James Coors ‘27
Sep 20, 2024
As everyone is adjusting to a new year on campus, many have noticed a new face in the Burgin Center for the Arts. That face belongs to Ben Demerath.
Demerath has been teaching since 1996 and in a variety of subjects. Demerath recounted, “We started out at the Bement School and then Williston Northampton for fifteen years. After a great experience at a rural public school, I coached tennis at Deerfield Academy, followed by a fun year back at Bement before moving on to Eaglebrook School for five years. And now, here I am at Mercersburg!”
Demerath loves teaching, especially “having a front-row seat for students finding their passion while helping them succeed.”
Outside of his Mercersburg responsibilities, Demerath is a true Renaissance man. He said, “In my free time, I like to walk, bike, hike, ski, skate, pass, catch, shoot, hit on the courts, listen, play, and read,” so keep an eye out for him around (and off) campus.
On campus, Demerath has a wide range of responsibilities. He said, “In the classroom, I’m working with singers primarily, and helping with the band program as well. I’m also an adviser to eleventh-grade boys, coaching football, and I’m one of the dorm faculty in Fowle Hall.”
This is Demerath’s first time living in a girls dorm, which is definitely a big adjustment, but he seems to be enjoying it so far. “It’s a fantastic place to be and a great community within our community! Having lived in a ninth-grade boys dorm for many years, it’s nice to see how the other half lives. We really like our apartment and my commute to work is amazingly short so... what’s not to love, right?”
One of Demerath’s most important roles on campus is helping direct the acapella groups, Magalia and Octet. The Mercersburg Academy community can look forward to seeing his hard work with these groups in the Parent’s Weekend Arts Showcase and Fall Pops Concert.
Demerath said, “I’m so thrilled to be here and can’t thank everyone enough for the warm welcome and support we’ve felt from the start.”