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Sports Sports Nov 14, 2025 Swim team makes a splash William Luo ’27 Read More Nov 14, 2025 Heartfelt finish for the storm Sheily Ramirez ’28 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Golf wraps up season Deetya Tandon ’29 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Soccer triumphs over Hill Revant Jear’28 Read More Oct 31, 2025 Light it up! Ally Synder & Riley Choi ’28 Read More Oct 17, 2025 In pink and fired up Revant Jear ’28 Read More Oct 17, 2025 Fighting until the end Sheily Ramirez ’28 Read More Oct 10, 2025 Close call for Blue Storm Kaden Yang ‘29 Read More Oct 10, 2025 Storm swings to victory Eric Wang ’27 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Leaving them in the dust Sophie Han ’27 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Making a splash Celine Liu ’29 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Storm golf swings to victory Ethan Shi ’28 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Field hockey shows spirit Shubhlean Kaur ’27 Read More Sep 19, 2025 Soccer white-out energy Ally Snyder '28 Read More Sep 12, 2025 New squash courts in play Simon Brennan '26 Read More Sep 12, 2025 Blue Storm trains early and often Mingyu Lee '28 Read More May 16, 2025 Mercersburg plays for Lauren Grady Anouk Wandeler ’26 Read More May 16, 2025 Last laps at home Ally Snyder ’28 Read More May 9, 2025 Golf swings against cancer! Bauhinia Chen '27 Read More May 9, 2025 Legacy lives on at Penn Relays Simon Brennan '26 Read More

< Back National Guard...for what? November 14, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM Belle Cleveland ’28 Why is the National Guard in Washington, DC? In this article, I will not be answering the question posed by the title, because there is no reason for the National Guard to be in DC. There are cities with higher crime rates than DC that should be focused on instead. If President Trump actually wanted to help the city, he would try to lessen the poverty divide between the west and east of the Anacostia River. Some of you may be thinking, “What even is the National Guard?” This is a fair question. The National Guard is part of the U.S. military and typically answers to state governors, but because DC is not a state, it reports to the President. Their job is to help during state-level emergencies, such as natural disasters or public health crises. DC has around 2,400 members in its National Guard. The National Guard differs from other components of the U.S. military because it can serve as a domestic law enforcement force. As mentioned, the DC National Guard has around 2,400 members. This would be enough people to station around the city, but President Trump insisted that more were needed. At least eight states sent members of their National Guard forces to “keep DC safe.” These states are West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. At least 5 out of these 7 states have cities with higher crime rates than DC. These cities are Memphis, Tennessee; Shreveport, Louisiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and Charleston, West Virginia. In the year 2024, DC’s violent crime rate, which includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, per 100,000 residents, was 913.6. All of the aforementioned cities had violent crime rates higher than DC in that year, with Memphis having the highest at 2,500 violent crimes per 100,000, to Shreveport having the lowest with 1,200 violent crimes per 100,000. Why would the National Guard come from states with cities that have higher crime rates than DC? I f President Trump wanted to help the city, he would take action to lessen the poverty divide between East and West of the Anacostia River. DC is split up into 8 Wards. The Wards that are considered West of the Anacostia are Wards 1 through 6. The ones east of the Anacostia River are Wards 7 and 8. From 2018 to 2022, the average household income in Wards 1-6 is $171,058, with the highest in Ward 3, at $223,149. All average incomes for Wards 1-6 are in the six-digit numbers. In Wards 7 and 8, the average household income is $83,405, with Ward 8 having the lowest at $77,639. Although this household income is nothing to scoff at, you have to remember that DC is one of the most expensive cities in the nation. You need to be making around $78,980 to afford the necessities such as food, water, and shelter. Also, this average household income does not account for the people experiencing homelessness in these cities, which is around 73 people per 10,000. By comparison, New York has about 52 homeless people per 10,000 people. From these numbers, you can see a clear divide between the two parts of the city. President Trump could help bridge this divide by creating affordable housing, improving public schools in Wards 7 and 8, and investing in further development in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia. Previous Next

Opinions Nov 14, 2025 National Guard...for what? Belle Cleveland ’28 Read More Nov 14, 2025 Dreamy revolution Michelle Zhang ’28 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Elected by default Amara Okoye ’29 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Cram week chronicles Eathan Shi ’27 Read More Oct 31, 2025 Viva la cultura! Alle Garza ’27 Read More Oct 31, 2025 Travel un-graded William Shen ’27 Read More Oct 17, 2025 The tragedy of knowing Audrey Hua ’26 Read More Oct 17, 2025 Homie roomie Kaden Yang ’29 Read More Oct 10, 2025 While we wait to eat Riley Choi ’28 Read More Oct 10, 2025 Talent on hold Ally Snyder ’28 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Lost in the flip Riley Choi ’28 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Critically low thinking Annie Mohr ’26 Read More Sep 26, 2025 The dessert desert Alice Yoo ’27 Read More Sep 26, 2025 More than fair William Luo ’28 Read More Sep 19, 2025 Pocketing distractions Jiwon Chung ’28 Read More Sep 12, 2025 School spirit By Cole Piraino ’26 Read More Sep 12, 2025 It’s time to be chalant By Audrey Hua ’26 Read More May 16, 2025 The Ivy ceiling Justin Oh ’25 Read More May 16, 2025 Beyond intensives Maddie Weiss ’25 Read More May 9, 2025 The kin-nection Jack Pollinger '26 Read More

< Back Dreamy revolution November 14, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM Michelle Zhang ’28 For too long, classroom nappers have been marginalized, scolded, and falsely labeled as lazy. Every day, countless students face unjust persecution for one simple act: resting their eyes in class. They are rudely awakened, exiled to the hallway, or told to “get some water,” as if hydration were a cure for exhaustion. Yet sleeping in class isn’t laziness—it’s an advanced academic and wellness strategy society has simply failed to recognize. Recent “research” overwhelmingly supports the science of subconscious learning that occurs when one’s eyes are closed. New studies suggest that sleeping helps students absorb information through a process called “osmosis of the mind.” This is a phenomenon in which knowledge continues to diffuse even in a state of deep sleep – the ultimate form of multitasking. A 2023 Harvard-adjacent study (conducted in my dreams) found that students who rested their eyes during lectures retained new information 67% more effectively than their perpetually alert peers. J ust as computers require periods of recharging while working, students, too, must occasionally enter sleep mode for optimal academic performance. Computers outperform human brains by roughly ten millionfold in data processing and calculation – an inequity clearly skewed by the fact that machines receive the consistent rest they need to recharge. If students were afforded the same luxury, it is entirely plausible that their cognitive efficiency would improve dramatically. After all, we don’t shame computers for charging – why shame students for doing the same? Some may object, claiming that nighttime sleep is sufficient for learning and cognitive restoration. This argument fails to account for the nuances of human circadian rhythms and ultradian cycles. Night sleep primarily serves long-term restorative functions, whereas short, strategically timed daytime naps improve immediate alertness, attention, memory consolidation, and problem-solving ability. A well-executed 67-minute nap during class aligns with natural brain cycles, enhancing receptivity to new information to a degree that night sleep alone cannot achieve. I n the wake of a global pandemic and the relentless rise of social media, rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout have spiked. We now inhabit a culture that glorifies “grind” and “hustle” at the expense of human rest. In a world obsessed with productivity, napping in class transcends mere fatigue; it becomes a quiet form of rebellion – the radical form of self-care in an overstressed academic world. Taking a nap is the ultimate exercise of free will, the epitome of self-respect: a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos of the modern world for a brief moment of peace. Furthermore, external pressures often prevent students from attaining adequate restorative rest at night. In this context, classroom naps are not optional indulgences, but necessary corrective measures for an overstimulated generation. Daytime sleep ensures that students can meet the cognitive demands of rigorous academic environments without succumbing to burnout. Mercersburg Academy promotes wellness, yet discourages classroom rest in practice. Those courageous enough to close their eyes in defiance are, thus, mental health pioneers. Beyond the psychological benefits, classroom sleep also functions as a long-term investment in productivity, heightening focus and cognitive performance in the hours that follow. Historical precedent supports this claim. Eminent thinkers and great leaders, from Leonardo da Vinci to Winston Churchill, utilized structured daytime naps to maximize creativity and productivity. Nighttime sleep alone was never sufficient to fuel their intellectual output. By following in their footsteps, students today continue a long tradition of optimizing human performance through strategic rest. Perhaps the problem isn’t students who sleep, but a system that doesn’t allow students to rest. Let us begin an earnest conversation about institutionalizing in-class naps. If we normalized naps, participation, and morale would likely soar. After all, nothing inspires a good discussion like a nice, shared experience. Next time you see a classmate closing their eyes, don’t wake them—thank them. They are not disengaged, but ahead of their time. One day, when sleeping is recognized as the peak of academic success, we’ll remember the brave ones who dared to dream—literally. 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

William Luo ‘27 < Back Clothing & communing William Luo ‘27 May 16, 2025 The Community Closet opened to all students on Thursday, April 24, during Help Block and continues to be available every Thursday in May. Originally, the space was created to support students who might not have access to the clothing they need for formal dinners or even school day dress. It has already proven to be a hit, attracting many students. At the end of each school year, Mercersburg Academy hosts the Cheap Thrills Sale, to which students, faculty, and staff donate unwanted items. These items are then sold at low prices to the community, and unsold items are moved to the Community Closet. “[The idea] came from Renata Williams, our director of DEI last year,” Emily Parsons, Director of Experiential Education. “She left in the middle of the year. So she had this idea, and then it sort of turned into this small faculty group.” Initially, the Community Closet didn’t attract much attention. “Nobody knows about it. Nobody uses it,” said Lisa Wei ’26, one of the student organizers. Recognizing student interest in free clothing, Parsons and the faculty group decided to expand access. “Over the course of this year, we've kind of realized that more students just want to have that experience and have access to free clothes,” Parsons said. “So we decided to open it up to everybody these Thursdays in May to see how it goes while also making sure that the students who need it can have access to it.” To get the project running, Parsons reached out to Community Engagement interns Wei and Reese Alter ’26. They sorted through donations with a student perspective in mind. “We unloaded a bunch of clothing donations from the bag, and then we sorted them into things that should just be donated to Goodwill,” said Alter, “and then things that we think students here would actually wear or maybe faculty. Then we put them up on the shelves in hangers.” The response has been overwhelmingly positive. “I was surprised at how many students showed up,” said Wei. “On the first Thursday that we operated, a lot of people showed up, and people even found me and Reese asking when it would open again. And then next week, there were even more people.” Students reported finding a wide variety of clothing. “It was really exciting because I found a shirt which was the same shirt that I was wearing, just in a different color, and I was very excited, and it was a very good find,” said Ally Snyder ’28. She added, “My eyes sparkled as I entered the room of paradise… So many fire pieces… I love it.” “I think this is a really good idea to just give out clothes for free… because it makes student[s], feel like they bought clothes in a shop, but, actually, we didn't spend money,” Riley Choi ’28 said. Maintaining the space is an ongoing effort. “You have to keep organizing it,” said Wei. “So Ms. Parsons, Reese, and I are thinking about trying to work on organizing and unloading clothes every Monday during PGA time.” After their initial success, the team is looking toward the future. “How do we keep interest and keep the inventory kind of interesting, keep kids wanting to go up there if there might be some new things?” said Parsons. “I think we have to figure that out and make sure that we're rotating things in and out too with the seasons.” As the Closet’s popularity grows, so does the hope that it becomes a lasting part of campus life. “I hope that in the future, people can continue what Reese and I have been working on,” said Wei. “I hope that future community engagement interns and just people who want to help out would be able to expand this project to help more people in our community.” Previous Previous Next Next

Ben Pham '27 < Back Buzzing with excitement: Del Toro returns Ben Pham '27 Last weekend, Mercersburg Academy buzzed with excitement as Academy Award-winning actor Benicio del Toro ’85 returned to his alma mater. Best known for his iconic roles in Traffic, The Usual Suspects, and Sicario , del Toro brought personal stories and thoughtful advice to campus for current students. Del Toro shared candid reflections, saying, “For every success you see, there [are] so many rejections and doubts. To survive all that, I think I developed short-term memory—because you have to turn the page and move on.” Originally a business major at the University of California-San Diego, del Toro enrolled in an acting class because it seemed “easy.” Instead, that class sparked a lifelong passion for acting that would shape his life and career. Returning to campus, del Toro reflected on Mercersburg's impact on his journey: “[While] I’m looking at the campus, and I'm looking at this ecosystem where I grew up, I thought about myself here. Because of Mercersburg, I got the tools to become an individual—[to] have my own thoughts, my own ideas—and later, when I left Mercersburg, everything came into place.” Science teacher Jim Malone coached del Toro on the varsity basketball team during his time at the Academy. Malone recalled the actor’s days as a student-athlete: “He was a real leader. He was a happy kid. He was a fun kid. He was a responsible kid. I coached him in basketball, and his senior year he was team captain—he led the team on the scoresheet and in the lockers. [He was] a great student of the game.” Regarding del Toro’s most recent return to Mercersburg, Malone said, “He's stayed in touch. I’m always delighted to spend a few minutes with him when he's here.” Del Toro’s visit extended beyond being interviewed by school archivist and Film Studies teacher Doug Smith, with a special screening of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , a film featuring fellow Academy Award winner and Mercersburg alumnus Jimmy Stewart ’28, followed by a Q&A session. The movie was appreciated by the Mercersburg community. Shine Jo ’25 said, “I love the movie. I feel like his expressions are just priceless. You can't have that good of an expression Jimmy Stewart has, and even though the movie is black and white, it still had so many emotions and colors. Benicio and I talked about the hat, which meant a lot in that movie, representing his whole emotional journey throughout the movie.” Many students were left with lasting impressions and lessons learned. Maddie Weiss ’25, who interviewed del Toro for her senior capstone project, said, “He said some really insightful things. He constantly said throughout that he always loves an underdog. I think the film he showed really reflected his humbleness and how down-to-earth he is.” His presence was also felt through more personal interactions throughout the day. Director of Capstones JD Bennett stated, “What I've enjoyed the most is watching him interact with students. He's been so patient and so gracious; he must have posed for 500 photos today. He was signing autographs when he met with Stoney Batter. How engaged he's been with everyone has made the day feel really inclusive.” Jo added, “I'm going to a big college, and he also gave me a lot of advice on how to meet people, and that it's okay to be alone sometimes, just not lonely. It was a lot of life advice, especially from someone so experienced.” Weiss echoed the sentiment: “As someone who's going to NYU Tisch next year and studying at the same studio he did [the Stella Adler Studio], what he told me about his experience there just makes me even more excited.” Previous Next

< Back Religious contempt October 6, 2023 at 4:00:00 PM Max Friedman '25 In the classroom and around campus, religion is often addressed in a condescending, disdainful manner. On one hand, Mercersburg does a phenomenal job of providing religious students with the resources required to practice in their faith traditions, and the school goes out of its way to ensure that students can attend services for major holidays, adhere to religious diets, and be openly religious in the community. If a student desires to worship off campus, they can request and receive transportation provided by the school, or they can have special religious dinners prepared for them by the dining hall. In larger community-wide religious events, like Ramadan, the school goes out of its way to facilitate the needs of each individual independent of their practices. However, in the academic setting, religious students often feel patronized when their religions are brought up in class or by peers. In the school’s secular, left-leaning environment, religion is often viewed and treated as a historical artifact, rather than an actual vibrant presence on campus. From my experience, I’ve seen religion cast as repressive, malignant, and freedom-denying, while on most occasions, it isn’t. In history classes, students are taught origins of religions that often directly contradict sacred scriptures, and rarely are theological origins presented alongside these secular beliefs. While my intention is not to say that we should be hosting Bible or Torah study, it is known that much of Enlightenment philosophy and many of the governmental and political systems of our day were influenced by religions. From my experience in MAPS, where philosophy is discussed and dissected, religion has often been considered as a sort of antichrist to the progressive stance taken on the readings. All around campus, we inadvertently ignore the upsides and benefits that religion has brought to society, and we instead define religion solely by its most extreme parts. Students of all religions are subject to uncomfortable situations where peers ridicule their religious beliefs, be it directly, through jokes or through subtle but hurtful comments by both teachers and students about how dated and useless religion may be. If the opposite occurred, where a religious student criticized a secular student for their beliefs, it would be considered bullying. We have a stigma against religion as a school, and religious students are subject to a social double standard, almost as if their beliefs are viewed as being baseless and unjustified, somehow making them less important. Religion is a personal part of an individual’s identity. We shouldn’t stigmatize religious practice, but rather accept it on campus like we accept race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Previous Next

Andrew Lebowitz '24 < Back Judge John Jones Andrew Lebowitz '24 On Friday, September 16, 2022, the Mercersburg community witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event: the installation of Quentin McDowell as the school’s eighth head of school. Students, faculty, staff, parents, and members of the Board of Regents were introduced to the ceremony’s main speaker, Hon. John Jones ‘73. Since graduating from Mercersburg, Jones has attended Dickinson-Law School and been named one of its “top 25 most influential graduates.” In 2002, Jones was appointed by President George Bush to be the District Judge for the middle district of PA. Jones has spoken on two other occasions at Mercersburg Academy, once at commencement in 2006 and next as the 2009 Cum Laude speaker. For the Induction, Judge Jones was an extremely easy pick. “Judge Jones is an exceptionally dedicated and decorated Mercersburg Academy alum that I have known for many years,” says McDowell. “He has served as an important mentor for me during my time here, particularly as I moved into elevated administrative roles. Judge Jones is also in academia himself as the newly appointed president of Dickinson College, which only added to the appeal of having him speak at this important ceremony for our school.” Board of Regents member Tom Hadzor ‘72, who introduced Jones at the installation, said “A federal judge hopes to have one monumental case during his or her tenure, John had two.” Jones was the deciding judge for Blair v. Shippensburg , a case in which a student sued the school to stop enforcing a speech code. He ruled in favor of the student and issued an order for less restriction of free speech. Another important ruling was Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District , in which Jones sided against the school boards required teaching of “intelligent design” in the Dover public school, calling it an unconstitutional breach of the establishment clause. Lastly, in Whitewood v. Wolf , Jones reversed Pennsylvania’s legislative prohibition of same-sex marriage. During his speech, Jones praised McDowell: “Quentin brings humility, joy and an essential optimism to everything he does. It is those who lead with passion, sincerity, and focus who will achieve greatness, Quentin McDowell my friend, possesses these traits in abundance.” With the final words of his speech, Jones celebrated the new head of school and looked towards the future: “Let me echo the high praise from Quentin's former boss and predecessor now. Our new head of school has all the tools that will lead him to greatness as Mercersburg's eighth head of school. I cannot wait to see all the success that he achieves in the years ahead as well as the impact he will have on so many of you and so many young lives. Those who attend this phenomenal school will have the great good fortune to experience an exemplary role model and truly inspirational leader. Congratulations and Godspeed my friend.” “I thought Judge Jones did a wonderful job with his remarks and, if I had to pick what I thought was the most impactful, I would say that I greatly appreciated the way he wove the history and historical figures of Mercersburg Academy into his speech. The acknowledgment of the dedication and determination of those that have come before us is really important to me” stated McDowell. Emma Dilalla ‘24 said “He projected a lot of love for McDowell and for the school. Judge Jones knew five out of the eight heads of schools, and he believed McDowell fit the characteristics of all of them.” History department chair Allison Stephens’ Advanced Studies: United States History class had the chance to hear Jones’ thoughts on democracy prior to his address to the school. “He explained his overall career. This made me develop a further understanding of the legislative branch and the balances the system holds. What stood out most to me was his approach on how people latch onto public opinion too easily. It worried him how many people follow different political types without further questioning,” says Ruby Shang ‘24. “It was important to me to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with Judge Jones,” said Stephens. “The students are just now starting to learn the principles of the constitution and the reasoning behind its structure. In this hyper political time, having Jones talk about the need for non-partisanship on the bench was particularly salient. I hope that we will be able to have him return to campus later in the year.” Previous Next

Sophie Han ‘27 < Back MAPL Champions and Runners Up Sophie Han ‘27 Nov 8, 2024 Last Saturday, the girls and boys cross country teams competed in their respective MAPL championship races on Mercersburg’s home course, delivering impressive performances. “We are very excited for the girls team,” captains Anne Sehon ’25 and Linden Wallace ’25 said prior to the race. “It’s understandable how nerve-wracking it can all be with us talking about this meet every day, but we are both very proud of what the team has done, and we look forward to what we are capable of this weekend.” Madeline Chu ’27 added, “Our captains and teammates have always made the team a big family to everyone, and although that sounds cliché, it really is a team of hard-working student-athletes.” Gabriella Cechini ’28 shared her preparations in the days leading to the meet. “Coach Cunningham and Coach Bright helped and coached us to learn so many things throughout this season, such as running hills and positively competing.” Ella Blanco ’26 added, “Besides tapering a bit more, we reinforced normalcy — treating this championship mentally and physically like any other meet we have done.” Christopher Bright, the assistant coach of the girls team, emphasized, “We want them to feel that this meet is not much different than any other meet.” On the boys’ side, team captain Winston Watkins ’25 expressed confidence in his team’s abilities. “From the four years of experience I have had until now, I can say from our performances throughout the season that this is the best team we ever had. We are very excited and prepared for MAPLs this weekend.” Indeed, the boys team was hard at work. “We have been practicing a lot of hard sets and speed work, “said Joseph Cechini ’28. “But the great thing is that this meet is hosted at home, so we are already very familiar with its courses.” Assistant coach Rich Heffron noted, “Due to some scheduling adjustments, we have had two more weeks for structuring and conditioning than in previous years. This gave us the perfect time for our team to rest and get ready to run fast.” Imangali Zhakan ’26 said, “I know we will all be trying our best collectively to win this race, not just for each other but also for our coaches.” Meanwhile, Ryan Du Plessis ’25 offered a different perspective. “We all want to win, and while our team is undeniably looking exceptional this year, there’s no doubt that Lawrenceville and The Hill School are both looking great, too. That said, I think our goal is to try our best, run personal records, and have fun.” When race day ended, the varsity girls team had claimed first place, with Gabriella Cechini securing the individual gold. The varsity boys team came in second, finishing merely three points behind the Lawrenceville School, with Joseph Cechini placing second overall. Reflecting on their victory, girls team head coach Betsy Cunningham said, “It is the second time the girls cross country team has won since we joined the MAPL. It’s so exciting and such a tribute to the leadership by Anne Sehon and Linden Wallace of this team. This is such a wonderful team in so many ways and winning the MAPL felt like a wonderful validation to the hard work done each day by this team.” Boys team head coach David Grady described his mixed feelings. “I was really hoping the boys would pull it off because they have worked so hard throughout the season to be ready for this race. However, it’s hard to be disappointed when every runner went out and had a great race. For each runner to have their best race is precisely what you want to do in your league championship. ” Previous Next

Judy Ma '27 with Lisa Wei '26 and Tahir Hasanov '25 < Back S(ee)YA later! Judy Ma '27 with Lisa Wei '26 and Tahir Hasanov '25 Apr 12, 2024 The School Year Abroad program allows a select group of students to spend a full academic year studying in another country. Depending on their respective language studies, students can go to a variety of countries in Europe. Ben McNeil, Language Department Head, stated, “Our students from Mercersburg Academy have studied in Rennes, France; Zaragoza, Spain; Viterbo, Italy.” Students from boarding schools across the United States join those from Mercersburg at their respective sites. While spending time learning in another country, students live with host families or in dormitories to gain direct language experience through study, travel, and daily life. McNeil commented, “It is incredibly transformative. Oddly when you put yourself in such a vulnerable and safely uncomfortable situation, you gain incredible confidence. You gain friends and family in another country. You come back home with robust communication skills in a second language. You prove that you are capable of taking on challenging situations.” Each year, several students apply to do a school year abroad. Malaika Mankey-Akogbeto ‘26 is traveling to France next year. Akogbeto stated, “The environment and the community seemed very welcoming. Although I haven’t been there yet, the emails are all really nice and I have these Zoom calls with my class, and so it seems nice so far.” This current year, students are studying in France, Spain, and Italy. Among them is Reagan Houpt ‘25 in Viterbo, Italy. “I will say the most memorable part is the trips I’ve taken with my friends; however, even the mundane is memorable. Every evening I spend doing homework next to my host mother on the couch while we chat is memorable. Every walk to school in the medieval city I live in is memorable. It feels like I’ve lived here for years, because my experience has been filled with the richest of memories,” he said. He reported further, “My experience at School Year Abroad has been life-changing, amazing, and insightful. Every day I am grateful for the opportunity to be where I am and to do the things I am doing. I have no regrets. I have learned so incredibly much this year — about Italian culture, the Italian language, and other interests I have dived into, but also about myself. I have learned what I’m passionate about, the types of people I want to surround myself with, how to handle stressful and confusing situations, to not take myself so seriously, and countless other lessons that I intend to carry with me for the rest of my life.” After students finish the year or semester, eleventh-grade students return to Mercersburg to continue their usual studies, while seniors go straight on to college. Houpt hopes that other Mercersburg students will take advantage of the incredible opportunity. “My best advice as you have a few months in advance to leaving: if you have a question or curiosity, follow it. Research what intrigues you about your upcoming journey. Also, reach out to others! With social media, it is so easy to find and contact the others that you will share this experience with. It may help ease some nerves to talk with people before you leave and plant the seeds of a great friendship.” Students can attest that these SYA programs offer a variety of benefits and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Previous Previous Next Next

Paris Zhang '27 < Back Weathering winter disruptions Paris Zhang '27 Coinciding with the scheduled return to school on January 7, 2025, a snowstorm swept across the country with Mercersburg in its direct path. Additionally, just before the snowstorm’s arrival, the town of Mercersburg experienced a serious power outage that took out power and water for days in different buildings on campus. As a result, students, faculty, and staff had to adjust to the unforeseen weather conditions. “One of the hardest parts of this snowstorm is that it comes the day after we just had a massive power outage that took out many of the electrical systems across campus,” said Head of School, Quentin McDowell. Andy Brown, the Dean of Students, explained that the power outage resulted from an issue with the “electrical source off-campus.” “Unfortunately, that had some consequences as far as sending too much voltage through the lines, which impacted some of our systems on campus and our off-campus housing for faculty. So we had some faculty members without heat or briefly without water,” Brown noted. Leah Long ‘96, Latin and Art History teacher living in faculty housing, said, “We got really lucky and didn’t have any electricity or heat problems.” Unfortunately, this was not the case for all. For students, the main challenge was returning to campus safely, as many flights, both nationally and internationally, were delayed or canceled due to the heavy snow. According to Lena Wilke ’27, “I had to fly back to school on Sunday, even though classes started on Tuesday, because my flight got canceled for Monday. We thought the other flight on Tuesday would be canceled, so I woke up at 3:30 in the morning on Sunday, which was literally awful. There was no other flight, all because of the snowstorm, and it didn’t even snow that much.” Similarly, Eric Cittadine ’26 said, “My flight got canceled, so I came a little bit late, and I missed classes.” Other students who had to travel internationally, like Luana Colell Navarro ’27, said, “Because of the snowstorm, I stayed in Spain for three days. My flight got canceled. I just got here on Thursday. My schedule changed a lot because of it too.” McDowell recognized the challenges: “I think anytime you have a weather event, there are so many things that go into planning for that. This particular weather event happened to coincide with the return to school, so it becomes much more complicated, meaning that we have to think about transportation, making rearrangements, and trying to open dorms early for those who try to get here before the storm starts.” Even though the situation was complicated, the school was able to make transportation arrangements to assist. Brown said, “I was very thankful for Ms. Ecton and everyone in our office for assisting in student arrivals based on any delays or cancellations due to the flights and changes caused by the weather.” Apart from transportation obstacles, the power outage that shut down Irvine Hall—where math, science, and language classes take place—also prompted changes in the school schedule. Classes had to be relocated to spaces ranging from the Irvine Memorial Chapel classroom to the Aquatic Center classroom. “I had to walk in the cold at 8:40 in the morning in 16-degree weather to the pool. I had to do honors chemistry class in the lobby of the Aquatic Center, which was really odd. Very weird learning environment. The Irvine shutdown had a really big impact, making me walk extra distances in the cold weather,” Wilke said. Reflecting on the decision, McDowell said, “You only have your own perspective, so I think you make the best decision you can in the moment with the information you have. It's easy to look back and say, ‘Oh, you know, we could have delayed the start of school. We could have been a bit more flexible with the schedule.’” Wilke agreed: “There's not much they could do about the weather. There's not much they could do about Irvine shutting down. When it comes to classes, I feel like Tuesday should have been a half-day, or classes should have started on Wednesday. Because so many people weren’t here, I would have traveled on Tuesday if there were no classes or if it was a half-day. I just didn’t want to miss a whole day of classes. They should have done better scheduling.” The main reason Mercersburg Academy kept its original schedule, according to McDowell, “was to create some normalcy, to have kids back in the class, and get them to do the normal things that we do at school. Therefore, we didn’t just have a bunch of students who came back and then had to sit around waiting for school to restart. I’m happy with the way we approached this particular storm, given all the circumstances. We’ll always stop and say, ‘How can we approach things differently?’” Despite various difficulties, students could walk on safe, snow-free roads, attend their lessons, and enjoy the new dining hall food. A large part of that effort was attributed to the academy’s staff. “We have a fantastic building and grounds crew that keeps all the paths and roads clear and safe for us,” Brown said. “All of our snow crew are here at 5:30 or 6 o’clock in the morning to start plowing roads, salting, and doing all the things they need to do. They even prepared the campus before the weekend started, knowing the snow was coming. But the weather can be really hard to navigate, right? I guess it’s really unpredictable,” McDowell stated. Mercersburg Academy’s new catering company, FLIK Independent School Dining, according to Brown, “was able to make all this change in the midst of a snowstorm. We were super thankful for FLIK.” Reflecting on these events, McDowell said, “I’m always grateful to our community when we have something external that disrupts or interrupts the flow of our community and school day, whether it's a power outage or a snowstorm. I'm always amazed and impressed at how well our students and our adults adjust and try to make the best of it. And I think that’s really what life looks like, right? Making the best out of difficult situations.” Previous Next