Describe your academic experience while you were at Shipley. Were there any impactful teachers? What were your classes like, and how did teachers engage you in learning and schoolwork?

Shipley did a great job of preparing me for college and beyond! I feel like the rigorous academics at Shipley made the transition to college an easy one. At Bowdoin College, I remember thinking, "Wow, this paper isn't due for another three weeks? At Shipley, it was due tomorrow!" Shipley has always been loaded with impactful teachers who really get to know their students. The small class size and engaging discussions made for a great learning experience.

I think that the Class of 1990 will remember the sarcastic humor of Chris Wagner in the art room, the mathematical genius of Dr. Stokes in Calculus, the friendly dogs of Mr. Barrott and Mrs. Graff, the Barringer Crater, the overhead projectors of Mr. Maas, the grammatical stickler, Mrs. Dorothy Kerr (who lived until the amazing age of 102 this year), the humorous and ever-engaging French/Spanish/Drama teacher Dr. Morinelli, Earth Science with Tim Eckert, a wonderful Chemistry class with Lura Coleman Wampler ’56, and ever-engaging history classes with Mr. White. There were plenty of impactful teachers in Shipley’s Middle School, too, including science/math with Ms. Noble, history with Mr. Richards, and French class with Doc Morinelli. The quality of teachers at Shipley was top-notch (and still is).

Are there parts of campus that stand out in your memories? What are you most excited to revisit when you’re back in May?

I know that the Shipley campus has really changed since 1990, so I am most excited to visit the parts of the original campus that still remain (but curious to see how things have changed). I'd like to see how the Junior and Senior Lounges look today. Artificial turf is not something we had on our Shipley fields, so I’m curious to see how it looks. I’d also really like to see the new building dedicated to art teacher Chris Wagner.

What was life like beyond the classroom at Shipley? Did you participate in any extracurricular activities? What were your favorite school traditions?

I was involved in soccer and tennis at Shipley (and, for a brief time, wrestling, basketball, and squash). Some of the clubs I participated in included Model UN, the Math Team, and Student Council. Some of my favorite Shipley traditions included a student battle of the bands, student dances (and proms, of course), early Friday dismissals, a Junior/Senior trip to the U.S.S.R., canoeing on the Brandywine River, end-of-year swim parties, field day, and talent shows.

What’s something about your Shipley experience that would surprise current students?

I'm sure that current students would be surprised to learn that, in the late 1980s, Chevy Chase was the graduation speaker at Shipley. You could take classes in Russian (and there was even a trip to the communist U.S.S.R.). We had no mascot until the Gator was selected. Crew and golf were brand-new sports at Shipley. Gregg Downer, who went on to coach Kobe Bryant, was the JV soccer coach. Art teacher Jeff Hanna ’90 was a fellow classmate and friend taking art from the legendary Chris Wagner and Steve Baris. I'm sure our dress code was a bit different, too! In Middle School, all boys wore blue slacks and white-collared shirts, while the girls wore green tunics over white shirts. In Upper School, no shorts or jeans were allowed, and shirts had to have a collar.

What core Shipley values have stayed with you? What do you think was uniquely Shipley during your time? How did Shipley shape you?

The Shipley motto, "Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing" is something that rings true. Shipley has always provided a rigorous education with a personal touch. Students graduating from Shipley tended to be more well-rounded, more worldly, more likely to be doing volunteer work, and more multi-talented than students at other schools. Shipley did a great job of instilling leadership qualities in its students and preparing me for college and beyond.

How did the School encourage you to engage with the world beyond Shipley?

Shipley has always encouraged involvement beyond just the classroom. I remember being involved in a Habitat for Humanity project in Philadelphia (organized by Shipley). Shipley also hosted international exchange students, and my family hosted one student from Panama and another from Spain. I was also involved in a school-sponsored trip to the U.S.S.R., Finland, and Hungary, along with a Model UN Conference. I was definitely encouraged to open my eyes to the world beyond Shipley! I know that many classmates from the Class of 1990 spread out across the country for college and beyond. My first job after graduate school coincidentally placed me with fellow Class of ’90 alum Chris Stark—way out in San Francisco, California, where I am still based today.

Shipley was an amazing experience that really prepared me for life after high school. The teachers and learning experience were truly top-notch. I'm excited to head back for my 35th reunion to catch up with old friends and familiar faces!