Audrey Hua ‘26 < Back T-minus 100 Days ‘til Graduation Audrey Hua ‘26 What day is it today? You might say it’s a Friday (finally). You might say it’s eat-your-leftover-valentine's-chocolate day. But this seemingly ordinary day, the 17th of February, marks a hugely significant day for our class of ‘23 friends… ONE HUNDRED DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION! The Class of 2023 share their memories and anticipations as they await the day they will leave Mercersburg behind. “I can’t believe there’s only 100 days left,” said Day Kim ‘23, the only surviving senior in Fowle Hall. “My life is gonna change so much in these final few days.” Clare Ip ‘23 said, “I have loved participating in school traditions such as boxer bikini and paint the numbers.” More seniors shared their own favorite memories, such as Irving-Marshall week, Chelsea Ward’s favorite. “Senior prank and skip day,” from Kalwa Tembo ‘23 (met with many nodding heads), and, “Whenever the Head’s Holiday happens,” according to Ellie Miller ‘23, another popular choice. “I’m looking forward to the Spring dance concert,” said Angela Watts ‘23, a PG, dancer and legendary “rainbow-pants” actress of recent show, Heathers . “My best memories were the Octet performance at the Fall Pops Concert, leading Inbound, and playing pool with my friends in the SSC,” said Matt Wang ‘23, referring to his ability to spellbind the entire front row of the Simon Theatre with his Baby Lock The Doors solo during the Fall Pops concert. Iconic fire-haired Heathers antagonist, Damien Dowling ‘23, finished with his favorite moments, “Mr. Malone’s cookie breaks and weekend speech.” In terms of the future; Talia Cutler ‘23, quick-witted Opinion News Editor, is looking forward to “being in a dorm and not having to check in,” but “Declamation and leaving” are top of her favorite memories list. Heather’s leading actor and Mercersburg homecoming queen, Tyerra Rooffener, said, “Not having teachers watch my every move.” “The senior class is great,” said Betsy Cunningham, the Senior Class Grade Dean. “I’m really proud of our class council. They chose the speaker for commencement this year,” she explained, “[and] they’ve got all sorts of things planned. We’re talking about bringing in some food trucks, something fun for the spring, and all sorts of different options.” She noted the class focus on service this year. “It starts the tradition of giving back to the school.” A month ago, the senior class held an all-school auction, which proved to be a huge success. “We ended up donating four hundred dollars to CASA, an organization in Hagerstown that helps people who are in abusive households.” Not everything is smooth sailing for the seniors, though. “It’s a hard time of year,” Cunningham said. “For a lot of our kids, especially seniors, as college acceptances, or deferrals rule in, this emotionally can be a really hard time. There’s a lot of unknown, and the unknown can be terrifying. Helping my kids get through this time is something that is important to me.” “I’m looking forward to senior spring,” Jamie Hyung ‘23 said. “Campus looks even more beautiful in spring and I would like to enjoy my last few months spending time with my friends outdoors.” Many seniors expressed their vision for the warmer season. “Squash nationals, bonding with my teammates, sitting outside with friends on a picnic blanket, walking to Food Lion… a lot of it is the little stuff,” Greta Lawler ‘23 reminisced. “Senior year is definitely a weird mix between feeling sentimental and super excited, so I think just make the most of every moment you have here.” “A meaningful thing I experienced at Mercersburg is simply being here,” Hongyu Jasmine Zhu ‘23 shared a beautiful reply, “Having learned to gives thanks to the sunny times, and when in struggles and tears, coming to find comfort in a nibbling squirrel, a thousand colors of the sky, and many warm hearts.” In preparation for the rest of the year, Cunningham recommended, “Continue to be supportive of each other, and recognize and remember what Mercersburg has given to you,” She emphasized the true takeaway from Mercersburg. “There are a lot of good people here. This place, and these people, are going to be here to support you. It’s the people that matter; more than the classes, more than anything, it’s the connections.” To all the seniors, she left a note of contemplation: “In five years, when they reflect on their senior year, I hope they will remember everything that we are here.” Previous Next

Dean Tae '24 < Back Mr. Worldwide heads to Asia Dean Tae '24 Head of School Quentin McDowell will travel to Hong Kong and South Korea on April 15 i n conjunction with Mercersburg’s regional events for accepted students and families from Asia. McDowell will update attendees on the school, specifically with regard to the many projects in progress, including meaning and mastery, civic engagement, the campus master plan, and much more. McDowell emphasized the importance of the school’s global networking initiative: “It gives the school the opportunity to connect with our families (current and past) as well as many of our alumni. It ultimately helps inform our decisions about how to best serve everyone here on campus. Personally, it is all about seeing familiar faces and exploring different places.” The school’s previous trips have been very successful in terms of establishing a strong Mercersburg image and personal connections in Asia. “The Mercersburg brand is strong abroad, particularly in Asia, and that is due largely to word-of-mouth advertising from the students' families and alumni who live there. They are eager to share their experiences with others and encourage new families to learn more about our school. We are very fortunate to have those strong voices, and it has definitely elevated awareness of and interest in Mercersburg,” said Amy Marathe, the director of strategic marketing and communications. Even when the representatives couldn’t travel abroad due to pandemic restrictions, the Academy made continuous efforts to stay connected. Jake Kennedy, associate director of admission, said, “The school took extra care to ensure our international students were sufficiently supported during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the Virtual 'Burg days. Many families abroad noticed that our virtual programs were far more accommodating than other schools, and those efforts were noticed and appreciated.” In preparation for his tour to Hong Kong and South Korea, McDowell generously held a reception at the 1893 house to meet with students from both countries. “I was really happy that he invited us all to his house and asked about our experience at Mercersburg. He was perhaps open to feedback, asking for any improvements the students would like,” said Claire Chow ’26. “I was excited when I heard that Mr. McDowell will be visiting South Korea and Hong Kong this spring. I’ve always wanted to share my culture with the people here at the Academy, and I assume his trip to Asia would be a great opportunity for him to experience my culture and have meaningful conversations with parents abroad,” added Derrick Park ’25. McDowell is determined to fully recognize the school’s large Asian population in campus life, as well. “He has been making a lot of effort and actions to acknowledge the Asian population here. He celebrated the Lunar New Year with us and celebrated our community's important events with care,” said Coco Zhai ’24. Asian Student Union President Ben Cho ‘24 said, “I am pleased that Mr. McDowell is trying to make a deeper connection with the large Asian population of Mercersburg Academy.” Others were quite unsure of the purpose of the trip and even cynical about the motive. Ivy Chan ’24 said, “I am uncertain about the reasons behind Mr. McDowell's upcoming trip to Asia. It could be an opportunity for the school to secure financial support and funding for its initiatives.” Koon Hui ’25 added, “It is rather surprising that he would choose to only go to Hong Kong and Korea.” Considering the COVID restrictions still in place in other Asian nations, McDowell’s stay was restricted to the two countries. “ Where we would typically visit 3-5 different countries, we are only going to Hong Kong and Seoul on this trip. We are already looking at getting back to our normal routine in the fall of 2023,” said McDowell. Current and prospective Mercersburg Academy students and families can look forward to a new tradition of annual visits that will promote goodwill between the school and its Asian representation. Previous Next

Lucas Chen '27 < Back "Homeboy" Gregory Boyle to visit Lucas Chen '27 Mercersburg Academy will host the 6th annual Joe B. Generosity of Spirit Lecture on Friday, February 14. This lecture series honors the life of Joseph Hilliard Beauregard ’18, who passed away the fall after his graduation. School Minister Will Whitmore reflected, “Joe was this infectious spirit–a beautiful human who made all feel so welcome. His classmates and his parents wanted to come up with a way of honoring him, so they started this lecture series.” This year’s speaker is Father Gregory Boyle, a Roman Catholic priest who has dedicated forty years to gang member rehabilitation in central Los Angeles. Boyle founded Homeboy Industries, the world's largest nonprofit gang rehabilitation and intervention program. Homeboy Industries supports former gang members who want to redirect their lives toward a more positive future through job training, education, and social services to allow them to reintegrate into society. “The lecture itself hinges on this idea of sharing ourselves with others and that when we position our spirits outward toward others, something transformative will happen,” said Whitmore. “Boyle felt like a natural fit for the lecture because he has an understanding of the human heart, soul, spirit, and condition that allows all of us to connect with something deep within ourselves. When I’m struggling, I will often listen to or read one of his books as a way of reminding myself of what I can do and how I can do it.” The anticipation of Boyle's lecture extends to the student body, with many students excited to learn from his insights into human connection and transformative work with former gang members. Tahir Hasanov ’25 said, “I have only heard about Father Gregory Boyle from word of mouth, but I heard that he is amazing, both as a speaker and person. No over exaggeration but I have only heard positive things about him, so I’m excited to see him speak.” Yule Kwon ’26 said, “I want to learn about how religion will impact my life. I know life will become more positive by believing in religion, but would it help people understand each other?” Carrie Yang ’27 added, “I’m hoping to learn more about how Boyle approaches the process of healing and transformation, his personal stories, and especially how he instills a sense of belonging among marginalized people.” Finally, Taimur Rehman ’25 said, “I think it will be interesting to learn about Father Gregory Boyle’s work with prisons and to hear from someone who quite literally has a generous spirit.” Through the Joe B. Generosity of Spirit Lecture, Whitmore hopes “students and faculty have something within their hearts, within their spirits, touched—that they feel seen, that they feel like they can engage with, and that it calls them to care the way they would like to be cared for.” Previous Next

Liza Hoa '27 < Back GSSU takes on Pride Fest Liza Hoa '27 On October 13, the Gender and Sexuality Student Union (GSSU) hosted a trip to the Franklin County Pride Festival, a vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and LGBTQIA+ rights. As in the past, Mercersburg students of different backgrounds attended this annual event, bringing excitement and having a fantastic time; this year certainly wasn’t an exception. Whether students were newcomers or returners, they equally enjoyed the lighthearted cheer and festivities including live music, drag performances, colorful booths, and food trucks. Marlo Williams ‘25 said, “It was really fun. I came to PrideFest because I wanted to try something new. I’ve never been to a Pride festival. It seemed interesting, and it was nice to talk to other people who are in the queer community and meet some allies as well.” A participant in last year’s event, Alice Morgan ‘26 noted, “I really enjoyed it. This year, it was even more fun. They had more food stalls and gave out more free stuff. As I am queer myself, it was fun to have a place to hang out with friends, get good food, and leave campus for a little bit.” The GSSU, a new student organization founded late last year by Corbin Kelly ‘24 and former faculty Jeff Cohen, organized the weekend trip. Still in its first full academic year, the union wishes to utilize this year for exploration and welcomes any additional advice the community may have. GSSU faculty adviser Dan Walker says, “This is a space for all to feel comfortable and for those from diverse genders and sexual identities to help others understand who they are and what they stand for.” GSSU student leader Annie Mohr ‘26 says, “Our main focus is to foster an inclusive environment, as we’re not limited to just people who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We want to have a good time and spread awareness that being gay isn’t weird. And, to be proud.” The GSSU differs from an affinity space because “We want GSSU to include and be a safe space for everybody. Especially when dealing with identity, there’s the fact that people want to keep things private, so we want to respect that,” GSSU leader Nina McDowell ‘25, explained. Furthermore, McDowell notes, “When people hear the words gay , gender , and sexuality , they sort of don’t see themselves being a part of it, so it’s hard finding a good, true, and honest group of people. But, there are, of course, many people who want to make an impact and see the change they want to see in our community.” Seeing this event's success, GSSU student leaders McDowell and Mohr have started planning future engagements. Potential activities include a movie night, trivia night, SSC takeover, and possible collaborations with other student unions. Previous Next

Amanda Xi '25 < Back Keltner's Ammerman lecture Amanda Xi '25 Last Monday, the Mercersburg community gathered in the Simon Theatre for the annual Ammerman Family Lecture. “The Ammerman Lecture brings to the community speakers of national renown who have important perspectives on significant issues of the day and the capacity to help young people understand the relevance of such issues in their lives,” said School Minister Will Whitmore. This year’s speaker was Dr. Dachner Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. In his academic work, Keltner is a prominent researcher in emotional science with over 200 scientific article publications and six books. Keltner also hosts the award-winning podcast The Science of Happiness and worked as a scientific expert for the well-known Pixar animated film Inside Out in 2015. Whitmore said, “Dr. Keltner was selected due to his unique research and perspective. We believe our community can learn from him and his research on awe.” During his presentation, Keltner shared his studies about the science of awe and his recently published book, Awe . Additionally, Keltner discussed his list of the eight wonders of life, which included arts, nature, and religion. About his personal doctrine of the psychology of happiness, Keltner said, “We need to move beyond individualism and to start thinking about how we connected to bigger things than the self – that’s what awe is. It makes you aware of the fact that you are in a community.” The audience engaged with Keltner’s ideas at a high level by asking questions in the final minutes of the session and with several students staying after the program to continue the discussion. William Tutt ‘25 said, “ I feel like he was able to make me feel very interested in the subject. I was even lucky enough to see him after his speech and talk to him for a few minutes.” Dr. Keltner’s concept of awe also gave Justin An ‘23 a moment to reflect on his perception of reality; “His concept of awe is actually something we experience quite often in our lives, and I think many of us failed to notice its importance until now.” Day Kim ‘23 said, “ Although it is quite a cliché, even though we all know that many moments should be sought for, we don’t actively pursue them. It is important to be constantly be looking for something that interests and inspires you.” As his parting gift to students, Keltner offered three pieces of advice on the quest for happiness in life. “The first is to find one way to find peace when you are stressed out. The second is always find where your sense of community is, as well as friendship, and just cultivate that. The third is awe – which is to find your sources of awe and they will tell you what to really care about.” Additionally, interested community members met with Keltner during the first Block on Tuesday, just prior to his departure from campus. Previous Next

Kaden Yang ‘29 < Back Ex(traordinary) Ed Day Kaden Yang ‘29 Stepping away from their usual daily academic routines, Mercersburg Academy students participated in Experiential Education Day last Monday. The program is running for the second year as it provides an opportunity for students to engage in a meaningful, hands-on experience beyond the classroom. Director of Experiential Education Emily Parsons said, “We were trying to build the day around a focus: it was about leadership, citizenship, and how to be a good person in the community.” To understand the history of the local community, ninth graders visited the Conococheague Institute, a well-preserved historic farmstead established in the eighteenth century for an interactive experience of American frontier life. Participating in many activities—such as archery, housekeeping, renovations, planting, retrieving water from a well, cleaning up manure, and playing with goats— helped strengthen the students’ collaboration and team-building skills. Alexa Zagury ’29, who found the experience inclusive, stated, “Everybody got to do something, and even though we were learning about history, they made it fun. I've never been there before, but it was a very good first experience.” Grade Dean John David Bennett said, “Great opportunity to step away from phones. You find fun in surprising places. When the ninth graders arrived, they had no idea what to expect, but almost immediately, they were incredibly well engaged in what was happening.” Headed off to Washington D.C., tenth graders divided into three groups, each with a unique specialization. The finance group visited the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, interacting with professionals to learn about the federal management and security of the U.S. financial system. The law group toured Capitol Hill and even watched the Senate in session from the gallery. Finally, the words group visited the National Archives and the Planet Word Museum; they also met with alum and Regent Fred Klein ’72 as well as Judge Richard Gergel, author of Unexampled Courage, which tells the story of the blinding of a black veteran during the Jim Crow era. Mingyu Lee ’28, part of the law group, said, “It was a valuable experience to have been able to enter the National Archive, let alone talk with some of the judges and attorneys.” Additionally, Aakash Nath ’28 said, “It was exciting to go in a smaller group, it gives an opportunity to connect and bring us closer. I was talking to some people in the group that I had never talked to before.” Grade Dean Jamar Galbreath summarized: “Ex Ed Day is an opportunity to put learning in a different perspective. The cycle that we talk about looks at starting with a question, creating a good experience around that question. And being able to explore the ways in which that question informs us in terms of our leadership and abilities. So it's a good opportunity to get some hands-on learning in a vastly different area.” Having been enrolled in a U.S. History course, the eleventh graders explored Philadelphia through a scavenger hunt and a guided tour of the Museum of the American Revolution, looking to answer the question: How does Philadelphia’s “built history” reveal the challenges and hopes of early America? With their advisory groups, the students were able to capture not only the deeper educational essence of the sites, but “Instagrammable pics” as well as stops including the President’s House, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Robert Morris Statue, Carpenter’s Hall, Christ Church Burial Ground, Betsy Ross’s house, and Elfreth’s Alley. On visiting the museum, Ethan Ma ’27 shared, “It was cool to follow a tour guide and listen to her explain specific details of the American Revolution with artifacts as evidence. The way that the tour guide informed us about the history was actually different from what I'd expected. She provided all perspectives involved in the conflict: from the Patriots, the British, the slaves, and the Native American tribes.” Following tradition, the seniors enjoyed a late start to the day and welcomed their younger pen pals from a local elementary school to campus. Arnav Rao ’26 said, “We connected well. He was very shy at first, not speaking at all. It taught me that I needed to be more patient when it comes to talking to younger students, because some people won't always be open towards you. If you have some patience, like I did with my pen pal, after lunch, he started to open up about everything, and it became fun.” Lilly Killinger ’26 added, “We did chalk drawing, and we were picking a lot of flowers. The experience helped me disconnect from my life here and really see eyes through a little kid. She had no worries, no care in the world, and it made me remember how nice the simple things in life are and realize what's really important.” Careful planning went into all of the events, but especially the far-off-campus trips Parsons said, “It was hard to get all the students, faculty and staff engaged; there’s a lot of logistics, and Ms. [Alyse] McDowell helped me with buses and bookings. We were thinking about place-based education and making sure the kids understand when they go to Philadelphia, why Philadelphia is important, and what they can learn from a place like that. You're sort of understanding that place and the significance of it. So, there was certainly intention put into the places.” Previous Next

Ava Jones '25 < Back Turning the page...of the menu Ava Jones '25 Mercersburg Academy values feedback from constituents to create an inclusive environment; however, recent surveys reveal that the dining experience is one of the school's lowest-ranked aspects of student life. In response, Chief Financial and Operating Officer Rochelle Hargraves says, “It was time to seek a different program that provides a diverse dining experience, including and expanding to all different types of dietary restrictions.” The new dining hall redesign, commencing in summer 2025, will feature an updated kitchen, as well as a modified breakfast area and a pizza oven. This will be an improvement not only for students but also for the dining hall staff, who will work with newer equipment. Unfortunately, these renovations will require patience and understanding from the student body. The renovation will not happen overnight, so meals will occur in the Hale Field House at the start of 2025-2026 school year. This is a significant change from previous years, but don't fret; Mercersburg plans to continue its family-style lunch and Monday night dinner tradition during this temporary move. Some students question the practicality of the location change. Sophie Koroma ‘26 asks, “Why are we in the field house? I feel the Edwards Room would be a better choice.” Grace Labans ’26 asks, “How are they keeping the food warm as it’s transferred from the kitchen to the field house?” However, this is a necessary sacrifice. Hargraves says, “An improved dining experience will only come with significant change.” Because the dining hall kitchen will be out of service during renovations, the dining hall staff will cook in a portable kitchen. Hargraves describes it as a “commercial kitchen on wheels” that provides a menu similar to what Mercersburg is used to. Some students feel that the dining hall doesn't have to be fully renovated; rather, it would be beneficial to make small but appreciable changes within the menu. For example, many athletes prefer a “smoothie bar in the morning for after workouts,” says Louisa Gunkelman ’25. Among seniors, there are sentiments of excitement yet sadness at the new dining hall opening after their graduation. Amanda Xi ’25 says, “I'm so excited for Mercersburg. I wish I could experience the change!” While some members of the student body are disappointed they won’t be here to enjoy the new dining hall, there is a sense of pride in being a part of the Mercersburg community that will help pave the way for future students to benefit from it. Previous Next

Alex Cho '23 < Back An interview with Stacie Lissette Alex Cho '23 On October 20 and 22, the Board of Regents held its first of three annual meetings on campus to conduct their school business. The News interviewed the board’s president, Stacie Lissette ‘85, and raised questions about the broader outlook for the board and the Mercersburg community. Mercersburg News (MN): What are the main goals of the board? Stacie Lissette (SL): Our board’s purpose is the fulfillment of the school’s mission through oversight, partnership, and foresight. We are specifically responsible for the financial success and long-term sustainability of the school. We ensure an effective school leadership team; set, resource, and measure progress toward the strategic vision; and encourage engagement and stewardship of our constituents. The main goals of the board are to hire, evaluate, and retain the Head of School, help set a strategic vision for the school, and ensure the financial sustainability of the school. We work closely with the school leadership team to fulfill this purpose. MN: What are some current projects and plans the board is working on (short term and long term)? SL: In the past couple of years, the board worked with the school leaders to create a strategic design, and we continue to be involved in the work to implement that design. That plan has “Four Bold Moves”: 1. Emphasize meaning and mastery 2. Invest in our educator capacity 3. Serve the whole learner 4. Prioritize financial aid. We have also been working for the past 18 months with an outside consultant and school leadership to create a campus master plan which is a physical framework/blueprint that supports the school’s mission and strategic vision. This plan is currently being reviewed by the full board with the hope of having a document approved at the January board meetings. The campus master plan looks at the physical spaces on campus and determines if there are changes needed to those to support the programs (academic, residential, etc.) of the school. These two processes will help to guide the work that the board and the school will be focusing on for many years. It’s important to note that the campus master plan is a document that will be flexible, and different areas covered within the plan are subject to change based on needs of the school as we move forward. A project we are also working on is a comprehensive look at ways to ensure the financial sustainability of the school. Mercersburg is financially an extremely strong institution, but we always need to be thinking through ways to maintain that strength. MN: What is the main goal of your talk with the school community? SL: We hope to answer questions you may have about what we do and who we are and to help you get to know us better. We have not been able to be on campus as much the past couple of years, and we really want to be able to interact with the people who are most affected by our decisions. We also want you to learn more about us and what we do with respect to the school. We hope that you will also see that there are many ways, such as serving on the board, to give back to Mercersburg long after you have graduated, and I feel certain that some of the current students will be future members of the Mercersburg Academy Board of Regents and Alumni Council. MN: Even when we don’t have meetings, are there ways for students to keep the conversations going? SL: I really do hope so. We are open to ideas of how we can do this and can work with the Student Life Office to figure out some options. That being said, the board is really responsible for the higher level strategic planning, and we always want to be careful that we are not interfering with day-to-day operations which are the responsibility of the school leadership, faculty, and staff. There are many decisions that the board should not be involved with. Previous Next

Caroline Hobbs '26 < Back They did what?!? Alumni reflect on change Caroline Hobbs '26 Last weekend, Mercersburg families and alumni arrived on campus to experience and celebrate the longstanding traditions of Step Songs and the bonfire during fall Family and Alumni Weekend. Even though these traditions continue today, many things have changed on the Mercersburg campus. Some alumni offered their perspectives on how Mercersburg has grown over the years. Mr. Phil Lloyd, class of ‘65, parent of ‘90 and ‘94, grandparent of ‘26 and Board of Regents member emeritus, 1994-2022, says he loved the changes in academic methodology, particularly that the school has switched from reliance on lecture-based classes to classes set around the Harkness table or dedicated to student projects. Lloyd noted that although there have been changes in the classroom, Mercersburg has always emphasized ideals of respect, community, and inclusion and that will never change. He says, “You walk out of this school a better human being.” Katie Stover ‘07 appreciates the community’s neverending kindness and hospitality. Nevertheless, she was shocked when she saw studnets playing and hanging out on the quad. When she was at Mercersburg, this was never allowed. She added that she had heard alumni talking about how the size of the dining tables had changed (and some that she spoke with were very thrown off by this!). Ted Smith ‘83 loves seeing the arts and sports facilities when he returns to Mercersburg, because they didn’t have such high-end facilities when he studied at Mercersburg, though swimmers like Smoth always had amenities that other sports did not. Smith observed how much more organized the 'Burg has gotten throughout the years. For Joie Xiao ‘22, the big change was that Mercersburg is now using social media platforms to showcase activities/traditions happening on campus. As a four-year dancer, she applauded the addition of the arts showcases during Family and Alumni Weekened and the development of more hands-on programs. Joshua Bowling ‘08, like Xiao, loved seeing the additions to the arts programs, especially the advanced studies art class, and the encouragement of all of the ways students can express themselves through art. Julia Maurer, class of ‘90 and Associate Head of School for School Life, loves how Mercersburg has always had such a strong community atmosphere and how strong the relationship ties have remained over the many years. Previous Next

Chloe Allis '25 < Back Syrup and supplements Chloe Allis '25 Last Tuesday, the Class of ‘24 celebrated a time-honored Mercersburg Academy tradition: Paint the Numbers. Seniors gathered at the school’s Davidson Gate to sign their initials on the road, reminisce about their experiences as a class, and then, finally, get messy. The following morning, students dressed down in their pajamas and met in the Ford Dining Hall for “PJs and Pancakes”: a day off of classes for the seniors to work on their college applications and feast on a never-ending supply of pancakes. Cindy Fowler, Assistant Director of College Counseling, said, “We worked on a lot of essays. There are many students in varying stages of their essay writing. We worked on a lot surrounding the details of the application, like the activities to transfer requests. It was really productive. Kids really get down to work during these sessions, and some students even finish all of their work.” Most students used the time to draft and fine-tune their essays, whether that be their personal statements or supplemental essays. Emerson Lissette ‘24 said, “I worked on supplements, and I was really, really productive.” Sonia Piontkovska ‘24 said, “I was a 10 on the productiveness scale.” Some people even finished their applications in their entirety. “It was really cool seeing some students hitting submit on their applications,” said Mike Conklin, Director of College Counseling. Looking ahead to the future and the remainder of this college admissions cycle, there are certainly potential obstacles that seniors and college counselors need to be ready for. “The whole process has been volatile in the past four years. There are many things that we must navigate, the exponential increase in selectivity, test-optional policies, the Supreme Court’s decision regarding affirmative action; it’s all very intense,” said Conklin. Though the college admissions process may be tough, Mercersburg Academy’s college counselors are fully preparing the seniors and helping them rise to the occasion. “This class has been through a lot in the past four years, and I hope it’s almost cathartic in a way to see how far they’ve come. They are set up to be very successful in all of their endeavors,” said Conklin. Previous Next

Justin Oh '25 < Back Rich in Rituals Justin Oh '25 On December 4, 2023, Mercersburg Academy welcomed Casper ter Kuile to campus as the annual Schaff Lecturer. Ter Kuile is the author of The Power of Ritual , and cofounder of the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, a conversation dedicated to analyzing the Harry Potter series through a religious lens. School Minister the Reverend Dr. William Whitmore said, “The Schaff Lecture Series was established to support one or more pre-eminent speakers annually on topics related to fundamental human values” by a donation from Charles Schaff ‘41. The lecture's purpose is to “clarify what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’” Ter Kuile focused his words on the importance of rituals and their ability to strengthen communities. Whitmore said, “We selected ter Kuile due to his focus on community and the importance of this when thinking about civic engagement.” Indeed, ter Kuile’s speech may prove helpful, particularly to the Civic Engagement Task Force, whose purpose is to encourage students to become active citizens and community members. Thomas Zhu ‘26, a member of the Civic Engagement Student Advisory Board, said “[he] did a good job of showing what civic engagement looks like, especially when some students may still not know what civic engagement really is.” Other students and faculty members were impressed by ter Kuile’s humor, confidence, and knowledge. Sean Qin ‘25 commented that ter Kuile “had a talent for taking the relatively plain topic of daily habits and turning them into special parts of our lives.” Tri Ngyuen ‘24 said, “He was never boring and still informative, which isn’t easy.” Ter Kuile took a few questions at the end of the lecture and offered a follow-up opportunity on Tuesday morning. Students appreciated the ability to ask additional questions in a more personal environment. In response to a question about his motives, ter Kuile said, “I wanted to find ways for many people to participate and help them connect very quickly. Rituals are an efficient way of making people feel like us.” Additionally, he recalled feeling marginalized as a gay student at a boys boarding school in England. “I want to make sure other people don't feel the same way.” Referencing the “intense” academic atmosphere of Mercersburg, ter Kuile recommended rituals based on self-care and relaxation for students rather than difficult ones. “I make weekly rituals because daily ones are often hard to complete as motivation to do things is never constant. I like completing a Tech Sabbath for 12 hours from Friday night to Saturday morning.” Previous Next

Tristan Paulette ’27 < Back Huda F. is she? Tristan Paulette ’27 On Friday, February 13, Mercersburg Academy hosted Huda Fahmy as the Joseph Beauregard Generosity of Spirit Endowed speaker. A cartoon novelist who explores the complexities of family dynamics and her own Muslim identity, Fahmy was invited by former school minister Reverend Dr. William Whitmore. Burgin Center Director of Operations Jessica Doubell, who now leads the decision process for keynote speakers, said of the choice, “She's a visibly Muslim woman, and we haven't had a speaker like that in our community in the time that I've been here. I don't think it's something that our campus community hears normally, so it was really nice to bring something different.” Fahmy’s presence on campus impacted students and faculty alike. Doubell explained, “I took away a lot. We all have a lot of the same stories, whether we are the same religion or the same gender. [Everyone is] so much alike, even though we're so completely different. There are so many people on campus who will relate to her story as well." Many students appreciated the lecture. Huda Mahmoud ’26 said, "I loved how she didn't frame [her experience] as tragic; she kind of presents her story as an owner. I felt connected more personally to her. I think it was really important [to have her on campus], but especially for representation. I think being the only hijabi in the school, it's very difficult, and it felt very intimidating at first." She also said, “It wasn't monotonous; she also framed her story as human and personal. It was powerful. It was really inspiring to see that." In addition, Maddie Stonebreaker ’27 found the lecture insightful, saying, “We come from a school that has so many people that come from such different cultural backgrounds. It was really cool to see somebody who kind of challenges cultural norms and does her own thing.” She added, “It actually felt like someone who was able to express their creativity.” Aaron Chuang ’28 also found Fahmy's lecture revealing, stating, “It provided writing from other cultures and presented different cultural characters to include more diversity in literature and comic books. I think she was a good speaker because she had a positive outlook on diversity and inclusion, which is a core value of Mercersburg." The decision to invite Fahmy to campus allowed academy members to consider their own positionality in comparison to the rest of the world and consider a new perspective. “The Joseph Beauregard Generosity of Spirit Endowment is all about the generosity of spirit, and having met Hoda Fahmy now, she really embodies that,” said Doubell. Previous Next