Paxton Diana ‘26 < Back Storm futbol scores new recruits Paxton Diana ‘26 Sep 20, 2024 This year, Mercersburg Academy’s soccer program is gearing up for an exciting fall season with the addition of a diverse group of talented recruits. These new players—from countries including the United States, Cana- da, and Brazil—bring vast skills and experiences to the field. Boys soccer head coach Skyler Clark said, “We hope to find motivated students who will thrive in a community that values versatility and a holistic approach to bettering themselves every day. We actively work with the admissions department to make sure the students are kind and caring individuals who will positively benefit Mercersburg in a variety of different ways.” Girls soccer head coach Kristen Pixler agreed, “We work closely with the admissions office, which provides us with a list of potential athletes based on their athletic inquiry forms and interview process.” Both coaches also attend regional showcases to scout for talent. The coaches put in hard work to contact the recruits and to introduce them to Mercersburg. Grace Himes ’28, from the United States, said, “Pixler had reached out and talked about the team and what it would be like at tryouts and how it would go. It sounded like a re- ally good culture to be a part of.” Pedro Abranches Pederneiras ’26, from Brazil, said, “I used to play for a boarding school agency in Brazil; [they] had kept in contact with Mercersburg. After Clark had contact- ed me and introduced me to [the] Academy, I was hands down for this program.” The recruits’ experience so far has been positive. Christian Garcia-Rivas ’27, from Canada, said, “The facilities that we have here are incredible. At my old school, we didn’t have anything close to the facilities we have here, which is a big change. I am very happy to be here.” One of the main features of the teams that struck the new student-athletes is the supportive and enthusiastic team spirit. “I feel as though the team’s culture helped me settle in faster than I ever thought I would. I feel as though this is not just a team but a family,” said Harper Tilker ’27. Addalyn Arnsparger ’27 added, “The culture is good here and there is a lot of team bonding which I am not too used to; we are all one big group, and we are all best friends: we do everything together.” Many of the recruits already have personal goals they want to accomplish by the end of the season. Felipe Romeu Pepe Santos ’27 stated: “I want to meet new friends and coaches and want to go as far as I can as a student-athlete”. Pederneiras said, “My goal is to be the best player that I can be for the team and to help my teammates because it’s not about myself; it is about my team; I don’t play alone.” As the season unfolds, camaraderie and team spirit con- tinue to grow with every game and practice. Each new recruit brings their individual goals and positive energy, adding to the coaches’ anticipation of a successful season. Beyond achieving success on the field, the teams are ready to strengthen their bond further, creating an even more co- hesive and supportive environment for all athletes. Previous Next

Bauhinia Chen ‘26 < Back Hotline bling Bauhinia Chen ‘26 Oct 6, 2023 The revamped dining hall layout has been a hot topic for debate. The new arrangement has introduced double-sided buffet lines, and a deli and panini station, made flow changes to beverages, rice bar, and soup stations, and consolidated the salad bars the center aisle. Students and faculty have expressed mixed opinions about these adjustments. Bill Korhammer, the Director of Dining Services, explained the incentive behind them: “We wanted to provide a better dining experience for the community. What’s nice about the two main lines is they have hot sections at the front, and the back sections can either be hot or cold... We also introduced more sauces. The salad bar was dropped from two to one because of the lack of space. I know that it is probably the biggest contention. Everybody says the line is long. In my opinion, I don’t think the lines are horrible, but I understand that it might be infuriating to wait when you are in a rush. However, I think it was a necessary sacrifice for a better overall experience.” Some embraced the layout’s novelty. Director of Global Programs and Chair of the Conduct Review Committee Justine O’Connell said, “I think it’s nice because it’s something new. Trying something different is helpful because you can always return to another if this one is not working. I like how there are two main lines, and I think it’s cool that you can go right to the line to fill up for family-style meals.” “I think the pros are that there is a more centralized place to get food. That way, you don’t have people weaving through tables to get to the salad or deli bar. You also have more access to refills and pasta… I think it was a worthwhile change,” said art teacher Sarah O’Leary. “I love that we added some new machines to improve the diversity of food,” said Emily Tan ‘24. Some community members, however, do not see the advantages. “I like the old system better. It was easier to get food. I find it harder now that everyone is going to one line. I’m also not sure I like the idea of the pasta mixed with the main food,” said Brendan Daly. “I don’t like how the salad bar is in the middle because sometimes it can be confusing. The space is quite crowded,” said Amon Yamamoto ‘26. “The biggest con is the salad bar. It is often empty, and the line is too long. I don’t know if there are any benefits to this layout,” said math teacher Jeff Cohen. Language Department Head Benjamin McNeil was of two minds: “The new layout was difficult to get used to because I had to search and think about where everything was. I think some of the changes make sense. Not quite sure about others. If it helps the dining hall staff to do their job more effectively, I am certainly in favor of the changes.” As students and faculty acclimate to the dining hall’s new system, the Meriwether Godsey staff also wish to receive constructive feedback. The layout is still in its formative stages and subject to refinement as the dining services crew strives to provide the best experience for the community. Previous Previous Next Next

Maddie Stonebraker ’27 < Back Alyssa Colen Maddie Stonebraker ’27 Sep 26, 2025 Mercersburg’s newest Biology Fellow, Alyssa Colen, comes to Mercersburg with a passion for teaching, curiosity, and even a few adventures involving poison dart frogs. Colen graduated from Emory University, where she majored in environmental science and minored in architectural studies. While she loved science, she found the traditional lab setting too impersonal. “I always wanted to pursue teaching,” said Colen. That curiosity led her to the University of Pennsylvania’s teaching program, which eventually brought her to Mercersburg. Her first impressions of campus were glowing. She was struck not just by the beauty of the grounds but by the students themselves. “People are helping each other, and the vibes are excellent, and I’m so happy I was chosen to be hired,” said Colen, describing the sense of empathy and community she noticed right away. This fall, Colen is teaching Biology while continuing to refine her teaching style. She hopes her students will leave her classroom with a sense of wonder and an eagerness to keep asking “why?” Her biggest goal this year is completing her teaching program and graduating next year, while letting her career path unfold naturally. “I really like it here,” said Colen, and she is excited to see where the future takes her. Outside of class, Colen has a creative side; she loves charcoal drawing and has a lifelong passion for animals. In Atlanta, she fostered cats, and she is thrilled to finally adopt one of her own, a cat named Sweetheart, who keeps her company just down the street from One North Coffee Shop. And for students looking for fun facts, Colen once caught poison dart frogs by hand while studying in the Amazon, and yes, rapper Flo Rida actually follows her on Instagram. With her adventurous spirit and warm approach to science, Colen is already making her mark at Mercersburg. Previous Previous Next Next

Ian Kim '27 < Back Trainers 455, injuries 0 Ian Kim '27 Sep 27, 2024 With student-athletes prone to injuries in all three seasons, the invaluable contributions made by Andrew Myers, the Associate Director of Athletics for Athletic Performance (who is joined this year by new athletic trainer Tyler O’Mara) cannot be understated. Whether it’s a simple sprain or a lengthy rehab, Myers and the Athletic Trainer Center always have students’ backs—and knees, ankles, and shoulders too. The trainers are always hard at work with student interns to help athletes return to competing as fast as possible. Myers first started working at Mercersburg in 2011 as the Assistant Athletic Trainer. And a lot has changed for him since then. “I’ve obviously started as the assistant and have become more of a leadership role as Head Athletic Trainer,” he states. “And I’ve gained a lot of experience working as an athletic trainer in general. I’ve worked with a bunch of different students, athletes, teams, and sports, with sports medicine and strength and conditioning stuff.” His favorite part of his job is how, unlike an office job, he never knows when injuries might happen, and Myers finds that exciting. “Every day is different. A different kid can come in all the time, from different sporting events, games, practices.” Accompanying Myers are interns Sophie Oh ’26 and Piper Mathias ’26. They mostly assist in wrapping as well as helping to recover overall bodily athletic functions. Previous intern Germany Johnson ’25 described his time in the Athletic Training Center as feeling helpful, stating, “Using the knowledge I’ve gained while working [... there], I do hope to work in the sports medicine field one day.” He expressed his delight. “I do like it. I like the people too.” The biggest challenge Myers faced was the midyear departure last year of Leah Daniels, the previous Associate Athletic Trainer. However, he put an optimistic spin on it, stating, “It was kind of nice to see that I have the ability to take on everything at once, keep[ing] the ship running pretty cohesively. It was a good challenge.” Lauren Jacobs, the Director of Athletics, praises Myers, stating, “Mr. Myers did a tremendous job holding down the athletic training room by himself since January. He takes great pride in caring for our athletes.” A common theme emerged regarding Myers. “He’s really knowledgeable, and does a good job of communicating about injuries," Brian Canida, the school’s Fitness and Performance Coordinator states. Johnson added, “Mr. Myers is a great role model.” And Jacobs’ final comment resonates with all Blue Storm athletes and coaches: “We are lucky to have him.” Previous Next

Michelle Zhang < Back New Turf Michelle Zhang Apr 14, 2026 Construction is underway on a second artificial turf field at Mercersburg Academy, set to replace the current Steiger Field. The project, funded entirely by a gift from a Mercersburg alumnus, is expected to expand both athletic programming and student activity space across campus. “ The need for a second artificial field was identified as a priority in the athletic facilities review the school conducted over the last 18 months,” said Head of School Quentin McDowell. “Investment in athletic fields was also noted in the comprehensive facilities condition assessment that was just completed.” Funding came from a single alumnus who had a meaningful athletic experience at Mercersburg in the 1980s and chose to cover the project’s full cost.“I cannot think of a better gift than one that both helps our school as well as brings great joy to the donor,” McDowell said. The project has been in the works since last fall, when the school hired civil engineering firm FSA of Hagerstown, Maryland to design the conversion. Getting necessary permits from state, local, and federal agencies, including the Franklin County Soil Conservation District and the Department of Environmental Protection, took from December to early April. “Once those drawings get submitted to all those agencies for permitting approval, we don’t have any control over that,” said Brad Otto, the school’s facilities director. “ That was what was really worrying me because students are going to return in late August, and if we get a late permit, that means a late start, which means a late finish.” Fortunately, the permits came through on schedule. The field is being laser-graded using GPS technology to create an almost perfectly level surface. It will be built by the same contractor and use the same AstroTurf surface that was used to refresh Regents Field; the contractor already has Mercersburg’s logo and colors on file. “The goal is to sort of maintain equity between the two fields, that there’s not an advantage that one field has over the other,” Otto said. The new field will also be notably larger than Regents Field. While both are 360 feet long, the new field will be 240 feet wide — about 45 feet wider than Regents — and will feature a 10-foot blue border around the entire perimeter. It will be permanently lined for use by the soccer and lacrosse teams. For the athletics department, the addition of a new field addresses scheduling challenges about who gets to play on the turf when multiple athletic events are happening simultaneously. “Adding a turf field gives us more flexibility for our athletic teams,” said Chief Advancement Officer John Richardson, “with field hockey, both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse programs, and both soccer programs being able to use that space more year-round.” Not every student is ready to say goodbye to grass entirely. Simon Brennan ’26, a member of the soccer team, noted that the team’s grass field came with an unexpected perk — opponents used to nice, pristine turf sometimes struggled to adjust, while Mercersburg players had already mastered the trickier surface. “The harder touches would become easy for us,” he said. And when it came to his personal preference, Brennan conceded: “ I like grass more — it feels more natural.” He also had a more practical reason for the preference: “When I go make a tackle I don’t get burned on my leg and lose my skin.” McDowell has made getting students outdoors a broader campus priority, and both he and Richardson see the new field as one more space for students to gather, compete, and build community. Richardson stated that the addition of another field could provide free space for non-athletes, “While it definitely helps athletics, it is [intended] for the whole student body.” The turf project is one piece of a larger ongoing conversation about campus needs. School administrators are currently focused on a potential new academic building and a renovation to the central plant as their next major priorities. In closing, Richardson remarked, “I think it says a lot when we invest like this and have support from our alumni base to fund these kinds of initiatives.” Previous Previous Next Next

Paxton Diana ‘26 < Back Soccer takes on a tough rival Paxton Diana ‘26 Nov 8, 2024 Last weekend, Blue Storm’s soccer teams— boys and girls varsity, JV, and boys thirds—traveled to the Hill School for their respective games. Except for the girls varsity team, these were their last matches of the season. The teams trained diligently in preparation for their games. Girls varsity head coach Kristen Pixler explained, “ We focused on moving the ball and trying to prepare our players coming off of injury back into the team. We knew Hill had been playing well—they are senior-heavy—and it was going to be a challenge. We have been reframing our expectations in the MAPL to go into every match knowing that anything could happen; if we play together as a connected unit, we can win.” Varsity boys head coach Skyler Clark took a more pragmatic approach. “ Practices are planned down to the minute. Everything is laid out ahead of time, and all the boys need to do is show up and improve each other. I believe we succeeded in doing that in every training session, whether technical, tactical, or a combination of both.” The girls varsity soccer team has enjoyed an impressive season. Annie Mohr ’26 said, “We've been doing pretty well. Since I've been here, we haven't won a MAPL game, but we had two MAPL wins this year.” Her teammate and captain, Lily Killinger ’26, added, “The team had been doing really well this season. We’ve been putting in the work and made the environment fun but competitive.” Similarly, on the boys side, Grant Wilkinson ’26 echoed, “The standard is the highest it’s been since I’ve been here. The team culture is good, and everyone shows up daily wanting to get better.” The JV teams prepared diligently, too. JV boys goalie William Choi ’26 said, “ We’ve been working a lot on finishing, transitions, and playing it quick which is the style of play we want from our players.” JV girls winger Liza Hoa ’27 noted, “The team has been developing basic skills and working with the ball a little better, to gain more control.” Still, the players made sure to keep things light. Swing player Abby Kendall ’26 explained, “The team works well together, and though we are able to [focus] on improving at times, we are also able to have fun during practice.” Their efforts have been paying off. JV player Jack Pollinger ’26 said, “The team is doing really well this season. While it may not always reflect on the scoreboard, the guys are improving in between every game, and it's showing.” Each team approached their MAPL matches with focus. Boys thirds head coach, Benjamin McNeil said, “ Our goal was to give Hill a good game and finish the season undefeated.” Thirds player Jacob Buschkin ’28 added, “Some people’s goals are to end the season on a good note, and others hope to set themselves up to be on the JV team next year.” JV player Blanca Coronado ’27 said, "Our goal is to execute our game plan effectively and come away with a win. Looking further ahead, we will probably work on consistency and we will continue to practice harder." Choi agreed, adding, “ We hope JV will become a place where players can really grow without too much pressure on their back and have fun. We would really like to play with energy and composure, which is what we weren’t able to do even in some of our winning games.” Despite the teams’ efforts ending up in losses, there were many positives about the matches. Pixler acknowledged her players’ hard work. “ We lost zero to three but were missing a key player that forced some changes in our lineup. We also had some attacking players come back from injury, which really helped to transition and move the ball well through the midfield.” After losing 1-3, boys varsity player Pedro Abranches Pederneiras ’26 praised his team’s performance. “We played very well: mixing individual and group abilities, keeping our standards high the whole game, and always trying to be better players in the game.” Previous Next

Wiliiam Luo < Back Paris Zhang Wiliiam Luo Feb 16, 2026 Originally begun as a summer writing project, the work of Paris Zhang ’27 has grown into a published book now available in the Lenfest Library. Zhang recently released Drowned Voices: A Collection of Retellings , a compilation of short stories, poetry, and prose that centers on voices that often go unheard. “At first, I didn’t really think about publishing a book,” Zhang said. “It was in the summer and school breaks that I read a lot of books and saw documentaries.” She cited Elena Ferrante’s The Days of Abandonment as her most notable summer read, highlighting its focus on internal emotional journeys. “I want to recreate the stories that I encountered over the summer,” Zhang explained. Zhang’s book takes the form of a collection rather than a single narrative. She said the structure emerged naturally as her writing progressed: “First off, it is hard to construct a whole novel. Secondly, I didn’t consider making this collection a whole book. I just included a lot of short stories and realized that it could be in the style of a compilation.” She also incorporated poetry and prose, which are formats she enjoys writing in her downtime. “The book is a collection of short stories, mainly to record the sounds of the soundless,” Zhang said. “For example, I included characters who faced injustice, resulting in suicides. I simply want my readers to ponder what would happen if these characters were given more depth and heard.” Zhang said her biggest challenge during the writing process was ensuring clarity. “I think a challenge for all writers is to convey their message to the reader,” she explained. “That’s why I went through amounts of editing, making sure that my logic is clear.” She added that friends and teachers proofread the work before publication and were a great help. Zhang used Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) to self-publish the book. “It’s just the logistics part of taxes, filling the forms, and doing the credentials that were very monotonous,” she said. Even the book’s cover required negotiation. “I also made my sister draw the front cover,” Zhang said. “Though initially it was hard, she finally complied.” For Zhang, progress came in small steps, but each milestone felt rewarding. “Every time I finished a section of my compilation of short stories was very rewarding,” she said. “It felt like I gave a voice to a small character.” After publication, Zhang worked with faculty from the English department and school librarians to make the book accessible to the Mercersburg community. “First, I emailed Ms. Poacelli, telling her that I published a book and here is the link,” she said. “Then I told Ms. Patterson, and she purchased a copy and added it to the library.” Zhang said the response so far has been encouraging. “I have had a couple of faculty come up to me and say that they are going to read my book,” she said. “The people who read it loved that I made a compilation rather than a whole novel.” Looking ahead, Zhang is already planning her next project. “I have been working on a different project, a whole novel,” she said, explaining that the idea began during Thanksgiving break. Finally, asked why students should read Drowned Voices , Zhang emphasized its perspective. “It deviates from traditional narrative, and it empowers women,” she said. “It tells students that you can do things that seem impossible. Just do it.” Previous Previous Next Next

By Tahir Hasanov ‘25 < Back And we had to go to New Jersey! Tahir Hasanov ‘25 Nov 3, 2023 On October 21, Mercersburg Academy’s girls tennis, girls soccer, girls field hockey, and boys soccer teams traveled to The Peddie School for their annual MAPL matchup. Peddie is a consistently strong opponent and the games were critical match-ups for Mercersburg’s teams. Field hockey player Ava Guzic ‘25 commented, “Other MAPL schools are usually really competitive. Out of all of them, Peddie often gives us a really good game.” The girls tennis team was busy last weekend, competing in back-to-back MAPL matches. On Friday, they played Blair Academy and won 4-3. However, Peddie, a contender for the MAPL championship, was a considerably stronger opponent. Head coach Mike Sweeney said, “ At Peddie we only managed to win one match, the #3 seed doubles team of Anezka Pospisilova ‘26 and Ava Marathe ‘26 came away with a convincing 8-1 victory. At #1 seed, Hisano Enomoto ‘25 played one of her better matches of the season, coming up just short against a strong opponent.” The final score of the match was 0-7 for Peddie. The team dropped 2-3 in the MAPL as they head into the final tournament on Saturday. Similarly, the girls soccer team competed in consecutive matches last weekend. The team played first against Perkiomen School on Friday and won 4-0. However, the match against Peddie the next day was more challenging. Madison Goodheart ‘24 said, “In preparation for Peddie, we have been practicing a lot of set plays, and strategic passing for our offense. Coach Pixler has done a great job of keeping our practices new and fresh, while also focusing on some details that can elevate our game from good to great.” The Falcons controlled possession for the majority of the game, but the Blue Storm’s defense held firm in the face of attack. The team’s single goal came from Grace Rachals ‘24 assisted by Nina McDowell ‘25. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. The team poasted a 0-4-1 record in the MAPL as they head into their match against The Hill School. The field hockey squad also played back-to-back MAPL contests last weekend. They lost to The Hun School of Princeton on Friday 6-0. On Saturday, the team shifted its focus to Peddie. Guzic said, “Last year, we beat them in double overtime plus a shootout!” Although the score didn’t go their way against Peddie, the team was able to accomplish many of the goals they had set in practice. Maria Rihn ‘24 said, “On the offensive side, we made use of stick handling and ball movement up the sides of the field to get possession in our circle. On the defensive side, we played containment defense and worked to make sure every dangerous player was covered when the ball was moving towards our goal.” The final score of the game was 0-4 for Peddie. Rihn added, “Unfortunately, many of the official calls were not in our favor, and, at one point, we had to play two players down. Regardless of this, our team hustled and continued to communicate, maintained spacing, and stayed hungry for a win, which I could not be more proud of!” Unlike the other teams, the boys soccer team played a single game on Saturday. This match marked the third last game in the regular season, so the team prepared rigorously. Dave Nguyen ‘24 said, “In practice, we tried to improve on some of our problems from previous MAPL games. We watched film, and practiced specific aspects of the game in preparation for Peddie.” The game itself was extremely intense, remaining scoreless through the first and most of the second half. Nguyen added, “Towards the very end of the game, Peddie scored 2 goals off free-kicks. It was an unfortunate way to end a largely even game.” Despite the loss, the team was able to play one of their best games so far this fall and now head to the final phase of the season. Previous Next

Celine Liu ’29 < Back Making a splash Celine Liu ’29 Oct 3, 2025 Last Saturday during Family and Alumni Weekend, the Blue Storm swim team held its annual intrasquad Blue/White Meet, an important, formative step for the team to integrate its many new members and build Mercersburg spirit. “It is certainly valuable anytime they get a chance to race competitively. It is a big part of team-building to prepare for the official start of the season,” said Head Coach Matt Hurst. “Today, the effort and energy were great, and they know each other’s names, as silly as that sounds, and they were legitimately cheering for their future teammates. There’s a healthy respect there.” “With the new students, we’ve focused on a lot of team-bonding activities in preseason—both in and out of the pool,” said Sophie Koroma ‘26. “We played different land sports, [there was] cheering, banner-making, some trivia and brain teasers… so we know our teams when it comes down to the meet…. We tally points throughout the course of the three weeks and ultimately have a winner.” Hurst sees this meet as an ideal starting point for the season overall. He explained, “From a depth perspective, I think we're stronger than we were last year. And from a talent perspective, our younger kids are a year older and more developed. And then again, our older athletes, our postgraduates, add an element of historical competition that is really going to bolster the roster in terms of excitement for our athletes’ performance this year. I think we’re in a good spot.” Early on in the season, dry land and pool practices have been dedicated to building a great technical foundation. The team has been focusing on developing well-rounded athletes in all four strokes, as later on they will focus on improving the one or two strokes they specialize in for their individual races in championship meets. The team has been training specific techniques, including underwater kicking. Xiomara Del Roasario ‘26 added, “ [It] accounts for 60 percent of any race. We're allowed to go fifteen meters underwater, so it's a huge component of racing in a 25-yard pool. We train with [Strength] Coach [Brian] Canida in the weight room three to four times a week to make sure we have good fundamental movement patterns, so that over the course of a long season, we can limit or eliminate our injuries due to physical strength.” Returning swimmers are already demonstrating excitement for the upcoming competitive season, especially with the school’s hosting of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship this year. Matt Krause ’26 explained, “We finished really well as a program last year [winning] the overall championship at Easterns. We knew we had a strong team coming back, and we’ve had some good additions through admissions and our postgraduate program with the Naval Academy.” The team now shifts from internal rivalry to external competition. With a reinforced roster and shared commitment to training, Mercersburg’s swimmers are prepared to bring their early-season energy into future successes in the winter. Previous Next

Maggie coors '25 and Tristan Paulette '27 < Back Five things you did last week Maggie coors '25 and Tristan Paulette '27 Apr 4, 2025 Disclaimer: Satire edition Last week Head of School Quentin McDowell P’25, P’27, P’33 sent an email to every Mercersburg student with the subject line, “5 Productive Things You Did Last Week,” followed by six more emails over the course of the next week reminding students to “PLEASE fill out the Google form!!!” Accompanying this demand were several images of students frolicking on the quad and playing shirtless Spike Ball—labeled with captions such as: “Mercersburg Academy students have TOO much free time!” In a closed faculty meeting—justified by the disappointing responses he received— McDowell proclaimed, “We have not had an efficient year at Mercersburg. Too many students have written that they simply ‘played Wordle,’ ‘read my endless emails,’ or ‘texted my mom in class.’ Not acceptable.” On April 4, 2025, at 3:47 AM, McDowell announced via email the first-ever Negative Head’s Holiday, intended to increase “classroom efficiency.” McDowell stated, “DOME [Department of Mercersburg Efficiency] has conducted an audit, finding unsatisfactory reports in every class, with the exception of AS: Chemistry and AS: Calculus BC. Because of this, we will be having a full day of class this Saturday to make up for wasted time.” DOME, also known as the ThunderDOMETM after the Academy’s “beloved” mascot, was launched in 2025 as a project to save Mercersburg’s plummeting ranking among top boarding schools in the United States. The agency quickly gained notoriety for its bold initiatives, including phone pockets and the new schedule which defied the English alphabet. These past atrocities pale in comparison to the Negative Head’s Holiday, which Olivia Glick ‘25 and Yael Hochberg ’25 described as “either groundbreaking educational reform or the opening scene of a dystopian YA novel.” To combat the rampant leisure epidemic on campus and make the day as efficient as possible, the Office of Student Life swiftly mobilized a squad of covert agents—aka Storm Spies—trained in the art of yelling through megaphones and judgemental clipboard holding to monitor their peers for signs of inefficiency during the Negative Head’s Holiday. One spy, Crystal Chiu ’25, broke her cover to admit, “I only did it for my college applications.” It is also rumored that the squirrels may have been in on the operation as they were seen supervising students from inside of trash cans, tiny GoPros attached to their little heads.. As students arrived in class Saturday morning, the effects of Negative Head’s Holiday were immediately apparent. Students were forbidden from asking “off-topic” questions, such as “Can you repeat that?” as these queries were deemed “interruptions to streamlined knowledge absorption” by Academic Dean Jen Smith ’97, P’23, P’24. Manika Dalai ’26, said, “Do you know what it’s like to be in class with Dave Holzworth for 75 minutes and not be allowed to interrupt him? His tangents had tangents.” If a student so much as glanced out the window or at a clock, an automated message from InformaCast stating “MBURG: Inefficient learning alert!” would appear on every screen in the vicinity. Meanwhile, the few brave souls who dared to whisper to a classmate were swiftly apprehended by Storm Spies and escorted out of the room. Rescued student Collin Jin ’25, recounted, “One second, I was asking to borrow a pencil, and the next, I was strapped to the back of Andy Brown’s golf cart speeding toward an unknown fate.” In addition, the entire school was required to attend two extra X-Block, described as “the best possible use of our community time.” Faced with unprecedented levels of forced productivity, students were quick to act in organizing a resistance. By lunch time, protestors—mainly consisting of depressed, over caffeinated seniors who barely even go to class on weekdays—voiced opinions held by the majority of the student body. Leading the charge was Frank Bonsal ’25, who was seen delivering impassioned speeches atop overturned recycling bins, calling for “the return of naps, free will, and the sacred tradition of procrastination!” History teacher Allison Stephens was seen cheering on the protestors. As the rebellion reached its peak, the administration realized they had gravely underestimated the student body's commitment to doing absolutely nothing. In a last-ditch effort to restore order, McDowell attempted to deploy the Storm Spies for one final crackdown—only to discover that the spies had all defected to slack off at One North and that Brown’s golf cart had been repurposed into a escape vehicle shuttling students to the Enchanted Forest. Finally, at 7:42 PM, a defeated McDowell sent one last email: “You win. School is canceled on Sunday. But don’t think this is over.” The students, naturally, ignored this ominous warning and celebrated by immediately resuming their most cherished activities—scrolling TikTok and tanning on Tippetts Beach. Previous Previous Next Next

Chloe Allis ’25 < Back Way off course! Chloe Allis ’25 Sep 29, 2023 Recently, two flamingos arrived in Franklin County. This is part of a larger surge of these southern birds to many northern states. Since Hurricane Idalia three weeks ago, American Flamingos have been found in ten states where they aren’t normally found. Many people wonder whether the two pink birds are mates, a mother and her young, or simply two unrelated flamingos—or “mangoes,” as Associate Dean of Students Coleman Weibley’s daughters call them. The flamingos currently reside in Long Lane Pond in St. Thomas, ten miles from Mercersburg. The strong winds and rain that hit northern Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States during Hurricane Idalia pushed the birds north. “I think it’s scary that a hurricane pushed these flamingos all the way up from the Caribbean,” said Devin Rotz ’25. Rotz, a local resident, has been keeping up with all of the news surrounding the flamingos on various community forums. “These birds aren’t native to anywhere around here, so that’s even more crazy,” said Rotz. Many Mercersburg Academy community members decided to visit Long Lane Pond to see the flamingos in person. Information Systems Administrator Will Dupuis has made an effort to pass by them every day on the way to work just to check up on them. “It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty unusual to see pink birds in Pennsylvania, especially big pink birds like flamingos,” said Dupuis. On one of his visits, Dupuis, a wildlife photographer, took photos of the flamingos on the water. How are these birds adapting to the Pennsylvanian wild? Well, a snapping turtle bit one of the flamingos a few days ago. The flamingo was in fairly poor condition and was then transferred to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC), where it received adequate medical care. The RRWC has received daily shipments of various flamingo foods and dietary supplements, and the flamingo can now walk on its own. It is expected that the flamingo will make a full recovery. The other flamingo has remained untouched so far, but the RRWC is on standby in case of any needed assistance. Once healthy, both flamingos are expected to depart Franklin County by transport and make the trip back to Florida, where they belong. Previous Previous Next Next

Kate Sui ’29 < Back Erin McHugh Kate Sui ’29 Oct 3, 2025 Erin McHugh, originally from New York, previously worked at Chatham Hall, a girls boarding school in Virginia and has extensive experience in college admissions. Seeking both a new challenge and the opportunity to contribute to a school known for its academic excellence and international community, McHugh brings a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspective to Mercersburg. McHugh shared, “I’m impressed by how focused and driven the students are here. They really push themselves to achieve their goal, and the faculty here is equally dedicated to helping these students.” She described the school as feeling like home, saying, “Both the faculty and the students make this place enjoyable and welcoming.” As Mchugh settles in, she is eager to learn more about the community to better serve the students. “My goal is to get to know the seniors this year well and, over time, connect with all students, especially ones in younger year groups to help them find the best college fit,” she explained. With expertise in college admissions, a passion for guiding young people, and international experience, McHugh is excited to help students get ready for college and live their best lives for their next step ahead. Beyond her professional work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and music. Previous Previous Next Next