DEFINITION
Chuck (noun) - An involved, dedicated, and enthusiastic student, friend, and leader. Synonyms: actor, athlete, scholar, musician, diplomat; Antonyms: singer, dancer, painter, pessimist.

QUESTIONS
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m taking a gap year in England at Oswestry, one of the two oldest boarding schools in England. (It’s an hour from Manchester.) I knew I wanted to study abroad, and I’ve always had fun in England. After that I’ll be going to Columbia University in New York.

What kinds of opportunities has Mercersburg let you explore?
Your education is what you make of it. How and what you do is entirely up to you. The opportunities are here. You can take trips around the world. You can do extracurriculars. You can have time off on the weekends with friends.

I served on the Accreditation for Growth committee this year for our reaccredidation. It was great to be able to say all of the things you think about your school. A couple of the ideas—some related to the global perspective objective—are ones I really care about and would like to see implemented.

I traveled to London over spring break. Three of us from Mercersburg went to Taiwan in December to present on global economics at a conference for high school students. They were so welcoming. I remember that the faces of all of the students presenting were on posters all over the city of Chang ‘hau.

I was also managing editor of Mercersburg News. I enjoyed the responsibility given to staff. Even as a page editor, but especially as managing editor, we managed a lot. When I was opinion page editor last year, I wrote a series on alternative energies and drilling in Alaska. Becoming managing editor, it was a challenge working with the reporting staff and asking them to be part of something--asking people to understand that they needed to honor a commitment even though they also had homework.

What’s been one of your biggest surprises at Mercersburg?
I was a prefect on the third-floor of Fowle Hall. The other prefect on the floor and I had argued a lot over the course of our time at Mercersburg and I wasn’t sure how the year would go. Now he’s my #2 friend on Facebook. He was one of a group of eight of us who went to beach week together. And I was thinking, “Wow, how did that happen?”

What are the teachers like at Mercersburg?
Mr. Rahauser, who teaches Spanish and is dean of students, was one of my really great teachers. I loved his class because there was so much nuance. And he would sing or whistle or run into a door to demonstrate a verb if it helped to bring a point home.

What have been your favorite classes?
Spanish 20H. Mr. Rahauser made that course the single most valuable year in a classroom at Mercersburg. Also AP United States History. Ms. Stephens pushed us very hard, and that showed in the improvements we all saw in our writing, reading comprehension, and debating.

What was the class you're glad you took but never want to take again?
Math 30H. I hate math, but Mr. Cohen taught me a lot about being a good student in any subject.

What are your favorite places on campus?
Spyder Field is Ultimate Frisbee heaven. The Hale Studio Theatre is an amazing room and an even better movie theater. And Jim Applebaum and Laurie Mufson’s apartment in Fowle Hall is a great place to study, watch the Academy Awards, or just hang out.

What's been your proudest moment at Mercersburg?
Sitting in the front row at graduation as the Class of 2007’s salutatorian.

What's been your most embarrassing moment at Mercersburg?
Being part of the class One-Acts during my first year. I was the father of Jimmy The Antichrist.

LISTS
Activities:

• Model United Nations
• Prefect
• Gap Year in England
• Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee
• Theatre
  

What were the last five songs to play on your mp3 player?
“If You Be My Bodyguard” by Paul Simon
“Slide” by Goo Goo Dolls
“On Any Given Day” by Carbon Leaf
“Under Pressure” by Queen
“Life Less Ordinary” by Carbon Leaf

What are your favorite books that you’ve read at Mercersburg?
A Man For All Seasons
Great Expectations
The Lord of the Rings

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