining

hall while waiting for a delicious buffet lunch.

Saturday afternoon brought a celebration of

some of Solebury Schoolâs finest alumni athletes

who were inducted into the 2015 Athletic Hall of

Fame (see page 26).

www.solebury.org 23

The Group Gathered to Remember:

Holmquist School:

Ann Janeway â39, Carol Prange Drake â42

Solebury School:

Judith Goldstein Joseph â60, Jeff Hamilton â74, Barbara Montagu

Johnstone â55, Judy Lippa â66, Marci MacNeur â68, James Peavey â60. Fred

Pickett, Jr. â72, Frederick Riley â58, John A. Silver, III â57, James Woolsey â62

Current and Former Faculty:

Ralph Smith, Betty Blackburn Tjossem

TOP: Alumni from the 50s and 60s. Left: Head

of School Tom Wilschutz (right) leads the

Memorial Service.

Summer / Fall 2015

P:26

24 The Magazine

La Dolce Vita:

The funds raised will allow us to make

significant progress for the future

including educational programming,

student activities, faculty and staff

development (see page 5) and facility

improvements. So many members of our

community made this night special and its

impact will be felt by our students, faculty

and friends for years to come. Special

thanks to our fabulous auction co-chairs,

Donna Cosgrove Pâ16 and Carolyn Dorph

Pâ15, who invested countless hours to

make this event such a success.

Creating the Sycamore Patio

This yearâs Special Appeal enabled

Solebury families and friends to impact

one of the most used outdoor spaces

on Soleburyâs campus and with the

generous support of many, we raised over

$77,000 for this project. Over the next

year, the picnic area between the Herbert

S. Boyd Dining Hall and the Main Office/

Farmhouse will be transformed into a

thoughtfully designed gathering space

for dining, socializing and learning: the

Sycamore Patio.

Native and woodland plantings will

complement the installation of a patio

that reflects the beautiful natural

vistas that surround it. The majestic

beauty of the mature Sycamores will be

retained, providing a natural canopy for

students and faculty to dine outdoors

or discuss literature and other topics

in this outdoor classroom on sturdy,

weather-resistant seating. Subtle

lighting and easily accessible power

sources will provide additional evening

space options for student-centered

performances like CribNotes or poetry

readings. An open fireplace will be the

highlight of the patio, providing warmth

for gatherings on chilly autumn nights

as well as a place for our campers to

roast marshmallows for sâmores during

the summer sleepover.

This summer, Solebury staff worked

with arborists and landscape architects

in carefully evaluating the existing

site and creating a thoughtful plan for

the space. Look for the new patio in

summer 2016.

The Sweet Life

Save the Date for next yearâs auction and plan to join us on April 30, 2016!

Alumni Weekend 2015

Soleburyâs annual dinner auction, La Dolce Vita: The Sweet

Life, was a tremendous success thanks to a supportive

community of Solebury parents, alumni, students, faculty

and friends. Together, we raised over $120,000, including the

special appeal for the Sycamore Patio.

Bob Dahl and his wife, board member Barbara Fordyce Pâ07 â13 place a bid.

Summer / Fall 2015

P:27

www.solebury.org 25

Many thanks to our

auction sponsors

Platinum

Princeton Brain and Spinal Care, LLC

The First National Bank of Newtown

Gold

Pegasus Emergency Group

Grigoriy and Tatyana Khvan Pâ16

Xiping Wang and Ning Li Pâ16

Yunqun Fang and Xiaoyan Liang Pâ15

Jeff Benoliel and Amy Branch Pâ18

Silver

Andrea Devereux Pâ14

Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller

Signs & Wonders Store, LLC

Bronze

Ruth and Hans Cahnmann Memorial Fund

Anne C. (Annsi) Stephano â58 Pâ77 â78 â81

ABOVE: Susan Wald, wife of Eric Wald â77, placed several bids during the silent auction.

TOP RIGHT: Deborah and Mark Daughterman Pâ18 MIDDLE RIGHT: Audi and Michelle

Peal Pâ18 BOTTOM RIGHT: Sandra Dillon (left), David Christiansen Pâ96 â99 (middle)

and Brett Webber â85

Summer / Fall 2015

P:28

2015 Athletic Hall of Fame

Solebury School

Alumni Weekend 2015

P:29

The Solebury School Athletic Hall of

Fame recognizes and honors studentathletes, exceptional teams, coaches,

and other members of the Solebury

community who have made outstanding

contributions to its athletic program.

2016 Nominations

Nominations may be made by either completing the

online nomination form at www.solebury.org/halloffame

or by sending one by mail to Robert Eichem, Director of

Athletics, 6832 Phillips Mill Road, New Hope, PA 18938.

â in memoriam

Many thanks go to the individuals

who nominated this yearâs recipients

and to the Athletic Hall of Fame

Selection Committee.

The deadline for submitting nominations is

November 1, 2015.

Summer / Fall 2015 www.solebury.org 27

TOP LEFT: Olivia Hagerty â10 and her mother, Melissa

Hamilton â78 Pâ10 â14. TOP RIGHT: Bryant Mitchell â65

accepts the award in memory of George DeSilver â65.

MIDDLE LEFT: Patrick Hernandez â95 with his wife,

Jennifer Choy. MIDDLE RIGHT: David Leshan Pâ81 with

Melissa Hamilton. BOTTOM: Terrane S. Polnitz â80 Pâ10

with Terrane Polnitz II â10 and family.

During Alumni

Weekend in May,

the following were

inducted:

George DeSilver â65â

Melissa Hamilton â78

Patrick Hernandez â95

Terrane S. âTerryâ Polnitz â80

P:30

Jeremy L. Fergusson â63

Jeremy L. Fergusson â63 calls

himself a Solebury School âlifer.â He

attended Solebury from 7th through 12th

grade and has many fond memories, like

the time the renowned author Robert

Frost gave a poetry reading at the school

or the magical day each year called

Russian Holiday, when the headmaster

announced a surprise, all-school trip to New York City. âIt was

such a formative time in my life,â said Fergusson. âI got all sorts

of grounding from it.â

Fergusson joined Solebury Schoolâs Board of Trustees in May and

said he is eager to contribute to the school that gave him so much.

âI had a scholarship to attend Solebury,â he said. âSolebury did a

lot of things for me, so itâs kind of give back time.â

Fergusson brings his expertise in marketing and communications

to the board. He founded his own advertising agency and

has broad experience in business management and public

relations. He and his wife currently live in Wayne, PA, and also

spend time at a family farmhouse in Buckingham, PA. He has

two grown daughters.

Fergusson said he is eager to help Solebury School and offer his

communications expertise. âItâs a matter of telling the Solebury

story in a compelling way,â he said. âHopefully I can help

do that.â

Joan Reinthaler â53

âIâm really interested in schools,â said

Joan Reinthaler â53 explaining

the simple reason why she is rejoining

Solebury Schoolâs Board of Trustees to

begin her 13th year of service. Reinthaler

was a math and music teacher for

decades and continues to work with Math

for America, a collaboration between

American University and The Carnegie Institution, to train the

next generation of math teachers. âIâve taught all my life, and I

like seeing it from the other side,â she said. âIâm very interested

in how schools work.â Reinthaler said that she enjoyed being a

student at Solebury.

Now, more than 60 years after she graduated, she feels that

Soleburyâs character has remained intact. Reinthaler, who also

writes for the The Washington Post as a freelance music reviewer,

sings in a choir and is a crew leader for Habitat for Humanity

in Washington, D.C., said she is looking forward to serving

on the board again. Reinthaler will bring her experience and

educational expertise to her role as board member. She also

serves on Soleburyâs Strategic Planning Committee.

28 The Magazine

Solebury School is incredibly grateful for the time and talent of our volunteer Board members.

David Christiansen Pâ96 â99, Liz Tallet Wavle Pâ11 and Brett Webber â85 completed their terms of service in May

2015 and we thank them for their leadership and support!

Solebury Welcomes

Five Board Members

âSolebury did a lot of things for me,

so itâs kind of give back time.â âIâve taught all my life, and I like

seeing it from the other side.â

Leadership

Summer / Fall 2015

P:31

Andrea Devereux Pâ14

When Andrea Devereux Pâ14 was

asked to join the Board of Trustees, she

was moved. âI felt very honored,â she

said and then paused. âIâm even getting

teary now.â While Devereux initially

felt grateful, her next reaction was to

feel doubtful. âI was thinking, âAre you

sure you know who I am?â But the very

modest Devereux brings vast experience to the board.

Devereux and her husband were one of three couples who founded

PeproTech, a biotechnology company that focuses on manufacturing

cytokine products for the medical research market. After her husband

died in a plane crash more than a decade ago, Devereux retained

her one-third ownership of the company. Now the 27-year-old

company that started âliterally out of a garageâ has international

reach with sales offices in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Along

the way, Devereux jokes that sheâs done everything â from cleaning

the company bathrooms to working as a lab technician. She

currently serves as Peprotechâs Director of Personnel.

Devereux says sheâs happy to join the board of Solebury School

where her daughter, Michaela Finley â14, thrived. âI think

itâs the schoolâs culture of engagement,â she said. âThere is

an expectation that you will participate. Itâs not a place for

spectators.â Devereux, who has a history of diving elbow deep

into everything she does, should fit right in.

www.solebury.org 29

âThere is an expectation that you will

participate.â

âItâs a great school and Iâm looking

forward to being back.â

unique community. âI just loved the feeling that still exists â

the closeness between faculty and students, and the sense of

developing peopleâs individual talents,â she said.

Stephano, who owned a flower shop for 12 years, is active

with many charities including Planned Parenthood and

the national Southern Poverty Law Center. She lives just

minutes from Solebury School which keeps her in close

proximity. âI love the camaraderie and the opportunity

to be over here, seeing what has changed, and meeting

new students and faculty,â she said. âItâs nice to be able to

continue to take the pulse.â

After years of being a student, parent and board member,

Stephano said she still enjoys being part of the school. âAs Iâve

stayed on the board, I am more and more impressed with the

accomplishments, ingenuity and individuality of students Iâve

met,â she said. âI really think Solebury has a special niche in

the educational world.â

Derek Warden â79

Derek Warden â79 said heâs happy

to be able to give back to the school that

sparked his interest in education and

emphasized the art of critical thinking.

âSolebury instilled a love of learning in

me,â he said. âI enjoyed the small classes

and the back and forth with teachers. It

was a great experience.â

Warden served on the Board of Trustees previously, bringing

with him his broad experience in the field of finance. Warden

is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending

Officer at Penn Community Bank. Prior to that, he worked

for 31 years at various banks, including Conestoga Bank, PNC

and Meridian Bank. He lives in Wyncote, PA, with his wife and

three children.

Warden, who attended Solebury School for four years and has

four brothers who also attended Solebury School, said he has

many fond memories of his time here. He recalled a school

with dedicated faculty members and unusual classes. âI took

Ancient Greek, Latin, French â I took every class I could,â

he said.

Warden said that he looks forward to rejoining the board.

âItâs a great school and Iâm looking forward to being back,â

he said.

Anne C. (Annsi) Stephano â58

Pâ77 â78 â81

Anne C. (Annsi) Stephano â58 Pâ77

â78 â81 will continue her longstanding

relationship with Solebury School this

year as she rejoins the Board of Trustees

to begin her 19th year as a member.

Stephano attended Solebury School for

five years and always appreciated its

Leadership

Summer / Fall 2015

âI am more and more impressed with

the accomplishments, ingenuity and

individuality of students.â

P:32

Class Notes

Class of 1938

Everett Morse attended Solebury from

1932 to 1938 and has very fond memories

of the school and all the masters. Everett

volunteers at the local history center,

attends Rotary meetings and enjoys

spending time with his family. He wishes all

Solebury alumni the very best.

Class of 1953

Jean Tappan Shaw had a wonderful

reunion, first with Eric Shaw â55 and

relatives for an Arlington Cemetery service,

then a day with Joan Reinthaler â53, where

they toured Washington, DC, stopping at the

Vietnam Memorial.

This fall, Jean is planning a trip to China.

She will see Tiananmen Square, the

Forbidden City, Olympic Park and The Great

Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer

Palace. She concludes her trip on a Yangtze

River cruise ship for three days, ending in

Shanghai.

Class of 1956

Andrew Alpernâs

latest book The

Dakota: A History

of the Worldâs

Best-Known

Apartment

Building details

what New

Yorkâs Upper

West Side was

like in the early 1880s. Andrew tells the

fascinating story of how the Dakota came

to be and how Singer sewing magnate

Edward Clark dared to build an apartment

building luxurious enough to coax the cityâs

wealthy from their mansions downtown for

ultra-modern living on what was then the

swamplands of the Upper West Side.

Andrew is an architectural historian, architect

and attorney who has known the Dakota since

his childhood in the neighborhood. He is an

expert on historic apartment houses in New

York, with nine prior books, five of which tell

stories of New Yorkâs architectural assets and

the people behind them. The Dakota will be

available in October 2015.

Class of 1957

Last winter, Nicole Fischer Rafter and

her husband traveled to Cambodia and Laos

partly to do research on genocide. Recently

they traveled to Civil War battlefields to do

research for a book. Nicole has finished two

books, one on genocide and the other a second

edition of an earlier history of biological

theories of crime. She has been appointed

editor-in-chief of a forthcoming Encyclopedia

of Crime, Media, and Popular Culture, to be

published by Oxford Research.

Class of 1958

Bob Stocktonâs recently released sixth

novel, Stories from the U.S. Navy: II. Friendly

Fire, is available on Amazon. Bob is also

converting his more recent books to audio

format and hopes to have them out soon.

Class of 1963

Margery Collins is in the process of

downsizing her familyâs vacation home of

106 years. Her husband, Joel, is retiring

at the end of the year, and they are eagerly

looking forward to their next life chapter.

Class of 1965

After many years of working on national

health policy (prevention and womenâs

health), Sonia Muchnick Baku finally has

time to write. She recently published An

International Man. Sonia is also working on a

story about pop icon Lou Christie, and hopes

to finish a full draft of her book, Last Letter

from Iran, (a story of love, culture and politics)

by December. Sonia serves on the Board of a

non-profit school which helps non-traditional

students graduate from high school. She also

is an Honorary Fellow at the Department of

Comparative Literature at the University of

Wisconsin-Madison.

Sonia has thus far avoided LinkedIn and

Facebook, but would love to hear from

classmates and others, especially Yoav

Peck â64, whose activities she admires and

supports, and Peter Kostmayer â65.

Submit a Class note

Mail:

Solebury School

Attn: Alumni Office

6832 Phillips Mill Road

New Hope, PA 18938-9682

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Almaâs Update

A lumni N ews a nd Cla ss Notes

30 The Magazine Summer / Fall 2015

P:33

Rashad Shabazz and his wife Sabriya are

teaching English as a Second Language in

Beijing, China at an international boarding

school.

Class of 2005

Noah Lyons expects to complete his

Masterâs degree this fall in Art and

Religion at the Graduate Theological

Union in Berkeley, CA, and will be seeking

enrollment as a doctoral candidate for a

Ph.D. in English Literature, hopefully in

New York or Philadelphia.

Ju Sung Yoon is heading back to the United

States from Korea to study cooking and the

restaurant business in New York City.

Class of 2007

Paige Stewart is the Logistics Specialist

for Stertil-Koni. Paige previously served

as their Marketing Associate and recently

moved to the operations department, where

she will leverage her educational and training

background. Stewart began her career in

the vehicle-lifting industry with Stertil-Koni

in 2011, following her graduation from

McDaniel College. Recently, she has also

focused on advancing the companyâs social

media and web presence. In addition, while

working in her marketing role, Stewart

earned her Masterâs Degree in Supply Chain

Management from Towson University.

Class of 2009

Alexis Davis Thom and her husband Toby

are halfway through their Peace Corps

duties in Taounate, Morocco, teaching

English classes at the youth center.

Class of 2010

Rachel Tafoya participated in a book panel

discussion at the Doylestown Bookshop last

spring. The Night House is her first book.

Rachel studied creative writing while at

Solebury School and at Hampshire College.

She attended a writing program for teens at

both Susquehanna University and Denison

University. Rachel also recently graduated from

New York Times bestselling author Jonathan

Maberryâs Experimental Writing for Teens

class and Novels for Young Writers program.

Class of 2013

Michael Hall helped to produce Solebury

Schoolâs StarCatchers Summer Theater Camp.

This yearâs production, Shrek: The Musical,

was performed at the Bucks County Playhouse.

Class of 2014

Lily Mae Oppenheim has been performing

since she was four and recently released her

debut album Early Days. Since then, her

music has garnered airplay internationally.

She was first introduced to WXPN as their

Pick of the Day, and most recently was a live

guest on Gene Shayâs Folk Show. Lily has

opened for Livingston Tyler, Ben Taylor, Dry

The River, Jenny Owen Youngs, The Marshall

Tucker Band, and Joan Osborne.

Class of 2015

Hannah Dorph assisted with Solebury

Schoolâs StarCatchers Summer Theater Camp.

This yearâs production, Shrek: The Musical,

was performed at the Bucks County Playhouse.

Hannah also volunteered in Solebury Schoolâs

Advancement Department â her work is

featured in this edition of the magazine!

CURRENTFACULTY

Soleburyâs photography teacher Kevin Cook

was recently published on Cause Beautiful,

a not-for-profit organization that empowers

photography as a catalyst for social change.

They spotlight visual storytellers who hold

society accountable through their images.

Class of 2011

Evan Asoudeganâs restaurant, Moo, is up

and running on Main Street in New Hope, PA.

James P. Lewis graduated from Rowan

University and is now starting his career in

the theatrical and entertainment lighting

industry, thanks in large part to Chris

Langhart and Solebury School.

Class of 2012

Camille LeBlanc spent the summer

interning at the Lincoln Center and WBAI

radio in New York City. This fall she is

attending New York University in Buenos

Aires for her junior year of college.

Adrienne Edmonds is a senior at Pratt

in Brooklyn. In her spare time, she bakes

cupcakes, DJs and sells T-shirts for a

non-profit called A Love for a Life that

raises money for pancreatic research. She

came back to Solebury School with alumni

Brandon Schneider â12, Kat Holmquist â12,

Sam Nissenfeld â13, and Jake Jemas â12 to

raise funds in Mikeâs CafÃ© for Soleburyâs

theater department.

32 The Magazine Summer / Fall 2015

Almaâs Update

P:34

BIRTHS

Sierra Katz Rix â96 and her husband,

Edward, welcomed their 6th child in March.

Peter James Rix evens out the familyâthree

girls and three boys. They are enjoying days

and sleepless nights in the western suburbs

of Philadelphia.

Celebrity photographer and author Jeff

Vespa â88 and his wife, Emily Yomtobian,

welcomed Genevieve Vespa Meyer on

May 15th, 2015.

DEATHS

John H. Bauhan â49

1/22/1932 - 6/22/2014

John was the son of noted architect Rolf

William Bauhan and Elizabeth Lathrop

Bauhan and the grandson of William Langson

Lathrop, a Pennsylvania Impressionist

landscape painter. John grew up on his familyâs

farm in Bucks County, PA. He graduated from

the Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY, and

Princeton University in 1955. For two years, he

served in the Army artillery at Fort Sill, OK,

Fort Carson, CO, and in Germany. Utilizing

his degree in Geology, he enjoyed a long

career in mining and quarrying enterprises.

Carol Prange Drake Hâ42

6/11/1923 â 3/15/2015

Carol was educated at the Holmquist

School, New Hope, PA, and attended

Colorado College and Bennington College.

A wonderfully warm and caring mother,

grandmother and friend, Carol is survived

by her children and her five grandchildren.

Carol was a 50-year resident of Short

Hills, NJ, where she was a member of

the Congregational Church, Junior

League, served on the First Aid squad and

volunteered at Overlook Hospital in Summit,

NJ. After more than 60 years as a summer

resident, Carol moved full-time to Cape Cod

in 1992 where she enjoyed golf at Eastward

Ho Country Club, tennis at the Dennis Yacht

Club and hosting family and friends at her

beach cottage in East Dennis, MA.

Susanne Elsaesser Lassen Hâ33

6/8/1915 â 5/18/2015

Susanne Elsaesser Lassen was an

equestrian and an artist, and former

captain of Holmquist School for Girlsâ

equestrian team and its field hockey team.

She later graduated from Sarah Lawrence

College, where she pursued her interests

in painting and sculpture. A member of the

Mill Creek Riding Club and the Mahoning

Saddle and Bridle Association, she was

active in the 1920s and 1930s on the horse

show circuit and is especially remembered

for exhibiting with her father, where

they won many pair class championships

showing their saddle horses. She was also

well-known for her oil paintings that were

displayed at many local museums and

galleries.

Perot Nevin â39

11/17/1920 â 10/17/2012

âBudâ Nevin grew

up in Philadelphia

and New Hope, PA,

graduated from

Solebury School

and attended

the University of

Pennsylvania. He

enlisted in the United States Armed Forces

at the outbreak of WWII and served his

country as a proud member of the 101st

Airborne Division Screaming Eagles,

instructing soldiers in hand to hand combat.

Bud enrolled in college after his discharge

from military service, and received his

college degree in physical education from

the University of Redlands. After a career

in school administration, he retired to

Hughes Springs, TX, as founder and CEO

of Executive Fitness of America. The group

pioneered exercise programs for astronauts

in space and athletes such as the Minnesota

Vikings.

Ralph Smith

8/25/1950 - 4/23/2015

Solebury IT technician, citizen of New Hope,

PA, and the world, musician, dog lover and

eternal teenage hippie, died unexpectedly.

He passed on peacefully with his wife, Lisa

Tice, his beloved stepdaughter and her

fiancÃ©e by his side.

Ralph adored musicâplaying, singing, and

teaching young teens at Solebury School.

Although he traveled the world as a roadie

with rock and roll bands from Aerosmith

to Paul Simon, he always came back to New

Hope, which was the town of his heart, and

the Delaware River, which was âhisâ river,

and John and Peterâs Bar, which was âhisâ

bar. He had an extraordinary love of life and

brought enormous enjoyment to the people

who loved him.

Selma Waxman Widem Hâ47

Beloved wife, mother and grandmother

died June 4th, 2015. Born in Hartford, she

was the daughter of the late Joseph and

Hilda (Marmer) Waxman. She graduated

from the Holmquist School in Pennsylvania

and received a Bachelorâs degree from

Syracuse University in 1951. She was a

school teacher in East Hartford and then

went on to become a social worker for the

Connecticut Department of Welfare with

handling adoptions of abused and neglected

children. In 1951, she married the love of her

life, the late I. Milton Widem, a prominent

Hartford attorney. She was a member of the

Beth El Sisterhood and co-chair of the Art

Show Committee.

Summer / Fall 2015 www.solebury.org 33

Almaâs Update