MiddlesexSpring 2021 - Alumni in STEM Careers - Middlesex School
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Middlesex Spring 2021
Alumni in
STEM Careers
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 i
From the Head of School
In Gratitude
In the final springtime weeks of this academic almost immediately, clearing patches to
year, I am so very thankful for our school skate and practice. Later that afternoon,
community. with a light snow coming down, students
Like many students, faculty, and staff, I and faculty alike enjoyed the day and the
missed the spring of 2020. In fact, I’ve never simplicity of play, and ice, and companion-
seen Middlesex in its full, busy, springtime ship. They walked or skated out on that
glory. Nonetheless, we have made the very ice with the delightful feeling of being
best of it in 2021. We have been treated to suspended between earth and sky.
string performances and steel bands, art I particularly liked seeing those students
exhibits and films, and even a challenging who had never been on a frozen pond before;
spring musical. Despite the truncated ath- they didn’t fully trust the ice initially, but
letics season, we have engaged in high-level then, with each step, they showed growing
competition. The Circle has regained its confidence and a smile that accompanied,
rightful place as the hub of our campus lives. perhaps, a feeling of mild peril mixed with
Perhaps most importantly, we have carried support that does not waver.
on with learning in all the various ways Isn’t this what Middlesex is like?
that it happens on this campus. I wish for something like this experience
Still, this year has underscored for me for our students next year. Returning students
the desirability of a fully in-person Middle- will have their feet under them. They know
sex experience. If we are to find our promise, they can trust the ice—and the new ones
Middlesex individually and collectively, the very best will learn.
Spring 2021
way for that to move forward is schooling that I often ask our community to think
Head of School is full time and face to face. This is why I am about all the ways in which what we do now
David J. Beare
Director of Development
very happy to convey to all our constituencies is built upon foundations laid by others:
Heather Parker that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, parents, teachers, coaches, alumni, and
Director of Advancement
George Noble
Middlesex will be fully in-person next year, friends of the School. So many people are
Editor with no remote learning. We will practice the supportive ice under these students’ feet.
Maria Lindberg and compete in the ISL for full seasons, and When we come back in September, our
Design
NonprofitDesign.com we will return to classes, clubs, dorms, and students will be ever more ready to push
Photography the dining hall fully vaccinated and ready off and glide, and the wind they feel on
Joel Haskell, Tony Rinaldo,
Risley Sports Photography
to go. their faces will be the feeling of satisfaction
Letters to the Editor Letters to the
Looking back, one of my favorite and deep joy that comes with growing
editor are welcome and may be edited memories of the past year was the day, in the accomplishment.
for clarity and space. Please send your
letters to Editor, Middlesex Bulletin, dead of winter, when we were able to open
1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742,
or e-mail mlindberg@mxschool.edu.
the ice on Bateman’s Pond for the first time in
Alumni News We welcome news from three years. The hockey teams were out there
alumni, parents, and friends of Middle-
sex School. Please send your news and
labeled photographs to Alumni News,
Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road,
Concord, MA 01742, or e-mail alumni@
mxschool.edu.
Address Corrections Please notify
us of your change of address. Write to
Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road,
Concord, MA 01742 or e-mail alumni@
mxschool.edu.
Parents of Alumni If this magazine is
addressed to a son or daughter who no
longer maintains a permanent address
at your home, please advise us of his or
her new address. Thank you!
Contents
Mission Statement Features
Middlesex School is an independent,
14 COVID and the College Bound
As Middlesex’s Dean of College Counseling
non-denominational, residential,
college-preparatory school that, for and Student Enrichment, Matt DeGreeff details
over 100 years, has been committed how the pandemic has altered the college search
to excellence in the intellectual, process and how his office has managed the
ethical, creative, and physical devel- challenges.
opment of young people. We honor
the ideal, articulated by our founding 19 The Racial Equity Project
Head Master, of “finding the promise” To help the school community better understand
in every student, and we work and constructively respond to racism, Middlesex
together in an atmosphere of mutual students and Sojourn Theatre created a powerful
trust and shared responsibility to and unique production, performed online in
help students bring their talents to December.
fruition as knowledgeable, capable,
responsible, and moral citizens
of the world. As a community, we
22 Passionately Curious: Alumni in
respect the individual interests, STEM Careers
strengths, and needs of each stu- Meet nine lifelong learners who are enthusi-
dent. We also value the rich diversity astically engaged in finding answers and solving
of belief and experience each of problems in the sciences, technology, engineer-
us brings to the School. ing, and mathematics.
We expect that each student will
bring his or her best efforts to the
shared endeavor of learning and Departments
that the School, through its faculty,
will engage and encourage each 2 Life 360
student’s growth, happiness, Expanding Hollywood’s Horizons; Presiden-
and well-being. We aspire for all tial Scholar Harris ’21; Resourceful Weekend
Middlesex students to develop Activities; The Big Eleven; On Race and
personal integrity, intellectual
Democracy; Creative Community Service;
vitality and discipline, and respect
A PhysicsBowl First
for themselves and for others.
We expect each student to engage
energetically and cooperatively in 8 Middlesex People
the life of the School, and we seek Careers Amid COVID; Honoring Middlesex’s
to inspire in all students the desire Black Pioneers
to seek understanding of them-
selves and the larger world, 10 Team Highlights
both now and in their futures. Soccer All-American Kwabena Kwakwa ’21;
Nordic Skiing Revival
On the Cover 31 Alumni Notes and News
The Clay Centennial Center, Class Notes; In Memoriam
home to Middlesex’s STEM
Division. Photo by Joel Haskell.
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 1
360° Life on the Circle
Clarke ’21, whose comprehensive questions
covered everything from his early interests
and influences to his thoughts on Holly-
wood to his advice for Middlesex students.
“I always wanted to write,” he said, perhaps
from the time he won the principal’s writing
award in first grade. If being a Hollywood
writer seemed like an impossible dream, his
doubts were only confirmed by those who
told him, “That’s crazy,” and by his father,
who pressed him to go to law school. “My
dad was from a different era,” he allowed.
“Writing was a hobby, not a career.”
At Andover, however, Saji initially
thought he would be a physicist—until his
freshman physics course. “I felt like everyone
“Art without an audience is a did their thing so well,” he said of his fellow
journal,” Peter Ray Saji said. students. “I was feeling like a fraud: I have
“To be good, you have to put
your ego on the line and put
no thing! Until I found it senior year.” In
your work out there. Then photography and filmmaking courses that
lick your wounds if you fail.” year, he noted, “That was the hardest I ever
(Photo by Bjorn Iooss for worked in school; I was always either in the
Bonobos)
darkroom or the editing room.” And when
his project was screened at Andover’s annual
film festival, he recalled, “The first joke went
Telling Different over well. People were liking what I did,
and I thought, ‘I want this…forever.’”
Stories
Sitcom Start
Middlesex rounded out its observance of While majoring in pre-law at the University
Black History Month on February 23 with of Virginia, Saji wrote a couple of screenplays
an All-School Assembly on Zoom featuring and envisioned himself writing dramas.
writer and producer Peter Ray Saji, who Instead, “I went to Hollywood and stumbled
shared his career path and reflected on diver- into comedy,” he said, working on scripts for
sity in Hollywood. Having been a lead writer TV shows like Cavemen and Cougar Town.
for ABC’s hit show Black-ish for five seasons, “That I was getting paid to write was excit-
Saji became a co-creator of the successful ing,” he affirmed, even if the content was not
spinoff Mixed-ish and now writes for the quite what he had in mind, and he was the
show while also pursuing additional projects. only person of color in the writers’ room.
His visit was arranged by Erika Prahl, dean At Black-ish, Saji found a more inclusive
of diversity, equity, and inclusion, whose work environment. “I was in a room full of
friendship with him goes back to their writers who had been ‘the only’ in the room,
student days at Phillips Academy Andover. who had felt marginalized,” he related.
“We could all exhale. The experience now
A Born Writer is different; there are more opportunities
Departing from the usual format of deliver- for people telling different stories. It’s so
ing an address, Saji was interviewed by Olivia different that it doesn’t feel real.”
2 MIDDLESEX spring 2021
Saji is credited with
writing some of the most Presidential Scholar Andrew Harris ’21
thought-provoking and
important Black-ish scripts
—the very ones that he is
most proud of, particularly
‘Juneteenth,’ which com-
memorated June 19, 1865,
when enslaved people in
the U.S. were emancipated.
“The idea of that episode
was, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if
that was a holiday?’” Saji
explained. “Then, last year,
banks were closed on that
day. I never thought that
would happen.”
His “Purple Rain” epi-
sode about Prince is another
favorite, as is “Please, Baby, As part of his February 2020 photo exhibition, Mx Fam: My Voice, My Power, Presidential Scholar
Andrew Harris ’21 included a self-portrait.
Please,” which ABC regarded
as politically controversial To an impressive list of leadership positions top honors in New York Times competitions,
and banned from being aired and awards, Andrew Harris ’21 recently as well as from the Scholastic Art Awards,
in 2018. It was released on learned that could add one more distinction. the National YoungArts Foundation, and
Hulu last August. On May 13, 2021, the U.S. Department of the International Photography Awards.
Education announced that Andrew is one His outstanding exhibition, Mx Fam: My
Learn from Failure of the 161 high school seniors chosen for Voice, My Power, filled Middlesex’s Ishibashi
Whether or not Hollywood the 57th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars. Gal-lery in February 2020, and several
will continue to expand its Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential images appeared in the Concord Public
openness to diverse stories Scholars Program honors the nation’s top- Library’s virtual exhibit last February.
is “too early to say,” cautions performing students. This year, of the 3.6 For Andrew, photography offers a way
Saji, who is about to pitch a million students expected to graduate from to connect people with one another, as each
very personal show about his high school, more than 6,000 qualified for portrait “not only identifies people’s unique-
family. Asked for his parting the 2021 awards, as determined by outstand- ness but what brings us together,” he observes.
advice, he stressed the value ing performance on the College Board SAT As a digital art form, it also intersects with
of failure and rejection. “My or ACT exams, or through special nomina- his interest in computer science. At Tufts
advice is: Go fail. So many tions. Candidates were then invited to apply University next fall, Andrew will begin a five-
kids are trying to be perfect. for the honor, and approximately 500 semifi- year program culminating in two degrees:
You need to try and make nalists were chosen from those applicants. a B.S. in computer science and a B.F.A. in
mistakes. That’s going to The finalists include two students from photography through the School of the
show you what you want each state, the District of Columbia and Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.
to do. It’s going to show you Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad. Greatly valuing personal connection,
what you want—like me: Another 15 were chosen at-large, while 20 Andrew appreciates everyone who has helped
not physics. It’s also going were designated scholars in career and tech- him along the way, giving “a giant thanks to
to help you get better.” M nical education, and 20 were named scholars Erika Prahl [dean of diversity, equity, and
in the arts. inclusion], Roan Callahan [visual arts faculty],
Andrew is among those select scholars in Natalie Martinez [associate director of college
the arts; his photographic portraits have won counseling], and a lot of other people.” M
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 3
360° Life on the Circle
and biking along the trails in the woods
were also great ways to take a break.
Meanwhile, the Circle became even
more central to campus life; extra benches
and chairs made it an easy place to gather.
On different weekends, the lawn turned into
a course for mini golf, a prep area for the
Baking Club, and a venue for nighttime
movies and video games, projected on
sizeable screens.
Some traditions required a bit of rethink-
ing, such as replacing typical Dorm Wars
contests with COVID-safe ones, like a race-
course for pedal carts and water balloon
dodge ball. Other ideas came from looking at
familiar locations in a new way. The Bancroft
Courtyard became the perfect area for a
roller-skating rink, a Ping Pong tournament,
and Freedom of Speech performances, where
The joys of pond skating and
outdoor hockey were discovered MX Delivers on students share their talents with the
community.
by many when Bateman’s Pond
froze in February for the first Weekend Activities
time in a few years. (photo Seasonal Alternatives
by Doug Worthen ’96) In a typical year, Middlesex students can Winter was more challenging, but with lower
look forward to a series of popular weekend capacity limits indoors, open skating was
events: Random Dance, Dorm Wars, Santa allowed in the Pratt Rink, while Ping Pong
Skate, and Casino Night—as well as off- tournaments and basketball games moved
campus excursions to Cambridge, Boston, into the Cage—which was converted into
and other places nearby. But not during a laser tag fields one night. Online offerings
pandemic. What diversions could the expanded, including dorm trivia contests,
School offer instead? bingo and board games, yoga sessions, and
“We talked about the things they nor- even a virtual escape room.
mally have and want to do,” Student Activities Fire pits remained a staple of cold Satur-
Director Anna Marchand ’07 says of her dis- day nights, made warmer by the “faculty snack
cussions with her Student Activity Officers. cart,” which brought around hot chocolate or
“It made us look at events through a new lens cider and munchkins. Another favorite service
and think about what is important to keep. —apart from the occasional food truck—
And it gave us an opportunity to change was “MXDelivers” on Sunday evenings,
things.” when students could order from a specified
restaurant, and faculty on duty would bring
Adapting and Improvising their meals back to campus.
With outdoor activities being the safest Admittedly, this has been “an odd year
option, attention focused on making the filled with a lot of figuring things out as we
most of the campus and its natural resources. go,” allows Student Activities Officer Olivia
New fire pits and additional basketball hoops Clark ’21. Still, she reflects, “I’ve learned that
outside the dormitories were immediately no idea is too small. Working with a group
appreciated, as were weekend canoe rentals of people, you can cultivate an idea and make
for paddling around Bateman’s Pond. Hiking it something worthwhile to set up.” M
4 MIDDLESEX spring 2021
The Big Eleven
November 14, 2020
Written by Stephen LaConte
Directed by Ryan DuBray process as best they can, providing plenty of entertainment
along the way.
When the School’s gleaming, state-of-the art Kaye Theatre In having to use a dozen campus classrooms for sets
had to remain empty last fall—not usable given State restric- in lieu of the complex ones that he would typically build on
tions on physical distancing and the size of indoor gather- stage, Ryan was free to put his directorial skills to work. He
ings—Middlesex’s Performing Arts Department responded held rehearsals over Zoom three evenings a week with the
accordingly: Instead of staging one production in person, cast of 12, many of whom were first-time performers at
two would be presented online in the first semester. Middlesex. After six weeks, they were ready for the live show
Director of Technical Theatre and Design Ryan DuBray on Zoom. With great wit and timing, the performers gave all
took on the first play, The Big Eleven, a humorous look at those who tuned in a welcome bit of comedy—and success-
“the chaotic world of nine juniors who are about to make the fully carried out a resourceful solution to creating theatre,
most important decision of their lives…or so they’re told.” even in constrained circumstances.
Faced with an eccentric guidance counselor, pushy parents, For a look at the second online play performed last
and the stress of achieving impressive test scores and tran- fall—an original production called The Racial Equity
scripts, the student characters navigate the college search Project—see page 19. M
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 5
360° Life on the Circle
Facing History
Reflecting on the country’s polarized political
climate, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
and resulting economic uncertainty, and
the deaths of George Floyd and other Black
Americans, Dr. Glaude put forward two
underlying ideas for the community’s consid-
eration: that the lives of Black people are less
valued and that America’s gradually changing
racial composition is a worrisome transition.
To some people in the country, Dr. Glaude
said, “The American idea is in trouble.”
America has been here before, however,
as he pointed out, “Reconstruction could
have been the realization of a multiracial
democracy.” Instead, Jim Crow laws were
instituted. Civil rights advances made in
the 1960s, he added, have been countered
by other oppositional actions, such as gerry-
mandering and voter suppression efforts.
By clinging to a virtuous story of the country’s
founding, he continued, “We are trapped in
a history we refuse to know.”
To reimagine what America can be, Dr.
In America today, “We are facing
a moral reckoning,” Dr. Glaude
Reimagining America Glaude advised, “We have to confront what
stated. “What does ‘we the people’ we’ve done and who we are. We have to
mean? How do we imagine unity?” As Black History Month began, and Middle- grapple with a past that continues to haunt
(Photo by Sameer A. Khan, sex students and faculty continued to consider us.” Though he acknowledged that America
Fotobuddy LLC) has historically not done well in facing these
how racism can intersect with everyday
practices and policies, the community turned issues at pivotal moments, he added that he
its attention to the country’s political system, concurs with the author Samuel Beckett,
taking a closer look at democracy and race who wrote, “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
during a virtual visit with Dr. Eddie Glaude,
Jr. on February 6, 2021. Moving Forward
An esteemed scholar and compelling Leaving time for students to ask questions,
speaker, Dr. Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Dr. Glaude responded thoughtfully to each,
Distinguished University Professor and chair encouraging the community to remain
of Princeton’s Department of African American hopeful by “keeping track of the goodness
Studies, a program he first became involved of people” and discouraging the demonizing
with shaping as a doctoral candidate in of opponents. “Keep the concept of justice
religion at the university. In his best-known in front of us,” he emphasized. Above all,
books, Dr. Glaude focuses on the difficulties Dr. Glaude advocated for truth, in words
of race in the United States and the challenges and actions.
that democracy faces. Framing his address Students then met with their advisors
for his Middlesex audience, he directed his to discuss the issues Dr. Glaude raised and
remarks to “where we’ve been, what we’ve think about what they as individuals can
done, and what we can be” in terms of race do to make the community more inclusive
and democracy in America. and equitable. M
6 MIDDLESEX spring 2021
Service from Physics Teams Triumph
a Distance
One Middlesex program that
has been greatly affected by
COVID-19 is community service.
Because organizations have had
to prohibit or restrict visitors
and volunteers, many of the
School’s usual service activities
could not take place.
But when the second semester
started, one organization—
Heading Home—offered a novel
way for students to participate
in community service. Founded
in 1974, Heading Home provides
emergency shelter, transitional
housing, permanent housing,
and supportive services to
homeless and formerly home-
less families and individuals
in the Boston area. Thanks to
the initiative of Ryan Ewing ’17, Seniors taking AP Physics C this year—including Brian Choi ’21 (standing, fourth from right), who earned
the Middlesex community has the top Division 2 score in the PhysicsBowl—commemorated their last day of class together with a group
been volunteering with Heading photo . . . and the right-hand rule for cross products in magnetism and torque. (Photo by Sara Kate May)
Home since 2014, helping to
equip and move families into Undeterred by pandemic complications, the Brown ’22, Julian Dai ’22, and Oliver Mitchell
housing.
2020-2021 Middlesex Physics Teams had ’22. Mariam Craig ’22 added 22 points, and
Through three different Zoom their best year ever participating in the annual either Annabel Austen ’22 or Adam Ewing ’22
presentations given by Martha PhysicsBowl competition, hosted by the contributed the final 21 points. Also beating
Buckley of Heading Home, stu- American Association of Physics Teachers. the national average score of 16.1 were Lucas
dents learned more about the
issue of homelessness and how
The PhysicsBowl is a challenging, DeGreeff ’22 (20), Isabel Xue ’22 (19), Char-
they could be of assistance. One 40-question multiple-choice test, taken lotte Bain ’22 (19), Nina Gong ’21 (18), Ethan
project involved writing letters this year by 5800 students around the world, Chang ’22 (18), and Linda Qin ’22 (17).
of encouragement to Heading including 46 Middlesex students. Middlesex In Division 2, Middlesex handily won
Home clients; another required
competes in Region 3 (New England schools, the region, earning 116 points on this more
reading storybooks aloud and
contributing the recordings both public and private), with first-year difficult test. Brian Choi’s score of 27 was
to a “digital library” for young physics students competing in Division 1 and the highest in the region and more than one
children in shelters. The experi- second-year students competing in Division 2. standard deviation above the national average
ence was another great example Team scores consist of the top five scores of 18.7. He is the first Middlesex student ever
of creative improvisation, find-
ing ways to make a difference, from each school. to earn the top score in Region 3. Not far
even during a pandemic. M Faculty coaches Tom Erickson, Sara behind, Justin Yoon ’21 earned 26 points to
Kate May, and Steven Mylon were pleased to tie the second highest scorer in the region.
learn that the School’s Division 1 team came The team’s total was rounded out by Zan
in second in Region 3, while in Division 2, Danoff ’21 (23), Ian Dhar ’21 (20), and Basha
Middlesex was the Region 3 champion. Brian Waxman ’21 (20). Also beating the national
Choi ’21 was the top individual Division 2 average with 19 points each were Erin Davies
scorer. ’21, Caleb Krueger ’21, and Otis Hutcheson
With a tally of 112 points, the Division 1 ’21—an excellent finish to their Middlesex
team was led by scores of 23 from Henry physics careers. M
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 7
Middlesex People
Careers During COVID
year, to put it mildly,” adding, “I don’t think
I’ve ever worked harder.” His observation
mirrored that of other alumni, like Noelle
Nelson ’12, a senior staffing services associate
in leadership recruiting at Google. “It took us
back to our start-up roots,” she found, as the
company hurried to meet customers’ rapidly
changing needs, particularly those of remote
teachers and learners. Similarly, COVID
had a drastic impact on the work of Prentis
Robinson ’07, a restructuring associate at
Kirkland & Ellis LLP. “When things are not
going well, we get extremely busy,” he said
of the many hours spent guiding clients
through tumultuous times.
For Christina Jordan ’01, the deputy
chief talent officer at Chicago Public Schools,
the pandemic presented multiple challenges,
While in-person career panels If they do not realize it during their student for “school is more than just a place where
certainly have their advantages, days on campus, graduates of the School soon you get education,” she noted, clarifying that
January’s virtual event made it
easier to involve alumni from
come to learn that their Middlesex circle of many students receive meals, counseling, and
all around the country. friends and mentors can expand to include health care there. “I think the pandemic
the entire network of alumni. One of the really brought to the surface a number of
ways that the Middlesex Alumni Association inequities, not just across the city of Chicago
highlights and fosters these interconnections but across the nation,” she said. Dealing with
is through its Career Panels, typically held differences in access to technology, distributing
annually in Boston and New York City. In meals, trying to make buildings safe, managing
pandemic times, however, two urban events a remote workforce, and providing counseling
became one virtual meeting, which allowed in a traumatic year were among the school
more alumni to attend than ever—and made system’s numerous priorities this year.
it possible for people to watch a recording
of the evening if they could not be present Lessons Learned
on January 14, 2021. At AstraZeneca, where Rich Buckley ’87
serves as vice president for global corporate
The Pandemic Pace affairs, work became “24/7 since March,” with
That night, six panelists represented a variety colleagues feeling “inspired and purposeful
of fields—from finance and technology to but tired.” Over this time, he has noticed “the
education and law—and shared their experi- rise of the introverts”—people who might not
ences of the past year, as well as their reflections speak up in a large meeting but who were
on the challenges and opportunities they comfortable entering a good question into
have encountered. A vice president and client Zoom’s “chat” function. “How do we not lose
advisor at J.P. Morgan, Moderator Gavin that?” he wondered. “As we transition back,
Johnson ’09 aptly described 2020 as “a wild how do we hold onto what works?”
8 MIDDLESEX spring 2021Having had to figure
out new ways to interact and
Those Who Came First
educate, Christina also recog- Honoring Middlesex’s Black Pioneers
nizes this period as an oppor-
tunity to enact change, to
develop structures that can Every spring, Alumni Weekend provides
support all students and the chance not only to celebrate a graduation
their needs. “We’re thinking anniversary with friends and mentors but
about how to get better than also to commemorate significant events in
the status quo and how to the School’s history. This year, part of the
address the inequities that weekend’s virtual programming recognizes
have come to the surface,” the School’s first Black graduates—on the
she stated. “It’s forced us to occasion of their 50th reunions—and the
think how to improve our first Black faculty member, history teacher
technology and our systems.” Ken Whitlock. A special video has been
As a senior specialist created as a tribute, rightfully honoring
with the Humanitarian them as pioneers.
Program Portfolio at Save Decades separated Ken’s arrival from
the Children, Sasha Poll those early students. Duane Jones ’70 and
McConnell ’01 has appre- James Ellis ’70 entered the fifth class in 1965
ciated having the autonomy and were soon joined by Dwight Hill ’71, Joe
and flexibility to work from Watkins ’71, and Herbie Graves ’71. Duane,
home, especially with two Dwight, and Joe share some of their impres-
young children there. A sions and memories of their Middlesex years
recent survey, she reported, in the film, as do several retired administra-
showed that among her tors and faculty members from that time,
colleagues, “Ninety-eight including third Headmaster David Sheldon,
percent felt they were doing Perry Boyden, Brian Davis, and Hugh Fort-
Attending Middlesex 51 years apart, former
a good job,” which suggests miller. Current students contribute their Trustee Joe Watkins ’71 and his granddaughter
that the agency could rethink thoughts as well, appreciating that the first Taylor Portlock ’22 compare and contrast their
its need for centralized office Black students to attend the School were experiences in the video tribute honoring the
space. “I think flexible work paving the way and opening access for future School’s Black pioneers. (photo by Whit Wales)
arrangements are going to generations of BIPOC alumni. Not surpris-
stay, and I think that’s across ingly, the pioneers’ leadership has extended experiences with segregation enlighten
industries,” Gavin predicted. into their careers, families, and communities his classes. The School recently announced
In the responses to —like Middlesex, where they have served that the Kenneth E. Whitlock, Jr. Black
questions at the evening’s as trustees and commencement speakers. History Month Speaker Series has now
end, one recurring recom- Twenty-one years after Black students been funded in his honor.
mendation became clear: were admitted to Middlesex, Ken Whitlock Sadly, not long after filming, Dwight Hill
Keep in touch with Middle- was hired as a faculty member, and he con- ’71 passed away unexpectedly (see page 51),
sex friends and reach out tinues teaching today, sharing his passion for and the final production has been dedicated
to the alumni network. United States history with the School every in his memory. Yet, along with his fellow Black
Camaraderie and support— year. His colleagues—past and present— pioneers, Dwight has established a legacy
as well as advice and in- and several of his recent students talk in the of leadership that has shaped and enriched
spiration—can always be video about their admiration for Ken, high- Middlesex, helping the School to find its
found through these lighting how his quiet wisdom and firsthand own promise. M
connections. M
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 9Team Highlights For more sports news visit
https://athletics.mxschool.edu
Girls’ Cross-Country Boys’ Cross-Country Field Hockey
With no interscholastic competition in the Named All-League and All-New Closely followed by forward Avery Taylor ’24 in an
fall season, girls’ cross-country found joy and England in 2019, Co-captain David intrasquad scrimmage last fall, Co-captain Zoe Beede
camaraderie through intrasquad races, with Latham ’21 led the 2020 varsity with ’21 capped off her three-year varsity career with
teams-within-the-team led by captains Grace Co-captain Caleb Gartner ’21, keeping earning Middlesex’s 1976 Field Hockey Bowl at the
Hu ’21 (pictured) and Meena Menon ’21. Grace the team primed to defend its 2019 end of the season.
won every one of these races, posting times New England Championship title
that place her among the fastest girls in next fall.
team history.
Football
(Below) An All-New
England selection
in his junior season,
Co-captain Sahnai
Swain-Price ’21
caught a first-down
pass in a fall 2020
intrasquad scrim-
mage, while (left)
Quarterback Cam
Fries ’22 threw Girls’ Soccer
one of his many Captain Basha Waxman ’21 (center) moved the ball upfield while defender
completions. Abby Murphy ’23 (#15) and forward Grace Maxwell ’21 (#4) looked on
in a mid-October scrimmage.
10 MIDDLESEX spring 2021Renewing Team Spirit
Once again, the ISL had to cancel its usual slate of competitions given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. This time, however,
Middlesex was in session on campus, restoring in-person, team practices while following the School’s health protocols.
Impressively, in a season lacking most of the usual awards and titles, the superlative play of one soccer standout was duly
recognized with All-American status.
A standout in the last ISL soccer season before COVID-19, Intrasquad volleyball matches kept the varsity competitive—and gave
All-American Kwabena Kwakwa ’21 demonstrated his skills in this Middlesex fans something to cheer about when those games were live-
2019 game against Pingree, where he “produced a man-of-the- streamed on weekend evenings. Here, with the support of Annabelle
match performance,” as Head Coach Ken Risley recounted. In Lerner ’23 (#10) at the net, Captain Sophia Poplyk ’21 blocks Parker
addition to earning an assist on the game’s only goal, Kwabena Boyden ’23 (#8), who is covered by teammates Romy Ahn ’23 (#14)
“covered every blade of grass on the field and tormented the and Sydney Feeney ’22 (#13).
host of defenders tasked with containing him.”
Fitness and Fellowship Soccer All-American Kwakwa ’21 All-New England, and All-NEPSAC recog-
Continuing to develop athletes’ skills, Without league games and scores, records and nition—and was also selected to the New
strategies, and endurance was the focus championships, it seemed probable that there England Boys’ Prep Soccer First XI Team by
of the fall, and though coaches and play- would also be no individual awards either. But, the New England Soccer Journal. A captain in
ers alike missed the challenge of league happily, on December 16, 2020, Middlesex the 2020 season, Kwabena previously helped
games, they were thrilled to be back train- learned that United Soccer Coaches had selected to lead Middlesex to the ISL and New England
ing together with their teams on Middle- Kwabena Kwakwa ’21 as a Fall 2020 High School Class B Championships in 2018, capping off
sex’s fields, trails, and courts. Intrasquad All-American. Kwabena is among just 59 public an undefeated season that fall.
scrimmages within each program gave and independent school players chosen from
students an occasional taste of competi- across the United States to receive the honor. “As his coach,” says Athletic Director Ken
tion, as well as the chance to cheer for Additionally, in mid-January, Kwabena was Risley, “I am so proud of the hard work that
friends. “It was refreshing to experience singled out as the Massachusetts High School has gone into earning All-American and Mas-
a hint of normalcy—racing in our uniforms Player of the Year, selected from all the public sachusetts High School State Player of the
and respective race bibs on the home and independent school players in the state. Year honors—and of all the humility with
course,” one cross-country captain said. which Kwabena carries himself. His impact
“Although the season was obviously differ- These honors are the latest in a series of on Middlesex Boys’ Soccer is immense, and
ent,” noted a soccer captain, “our team accolades garnered by Kwabena throughout his we are excited to see him play for Stanford
spirit was still the same from day one.” Middlesex career, as he has earned All-League, next fall.”
MIDDLESEX
MIDDLESEX spring
spring 2021
2021 11
11Team Highlights For more sports news visit
https://athletics.mxschool.edu
Boys’ Basketball
Making a post move to the
basket in this 2019 victory
over BB&N, Co-captain Stuart
McCallum ’21 will continue his
basketball career at Claremont
McKenna next season.
Girls’ Basketball
Captain Sophia Poplyk ’21
drives to the basket in a
late-February intrasquad
scrimmage; a four-year
varsity starter for Middlesex,
she will be on the Union
College roster next year.
(photo by Wells Goltra ‘22)
Wrestling
Before becoming a
team co-captain in
his senior year, Connor
Cross ’21 worked to
secure a fall in a home
dual meet against
Roxbury Latin back
in January 2019; that
year, he placed fifth
at the Graves-Kelsey
Tournament and won
the Northern New
England Invitational.
Girls’ Squash
Natalie McCall ’21 strikes a backhand drive; a two-
year co-captain and four-year member of the varsity,
she helped her team win the 2020 Class C New
England Championship in her junior season.
Girls’ Hockey
Garnering All-NEPSAC and All-League Honorable Mentions early in
Boys’ Hockey her Middlesex career, Izzy Allieri ’21 was a varsity co-captain this year.
Varsity goalie Jordan Busner ’21 protected the net in a December 2019 Here, in a December 2019 contest with Proctor, Izzy scored the first goal
game against Brooks, which Middlesex won 5-4 in overtime. unassisted just 34 seconds into the game, which ended in a 5-0 victory.
12 MIDDLESEX spring 2021A Season for Skiers
As in the fall, Middlesex athletes trained with their teams, substituting instrasquad contests for league competitions given
the ongoing pandemic and the need for increased precautions with indoor sports. For skiers, however, the snowy winter of
2021 was closer to normal for alpine enthusiasts—and offered the opportunity to resurrect the Nordic program on campus.
Forgoing poles in Downhill Racers
order to improve their With only a few COVID protocol
balance and technique, adjustments to make, alpine skiers
Nordic skiers make enjoyed regular practices, thanks
their way around to the outdoor nature of their sport.
the course that was Capitalizing on this, ISL coaches
created and main- collaborated to arrange four alpine
tained on the football races at nearby Nashoba Valley—not
field by Middlesex’s bad for a six-week season. Since the
Grounds Department. schedule was somewhat abbreviated,
Head Coach Ben Kulas gave seniors
the opportunity to compete in every
race during their last winter repre-
senting Middlesex on the slopes.
Nordic Revival
Under the leadership of veteran coach
Bob Fitzpatrick—and with the assistance
of Middlesex science teacher Tom
Erickson and James Randon ’13—
the Nordic skiing program resumed
on campus in 2021, creating another
outdoor athletic option in the COVID
era. Without ISL competitions in this
inaugural year, students could focus
entirely on developing their confidence
and skill while learning the latest
techniques in cross-country ski train-
ing. Coach Fitzpatrick has taught
skiers of all ages and levels, including
(Left) An All-League selection since his freshman year, Captain Carter McCray ’21 schusses down high school, collegiate, and U.S. Ski
the course one last time for Middlesex. (Right) Julia Boffa ’21 charges towards the finish line in the Team athletes, which should give
final race of the season at Nashoba Valley. (photos by Adam Richins) Middlesex students a great start
in this lifelong sport.
Still the unchallenged 2020 Class C
New England Champions, the senior
members of varsity squash ended the
season with a single match against
Tabor. From left to right are: Coach
Rebecca Smedley, Justin Yoon ’21,
Cole Stewart ’21, Co-captain Gavin
Cassidy ’21, Peter Maheras ’21, and
Head Coach Terrence Cassidy.
(photo by Roan Callahan)
MIDDLESEX
MIDDLESEX spring
spring 2021
2021 13
13COVID and
the College-Bound
H ow t h e Pa n d e m ic H as A lt e r e d
t h e App l icat io n P r oc es s
S
ince he joined the Middlesex faculty in This has been a challenging time for students applying
2002, Matt DeGreeff—now dean of col- to colleges. A year ago, those in the class of 2020
lege counseling and student enrichment were unable to revisit colleges to help them make final
—has been helping students to think decisions about where to enroll. How did your office
deeply about their interests, experiences, assist them back then?
and personal objectives, with the goal of finding When we had to shift online last spring, we had
the next best place to continue their education. to reinvent ourselves—just as everyone did—but
A Harvard graduate who worked in undergraduate we wanted to maintain our individualized approach
admissions there for 13 years prior to Middlesex, he with students and their families. Along with all the
knows the college application process inside and out, RingCentral (a.k.a. Zoom) meetings we had with
and he brings that wisdom to his daily work, as well students, we reached out to recent Middlesex gradu-
as to the professional associations and committees ates and asked if they would be willing to talk with
on which he serves. seniors about their college experiences and serve as
For the past year, Matt and his college coun- a personal reference point for them. Over 100 alumni
seling colleagues—Director Sam Bigelow, Associate responded to us! Even if our seniors didn’t know
Director Natalie Soule Martinez, Assistant to the these alumni—or if they once seemed like intimi-
Dean Beth Hill, and Administrative Assistant Tracy dating upperclassmen to them—we encouraged
White—have been steadily adjusting their methods them to use these contacts within the Middlesex
and communications, keeping pace with the changes network.
taking place in college admissions. Recently, Matt Then Tracy made a spreadsheet of all the virtual
talked with the Bulletin about how COVID-19 has resources that colleges had, with links to virtual
affected the application process and how his office tours and information sessions. We wanted to have
has responded. one resource that parents and kids could go to,
Fortunately, with the class of 2020, so many seniors were admitted in Early
Action or Early Decision that few needed to make campus visits. They knew the
colleges well enough by then to make decisions. However, the wait list situation
was very fluid because many students were deciding to take a year off.
14 MIDDLESEX spring 2021and Tracy still keeps that updated today for the
current juniors and seniors.
Fortunately, with the class of 2020, so many
seniors were admitted in Early Action or Early
Decision that few needed to make campus visits.
They knew the colleges well enough by then to
make decisions. However, the wait list situation
was very fluid because many students were
deciding to take a year off. As a result, we had a
record number of students accepted off waitlists:
22 seniors received 31 acceptances. That’s nearly
a quarter of the class! We worked long and
hard throughout the summer, talking with our
students and the colleges. So, we learned a lot in
2020 about how to manage the college process
through a virtual world.
What additional adjustments have you had to make
in working with the class of 2021, whose application
process has been entirely virtual?
We usually meet three times with juniors in
the second semester, but with the class of 2021,
we met with everyone four times last spring,
just to make sure we had established a strong
connection with the students. Many of them
didn’t get to visit colleges over spring break
or in the summer, but they could make use
of that spreadsheet of virtual options that
Tracy created.
Also, as president of the Boston Indepen- Matt DeGreeff, Middlesex’s Dean of College Counseling
dent Schools College Counseling Association, and Student Enrichment
I helped organize and moderate a panel in April
2020 that was hosted over Zoom by BB&N. Four an advantage, we held most meetings remotely
college admissions deans on that panel covered to keep things fair.
topics such as test-optional admissions, the We can’t meet in person with parents
virtual college search, and how colleges will either, so we’ve had Zoom meetings with them—
handle pass grades, and we had over 1000 including some we might not have seen in per-
families from Boston independent schools son because they live too far away or can’t take
tune into the program. time from work. Technology has afforded us
We’ve done all our student appointment the ability to reach out in another way.
scheduling online this year—though Beth and Similarly, we set up virtual meetings last
Tracy miss getting to know the seniors by seeing fall with individual college representatives,
them in person. We can’t meet with students so that students could still attend information
in our offices because they are too small for sessions—and, again, we had several colleges
social distancing, but, in the fall, sometimes arrange sessions with us that typically don’t visit
we walked around the Circle or sat six feet apart us. We also learned that, because they weren’t
on a bench when students needed to meet in traveling, college admissions officers were much
person. Because we didn’t want students who more available for conversations with us. We set
were remote to feel that those on campus had up meetings with many of the 100 colleges our
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 15MX Scholars: Exploring Future Directions students typically apply to and talked individually
with admissions representatives about how things
Now in its second year of implementation, the Middlesex Scholars
were going for them and what their COVID
Program gives life and meaning to the idea of “finding the promise”
practices were.
beyond the Circle, encouraging students to connect their interests,
Standardized testing is another piece of the application
passions, and talents with fields in which they can serve as
process that has been significantly impacted by the
productive citizens and leaders in the world. Interested juniors
pandemic, as many testing centers could not safely
progress through a curriculum of self-assessment and self-
open for groups of students. How have Middlesex
presentation—also receiving training in research and communi-
students been affected by this?
cation—so that they can identify areas of personal interest to
pursue during the summer before senior year. Once they have
While many SATs were cancelled in August, we
completed the curriculum, juniors are encouraged to submit pro-
were able to offer the SAT on campus in September,
posals to receive funding from the Middlesex Scholars Program,
October, and November. Middlesex was a closed
which will help support their summer endeavors.
testing center for our students, so we could provide
During the summer of 2020, the pandemic unfortunately
a safe environment, checking temperatures and
impacted the ability of several students to pursue their plans, as
spreading desks out further. That was really helpful
many internships and programs were cancelled. Yet, some students
for the juniors and for those seniors who wanted
were still able to take advantage of funding from the program,
to have another chance to take the test again. We
including the following seniors:
added the ACT on campus in October and April,
which we’ve never done before.
• Andrew Harris ’21: Already an award-winning photographer,
If many applicants were not able to take standardized
Andrew used his MX Scholars funding both to pay for materials,
tests, what did colleges decide to do in terms of
such as ink and paper, and to build a website where he could
requiring them as part of the application process?
sell his photos. Andrew was able to share his work with a wide
audience and raised more than $7,000 to help support social
The majority of colleges went test optional;
justice efforts.
some went test-free. Our experience has been that
Middlesex students tend to be strong testers, and
• Eliza Hirsch ’21: A gifted writer, Eliza used her MX Scholars
the majority benefit from their strong testing in
funds to attend the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference, where
the application process. Whether or not to submit
she participated in the Fantasy, Fabulism, and Science Fiction
testing was an individual decision for each student,
workshop. This program expanded her understanding of what
in discussion with their college counselor. The key
writing could be, and she was able to write and workshop a
thing was having those individual conversations
publishable short story.
about how to approach testing at each college,
in order to present the student in the best way pos-
• Shreya Jain ’21: Passionate about STEM, Shreya used her MX
sible in each applicant pool. That added another
Scholars funding to cover a Coursera Plus subscription that
layer of conversations that we didn’t previously
offers advanced online programming classes. Through this, she
have because usually, students were just submit-
studied multivariable calculus through Imperial College London,
ting their testing as required by the colleges.
applied machine learning in Python through the University of
Without required testing for domestic and
Michigan, and neural networks and deep learning, which was
international students, the opportunity to apply
offered by DeepLearning.AI.
has opened up for kids who were previously held
back by their testing. This has led to huge applica-
tion increases at some highly competitive schools:
137,000 applications at UCLA; 57,000 at Harvard;
100,000 at NYU. But at colleges that have been
score optional for a while, the application
numbers have not changed much.
Nonetheless, Middlesex seniors have received
lots of good news, haven’t they?
It is remarkable how well the class of 2021 has done
and how consistent their results have been with
previous classes in the shadows of the pandemic.
16 MIDDLESEX spring 2021The College Counseling
team includes (clockwise,
from top left) Dean
Matt DeGreeff, Director
Sam Bigelow, Associate
Director Natalie Martinez,
Administrative Assistant
Tracy White, and Assistant
to the Dean Beth Hill.
It is remarkable how well the class of 2021 has done and how consistent their results have been
with previous classes in the shadows of the pandemic. Ninety-four out of 103 seniors applied
early to college, and 89 were accepted through the early process. As of June 11, 63 of our seniors
have been accepted to their first-choice college, and 75% of the seniors have been admitted
to one of their top five choices.
Ninety-four out of 103 seniors applied early to has neglected them for the past 10 to 15 years
college, and 89 were accepted through the early and invested more in the AP program. As a
process. As of June 11, 63 of our seniors have result, many colleges have been dropping Sub-
been accepted to their first-choice college, and ject Tests as a requirement, and the Ivies made
75% of the seniors have been admitted to one them optional. So, they were already becoming
of their top five choices. less important. The one area that is unclear is
what to do if you are applying to universities
Another recent announcement that pertains to the in the United Kingdom or Canada, where they
class of 2022 (and beyond) is that the SAT essay like Subject Tests.
and the SAT Subject Tests are being discontinued. These changes will definitely save our fami-
Is that good news? Will something else take the lies money and time, and they will relieve testing
place of that testing void? pressure for freshmen and sophomores. Fortu-
I think I’m happier about the SAT dropping the nately, we have a robust AP program, and our
essay section. The colleges never really used it faculty prepares students exceptionally well for
as a tool in the admissions process, except for the AP exams. Plus, APs are not only beneficial
international students. It’s just been an addi- as a credential in applying but also in giving
tional burden in terms of cost, time, and energy. placement or credit in college. About 220 Mid-
For our strongest students, though, the Sub- dlesex kids took over 600 AP exams last year.
ject Tests have been a real win in demonstrating That’s pretty impressive, and our teachers take
their academic strength. But the College Board great pride in their students’ performance.
MIDDLESEX spring 2021 17Less standardized testing will place greater emphasis on the student’s
curriculum and performance in those courses, on what teachers and counselors
write, and on the student’s voice—putting that narrative together and looking
at the whole person instead of just the numbers.
Less standardized testing will place greater It’s all helpful for the college process—including
emphasis on the student’s curriculum and perfor- helping them write letters (instead of texts!) and
mance in those courses, on what teachers and teaching them how set up appropriate voicemail
counselors write, and on the student’s voice— messages on their phones. Many students don’t
putting that narrative together and looking at the have a voicemail greeting on their phones—or they
whole person instead of just the numbers. And got their phones when they were 12 and still have
while colleges have always wanted kids to articu- that youthful voice on their greetings. Students
late why they are a good match for the school, must set up their phones to sound professional, as
today they really want to know why students are well as have an appropriate e-mail address! These
applying, now that they can’t even come to the are all life skills that we hope that they can carry
campus. Colleges want to know that they are forward to internship opportunities and the
not just on a long list of schools. college process.
Because they can’t do in-person interviews,
some colleges have allowed kids to upload two- Alongside the college application process, can you
minute videos as a way of talking about themselves and your colleagues assist families with the financial
and what’s important to them. Some college coun- aid application process?
selors got upset about this added task for seniors, When I came to Middlesex, I brought my experience
but this generation is used to taking pictures and as a financial aid officer, which I had been for a long
making videos. Maybe we are moving toward creating time. I’ve always been able to help families, one-on-
these kinds of vignettes as part of the application. one, with filling out and submitting financial aid
forms. Not every office has the skills or knowledge
You have spent the past few years developing the to do this, but we really can help, especially families
Middlesex Scholars Program (see page 16), which will with greater need. I’ve trained Sam and Natalie, and
be beneficial to students as they approach and under- they’ve attended financial aid workshops and shad-
take the college application process. Have you been owed financial aid officers. Through our training
able to launch that program, in spite of the pandemic? and professional development, we are able to work
Last year, in the junior year of the class of 2021, we with our families on the financial aid process and
went through all stages of the curriculum that I’ve help them through one of the more complicated,
developed, which starts with self-assessment, using personal, and scarier parts of the process.
different tools to help students think about how I’m really proud that we’re able to assist our
their interests align with majors and careers. Then, families with all aspects of the college process and
they learned resume writing. The third part focuses the financial aid process and help them navigate
on research and communication. Students need to these tricky, ever-changing waters. We have students
learn how to research opportunities, how to tap with extraordinary talents, interests, and back-
into their networks, and how to use websites and grounds, and we have the distinct pleasure of learn-
other tools. We’re helping kids align their interests ing about their stories. I’m always excited to work
with what they might want to do to explore a poten- with students whose interests I am not as familiar
tial major or career. Jobs and internships are valu- with, such as flying, diving, fencing, or dance. Our
able experiences—and can be powerful in terms of greatest joy is working with students through the
writing college essays. The last part of the program process of self-discovery, helping them shape their
is applying for summer funding, but many of the narratives for the colleges, and guiding them on
internships dried up last summer because of COVID. their journeys to the next phase of their education. M
18 MIDDLESEX spring 2021You can also read
