A PUBLICATION OF THE HARKER SCHOOL l SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

MAGAZINE

Celebrating 125 Years (1893-2018)

COMMEMORATIVE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE MAGAZINE

SPECIAL ISSUE 2018 I VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1

Pam Dickinson Office of Communication Director William Cracraft Managing Editor Catherine Snider Production Editor Mark Kocina Photographer Marla Holt Lead Writer Jennifer Maragoni Copy Editor Zach Jones, Rebecca McCartney, Sue Smith, Terry Walsh Contributors Blue Heron Design Design Have an idea? Contact us: [email protected] 408.345.9273

Or write: Harker Magazine 500 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129

Harker is a Bay Area Green Certified Business of Santa Clara County. As part of our many sustainability efforts, Harker Magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper.

On this page: Main building, Miss Harker’s School, 1915 Front and back cover photographs provided by Harker Archives

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE CONTENTS

The Harker School Celebrates 125 Years A timeline summarizes our history. 2

The Founders and Heads of Harker Meet the visionaries who founded and led our school. 8 The Nichols Legacy Visionaries Major Nichols and Howard and Diana 50 Nichols led the school into our present era. 10

Signature Programs Outstanding and varied programs have always 14 transformed the student experience.

Achievement Highlights We gather some standout milestones from decades of accomplishments. 18

Giving Back Encouraging our students to give back to their 22 communities is in our DNA.

Fun Facts About Harker Test your knowledge about the school with these 24 archival fun facts.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 1 n the late 1880s, the town of Palo Alto had only about 1,400 residents. It would be nearly another 100 years before the term “Silicon Valley” was coined and the area became known The Harker Ias an innovation hub. In 1890, Congress had just established Yosemite as the nation’s third national park and Stanford University was in its infancy. School However, the need for students who were well- prepared to go on to Stanford and other top universities was evident. So, in 1893 at the behest of Stanford’s first president, The Harker School 1893-2018 was founded by Frank Cramer as Manzanita Hall, a college preparatory school for boys. Miss Harker’s School for Girls, founded by Catherine Harker, followed soon after in 1902. Students in those early days studied a college preparatory Celebrating curriculum, participated in co-curricular activities and developed high moral character all while living 125 Years under the care of teachers and administrators who had their best interests at heart. of Vision, Over the years, Harker has evolved from a military academy for boys and a unique college preparatory school for girls, to a prestigious coeducational Passion and institution for children from preschool through high school. Throughout its history, Harker has prepared students to lead lives of service and integrity by Achievement offering a rigorous academic program and top- notch opportunities for personal development and participation in extracurricular activities.

The Life of Harker 125 Years at a Glance 1893 1902 1919 1920 Frank Cramer founds Catherine Harker, also Richard Kelly, Greenville PAMA’s summer recreational Manzanita Hall, a college encouraged by David Starr Emery, Katherine Monroe camp, Camp Eldorado, is preparatory school for boys Jordan, opens Miss Harker’s and Nellie Hansen purchase established at Alpine Lake in in Palo Alto, at the urging School, a college preparatory Manzanita Hall, which the Sierra Nevada mountains, of Stanford University’s first school for girls. A lower becomes Palo Alto Military beginning Harker’s long president, David Starr Jordan. school is added in 1903, Academy (PAMA), a school for history of offering summer which girls ages 5 to 14 boys in grades 1-8. enrichment programs, both attend until 1921. The high recreational and academic. school program continues until the 1950s.

2 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE “Its courses are so thorough that a course in the School insures sound culture to those who intend to enter upon the business of life.” —1894 advertisement in the Stanford Daily

1955 1972 1979 1992 Miss Harker’s School Palo Alto Military Academy The optional military The school name is changed becomes coeducational. and Harker Day School program and grade 9 to The Harker School. It drops its high school merge and move to the are dropped from Harker program and is renamed Mother Butler High School Academy. Middle school Harker Day School. property in San Jose. The students travel to the school changes its name to Yosemite Institute, beginning Harker Academy, serving an annual tradition of children in kindergarten combining academic study through grade 9. with physical activity in one of the nation’s treasured national parks.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 3 THE HARKER SCHOOL CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

Even though much has changed for Harker in are so thorough that a course in 125 years, much has stayed the same. The Harker the School insures sound culture School retains the core philosophy of its original to those who intend to enter incarnations as Manzanita Hall and Miss Harker’s upon the business of life.” Eugene School: to provide students with the knowledge, Sawyer’s 1922 book on the history insight, skills and experience they need to succeed of Santa Clara County described at the nation’s best colleges and universities and the aim of Miss Harker’s School become leaders for the common good. for Girls: “To build up vigorous physical health, to achieve the best Reflecting on the past possible intellectual advancement, Harker is grounded in both Manzanita Hall, a and to secure for each pupil the college preparatory school for boys, and Miss moral and spiritual development Harker’s School for Girls, which was founded to which will enable her to take her prepare young women for lives of leadership and place among intellectual and service; both schools were founded with the chief cultured people, and to live a aim of preparing students for rounded and useful life.” entrance to Stanford University. Manzanita Hall first welcomed Harker has remained constant to those missions, young men of promise to begin creating an environment that promotes academic their educations in the private rigor and physical and moral fitness, while inspiring home of Reverend W.D. Bishop intellectual curiosity to instill a lifelong love of on Waverly Street in Palo Alto, learning in its students. eventually moving to a building In 1919, Manzanita Hall dropped its college prep at Harriet and Parkinson avenues program and was transformed into the Palo Alto in the late 1890s. Miss Harker’s Military Academy (PAMA) for elementary-age boys, School opened its doors at offering both day and boarding options for cadets Castilleja Hall at the corner of in grades 1-9. PAMA maintained the same primary Kingsley and Bryant streets in Palo Alto. building of Manzanita Hall on Parkinson Avenue. Early descriptions of the two schools showcase In 1920, the academy opened Camp Eldorado at Harker’s historical commitment to academic Lake Alpine in the Sierra Nevada mountains so that excellence and personal character development. boys could spend their summers in recreational An advertisement for Manzanita Hall in the activities such as archery, hiking, fishing, horseback Stanford Daily’s April 1894 issue stated, “Its courses riding and rifle practice. PAMA also held Harker’s

1993 1998 2002 2013 The global education program The Bucknall Road campus is The Harker boarding program The Union Avenue campus begins, sending students purchased for a lower school closes, ending an era of is purchased in order to around the world to connect and the Saratoga Avenue serving approximately 1,400 eventually unwind from our classroom learning with campus is transformed to school-year and 2,100 summer Blackford Avenue lease. In the hands-on experiences in the include an upper school, boarding students. The dorms meantime, Harker opens a field. Harker celebrates its beginning with grade 9 are remodeled for dining and preschool for children ages 3-5 centennial anniversary. students. One class per year renamed Manzanita Hall. The on that campus. is added until 2002, when the first upper school students school fully serves students in graduate. grades 9-12.

4 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE and Greenwood avenues. It continued as a school for girls until 1955, when it welcomed boys and was renamed Harker Day School. PAMA and the day school merged in 1972 and then moved to San Jose to become Harker Academy. A year later, the military program was dropped and the academy turned its focus to expanding its academic and extracurricular offerings.

The school changed its name to The Harker School in 1992, reflecting its commitment to top quality education for kindergarten through grade 8. In 1998, Harker expanded to include high school students, graduating its first class in 2002, the same year the boarding program was eliminated. A preschool was added in 2013 and today, The Harker School is a beacon of educational excellence in Silicon Valley, comprising a preschool, lower school, middle school and upper school on four campuses on four streets in San Jose: Union, Bucknall, Blackford and Saratoga.

first Family Picnic in 1950, an annual tradition that continues today as the Family & Alumni Picnic, now in its 68th year.

PAMA and Miss Harker’s School existed across the way from each other for years, with Miss Harker’s located since 1907 on 6 acres at Harriet

2017 2018 2018-19 The new athletic complex The state-of-the-art Rothschild Harker celebrates the opens, featuring a Performing Arts Center opens, completion of its 125th year. 12,000-square-foot featuring a 450-seat theater gymnasium, athletic training with fly loft and hydraulic room with advanced orchestra pit, a scene shop, hydrotherapy unit and vocal, instrumental, theater/ spacious team rooms. musical theater classrooms and dressing rooms.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 5 THE HARKER SCHOOL CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

A spirit of intellectual Today, participation in curiosity and service community service is to others woven into the Harker experience at all ages, with The school’s From Harker’s earliest days, teachers have more than 300 nonprofit played a critical role in shaping the intellectual programs supported by exceptional and personal growth of thousands of students. students through fundraisers, faculty has The school’s exceptional faculty has always advocacy and awareness always brought brought passion and expertise to the classroom, campaigns and volunteerism. passion and beginning with its founders, Frank Cramer and expertise to Catherine Harker, who both earned advanced The modern era degrees. Miss Harker’s School was renowned for Just as Frank Cramer and the classroom, its excellent faculty of 18 to 20 women of the beginning with Catherine Harker opened highest academic credentials. At Manzanita Hall, college preparatory schools its founders, the professional teachers were specialists in their to fill an educational need in Frank Cramer departments, thoroughly trained in what a college the Palo Alto community near and Catherine preparatory education required. Throughout its the turn of the 20th century, Harker, who history, Harker has searched nationwide for the so too did Howard and Diana both earned best teachers, many of whom hold the highest Nichols for Silicon Valley at advanced degrees in their fields. the turn of the 21st. Their vision of academic excellence, Today, Harker’s teachers pursue extensive degrees. combined with solid business professional development to enrich their skills acumen, helped to launch and directly impact student learning, using grants Harker’s upper school in 1998, awarded through the Teacher Excellence Program, bringing secondary education founded in 2015 by parents Raju and Bala Vegesna. back to Harker for the first time Harker also stands out for its commitment to since the 1950s and moving innovation in the classroom. Beginning as early as the school into the modern era. grade 1, students learn from teachers who are subject specialists, tapping into student interests By 1992, The Harker School to help them develop into well-rounded, was a leading independent inquisitive individuals. school for students in kindergarten through grade 8 on the Saratoga Avenue campus. It had left Beyond their academic pursuits, Harker students behind all markings of the military academy it once have long been recognized for their kindness, was. A year later, The Harker School celebrated its respect and compassion for others, a natural 100th anniversary, championing its vibrant and outgrowth of Harker’s historical emphasis caring educational community. on serving its community. The 1928-29 catalog for Miss Harker’s School stated: “... by But one piece was still missing – that of a high-quality, entering into the welfare of other lives with non-religious private secondary school, which had sympathy and helpfulness, [students] will been identified as a need in the Bay Area by a survey become a power for good” in their homes of Harker’s parents. Just two years after the Nicholses and communities. Girls at the founding and Harker’s board of trustees began pursuing the school raised money for many charities, feasibility of expanding Harker into high school including the Stanford Home for education, the Bucknall Road campus had been Convalescent Children and the Red purchased and the lower school had been moved Cross Children’s Relief Fund. PAMA and to that location. The Saratoga site was transformed Harker Academy students also earned to include a top-notch upper school, enrolling a full a reputation for service, including an class of grade 9 students in its first year (1998), and award in 1978 for participation in the adding the remaining grades one year at a time. The March of Dimes Walkathon. first seniors graduated in 2002, and will always fondly

6 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE “... by entering into the welfare of other lives with sympathy and helpfulness, [students] will become a power for good” in their homes and communities. — 1928-29 Miss Harker’s School catalog

be known as Harker’s “first class.” The middle schoolers Today’s students benefit from Harker’s remained at Saratoga Avenue until they moved to the outstanding academic environment and emphasis Blackford Avenue campus in 2005. on strong personal character, its exceptional faculty, and its unrivaled opportunities for extracurricular From its humble beginnings in 1893 to its activities that promote teamwork and leadership. latest expansion into preschool education in Nestled in Silicon Valley and surrounded by a spirit of 2013, Harker has blossomed into a world-class innovation, Harker is poised to move forward with its institution for students ages 3 to 18 and is promise to prepare students for global citizenship, considered Northern California’s premier private looking ahead to its next 125 years of creating the educational institution. very best learning environment for its students.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 7 Our Founders

ear the turn of the 20th century, three individuals had the foresight and fortitude to begin and lead two schools dedicated to the academic and moral Ndevelopment of young people. They founded Manzanita Hall and Miss Harker’s School, the eventual union of which became The Harker School. FRANK CRAMER Founder of Manzanita Hall 1893-1902 Frank Cramer “Santa Clara Valley is literally the land of flowers, fruit and sunshine. Baseball, Frank Cramer, a pioneer educator and civic leader with a lifelong football and tennis the year round. interest in the sciences, was one of the earliest residents of Palo Alto. Educational trips to the wonders of He graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., in 1886, and California. Only manly boys with highest taught in Wisconsin for several years before moving to California to recommendations taken.” – From a 1901 continue his education at Stanford University, from which he earned advertisement placed by Cramer a master’s degree in zoology in 1893. While Cramer was at Stanford, he was encouraged to start a college preparatory school for boys by J. LEROY DIXON Stanford’s first president, David Starr Jordan, who was concerned about Head of Manzanita Hall the fledgling university’s need for superior incoming students. 1902-1919 “Manzanita Hall is in the Santa Clara Cramer founded Manzanita Hall – briefly called the Palo Alto Valley where there is every incentive Preparatory School for Boys – in 1893 as a day and boarding school to work. … [The school] prepares for for boys. As its owner and principal, Cramer placed recruiting Eastern Universities as well as Stanford. advertisements in newspapers across the country, promising – upon A growing school for growing boys.” successful completion of the school’s rigorous curriculum – entrance – From a 1906 advertisement Dixon to Stanford without examination, as students at Manzanita Hall were placed in “The Sunset” thoroughly prepared for university work. By the fall of 1894, the school had enrolled 40 boys. The Harker Sisters Catherine Harker, a native of Portland, Ore., and a graduate of Vassar College, recognized the need for a preparatory school for girls near Stanford University, as did David Starr Jordan. In 1902, she founded Miss Harker’s School for Girls, which emphasized exceptional scholarship, character and leadership. Its motto of “Non ministrari, COL. RICHARD P. KELLY sed ministrare,” meaning “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” Superintendent of Palo Alto Military reflected a commitment to serving the common good that continues Academy at The Harker School today. In addition to her administrative duties, 1919-1950 Harker taught Latin and mathematics, drawing on her previous “We enroll boys of five or six years to fourteen or fifteen – grammar grades teaching posts at Curtner Seminary and Mills College. only – no high school. You can easily Sara Harker, an accomplished pianist and violinist with interests in understand what this means if your business, travel and humanitarian work, arrived in Palo Alto in 1907 to boy is young. He will find here the friendliness and sympathy of a good become a silent business partner at her older sister’s school. She also home, combined with a discipline not was director of its music program. In 1931, she became principal of surpassed in any school. He will find Miss Harker’s lower school. After Catherine’s untimely death of a heart a larger variety of interests suitable to attack on school grounds in 1938, Sara became headmistress of Miss boys of his age than he ever had before.” Harker’s School, continuing in that post until her retirement at the age In a parent letter dated Sept. 1, 1925 of 84 in 1952.

8 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE The Heads of Harker

CATHERINE HARKER ALICE WILLIAMS HOWARD NICHOLS CHRISTOPHER Founder of Miss Principal of Harker Day President of Harker NIKOLOFF Harker’s School School Academy/The Harker Head of The Harker School 1902-1938 1955-1979 School 2005-2017 “A meticulous scholar whose “Through the years many 1973-2005 “We’re tremendously proud daily lessons were carefully teachers here helped to “Our vision has always been of our century-old tradition organized … and who create the spirit of the to build the best school of excellence in education, reassured her students with a school. The staff and faculty in the world. I don’t know and the international contagiously delightful sense always work toward the if anyone can claim that recognition our students, of humor.” ideal of true scholarship and distinction, but we certainly faculty and programs – From “The Echo,” Miss moral integrity.” know we are one of the best, have earned. We believe Harker’s School yearbook – From the October 1971 Harker and we are only going to get the best way to prepare Barker, the Harker Day School better.” – At the dedication of our students is to provide newspaper Nichols Hall, 2009 the best academic and extracurricular programs possible.” – At the 2016 Night on the Town Gala

SARA HARKER MAJ. DONALD DIANA NICHOLS Head of Miss Harker’s NICHOLS Head of The Harker School School Superintendent of Palo 1992-2005 1938-1952 Alto Military Academy/ “In only a few years, Diana has “Her leadership is one of Harker Day School/Harker taken this new high school enthusiasm, sincerity, and Academy to national prominence in high ideals. … She places 1950-1973 college admission. It’s a truly strong emphasis upon high “Where else could you find remarkable achievement and BRIAN YAGER academic standards, but a combination mascot- she’s an outstanding leader.” Head of The Harker above all, she values the watchdog for 112 boys?” – Sandy Padgett, director of School building of character.” – Nichols, about his dogs Ajax, college counseling, at Diana’s 2017-PRESENT Babo, Hokie, Klute and Dutch, retirement in 2005 – At the 50th anniversary “While reflecting on our who were affectionately celebration of Miss Harker’s past, we are also excited cared for by PAMA cadets School about what the future throughout the 1950s, ’60s holds for our students. and ’70s LAURA SIMPSON We look forward to Academic Head proudly joining together as a community with a MARY WATEROUS clear vision of each of Administrative Head of our important roles in Miss Harker’s School ensuring a world-class 1952-1955 education for our students for the next 125 years.”

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 9 THE Nichols Legacy

he Nichols family provided leadership prestigious academic powerhouse. Under their at Harker for more than 50 years and its leadership, Harker expanded to include high school impact on the school is immeasurable. education in 1998. Nichols Hall, Harker’s science T Maj. Donald Nichols, a 1926 graduate of and technology building, is named in their honor. Palo Alto Military Academy, purchased and became Howard Nichols passed away in 2008. Diana superintendent of PAMA in 1950. He transformed Nichols, who championed personal development, Miss Harker’s School for Girls into a coeducational science and technology, and global education day school in the late 1950s, merged it with PAMA, programs at Harker, spoke recently about the changed its name to Harker Academy and moved it family’s experience at Harker. Her comments are to San Jose in 1972. paraphrased. Maj. Nichols’ son, Howard, grew up at Harker. He graduated from PAMA in 1956 and attended Palo Alto High School before earning a business degree from Stanford University. He returned to Harker as a staff member in 1965 and took over leadership of the Harker Academy from his father in 1973. He and his wife, Diana Nichols, who served as a science teacher, principal and head of school, were the heart and soul of Harker, building it into a

10 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE How did you and Howard foster a positive teaching and learning environment at Harker? We wanted to create academic excellence, so we hired the best teachers we could find who were experts in the subjects they taught, even at the elementary level. Teaching is connected to caring about the child, because what happens in the classroom is the single most important thing at the school.

How has Harker’s location in Silicon Valley influenced the school? One of the smartest things Harker has done is take advantage of the area’s brilliant people who are doing cutting-edge things. It’s been tremendous for our students to interact with people who are changing the world.

What is the most significant contribution you and Howard made to Harker? It was our firm belief that children should be treated with love and caring. It’s our responsibility to provide them with opportunities to discover who they are and what brings them joy. We tried hard to set that tone, to let the children know we valued and respected them, and that in turn they should respect other humans.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 11 Howard Nichols rides into the 2002 Family & Alumni Picnic.

Cindy (Kerr) Ellis reads to Harker Academy boarding students in the 1980s.

Alice Williams, Howard Nichols and Phyllis Carley - the trio who kept Harker Academy going! Shown here in 1979.

Downbeat rocks the runway at the Fun Memories! 2008 fashion show, “Global Grooves.”

The inaugural upper school class celebrates The 2008 Family & Alumni Picnic’s graduation on their senior trip to the Hotel amazing parent volunteer team. Del Coronado in San Diego.

While attending the Palo Alto Military Academy, chief bugler William Talbot, Jr. won a Northern California bugling championship in 1932.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer drop in to the 1981 Christmas program. So cute!

12 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE Pat Walsh keeps students rapt in 1978-79. Current elementary division head Kristin Giammona ‘81 is to Walsh’s right.

Veteran ESL teacher Harriet Skapinsky in the classroom in 1982-83.

Beloved art teacher Margaret Peterson works her magic in 1988.

Margaret Conway, shown here circa 1961-63, was a longtime grade 3 teacher at PAMA and Harker Academy.

Do you recognize Sarah Leonard? This photo shows our current primary division head in her This photo includes grade 1 classroom in 1976. Class of ‘89’ers David Owens, Curtis Manning and Cinnamon Davis. Can you name any more?

This photo, from the Miss Harker’s School brochure in 1950-51, is labeled “South Lawn.” What do you think they’re doing?

Clara Blickenstaff ‘11 models a dress made by Priya Bhikha ‘10 from recycled materials at the 2010 fashion show, “Outside the Box.”

Our 1963 P.E. classes included archery. Who knew?

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 13 Signature Programs Throughout its history, Harker has offered programs both inside and outside the classroom that have the power to transform the student experience.

14 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE Performing Arts Harker has long valued the performing arts as integral to education, with the school producing more than 70 annual theater, dance, instrumental and vocal performances. Opportunities are available at every age. For example, Harker began hosting a junior high school drama festival in 1981, which has now developed into annual plays produced by both grade 6 and grades 7-8. And since 1996 students in grade 2 have reenacted fairytales at the Ogre Awards ceremony. Dance has been part of the curriculum since the late 1980s, and has had a prominent place in summer programs, after-school activities and annual Maypole celebrations for decades; the annual middle school show, Dance Jamz, has been going strong since 2005. Instrumental and vocal music opportunities abound, from orchestra to jazz band to musical theater to show choir to a cappella groups. The Harker Conservatory, established in 1998, cultivates students’ artistic talents and its unique Student Directed Showcase began in 2001 Business & Entrepreneurship to give selected seniors the chance to produce Harker’s comprehensive business & shows and direct their peers. entrepreneurship program, formed in 2013, supports student innovators by leveraging the Athletics school’s Silicon Valley location. In 2010, students Physical fitness has always been emphasized at founded TEDxHarkerSchool, an annual conference Harker, with baseball, football and tennis offered that features professional and student speakers, year-round at Manzanita Hall. Miss Harker’s School mentors and corporate booths, allowing students to built a gymnasium in 1921 to accompany its learn from and be inspired by Silicon Valley’s culture outdoor fields for tennis, basketball and baseball. of innovation. Harker DECA, founded in the 2007-08 PAMA cadets enjoyed year-round outdoor school year, prepares students in the business areas sports such as swimming, boating, bicycling of marketing, finance, hospitality and management and horseback riding. Today, Harker provides and has won many state, national and international developmental, intramural and competitive athletic honors. Harker founded one of the nation’s first opportunities for every skill level: nine sports at the high school incubator programs lower school, 13 at the middle school and 15 at in 2017. the upper school. Nearly 70 percent of students in grades 4-12 participate in Harker’s sports program.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 15 SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

Research and Innovation Harker developed a student scientific research program in 2001, celebrating students’ achievements at an annual research symposium beginning in 2006. Students have embraced hands-on research opportunities, finding success at the national level in programs such as the Siemens Competition and the Intel Science Talent Search. The John Near Excellence in History Education Endowment Fund, established in 2009, and the Mitra Family Endowment for the Humanities, established in 2011, support student research in the humanities. Harker’s robotics team was started by students in 2001 and enjoyed its most successful season in 2016-17, advancing to the semifinals in two regional competitions. Howard and Diana Nichols were visionaries in a real sense, with Diana Nichols owning and driving an electric car back in the ‘80s. The car was used as a teaching tool for both ecological responsibility and the science of a functioning electric vehicle. Global Education Harker’s partnership with Japan’s Tamagawa Academy started in 1992, allowing for academic collaboration and exchange visits between the schools’ middle school students. Other partnerships followed with schools around the world, including one with Shanghai’s World Foreign Language Middle School in 2003. Today, students starting in grade 4 participate in more than a dozen school-sponsored trips, first within California, then throughout the United States and internationally as students age. Journalism First established as a student club, Harker’s journalism program became part of the upper school curriculum in 2004. The program, responsible for the school newspaper, yearbook and student news website, is nationally recognized, garnering top awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. In 2008, the program expanded to include summer work retreats, taking students to pursue journalism in other locales.

16 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE Speech and Debate The middle and upper school speech and debate teams, whose members have won national awards, teach high-level research skills, critical thinking and leadership. In 2008, a middle school speech and debate duo won the Novice High School Division at the Santa Clara University Invitational. It was the only middle school team at the event. Harker’s middle school debate team has continued to compete against high schoolers and in 2010 claimed the 2010 National Junior Forensic League championship in public forum debate. The team has been going strong ever since. The upper school speech and debate team has won numerous accolades over the years, including national championships in three out of the four events at the National Debate Coaches Association Championship in 2014. In 2016, Harker won the top Overall School of Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year at the National Speech & Debate Association championship in Salt Lake City. In 2018, Harker qualified 18 students to the national championships. Summer Programs Palo Alto Military Academy offered summer enrichment programs of academics, military drills and exercise at the recreational Camp Eldorado in the Sierra Nevada mountains from 1920 to 1952. Summer programs have continued to emphasize both academic and physical enrichment – from swimming and archery to dance and drama. In the 1990s, Harker began offering extended summer trips to sites throughout California. Today, Harker’s summer programs include the academically focused Summer Institute, and programs in sports and music.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 17 Achievement Highlights

Here are some of the many remarkable milestones and accomplishments achieved at Harker. General • Harker has produced many stellar mathematicians including one graduate who earned a Ph.D. from • Nichols Hall on the upper school campus was the MIT and is now a fellow in the math department at first LEED Gold certified school facility in Santa Columbia University. Another has been awarded Clara County. a Soros Fellowship and Harvard’s David Mumford Academics Undergraduate Mathematics Prize. • In 2007, Harker’s team was chosen from among 63 Contests teams nationwide to represent the United States at the J8 Summit, a parallel youth event to the G8 • Since 2006, Harker has had 85 semifinalists – and (Group of Eight) Summit. J8 delegates met face- three winners – in the Intel/Regeneron Science to-face with President Bush and the leaders of Talent Search (first place in 2015 and second Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and places in 2006 and 2010). In 2015, Harker had 15 the United Kingdom. semifinalists, the most of any school in the United States. In 2017, Harker had three finalists, the most of • Thirty students have been nominated for the U.S. any school in the country. Presidential Scholars Program; five have been selected as Presidential Scholars. • In 2009, two Harker students and a Harker alumnus earned the top spots in the level • Harker students have earned 184 National Merit four category at the National Japan Bowl in Scholarships since 2006. Washington, D.C. For their accomplishment, the team and an upper school Japanese teacher • Since 2010, Harker students have taken 11,453 AP were awarded a trip to Japan to see the country exams, with 66 percent (7,540) achieving perfect and meet Her Imperial Highness Princess scores of five and 89 percent earning scores of Takamado. four or higher.

18 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• At the U.S. Invitational Young Physicists Tournament, Harker • Two students attended the International Math Olympiad students earned first place in 2011, 2014 and 2015; had a finalist training camp in 2013. In 2016, an alumnus earned a gold in 2016; placed third in 2017; and placed second in 2018. medal.

• In 2005, five out of eight qualifying teams at the state finals of the • A student was a finalist at the 2016 USA Biology Olympiad. Future Problem Solving Program International were from Harker, the most any school had qualified at that time. Two were upper • A student earned a bronze medal at the 2009 China Girls school teams and three were lower school teams. Mathematical Olympiad.

In 2006, Harker teams took six of the eight possible spots Athletics in the state finals, including the only high school team to • In 2007, Harker’s varsity girls volleyball team won the NorCal qualify for the state finals. Two middle school teams qualified championship and took second at state. for the international finals, and Harker provided four of the eight individual finalists to internationals. • In 2014, the boys varsity basketball team reached the CCS finals.

In 2007, the Harker middle school qualified four of the eight teams • In 2017, the varsity boys golf team took second place in its to the state finals and provided five of the top eight finishing league, was the NorCal champion and took fifth at state. The golf individuals, then went on to win the international championship. team was the league champion for four consecutive years.

• Students earned gold medals in 2004, 2009, 2010, 2014 and • In 2017, Harker’s varsity football team went undefeated until the 2016, and two silver medals in 2016 at the International playoff semifinals. The team’s final 11-1 tally is a school record. Physics Olympiad. • In 2018, Harker’s varsity boys soccer team racked up a 14-1- • At the International Linguistics Olympiad, Harker qualified 3 record for the season, remaining undefeated until the last three students each year in 2009, 2011 and 2012. They earned regular season game. silver in 2009 and gold in 2012. • Harker students hold individual league championships in • A student on the International Math Olympiad team in 2006 swimming (2010, 2015, 2017), track and field (2013, 2016), cross won a silver medal; another student participated in 2008 and country (2013) and wrestling (2011). another was invited to summer training camp in 2016.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 19 ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• In addition, Harker teams have won many scholastic her own Shakespeare company in New York. Another has championships based on team GPAs. found success acting in TV series including “Dear White People.” One grad is a full-time opera singer, and one a pop singer. • Harker athletes have made it to the pros in a variety of sports including golf, volleyball, baseball and soccer. Business and Leadership Performing Arts • A mixed team from DECA and Talon, the yearbook, won the nationwide 2018 Herff Jones Marketing Results Challenge, • Each year, the Harker Conservatory presents both a fall play which was to create marketing campaigns to increase yearbook and a spring musical. Shows have included “Anon(ymous),” awareness and sales on campus. “You Can’t Take it with You,” “Urinetown” and “Pippin.” The Harker Conservatory sent troupes to Scotland to perform in the world- • A 2015 senior earned first place in the Western region and third renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2007, 2011 and 2015. in the nation in DECA’s The Stock Market Game.

• The Harker School Orchestra was the top scoring orchestra at • The middle school’s DECA Idea Challenge team, Insulator Warrior the 2010 Los Angeles Festival of Gold, performed in London’s Inc., were global finalists in 2018. Cadogan Hall (home of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) in 2012, took the gold award at the Chicago International Music Festival in • In 2014, following an illustrious career as a lawyer for the U.S. 2014 and performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2017. Justice Department, a Harker alumnus was confirmed to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. • In 2007, the Grade 7-8 Orchestra was given a superior rating at the California Music Educators Association ensemble festival. • One of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” in the artists category, At the same festival, the upper school choral group Cantilena a popular fashion designer attended our middle school, where he earned its first of many unanimous superior ratings. learned to sew. Now running his own design house, he has won many awards and was creative director for Balenciaga. His clothing • Harker has at least two dozen upper school alumni active in is carried in more than 700 stores including Bloomingdale’s, performing arts, several professionally. One alumna founded Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus.

20 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE • A 2010 graduate co-founded DoorDash, a successful on- • In 2003, in its second year in publication, the middle school demand food delivery company. He was named to Forbes literary magazine, Enlight’ning, earned a silver medal from CSPA. prestigious “30 Under 30” list in January 2015. It earned a gold medal in 2005 and the Gold Crown award in 2008. • The founder of nVision, a medical devices company formed to provide better heath care for women, graduated from Harker in • In 2010, the Winged Post and its online website, talonwp.com, 2003. In 2014, Forbes named her to their “30 Under 30” list in the won the CSPA’s Gold Crown award for its excellence in writing, medical category. coverage and content. Speech and Debate • In 2015, the Winged Post was nominated for a Crown Award and received 10 Gold Circle Awards for news articles. Harker has one of the largest and most successful speech and debate teams in the country. Students have won multiple • In 2017, both the Winged Post and HELM, the national championships and the program is one of the upper school literary magazine, were named only ones to have repeatedly won sweepstakes awards Crown Finalists by the CSPA, and for teamwide success at the National Speech & Debate seven Gold Circle Awards were Association National Championship, Tournament of received for news articles. Champions and the largest invitational of the year at the University of California, Berkeley. Student Publications • Harker’s upper school student publications, the Winged Post newspaper and Aquila online news site, have received multiple awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 21 Giving Back

who has battled cancer. The students raised $14,000 in 2016. Upper school students host soccer games, sell T-shirts and baked goods, and plan other fun activities during Kicks Against Cancer to raise funds for Camp Okizu, a summer program that offers support and recreational activities for children with cancer. The event began in 2010 arker’s historical commitment to and raised $2,756 in 2018. developing students into compassionate Food Drives Hhuman beings who make a difference in their communities is showcased in its many annual Lower school students collect nonperishable food outreach programs. and other goods, supplying about 300 bags of food At any given time, individual students as well per year plus many thousands of dollars in cash to St. as student-run clubs are organizing drives and Justin’s Community Ministry Pantry over the 30-plus reaching out to help local and global organizations. years the program has been going. Middle and upper Some of their efforts include sending thank you school students collect canned goods at Thanksgiving cards to active service members, adopting families in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. at the holidays, spearheading blood drives, collecting items for the Humane Society, Freshman Service Day and so much more. Recent projects for grade 9 students have included trail cleanup at the Coyote Open Space Cancer Walk and Kicks Preserve and Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, Against Cancer and volunteering at the Humane Society of Two fundraisers benefit cancer Silicon Valley, San Jose Rose Garden, Sacred organizations. Since 2006, Heart Community Services and Sunrise Village middle school students have Emergency Shelter, among other organizations. participated in a Cancer Walk. They learn about Jump Rope for Heart different forms of cancer and Each year, lower school students collect pledges for prevention strategies, and their Jump Rope for Heart activity, to benefit the then take part in the walk, American Heart Assocation. It’s a great effort for the each holding a flag honoring students and they have raised nearly $200,000 since a person of his or her choice the activity started in 2000.

22 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE Community Participation Along with its charitable outreach, Harker welcomes those from its greater communities – the neighborhoods it shares, students and teachers from other schools, and fans of great speakers and music. • In 1999, Harker initiated The Harker Invitational Debate Tournament, the first Harker-sponsored event to draw upper school students from other schools. By its fifth year, the event drew teams from 20 schools from California, Oregon and Nevada. • The middle school has held the Diana Nichols Math Invitational since 2001. In 2018, about 300 students from 13 schools attended. • Each year, Harker hosts the Silicon Valley Computer-Using Educators conference on the upper school campus. Hundreds of teachers and administrators from all over Silicon Valley attend the conference. In addition, each • The Harker Speaker Series launched in March 2008 and summer, Harker’s technology department hosts teachers brings leaders and visionaries from a wide variety of fields from around the Bay Area at the Harker Teacher Institute to share their expertise or unique experiences with both to hear speakers and attend workshops on classroom Harker and the greater community. Speakers have included technology and other topics. author Khaled Hosseini, travel guru Rick Steves, Jill Tarter, • In 2004, Harker joined Common Ground, a coalition of director of Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence research at Bay Area schools working together to provide parent the SETI Institute, and astronaut Gregory Chamitoff. education to their communities, and hosts one or two • The Harker Concert Series began in 2011 with a concert speakers per year. by the MarcOlivia Duo. Other acts have included San Jose • In 2011, Harker students organized, promoted and hosted Opera, Taylor Eigsti, the Gerald Clayton Trio and Afiara String their first TEDx conference at Harker. This was the first Quartet. student-organized and promoted conference and it was a • While most Harker performances are open to the public, resounding success, with speakers of world-class caliber. Harker musicians and performers also share their talents The event has been held every year since, and about 175 with the greater community with regular performances at students attended in November 2017. senior centers, shopping centers and festivals.

HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 23 125 Fun Facts About Harker Here is a sampling of the 125 facts about Harker that you’ll find on our website. Visit www.harker.org/about/history/125-facts to test yourself on the rest!

4 30 4 What was the original use of our current Harker Bistro in Manzanita Hall? It was the chapel when the school was the Mother Butler High School. The “altar” can still be seen as the raised area where the salad bar now resides.

30 Who founded Miss Harker’s School at the suggestion of Stanford president David Starr Jordan? Catherine Harker, a Vassar graduate and professor of 33 46 Greek and Latin at Mills College. 33 Which future headmaster of Harker Academy graduated from Stanford University and served in the army? Howard Nichols, who also attended Palo Alto Military Academy. Mr. Nichols worked at PAMA and led Harker Academy and The Harker School until his retirement in 2005. He is the coach pictured at left.

46 Harker began its international exchange program in 1996 with what school? The Tamagawa Gakuen school in Tamagawa, Japan. The 47 60 exchange agreement was signed on Dec. 5, 1996.

47 The Palo Alto Military Academy had a mascot. Which dog breeds did leader Major Nichols prefer? The dogs were always English mastiffs or St. Bernards. The mascot rode “shotgun” with Major Nichols in his Jeep.

60 What was a beloved holiday tradition enjoyed by the boarding students? School president Mr. Nichols would read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas while a holiday fire blazed on the big 89 116 screen TV.

89 What was the motto of Miss Harker’s School? “Non Ministrari, Sed Ministrari” - “Not to be served unto, but to serve.” We share this motto with Wellesley College.

116 What are the opening words to The Harker School Song? The song begins, “Flame of knowledge lights our way.” It was written by former lower school music teacher David Len Allen in 2001.

24 HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE Our History Online

This commemorative issue captures the highlights of Harker’s fascinating past. Visit www.harker.org/about/history for lots more! events video channel factsplace to share memories timeline

www.harker.org/about/history HARKER MAGAZINE l 125TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE 25 Preschool I Summer Programs www.harker.org

www.harker.org l news.harker.org O of C: 5/18 (BHDG) 5,800