Burg's Eye View

Historian, author, and speaker Professor Louis Moore from Grand Valley State University spoke at Mercersburg Academy about the significant impact of race and sports in America.

To round out National Poetry Month in April, poet and author Luther Kissam '18 visited Mercersburg to share his poems during a school meeting. Following the event, he sat down with Mel Cort '23 to discuss poetry, his inspirations, his time at Mercersburg, advice for young writers, and more. Learn more about Luther and his poetry: lutherkissamv.com

Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, gave the Ammerman Family Lecture at Mercersburg Academy on April 24. Read more: https://www.mercersburg.edu/news-article/~board/general-school-news/post/dacher-keltner-to-deliver-ammerman-family-lecture

G. Dean Patterson Jr. '71, retired Case Western Reserve University administrator, delivered the Cum Laude Convocation address March 24, 2023, in the Irvine Memorial Chapel as Mercersburg inducted 25 members of the Class of 2023 into the school's chapter of the society.

Head of School Quentin McDowell P '25 delivers the opening of term talk in the Irvine Memorial Chapel to start the spring term.

Mercersburg's traditional Irving-Marshall Week is February 26-March 2, and to get the inside scoop on what to expect, join Declamation adviser Matt Maurer as he chats with the experts: Isabel Su '23 (Marshall president), Caroline Wilkinson '23 (Irving president), Amy Shaffer Post '02 (Irving adviser), and Bethany Galey '02 (Marshall adviser). Go Marshall! Go Irving!

Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), visited Mercersburg Academy on January 30 to deliver this year's Schaff Lecture on Ethics and Morals.

Senior Class President Minh Tran '23 addressed the entire school at a school meeting in January to talk about how his perception of graduation has changed, what it was like to travel home to Vietnam and learn virtually during the pandemic, and the memories he holds close to him.

Many of our seniors are now receiving decisions from the colleges where they applied. Jamie Vulakh '24, communications intern, recently sat down with Michael Conklin, director of college counseling, and Amy Shaffer Post '02, social emotional learning counselor, to talk about what this time of year can mean for both parents and students.

Head of School Quentin McDowell P '25 delivers the opening of term talk in the Burgin Center for the Arts' Simon Theatre to kick off the winter term.

Toward the end of the fall term, Coco Zhai '24 shared her Mercersburg story with the community during a school meeting. Zhai, of Beijing China, is a talented musician and performed her original song "Running in a Circle" at the end of the presentation. Bryan Morgan '07, director of music, introduces Coco at the beginning and accompanies her performance on the keyboard.

Communications intern Norah Copenhaver '24 sits down with Dianna Lora '00 to talk about her experience in the gaming industry. Podcast edited by communications intern Ivy Chan '24.

Making space food? Exploring with Mercersburg's telescope? These are just some of the workshops planned for Community Reading Day this Friday afternoon (9-23-22) as students explore different facets of the all-school read "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. Communications intern Norah Copenhaver '24 recently sat down with Alexandra Patterson and Michele Poacelli P '24, '26, chairs of the Community Reading committee, to learn more about the book and the activities planned for the day. Podcast editing completed by communications intern Ivy Chan '24.

Head of School Quentin McDowell P '25 gives the opening of term talk in the Irving Memorial Chapel for the 2022-2023 fall term.

Communications intern Finn SIpes '22 takes our podcast mic on the move to find out what students think about being able to go into the borough of Mercersburg this spring as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

Head of School Quentin McDowell P '25 gave the Baccalaureate address Friday, May 27, in the Irving Memorial Chapel.

Longtime faculty member Tom Thorne P '06, '07, who is retiring at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year after 29 years at Mercersburg, was the featured speaker at the school's 129th Commencement exercises. Thorne is head of Mercersburg's classical and modern languages department and has held the David F. Chapman Chair since 2001.

During the school meeting on Friday April 8, students celebrated the start of National Poetry Month by hearing from four poets. Jasmine Zhu '23, Mercersburg's representative at Poetry Out Loud, recited "A Noiseless Patient Spider" by Walt Whitman and "Candles" by Carl Dennis. Carina Cole '22 recited her original poem, "Our World is a Field of Flowers," which was published in the 2021 edition of "Blue Review," the school's literary journal. Mel Cort '23 recited the original poem, "Country Time Lemonade," which will be featured in the 2022 edition of "Blue Review." Isonah Dlodlo '23 shared two of her original poems: "Sorrow" and "The Sky." "Sorrow" won a Gold Key award in the 2022 South Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition.

James Snyder '69 delivered the address at the annual Cum Laude Convocation where 28 members of the Class of 2022 were inducted into the Mercersburg Chapter of the Cum Laude Society.

Head of School Quentin McDowell P '25 delivers the opening of term talk in the Irvine Memorial Chapel to kick off the spring term.

Communications intern Wynne Elser '22 took our podcast mic on the move to capture Irving-Marshall Week 2022 from the student perspective.

Making a Difference: Megan Kearley '12 and Leah Selznick '12 discuss how their Mercersburg experiences inspired their career paths and the work they do in the areas of health and wellness.

A number of Mercersburg employees are alums of the school. What's it like to return to your alma mater and experience life on the other side of the desk? In the second installment of the Full Circle podcast, communications intern Wynne Elser '22 talks with Sarah Firestone '13, fitness and performance coordinator, about returning to the 'Burg as an employee.

This week Rev. Will Whitmore shares a homily from a most unusual place: a restaurant as he awaits the birth of his son. Robert William Whitmore arrived several hours after the recording of this homily, and the family is healthy and doing well. In addition to the homily, Carillonneur James Brinson performs "We Three Kings."

Mercersburg Faculty Member Jim Malone talks about how he supports local charities and works to involve others in the campus community.

A number of Mercersburg employees are alums of the school. What's it like to return to your alma mater to work alongside your former teachers? How does your perspective change when you become a faculty or staff member? Communications intern Melody Howe '22 went in search of answers to these questions when she sat down with Jenn Flanagan Bradley '99, director of alumni and parent relations, and Leah Cook '15, leadership giving officer, for our new podcast series on alumni employees.

One of the Community Engagement team's projects during the fall term was to clean grave stones at the Conococheague Institute. Communications intern Bube Osaji '22 took our podcast mic on the move to find out more about the team and their work in the community.

Kyle Lininger '02, vice president of clinical integration at Intermountain Centers, Arizona's largest not-for-profit health and human services, discusses how he works to help people across the state of Arizona who are experiencing behavioral excesses.

This podcast is an interview with Molly Zemek '94 featuring the school's theme of "Health and Wellness." Currently a certified life coach and podcaster, Molly is a former professional chef and certified sommelier with a passion for good food. Don't miss this discussion as Dean of Curricular Innovation John David Bennett P '12, '19, '23 talks to Molly about food, wellness, and her Mercersburg experience. The podcast music was composed by Bryan Morgan '07 and Madi Norris '21.

Acting Head of School Quentin McDowell gives the opening of term talk in the Irving Memorial Chapel for the 2021-2022 fall term.

Julie Sommer '90 is an attorney in Seattle, WA, and serves on the board of the Drake Group, which defends academic integrity in higher education from the corrosive aspects of commercialized college sports. Hear Julie's story of her impressive swimming career at the University of Texas and her recent work on name, image, and likeness legislation and litigation in the world of college athletics. Podcast music composed by Bryan Morgan '07 and Madi Norris '21.

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at Mercersburg? Listen in as Chelsea Seaby Bruno '21, Clara Getty '21, and Mel Cort '23 share details about their experience interning in Mercersburg's Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications this spring.

Caity Barnes '06 serves as the head of people at Zipline, whose mission is to provide every person on Earth with instant access to vital medical supplies. How do they do this? Via drones. This month's "Making a Difference" podcast shares about the work of Zipline, as well as Caity's role in this rapidly growing company.

What is Mercersburg's new Latinx/Hispanic Student Union? Spring Communications intern Mel Cort '23 recently sat down with Monique Garcia '22, treasurer of the LHSU, and Matthew Tavarez '22, secretary of the LHSU, to learn about the group's founding and their goals as a student union.

In honor of Earth Day, communications intern Clara Getty '21 sat down with some of the leaders of Mercersburg's Green Team (Dylan Gantt '21, Addie Geitner '21, Clark Bayer '22, and faculty member Will Willis) to talk about the team's 20th anniversary and their environmental initiatives on campus and in the community. Go, Green Team!

Maryland Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri gave the annual Ammerman Family Lecture in a virtual school meeting April 12.

Dean Hosgood '98, vice president of Mercersburg's Board of Regents, gave the keynote address at Mercersburg's virtual Cum Laude Convocation on April 9, 2021, when 26 members of the Class of 2021 were inducted into the school's chapter of the Cum Laude Society chapter.

Seth Hodges '19 is a government and economics student at the College of William & Mary, and he recently launched "The No Politics Podcast" (listen on Audible or Spotify) with the goal of finding out how much we have in common. His podcast aims at helping listeners learn about ideas that can bring America together, while avoiding the language that divides us. Listen to his conversation with John David Bennett, Mercersburg's dean of curricular innovation, on this month's Making a Difference podcast.

Harrison Brink '11 is an assistant golf professional at Willow Oaks Country Club in Richmond, VA. He's an athlete and sport enthusiast who is passionate about the game of golf and serving for the good of great humanity. Harrison connected with Azian through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Travis Youngs '06 is a life-long athlete who excelled in track & field at Mercersburg (he holds the indoor track record for the triple jump). After Mercersburg, he attained his corrective exercise certification through NASM to help injured athletes, and he received trainer certifications in USA Weightlifting, CrossFit level 1, and TRX, which led him to become a trainer at CrossFit Delaware Valley. Travis connected with Louis through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Austin Young '06, a recruitment professional with Shopify, is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to create communities of impact. He volunteers for KaBOOM! in Camden, NJ, and supports the Children's Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia. He speaks with current senior Tom Scheers about his experience as a Black man at Mercersburg and in America. Austin connected with Tom through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Irving-Marshall Week is coming! What does that mean? How will it be different this year as a result of COVID-19 and how will it be the same? Whether you are a student or an alum, on campus or virtual, how can you be a part of the excitement? Listen in as communications intern Chelsea Seaby Bruno '21 interviews Ryan Bland '21, president of the John Marshall Literary Society, and Madi Norris '21, president of the Washington Irving Literary Society, about this exciting school tradition.

This month's Making a Difference podcast features Peggy Northrop '72, who is one of Mercersburg's earliest female graduates and a champion of women's stories. Peggy is chief executive officer of Watermark, the San Francisco Bay Area's premier membership organization for executive women. Prior to joining Watermark, Peggy served as international editor-in-chief for "Reader's Digest," editor-in-chief for Sunset Publishing, launch editor for Airbnb, and co-founder/president of Shebooks.

Pam Aquino '06 is an executive assistant at SalesForce and a professional non-profit volunteer. She speaks with Alvaro Luruena Marquez '24 about her Mercersburg experience; her life in New York as a volunteer for Breakthrough Collaborative, Step Up, and TutorMate; and how she views what it means to make a difference. Pam and Alvaro connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

John Martinko '97 is president and managing director of Drexel Hamilton. He speaks with Tom Flanagan '21 about his post-graduate year at Mercersburg, how this prepared him for attending West Point, his service in the United States Army, and how he makes a difference in the lives of disabled service veterans. John and Tom connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Melody Gomez '13 is a medical student at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. She speaks with Abby Hann '23 about the start of her medical career, working in hospitals as a medical student during a global pandemic, and how she views what it means to make a difference. Melody and Abby connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

What's it been like to produce the "Virtual 'Burg" newsletter? What will happen to "Virtual 'Burg" after spring break? Listen in as Ebube Onwusika '21 and Barry Sato '23, two of the students behind these newsletters, talk about connecting with their fellow students through each issue. And check out a recent issue of "Virtual 'Burg" at http://bit.ly/virtualburg.

February's 'Burg's Eye View podcast features Rob Porcarelli '87, who is a career-long advocate for workplace fairness. Rob is chief legal counsel for Syndio, an HR analytics company that promotes equal pay and employment fairness. Rob previously served as the VP assistant general counsel at Starbucks, where he helped the coffee giant launch a program to employ and support thousands of United States servicemembers.

In their own words, hear about the experiences of three students who participated in Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference, a Mercersburg Intensive course. This course was an "open exploration of a topic" of the importance of oral history in preserving human connection, as well as introducing the value of listening, developing empathy, and establishing meaningful connections between students and members of the greater Mercersburg Academy community (alumni, parents, local residents, and others). With this school year's theme of "Making a Difference," the course allowed time and space for our students to engage in conversations around issues of social justice, race, equity, diversity, service to community, and service to country. Students practiced the art of interviewing and collecting oral histories by engaging in multiple interviews with their parents and alumni.

Charles Koontz '92 is the director of strategy for Ørsted, named the most sustainable company in the world. Charles speaks with upper-middler Ellie Jornlin '22 about his life after Mercersburg and advice for young people as they pursue their paths. Charles and Ellie connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at https://www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Will Scott '04 is a senior risk manager at Tricon International with extensive knowledge of oil, natural gas, power, petrochemical, dry bulk, and distillates trading. He speaks with Foday Bangura '22 about his postgraduate experience at Mercersburg, attending Dickinson College, and how he views what it means to make a difference. Will and Foday connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at https://www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.