Issuu

BUCCANEER

THE

The Magazine Of The Benjamin School

SPRING

2019

PERSPECTIVE: School life through the eyes of students and teachers

Volume XVII

ROBERT S. GOLDBERG, HEAD OF SCHOOL

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS

THE BUCCANEER

Nick Crisafi, Jessy Fulford Padon ’01, Chuck Maddox, Jenna Wittbold ’07

Marti Lotman ’06 — Publications & Communications Manager

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE STAFF

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Christine Magee Photography Julie O’Brien Photography Tracey Benson Photography Erica Sousa Lynn Hernandez

Jessy Fulford Padon ’01 — Director of Marketing Marti Lotman ’06 — Publications & Communications Manager Rhonda Thomas — Web Manager

Juan Carlos Fanjul ’93 — Chief Development Officer Stephanie Crawley — Development Database and Donor Services Manager Sheena Wilber — Director of Annual Giving and Special Events Jenna Wittbold '07 — Alumni Relations and Special Events Manager

Contents THE BUCCANEER | VOLUME XVII

From the Head of School.......................................2 Campus Features.........................................................3

From Another Point of View..........................4

Upper School Science Students Present Summer Internship Projects.....11 Benjamin Alumni Give Advice on Small vs. Large Schools.................................12 US Drama Teacher Produces, Stars In New Play ‘Maximus O’..................13 Chinese Picture Book Exhibit Travels To TBS.....................................................14 Finding Balance In A High-Speed World...15

How Many Apples Do You See?...............16

mmy Award-Winning Wildlife Filmmaker E Discusses Career With Upper School.....17

Learning Beyond The Classroom: Students Explore Florida...............................18

Annual Traditions...............................................20

‘Julius Caesar’ – Upper School Fall Play....23

Walking In Someone Else’s Shoes...........24

Sports Highlights......................................................25

Alumni Focus...............................................................33

THE BUCCANEER

From the Head of School Dear Members of The Benjamin School Community, As is always true at TBS, a new year brings new ideas. With so much newsworthy information to report about our school, we hope you agree that two editions of The Buccaneer each academic year might help our readership with absorbing more of the richness of programs; student successes; teacher innovations; depth and breadth of our offerings in academics, athletics and the arts; and the growth across the divisions in new ideas and even new construction. At Benjamin, we try to expose our students to the relevance of perspective, the importance of point of view, the need to explore on their own an opinion based on individual philosophy of what is good, what is right, and why. This inaugural spring edition of The Buccaneer will provide just that — encouragement to evaluate the many aspects of our school’s growth founded upon an individual’s perspective on what is critical in enriching his or her life, for the moment and for the future. This version of The Buccaneer will “spin” you around like a carnival ride with diverse, first-person perspectives from Benjamin students, teachers and alumni. These wide-ranging vantage points — from a 3-year-old student’s point of view to a newly drafted player for the Chicago White Sox, or to the senior who created a cancer-fighting compound during his internship at Scripps — provide a glimpse of the unique experiences offered at our school. As you “twist” to the opposite end of this publication, Impact will showcase our many advancements, from the new construction of the Maglio Family STEM Center on the Lower/Middle School campus; to the newly completed Learning Commons at the Upper School. Again, there is just too much to share and too many perspectives to entertain in a single edition of our Magazine. I am personally thrilled to view along a broader spectrum all that TBS does to shine a brighter perspective on who we are and what we do to develop young people of depth, life experiences and refinement as they navigate their future beyond Benjamin. Join me on this ride, please, and take advantage of this closer view we are providing for the sake of the rush of excitement that such a perspective affords. My best to all of you as the ride continues through the second half of this school year. Sincerely,

Robert S. Goldberg Head of School

Campus Features

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW

Perspective. It’s been said that it’s not what you look at that matters, but what you see. It also depends where you look from. That vantage point broadens along a boundless horizon for students at The Benjamin School.

For the seven pairs of teachers and students profiled here, small shifts in perspective — from teacher to student . . . learner to subject matter . . . athlete to coach — can entirely transform an experience. For 3-year-old Burke Kuskin, his WOW science experiments are “so much fun,” and he loves seeing his teacher Ms. Buettin smile. For Ms. Buettin, those same experiments are a chance for Burke and her other WOW students to work on their fine motor skills as they begin a 15-year journey of STEM education at The Benjamin School. And her smile? It’s an involuntary reaction to the joy she gets from shaping the lives of our smallest Buccaneers.

Here are the perspectives of 7 students and their teachers at The Benjamin School. Burke Kuskin — WOW Student “I love my class. I love my friends. I love the puzzles and science projects we do. My favorite thing about Ms. Buettin is when she smiles.”

Kate Buettin — WOW Teacher “Students in WOW are learning everything from basic social skills to French, Spanish and Mandarin. They’re learning to manage their emotions and practice conflict resolution, while working both collaboratively and independently. At this age, the children learn best by doing, which allows for plenty of hands-on experiments and lessons. They are observing, engaging their senses and making discoveries every day! All of our experiments are interdisciplinary and include the use of fine motor skills, math, science and art. The children are also learning critical thinking skills by asking “how, what and why” questions, as well as listening to and following directions. These basic but important life skills are laying the foundation for successful, well-rounded children. All of this magic takes place in a supportive and loving environment.” 4

Carson Lowe — Grade 3 Student “I love using my iPad for writing assignments because it’s fun, it teaches me how to type, and it makes me think.”

Alyssa Feck — Grade 3 Teacher “In third grade, we use iPads to write personal narratives. We are working through the writing process, and at this stage, I can model how to revise and edit a piece and give my students notes on how to improve their own writing. The ability to use multiple devices to collaborate on the same piece allows students to feel ownership and pride over their work, and gives me the ability to guide them along the way.” 5

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

Brooke Buchbinder — Grade 5 Student “I love Greek myths because they are so exciting to read, and I always want to know more. Even though we are only in fifth grade, we are reading and memorizing poems by Shakespeare and other famous poets. Mrs. Hogan does such a wonderful job of keeping us engaged in what we are learning. She does this by creating fun worksheets and games for us to play.”

Joanna Hogan — Grade 5 Teacher “Understanding, memorizing and reciting good poetry is important for many reasons: development of formal oral presentation skills, development of memorization techniques, and appreciation of great literature through poetry masterpieces, are but a few. “Mythology and fifth graders are made for each other. In Language Arts Enrichment, we introduce students to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, especially their myths that form the basis of our Western culture. Foundations are set for accelerated learning for the rest of an academic career, not to mention life itself! “This course is unique to TBS. I have a great sense of gratitude for the foresight of the administration and parents in letting it happen.”

Finlay Allen — Grade 7 Student “I really liked doing the mitosis stop-motion movie because it was really unique. I enjoy projects that combine technology and creative thinking. I think this is a great project to help me study for a big exam like the one coming up. I decided to go outside the box and bring in a camera and lots of different materials to make my movie unique. I also created the text on the computer to make it easier to read and follow along with.”

Stephanie Oster — Middle School Science Department Chair “The purpose of the Stop-Motion Cell Cycle movie assignment was to put a creative spin on cellular division. I find that mixing technology, art, research and the required subject matter, allows for students to have choices that work for them. This also encourages strong collaborative work teams and highlights different strengths for each group member. Finlay has totally embraced the science curriculum this year, giving 100 percent of himself. The part that has impressed me the most is that he has advocated to put his own personal spin on assignments and projects!”

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

Joie Rodin — Grade 8 Student “In my Spanish class with Mr. Maddox, one of the topics we have been learning about this quarter is food. Mr. Maddox loves incorporating the material we are learning with different Spanish-speaking cultures. One of the ways in which we incorporated food with the real world is when we watched different Spanish cooking shows such as ‘Delicioso,’ a television show starring Ingrid Hoffmann. I loved watching the show because I feel that you learn much more when you learn outside of the ordinary note-taking style.”

Chuck Maddox — Middle School Academic Dean and Spanish Teacher “Food is one of the best ways to connect with a different culture. To help students develop an appreciation for Latin American cuisine, we watched an episode of Ingrid Hoffmann, a well-known television cooking personality, prepare a meal. Then, we tweeted her to let her know we were practicing our food vocabulary and learning how to cook through her videos. She wrote back within a few hours to say how proud she is that we’re using her videos in class. I love incorporating real-world material into my classroom to keep class enjoyable and engaging.”

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

Parker Haskin — Grade 11 Student Committed to Tulane University for Baseball “When I was looking at high schools to attend, Benjamin was an obvious choice for me given the reputation for both its academic and athletic programs. College athletics was something I always wanted to pursue, and I felt Benjamin was going to prepare me for the next level, not only as an athlete, but also as a student. This task has not been easy. However, through the support from everyone in the school, including my classmates, teachers, college counselors and coaches, specifically Coach Smith, I was able to accomplish my goal. “My first season playing for Benjamin has left me with memories I’ll never forget. Our team had a great run last season, making it to the final four in state for baseball in 4-A, which was one of the most competitive levels for baseball this past year. As a new student, the group was super welcoming, and I have developed great friendships from wearing the Benjamin uniform. “Our success was due in large part to Coach Smith, who not only made sure things ran smoothly, but also brought great energy to every practice and game. I developed a great relationship with Coach Smith, along with the other coaches throughout last season, and I look forward to another great year this year.”

Ryan Smith ’93 — Director of Athletics “Our school culture allows coaches the ability to mentor and develop a respectful relationship with student-athletes at such a critical stage in their lives. As a graduate of The Benjamin School, I feel I have additional insight and experience into what it is like to be a student-athlete here. “Parker is an exceptional studentathlete who transferred to Benjamin from the northeast prior to his junior year. Because I also transferred to Benjamin in ninth grade like Parker, and Parker had an FHSAA eligibility hearing on which the School and his family worked closely, I was able to support him. Parker is a pleasure to coach as he understands the student part of “student-athlete” comes first. He competes at such a high level and is a fierce contender on the baseball field. I am certain he is destined for great things at Tulane University — in the classroom and on the field.”

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

Dylan Shao — Grade 12 Student “I am a student in the AP Studio 2D Design class. My concentration is exposing the troubles caused by electronic media. As society becomes more and more high-tech, I have found that people are gradually bound by technology or repeatedly fall into its entrapment. In my works, I try to express this reality and my own painterly imagination at the same time. To achieve this, I use color contrasts to make the painting look more realistic, and use some abstract marks to make the picture more layered. For example, in my new work, the background of neon colors evokes the modern sense of cyber lights, while some white shapes function as billboard signs. In the foreground, I drew a figure being hung by wires and struggling with himself. Just as insects fall prey to the web of spiders, he falls victim to the progress of the Internet.”

Sarah Davis ’05 – US Art Teacher “This year, there are fourteen students taking the Collegeboard AP Studio 2D Design course with a material focus on drawing, painting, printmaking and collage. Dylan Shao is one of those students who continues to set the bar high each day through deep thought and hard work. At this level, the art students are expected to be self-directed and must demonstrate an ability to engage maturely in the artistic process. Regular critiques and class discussions assist the students in evaluating their artwork at an appropriate level of assessment. From my perspective, Dylan has been working on the sustained investigation portfolio in a manner similar to that of a professional artist. This semester, he has created six cohesive works of art that connect his personal ideas on the influence of technology to the form of his painting and drawing. He flushes out ideas in his sketchbook that reflect on his experience and background. He meets the demands of a robust, creative practice by showing up at the studio outside of class time on a daily basis, and maintains the highest level of craftsmanship in each work of art. He is able to clearly articulate the meaning and symbolism in each piece, particularly noted during a recent midterm presentation and critique of his work to the class.” 10

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

Upper School

SCIENCE STUDENTS Present Summer Internship Projects Three Upper School science students presented their summer internship projects to an audience of faculty members and their peers during a special assembly in Benjamin Hall on September 20. Senior Jonathan WolfRosengarten spent his summer in Massachusetts working for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Wolf-Rosengarten focused his research on conservation and our responsibility to protect our natural world. He developed field education programs and seminars focused on woodland and marine biology.

Senior Robert Rubin delved into the world of cancer research and the synthesis of cancer drugs during his time at the Bannister Lab at Scripps. Rubin studied drug discovery and, along with a team of researchers, created a cancer fighting compound that was transmitted to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, where it will undergo further testing in lab rats. Upper School science teacher Eric Gardner praised the three students for their exciting research and encouraged other students to consider a science internship next summer. Senior Cameron Pirozzi later presented her findings from her internship at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. Pirozzi studied the memory process using virtual reality.

Sophomore Holden Neer traveled to Los Angeles where he took part in UCLAâ€™s Applications of Nanoscience program. The program is one of several summer programs that UCLA offers for high school students interested in the sciences. Neer, who earned college credit for his work, learned how nanoparticles work and are used in our everyday lives, including the use of nanotechnology. 11

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

Benjamin Alumni Give Advice on

Small vs. Large Schools Guest Author: Robert Rubin, Pharcyde, Editor-in-Chief Students must choose from among more than 5,300 colleges and universities to decide where they will spend their next four years. But knowing what size of school they want to go to can help them make the right decision. To advise students about the school size that would be best for them, two Benjamin alumni, Jonah Goldberg ’17 and Kailey Graziotto ’18, shared their experiences so far at two very different sized institutions. Goldberg is a sophomore at the University of Michigan, which is one of the largest universities in the U.S. with an undergraduate population of more than 28,000, and with more than 7,000 in his class. In his view, the sheer size alone provides for many advantages over a smaller school. “One thing that Michigan prides itself on is its large alumni base, which is the largest alumni base of any university in the world. With that many students, you have access to people of all different interests and hobbies, and you get a lot of diversity of thought. There is never a dull moment on campus,” he said. As a consequence of its size, class sizes at Michigan tend to be larger than those at smaller schools. Though Goldberg’s Spanish courses have been capped at 18 students, some of his introductory courses to satisfy distribution credits, such as Economics 101, have been held in large lecture halls with more than 200 students. However, he does 12

not feel that these larger classes compromised his learning experience. “I think, in my case, Benjamin prepared me to be the most confident and assertive student that I could be and, with that, I definitely took the initiative to sit toward the front in all of my large, lecture-style classes. You can’t be shy. I think that one of the things Benjamin taught me was to be confident, speak up, voice my opinion and be the most passionate and actively engaged learner and student in the classroom,” he said. Goldberg believes that a common misconception about large schools is that students don’t get the opportunity to work one-on-one with professors and that teachers may not always be there for them. “I would actually challenge the larger the university, the greater access to advisors and other resources you are given,” he said. “Because the quantity of people that they have to serve is so high, they actually are very good at making sure that there is a sufficient amount of resources and people that are available to meet with and satisfy the needs of every student.”

that were actually mentors to me, guiding me in the right direction and always making sure I was on the right track,” he said. On the other end of the spectrum, Graziotto attends Oxford College at Emory University, where she shares the campus with less than 1,000 freshmen and sophomores. Oxford is roughly the same size as the Benjamin Upper School campus, and is located 40 minutes away from the main Emory campus, where Oxford students go for their final two years. She knew that she wanted to go to a small school because she desired an experience similar to that at Benjamin. “The more I grew to become a big part of the Benjamin community, the more I realized I really wanted that same one-on-one communication in classes, and socially having everybody at least know my face, name, and who I am is something that I enjoy,” she reported. Although she admits that the school and the surrounding area are quiet, she enjoys the intimate environment of being at a small college.

In addition to taking advantage of its big-school resources, he has been able to make the school “smaller” by studying at its business school and becoming involved in a business fraternity and other business clubs. “For me as a freshman, joining clubs gave me access to older students Kailey Graziotto at Emory University

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

“My favorite thing has been the fact that class sizes between Benjamin and Oxford have not changed. Every single one of my classes has 20 or fewer students; there are no lectures, and the classes are all discussion-based. It is really good for me because I am really into the humanities, and discussion is a big element of humanities classes,” she said. Although she feels comfortable in this environment, she recognizes that this size school may not be for all students. “You tend to see the same people around all the time. If you are like me and enjoy getting to know everybody, then a small campus might be the right choice for you. But if you prefer to have more experiences interacting with new people, I would say that a bigger campus might be a better choice,” she said. Despite the numerous differences between small and large universities, Goldberg and Graziotto both agree that the right school size is different for each person.

US Drama Teacher Produces, Stars in New Play ‘Maximus O’ Two killers. One room. No escape. That’s the plot of Upper School drama teacher Tom Bazar’s new play “Maximus O.” The play follows the story of two hitmen who are past their prime, waiting for orders from their superior. Bazar performed in the play in September as part of an organization called “A Band of Actors,” dedicated to working with high school students, making theatre accessible to any and all. “I had the opportunity to perform my own work, which is something I always wanted to do. I needed a platform and the platform was this company,” Bazar said. The best thing about the experience, according to Bazar, was the level of involvement among the broader Benjamin community. Bazar said students, including seniors Cameron Pirozzi, Hudson Hale and Gibby Capaldi, were involved in many elements of the project, including stage management, the creation of his website, and graphic design work. Upper School Theatre

Goldberg says that the people who do well at large schools like Michigan are students who are “not going to be as narrow-minded about what they want to study before they get to the university, but do long-term exploring of the different opportunities that a larger university would offer to help them determine what they want to do in the long term.”

Manager Chris Bell was also involved, working on sound and lighting for

On the other hand, Graziotto recommends small schools to people “who really enjoy making connections with other people and having that be the biggest part of their college experience, not necessarily academics, sports, or any niche activity.”

of the company: to inspire, provoke and question the status quo.

the production. Bazar said it was nice to see a mix of professional theatre people and those from the Benjamin community in attendance. “Eighty percent of the people who came to the show were from the Benjamin community. There was a huge turnout and show of support from both the students I teach and those I don’t. Mothers came up to me and said they were very pleasantly surprised, moved and affected by what we did,” said Bazar. Bazar said the experience was transformative and aligned with the mission

“A large part of the success was because of the energy from the Benjamin community. Even the professional actors spoke so highly of the students. I would love to see this grow into something more for our students. It made me very proud of the Benjamin community to be able to see this.” 13

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

CHINESE

PICTURE BOOK

EXHIBIT TRAVELS TO TBS Lower School students enjoyed a traveling exhibit of Chinese children’s books the week of November 26. The exhibit, showcased at the Miami International Book Fair earlier in November, travelled to Benjamin as part of the School’s partnership with the Confucius Institute at Miami Dade College. The exhibit featured dozens of Chinese picture books with themes from traditional Chinese culture, employing Chinese forms of artistic expression. Students enjoyed reading the books, which offered a look into contemporary China. “The picture books allowed Benjamin students to view the world through the perspective of Chinese children. “I hope that these books can serve as a bridge, allowing more children around the world to enter into China, and enter into the world of Chinese children,” said Zhu Yongxin, Vice President of the China Association of Education.

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

Finding Balance in a

High-Speed World Guest Author: Dr. Renea Yates, Upper School Guidance Counselor We are living in a high-speed world. Overscheduled, overstimulated and fast-paced lives can leave us feeling anxious and stressed. The daily to-do list is often overwhelming with school, work, practices, games, sessions, lessons, meetings, errands, projects, etc. We are moving at breakneck speed to get everything accomplished. Lunches are scarfed down, dinners eaten on the fly, then arriving home with still so much to do. Add on the pressures to be the quickest. The fastest. The smartest. The prettiest. The first. The thinnest. The most successful. The best. One can easily understand how and why the balance of life can be lost. How can we reach our goals, accomplish our tasks, chase our dreams and be the best version of ourselves – without sacrificing our mental, physical and emotional wellness? How can we find peace and balance when the pace of life seems to be getting faster and faster each year?

Caring for You and Your Family, Mindfully Jessica Jeans, a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and family specialist in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, stresses the importance of spending time on personal care. “Taking care of you includes taking care of your mind. It is important for

you to take time alone to reconnect with yourself,” said Jeans. “Be purposeful in implementing personal time into your daily schedule.” She also encourages families to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is defined as a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment. When we hear of mindfulness, we think of some practices such as yoga, tai chi and meditation that can help cultivate mindfulness. It provides calmness and clarity that serves as nourishment for the soul. “We can add mindfulness to our lives with a few free moments, or during a busy day of tasks, by being in the moment,” Jeans suggests. “Try to do things like take a quiet walk after that long test. Run a warm bath after that stressful meeting and sit in surrender for a few minutes.” Research shows that mindfulness helps to increase awareness, attention and focus. This heightens brain function leading to enhanced academic performance. In addition, it can alter chemical levels such as hormones that make us feel motivated and calm. Students who practice regular mindfulness demonstrate greater prosocial behaviors and increased emotion regulation. There is a relationship

between mindfulness and emotional and mental health. Therefore, our personal care affects well-being and overall quality of life. Parents can model this lifestyle of being present with themselves in a way that helps them work through obstacles and grow. Students can take on this challenge to empower their performance, develop autonomy in self-care and increase self-esteem. When everyone in the family system is working to be healthy, the result is strengthened relationships and increased connectedness.

Connect, Refresh and Refocus It is also important to remember you don’t have to do everything on your own. Reach out to your support system and loved ones as a means of being more in touch with yourself. Reconnect with those you love. Schedule a date night, have a regular family dinner, go bowling or to a movie, or participate in a community service event. It can also be helpful to get a coach, a therapist or some form of accountability to help you sustain this new mindset. In a world full of doing, doing, doing, it is important to take a moment to just breathe; to just be. To pause and reflect. Then to release the stress and reconnect. It’s really the most practical way to sustain your success. You get full access to yourself when you care for yourself, which helps you reach a higher potential that you can sustain. And you just might find balance between the two along the way.

Dr. Renea Yates is a licensed school counselor at the Benjamin Upper School in Palm Beach Gardens. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and has spent the last 20 years working with adolescents and their families in clinical, community and educational settings. Dr. Jessica Jeans is a licensed mental health counselor and family specialist. She is the founder of Guided By Grace, which offers consulting, therapy and education for students and their parents. Dr. Jeans counsels families on ways to improve their relationship, and ways to improve academic and behavior performance.

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

How Many Apples Do You See?

Guest Author: Lisa Glogower, Kindergarten Teacher

Creativity, motivation and imagination lead to fascination. What do children do with straws, plates, aluminum foil, wax paper and paper plates? They make “apple carriers.” Kindergarten met with the second grade for their first of many STEM projects for the year. The children were excited and eager to get started. Each group received a basket of the same materials and were given certain criteria. They brainstormed together and then set out to make an apple carrier to see which carrier would hold the most apples. “The project was fun because we worked in teams and I got to make a lot of new Kindergarten friends. My team also won!” said second grade student Audrey Haywood. The winning basket held ten apples. The fascination on the children’s faces was incredible as they saw their imagination and creativity become a reality. With pride, they each walked their apple carrier at least ten steps. The carriers were “raffled” off and the lucky winners proudly went home with their first STEM project of the year.

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Emmy Award-Winning

Wildlife Filmmaker Discusses Career with Upper School

Tom Fitz, a multiple Emmy Award-winning documentary cameraman whose work has appeared on National Geographic, Discovery, and the BBC, among others, shared the challenges of wildlife filmmaking during a lecture to the Upper School in Benjamin Hall on November 2. Fitzâ€™s three decades in natural history camera work have taken him all over the world, from the high Canadian Arctic to Antarctica. He recalled his adventures in cinematography, including his work on The Blue Planet, narrated by David Attenborough.

THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Students Explore Florida Shark tooth excavation. Small-scale farming. International art shows. At Benjamin, these experiences are part of our curriculum.

children helped us understand how to ethically care for animals and at the same time run a nonprofit company,” said Myers.

Down a winding, pothole-covered dirt road, nestled between 100-foot bamboo and lush coconut trees, sits a tenacre tropical farm in Jupiter, Florida. This hidden gem is a grass-based farm where owner Suzie and her family raise pastured poultry, pigs and cattle for meat and dairy. Students in Dr. Hope Myers’ Economic Issues class had the exciting opportunity to visit Jupiter Creamery on September 12, where they learned about business operations and how certain government regulations can shape how a company does business.

Dr. Myers says the dairy industry may be one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, and it was important to show her students how the United States regulates dairy operations.

“At the Jupiter Creamery, my students saw how even a small-scale, nonprofit farm must follow certain regulations in order to operate. The students were surprised at how much thought and research went into the organization and maintenance of a dairy farm in order to stay in compliance of regulations, as well as care for their cows. Suzie and her two

AP Art and Art History students, led by teacher Sarah Davis ‘07, had the opportunity to attend Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Students explored works from more than 200 of the world’s leading art galleries. “As an art department, one of our goals is to provide more opportunities for our students to experience artwork in galleries, museums and private collections. This has been an invaluable experience for students in the past to interact with works they have also studied,” said Davis. Meanwhile, Benjamin fourth graders enjoyed interactive exhibits, including gem mining, shark tooth excavation

and a “physics forest” during the grand opening celebration for the South Florida Science Center’s new Fisher Family Trail. Students Zosia Freedman and Colin Gelnaw said they loved being part of the grand opening. They said their favorite activity was finding crystals in the gem mine. The pair also enjoyed looking for shark teeth in the sandpit. Sixth grade students enjoyed their annual pilgrimage to St. Augustine where they viewed life through the perspective of early Spanish settlers. Middle School English teacher Denise Ponchock says the trip is a way to bring the Middle School’s studies to life. “Students visit the site where the Spanish explorer, Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, landed and established the St. Augustine settlement in 1565. Students see Timucua artifacts, habitats, and tools they shared with the early Spanish settlers. We visited the Castillo de San Marcos where the Spanish defended themselves against the besieging French and English. It is a trip that helps students connect with history in a way that only travel and experience can,” said Ponchock.

CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER

THE BUCCANEER | ANNUAL TRADITIONS

Annual Traditions

6th Grade Wheel

WOW Halloween Parade

Lower School Halloween Parade 20

ANNUAL TRADITIONS | THE BUCCANEER

Kindergarten Holiday Show

2nd Grade Polar Express 21

THE BUCCANEER | ANNUAL TRADITIONS

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip

Traveling on a class trip to our nationâ€™s capital has been a Benjamin tradition since the 1970s. Our eighth graders toured the historic city as an important part of their social studies curriculum.

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“Julius Caesar” Upper School Fall Play

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Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes By Chrissie Ferguson, Middle School English/Social Studies Teacher In Drew Daywalt’s children’s book, The Day the Crayons Quit, Red Crayon feels overworked. Beige Crayon is tired of being called “light brown” or “dark tan.” And Peach Crayon is extremely upset with his owner, Duncan. Why would he pick off all of his paper wrapping? How embarrassing! Whether or not it was Daywalt’s intention when he wrote this book, his story has helped plant seeds of empathy in even the tiniest readers who wonder what their crayons might feel like or say if they were actually living and breathing. But the lessons of empathy do not stop in children’s picture books. Children have opportunities to explore themes of empathy in middle grade novels as well. Take Sharon Creech’s Walk Two Moons, for example, when Sal tries to understand a mysterious message that says, “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.” And who can forget Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus Finch tells Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Literature can support messages of empathy, but how do we, as teachers and parents, help children truly understand the importance of walking around in someone else’s shoes? How can we encourage children to be kinder and more caring as they consider what it feels like to be the person who does not have a home in which to live? Or what about the person who is simply having a bad day? “Teaching for Understanding” — a Harvard Graduate School of Education course and other courses taken through the Boston-based organization, Facing History and Ourselves, have helped me gain 24

a better understanding of how to be an effective teacher who creates a classroom of empathy by bringing literature and history to life for students. Upon completion of “Teaching for Understanding,” teachers are wellequipped to meet students halfway in the classroom in order to reach them. When the topic can be made more personal for students so that they understand why it matters and how it relates to their own lives, students are more deeply engaged in learning. For example, when teaching To Kill a Mockingbird, students may be asked to reflect on a time when they have been treated unjustly or when they have treated someone else unjustly. Reflections such as these allow students to make personal connections to the characters who may be treated unfairly in the small town of Maycomb.

students explore their own identity first and then the identity of each character they will encounter. Then, students must take a closer look at the conflict that took place during the particular time in history in which they are studying. In literature, students will take part in a similar study of “identity” and “we and they” as they analyze the conflict taking place in a novel, short story, or poem. Stepping into the shoes of both sides of the conflict can help students gain a better understanding of each viewpoint. While most teachers encourage students to write about a particular topic in third person, it is crucial that students write in first person when role playing or analyzing identity and conflict. This first-person lens is what helps students develop an empathetic mindset.

Facing History and Ourselves helps teachers bring literature and history to life in a similar way — through perspective thinking. Before, during, and after learning about a particular time in history, students are challenged to step into the shoes of someone from the past, while making connections to their own lives today.

Why is it so important to teach children how to be empathetic? As teachers and parents, we know that empathy — most importantly — helps children better understand others. It creates a culture and a community of kindness and peace and helps make people less likely to judge or be critical of others.

For example, in one Facing History activity, students develop a better understanding of Hitler’s rise to power by becoming a German citizen living in 1932. Students must study the background of the person, as well as the political party platforms. The challenge lies in shifting one’s mindset from third person to first person as each student decides for which party “he” or “she” (the German citizen) will vote.

While that is probably the single most important reason for teaching empathy, it also helps create critical thinkers and children who will grow up to be problem solvers, peacekeepers, and inventors of change.

Part of scope and sequence begins with a study of “identity” first and then a study of “we and they.” Before delving into the past in history or literature, it is important that

Sure, reading a textbook and taking notes can help some students learn and retain information. But teach students about perspective and how to walk around in someone’s shoes for a bit, and every student will have a meaningful learning experience that will remain in the forefront of their mind for years to come.

Buc Sports Highlights

THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

TBS Athletes Commit to Schools Across the Country Twenty-one members of the Class of 2019 (as of publication) have already been recruited to play collegiate athletics at their school of choice, along with some members of the junior class. Athletic Director Ryan Smith ’93 says the senior class has an outstanding group of student-athletes currently committed to play athletics at the collegiate level. “We anticipate over the next few months that this list will increase as we have a number of very talented student-athletes in various sports who are deciding among a number of colleges,” said Smith. Junior Ellie Blain, committed to Dartmouth University, says it has been her dream to play college volleyball since she was in sixth grade. “Benjamin is a great high school for both academics and athletics. Both of these factors are extremely important to me, and Benjamin allows me to balance the two. The faculty and coaches at Benjamin are very helpful and supportive every step of the way,” said Blain. Blain says the School has taught her the importance of time management between class work and volleyball. “Knowing that I have practices or games after school forces me to use the time that I have productively,” said Blain. She hopes to have a positive college experience — academically, athletically and socially. “I am excited to start a new chapter of my life and to create new experiences in a new environment.” 26

Twenty-one members of the Class of 2019 will step foot onto campuses across the country to play collegiate athletics next fall. They are: Bretzlaff, Grant — Rollins College (Men’s Lacrosse) Byrne, Jenna — Rutgers University (Women’s Lacrosse) Carr, Lowell — Colby College (Football) Elam, Kaiir — University of Florida (Football) Foster, Hannah — Lehigh University (Women’s Golf) Haskin, Parker — Tulane University (Baseball) Hilcoff, Hanna — University of Oregon (Women’s Lacrosse) Judge, Tyler — George Washington University (Baseball) Lichtig, Madison — University of North Florida (Women’s Swimming) Lobosco, Michael — United States Naval Academy (Men’s Lacrosse) Lopes, Brian — Florida Institute of Technology (Baseball) Lubarksy, Ben — American University (Men’s Basketball) Malamala, Ainsley — Mercer University (Women’s Lacrosse) Martin, Jessica — Tufts University (Women’s Track & Field) McKenzie, TJ — Vanderbilt University (Baseball) McLeod, Shiyanna — William and Mary University (Volleyball) Savidge, Alexis — Tufts University (Women’s Lacrosse) Turner, Ashley — Ohio State University (Women’s Lacrosse) Twyman, Skyler — University of Chicago (Men’s Basketball) Vernis, Nicole — University of Florida (Women’s Soccer) Vogelsong, Alex — Auburn University (Men’s Golf)

BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

Christian Cropp ’17

Returns to TBS to Talk College Lacrosse Christian Cropp ’17, a sophomore lacrosse player at Yale University, returned to Benjamin to speak with the varsity lacrosse team about the work it takes to be a collegiate athlete. Cropp spoke of the incredible sense of commitment he has to his teammates and how he was determined to “be a Floridian who went North and did not quit.” Cropp spoke of two acronyms that are used by the Yale lacrosse program: “You Are Lucky Enough! (YALE). Be grateful, be humble and treasure the opportunity you have. The Yale players are aware that the opportunity is special and they appreciate it and do not take it for granted. They work incredibly hard with a sense of gratitude. The same is true for you. Benjamin is a special school that requires sacrifice and hard work — your family’s and your own — in order to be admitted and to graduate. Not many get that opportunity. Never take it for granted and show your appreciation by your behavior. “Only Need Everybody (ONE). This speaks to team unity. A team needs every player’s commitment to being their best. It must be one unit where we value each other’s contributions. We have to be a team in every sense of the word. You cannot win a championship unless you have everyone together — teams win lacrosse championships, not individuals.”

Golfer Sarah Beqaj Named to 2019 Team Canada Junior Squad Junior Sarah Beqaj was one of 17 golfers chosen to represent Team Canada as part of the 2019 National Amateur and Junior Squads. “Golf Canada is pleased to select this outstanding group of elite athletes based on their remarkable performances this past season,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer. “These squads are a product of an immersive training environment led by our head coaches, alongside sport science staff, parents and the provincial high-performance programs along with member clubs. They will be fantastic representatives of Canada on the global golf stage.” Beqaj will spend her second semester with other members of the team at Golf Canada’s National Training Center at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, Canada. She will return to Benjamin for her senior year.

THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

Emily Horgen

Named 2018 High School Academic All-American

Junior Emily Horgen was named a High School Academic All-American for the 2017-2018 school year. She joined 114 Academic All-Americans hailing from 34 states, and placed fifth in the Florida 1A State Track Meet in the 800m. Her 4X800m relay placed fourth in the state meet. Horgen, who started running track in ninth grade, has a 4.46 GPA and would like to major in biology/premed in college. She said one of the challenges of being a student-athlete at Benjamin is planning ahead and staying organized so she can get her work done before track and cross country meets. “I also have to use my weekends wisely to get ahead for the rest of the week,” explained Horgen. Hoping to compete 28

on a track team at the collegiate level, Horgen said breaking the School’s record for the 4X800m relay has been one of her favorite memories during her time at Benjamin. “We tied the record at districts, and then shattered it at the state meet. My teammates and I trained really

hard the whole season to beat this record, and we had a lot of fun together, so it was a rewarding accomplishment,” said Horgen. Horgen said she would tell future student-athletes at Benjamin to seek help when needed.

Cornerback

Kaiir ELAM

Presented with All-American Jersey

Benjamin cornerback Kaiir Elam was invited to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game, and was presented with his All-American jersey during a special assembly in Benjamin Hall on September 17. Elam also received an invitation to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Director of Athletics Ryan Smith ‘93 said he is tremendously proud of Kaiir as he is the first Benjamin student-athlete to be named an Under Armour High School All-American. “It was clear when Kaiir started at Benjamin in ninth grade that he had special skills. Not only does Kaiir possess the talent to compete at the highest level, but he also worked extremely hard to fine-tune his skills. We look forward to following Kaiir’s career in college and beyond,” said Smith.

Official Retraction The FHSAA Team Champion photo for girls varsity volleyball in the Summer 2018 issue of The Buccaneer was in error. At left is the correct image of the 2017-2018 varsity squad.

THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

Team Champions Boys Cross Country • FHSAA district champion • Advanced to regional and state meet

Boys Golf • FHSAA district and regional champion • FHSAA state tournament

Girls Golf • FHSAA district and regional champion • FHSAA state tournament • Sarah Beqaj – 1st All-Area Sun Sentinel

BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER

Football • Finished season 9-2

• Advanced to FHSAA regional quarterfinals

• Was ranked top 10 in The Palm Beach Post all season

Volleyball • District and regional champions • Advanced to FHSAA state championship game and finished state runner-up

Boys and Girls Swimming • Nine swimmers advanced to FHSAA regional meet • Two swimmers advanced to FHSAA state championship meet

Girls Cross Country • Finished second at FHSAA district tournament • Advanced to FHSAA regional meet

THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

2018 Fall Sports Highlights Sun Sentinel All-Area Teams Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year Ted Twyman

Girls Cross Country Honorable Mention Emily Horgen

Football Player of the Year Kaiir Elam 1st Team Santino Marucci, Joshua Pierre-Louis, Brandon Powell

2nd Team Joshua Greene, Michael Lobosco, Addison Matevia, Joe LaBovick Honorable Mention Lowell Carr, Roshuane Downie, Joe Mariani

Boys Golf Golfer of the Year Alex Vogelsong 1st Team Henry Dubiel

Boys Swimming

2nd Team Blake Bowen

Honorable Mention Carter Hewitt

Honorable Mention Xander Klein

Volleyball Coach of the Year Alex Clarke

Girls Golf 1st Team Sarah Beqaj

1st Team Sierra Barron, Ellie Blain

2nd Team Jenna Fonda Honorable Mention Hannah Foster, Kiley Malmberg

2nd Team Heather Sley Honorable Mention Lauren Lange, Shiyanna McLeod, Whitney Sousa

The Palm Beach Post All-Area Teams Boys Cross Country 1st Team Ted Twyman

Football 1st Team Kaiir Elam, Joseph LaBovick, Joshua PierreLouis, Tommy Rooney

2nd Team Lowell Carr, Josh Greene Honorable Mention Santino Marucci

Boys Golf 1st Team Blake Bowen, Alex Vogelsong Honorable Mention Xander Klein

Girls Golf

Volleyball

1st Team Sarah Beqaj

Coach of the Year Alex Clarke

Honorable Mention Jenna Fonda

1st Team Ellie Blain, Shiyanna McLeod

Boys Swimming

2nd Team Sierra Barron

Honorable Mention Carter Hewitt

Individual Accolades

SFC All-Conference Teams

Lowell Carr – Lou Groza Palm Beach County Kicker of the Year

Coach of the Year Eric Kresser

2nd Team Josh Greene

Kaiir Elam – Under Armour AllAmerican (participating in nationally televised game) and Lou Groza Palm Beach County Player of the Year finalist

All-Academic Team Joe Mariani

Honorable Mention Santino Marucci, Joe Mariani, Roshuane Downie, David Knabel, Tommy Rooney, Addison Matevia

1st Team Kaiir Elam, Josh Greene, Michael Lobosco, Joseph LaBovick, Joshua Pierre-Louis, Lowell Carr

(Football Only)

ALUMNI FOCUS

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

Bennett Sousa ’14

Drafted by Chicago White Sox Bennett Sousa ’14 was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft. Sousa reflects back on his 14 years at Benjamin during a conversation with The Buccaneer Magazine.

Q: When did you start playing baseball? A: I started playing tee-ball when I was five-years old. Q: Was it always your goal to play professionally? A: Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to play professionally. Q: In what ways did Benjamin prepare you for your career, both academically and athletically?

A: Benjamin taught me how to balance my schoolwork with my athletics. When I got to college a lot of athletes were having trouble organizing their academic schedule with their athletic schedule, and for me it was not as hard. I think going to such a challenging academic high school made adapting to college a lot easier.

Q: Do you keep in touch with anyone from the School? A: I still talk to many people from Benjamin. Some guys I have grown up with my entire life, so it’s hard not to. I think Benjamin is special in a sense because it’s a smaller school. I had a chance to develop relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Q: What are your fondest memories of TBS? A: I have so many baseball memories from Benjamin that not just one stands out. High school baseball is the last time you really play with all your childhood friends, and it was a lot of fun competing with those guys.

Q: What is your advice for current student-athletes at Benjamin? A: My advice for current student-athletes at Benjamin is to work hard every day and never give up on your dreams. Many crazy things happen in sports and life. The only thing you can control is how hard you work, and if you work hard, you will always be prepared for your opportunity when it is earned. My second piece of advice is cliché but true: Have fun! Sports can be very stressful and I have seen it change entire players’ attitudes toward life. It’s only a game that you’re supposed to be having fun while doing. I have tried to keep that mindset ever since my sophomore year of college, and it has really helped me. 34

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

Chelsea Reed ’88, Newest Member of

the Alumni Council Business Manager, Palm Beach Spine Institute

Q: What is your fondest memory of your time at TBS? A: My fondest memories begin at what was the North Palm Beach Private School, while being inspired by Mrs. Benjamin’s entrancing descriptions and engaging storytelling of Greek Mythology, a subject I still love and happily shared raising my children. It feels like just yesterday she was Icarus “flying” around the room using her arms as his melting wings. She was so amazing, especially when she would send letters home when you received the top grade on an exam. I still have one of mine tucked safely away. Mrs. Shick was the most admirable and talented art teacher we could have hoped for, and perfectly pushed us to create as well as learn real art history. Mr. Ridgeway was an incredible sport at trying to teach me to catch a softball (still can’t), and I still manage some French, thanks to all the time I spent with Mrs. Spassoff and Mrs. Grogan. I am especially glad for the alumni friends I have. We have done business together, chaired events and fundraisers, and collaborated on a Congressional Resolution. I have even had the pleasure of running the Chicago Marathon and Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon with an alumnus’ wife who has become a dear friend.

Q: What inspired you to join the Alumni Council? A: I was delighted to join because I love how our alumni stay connected and the sense of community they inspire. I am honored to be a part of something so wonderful at our school. Plus, I get to hang out with Rebecca Seelig ’93, and we all know that is always a delight!

Q: How did your time at TBS influence you as a business professional? A: TBS instilled confidence and ability that I have carried into meetings, onto podiums and in many areas of my professional development. My many years at TBS were full of experiences that could have only happened at a school so supportive of cultivating the idea of being well-rounded. The emphasis on studies, arts and sports brought me structure and happiness in school, and in life beyond K through 12.

Q: Any advice for current Benjamin students? A: The Benjamin School is best at taking students and transforming them into even better versions of themselves. I have remembered almost everything I learned at TBS (perhaps not math as much as literature and art!), and still use it today. Attending TBS reinforced a deep belief I have always had: that we must find and focus on the best in our students. In high school, I felt like I did not always fit in, and I was not always the most diligent student. But looking back, I had truly forged amazing connections and learned an extraordinary amount. Today, I know I can count on my fellow graduates for anything — from a medical referral to the opportunity to volunteer at a homeless shelter, or to simply go to a yoga class or on a long run together. We are all well-rounded at TBS, and that is one of those intangibles that mean so very much, especially once we step off campus.

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

Benjamin Dresner ’06

Attorney, Covington & Burling LLP Q: Do you keep in touch with any of your classmates?

A: I keep in touch with many of the ‘06 guys. Despite being spread out geographically, we still find time to meet quarterly — whether at The Snuggery, Crow’s Nest or The Little Nell. I also have the privilege of officiating the wedding of two TBS graduates, Derek Brock ’06 and Alexis Araujo ’08, in March 2019.

Q: What advice would you give to current students, specifically those wishing to pursue law degrees?

A: Don’t feel like your whole life must Dresner with former Congressman Tom Rooney ’89 Ben Dresner ‘06, an attorney for a prestigious law firm in Washington, D.C., speaks with The Buccaneer Magazine about his time at TBS and the ways in which the School prepared him for his career in law.

Q: How many years did you attend Benjamin?

A: Fourteen-year club! I made the arduous, yet enriching journey from Mrs. Brozost to Mrs. Salivar.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories?

A: When, as a senior, I had the opportunity to walk in the Lower School Halloween parade alongside a class of bright and eager pre-kindergartners — some of whom now make up this year’s graduating senior class . . . or rhythmically dancing in a coconut bra during the Drama Club’s critically acclaimed performance of “South Pacific.” 36

Q: In what ways did TBS prepare you for college and your career? Has being a Benjamin graduate had an impact on your career opportunities?

A: The combination of Benjamin’s small class sizes and focused teachers/administrators, fosters an environment where the student’s success is paramount. Building upon this, the Benjamin network is expansive and willing to help whenever possible. Early in my career, the TBS network led me to the halls of Congress, where I briefly worked for Congressman Tom Rooney ’89, alongside fellow TBS alum Andrew Callahan ’09.

be figured out by the time you finish with high school, college or even graduate school. I am thirty years old and still have no idea where I see myself in five or ten years (I happen to think that’s a positive thing. My mother . . . not so much).

Q: Favorite teachers? A: Mr. Steven J. Anderson whom I have visited several times at his home on Cape Cod — where he is basically the de facto mayor of Dennis Port. Mr. and Mrs. Wissner, who despite being tough as nails, both shared a deep passion for educating students in their respective fields and did so with a dry sense of humor. Also, can’t forget Dr. Christina Caruso James who helped me to become a better writer.

Q: Final words? A: Go Bucs!

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

Charlotte Mack ’17

TRAINING FOR 2020 OLYMPICS

Charlotte Mack ‘17 and her skipper Kate Shaner qualified for the Aarhus Sailing World Championships in Denmark last summer. The event was the first round of country qualifications for the 2020 Olympic Games. Mack will head to Japan next month to begin her Olympic training. Olympic Trials will end in the spring, when Mack and Shaner will know if they are able to represent the United States in Tokyo in 2020. The pair began the summer training in windy San Francisco Bay, where they sailed with other American teams in challenging conditions. “We made huge strides forward in both skill and confidence, and feel well prepared leading into our World Championships,” Mack wrote on the team’s website. Mack said her time at Benjamin helped prepare her for the Olympic campaign. “Benjamin is big on being a student-athlete. I was on the swim team for my time at Benjamin, and this helped me learn how to balance my academic and my sailing responsibilities throughout my freshman year at the University of Miami. Benjamin also taught me to seek help when I need it. All of my teachers were always so welcome to help whenever I needed it instead of asking me to face problems on my own. Benjamin also helped with my verbal and written presentation skills. We have to write a lot of letters for sponsors, and we have a lot of fundraising events, so being able to write well and present myself well in front of crowds really has made a huge difference with our Olympic campaign and being able to raise money,” Mack said. Mack plans to defer her fall semester at the University of Miami while she trains and competes.

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

Matt Brannon ’03, Sal Tiano, Brenna Tiano ’13, Jenna Wittbold ’07

WEALTH MANAGER, TRUSTEE SAL TIANO ADDRESSES ALUMNI AT NETWORKING BREAKFAST Sal Tiano, Managing Director of Tiano, Armour & Smyth Group at J.P. Morgan Securities, spent the morning of September 26 speaking to a rapt audience of Benjamin alumni at their annual networking breakfast. Tiano, who has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Financial Advisors” in the United States, shared his wealth of knowledge and expertise with the Benjamin graduates. Tiano presented his “Top 10 Takeaways” to the group, which included the importance of being on time, giving back and developing a strong work ethic. Tiano, a graduate of Dartmouth College, is known throughout the greater Palm Beach area for his support of various charities and community groups. He is currently Investment Chair on the Board of Trustees at The Benjamin School. “The Benjamin School Alumni Association has received a tremendous response to our Alumni Networking events, as we host a diverse group of alumni from more than thirty graduating classes. These interactive sessions feature accomplished leaders within our community who share their unique experiences and are willing to engage, on a more personal level, with our alumni,” said Alumni Council President and Board Member Matt Brannon ’03. “The Benjamin School is incredibly proud of our graduates and continues to make significant investments in our Alumni Association, as it strives to be a resource for alumni,” said Brannon. Tiano lives in Jupiter, Florida, with his wife, Kim, and their five children. Three of his children graduated from Benjamin, and one is currently a junior. Tiano enjoys golf, coaching and working with children. 38

ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER

Alumni Class Notes Dane Wiren ’87 completed his associate’s degree in biotechnology at Palm Beach State College and is working evenings in the Department of Neuroscience at The Scripps Research Institute (Ja Lab) in Jupiter, Florida. In addition, Dane coaches golf at The First Tee of the Palm Beaches and is General Manager of Golf Training Aids in Boynton Beach, Florida. Dr. Jason Kiner ’93 and his wife welcomed their son Elias Ariel, pictured below, in 2018. Dr. Kiner serves as the Chief of Stroke and Chief of Neurohospitalists at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.

C. Murphy Cray ’99 recently joined Doane & Doane, P.A., in North Palm Beach, Florida. His legal practice includes estate planning, trust and estate administration, and guardianship law. Chris Salivar ’01 is an attorney in Boca Raton, Florida, working in commercial and family law at the Andrew M. Schwartz law firm. His wife, Emily Georgia-Salivar, is on faculty in the clinical psychology department of Nova Southeastern University, teaching graduate-level

courses and supervising clinical psychology students. Their daughter Etta Jean, pictured at bottom left, was a Frappuccino for Halloween. Grandmother Sara Salivar, US Performing Arts Dept. Chair, says Etta is a precious bundle of energy and her family’s biggest treasure and blessing. Morgan (McRoberts) Evers ’03 Morgan has been working for the nonprofit organization Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region for the last six years. As their Director of Community Relations, she strives to influence quality early learning and promote early childhood literacy. She is married to Matthew Evers, who works with children of all abilities in the therapeutic field. The couple has a son Hinton (age 4), who is an awesome adventurer and loves to fish, and a little girl, Finley Cay, is on the way. Kevin Devine ’06 proposed to Alexandra Taylor ’08 on December 8, 2017, in Central Park (New York). These high school sweethearts cannot wait to start their life together as Mr. and Mrs. Devine!

Lauren Colclasure Ferreira Neto ’06, and her husband, Bernardo, have lived in Las Vegas for nearly five years. They love the shows, restaurants and attractions the town has to offer! They have two daughters, Charlotte who is 1 year, 6 months, and Emilia who was born in early November. They travel home to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, frequently to visit family, friends and the beach.

Jenna (Smith) Wittbold ’07 and Ryan Wittbold married on October 6, 2018, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, followed by a reception at Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter. Alumni attendees included Alexandra Brady ’07, Kate (Velinsky) Fischer ‘07, Brooke (Smith) Grogan ’05, Brennan Grogan ’02, Christopher Holmes ’07, Marti Lotman ’06, Maren McRoberts ’11, Jessy Padon ’01, Shelley (Hoddinott) Richardson ’10, Brandon Smith ’09 and Morgan Smith ’10.

Continued on Page 40.

THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS

Continued from Page 39.

Colin Hickey ’07 works as a Partner of AM Global Family Investment Office and recently became a Partner of Forbes Family Trust, which announced an agreement to acquire AM Global. Forbes Family Trust and its affiliates are based in New York and Philadelphia, and manage more than $4.5 billion in assets. On April 29, 2018, Moneka White and Grant Gyland ’07 tied the knot in Saint Petersburg, Florida, at Tampa Bay Watch. They recently returned from their honeymoon in Montana. They are enjoying married life in their home in Tequesta, Florida. Luke Davis ’07 married Kirsten Braun in Cleveland on September 1, 2018. The couple honeymooned in South Africa and returned to Palm Beach, where they call home. Luke is currently a sales broker for HMY Yachts.

Talbot Sutter ’07 and his wife Adriana welcomed their first child, Scarlett Lucille Sutter, pictured below, on September 17, 2018. Her nickname is “Baby Blue Bird” because of her blue eyes.

Hickey says: ”Forbes Family Trust and AM Global share the same values when it comes to investment selection, asset allocation and managing wealth for future generations. I am very excited for the combination of the firms as it will help us expand our investment opportunities, expertise and service offerings for our family office clients. We look forward to growing our presence in the Palm Beach area and serving our Florida-based high net worth clients, while continuing to enhance our global investment solutions.” Cloe Mimun ’08 has been working as a Realtor for a boutique firm in Palm Beach. She was recently recognized as one of the top producers of her firm. In addition to real estate, Cloe received her certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and she advocates to authentically nourish and enhance an individual’s overall wellness through movement and lifestyle transformations. Joshua Stauffer ’11 married Regan Anderson of Dana Point, California, at the Peconic Bay Yacht Club in Greenport, New York, on October 13, 2018.

Gabrielle Gaudet ’12 is finishing her last year of law school at the University of Virginia. She will start her law career in Atlanta working for Troutman Sanders. Ross Sanford ’13 and his wife Elizabeth live in Charleston, South Carolina, where he works as an engineer. Together, they have a 1-year-old daughter, Clementine Louise, and are expecting a baby boy in February 2019.

Alessandra Baldari ’17 is enjoying her first year as a swimmer for Yale University.

She says: “I’m learning to balance my many practices with lots of schoolwork, but it’s totally worth it! Even with the intensity in the classroom and the pool, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The swim team is a great, supportive environment in which everyone helps each other and cheers each other on. I love the camaraderie and team spirit. I’m so lucky and grateful to wear the Yale cap!”

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-19 ARI ZUR, CHAIRMAN

BOB MARTIN

CHRISTOPHER SORENSON

MATT BRANNON

KRISTA NICKLAUS

SAL TIANO

SHEREE DAVIS CUNNINGHAM

SANDY Oâ€™CONNOR

CHRISTOPHER M. TIGHE, JR.

JILL FRIED

KELLY PERKINS

BRIAN WAXMAN

JAY HORGEN

BARRY POSTMAN

DIRK ZIFF

LYNDA JACOBS

TOM ROONEY

AMY ZITO

DARREN LOWE

SHANNON SMITH

VINCE MAROTTA

MARK SORENSEN

ROBERT S. GOLDBERG Head of School (ex-officio)

TRUSTEES EMERITI NANCY BENJAMIN* KEVIN KENNY* MARTHA KENNY* BARBARA NICKLAUS JACK NICKLAUS *deceased

CHRONICLING PHILANTHROPY AT THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL

IMPACT SPRING 2019 | Volume I

PERSPECTIVE:

Why Grandparents Give Big

IMPACT

Letter from the Chief Development Officer Dear Benjamin Families and Friends, Welcome to Impact, our new, biannual Advancement Magazine. These pages are an evolution from the familiar “Advancement Bulletin” or “Annual Report,” which included solely the printed names of donors. With this updated version, we will continue to honor our generous families, but in new ways. The name Impact reflects our purpose in these pages. As always, we will include the Midyear Report on Gifts that lists all donations to TBS. But, we also want to demonstrate the effect of your generosity and how our students, teachers and campuses benefit. Conversely, we will explore the effect philanthropy is having on our donors and why it feels good to give back. In this first issue of Impact, we focus on two grandparents who are helping transform the Lower and Middle School campus. By now, you may have heard about the Maglio Family STEM Center, which is currently under construction. I found it fascinating to hear from these grandparents what motivated them to give to the STEM Center — and give big! You will also see a lot more pictures and, perhaps, find yourself chronicled in these pages! With two capital construction projects underway in one school year, and several events aimed at saying “thank you,” it was a busy first semester here at Benjamin. Please take a look at Impact and let me know what else you would like to see. Gratefully, Juan Carlos Fanjul ‘93 Chief Development Officer

MISSION STATEMENT The mission of The Benjamin School is to provide a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment. The School motivates students to master the skills of learning, communicating and evaluating choices, and encourages them to grow intellectually, socially, morally, aesthetically and physically to their fullest individual potential. Benjamin inspires its students to develop a coherent set of values that includes love of learning, personal responsibility, self-motivation, concern for others and a commitment to serve society.

IMPACT | GRANDPARENTS AND PHILANTHROPY

Grandparents Drive Culture of Philanthropy By Juan Carlos Fanjul ’93, Chief Development Officer

The Maglio and Atkins families, along with their children and grandchildren, at the STEM Center Showcase If you have driven by the Lower and Middle School campus recently, you may have noticed flying steel, concrete trucks driving in and out, and a small army of construction workers. There is no mistaking a brand-new, two-story, 131-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is taking shape. In fact, the Maglio Family STEM Center has already surpassed the construction midpoint, with an anticipated “soft opening” in May and an official grand opening in the fall, when the 2019-2020 school year begins. At Benjamin, most “big” new spaces — be it our redesigned Didsbury Learning Commons in the Upper School or the new STEM Center — are made possible by the generosity of our families. The STEM Center has been fueled by donations from the Maglio, Atkins, Aninowsky, Bartoli, Sorenson, Vining, and Hutchen families — and others — as well as a corporate gift from Florida Power & Light. While a culture of philanthropy among our parents is nothing new, what is unmistakable is that the two largest gifts for this project came from grandparents. 4

“The teachers and administrators at TBS are doing a great job with my grandkids,” said Bill Maglio, a Benjamin grandfather. In fact, Bill and his wife Madeline were impressed by Benjamin from the onset when their oldest grandson, Cole ’23, started here nearly 10 years ago. In the following years, all three of the Maglio daughters, Michelle, Nicole and Danielle, had their children enrolled at the School. Having been CEO of the family business, which produced aerospace hydraulics for both commercial and military aviation, Bill has an affinity for technology and engineering born out of necessity. “It became a serious problem finding engineering talent to support our business model. To fill the requirement, we started offering scholarships to our local universities to engineering students who would commit to working for us,” he said. The family also helped start a similar model at the high school level in New York after noticing that local schools were not preparing students to be accepted

Bernardine Atkins with daughter-in-law, Heather, and grandchild Chase ’27 into engineering universities. It was his background and his grandchildren’s success at Benjamin that prompted the Maglios and their Berlin Family Foundation to make a major investment in the School. “It is the most valuable gift I can give to them in order to be successful in the future,” he said. The family’s $2.5 million lead gift is the single largest gift ever received at Benjamin.

“I believe that the great advances of the future lie in the STEM curriculum. Just think of the amazing changes in our lives in the past decades due to technology, medical advances, space exploration, transportation improvements and so on. This will only become more rapid in the years to come, and those not fully versed in these areas will be left behind,“ said Bernardine Atkins.

When Bernardine Atkins’ grandson Chase, a fourth grader, told her about how Lower School Science Teacher Mrs. Susan Bickel had extracted DNA from a banana in an experiment during class, her interest was piqued. After attending Grandest Friends’ Day and performing a STEM-related experiment with Chase, it took little convincing from her daughter-in-law Heather to invest in our all-new STEM Center.

The Atkins family made a $500,000 pledge to the STEM Center and purchased two rooms. Chase is now joined at Benjamin by his sister Grace, a kindergartner, and Bernardine says her donation will pay off in dividends for them and other students. “I have been extremely impressed by the dedication of the administration, teachers and other staff to the improvement and continued growth of The Benjamin School. Its track record of excellence gives me great confidence that donations to TBS are true investments in a great education,” said Atkins. For Bill and Madeline Maglio, it all came full circle when they attended the STEM Center Showcase in the fall with their five grandchildren: Ruby Bessette (PK 4), Ryder Bessette (1), Avery Grande (5), Cole Grande (8) and Greyson Jenkins (1). Getting a preview of the building and new technologies solidified the reason why they gave. “I can give toys, cars, boats, and planes to the next generation, which they would probably waste, but an education will never be taken away from them. This will benefit the family as well as the many other children attending TBS,” Bill Maglio said.

Avery Grande ’26, Ryder Bessette ’30 and Greyson Jenkins ’30

MIDYEAR REPORT OF GIFTS | IMPACT

Midyear Report of Gifts 2018-2019 The Leadership Society

Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Bowen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jason A. Brown The Leadership Society The Burden Family recognizes and honors Ms. Holly Carias those benefactors who are TBS Sustainers Mr. and Mrs. James Carr especially generous to The ($10,000+) Benjamin School by giving John and Denise Caruso $3,000 or more annually. This Mr. and Mrs. David S. Axelrod Brad and Tove Chamness includes all pledges and gifts The Berger Family Mr. and Mrs. John Collins to Leaps & Bounds Capital Boston Private Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Costa Campaign, Annual Fund, The Boyland Family Mr. and Mrs. K. Scott Davis BASH sponsorship and/or Mr. Michael Coles and endowment as of 1/18/19. The Dirkse Family Ms. Edie Landeck Mr. and Mrs. Luke Donald Founder’s Circle Dr. and Mrs. Venu Jasti Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. ($500,000+) Mr. and Mrs. Darren A. Lowe Eggleton The Atkins Family Joe and Jen Lower Ms. Tammy E. Funk Mrs. Carol H. McCracken Lisa and Eric Glasband Partner’s Club Mr. Robert J. McDonough ($100,000+) Chris and Michelle Grande Nicolas and Aleksandra Narti Greg and Patty Bartoli Ryan and Danielle Jenkins Mr. and Mrs. Jack W. Nicklaus KRISTA + HOME — Mr. and Jay and Kate Horgen Mrs. Eric D. Alterman Mr. and Mrs. Steven C. 1960 Society Nicklaus ’81 Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. ($50,000+) Lavonia III Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Reed Rooney ’87 Ms. Debra A. Levine Chris and Christine Sorenson Adam and Elizabeth Simon Mr. and Mrs. Christopher W. Macmillan Charles and Kathy Simon Blue and Orange Society Derek and Jennifer Malmberg Scott and Shannon Smith ($25,000+) Jon and Liza Mauck Michael and Janet Steinger The Doran Family Clement and Linda The Mary Alice Fortin Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Hutchen McGillicuddy Foundation, Inc. Mr. William S. Robertson George and Sarah McMahon Meryl and Charles Witmer Mr. and Mrs. Jacob D. Moya Photography Aaron and Kimberly Yeary Rosengarten Mr. and Mrs. Heath C. Odom Steven and Caroline Vogel TBS Benefactors Kelly and Dr. Lily Perkins ($5,000+) Mr. and Mrs. Armando Buccaneer Society Anonymous (2) Pimentel, Jr. ($15,000+) Greg Allen and Leigh Massey Dr. Suzie Poncy and Bayfield Partners Investment Dr. Morgan Poncy ’88 Bank — The Slocum Family Anderson-Moore Construction Corp. Barry and Colleen Postman Andrew and Stacey Kroll Mr. Richard Augustyn Professional Bank Robin and Bob Martin Mr. and Mrs. Christopher E. Dr. and Mrs. Brian K. Reiter Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Miller Beach Drs. David and Heather Rodin The Joseph W. O’Connor Darrow and Hisako Becker Family The Honorable Thomas J. Michelle and Zachary Berg Rooney, Sr. ’89 and Palm Beach Kennel Club Mrs. Rooney Mrs. Nicole M. Bessette Gabriela and David Porges Mr. and Mrs. Roland D. Sahm Dr. and Mrs. Ab Boonswang Mark and Kim Sorensen Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, P.A. Salvatore A. and Kim Tiano Mr. and Mrs. John K. Twyman Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Vining

Mr. Andrew W. Schor Mr. and Mrs. Sergey Shikhaleev Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Simon Josh and Christie Simon Mr. and Mrs. Hendrik A. Sluiters Kevin and Meg Smith Ali and Jennifer Soffan Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Spunar Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Stein SunTrust Steven and Caroline Vogel Elizabeth Zahra

TBS Supporters ($3,000+) Anonymous The Beqaj Family Peter and Tiffany Bevacqua Mr. Matthew W. Brannon ’03 Mr. and Mrs. Douglas M. Coles Mr. and Mrs. Scott M. Colton ’81 Mr. and Mrs. Roderick P. Crawford, Jr. Joshua and Tammy Crossman Sean and Kelly Domnick Robert and Ginger Donnelly Mrs. Leslie Downs Dr. and Mrs. Elliot Ellis First Republic Bank Ben and Nicole Foster Steven and Jill Fried Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Brian T. Hale Mr. and Mrs. Tov B. Haueisen Mr. Phillip E. Hazen and Mrs. Michelle Ty-Hazen Chris and Meghan Hurley Jonathan and Jessica Jayson Jeck, Harris, Raynor & Jones, P.A. Brooks and Leila Kallop Mr. and Mrs. Brad Kuskin John-Paul Lazo and Sareh Beladi 7

IMPACT | MIDYEAR REPORT OF GIFTS

Trey and Jennifer Lytal Michael and Lauren McCully Mr. and Mrs. Shaun McGruder Dr. Mark and Sherry Murphy Joseph and Maressa Musumeci The Neer Family NextEra Energy Foundation, Inc. Anthony and Theodora Pace Dr. and Mrs. Dror Paley Palm Beach Orthodontics Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Peckham Scott and Whitney Perkins Bill and Amy Perry Antoinette C. Pignataro Mr. and Mrs. J. Michael Prince Glen and Laura Reece Heather and Ryan Ross Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Scotto Mr. Christian D. Searcy and Dr. Deborah W. Searcy Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Searcy Mr. and Mrs. Michael M. Shirzad Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence R. Shawe Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Sheehan ’94 Sean and Victoria Smith Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Tighe, Jr. The Tumba Family Joseph and Amy Zito Ari and Niki Zur

The Annual Fund Gifts to the Annual Fund support the operating budget of The Benjamin School, providing critical funds for student programs, faculty salaries, facilities maintenance and improvement, and more. This includes unrestricted and restricted gifts and pledges as of 1/18/19.

$100,000-$249,999 Jay and Kate Horgen

$25,000-$49,999 The Doran Family Mr. and Mrs. Jacob D. Rosengarten 8

$15,000-$24,999 Andrew and Stacey Kroll Gabriela and David Porges Mark and Kim Sorensen Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, P.A. Mr. and Mrs. John K. Twyman

$10,000-$14,999 Mr. and Mrs. David S. Axelrod The Berger Family The Boyland Family Mr. Michael Coles and Ms. Edie Landeck Raymond and Tarry Graziotto Dr. and Mrs. Venu Jasti Mr. and Mrs. Darren A. Lowe Joe and Jen Lower Mrs. Carol H. McCracken Mr. Robert J. McDonough Nicolas and Aleksandra Narti Mr. William S. Robertson Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Rooney ’87 Adam and Elizabeth Simon Charles and Kathy Simon Chris and Christine Sorenson Michael and Janet Steinger The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Inc. Meryl and Charles Witmer Aaron and Kimberly Yeary

$5,000-$9,999 Anonymous (2) Greg Allen and Leigh Massey Mr. Richard Augustyn Mr. and Mrs. Christopher E. Beach Darrow and Hisako Becker Michelle and Zachary Berg Dr. and Mrs. Ab Boonswang Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Bowen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jason A. Brown The Burden Family Ms. Holly Carias Mr. and Mrs. James Carr John and Denise Caruso Brad and Tove Chamness

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Costa Mr. and Mrs. K. Scott Davis The Dirkse Family Mr. and Mrs. Luke Donald Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Eggleton Ms. Tammy E. Funk Lisa and Eric Glasband Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Hutchen KRISTA + HOME — Mr. and Mrs. Eric D. Alterman Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Lavonia III Ms. Debra A. Levine Mr. and Mrs. Christopher W. Macmillan Derek and Jennifer Malmberg Jon and Liza Mauck Clement and Linda McGillicuddy George and Sarah McMahon Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Miller Mr. and Mrs. Heath C. Odom Kelly and Dr. Lily Perkins Dr. Suzie Poncy and Dr. Morgan Poncy ’88 Barry and Colleen Postman Professional Bank Dr. and Mrs. Brian K. Reiter Drs. David and Heather Rodin The Honorable Thomas J. Rooney, Sr. ’89 and Mrs. Rooney Mr. and Mrs. Roland D. Sahm Mr. Andrew W. Schor Mr. and Mrs. Sergey Shikhaleev Josh and Christie Simon Mr. and Mrs. Hendrik A. Sluiters Kevin and Meg Smith Ali and Jennifer Soffan Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Stein Steven and Caroline Vogel Elizabeth Zahra

Mr. and Mrs. Roderick P. Crawford, Jr. Joshua and Tammy Crossman Sean and Kelly Domnick Robert and Ginger Donnelly Mrs. Leslie Downs Dr. and Mrs. Elliot Ellis First Republic Bank Ben and Nicole Foster Steven and Jill Fried Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Brian T. Hale Mr. and Mrs. Tov B. Haueisen Mr. Phillip E. Hazen and Mrs. Michelle Ty-Hazen Chris and Meghan Hurley Jonathan and Jessica Jayson Jeck, Harris, Raynor & Jones, P.A. Brooks and Leila Kallop Mr. and Mrs. Brad Kuskin John-Paul Lazo and Sareh Beladi Trey and Jennifer Lytal Michael and Lauren McCully Mr. and Mrs. Shaun McGruder Dr. Mark and Sherry Murphy Joseph and Maressa Musumeci The Neer Family NextEra Energy Foundation, Inc. Anthony and Theodora Pace Dr. and Mrs. Dror Paley Palm Beach Orthodontics Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Peckham Scott and Whitney Perkins Bill and Amy Perry Antoinette C. Pignataro Mr. and Mrs. J. Michael Prince Glen and Laura Reece Heather and Ryan Ross $3,000-$4,999 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Scotto Mr. Christian D. Searcy and Anonymous Dr. Deborah W. Searcy The Beqaj Family Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Searcy Peter and Tiffany Bevacqua Mr. Matthew W. Brannon ’03 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence R. Shawe Mr. and Mrs. Douglas M. Coles Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Sheehan ’94 Mr. and Mrs. Scott M. Colton ’81 Mr. and Mrs. Michael M. Shirzad

MIDYEAR REPORT OF GIFTS | IMPACT

Sean and Victoria Smith Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Tighe, Jr. The Tumba Family Joseph and Amy Zito Ari and Niki Zur

$1,000-$2,999 Anonymous (14) Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Adler, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Atkins Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan T. Bain Duccio and Maria Baldari Kenneth and Deanna Ball Ms. Jennifer L. Barron Mr. and Mrs. Barry Berg Peter and LeAnn Bernhardt Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Berube, Jr. Jacques and Diana Bories Mr. and Mrs. Craig Bretzlaff Mr. and Mrs. Noah W. Brindise Manolo Calvo and Robyn Ayers Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Campbell Dan and Amy Chait Ms. Laurinda S. Coleman Mr. Leonard S. Coleman The Constantinescu Family Christine Davis The Densen Family Rupesh and Sami Dharia Dr. and Mrs. Frank E. Dickens Mr. and Mrs. Philip Dickinson Mr. Adam S. Doner Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Dunkin II The Ende Family Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fago Mr. Juan Carlos ’93 and Dr. Helia Fanjul Bob and Alexis Federman Fidelity Foundation Matching Gifts to Education Program Bob and Marlene Fields Dr. Luisa M. Milevoj and Mr. Robert F. FitzPatrick Halsey & Griffith, Inc. Mr. Stephen G. Haskin Mark and Wendy Hendryx Mrs. Kristen Hewitt

David and Jeanine Holland Cynthia and Alex Housten Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Ippolito Lauren and Dan Jennings Jason and Laura Judge Jupiter Medical Center Marianna and Marc Kaufman Sasha Klein and Ben Klein Dr. and Mrs. Matthew H. Klein Mr. Jeffrey Leonard and Ms. Sofia Metaxas Mr. Lennart J. Lindahl ’89 and Mrs. Leslie A. Lindahl Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Lovas Ms. Alison T. Mahon Steve Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Jason Marucci Natalie and Eric Marx Ms. Erisangela C. McDonough Mr. Ali J. McKinney and Dr. Ilka McKinney Sheila McNamara Mr. and Mrs. Nathan E. Nason (NPBPS ’73) Philip and Allison Neidoff Sheri Nelson Andrew and Camille Noble Mr. and Mrs. Bradley D. Nutter Erik S. Nutter ’26 Mr. and Mrs. Gard H. Y. Olbers Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pallitto Mr. and Mrs. Ray L. Pietruszka Dr. Justin Platzer and Dr. Lyad G. Platzer Amanda and David Pollok Dr. Suresh Raja and Dr. Nisha Bhardwaj Mr. and Mrs. Sean K. Rice Drucilla Richards Mr. Ignacio Rivers and Mrs. Isis Wu The Roth Family Mr. Camilo S. Saiz and Ms. Alejandra Calderon Susan and Tom Scaperotto Dr. Aaron and Lindsay Schamback Field of Dreams Turf Management — The Schenk Family

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Schmidt Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Schneider Benjamin and Kelley Scott The Selcuk Family Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Selleck Mr. Patrick and Dr. Kristen Sheehan Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sheehan Dr. and Mrs. Ryan Simovitch Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Skatoff Kim and Dwight Sley Ms. Rosalie B. Sorenson Mr. William Sproger Marc and Jamie Spungin Mr. and Mrs. David B. Stagney John A. and Elizabeth F. Taylor Charitable Foundation The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival Inc. Joe and Suzy Tomassetti Drs. Val and Natalia Tsar United Way of Palm Beach County Drs. Ventzek and Aloupis Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Vining Ms. Christina M. Walser Lopez Alla and Peter Weisz Mrs. Serena S. Wilson Ms. Andrew T. Witmer ’16 Mr. Ian C. Witmer ’16 Mr. and Mrs. James F. Woodard II

Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel J. Cotronakis Mr. David Craven David and Helen Darby Mr. Kendall P. Didsbury James and Catherine Dillavou on behalf of Chris and Morgan Dillavou Family Melissa Escobar Mr. and Mrs. Donald V. Farriss Mr. and Mrs. Rick Ford Anne Gambino Gardens Neurology Jackie Grantz-Lowth Abbe and Ross Groffman Ms. Linda Gross Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hagy, Jr. Matt and Alice Harrigan Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Harris II Ms. Nicole S. Henry Sandy and Stephan Hilcoff Kurt and Brande Hoffman Drs. John and Pamela Houri The Irishes Jana and Ken Kahn Dr. and Mrs. James M. Kerpsack Emmett and Sarah Lange Ms. Monique Lappas Andy Larson ’91 and Ivy Larson ’94 Mr. and Mrs. Jay Laszewski Mr. Andrew Liebowitz ’86 — In honor of Coby Leibowitz Ms. Julie Rath and $500-$999 Mr. Michael Lemke Anonymous (11) Mr. and Mrs. Lennart Lindahl Dr. and Mrs. Mark T. Agrama George and Nanette Lopes Mr. Abdulla F. AL Naimi and Terry and Maryette Louis Mrs. Haifa S. Al Twaijri Mr. and Mrs. John P. Marasco Mr. Kabir Asrani and Drs. Thomas and Anne Matese Dr. Bijal Asrani Mr. and Mrs. David D. Austin Mr. and Mrs. Steven V. McGillicuddy Mrs. Valerie Bernstein Mr. Mike McGraw Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Cannata Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Carr McLendon Eloquence Fine Jewelry Mr. Michael Merrill Mr. and Mrs. Alan J. Ciklin Ms. Leslie K. Mitchell Drs. Michael and Harvey and Natalie Montijo Jeanmarie Connor Ms. Ashley Nugent (Jeanmarie Burigo ’97) 9

IMPACT | MIDYEAR REPORT OF GIFTS

Mr. Brian T. Pakett and Mrs. LeeAnne Colamarino Pakett Dr. and Mrs. John C. Perrotto Mrs. Gloria Puchon Briggs Kim and Brian Quinn Mr. Samuel A. Raia ’93 The Ramsel Family Jon and Laurie Rapaport Ted and Pam Rauch Mr. and Mrs. James Reilly (Ali Beuckman ’04) Mr. Jean Paul Renuart and Dr. Ashleigh K. Renuart Mr. Alexander F. Ross and Ms. Morgan J. McGrath Mr. Raymon and Dr. Deeawn Roundtree Dr. and Mrs. Sharif Salehi Craig and Matthew Schepp Mr. Clinton J. Schlenker and Mrs. Courtney L. Hoey Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd V. Seested III Mark and Debra Shim Mike and Betsy Slocum Mr. and Mrs. Scott E. Stewart Ms. Molly M. Stringer ’95 Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Surowitz ’98 Mr. and Mrs. William B. Taylor The Rodman Foundation Turtle Beach Construction Co., Inc. Mr. and Mrs. John N. Viverito Jessica and Patrick Walsh Doug and Gio Walters Mr. and Mrs. Marc Wolff Gary and Ruthanne Zentner

Mrs. Lyna Breslow Mr. and Mrs. William P. Byrne Mr. and Mrs. Sudhir Chopra David and Lani Click Germaine and Kenneth Cole Creative Independents Mr. and Mrs. Carlos K. Fairbanks Karen and Rob Feldman Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Stefan Gelch and Kim Spivey Sheryl and John Giaimo Mr. and Mrs. David Gillert Peter and Gerry Graziotto Ms. Marcia G. Henze Mr. Joseph P. Hoffman and Mrs. Aki Shidara Lisa Interlandi Joseph and Sharon Knabel Bryan and Lexi Kuypers (Alexis Brams ’01) James Labadie and Carol Moore Mr. and Mrs. Gregory T. Letsche Mr. and Mrs. Mike Maiselson Mr. Michael Maxwell, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. McCullough Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Mercadante Rania and Francois Michelon Dr. and Mrs. Francis Murphy Mr. Carl J. A. Nordegren and Ms. Jianying Lao Mrs. Trina Orsic Mr. and Mrs. Brent Padon (Jessy Fulford ‘01) Bob and Christine Parker Guillermo Perez Vargas Major and Mrs. Graham A. $250-$499 Perry USMC Anonymous (2) Mr. and Mrs. Jason L. Pierman ’96 James and Joy Adle (Amanda Warner ’97) Mr. and Mrs. Abdu Aghzafi Mr. and Mrs. Duane L. Pinnock Mr. and Mrs. William W. The Pirozzi Family Andersen Del and Denise Ponchock Mr. Ken Archer Mr. and Mrs. Maclean Pulitzer, Sr. Maria and Tom Baldwin Linda and Ron Ream Robert A. Bayless Tama and Brett Richman Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Bayless — Rebecca and Seth Rotter In memory of Alison and Joe Samarias Felix Everard Monell 10

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sampson Mr. and Mrs. Gary Spencer Mr. and Mrs. Job Spetter David and Beth Sprague Mr. Franklin R. Taylor and Dr. Amy Taylor The Travaglini Family Darin and Alisa Turner Todd and Alicia Vidgen Mr. and Mrs. Peter Waxman ’89 Ms. Michele T. Wheeler Mr. and Mrs. Levi F. Wilber

$1-$249 Anonymous (24) Edward and Joanne Abrahams Mr. Uriel Acevedo Mr. and Mrs. Amine Aghzafi Alfonso and Alexandra Aguirre Alfonso Aguirre AmazonSmile Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Steven Anderson Sandy and Mallory Andrews Mr. and Mrs. Andre Arbuzow Mr. and Mrs. Steve Arline (Lisa Kerste NPBPS ’68) Mr. and Mrs. Jack W. Armstrong Mr. and Mrs. Richard Q. Armstrong Mr. Roderick B. Armstrong Mrs. Kristina Arnn Mrs. Linda M. August Mr. and Mrs. Ivey R. Austin, Jr. The Bailey Family Jody Bear The Bechtold Family Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Benfield, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bennett, Jr. Danielle M. Benvenuto Jeff and Susan Bickel Ms. Christine Blount Mr. Steven Blount Mr. Matthew J. Blum Ms. Brooke Avery and Mr. Ted Brown Kate Buettin Mr. and Mrs. Keith Campbell Claire Canese

Ms. Nancy Carson Ms. Ivette Casiano Ms. Karmin K. Cassanelli Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey J. Cavallo (Niki Warren ’98) Mr. and Mrs. Riordan Cheatham Ms. Katelyn Chellemi Mr. and Mrs. James P. Chesnes Darren and Alexandria Clarke Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Clifford Donn and Martha Colee Mr. and Mrs. Ray Collins Mr. John Connors and Mrs. Michele Sarver Ms. Renee Coviello and Mr. Richard Matthaei Mrs. Jamie Cowles ’04 Mr. Nicholas Cramer Stephanie and Michael Crawley Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cubic Mr. Patrick F. Cullinane Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Dahlmeier ’93 Mr. Alain Darang Jeff Daversa Ms. Sarah E. Davis ’05 Mr. Ethan G. Denenberg ’18 Kathleen C. Devine Pam and Dan Didio Mr. and Mrs. Chris Dillavou Mrs. Mary A. Ditaranto Mr. and Mrs. James D. D’Loughy Mr. and Mrs. George Donaldson Ms. Colleen Donnelly LisaMarie Talbot Englander Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Feck The Ferguson Family Lynne and Perry Feyk Jackie Filia Melissa Ford Mr. and Mrs. Craig Franzen Mrs. Cherie Tarek Fromson ’94 Mr. James N. Fuller, Jr. Ms. Carmen M. Garcia Ms. Jeaneen Garcia Mr. Jorge Garcia and Dr. Claudia Garcia Mr. and Mrs. Eric D. Gardner

MIDYEAR REPORT OF GIFTS | IMPACT

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Garrettson Mr. and Mrs. Christopher George Mr. Nathan Ginnetty Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell G. Glogower Mr. and Mrs. Rajan Goel Bekka and Matt Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Dennis S. Goldstein Mr. and Mrs. Benny Graboski Allen and Gabrielle Greene Mr. Buckley Griffis and Ms. Jennifer J. Zivers Mrs. Beverly Gustafson Mrs. Caroline Guzman Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Haggard James Haley Donald and Janice Hamburg Steve and Kathy Hamel Mr. Jared E. Hanlon Mr. and Mrs. Kirk F. Hansen Mr. and Mrs. William A. Hanser Mr. and Mrs. John (Toby) L. Harbeck III Steve and Jaclyn Harden Dr. Benjamin F. Harper Drs. Michael and Cynthia Harris Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hayes, Jr. (Mattie Higgins ’94) Mr. and Mrs. Roger Held Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Hewitt ’82 Jane and Frank Higginbotham Mr. and Mrs. Eric R. Hilcoff Mr. and Mrs. Ronald M. Hill Stacey Hill Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hogan Mr. and Mrs. Christopher R. Holmes ’07 Rob and Kelley Hook Ms. Sherral Hornaday Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hughes Mr. Randy Hurley and Mrs. Julie Ramos

Katherine Boburka Johnson Mr. Eric and Dr. Kersten Johnson (Kersten Beaver ’93) Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy Jones Mrs. Morli Josza Mrs. Genevieve Karmeris Mr. and Mrs. Francis X. Kearns III Susan and Gregory Keller Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kelly Mr. and Mrs. John Kendrigan Dr. Afaq Z. Khan and Dr. Shahbano J. Khan Mr. and Mrs. Shane Kittendorf Gary and Lorraine Klein Ms. Jennifer S. Kochman ’09 The Strueder-Krenzlin Family Mr. and Mrs. Eric J. Kresser ’92 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kurz Mr. and Mrs. Nathan LaBovick Mrs. Carol Labzda Mr. and Mrs. David J. Ladd Ms. Season Lagerstrom The Lappin Family Lisa A. Lappin Ms. Kimberly Latimer Erica Lazarus Ms. Lauren A. Lindahl ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Greg Lokitus Ms. Nicole Luciano The Maciejko Family Chuck Maddox Craig and Caron Martin (Caron Wissner ‘93) Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mazzota Ms. Nancy McAllister Mr. and Mrs. Matt McCambridge Lauren McGarity Ms. Carol McGrath Mr. and Mrs. Dave McKenney Mr. and Mrs. Stainton L. McKenzie Mr. and Mrs. Shaun McKinstry Matt and Sasha Melendy Dr. and Mrs. John D. L. Miller

Krista Monahan Mr. and Mrs. Robert Montini Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Morrow (Corey Allen ’03) Brian and Rhoda Murphy Kathleen Murphy Kelly Murray Dr. Hope Myers Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nadalin Christopher and Jessica Nordland Mrs. Petra Osborne Mr. Matthew Oster Mrs. Stephanie Oster Ms. Kim Pagano Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Palomba Mr. Charles E. Peckham ’18 Mr. Jorge L. Perez Dr. John Peruggia III Mr. Jonathan W. Peyton and Ms. Lindsay E. Mesches Mr. and Mrs. George Poncy, Jr. The Preston Family Mr. and Mrs. Ryan E. Pumford Mrs. Robyn K. Quaid Mr. John Ramirez Ms. Kelly Ramirez Mr. and Mrs. John Ramirez Ms. Ami Giurato Reece ’86 Ms. Diana Rios Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Roth Ms. Melissa Rowley Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rubin Michael D. Ruggie, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Russo The Salivar Family Ms. Rosanne Sammis Ms. Brittney Sands Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Scellato Ms. Karen Schmidt and Mr. Bob Perez Mr. and Mrs. Neil Shulas Mr. and Mrs. Alan B. Siegel Dr. and Mrs. Allen Sklaver, grandparents of Daelan Pinsky

Mr. and Mrs. Dylan J. Sloane ’09 (Victoria ‘08) Mr. Charles R. Smith, Jr. and Mrs. Genie Miner Smith ’92 Mr. and Mrs. Kyle T. Smith ’91 Mr. and Mrs. Ryan T. Smith ’93 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Solomon John and Erika Sousa Mr. and Mrs. Van Sparger Ms. Janice L. Spivey Don and Caryn St. John Mr. and Mrs. Stephen R. St. John Ms. Gwendolyn Stanford-Perez Mr. and Mrs. Robert Steiner (Meghan White ‘90) Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Stiebel Mr. and Mrs. Jesse S. Sukhu John and Marisol Mede Mr. and Mrs. Howard Teplitz Rebecca and Russell Tepper The Benevity Community Impact Fund John and Rhonda Thomas II Mr. and Mrs. Emory Todd Susanne Kuester Mr. and Mrs. Stan Valencis Mr. and Mrs. Pietro Valentini Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Vitale Ms. Lucy Wei The Wendler Family Cory Wilder Mrs. Kelsey C. Wilder Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Winters Laura Winters Ms. Danielle Wishka Kristen Work Ms. Julia Worster Wendy Yancey Dr. Renea M. Yates and Mr. Travis C. Yates Mrs. Marci L. York and Mr. Michael Personnaz Mr. Joseph T. Zebrowski Graciela Zuniga

IMPACT | MIDYEAR REPORT OF GIFTS

Capital campaign donors make a huge impact by investing in new and renovated spaces on our campuses. The following list of donors reflects cumulative capital gifts and pledges as of 1/18/2019.

Chris and Christine Sorenson

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Mercadante The Burden Family

The Kirkwood Fund of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

Northern Trust

Mr. and Mrs. Ray S. Celedinas

Mr. and Mrs. Armando Pimentel, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Alan J. Ciklin

$1,000,000 and above

$50,000-$99,999

Bryan and Karen Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Vining Mr. and Mrs. John Collins Jack and Diana Weir Marisa and Vincent Crescenzi (in honor of Andy Weir ’15 The Cropp Family and Grace Weir ’16) Mr. Kendall P. Didsbury

Anonymous

$15,000-$24,999

Mr. Matthew A. Gale ’09

Berlin Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Hay III

Charles and Susan Barker

Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Dalton

NextEra Energy Foundation, Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Mr. James McCann and Ms. Tara Griffin

Ambassador Al and Dawn Hoffman

Eric and Laura Silagy

Mr. and Mrs. Jack W. Nicklaus II ’80

Ms. Jane Niebch

United Technologies Matching Gifts Program

Erik S. Nutter ’26

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Maglio

Seth and Sheila Waugh

$25,000-$49,999 Anonymous

$500,000-$999,999

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bracci

The Atkins Family

Mr. and Mrs. Glen M. Chami

Meryl and Charles Witmer

David and Helen Darby

$250,000-$499,999 Mr. and Mrs. Dan Abraham

Mr. Adam S. Doner Florida Power & Light Company

The Doran Family

The Frankel Family — Admirals Cove Realty

Mr. Sean M. Healey

Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Hutchen

The Jacobs Family

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Mahoney

Ginger and David McAuliffe

Robin and Bob Martin

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Miller The Joseph W. O’Connor Family Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Reed

$100,000-$249,999 The Aninowsky Family Greg and Patty Bartoli Mark and Michele Packer Palm Beach Kennel Club Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Rooney, Jr. Mr. Pat Rooney, Sr. and The Rooney Family Dr. and Mrs. Paul N. Schacknow

Salvatore A. and Kim Tiano

$10,000-$14,999 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cousin Kim and Mark Gelnaw Joy S. Graham Vanguard Charitable

$1-$9,999 Anonymous (2) Admirals Cove Foundation The Berger Family

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley D. Nutter PGA National Resort & Spa Dr. and Mrs. Baqir M. Syed UBS Employee Giving Programs Mr. and Mrs. Brian K. Waxman ’86 Mr. and Mrs. Philip Weintraub Alla and Peter Weisz

IMPACT | BLOOMINGDALE'S FASHION SHOW

Bloomingdale's Fashion Show – September 2018 Benjamin moms strutted down the catwalk at Bloomingdale’s at The Gardens Mall. A portion of the evening’s sales went to BASH.

IMPACT | STEM CENTER SHOWCASE

Maglio Family STEM Center

Showcase a Success – September 2018 In anticipation of the STEM Center’s debut later this year, the School hosted a showcase to highlight the advanced curriculum and cutting-edge technologies that will be featured in our new space. From robotics to aquaponics, examining DNA to building roller coasters, students and parents enjoyed fun, hands-on demonstrations in addition to a bird’s-eye view of the construction site.

Head’s Appreciation Dinner – September 2018 Parents, grandparents, and current and former trustees came out for an intimate dinner with Head of School Bob Goldberg held in the private room at Capital Grille. The new Head’s Appreciation Dinner is for donors who give $15,000 or more to the School annually.

LEARNING COMMONS DEDICATION | IMPACT

LEARNING COMMONS DEDICATED IN HONOR OF ASSISTANT HEAD FOR ACADEMICS KEN DIDSBURY The Upper School Kirkwood Library was recently transformed into a state-of-the-art Learning Commons. The building, named in honor of Assistant Head for Academics Ken Didsbury, was dedicated on the morning of November 2.

By Marti Lotman

Chief Development Officer Juan Carlos Fanjul ‘93 opened the ceremony by thanking those in attendance, as well as the anonymous donor who made the renovation possible. Fanjul said when he thinks of the reimagined venue, he pictures a Google office-like workspace where Benjamin students will become inspired with innovation and creativity to bolster what they are learning in the classroom. Visual Arts Department Chair Melissa Ford helped design the multipurpose facility. The facility features interactive work spaces, including a “glass bubble,” a virtual reality lab, and a learning cafe. The bubble is a collaborative area where students can work on projects and brainstorm ideas by writing on the glass walls, while the virtual reality lab uses cutting-edge software that presents lessons in an immersive, 3D environment. The learning cafe is an area where students can grab coffee or a healthy snack in an informal setting. Head of School Bob Goldberg thanked all of Didsbury’s family and friends in attendance, including former Head of School Peter Graham and his wife Jodi. Pharcyde newspaper editor Robert Rubin said Mr. Didsbury’s reputation speaks for itself. Rubin said his eighth grade teachers advised him to get to know Mr. Didsbury during his time in high school. “Little did I know that this would be the best advice I would ever receive,” said Rubin. “Beyond showing the passion, dedication, and deep understanding of material that other exceptional teachers have, he truly cares about each one of his students and builds a relationship with us that is even more valuable than the material and skill sets that are learned from being a journalist,” said Rubin. “Personally, I can say that the trajectory of my life has been changed by Mr. Didsbury.”

LEADERSHIP SOCIETY RECEPTION | IMPACT

Leadership Society Reception â€“ November 2018 Parents gathered for a cocktail reception at the beautiful home of Scott and Shannon Smith in Jupiter Inlet Colony to celebrate philanthropy at Benjamin. Leadership Society members give $3,000 or more to the School annually.

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Theofilos Field is the home of the Bucs and The Benja athletic complex in our Palm Beach Gardens campus and community members pack our stands to cheer on

Sports played: Football, Soccer and Lacrosse Year-round attendance: 15,000+ spectators