Mercersburg Enjoys the Snow

Dear Loyalty Club Members,

During this season, we especially appreciate those close to us—those who care for us unconditionally. We tend to reminisce: Where were we and who were we with during the holidays 10, 20, or even 50 years ago? Some of you might remember the Mercersburg boys—and maybe you were one of them—who rallied the troops for the first snowball fight of the year. Maybe the snow fell just before you returned home for the winter break. Maybe some of those “energetic” classmates and friends are friends yet today.

On campus last week, we enjoyed the first snowfall of the season. You could feel a sense of youthful adventure and energy. As Mercersburg plays a little in the snow—and as we teach and study and reach toward what is next for us as individuals and as a school—we are glad and grateful for your care of, and commitment to, this school. Your loyalty and your friendship with each other and with other members of this community inform where we’ve been and shape where we’re headed.

Old friends help us to mark time. Connecting with longtime friends imbues us with a renewed sense of possibility—and holiday cheer. We hope you enjoy this slideshow of today’s students as they embrace and brave the elements this season on this beautiful campus.

Warmly,

Mary K. Carrasco
Assistant Head of School for External Affairs


Special Candlelight Service Weekend


In celebration of the holiday season, a Candlelight Service Weekend is planned for Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16 on campus, and we have put together a special weekend of activities for members of the Loyalty Club. 

The weekend includes reserved seating for Loyalty Club members at the early candlelight service.  Following the service there will be a dinner reception for all Candlelight Service guests in the Edwards Room, Keil Hall with reserved seating for Loyalty Club members.

The Loyalty Club special weekend is a perfect opportunity for you to return to a place you love and to meet other Loyalty Club members who love this place just as you do.

For more information contact De-Enda Rotz, director of alumni & parent programs (717-328-6178) or Jessica Glass, assistant director of alumni & parent programs (717-328-6140).

Jacobs Residency Presents Kwame A. Appiah

On Monday, December 10, Kwame A. Appiah delivered the Jacobs Residency Lecturer in the Burgin Center for the Arts Simon Theatre. As a person of mixed-race ancestry,  Appiah addresses the issues of identity, ethics, and cosmopolitanism. He was born in London to a Ghanian father who was a statesman, and a white mother from a prominent family. Currently the Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, he was educated at Cambridge University, where he earned both a bachelor's and doctorate degrees in philosophy.

Appiah said his father, a Ghanaian politician, always told his children to remember they were citizens of the world. He quoted from Diogenes and Marcus Aurelius, and spoke about the idea of cosmopolitanism (the subject of his 2006 book, Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers). More...

Don Hill Honored

“Don Hill is, in fact, a true scholar and teacher,” said Head of School Douglas Hale on Friday, November 9, as Mercersburg feted Hill and his 37 years at Mercersburg.  “He’s taught us all about caring for people. He’s taught us all about striving for something bigger and better than we might easily imagine… He’s taught us all a lot.  And for that, Don, we’re deeply grateful,” Hale said.

Hlll, assistant head of school for external affairs, also served the school as baseball coach, member of the math faculty, and director of admission. In addition to Hale, former Head of School Walter H. Burgin Jr. ’53 and faculty member and longtime baseball coach Karl Reisner paid homage and shared tales of times with Hill and his wife, Linda.

In advance of the November 9 event, alumni from all over the world told Mercersburg what a difference Hill made.

“Don was able to engage anyone, important or not so, large donor or small, and make them feel valued and important to him and thus to the 'Burg,” wrote Larry Lattomus ‘51. “That's because Don doesn't think in terms of dollars and cents but in terms of establishing personal relationships.”

“Classy is a word that I would use to describe Don,” wrote Chip Nuttall ’92.  “I’m truly grateful that Don and others appreciated me as a growing young person first, and a student second.”

A documentary of Hill at Mercersburg, by faculty member Kristy Higby can be previewed here. Please also watch the coming issues of Mercersburg magazine for additional words about Hill.

Irving-Marshall Draft Previews the Competition

The Irving-Marshall draft is in the early part of the winter term and is similar to a sporting draft. The losing society from the year before has the first "pick" of new students; this year the first pick went to Irving.This year societies met before the  November 29 event to talk draft day strategies, anticipate the picks of the other society and devise a way of countering those picks.

The society officers are in talks with the administration about adding Powder-Puff Football (girls' football) to the list of competitions. An Irving-Marshall bowling trip is also scheduled for this year but will not count for points.  See a slide show from last year's competition.

Will Marshall win?

“The pigs have a greater chance at flying than beating Marshall. Marshall's mix of beauty and brains couldn't possibly take second to a pink, barnyard animal.”—Chris Freeland,  President

Or Irving?

"The loss from last year still stings but that's going to give us that extra motivation to step it up and beat Marshall! Let’s go Irving!! "—David Strider, President.