Erskine Connector Spring/Summer 2012
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fall 2016-2017 Greetings from the top of the stairs… by Michael J. McQuarrie, Headmaster ’Til Graduation Do We Part? Not Even Then. dmittedly, I am clumsy with my us in their future, and Aphone’s camera. Here is my first visit us at least annually, “selfie,” taken with half of the Class as do the alumni who of 2016 at Final Assembly. I attempted attend the All Alumni a second selfie with the other half of Reunion. Not surprising, the class but ended up with one of my the Connector’s class palm, I think. The scowl on my face is notes section continues actually concentration and determina- to expand by the many tion; I was intent on capturing this professional endeavors momentous occasion. and happy personal My photography challenges aside, developments of our take a closer look at the soon-to-be cherished alum. graduates. I hope you see what I know We also remain bound Finally, we give our heartfelt appreci- about them—accomplishment, spirit- to our veteran faculty members, who ation to our alumni and friends who edness, satisfaction, readiness, joy and after many years of dedicated service last year gave their time, talents, and celebration. This is what we want for begin their lives’ next chapter in financial donations to support Erskine all of our students at the close of their retirement. In this issue, we salute Academy. Your investment makes high school years. and appreciate Doran Stout for his 34 us a stronger and higher performing For these students, the Your unwavering years—a full career— school and raises our expectations. reality of high school’s end with Erskine. Mr. Stout, Your generosity enhances the student would come hours later at support keeps the an esteemed standout in experience and our facilities. Your Graduation 2016, at which Erskine Academy high school athletics, has unwavering support keeps the Erskine done more for Erskine a pertinent, final lesson is community healthy Academy community healthy and taught. From commence- athletics, coaches and whole, ensuring that we are forever ment speaker and alumnus and whole... athletes than anyone Eagles. Onward Erskine! Zackary Helm ’05 they or any collection of learn it’s not how you start individuals. His leave is something that most matters, it’s how still fresh, and his presence, wisdom Inside you finish. And I remind those in caps, and wit are missed. gowns, and in some cases sunglasses, In this issue we also report on this Reunion 2016 ..................................p. 2 we will never be together quite like year’s accomplishments to date, all of Zachary Helm ’05 Speech ................p. 5 this again. which are firsts: a perfect, undefeated Report of Contributions 2015-16 .... p. 7 season for our KVAC and State Class Though the relationship between Erskine's Got Spirit! ......................... p. 10 students and school invariably B Champion golf team; we became changes upon graduation, we don’t School Spirit Challenge Champions for Erskine Happenings......................... p. 13 part completely. Our graduates are 2016, having led the community effort Eagles Highlights ..............................p. 16 that raised nearly 85,000 pounds of forever bonded to us and the many Alumni Spotlight ..............................p. 18 thousands of Erskine Academy alumni food for Good Shepherd Food Bank of across the country, and some overseas, Maine and our local pantries; and we Class Notes .......................................p. 19 with whom they share the Erskine presented a Veterans Day Recognition In Memoriam ...................................p. 21 Academy experience. We hope that Assembly honoring local vets, many of our newly initiated alum will look whom are alumni, and featuring alum back on their school years fondly, keep who are active in the Maine Army National Guard. Erskine Connector Fall 2016–17 1 Scenes from Reunion 2016 Friday night kickoff fun n old fashioned Maine Alobster feast, ice cream sundaes, great weather, and old friends gathering 60s to share Erskine memories made for a wonderful reunion celebration this year. Friday evening a spirited crowd gathered at the China Dine-ah to kick off the weekend, and over 130 alumni and guests returned to 50s campus on Saturday for a very enjoyable afternoon. A dedicated group of alumni from recent years returned 80s to help serve at the event, and leadership seniors attended as guests. Members from the Class of 1966 were recognized on the occasion of their 50th Reunion and other milestone reunion classes were applauded. Donna Green Crockett ’63 was the recipient of the Volunteer Leadership Award and Mike ’91 and Paula ’92 Roddy Cuthbertson were awarded the Exemplary Service Award. Three senior’s names were drawn to receive Alumni Scholarship awards. Next year’s All Alumni Reunion will be June 2 and 3—we hope to see you there! 2 Erskine Connector Fall 2016–17 Erskine Connector Fall 2016–17 3 Scenes from Reunion 2016 FAR LEFT Donna Green Crockett ’63 and her husband Davy accepting the Volunteer Leadership Award. LEFT Recipients of EA Alumni Scholarships: Kayla Goggin; Lilja Bernheim; Adrianna Stinchfield Leadership seniors in attendance at Reunion 2016:L to R Assistant Headmaster John Clark; Associate Headmaster Jamie Soule; seniors Adrianna Stinchfield; Alainie Sawtelle; Lilja Bernheim, Joshua Reed; Abby Cooper; Olivia Leary; Kendrick Nikornpan; and Kayla Goggin; and Headmaster Mike McQuarrie Mike Wing and Hazen Smith of Dover Lobster 4 Erskine Connector Fall 2016–17 Zackary Helm ’05 Speech to the Class of 2016 rush things, and personal changes that supported this end up producing metamorphosis came from lessons I a sloppy and weak had learned while immersed in the conclusion. He Erskine community. The basis for believed that a good these lessons stemmed from the core ending could make values that were silently preached or break a text and everyday: scholarship, leadership, that writing the stewardship, and relationships. ending first would As was the case with me, these help focus the tenets have been instilled into each thesis and message of you every day of your Erskine of the story. It also career, and in part they are the allowed the author reason you are the people you are to pen arguably today. You all entered high school as the most important nervous teens; it’s okay, we can all portion of any be honest here, being a nervous teen hank you for that introduction, Mr. piece, the conclu- is normal. You were full of hopes, TMcQuarrie. It is a great honor to be sion, when they were full of that early dreams, and Random Ideas that would here, getting to see so many friendly, enthusiasm for the topic. It’s a writing later be expressed in your academic familiar faces. Let me start by saying, habit that I have come to embrace, so pursuits, extracurricular excellence, Class of 2016, welcome, congratula- good news, you can all look forward maybe even a burgeoning band of tions, you made it, give yourselves to the end of this speech, not that triplets. Continued successes in your a big round of applause!... Oh you’re you aren’t already! More importantly educational, professional, and personal done…I was really counting on that though, the philosophy behind this interests rests in part upon your ability lasting 10 minutes…would have been writing style really resonates and to blend these core values into your the best speech! makes sense, not just for writing everyday habits. It’s important to papers but for life in general; it’s not recognize how these core values allow When I was a sophomore at Erskine, how you start, it’s how you finish. This I had a World Literature class with you to shape the world around you opinion is by no means new age or and the impact it will have on future Ryan, ah, I mean Mr. Nored (I don’t unique to any one culture. know how long you have to be generations. graduated to get on a first name basis And while preparing this speech, Look no further than the importance with him, so I’ll play it safe). For our I took some time to reflect on my of scholarship in shaping how our first writing assignment with him, Mr. own Erskine experience and how global community functions. You Nored had us start out by authoring different my start was from my finish. might argue that scholarship ends the conclusion to our paper, then the I remember the awkward 14 year in the classroom, but I disagree. introduction, then the body. My initial old who moseyed into Mr. Scates’s Scholarship extends beyond the thoughts when he suggested this were homeroom full of insecurity, doubt, hallways of Erskine as an approach that this guy was crazy and probably and a complete inability to carry on you take in continuing your everyday needed a dictionary; I mean he had a conversation with a girl. Only four self-education. In my own educational mixed up the definitions of the words years later there was an eager 18-year- and professional experience, it has conclusion and introduction! However, old graduate preparing for college, been a thirst for knowledge that allows I soon came to realize he believed optimistic about the challenges that my colleagues and me to find answers himself to be extremely intelligent lay before him, and infused with a to challenging questions that will (as I am sure many of you know), so quiet confidence about his readiness change how fresh water is supplied to I assumed that meant he knew the for things to come. Fortunately for my future citizens of the world. wife, I still couldn’t talk to girls but in definitions of introduction and conclu- As a society, we put a premium on sion, which of course meant he was time I even sorted that out, though she might disagree! Love you dear! being informed, asking questions, certainly crazy! challenging conventional wisdom, But as it turns out I was wrong there, When I look back on those days, learning from each experience so we too, and his crazy idea was actually I think of the transformation that don’t repeat the mistakes of previous a really good one.