winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1.qxd
Transcription
winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1.qxd
winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:01 AM Page 1 Reserve E-Bulletin WESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY 9 ng ’0 al o S e Ann ld Med 12 s Go Page earn JE T in S t re ea gi m on s t al ak PA com e to G p p E 4 etit spo io ts n. WINTER 2009 Knight Fellow turns science into art. PAGE 1 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 1:25 PM Page 2 Knight Fellow an artist in the lab Cleveland Clinic researcher explains immune system and the beauty of science incent K. Tuohy, Ph.D., is a man who appreciates the art of science in the literal sense. A professor and researcher in the field of immunology, Tuohy was on campus for three days in February as Western Reserve Academy’s 2009 Knight Fellow. The annual Knight Fellowship, now in its 36th year, is named for James L. Knight ’29, and strives to bring to campus experts in their fields of interest who can provide a “memorable personal encounter” with students. Tuohy currently serves as a professor in the Departments of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. He is also a member of The Cleveland Clinic staff in the Department of Immunology and is an adjunct professor of biology at Cleveland State University. His selection as the 2009 Knight Fellow was recommended by Reserve biology teacher Dr. Vincent Tuohy helps Tracy Tien ’12, left, and Calli McKenna ’11 identify blood cells on a slide. Roberto Aguilar. Aguilar, who is seeking a Ph.D. in regulatory biology with a specialization in molecular medicine from Cleveland State University, is conducting his thesis research under the guidance of Tuohy at The Cleveland Clinic. During two presentations in the Chapel and throughout a number of classroom sessions, Tuohy captivated students with scientific – yet artistic and understandable – insights into the workings of the human immune system. “My goal here is to target students who want a career in science or medicine,” Tuohy explained. “I want to be available and accessible during my visit to help students understand the commitments and the rewards of a scientific career. Beyond that, I want to get everybody interested in the beauty of science. I consider myself to be an artist. Science is a very creative discipline, and I want to transfer that idea to non-scientists.” Tuohy demonstrated his point by showing students images taken by microscopy of different cells and tissues, some of which, he said, he has V Dr. Tuohy displays a lancet used to draw blood samples to, from left, Inga Wells ’12, Allison Forhan ’12, Nate Hulsey ’12 and Aylin Sarac ’12. Continues on Page 2 Previous Page 1 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 1:25 PM Page 3 Continued from Page 1 transformed into artwork for his home. Addressing the subject of immunology and autoimmune diseases, Tuohy told the students that he wanted to explain it to them in a new way and to simplify complex ideas. He began by identifying the key components of the immune system, include the tonsils, intestines, spleen, “I want to get every- which blood, thymus gland and – number one, he body interested in the said – bone marrow, the source of stem beauty of science. I cells. Citing Self and Not-Self, a biology text consider myself to be he once used, written by Nobel laureate an artist. Science is a Macfarlane Burnet, he explained that imvery creative discimunology concerns how organisms mainpline, and I want to tain their biologic integrity. transfer that idea to “To survive, an organism’s immune system must be able to distinguish between the non-scientists.” organism (self) and predators (non-self), and Dr. Vincent Tuohy, defend against such dangerous non-self,” Knight Fellow Tuohy said. He cited vaccines as an example of how the body can learn to protect itself against disease. “Vaccines,” he said, “are usually weakened or synthetic forms of viruses.” When a person is vaccinated, the body’s immune system “remembers” that exposure and thereby creates resistance to diseases caused by the targeted viruses. Tuohy then went on to explain that while the immune system normally works to protect the body, it can also hurt it if it goes awry. Diseases such as multiple sclerosis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of autoimmune conditions where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys “self.” Tuohy’s principal research focus at The Cleveland Clinic is in the areas of autoimmunity, regulation of the immune system, T cells, gene therapy and cancer vaccines. A goal of the research is to develop therapies that prevent the progression of autoimmune diseases. He said that more than 80 autoimmune diseases have been identified by scientists. According to Tuohy, scientists have only recently learned about a number of significant factors in the immune system. For example, he said the importance of the thymus gland to the immune system was not recognized Previous Page 2 Over lunch in Ellsworth Hall, Dr. Tuohy talks science with, from left, Chris Tonge ’11, Jack Hoover ’11 and Krista Sandercock ’12. until the early 1960s. Located near the heart, he said it was often routinely removed during heart surgery because its function was not understood. However, the gland matures white blood cells that travel from the bone marrow and turns them into thymus-derived lymphocytes or T cells, which are integral to the immune system. Removal of the thymus can increase a person’s risk of infection and result in other immunodeficient conditions. On the other hand, he said that T cells can also cause substantial trouble. “T cells normally attack non-self,” Tuohy explained. “But they can also attack self. They are relentless. Multiple sclerosis is an example. If T cells get confused, they can attack and destroy the central nervous system. If they attack the pancreas, they can destroy insulin-producing cells resulting in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.” He added that all people have the potential to develop such autoimmune diseases, but not all do. In the United States, about 75 percent of those who develop autoimmune diseases are women. Genetic and environmental factors also play a role in autoimmune conditions. During an interview, Tuohy said that immune responses can be greatly affected by such factors as diet, weight and stress management. “Obesity is a Continues on Page 3 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 1:25 PM Page 4 Continued from Page 2 huge factor,” he said, as is vitamin D deficiency. He also explained the “hygiene hypothesis.” People in Third World countries are exposed to more pathogens and develop more active and perhaps healthier immune systems, he said, and do not often develop autoimmune diseases. “You rarely find diseases like MS in Africa or the tropics. It is a disease that predominantly afflicts people in the northern temperate zone, and Northeast Ohio is practically a ‘hot zone’ of MS disease activity,” he added. Even though Tuohy’s subject matter was weighty and potentially intimidating, Aguilar recommended him as Knight Fellow based on his experience with him. “(As my) mentor and academic advisor for my graduate program, he keeps inspiring the way I look at science as a whole,” Aguilar said. “His enthusiasm is remarkable, and so I thought it would be a great opportunity if we could invite him and ask him to share this with the Reserve community.” In response, Tuohy spent the better part of three days with Reserve students. In addition to his two morning all-school Chapel presentations, he also met with students with a particular interest in science at a dinner. He also lectured and performed demonstrations at several biology classes where he asked students to “get to know their own T cells.” As they examined their own blood cells under a microscope, Tuohy explained how such examinations can be used to help diagnose both acute and chronic diseases. He also again asked students to recognize and appreciate the “art” inherent in the science they were observing. AP Biology student Anne Song ’09 was delighted to learn how the immune system works and to see cells “up close and personal” during a class. She plans to major in biochemistry following graduation, and she characterized her experience with Tuohy as a good introduction for her future studies. Jung Min Kim ’09 is convinced that following graduation, she will continue to pursue biology. “What he talked about,” she said, “helped me become even more interested in that field.” Chris Corbett ’09, another AP Biology student, also found the experience to be a valuable one. It was, however, not his first experience with Dr. Tuohy. “I have participated in internships at The Cleveland Clinic for the past Previous Page Left: Dr. Tuohy demonstrates the art of science by displaying a picture of a prepared microscope slide of cells during a presentation in the Chapel. Right: Essence Bell ’12 studies a blood sample. two summers,” he says, “because I am really interested in going into medicine. During my summer research, I shadowed a physician and visited the lab where Mr. Aguilar works and saw what he and Dr. Tuohy were doing.” Discussing his own career path, Tuohy says, “I took a circuitous route to becoming a scientist.” A former Teamster, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native graduated from Fordham University and earned his Ph.D. at the State University of New York’s Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. He completed his post-graduate training in Boston at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center affiliated with Harvard Medical School. He has also taught at both the high school and college levels. “I never really wanted to become a medical doctor,” he says. “I wanted to go straight into the research lab.” And his advice for today’s students with ambitions of a career in science? “I highly recommend getting a liberal arts education,” he said. “Get exposed to people. Travel and get to know the world.” 3 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web v2:Layout 1 3/4/2009 1:14 PM Page 5 JETS shine in regional competition Varsity and junior varsity teams take first place in region for small schools n Feb. 17, Western Reserve Academy sent five student teams to the regional Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) TEAMS competition, held at the University of Akron, and came away with first-place finishes in both the varsity and the junior varsity divisions for small schools. A third WRA team took third place in the junior varsity division. The school’s two first-place teams will now compete for state and national honors, with results to be announced later this spring. The theme of this year’s competition “I am continually was Behind the Scenes: Theme Parks, impressed with their which challenged students to examine the competitive spirit and engineering involved in designing, building and running America’s theme parks. creative solutions.” “This year has been especially fun for Marie Fiedler, some of Reserve’s science teachers,” said JETS TEAM JETS TEAMS advisor and Reserve chemadvisor istry teacher Marie Fiedler. “Department Chair Pat Smith gave them help on the care and feeding of orcas and dolphins, I told them how to make the gorilla have banana breath, and our physics teachers explained the forces involved in roller coasters and magnetic monorails.” It helped, Fiedler added, that one member of the winning varsity team, Chris Corbett ’09, is a roller coaster aficionado. “He has been totally involved with roller coasters most of his life, and knows just about everything there is to know about any coaster in the U.S.” For the past 34 years, JETS has sponsored this one-day national competition. The goal, according to the society, is to give high school students the opportunity to discover the practical applications of math and science by solving some of today’s greatest engineering challenges in a fun and fastpaced competition that inspires creativity, teamwork, critical thinking and valuable insight into the world of engineering. “As far as the state and national levels are concerned, it remains to be O Previous Page Reserve’s first-place varsity JETS team includes, from left, seniors Visarute Pinrod, David Suwondo, Joey Bolognese, Anne Song, Eric Su, Wenli Rui, Chris Corbett and Joe Wang. For more on the competition, click here. seen how well the students were able to come up with answers to problems they really haven’t seen before in just two 90-minute sessions,” said Fiedler. “But I am continually impressed with their competitive spirit and creative solutions.” Members of Reserve’s first-place varsity team include seniors David Suwondo, Anne Song, Joey Bolognese, Corbett, Visarute Pinrod, Wenli Rui, Eric Su and Joe Wang. Members of the first-place junior varsity team include sophomores Eun Cho, Oliver Curtiss, Jack Hoover, Jenny Hu, Lisa Jung, Joe Marmerstein, Bethany Qiang and Chris Tonge. Members of the third-place junior varsity team include juniors Cale Crowder, Ben Drew, Han Ju Lee and Simon Yang, and sophomores Peter Cai, Kristina Dungan, Jessie Wilson and Shin Hoo Woo. 4 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web v2:Layout 1 3/4/2009 1:15 PM Page 6 Marticke speaker looks at the future hen Robert Tercek was a 16-year-old student at Reserve, history teacher Anne Chapman told him and his classmates that half of them would work in jobs that had not yet been invented. Chapman’s prediction, a part of her Future Roots course, was certainly accurate in Tercek’s case. Tercek ’81 spoke to the Reserve student body on Jan. 30 as the fourth annual Keir Vivienne Marticke ’02 Speaker Series lecturer. He recently was named president of digital media for the Oprah Winfrey Network, following more than 20 years of involvement in a number of digital entertainment jobs – none of which existed when he was a student. An avid and successful inventor of jobs for himself and others, Tercek told his audience that a liberal arts education is of great value to those inventing the future in the 21st century. “Does studying the classics help prepare anyone for the future?” Tercek asked. “Yes,” he said, for three reasons. First, by studying the classics, you learn how to learn. Second, the classics provide a frame of reference and, by studying multiple disciplines simultaneously, you learn how to shift gears. Finally, he said, studying classics promotes critical thinking. Tercek then went on to share lessons learned from a number of Reserve teachers during his years as a student. English teacher John Roberts encouraged him not to “take the expressway through life,” and to learn from what he saw on campus outside of the classroom. For example, sports teach perseverance and teamwork – skills critical to carrying one through life. French teacher Velia Pryce preached that learning a second language teaches one to think before speaking – a discipline Tercek has found valuable in his world travels. Addressing Chapman’s prediction, Tercek noted that when he was 16, there were no music videos. He began to work with them in 1987. This led to his successfully launching MTV in Asia in 1991. In 1993 he started a computer games company, and three years later he became involved with web dramas that led to the formation of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment. He left Sony in 2000 to work on mobile videos and, from there, launched a mobile phone game business in 2003. As noted, he now oversees digital media for the Oprah Winfrey media empire. Another lesson learned from Chapman’s class, Tercek said, was about W Previous Page Robert Tercek ’81, president of digital media for the Oprah Winfrey Network, talks about the future of technology as the Keir Vivienne Marticke ’02 Speaker Series lecturer. To view the presentation, click here. the psychological principle of “cognitive dissonance.” This principle holds that one cannot have two contradictory thoughts at the same time. He cited one-way vs. two-way communications as an example, noting that today’s generation expects two-way communication. “One-way media are struggling,” he said. Arguing that the best way to predict the future is to invent it, Tercek said that, just like him, many in today’s generation of Reserve students will also work in jobs that have not yet been invented. Cognitive dissonance, he argued, will open up new fields in such contradictory areas as abundance (solar energy) vs. scarcity (fossil fuels); health care (anticipating and preparing for inevitable health crises vs. waiting to treat them); and global politics in a totally digitally connected world. The Marticke Speaker Series was established in 2005. 5 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:02 AM Page 7 Educational journey continues for teacher arah Horgan has taught history at Reserve for 24 years. But when it came time to further her own education, she decided to travel for additional training. “My overall goal was to become better informed about how best to educate students for the 21st century,” said Horgan. The Ohio native was one of only 47 chosen from 3,000 applicants in 2007 to participate in a two-year master’s degree Summer Leadership Academy program through Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership. The program’s objective is to offer selected candidates the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to lead independent schools in America and abroad, according to its website. As a mother of four, an assistant coach with the girls cross country team and Senior Seminar Chair, Horgan applied to the New York Citybased program because the summer-focused curriculum worked with her demanding schedule, among other reasons, she said. “It allowed me to maintain our routine during the school year, but still pursue the interest I had in learn- S Previous Page ing more about education,” she added. “I had huge reservations ... but the quality of the teaching ... was inspiring.” The program’s commitment to equal education for all students, urban setting, resources and advanced course offerings also were important deciding factors, said Horgan, who attended sixweek summer courses in 2007 and 2008. Classes included visits to New York City locations, including various schools, Google’s headquarters and small group visits with leaders in government and education who work with the Klingenstein Center. Horgan also participated in distance learning classes and research throughout the program’s two-year time frame. With coursework completed, she will graduate in May. It’s an educational journey that already has hit home, she said. From teaching styles and memory retention to understanding teen learning motivation, said Horgan, “I found things ... I could bring back and use in my classroom.” Story courtesy of the Hudson Hub-Times. 6 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:02 AM Page 8 Celebration of Student Excellence n Nov. 12 the Reserve community gathered in the Chapel for the fall Celebration of Student Excellence, honoring recent student achievements. Book prizes for the 2007-08 academic year, awarded to the students with the highest yearlong grade-point averages in each class, were presented to seniors Anne Song (first), David Suwondo (first) and Chris Corbett (second); juniors Danica Liu (first) and Jaskaran Bains (second); and sophomores Matt Dunkelberger (first), Chris Tongue (second) and Zach Wendeln (second). The Celebration of Student Excellence concluded with the induction of two members of the Class of 2009 into the Cum Laude Society: Anne Song and David Suwondo. O Previous Page Mathematics teacher Joe DiBiase and Anne Song ’09. David Suwondo ’09 earned a book prize, presented by Alan Doe. Mathematics teacher Gerard Manoli and Chris Corbett ’09. Language teacher Jeffrey Namiotka and Danica Liu ’10. Jaskaran Bains ’10 and English teacher Nick Lewis. Language teacher Jeffrey Namiotka and Matt Dunkelberger ’11. Don’t miss out on Reserve news! There is always something happening at Reserve! For the latest on concerts, plays, sporting events, alumni news and school events, be Language teacher Jeffrey Namiotka and Zach Wendeln ’11. 7 Chris Tongue ’11 and English Department Chair Tom Davis. sure to visit www.wra.net. Next Page winter bulletin 09 web v2:Layout 1 3/4/2009 1:16 PM Page 9 Alumni cruise to Dalmatian Coast a success hen’s the next one?” That was the question being asked by everyone at the end of Reserve’s first alumni cruise, according to Jack McKee ’64, director of planned giving. Last September, seven alumni, along with spouses, family members and other friends of Reserve, set sail from Venice, crossed the Adriatic and cruised Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast for nine days aboard the 55-passenger Monet. The Reserve group shared the Monet with a similar alumni group from Smith College, according to McKee. Among the ports of call were Dubrovnik, Split and Korcula. “And the Monet was small enough that there was only one port where we couldn’t tie right up at the dock,” he added. “The scenery was beautiful, the people were beautiful, and we had a marvelous time,” said McKee, who planned and organized the trip with the help of the Alumni & Development Office. “The pride of the local people we met was obvious, and there’s such rich history there.” The 21-member group included alumni Jake Brown ’48, Ted Herwig ’49, Dick VanPelt ’51, Richie Thomas ’54, Dan Christman ’61, Randy Davis ’77 and McKee. Also aboard were former Reserve Board President John Ong and his wife, Lee, and recently retired Headmaster Henry “Skip” Flanagan and his wife, Britt. “Britt and I have never had such a memorable week in our lives,” said Flanagan. “It was a well-conceived and well-orchestrated opportunity for the two of us, and we were especially pleased to be there with such close friends.” “It was an opportunity to join other Reserve alums on a leisurely cruise along the lovely Dalmatian coastline,” reflected Herwig. “Venice to Dubrovnik… the scenery was lovely. We were met at each destination point by local folk to guide us through the points of interest.” Herwig also enjoyed getting to know his fellow passengers. “Wonderful companionship aboard ship, sharing with Reserve alumni across the years, each with their own captivating additions to the group,” he added. “From academics to warriors, a rich and exciting fellowship to enjoy. This, truly, is what WRA is about – diversity, independence of thought, openness to new experiences and ideas.” For Christman, it was an opportunity to return to the Balkans for the first time since the 1994-95 conflict, when he represented the U.S. as a member of NATO’s Military Committee. The retired lieutenant general “W Previous Page Photo courtesy of Randy Davis ’77 Dan Christman ’61 addresses fellow passengers aboard the Monet. shared some of his experiences with his fellow cruise members. “It was emotional in many respects, to see the obvious progress,” he commented. “Listening to Dan Christman was terrific, as he looked at the area from a geopolitical standpoint and made it accessible for everyone,” said Flanagan. Getting to know people and discovering similarities among those who didn’t know one another was a highlight for everyone, according to McKee. “It was our goal to keep it small, and to try to find something different, beyond Paris and Rome, say, that would interest WRA alums,” he explained. Apparently, it was a formula for success. Christman summed up the experiences of the WRA group this way: “Roman ruins, relaxation on the Dalmatian Coast, reminiscing with Reserve friends – WRA’s fall cruise was brilliantly conceived, flawlessly executed and the perfect antidote to last fall’s financial downer. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” Added Herwig, “What a great tradition to begin for the future Reserve family!” 8 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:02 AM Page 10 Class receives first-hand look at court hen English teacher Susan McKenzie, a former practicing lawyer and Case Western Reserve University law professor, was asked several years ago to teach a senior elective, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. The Literature in Law course, now in its second year, examines the legal system through its literary portrayal. “My goal,” McKenzie says, “is not to teach students the law, but to get them to investigate the law’s presence, its impact, the public’s lack of understanding about it, and the issues of morality and truth surrounding it.” During the semester, students read In Cold Blood, To Kill a Mockingbird, Inherit the Wind and other legal-themed titles. “The students had many questions about what happens in the courtroom,” relates McKenzie, which made it important to see the legal process firsthand. On Nov. 20, the class observed Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh’s Criminal Call Day in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. During this event, the judge hears many newly charged defendants, one after another, in a “high-volume, high-energy, very quick process.” The nine-page agenda given to students listed 70 defendants to be heard within a couple of hours. Students watched the court become packed with public defenders, family members and court personnel. Within view, many of the defendants sat together: a blur of orange jumpsuits in handcuffs. “At first I was a little scared and avoided eye contact with them,” said Ashley Isaac ’09. But ultimately the experience was “a total wake-up call” that gave her an awareness of the crime that goes on and the different lives that people lead. Ronnie Lieberman ’09 said that it was not the “rough characters” who surprised him, but how quickly the judge and lawyers had to work. “Although the legal system is obviously overwhelmed with the number of cases it has to deal with, both the lawyers and the judges do their best with the resources they have available,” he said. “They make the best of their situation to ensure justice, no matter how inefficient, is served.” In addition to observing the proceedings, the students met with Judge Unruh beforehand, asking her a list of questions they had prepared. “She has a real ability to communicate with and engage the students,” McKenzie says, calling her an “amazing teacher with a humanistic approach.” W Previous Page Members of Susan McKenzie’s Literature in Law class visited Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh’s courtroom to witness the legal process firsthand. In the judge’s chambers were, kneeling from left, seniors Joe Wang and Matthew Morse; and, standing from left, seniors Michael Dasu, Joon Seok Yoo, Eric Jacobstein, Ashley Isaac, Tucker Murray, Judge Unruh, Ronnie Lieberman, McKenzie, Adam Wise, Tim Nolan, Jack Rogan and Parker Summers. Afterward, the class met with Judge Unruh again, and she responded to specific questions about what the teens had witnessed. Students also received a tour of the courthouse, including historic courtrooms, and had the opportunity to sit in the jury box and approach the witness stand, getting a real feel for the law in action. “My students could see firsthand the procedural processes as well as the human element involved,” McKenzie said. “Criminal Call Day really engaged my students.” McKenzie said she has received positive reactions from the students since the trip. “It is one thing to talk about it and another thing entirely to experience it,” Lieberman said. 9 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:02 AM Page 11 Student duo volunteers at Beijing Olympics Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of the Reserve Record and was written by Emily Clark ’11. While most of us watched the athletic spectacle of the Olympic Games from our couches, a few Reserve students enjoyed the amazing experience of witnessing these events and festivities first hand. Volunteering in Shanghai or in Beijing, these students had the opportunity to interact with some of the greatest athletes, while watching worldchanging events unfold before them. Eric Su ’09, who was visiting family in Beijing during the months of July and August, volunteered with his cousin. Su’s duties required him to promote the games and provide information concerning the Olympics outside a hotel. “It was so interesting,” he said. “There was great enthusiasm from the Chinese to volunteer for the Eric Su ’09 Olympics.” While there, Su also watched a few competitions, including men’s beach volleyball and track and field. The highlight of his trip, he said, was watching Usain Bolt, a Jamaican sprinter, break the world record in the 100m with a time of 9.69 seconds. “He was so fast,” Su said, shaking his head, “it was unbelievable.” In Shanghai, where she resides, Wenli Rui ’09 also volunteered for the Olympic Games last summer. She worked in the reception department of a hotel, which hosted many of the soccer teams, including teams from Argentina, Australia and Serbia. Wenli Rui ’09 After training for 14 days, Rui worked from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, helping the players with shopping, answering their questions, even acting “kind of like bodyguards.” She also met former soccer captain Wen Sun. Even though she did not get a chance to see any of the Olympic events, Wenli said, “The experience was exciting and tiring!” Previous Page Reserve’s students, faculty and staff collected 745 toys during the fourth annual Toys for Tots fundraiser, with the junior class collecting the most toys with 342. Shopping for toys were, from left, Laura Kisthardt ’09, Emily Clark ’11, Brynn Schmitt ’09 and Derek Lake ’11. The Pioneer Women of Reserve, REACH and the Ong Library staff sponsored the event. Donate Your Used Reserve Wear he Pioneer Women of Reserve are collecting used Reserve green blazers, kilts, boat house jackets and school ties for resale in the campus bookstore. Donations may be dropped off or mailed to Eva Fitzgerald at the bookstore. All proceeds are used to benefit the quality of student life at WRA and to enhance communication between the school and the Pioneer Women. Please call Neena Bains at 330.656.5401 or e-mail her at nbains@adelphia.net if you have any questions. T 10 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:02 AM Page 12 Football team fundraiser fights cancer o much was so similar when Nicolas Zuccarelli ’10 dropped his back to the bench, started to grunt and pump out one bench press repetition after another. But so much was also so different. Oh, Zuccarelli extended his arms and his hands high over his head, just as he always does. And he pushed out a puff of breath each time the bar dropped toward his chest, just as he always does. But dozens of friends and teammates gathered around him, and cheered him during each of his eight reps at 185 pounds. That was far from ordinary. So, too, were the surroundings. Zuccarelli, a linebacker for the Pioneer football team, was not pumping iron in the weight room in the Murdough Athletic Center, just a long pass from the football field, but on the first floor in Seymour Hall, the primary academic building on campus. And while some students wrapped up another week of classes in English or Spanish or calculus, Zuccarelli pumped iron and raised money during Bench Pressing for Breast Cancer, the latest service project for the Pioneers. Bench Pressing for Breast Cancer started out as little more than a memory for rookie football coach Chris Monfiletto, who participated in a similar event when he studied, played and coached at Davidson College in North Carolina. The Wildcats planned – and pressed – a similar event a couple of years ago, then distributed the contributions they raised to a couple of different charities, Monfiletto said. The money raised by the Pioneers on Feb. 14 – $1,185.25, in all – will benefit breast cancer research in Northeast Ohio. “There have been a couple of faculty members whose parents have been affected by the disease,” Monfiletto said. “We figured it would fit in well.” Monfiletto started to plan the project in early January and continued to develop ideas during the last couple of weeks. He wanted to move a bench press from the weight room to Seymour Hall – the first time a S Previous Page Football coach Chris Monfiletto spots Tochi Mbanugo ’12 during the football team’s Bench Pressing for Breast Cancer fundraiser. bench press has ever appeared in the building, according to school Archivist and Historian Tom Vince – to spark more interest. More than 90 T-shirts, each emblazoned with pink lettering, followed. And during the event, a chart on the wall chronicled the accomplishments of the more than 40 football players and coaches who participated. Quarterback Frank Haverlack ’09 pounded out 13 reps at 185 pounds – 11 pounds more than he weighed prior to the 2008 season – and running back Mwanza Baptiste ’11 turned in eight reps at 185 pounds. Assistant coach Richard Eicheldinger set the bar – and lifted it, again and again – with 17 reps at 225 pounds. A couple of minutes after noon, three players loaded the bench, the bar and the weight plates in a truck to return them to the weight room, perhaps a more appropriate setting. “The kids bought into it,” Monfiletto said, “which is a good thing.” 11 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 3/16/2009 11:56 AM Page 13 Song turns in gold medal performance t is hard to determine whether Anne Song succeeds more academically – she’s the top student in the senior class – or athletically, where she is a three-sport standout. Instead of debating the issue, the simple answer is she is an excellent student-athlete. Song’s hard work in the classroom and in three different sports has not gone unnoticed. The 5-foot-8 star earned a Gold Medal, Reserve’s most prestigious athletic award, after leading the Pioneers girls soccer team to an 11-7-3 overall record and a Tri-County league championship. “Anne is what I look for in a Gold Medal candidate,” girls soccer coach Joe DiBiase said. “I look for a program-defining player and I think that is what she really has been.” “The things we look for in a Gold Medal winner are dedication to the sport, leadership and someone who has received accolades outside of the school. On the girls’ side, she is the most dedicated player we have had. She is the only player to make all-state in our program history.” Song receives the Gold Medal just one season after former teammate Kelsey McCallops ’08 earned the award. McCallops currently plays soccer at Calvin College in Michigan. “It was quite a nice tandem to have Kelsey McCallops and Anne Song for three years,” DiBiase said. “Then I had Anne for one more season.” Song earned four soccer letters and scored 63 goals during her Reserve career. The 17-year-old Hudson resident tallied 25 goals and 11 assists in 21 games this season as a forward-midfielder, and is on pace to earn 12 athletic letters before she leaves Brick Row. “It really means a lot to me to win the Gold Medal,” said Song, who also excels in basketball and track & field. “Ever since my freshman year, I saw some of the best athletes in the school win it. It’s humbling in a way to receive the honor.” In addition to the First Team All-Ohio honor, Song was also named the Tri-County League Player of the Year and was a first team selection to a pair of National Soccer Coaches Association of America teams: AllCentral Region and Scholar All-America (one of 35 in the nation). I Anne Song ’09, who earned a Gold Medal in girls soccer, was also named a Scholar All-American. Previous Page Continues on Page 13 12 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web v2:Layout 1 3/4/2009 1:16 PM Page 14 Continued from Page 12 Song said her cumulative grade-point average is 7.15 on a 7.0 scale. She had a 7.46 GPA this past quarter and is receiving interest from Harvard, Yale and Williams College. Despite the various honors, Song has remained humble and grateful. She credits her parents, Tao Song and Min Zhong, 7-year-old brother Andrew and a cast of others. “She is a tremen“I think with a lot of it, I have gotten redous teammate who ally lucky,” said Song. “I have been blessed is also the star of the with the ability to play sports and to have my team. I can’t remem- parents’ full support. I know they are always ber anybody that I there for me, just like my coaches, my friends and my teammates.” have had that has DiBiase has been a key mentor to Song, been such a loyal as he has coached her in soccer and basketball. student and a “I really respect him,” Song said of DiBiplayer.” ase. “He has not only been my coach for four Joe DiBiase, years, he has also been my academic advisor. Girls soccer coach I have gotten to know him in a lot of different aspects. He is a really nice guy and he has helped me through a lot.” Song said she likes science courses the most. She enjoys chemistry, biology and physics, and is a member of the Forensics Club, the Junior Engineering Technical Society and It’s Academic team. “She is a kid whose loyalty and humility are something that we will miss in addition to her soccer ability,” DiBiase concluded. “She is a tremendous teammate who is also the star of the team. There was never an ounce of jealousy from anyone on the team. I have been coaching for 25 years and I can’t remember anybody that I have had that has been such a loyal student and a player.” Song also plays guard on the basketball team and runs on the 4x400 and the 4x800 meter relay teams. She has lettered three times in each sport and plans to get a fourth in each. Song plans to play soccer and pursue medicine in college and then become a doctor. Previous Page 13 Fall Athletic Award Winners Boys Cross Country Boys Soccer MVPs: Brayden Gerrie ’09 Jack Hoover ’11 MIP: William Mason ’10 Coaches/Spirit: Jaskaran Bains ’10 MVP: Rene Silva ’09 MIP: Kenneth Russell Jr. ’11 Spirit Award: Daniel Litowitz ’09 Coaches Award: Whoo-Joong Suh ’09 Girls Cross Country Girls Soccer MVP: Ceara O’Sullivan ’10 MIPs: Sara Wroblewski ’09 Sarah Hulver ’10 Coaches/Spirit: Brittany Lavanty ’09 MVP: Anne Song ’09 MIP: Persistence Sample ’10 Coaches/Spirit: Jessica Gruden ’09 Field Hockey Tennis MVP: Taryn Murray ’09 MIPs: Kelsey Closen ’09 Alexa Deininger ’09 Coaches/Spirit: Amanda Shaw ’09 MVP: Rachel Blanda ’11 MIP: Carley Stewart ’11 Coaches/Spirit: Anne Forhan ’10 Volleyball Football Offensive MVP: Dillon Giorgis ’11 Defensive MVP: Ethan O’Connor ’09 MIP: Martin Presley ’11 Spirit Award: Dana Iafelice ’09 Golf MVP: Daina Worcester ’09 MIP: Thelma Crowder ’09 Coaches/Spirit: Sarah Puffer ’10 For more information, click on the sport to be taken to the team’s website. MVP: Riley Pratt ’10 MIP: Aaron Segal ’11 Spirit Award: Michael Dasu ’09 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 11:02 AM Page 15 Boys Cross Country MVP Boys Cross Country MVP Girls Cross Country MVP Brayden Gerrie ’09 Jack Hoover ’11 Ceara O’Sullivan ’10 Previous Page 14 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 Previous Page 2/25/2009 11:03 AM Page 16 Field Hockey MVP Football MVP Football MVP Taryn Murray ’09 Dillon Giorgis ’11 Ethan O’Connor ’09 15 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 Previous Page 2/25/2009 11:03 AM Page 17 Golf MVP Boys Soccer MVP Girls Soccer MIP Riley Pratt ’10 Rene Silva ’09 Persy Sample ’10 16 Next Page winter bulletin 09 web:Layout 1 2/25/2009 Tennis MVP 11:03 AM Page 18 Volleyball MVP Reserve needs your support The Annual Fund at Reserve needs your support. In addition to cash donations, gifts of stock and securities are also accepted. If you are inspired to make a gift, please visit www.wra.net/alumni and follow the links to our secure online giving section. To learn more about giving opportunities at Reserve, contact Director of the Annual Fund Lisa Sabol at 330.650.9701 or e-mail her at saboll@wra.net. Reserve Bulletin Editor/Design: Thomas Moore Staff Photographers: Alan Doe & Doug Garmon Staff Writers: Susan Haile, Don Husat ’64, Cathy Fahey-Hunt, Matt LaWell ’02 & Michael Beaven The Reserve Bulletin is published twice a year for parents, alumni parents, alumni and friends of the school. Direct your correspondence to Thomas Moore, Director of Publications, Western Reserve Academy, 115 College Street, Hudson, Ohio 44236, 330.650.5839 or mooret@wra.net. All changes of address should be sent to the Alumni & Development Office. Rachel Blanda ’11 Previous Page Daina Worcester ’09 17 Western Reserve Academy admits students of any race, sex, color, disability, and national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at Reserve. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, disability, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.