The Academic World

Vanessa J. Morris, of Germantown, graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania after its summer session.

Writer, poet, Vietnam veteran, and Haverford School English and history teacher William Ehrhart, of Mt. Airy, was honored as an outstanding graduate by his alma mater, Perkasie’s Pennridge High School, at a dinner last spring, when he became one of six inductees to the school's "Wall of Fame." Ehrhart, the author of seven books of poetry and six books of prose, was recently the literary awards guest author at St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wis.

Alexander Macy, a senior at Connecticut College, completed an internship this summer through the college’s Career Enhancing Life Skills program, by working for the Philadelphia Phillies. Macy, a 2000 graduate of The William Penn Charter School, is the son of Natalie Macy and Thomas Macy, both of Lafayette Hill.

Doug Malora, son of Todd and Laurie Malora, of Erdenheim, is performing with the Millersville University of Pennsylvania marching band, jazz ensemble and choir during the 2003-04 academic year. A graduate of Springfield Township High School, Malora is a junior industry and technology major at Millersville.

Anna Utsinger, of Chestnut Hill, a student at the Woodlynde School, has received a letter of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Of the 42 St. Joseph’s Prep School students who devoted a portion of their summer vacation working in five community service projects in four states, local students included Luke Kreider, Roxborough; Matt McCool, Erdenheim; Ryan Pollock, Lafayette Hill; Pete Roller, Chestnut Hill; Mark Foelster, Roxborough; Sean McGonigle, East Falls; Kevin Ryan, Chestnut Hill; Shannon Sweeney, Roxborough; and Karl Zimmerman, Lafayette Hill.

Germantown Academy opened its 2003-04 academic year on September 5 with 370 students in the lower school, 266 in the middle school, and 489 in the upper school. There are 16 new members of the faculty and staff, including Rebecca Lipstein, of Chestnut Hill, who will teach middle school English; K. Richardson, of Mt. Airy, upper school drama; and Linda Widrick, of Erdenheim, the development office manager. Other faculty include James Anderson teaching upper school science; Julie Doochin, upper school history; Jessica Grisafi, lower school art; Tina Harbilas, upper school mathematics; David Love, upper school art; Janice Marcheski, upper school Spanish; John Sloyan, upper school English; Joseph Xiong, middle school science and English; Arts Center production manager and technical director William Kingsbury; technology specialist Matthew Frank; lower school assistant April Young; admission office administrative assistant Kathy Blum; and lower school assistant Carin Piccirilli.

Gardner Own Cadwalader, of Chestnut Hill, has enrolled as a member of the Dartmouth College class of 2007.

Bishop McDevitt High School senior Jasmine Vincent attended the 2003 National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine last summer at Villanova University. The 10-day summer program is designed to inspire, motivate and direct our nation’s most promising future physicians.

Daniel Lenhardt Shuman, son of Joyce Lenhardt and Robert Shuman of Chestnut Hill, is enrolled for fall 2003 admission at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology. Shuman, recipient of both RIT’s presidential and honors scholarships, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science First and Second Awards, and a National Merit Finalist, is majoring in computer engineering in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering. Daniel is a June 2003 Central High School graduate.

Gwendolyn Anderson and Daniel Seals, both of Mt. Airy and both sophomores at Syracuse University, were part of Syracuse’s “Goon Squad” in August: volunteer upperclassmen who assist new students and their parents as they move into residence halls.

New student council officers at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown are Anne Marie Daly, president; Regina McKenna, vice president; and Rhea Gargullo, secretary/treasurer. And new National Honor Society officers at MSJ are Ponney Palanisamy of Lansdale, president; Jill Heinly of Plymouth Meeting, vice president; and Mary Sasso, of Gwynedd Valley, secretary/treasurer. Fifty-four students were inducted into the NHS at the Mount this year.

A new multi-purpose building, arts studio, and new pre-kindergarten classroom at Plymouth Meeting Friends School has opened. These are the first new buildings designed and created specifically for the school in over 200 years.

Dr. Stephen A. Bonnie, of Mt. Airy, recently completed a course on Shakespeare’s Henry VI at the St. Johns College in Santa Fe, N.M. Bonnie is admissions director, head track coach and English teacher at William Penn Charter School.

Jeremiah Curtiss, of Wyndmoor, has been awarded a Founder's scholarships at Syracuse University. Curtiss is enrolled in Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts majoring in industrial design.

Congratulations to the 2004 Mount Saint Joseph Academy National Merit Semifinalists: Jill Heinly (Plymouth Meeting); Jennifer Feden (Southampton); Christina Moran (North Hills); Ponney Palanisamy (Lansdale); Colleen Longacre (Ambler); Jessie Taylor (Melrose Park); Laura Sullivan (Blue Bell); Jacquelyn Nowicke (Richboro); and Alexandra Wigglesworth (East Falls).