Nov 13, 2018 | School News
By Rhea Kapur ’21
On September 7th, Upper and Middle School students and faculty came together in Hauser Auditorium to commemorate the beginning of the new school year with the annual Convocation ceremony. A traditional, deeply-valued event in the community, Convocation allows all students and faculty to formally recognize the Honor Code and set the tone for the upcoming school year with a number of speeches.
The ceremony was led by senior faculty member Mr. Miller Bugliari ‘52 with the Invocation where he encouraged students and faculty to have “the ability to see the big picture” and to “anticipate outcomes so you are able to make good decisions” this year. He was followed by Student Body President Andrew Cowen (VI) who emphasized his strong belief in the collective community and his desire to contribute, as well as his driving motivations to be a student leader. Acknowledging the many amazing figures who have addressed the community on Hauser’s stage before and recognizing his own relative standing, Cowen shared his reasons for and thoughts on his place on stage. He spoke to how every one of us “want[s] to be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” namely, the Pingry community. He also encouraged students and faculty to “think about what we can accomplish” during this upcoming school year.
Next, Honor Board Chairperson Drew Beckmen (VI) spoke to the immeasurable support, comfort, and guidance a strong community can offer. He used a story about how a group of complete strangers had remained by his side when his bike broke down during a 24-kilometer bike tour, emphasizing the value of a supportive community. He encouraged students to “have the courage to ask questions” and remember that “the Honor Code represents a promise to support those around you. By lifting each other up, we realize our own potential.”
Board of Trustees Chairperson Mr. Jeffrey Edwards ‘78, P ‘12, P ‘14, P ‘18 began his speech by asking the audience about whether our large variety of perspectives on a plastic water bottle shed light onto our personalities. He spoke to how there will be many different viewpoints for students to consider this academic year, but he advised that “when interacting with people, and in your academics, consider possibilities, perspectives, and nuance.”
Lastly, Headmaster Mr. Nathaniel Conard P ‘09, P ‘11 spoke about and connected the lives of John McCain and Aretha Franklin, two unforgettable icons that had different views on the world and recently passed away. Mr. Conard spoke to our own tendency to surround ourselves with those whose opinions are similar to ours. He encouraged the community to “walk out of any echo chamber in which you find yourself, to engage with each other and with each other’s ideas in a respectful manner, to entertain the possibility that you might be wrong, and to assume good intentions on the part of others.”
New student Zoe Wang (III) offered her take on the event, saying it was “a memorable start to the school year and a wonderful tradition that I’ll look forward to for the next three years.” The ceremony closed with a rendition of “Old John Pingry” to establish a thoughtful and energetic start to this school year.
Nov 13, 2018 | School News
By Brandon Lane ’20
Mr. John Crowley-Delman is a World 9 History teacher at Pingry. He is also a wilderness “addict” who enjoys hiking and backpacking. Most recently he was appointed to a new role: Pingry’s Director of Experiential Education. While experiential education does not have a hard-and-fast definition, it is essentially, as Mr. Crowley-Delman explains it, “learning by doing.”
Experiential education has always been a part of Mr. Crowley-Delman’s life, beginning at a young age by spending summers at Camp Treetops, an outdoor learning institution for boys and girls near Lake Placid. His experiences continued over the years, and in 2017, he led two travel opportunities for Pingry students: Winter in the North Woods in the Adirondacks and City of Rock in Utah. All of these activities helped shape his passion and ultimately his teaching methods.
“Why do we study history?” This was the first question he asked in World 9 History class. Students took their time developing complex answers with the hope of impressing their teacher. Then he shocked the room by saying, “Studying history doesn’t matter. It’s experiencing it that’s important.” Mr. Crowley-Delman was laying the groundwork for his students to learn hands-on and then reflect independently on what was learned. These are the principles of experiential education.
The main goals Mr. Crowley-Delman has for this year in his new role are to “shine a light on how experiential learning is already happening at Pingry, expand opportunities, and improve the program as a whole.” He believes students need to experience a “wow moment” or have a realization about what they are learning. This occurs through reflection.
Global Programs is an example of how Pingry is providing experiential opportunities for its students. For example, the City of Rock Program was a backpacking adventure through Utah’s canyon wilderness that brought students into contact with some of the best preserved Ancestral Puebloan rock art and cliff-dwellings in existence. To see and feel pieces of ancient history, photograph them, and reflect on what was learned helped bring the material to life–something that doesn’t easily happen in a classroom listening to a lecture or watching a PowerPoint.
The principles of experiential education are founded upon the process of conceptualizing, experimentation, experience, and reflection. Mr. Crowley-Delman will work to merge traditional teaching styles with these principles. With a new hybrid in place, he hopes the opportunities Pingry provides will encourage students to pursue experiential education not only while they are on its campus but for years to come.
Nov 12, 2018 | School News
By Justin Li ’21
Among numerous rousing announcements during the first morning meeting of the year, students seemed to cheer the loudest at the introduction of the new head chef, Won Ho. The collective reaction indicated how members of the community were craving a change in the cafeteria, and in these first few weeks of school, he and his team have proven that the excitement surrounding his arrival had been well-warranted.
One of the most noticeable improvements that students and faculty are enjoying is the upgraded salad, panini, and pasta bars in the center of the dining hall. With shelves for plates, bowls, and cups built into their sides, the stations radiate modernity and are one of many changes that have made Pingry’s dining experience more streamlined. The addition of a second pasta bar with pre-tossed pasta helped solve the endless lines of previous years, although the new sauces and near-daily breadsticks seem to keep these lines long. Pre-assembled paninis at the panini bar have also addressed the same problem. Along with these layout changes comes the more frequently-appearing build-your-own station that has established itself to the right of the old panini presses, where students can customize foods like stir-fry noodles and baked potatoes with a plethora of sauces, seasoning, and toppings.
Despite these exciting upgrades, the biggest and most important improvement has been the food itself. When asked about his goals for the year, Chef Won says that he hopes to “give the food more variety, more selection, and to improve the speed and quality.” It is safe to say that he and the Sage Dining staff have already succeeded in resolving difficulties that have plagued the school for years. In regards to variety and selection, the Upper School has enjoyed new dishes such as chicken and waffles, gnocchi with butternut squash, and customizable Korean rice bowls. Brownies, chocolate-chip cookie bars, and new frozen treats have been integrated into the dessert rotation as well. As the year goes on, Pingry students and faculty can be sure that SAGE Dining will continue to surprise them with new choices. Chef Won says his favorite part about cooking is “the food and the culture. It’s always the culture. Different styles of cooking, different flavored foods, different spices,” and the eclectic range of food he has prepared this year reflects these cultural influences.
Overall, the products that leave the kitchen taste fresher, better seasoned, and more polished than foods from previous years, which can be largely attributed to Chef Won’s leadership. In his own words, “I’m just making sure that everyone’s tasting their food, working with individuals, training them, creating their resume, and making them stronger. Some members of [the staff] have been here for a long time, and I’m just giving them the tools they need to improve and making little adjustments.” This year, Chef Won has made sure that students are well-fed for their classes, sports, and activities everyday, and with his team’s work, the dining hall seems busier than it has ever been.
Nov 10, 2018 | Eva Schiller, School News
By Eva Schiller ’21
On a typical Saturday morning at Pingry, the halls are mostly vacant, the sports fields are soaking in the autumn sun, and the parking lots are barren, black expanses of tarmac dotted with the occasional car. However, bright and early on Saturday, September 29th, the school was flooded with hundreds of parents eager to meet with their child’s teachers, tour the school, and visit their child’s classes for Back to School Day.
After classes, parents, students, and alumni crowded under the tents and onto the sweltering bleachers. They enjoyed foods divided into categories labeled American, Texan, and Italian, along with various desserts and refreshing drinks. Many members of the community were there to cheer on the sports teams showcased on Pingry’s state-of-the-art athletic fields. The football team, boys’ and girls’ soccer, field hockey, and water polo teams all demonstrated their skill, teamwork, and dedication.
Pingry’s teams put forth their best effort and enjoyed a handful of successes. Boys’ soccer had an impressive victory against Staten Island Academy. The opposing team was unable to score a single goal, while Pingry scored six. Field hockey also shut out their opponent, scoring seven goals against Pennington, while girls’ soccer played a close game against The Peddie School, winning 2-1. Girls’ varsity tennis played North Hunterdon High School, where they won all five matches.
“Homecoming provided such a great atmosphere, and having family, friends, and alumni as spectators truly motivated us to win,” says first singles player Gia Graziano (IV) of the matches. “Celebrating afterward was one of the best moments of the season.”
Inside the school, the varsity and junior varsity water polo teams spent Homecoming in the pool, winning high-scoring matches against The Friends’ Central School. The football team fought hard throughout their entire game but unfortunately lost by just one point in a nail-biting final quarter, with the score ending at 42-43. However, the game was a great chance for the Pingry community to crowd into the bleachers and bond through their support of the team.
While the focus of the entertainment was Pingry Athletics, students and alumni embraced the spirit and energy of their peers, showing school pride by taking pictures with Big Blue Bear, grabbing Homecoming 2018 T-shirts, and having their faces painted. “I loved watching the school band together in school spirit,” says Hannah Guglin (VI). “The sports really brought out the best in the students.”
As the sunny afternoon turned into evening, students returned home to dress up for the Homecoming dance. The theme this year was “Superheroes and Supervillains.” They returned donning creative costumes, ranging from the Powerpuff Girls to characters from The Incredibles. “I thought the superhero theme was really creative!” commented Rhea Kapur (IV).
In the gymnasium, the students relaxed after the stressful first few weeks of school. Student government collected five dollars for admission and encouraged dance attendees to donate extra money to be put toward hurricane relief.
Throughout the week, the student body had been building up to Homecoming with Spirit Week. The themes were Pajama Day, Halloween Day, Pingry Day, Multiples Day, and Spirit Day. On Spirit Day, everyone dressed in their grade’s color and celebrated at a Pep Rally run by the Student Activity Committee. Homecoming and the week leading up to it displayed the infectious energy of the community. It was a great opportunity for students, parents, and alumni alike to show their Pingry pride.
Nov 10, 2018 | Featured, School News
By Avidan Shah ’21
Pingry’s headmaster, Mr. Nathaniel Conard, announced his resignation this past June after a 13-year tenure. Headmaster Conard has made leaps and bounds towards improving our school and the quality of life for Pingry students, one of his greatest achievements being the extremely successful Blueprint for the Future campaign, which raised a record 75 million dollars.
With his departure, Pingry has launched a full-scale search for its next headmaster. The search is currently spearheaded by a committee comprised of Board of Trustees members Stuart Lederman, Katharine Wyman Procter, Arlyn Davich, Jeffrey Edwards, Denise Grant, Dev Ittycheria, and Steven Lipper. Mr. Lederman and Mrs. Procter are co-chairing this committee.
In terms of seeking out prospective candidates, it is a multi-step process. The executive search and leadership consulting firm Spencer Stuart has been hired by the committee to aid Pingry in its search. Upper School Director Ananya Chatterji explains why this firm was hired, saying that, “They identify great candidates. The search firm’s job is to identify who the best people would be [for a position].”
The firm will factor in many different variables when looking for a new headmaster, including the results from the survey that was sent out to all students. This survey asked students what qualities they expected from the next headmaster, as well as what skills they have developed the most while at Pingry and what resources they have utilized the most. The firm also took private meetings with members of the Honor Board and the senior Student Government to have conversations about what they would like to see change in the school as student leaders.
Naturally, the firm has many connections and contacts with potential candidates at different schools. They are in contact with people whom they believe would be viable options for the job. Spencer Stuart has also put together a position description where candidates can reach out to the firm and apply themselves, rather than being contacted by the firm. The firm is currently still compiling its list; once it is complete, they will present the Search Committee with their final portfolio of potential candidates whom the school will then interview.
When asked if any candidates at Pingry were being considered for the position, Dean Chatterji explains, “Spencer Stuart does what is called a ‘closed search’, meaning they do not publicize the names of the candidates that are in the pool.” With that said, candidates from within Pingry is a possibility.
After rounds of interviews, the entire Board of Trustees will make the final decision, advised by the Search Committee. This arduous process will be complete by the end of the school year. At that point, the final choice for the Head of School will be publicized to the student body, faculty, and staff.
Nov 10, 2018 | School News
By Madeline Skapper ’20
This fall, the Pingry Entrepreneurship Club is gearing up for an exciting second year. The club, led by Noopur Bhatt (V), Madeline Skapper (V), and Nicole Gilbert (V), focuses on providing students with a foundation on entrepreneurial topics to help students create their own business ideas to eventually form their own startup companies.
Last year, the club participated in the MIT LaunchX Mid-Atlantic Regional Event in New York City, an entrepreneurial event where students from across the East Coast gathered to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. Twenty-three teams comprised of groups of high school students pitched their ideas to the five judges who gave out four awards. Pingry brought two teams to present at the event. MyEcoWears, LLC. is an online sustainable clothing company founded by Bhatt, Skapper, Gilbert, and Emma Huang (IV). Petgradable is a company that advertises environmentally conscious pet products created by Rita Harrobin (V), Alesia Paliwoda (IV), and Kate Overdeck (IV). (Udochi Emeghara (VI) was a part of Petgradable as well, but was not able to attend.) The MyEcoWears, LLC. team won the “Most Customer Engagement” award at the event for the business plan pitch.
This year, the club is looking for more students interested in entrepreneurship or business to join and form their novel company ideas. The club plans to host an entrepreneurial panel as well as attend entrepreneurship events during the year where students will have the opportunity to present their own company ideas. These opportunities provide students with unique experiences in the world of business, which are not accessible to every high school student. The events are also an effective way to practice public speaking, as the pitches are presented to a large audience and judges.
The successful 2017-2018 school year was a great introduction for the Entrepreneurship Club, and they know this year will be even better. The club will adapt based on last year’s successes, as they plan to spend more time on the business creation process and learning about entrepreneurial concepts. The club is excited to see what creative company ideas students will come up with this year.
Nov 10, 2018 | School News
By Lauren Taylor ’20
On Friday, September 21, Upper School students gathered in Hauser Auditorium to celebrate students who have exhibited exemplary academic achievement in the previous school year.
The ceremony began by recognizing the Pingry seniors who received an honor from the National Merit Scholarship Program for exceptional scores on last year’s PSAT exam. This year, 41 Pingry students were named National Merit Commended Students. Out of that group, 10 Pingry seniors were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists and granted the opportunity to advance as finalists in the spring. Those students were seniors Andrew Beckman, Miroslav Bergam, Abigail Berger, Felicia Ho, Annette Jones, Matthew Keller, Jackson Lubke, Kevin Ma, Paige Maultsby, and Ketaki Tavan.
Following these recognitions, Dean Ananya Chatterji presented the Citizenship Prize, which is given to one recipient from each grade who best embodies the community spirit of the Honor Code. Headmaster Nat Conard presented the Faculty Prize to one recipient from each grade who has shown commendable effort and commitment the past academic year. Finally, Dean Chatterji presented the Scholarship Prize to the student in each grade with the highest academic GPA.
Next, seniors who excelled in math and science were presented with various awards from the respective departments. These awards included the Rensselaer Mathematics and Science Award, as well as the Whitlock Prize for Math.
Mr. Conard then presented the College Book Awards. Each College Book Award is presented to the member of the senior class who best embodies the qualities and values of the particular college named. Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Penn, Princeton, Smith, Wellesley, Williams, and Yale were the 11 colleges represented this year for the awards.
On behalf of The Justin Society Creative Writing Contest, Ms. Christine Taylor, the chair of the English Department, then announced the winners of the annual competition. Writers submitted their entries last spring, which were then reviewed by the English Department. During the assembly, writers and poets from every grade received awards and honorable mentions for their works of creative writing, poetry, historical fiction, and more.
Breaking tradition, the Cum Laude Society did not announce its new members for the fall of 2018. Rather, all of its members will be inducted in the spring. The ceremony served as a wonderful reminder of the commendable energies that Pingry students and faculty bring to the school every day. The Pingry community congratulates all of the students honored at the ceremony and looks forward to another year of inspiring effort and achievement.
Nov 9, 2018 | Featured, School News
By Zach Trichas ’19
With the start of the new school year, Pingry’s physics wing has been completely redone. The first floor of the wing now offers a collaborative area, with wall-mounted desks underneath the stairs. Unlike the previous stairwell, the new stairs are positioned in order to streamline traffic in the area. These stairs are wider and allow more students to be on it at one time. Next to the stairs, an elevator is currently being built.
Inside the classrooms, there have been a number of changes. Everything, including the walls, desks, chairs, and equipment have been renovated. The classic black chairs that were seen around the physics wing have been replaced by newer blue chairs that offer more flexibility. The rooms have also been restocked with new cutting-edge equipment, which will be used for labs and demonstrations. The older equipment has been moved to the hallway, where it has been placed inside glass cabinets. These now serve as mementos of Pingry’s past.
Other major changes in the physics wing include the office spaces. Before, a majority of the physics teachers were in a single room, while Mr. Drew Burns, Mrs. Jill Law, and Mr. Graham Touhey were in a smaller office that required students to walk through a classroom to get to them. Mrs. Law loves the new changes, remarking that the space “feels open and collaborative.” Now, the offices are spread out on two seperate levels. The office on the second floor also has a new meeting room, similar to the one in the biology wing.
Returning students may also find that the English room on the second floor has been turned into a science room. Previously, this room was used by Dr. Susan Dineen, who retired last year. The room has a plethora of tools, including diagrams and models of the human body and various geological samples. These samples are for the recently added Advanced Geoscience course. The course is divided into two semesters, with one focusing on climate change and atmospheric disasters and the other focusing on tectonic disasters.
The renovations for the physics wing have been well received, with students appreciating how flexible the new space is. “I honestly think the new physics wing is great,” said Evan Taylor (VI). “It feels like there’s a lot more space, and it feels really modern.” The new community spaces and flexible classrooms promote collaboration, and are a welcome addition to the school.
Nov 9, 2018 | Brynn Weisholtz, School News
By Brynn Weisholtz ’20
On Tuesday, October 9, Middle and Upper School students and faculty members convened in Hauser Auditorium to hear Mr. Tony Hoffman, a speaker from Common Ground Speaks. He shared his journey of suffering through addiction to eventually achieving sobriety. Mr. Hoffman’s story began in the seventh grade when he was first exposed to marijuana. It was in high school when his use of drugs, alcohol, and prescription painkillers began to impact his life. Mr. Hoffman candidly discussed how his drug abuse progressed from marijuana usage, the drug he identifies as a “gateway drug,” to heroin, crack, and opiates.
Prior to becoming a drug addict, Mr. Hoffman described himself as a gifted athlete with aspirations to play professional basketball for the NBA. However, he now admits that he did not put forth the effort needed to make this dream a reality. He further described his childhood attitude as entitled; he was always looking to take shortcuts in life in order to reach his achievement as quickly as possible. After realizing that his basketball hopes would not come to fruition, Mr. Hoffman set his sights on BMX racing, a sport he had always excelled at. Soon, he was recognized for his talent and received sponsors and endorsements by his senior year in high school. While his family and friends envisioned a future of success for Mr. Hoffman due to his natural talent in BMX, he was internally struggling with undiagnosed social anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. These issues, he explained, made it extremely difficult for him to achieve his goals.
In addition to his success in the BMX world, Mr. Hoffman was presented with another opportunity prior to graduation. He was offered a position as a network administrator with a six-figure salary. At that moment, it appeared he had everything: money, respect, and a chance to excel professionally. In actuality, he felt helpless, struggling through his mental illness. Mr. Hoffman’s drug addiction continued to intensify and soon enough his accomplishments began to disappear. With his drug addiction spiraling out of his control, Mr. Hoffman began to see his loved ones and financial stability leaving him. He resorted to robbery to pay for the drugs fueling his addiction and was arrested and imprisoned for two years. While serving his sentence, Mr. Hoffman dedicated himself to self-betterment, knowing he had entered a “door” with only two exits: death or changing everything in his life. He chose the latter.
Upon his release from prison, Mr. Hoffman set forth to achieve the goals he created while behind bars. He was invited to a BMX Olympic training center, started a non-profit foundation, became a coach for BMX Olympians, and, most importantly, he has stayed sober. He kept the attention of students throughout the full hour; Varun Seetamraju (VI) said, “It was great and informative, and I feel like he addressed a topic that needs to be talked about.” Students found his story enthralling, and Drew Beckman (VI) said, “Mr. Hoffman presented his story in a down-to-earth way that allowed the students to connect with him.” Mr. Tony Hoffman has been sober since May 17th, 2007; he now spends his time speaking at different high schools throughout the country helping turn students away from substance abuse and inspiring them to live their lives with purpose.
Jun 10, 2018 | Brynn Weisholtz, Eva Schiller, School News, Uncategorized
By MIRO BERGAM ’19, NOAH BERGAM ’21, MEGHAN DURKIN ’21, VICKY GU ’20, FELICIA HO ’19, ANEESH KARUPPUR ’21, BROOKE PAN ’21, EVA SCHILLER ’21, KETAKI TAVAN ’19, BRYNN WEISHOLTZ ’20.
After completing their classes in early May, 139 seniors pursued Independent Senior Projects (ISPs). These projects ranged from translating a grandfather’s autobiography about the Korean War to studying the effects of climate change on beach towns, allowing seniors to explore their interestsin the nal months of theirhigh school careers. We break down the projectsby their general eld ofinterest.
Travel and Cultural Exchange
Interested in learning more about “Short Stories in Costa Rica,” Krish Bhavnani traveled to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica to immerse himself in Spanish culture and
develop “my own artistic voice” by writing two short stories in Spanish. In addition to writing, he also participated in frequent surf lessons to have conversations and interact with members of the Santa Teresa community.
Rachel Chen visited both cities and landmarks in China to reconnect with her roots and compare An- cient and Modern China with the Western World. Her experience culminatedin a personal re ection andseveral sketches inspired by her trip. Upon her re- turn, she shadowed several doctors at the St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livings-ton to experience rsthandthe responsibilities and realities of being a doctor.
Avery Schiffman continued her passion
for learning the Chinese language by exploring Chinese cuisine in China- town, NYC, participating in Kung Fu and Tai Chi at a nearby Shaolin Kung Fu center, and visiting various museums about the impact of Chinese artwork on Chinese communities in each dynasty. She posted several blog posts about her excursions, as well as a video documenting her experiences and interviews with Chinese immigrants.
To answer the question, “How did Paul Cézanne’s life in Aix-en-Provencein uence his artwork?” Katya Drovetsky and Ilana Lurie traveled to Aix-en-Provence in France to trace Cézanne’s artistic life. Using their AP Art History and AP European History knowledge, the pair researched and completed a travel journal recording their personal experiences in the Aix-en- Provence.
Isabel Giordano and Caroline Petrow-Cohen tackled the question of what efforts Germany and its government are making to commemorate and condemn its dark past in the Holocaust by traveling to Berlin, Germany, and visiting public monu- ments, museums, and two concentration camps. Their project concluded with a final research paper exploring their findings.
Maya Huffman, hoping to continue her Japanese studies after visiting Japan last year, and Wallace Truesdale, who has been interested in Japanese media and culture for years, spent around five hours a day learning Japanese from apps and DVDs. At the end of their project, they created worksheets and exercises to help others learn Japanese.
In the process of learning to speak and write Korean at a basic level through lessons and conversations with her great aunt, Lindsey Yu compiled a fully translated English version of her great grandfather’s autobiography about the Korean War and their family history. The autobiography included anecdotes from relatives, a family tree, and images of people and places mentioned in his work.
Galvanized by the effects of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and its continued struggle to recover from the storm, Sanford Ren traveled to Puerto Rico to experience the devastation firsthand. He wrote a blog, compiled a photo journal, and prepared a research paper on the economic recession plaguing Puerto Rico and proposed ways to fix it.
Technology and Mechanics
Using their knowledge of physics, computer science, and engineering, Arnav Agrawal and William Zhang constructed and programmed a 3D printer, which they used to create a working telescope. With their innovative use of cutting edge machinery, the two also managed to observe the night sky and pursued their interest in stargazing.
Namita Davey gained valuable experience working in the tech field by shadowing Marina Thottan, the Director of Network Intelligence and Control Systems at Nokia Bell Labs. She worked on projects ranging from online games to network design, all while embracing NBL’s reputation as an innovative, cross disciplinary center of computer science research.
Hoping to expand his knowledge of the tech industry and the professional world, Obi Nnaeto interned at the Google Creative Lab in New York City. Through this internship, Nnaeto observed and documented the creative process at Google, as well as the dynamics of a modern workplace.
Working under the program designer at lowMu inc., a real estate technology company, Billy Fallon and Max Sanchez aimed to centralize the communication required for a real estate transaction by programing a web application. The app’s many useful functions include an online calendar and the ability to fill out address and subject lines of emails.
Jennifer Fish and Ami Gianchandani worked towards improving the lives of Pingry students by coding a digital version of the planned absence form. By streamlining the process for both students and teachers, the pair left a legacy at Pingry as well as explored the practical uses of their computer science knowledge.
Using a motion sensing device called Microsoft Kinect, Graham Matthews programmed an interactive video game that tracks the movements of the user’s hands. In order to accomplish this, he had to learn an entirely new coding language and expand his knowledge of obscure areas of computer programming.
By taking courses online and spending time at Hanu Software, Alex Fradkin studied the connectivity of everyday objects through internet, which is generally referred to as the Internet of Things. Using what he learned, Fradkin coded a virtual reality environment that users can interact with and change.
Fulfilling “a childhood dream,” Ish McLaughlin spent his time working at the Hilltop Auto Repair in Summit and getting hands-on experience as a mechanic. In addition to performing basic service on cars, McLaughlin helped the shop harness social media as a tool to expand their customer base.
Inspired by his interest in data analysis and neurological disorders, Mitchell Pavlak conducted a study of how close a role genetic mutations play in migraines. Throughout the process, he also learned and documented the multiple algorithms required to sort and analyze the data.
Anna Wood helped to develop an app called Strive, which allows endurance athletes to maintain their health by tracking their heart rate, stride length, and other physical statistics. She also worked with Great Expectations to introduce healthy, easy recipes to women and children at the Center.
Sports
In order to investigate the impact of sports and athletes on culture and political movements, Zach Aanstoots and AJ Weaver researched both past and present examples of athletes asserting their voice in issues of equality. To supplement their research, they also visited the Studio Museum in Harlem.
Ben Barral interned for the New Jersey Devils’ Human Resources Manager through helping with ticket sales, the Devils Outreach Program, and marketing. While at the Prudential Center, he observed the makings of a successful organization and sought to understand how the Devils have changed their association to stay relevant in today’s society.
Through assistant coaching both Pingry’s middle school lacrosse team and his town’s youth lacrosse team, Aidan Dillon focused on improving his leadership skills. He worked with Mr. Greg Sullivan, a Pingry teacher and lacrosse coach, to plan practices and reflect on their effectiveness afterwards.
To understand how organizations maintain a healthy business model, Michael Weber interned for the Somerset Patriots, a minor league baseball team in Bridgewater Township. He worked at the ticket office both selling tickets and answering calls from potential buyers, while also exploring how the Somerset Patriots work together to build a long-lasting, successful organization.
Hoping to learn about the life and regiments of professional athletes, Malcolm Fields shadowed Kaito Streets, a coach and student at Advance Fencing and Fitness Academy preparing for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Throughout the month, he watched Streets practice both his mental and physical approach, while Fields took classes himself to improve upon his own skills.
With an interest in sports analysis, Max Scherzer interned at Rutgers University to help collect and analyze data regarding ticket sales and potential season ticket holders in order to maximize fan turnout at sporting events. Working with Mr. Ryan Gottlieb, the Associate Athletic Director for Sales Strategy and Business Intelligence at Rutgers, he documented his new found knowledge of the world of sports analytics in a daily journal.
Apurva Memani completed an internship with Vashkevich Fencing Club, where he has trained before, as an Assistant Fencing Coach. Focusing on sports management and economics, along with fundamental communication and leadership skills, he gave individual and group lessons at the club.
To continue both her interest in playing and coaching tennis, Brooke Murphy shadowed Matt Sabo, a coach for ProSmart Tennis Academy and a former professional tennis player himself. She focused on learning how to teach young players and improving her coaching techniques by helping Sabo run clinics.
Environment and the Outdoors
Exploring the fields of marketing and public relations, Giancarlo Castillo worked as an assistant in the development department at the Summit Arboretum. He spent most of his time answering to whoever needed his help in order to benefit the arboretum’s main fundraiser, ART in the garden.
In an effort to redefine the image and stereotypes of New Jersey, Colin Edwards and Jason Lefkort created a movie from footage of beautiful scenery they recorded as they biked across the state. Everyday, they biked a different trail exposing the diverse and historically significant sights they passed by.
Mitchell Flugstad-Clarke worked for a nonprofit organization named Harding Land Trust, where he explored his interest in entrepreneurship by helping HLT develop their approaches toward social media as well as improving their website design.
Meghan Salamon traveled to Yosemite National Park with her brother, Ryan, acting as her mentor. Before she left for her trip, her enthusiasm for health and nutrition led her to plan out each day’s meal to ensure their proper caloric intake. The two of them hiked all ten trails of Yosemite Valley, taking pictures and many video logs.
Jack Proudfoot was greatly influenced by his role in the Outing Club when he decided to develop outdoor education opportunities for the students at Pingry. He completed this through creating an environmental education course for the Pingry summer camp so he can later expand his classes to fit into separate school year-long courses.
Inspired by their passion for the outdoors and their interest in Native American culture, Alexis Kinney and Mary Nussbaumer traveled to New Mexico to see the Anasazi ruins at Chaco Canyon. Both had backpacked at the Bears Ears National Monument last March and were determined to return and tackle the question, “How does the National Park Service protect these historic landscapes while keeping them open to the public?”.
Hoping to open their eyes to the natural beauty of Northern Jersey, Téa Simon and Shea Smith traveled to four different preserves and took photos for a visual project they presented to the rest of their peers. They hope to influence their peers to further connect their day to day lives to nature and the outdoors with their work.
Sean Tan pursued his interest in protecting the environment through working at the New Jersey Audubon, where he was able to inform the community about the importance of preserving wildlife and the repercussions that society could face if they were ignored. His work at Sherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary involved tasks ranging from physical labor to data entry.
Business, Finance, and Management
Jack Schuessler pursued his interest in economics and business through an internship at Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, LLC. He studied the strategies a private credit fund uses in the real world and gained experience and understanding about his own passions along the way.
As an aspiring entrepreneur, Alexis Elliot took on the financial side of business by shadowing an established business women, Lisa Opoku. Under Opuku’s guidance, she implemented and built upon her problem-solving capabilities, all the while absorbing the ins and outs of managing a successful business.
Syd Davis expanded his knowledge of engineering, finance, and management by shadowing the President and Chief Operating Officer of Crisdel, Frank Criscola. Davis gained exposure to the various jobs and departments within the company, which he shared with the public through a blog detailing his reflections and experiences.
Jonathan Epifano, Henry Cohen, and Victor Vollbrechthausen travelled to Spain to work at Salvo Global Properties Inc. The three focused on different topics individually: Epifano centered his attention on architecture as well as financial studies; Cohen focused more on the real estate and construction aspects of the company; and Vollbrechthausen concentrated on the business side of the company.
Adam Freeman shadowed the owner at Industrial Foam Inc., where he monitored the inflows and outflows of money and learned how a small business operates. He focused particularly on the role of the owner in the business’ success and sought to understand the owner’s responsibilities and adaptation over time.
An enthusiast for community-driven events, Dhruv Govil worked at a nonprofit organization, Farnnstead Arts Inc., where he helped grow the involvement of its supporters in Basking Ridge and in the rest of the state. He proposed solutions to benefit the company’s attractions while providing fun experiences to bring the community together.
Combining his passions for sports management and economics, Jacob Gruber interned at PricewaterhouseCoopers in their DEALS practice. During his time there, he discovered how both corporations and private equity clients value and assess acquisition targets.
To gain insight into growing and maintaining a small business, Megan Horn shadowed Priscilla Vincent, owner of Priscilla’s Cafe. She learned the day-to-day routine of the owner and she used her discoveries to formulate her own business plan. Horn then travelled to Cape Cod with Millie Deak to study the effects of climate change on beach towns and discover the history and growth of now popular spots.
Phito Jean-Louis, in order to further examine his interest in business and entrepreneurship, shadowed Chike Uzoka, an entrepreneur coach and entrepreneur himself. Through watching and participating in workshops with Mr. Uzoka, Jean-Louis gained more knowledge around the field and worked to discover if the career was for him.
Emma Lombardo worked on her startup, StringFling, a customized handmade bracelet and keychain business that recently launched on the online store Etsy. She experienced the life of an entrepreneur by learning from her mentor, an entrepreneur himself, as well as buying her own materials, managing her own budget, and responding to clients.
Inspired by an internship at a financial analytics firm during the summer before his junior year, Michael Lu self-studied advanced finance and economics topics and earned a New Jersey Insurance License. In addition to researching these concepts on his own, he also shadowed a financial consultant at World Financial Group.
Neil Reddy explored the life of a trader by researching strategies for investment, watching seminars, and learning from an expert at a hedge fund on how stocks are analyzed. In a daily blog he sought answers to questions like, “How do investors choose companies to invest in?” and “How does the industry of a certain stock influence investment?”.
Drawing from his personal experiences playing lacrosse, Jason Weiss worked for a company named SwaxLax based in Summit, NJ. Through his internship at the company, he learned the basics of the sales industry such as managing invoices and becoming proficient in QuickBooks. Finally, he compiled his experience into a presentation about the business, outlining how the product “goes from production to the hands of the consumer.”
Science
Mentored by Andy Christie on-site and Ms. Tandon at Pingry, Naiyah Atulomah decided to work at Christie’s Artisan Bread and Pastry Shop in Clinton, New Jersey. While working behind the counter and gaining an understanding of how businesses and kitchens are run, Atulomah also researched how different ingredients affect types of bread and experimented with baking her own.
Under the guidance of Dr. Marie-Pierre Jolly, Raymond Chen tackled combining basic machine learning with neuroscience. Using a vast array of resources, including online courses, online textbooks, and instructors from his Columbia University Science Honors Program, he developed a greater understanding of the computational side of machine learning.
Matt Stanton investigated the differing habits and behavior of Black Sea Bass, Striped Bass, and Fluke by fishing in Montauk, New York. During fish migration period in May, he used surfboards, kayaks, and boats to fully observe their differences, culminating in a research paper discussing his ideas for new regulations which conflict with current DEC policies.
Music and Theatre
Hoping to see how unlimited practice time would increase his skill level, Ethan Chung studied the history of music pieces and practiced instruments for at least four hours a day split between piano and cello. He also attended concerts in New York City to help build his music knowledge and decide what role music will play in his future.
Connor Smith explored photography, a course he regretted never taking at Pingry, and combined it with his love of music to produce a collection of music photography. He attended various concerts and, under the mentorship of teacher Mr. Miles Boyd and owner of RMC Records EJ Gaub, he photographed young musicians at the recording studio and other artists during their performances.
Jonathan Huang returned to the Short Hills campus to give back to the music program, as it guided him towards some of his happiest high school moments in the Buttondowns. He helped run music classes under the mentorship of Mrs. Finn and also planned Field Day and other events through the front office.
As a final farewell to the Drama Department, Megan Pan produced and directed David Auburn’s Pulitzer-winning play, Proof. Her goal was to learn about steps it takes to produce a play from beginning to end while still serving as a mentor for younger students within the drama program.
To pay homage to his tabla instructor and guru Kaumil and the Taalim School of Indian Music in Edison, NJ, Nikhil Rao spent roughly three hours a day practicing the tabla, a Northern Indian classical drum. Ultimately, he composed a ten to fifteen minute duet which he performed and videoed featuring himself and his instructor.
Brandon Rosen spent the month building his professional singing career by writing and recording songs, one of which will be released as his next single. Most of his work took place at the Mannes School of Music in New York City and at Germano Studios.
Jewell Strickland worked on the technical facets of Megan Pan’s production of David Auburn’s Pulitzer-winning play, Proof, and assisted backstage for the middle school musical technical team. For both plays, Strickland designed the lights and sets for the show and drew layouts for various scenes.
Education
Hailey Cernuto worked with the Children’s Education Department at the Reeves Reed Arboretum. Under the mentorship of Jackie Kondel, the Director of Education at Reeves Reed, Cernuto worked to better understand what goes into creating a meaningful educational experience.
Determined to be role models for younger kids, Tommy Dugan and Cameron Wright volunteered as gym teachers at the Pingry Lower School. Under the mentorship of Leslie Miller, they planned and taught physical education classes and also helped organize the annual Lower School field day.
George Enman and Jamie Zusi worked under the mentorship of Mr. Birotte to serve underprivileged schools in Newark and Elizabethport. Building on work they had done on previous Rufus Gunther Days and with the charity Lacrosse the Nation, they helped teachers with their classes and coached a variety of sports.
Feeling that the Pingry experience had given him a limited perspective, Ryan Fuentes decided to visit five different types of schools for five days and shadow students there in order to better understand different academic experiences. For the rest of the month, he worked to document his grandfather’s stories from the Cuban Revolution and write satirical stories.
An admiration for education led Sehyr Khan to work with ECLC in Chatham to help teach special needs children. Under the mentorship of Ms. Fran Ryder, a supervisor at the school, she observed the classroom, talked to the teachers, and participated in a variety of activities. Throughout the month, she updated a blog to document student experiences at the school.
Under the mentorship of Ms. Erin Sweeney from the nonprofit organization Schools That Can, Jessica Li spent the first half of May working to help bring computer science to Newark schools. For the second half, Li focused on another large academic pursuit of hers: biological research. While shadowing Dr. Armstrong from Novartis in Morris Plains, she learned about the science and marketing aspects of drug development.
Ally Pyne volunteered at Pingry as a teachers’ assistant for the Research I Class and at the Presbyterian Church Preschool and Kindergarten. Under the mentorship of Dr. D’Ausilio for the Research Class and Ms. Maury Fryer for the preschool, Pyne was able to witness the differences and similarities between the learning styles of preschool- and high school-aged students.
After having spent a senior year at Fusion Academy, Matthew Rockoff worked on a video project that embodies the experience that current seniors at Fusion Academy have had. He also helped create and continue a peer mentorship program, similar to the Peer Leadership program at Pingry.
Medicine
Inspired by past summers she spent shadowing her mother, a gastroenterologist, Sana Sheikh shadowed Dr. Tanveer A. Janjua, a dermatologist. With little prior knowledge about dermatology, Sheikh left her comfort zone to explore her ideal career choice as a physician from a new angle.
Austin Parsons shadowed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hunt and Senior Director of Business Operations Ms. Kathryn Van Nest. For the first two weeks with Dr. Hunt, Parsons saw the work of an orthopedic surgeon and considered the field as a future career path. For the second two weeks with Ms. Van Nest, he witnessed the inner workings of the pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson.
Interested in the field of psychology and applied behavioral analysis, Jessica Carvelli interned at the Child Development and Autism Center at the Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown. She worked with clinical staff and physicians and observed the full range of developmental delays and disabilities that the patients present, as well as the therapies that the Center provides.
A volunteer EMT throughout high school, Ouarida Benatia shadowed anesthesiologist and Pingry alumnus Dr. Matthew Chow of the Morristown Medical Center to figure out what it is like in the operating room. She documented the ups and downs of her experience in a collection of poems under the mentorship of English teacher Dr. Susan Dineen.
An EMT with a longtime passion for medicine, Jackie Chang shadowed anesthesiologist Dr. Chow as well as NICU doctor Dr. Ladino. Between these two doctors, Chang was able to witness the science, emotion and workings behind both anesthesiology and neonatal care, and was even able to attend a research conference about an artificial placenta with Dr. Ladino.
Ryan Feeley shadowed Dr. Sanja Kolarov, an internist at the Morristown Medical Center. In order to learn about a variety of different medical specialties and gain a better idea of his future career path, Feeley maintained a blog to document all that he learned from his experiences.
Following her interest in the medical and dental fields, Neha Lall shadowed both a physician, Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine expert Dr. Meher Sultana, and two endodontists, Dr. Maya Prabhu and Dr. Carmen Cicalese. By exposing herself to two very different specializations, Lall could consider their differences and similarities and better understand what she wants to pursue in the future.
Colin McKinnon shadowed Dr. Marjut Kokkola-Korpela, a specialist in tropical diseases and HIV/AIDS. Interested in the future of disease prevention, McKinnon came to understand the demands of the infectious disease field, observe how diagnoses are made, and understand how different aspects such as physician work and research play into the job as a whole.
Aubrey Molloy decided to shadow two doctors: spine surgeon Dr. Mark Drzala and cardiac anesthesiologist Nimesh Patel. Inspired by a medical trip to Argentina she took the previous summer, Molloy pursued her passion for medicine and science as well as her desire to help people by witnessing and documenting life in the operating room.
History and Humanities
Alexy Alin-Hvidsten researched the geopolitical history of his ancestors as a means of better understanding his heritage and lineage. He studied the Russian Revolution, the whaling business of Norway, and primary documents such as his great aunt’s novel.
Jeremy Lister visited different museums and historical sites like the National Holocaust Museum and the Tenement Museum for inspiration for his original writing. He took what he saw and used it to write a collection of historical and realistic fiction short stories.
Lindsay Rispoli and Mariam Trichas studied and visited different commercial, culinary, and artistic centers in New York, such as the MET and the New York Stock Exchange. They photographed the city and kept a blog that recorded their observations of gentrification, innovation, and evolution in the city.
Myla Stovall visited different eateries in New York City to research the culinary histories of Little Italy, Chinatown, and Harlem. She kept a blog and wrote a paper outlining her discoveries of how heritages and immigrant histories can be traced through the food and restaurants of NYC.
Focused on exploring the line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, Jordan Taylor designed and sewed a dress based on Ancient Egyptian fashion. She sought to better understand Egyptian life and culture as a means of exploring cultural appreciation as a whole.
Jared Tiggs built upon his involvement in a rap group called BOE to pursue a music career of his own. He spent the month of May writing and recording original songs to create and refine his musical body of work.
Visual Arts
Clyde Leef and Jake Patterson combined their love for working with clay and commitment to community service. They hosted “Clay Nights” to raise money for an art-oriented charity and teach the community about creating clay pots. Individually, Leef and Patterson also created their own pots using techniques that would not be possible in the time span of a regular class.
Inspired by Chinese and Spanish techniques of throwing and glazing pottery, Ben Vasquez explored his individual style while incorporating outside influences for his ISP. Vazquez pushed his technical boundaries, such as mimicking the extreme thin quality of Chinese pottery and the post-production painting and glazing from Spanish pieces. In order to further heighten his knowledge, he worked under Mr. Freiwald’s direct guidance and visited other workshops within New Jersey.
Melissa Tungare and Lexi Brauer helped combat the speech impediment consequences of ALS. Technology Against ALS, a nonprofit organization, is currently developing technology that tracks eye movement, and Tungare and Brauer expanded its AI eye-recognition database by photographing the eyes of diverse ages, sexes, and races. In addition, they conducted research and device trainings in TA-ALS’s office, met with a lawyer to create a TA-ALS participant waiver, and distributed flyers.
Alyssa Chen pursued her love for calligraphy and hand lettering. In addition to perfecting her skills through practice, research, and mentorship, she launched an Etsy shop to sell digital and physical copies of her work. Chen used her internship in a public relations/brand advocacy department in a credit union to further understand the strategies involved in creating her own brand.
Jenny Coyne furthered her studies of Native American culture through literature and pottery. At Pingry, she researched online resources and consulted Mr. Freiwald to implement Native American symbolism and techniques into her own pottery. To explore Native American literature, Coyne read nearly 1,000 pages of novels and wrote reflections about them.
Mairead Higgins drew portraits representing her senior class and wrote passages describing individual students’ sentiments and experiences while at Pingry. Though she spent most of her time in Pingry’s art studio creating the portraits, she also interviewed corresponding and random members of her class with questions such as “What gets you up in the morning?”, “What were the best five seconds of senior year?”, and “In ten years, what will you remember about Pingry?”
Kelli Gomez merged her passions for art and music by painting based on songs. She created a piece for each track from the albums Current, by Tame Impala, and Channel Orange, by Frank Ocean on-campus as well as in Natirar, a nearby public park. In addition to visiting modern art galleries, she studied the details of studio art under Mr. Delman.
Nick Ladino utilized the translucent quality of glass as a unique canvas for his art. In his creations, he merged the worlds of physical and functional utility with mental and mind-stimulating utility. Though he first began working with glass in his Portfolio class this year, he continued to gather inspiration and techniques by visiting glass-related museums and exhibits in New York City.
Rebecca Lin pursued her love for animation by creating a storyboard animatic. Inspired by the K-Pop group BTS’s “Love Yourself” album and Unicef campaign, Lin’s animatic is about accepting one’s own mistakes and imperfections. She used traditional media to draw on-campus and planned and organized storyboards at home.
Saxon Scott expanded her artistic skill set by learning to create digital art with software and a tablet. Though her mentor, Mr. Boyd, oversaw her work, Scott mostly taught herself through a series of online tutorials for Adobe Illustrator. With her newfound proficiency in digital art, she plans on combining her love of science with graphic design in the future.
Looking to take more time in exploring her passions of drawing and painting without the busy schedule of school, Sophia Weldon visited several art galleries and the Botanical Garden in New York City. Inspired by the many works on exhibit, she created a portfolio of drawings, paintings, and photographs inspired by works currently on exhibit.
Photography
Combining his fascination with the ocean and interest in photography, Dylan Cheng traveled to Turks and Caicos for his ISP to dive and take underwater photography. In preparation for his trip, Cheng took an official PADI online course in photography. He then taught himself how to use various editing softwares to transform his photos into a gallery.
Lindsey Hogan explored her interest in photography by learning the basic principles of photo-taking and editing. Through spending time in New York City and Hunter, NY, hiking and taking pictures of the wildlife she saw, Hogan discovered how she personally sees the outdoors and what photography means to her.
Looking to push herself out of her comfort zone, Sidney Shannon’s photography work was centered around sparking thoughts and questions in the minds of her audience. She experimented with portrait work inspired by surrealism and fashion photographers as well as with using colored gels to add contrast to her work.
Owen Wolfson undertook multiple projects that all incorporated his interest in photography. He developed a webpage on the Pingry website to help the artists of the Pingry community gain exposure, spent time with Mr. Bruce Morrison to learn about sports photography, and took some of his own photography in an effort to dive deeply into his artistic identity.
George Mychajluk visited Chinatown, the Ukrainian Village, Koreatown, Little Italy, and other landmarks of New York City to photograph immigrants and learn more about their culture. He also practiced advanced techniques such as night and bulb photography.
Conor Mahoney grew as a photographer by working as an assistant to Mr. Jon DeCola, a Pingry alum. He helped Mr. DeCola with lighting set up and handled the post-production scanning of his images with specialized software and hardware. Mahoney spent the rest of his time shooting on his own in the NYC area.
Media and Communications
Josie Cummings worked with Tobias Fox, Newark Science and Sustainability founder and managing director, and Pingry’s FYI Sci club to enhance both her understanding of sustainable living as well as her film editing and production skills. Using the raw footage Tobias Fox provided, Cummings created videos about energy sources and climate change for FYI Sci.
As an intern at the TV show Younger, Calvary Dominique observed its production in the show’s office as well as in filmings in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In this way, Dominique learned more about technical and supplemental roles of filmmaking as well as the process of filming and casting a TV show.
Joei Drozjock interned on the set of the ABC television show Pyramid and followed Vincent Rubino, one of Pyramid’s head producers. Though she assisted with minor tasks dealing with logs and transcriptions, Drozjock mainly observed and created a film summarizing the development of a TV season.
By creating a set of short videos introducing and describing available languages taught at Pingry for the website, Lindsey Larson enhanced her own filming and editing skills while leaving a creative legacy at Pingry. The videos of the entire Language department and Chinese, Spanish, German, French, and Latin courses are aimed to both inform and captivate prospective parents and students.
Inspired by Ferdinand Magellan’s historic voyage around the world, Bao Pham recreated Magellan’s journey through a creative culinary experience. Pham learned, researched, and made recipes from across the globe and produced a video compilation of his progress.
Ben Ramos, an aspiring filmmaker who lacked the time to pursue as much of his passion as he wanted to, spent the month diving into the entire process of making a film. This process involved storyboarding, planning, scouting for locations, filming, and editing.
Channing Russell and Tyler Williams studied the rise of the Black Media industry during the 1980s, 1990s, and through to the present day. They analyzed films ranging from A Soldier’s Story (1985) to White Men Can’t Jump (1992) to Moonlight (2016).
During the school year, Ryan Willsey was never able to find time to make videos longer than five minutes outside of his Portfolio class. During May, he created a documentary about out-of-the-way places of significance in the New Jersey and New York City area using video footage taken through his drone.
Community Service
Elle Braverman, Will Capanna, and Matt Parisi worked with the family of John Taylor Babbitt ‘07 and the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation, which works to raise awareness for sudden cardiac arrest, on Pingry’s annual Walk With Heart event. They made trips to Pingry’s Lower School, advertised with local media about the event, and secured donors for the foundation.
Alice Berndt and Olivia Virzi spent every day at the Bridges headquarters in Summit, creating a system to catalog the inventory in the facility, working on the Bridges blog, and preparing for weekly runs into NYC to serve those in need.
Shruti Sagar, Millie Deak, and Maddie Parrish worked on establishing a club and program at Pingry to support Syrian refugees called Pingry Students Organize for Syria. Sagar also worked with Mr. Tobias Fox of Newark Science and Sustainability and students from Seton Hall University to design a curriculum for Newark elementary schools.
Sara Donovan decided to connect her two loves of fashion and politics into one project during May. She spent her time touring the streets of New York City and photographing and interviewing people of different backgrounds and displayed them in a photo project.
Sophie Loesberg helped Temple Har Shalom create a library for the Temple’s Pre-K program by sorting out pre-K books from the Temple’s larger library. She also assisted in archiving and cataloging the Temple’s historical documents and records.
Through interning and shadowing colleagues of Jane Aronson, founder of Worldwide Orphans in Maplewood, Iman Khan learned how nonprofits are established and developed.
Kassidy Peterson worked with Raritan Headwaters to preserve and monitor clean water in the surrounding community. She monitored streams, helped educate younger students about clean water, and marked trails and safe places for people to enter and exit the streams in kayaks.
Politics and Law
Allie Verdesca took an in-depth look at art created by women during May. She observed many different works of art and determined the time period, subject matter, and representation in museums, and determined which piece she would add to the AP Art History curriculum if given the chance.
