SUMMER 2011 Amazon Adventure FIELD TRIP OF A LIFETIME COMMENCEMENT 2011 prESIdEnT’S MESSAgE DEAR SHADY SIDE ACADEMY COMMUNITY: As a young teacher back in 1990, I remember telling my students that they were living through history. The Cold War had ended, and Americans were trying to adjust to life without a Soviet Union or an “Iron Curtain.” It wasn’t as easy as we had hoped. Out of a scary yet predictable bi-polar world emerged a multi-polar world which was emphatically less predictable, but, in the end, no less scary. Old truths that governed international relations didn’t seem to apply any more, and new truths proved to be elusive. In the 20 years since, things haven’t settled down all that much. In addition high level of cultural literacy and awareness, issues and trends in secondary and higher to the continued challenges within the and above all, be flexible and adaptive. education that will, in one way or another, former Soviet Union, we’ve seen the rise To meet these educational challenges impact our development. The highlight of of China and India, the emergence of Al and ensure that Shady Side Academy the process will be an 80+ person retreat Qaeda and the tragedy of 9/11, the fall of continues to thrive in the 21st century, on campus in november. Our goal is to Saddam Hussein, the Internet revolution, Shady Side’s Board of Trustees was joined unveil the completed strategic plan to the the economic meltdown of 2008, and by our Board of Visitors and administrative community in spring 2012. continued, bloody strife in parts of Africa. team for a two-day strategic planning The guidance provided by the strategic Most recently, we’ve witnessed the collapse retreat under the guidance of Andy plan will allow Shady Side Academy to of repressive regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, Mozenter, senior partner of the consulting continue to be a leading independent and, quite possibly, Libya. It’s hard to firm Concentrics. The ambitious task of school in Western pennsylvania. It will know where all of this will lead. the weekend was twofold: first, to identify also ensure that our students have a deep One thing we do know for certain the core values and historic strengths of understanding of the complex world is that today’s world is profoundly the Shady Side educational experience; in which they live and the knowledge interconnected, fast-changing, multi- and second, to highlight the principal and skills to be leaders in business, polar and increasingly competitive. Like challenges and opportunities the Academy education, government and other fields. the United States, the populations of many will encounter in the coming years. It is all very exciting stuff! countries are becoming more diverse This was just the first step in what will be as people migrate from lands of limited a year-long, thorough, inclusive process, Sincerely, freedom and opportunity to lands of involving at different levels hundreds much greater freedom and opportunity. of people from various Shady Side That means that today’s students must be constituencies: students, parents, alumni, knowledgeable about the world, possess faculty, staff, trustees and others. We’ll excellent critical thinking and analytical also be speaking with educational thought Tom Cangiano skills, be creative problem solvers, have a leaders to seek their expertise on key Academy president SUMMEr 2011 contents 12 10 Academy Formally Installs Tom Cangiano as 15th President 12 Amazon Adventure 20 Commencement 2011 36 Q&A: New Senior School Head Kate Vavpetic 48 Alumni Profi le: Bentley Weiner ’92 52 Alumni Profi le: 10 20 Rakesh Surampudi ’87 Editor Lindsay Kovach Associate Editor 36 48 Jennifer Roupe Contributors David Chottiner ’98 Jamie Brush ’98 Cristina Rouvalis Sarah York Rubin Photography Features: John Altdorter, Steve Barrett, Linda Cangiano, Lindsay Kovach, Carol Mathieson Additional photos provided by SSA faculty, staff, coaches, students and parents. Class notes photos are submitted by alumni and class correspondents. Design Quest Fore ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Printing Broudy Printing 2 Around the Academy 52 If you are interested in becoming a contributor to Shady Side Academy Magazine, please contact Lindsay Kovach at [email protected]. 38 Untucked Shady Side Academy Magazine is published twice a year for Shady Side Academy alumni, parents and friends. 40 Hillman Performing Arts Series Letters and suggestions are welcome and should be sent to Lindsay Kovach, Shady Side Academy, 423 Fox Chapel Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Address corrections should 42 Sports Briefs be sent to the Alumni & Development Offi ce, Shady Side Academy, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. 56 Alumni Events Junior School, 400 S. Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15221, (412) 473-4400 Class Notes Middle School, 500 Squaw Run Road East, 60 Pittsburgh, PA 15238, (412) 968-3100 Senior School, 423 Fox Chapel Rd., 65 In Memoriam Pittsburgh, PA 15238, (412) 968-3000 www.shadysideacademy.org 69 Calendar of Events FSC to be placed by printer facebook.com/shadysideacademy twitter.com/shady_side SHADY SIDE ACADEMY / SUMMER 2011 / 1 aroundNEWS AND NOTES theacademy PHOTO EXHIBITS HIT THE HILLMAN An exhibit of former Pittsburgh Courier photographer Teenie Harris’ photographs, which is considered one of the most important documentations of 20th-century African American life, was on display at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts from Feb. 14-March 31, 2011. The exhibit was curated by Kimberly Flit ’11, Adam Petraglia ’11 and Rashaad Phillips ’12. In April, Shady Side hosted a traveling exhibit, China: Exploring the Interior 1903-1904. Diana Wood, the enrichment and sustainability coordinator for the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia at the University of Pittsburgh and a former SSA faculty member, was instrumental in bringing the exhibit to the Academy. DRUMMING AND DANCING West African dance troupe Bi-Okoto visited the Middle School on March 2, 2011, to perform traditional dances and storytelling. Students had studied the many regions in Africa, and Bi- Okoto helped to enhance the understanding of countries such as Togo, Ghana and Guinea. Students and faculty joined in by playing traditional African drums and performing dances. JUNIOR SCHOOL WELCOMES GRANDPARENTS On April 15, 2011, the Junior School welcomed grandparents to attend a morning of festivities in their honor. The day began with an assembly in the gymnasium, featuring song, dance and instrumental performances. Grandparents then visited classrooms for hands-on fun and learning. 2 / SUMMER 2011 / SHADY SIDE ACADEMY KISS ME, KATE The Senior School hosted three performances of the musical production Kiss Me, Kate on Feb. 4-6, 2011. More than 70 students were involved in the production, which combines Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew with Cole Porter’s music and lyrics, telling the story of a play within a play. The performance starred senior Ahono Gildersleeve as Katharine/Lilli Vanessi, sophomore Blake Beckemeyer as Petruchio/Fred Graham, senior Shannon Kirk as Bianca/Lois Lane and freshman Shaun Gohel as Lucentio/Bill Calhoun. Faculty member Claire DePalma was the director. ANNUAL GRANDParenTS’ DaY HELD AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL Grandparents of Middle School students spent a day in the life of their grandchildren, as they were welcomed to campus April 14, 2011. Sixth grade English students greeted their guests by reading original poetry and donning special hats. All grandparents enjoyed following their student’s daily schedule and attending an assembly in the cafetorium. CARDBOARD CANOE RACES Mark Skinner’s Physics II class took their lessons in fl uids, energy conservation in fl owing fl uids, pressure in static situations and buoyancy into practice on March 7, 2011, when they designed and built cardboard boats. Students placed their creations in the swimming pool, climbed on and raced to the other end. While some were successful, others were a soggy spectacle. Classmates and faculty members cheered on the fun. SHADY SIDE ACADEMY / SUMMER 2011 / 3 aroundtheacademy CUM LAUDE SOCIETY INDUCTS 24 The Shady Side Academy Cum Laude Society induction ceremony was held April 14, 2011, FIVE SENIORS NAMED at the Richard E. Rauh Theater. Inductees included Jemila Adoki, Nicholas Barnes, Ally NATIONAL MERIT Bernstein, Benjamin Cohen, David Currie, Haley DeJulio, Natalie Domeisen, Rafaella SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS Fontes, David G. Franklin, Madhav Iyengar, Aubrey Jaicks, Broderick Kelley, Alexander Five seniors were named fi nalists Lewen, Sara Perelman, Christina Policastro, Katherine Prochownik, Elizabeth Roll, in the 56th annual National Merit Elizabeth Ross, Matthew Russavage, Noah Schoen, Lexie Scozio, Niteesh Sundaram, Scholarship Program. The students Rachel Tobin, Ann Marie Tumolo and Lauren Williams. The keynote speaker was Senior had the opportunity to compete for School faculty member Charles Shafer ’06. National Merit Scholarship awards, competing against 15,000 fi nalists nationwide. The students were Jemila Adoki, David Currie, Madhav Iyengar, Noah Schoen and Niteesh Sundaram. TWO STUDENTS PERFORM WE GOT ANNIE! AT PMEA MUSIC FESTIVAL Middle School students presented the musical Annie for parents and guests on Feb. 25, Seniors Jessica Gurrentz and Shannon 2011, in the school cafetorium. One of the most popular Broadway shows of all time, Kirk were selected to perform at the Annie starred eighth grader Kate Mnuskin as Annie, seventh grader Julia Shelby as Miss Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Hannigan, eighth grader Nurul Abd Salim Nast as Lily St.