The Devon Dialogue

Volume II Issue IV may 2011 The DeVon DIalogue

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Matt Kramer ’12, Associate Editor for Editorials

As the end of the school year nears, it is time to make plans for the future. Devon’s Student Coun-cil elections are an annual hot-topic before school lets out for Easter break. Candidates, eager to win the votes of their fellow students, shared their ideas throughout the school for weeks before the election. Each candidate had many different plans and ideas, but they all shared one common goal: to make the 2011–2012 school year the best that Devon Prep has ever had. Posters were plastered throughout the school displaying catchy campaign messages. Some mes-sages were comical, while others presented campaign promises. The candidates discussed their plans for next year and received student feedback as they vis-ited classes. On Tuesday, April 12, 2011, the candidates addressed grades six through eleven during a school-wide assembly. The current Student Council officers introduced the candidates and described what it meant to be an executive member of Student Council. The candidates for Student Council Treasurer were Chase Weber ’12, Adam Swift ’12, Nate Stauffer ’12, and Ryan Fulmer ’12. The candidates for Vice President were Connell White ’12 and Dan Lewis ’12. Pat Rob-bins ’12, Ray Kalivas ’12, Alex Tepylakov ’12, and Hugh Phelan ’12 ran for Student Council President. Primary elections were held following the speeches. Candidates Pat, Dan, Ryan, Hugh, Connell, and Nate advanced to the general elections. Dozens of issues were topics of debate in this year’s election. All the candidates touched upon such topics as interaction with girls’ schools, semi-formals, tailgates, vending machines, and a student lounge. However, the main issues of contention were those of qualifications. Some candidates ran on platforms of prior Student Council experience, while others touted leadership roles in other areas of the school. Final elections were held on Friday, April 15. Connell White and Ryan Fulmer won early Friday morning for Vice President and Treasurer, respec-tively. However, because no candidate received a majority of the votes, a second election was needed. Later that day, the student body voted once more. The results were extremely close yet again, but Pat Rob-bins emerged victorious. The Student Council Executive Board for the 2011-2012 school year has been established, with Pat Robbins as President, Connell White as Vice Presi-dent, and Ryan Fulmer as Treasurer. These students will continue the tradition of Devon Prep’s powerful, committed Student Councils. We hope for the best from these victors, and in conjunction with the stu-dent body, they will endeavor to make the 2011-2012 school year the most successful that the Devon family has ever experienced.

Cooperstown BoundJoe Geiger ’12, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect

Baseball at Devon Prep has developed into a top-tier program which has become notable throughout the Main Line and beyond. Coach Aquilante has trans-formed the team into one of the best in the state. Recently, Alex Pachella ’11, Nick Pancerella ’11 and John LaPrise ’12 made commitments to play baseball at Divi-sion I and Division III programs. Alex will head north to pitch for Division III Ham-ilton College, located in upstate New York. Nick is also crossing the border into New York to catch for Division I Binghamton University. As is common practice for stellar prospects, John made a verbal commitment, as a junior, to the University of Virginia, a team consistently ranked in the top ten in the nation, and will formally sign with the team this fall. He is probably the highest quality baseball player to come out of Devon Prep. At Virginia, John will be competing against the best players in the country, on a team that was one win away from advancing to the College World Series last year. Producing players of this caliber bodes well for the Devon program in persuading prospective players to choose Devon Prep. Congratulations to Alex, Nick, and John on their exciting achievements and bright baseball futures.

Ryan O’Shea ’12, Editor-in-Chief Elect

The Hunt-Winston Solar Car Challenge takes place annually at the world-famous Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Established in 1993, the Chal-lenge aims to “motivate students in science and engineering, and to increase alterna-tive energy awareness. The Challenge teaches high school students around the world how to build roadworthy solar cars.” For the first time in the school’s history, Devon will be entering a team. In the spring of 2010, Jacob Riedel ’13 and Antonio Muscarella ’13 proposed forming a Devon team to compete. Now, these students lead this club on their promis-ing project. Since September, The Devon Panel has been planning, constructing, and testing their prototype for a drivable vehicle powered solely by sunlight. Requiring expertise in circuitry, motors, construction, and programming, the car truly is a monu-mental undertaking that demands greatness from its creators. The club has proven an intriguing challenge for students throughout the school. In addition to Jacob and Antonio, the Panel now includes Zachary Schaefer ’13, Richard Gargano ’13, Chris-topher Clayton ’13, and Daniel Fletcher ’13. The Panel showcased the product of their determined efforts in the senior parking lot on April 29. “Sol Tide” will compete in the Challenge in July, where it will race against cars from high schools across the nation. Twenty-six teams have registered. The entire Devon family wishes the Panel luck.

devon’s Brightest shine with solar Car

(L-R) Chris Clayton ’13, Jacob Riedel ’13, Antonio Muscarella ’13,and Richard Gargano ’13 are ready to roll with the “Sol Tide” for the Hunt-Win-ston Solar Car Challenge.

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news at devon prep

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Matt Kramer ’12, Associate Editor for Editorials

After much preparation by our administration, faculty, staff, and students, Devon Prep recently welcomed the members of the Middle States Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. For more than a year, Fr. Shea, Mr. Iezzi, Mr. Sanborn, and Mr. Mecouch led the school in preparing for the members’ assessment. According to the Middle States, “The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a non-governmental, non-profit, peer-administered orga-nization of diverse educational institutions committed to the highest quality education for students. Its purpose is to ensure the continuous improvement of its member schools....” Before the Committee arrived at Devon, many students, faculty members, and parents were selected to examine certain key aspects of the school, such as technology, extra-curricular activities, finances, and academic facilities. In the days leading up to the Middle States Committee’s ar-rival, Devon Prep looked as perfect as can be. When the Committee members arrived on Ash Wednesday, they participated in the celebra-tion of the Mass, finding themselves witnesses to the school’s religious commitment. A large student-organized musical group sang hymns to accompany the ceremony, as they do at every Friday Mass. During its

Middle states applauds the “devon differenCe”

three-day assessment of Devon Prep, the Committee sat in on classes and observed Devon’s unique atmosphere. They also had a few ques-tion-and-answer sessions with students and parents, allowing them to get information about the school from as many perspectives as pos-sible. Devon’s administration selected twenty-five students to meet with the Committee on Wednesday, March 9. In addition, twenty-five students were randomly selected by the Committee for another meet-ing on Thursday, March 10. These students were asked a series of questions, such as “What makes Devon so great?” and “If you were the headmaster, what you would change about Devon Prep?” providing them with a forum to express their most profound admira-tions or critiques of the school they know so well. Once the Committee members had finished their review of Devon, they unanimously voted to recommend the school for re-ac-creditation. They appreciated our friendly community and were sur-prised to see such a level of interaction among grades. Also impressive was the demanding curriculum with which Devon challenges students. Although the re-accreditation might not have been a surprise, it is cer-tainly revitalizing to hear the praise that Devon Prep deserves.

do You hear the people sing?

Nate Stauffer ’12, Associate Editor for News

From the islands of the South Pacific to a small town in Ohio and most recently to historic Japan, the Devon Theater Society in past years has taken its audiences on some incredible journeys. This year, that journey brought us to the streets of Paris, France where an escaped convict was on the run. Led by the incomparable Radu family with assistance from former Rockette and choreographer extraordi-naire, Mrs. Gail Oldfield, this year’s production of Les Miserables proved to be one of the greatest in our school’s history. Devon previ-ously performed Les Mis in 2005, and this production was so well-received that Dr. Radu decided that it was worth repeating, and if the audience’s reaction is any indicator, he made a great decision. The cast, one of the largest in the history of Devon shows, consisted of ninety-one students, a majority of whom were girls from local area schools. The supremely talented and extremely dedicated principals worked on average twenty hours a week rehearsing. Zach Bonner ’12 and Brian Kozak ’13 took up the incredibly difficult role of Jean Valjean, the protagonist of the show. Valjean’s nemesis, Inspector Javert, was powerfully portrayed by Albert Emhof ’11 and Dan Lewis ’12. Harry Crimi ’11 and Nate Stauffer ’12 brought emo-tion to their portrayal of the young rebel Marius Pontmercy, while Rich DiColli ’12 and Zach Adams ’11 provided comic relief as the sneaky innkeeper Thenardier. They shared the stage with female leads from Mount St. Joseph’s Academy, Harriton High School, Villa Maria Academy, Cardinal O’Hara High School, and Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. “People do not realize how much work the show really is, but they also miss out on how rewarding it can be,” said one cast member. “Because we spend so much time together, we cannot help but become great friends by the end of the show,” the member added. The stage crew also worked tirelessly to build and paint the in-tricate set, while also learning how to run the sound system and lights. Under the fearless direction of the amazing Ms. Medina the show ran smoothly with very few glitches. A team of volunteers designed the exquisite costumes that brought the show to life. Without the unsur-passable efforts of the many people involved in the show, it could not have been as terrific as it was. Overall, the show was an astounding success. The cast per-formed four shows to sold-out audiences and the applause during bows at each show was deafening. It was an extraordinary accom-plishment for everyone involved and one that will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.

induCtion and

laudationMac Lockard ’12, Photography Editor Elect

Established in 1921, the National Honor Society recognizes exemplary high school students by inducting them into the ranks of the storied organization. The Society’s goal, as expressed in its consti-tution, is “...to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.” Devon Prep students have been part of this illustrious organization for quite some time, every year making a substantial contribution to its membership. This year, thirty-five young men were inducted into the Society in late March. As it does every year, the induction ceremony opened with the celebration of Mass, with the principal celebrant Fr. Shea. The master of ceremo-nies was Mr. Collins, the Devon Prep Chapter Moderator. Mr. and Mrs. Milani provided music for the Mass, along with Mrs. McCann on the harp. After the traditional candlelight ceremony, Mr. Collins inducted the new members, honoring them individually. Each one of the new inductees received a National Honor Society pin blessed by Fr. Shea along with a rose to be given to his parents as a symbol of sharing talents and gifts that he was given. After the ceremony, a large round of applause erupted from current members and parents, wel-coming the fledgling members. In return for their accomplishments, the inductees were given the next school day off and the fatigued ju-niors were not subject to one of Fr. Shea’s infamous physics quizzes. This long-standing tradition of Devon Prep has bestowed much honor on Devon Prep students and hopefully will continue in the future.

Harry Crimi ’11 starred as Marius, with Maryrose Makoski of Cardinal O’Hara as his love-interest, Cosette.

Courtesy of M

rs. Crow

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Nick van Schaijik ’12, Associate Editor for Interviews, Entertain-ment, & Polls

This year, Devon Prep’s Student Council hosted its third annual Battle of the Bands. When the doors opened, people from all over the Main Line poured into the gym to watch the competi-tion. The stage was an incredible sight, utilizing lasers, black lights, and a host of other effects. Devon Prep’s Student Council once again outdid themselves. Ten bands had made it through auditions and each band had the chance to play three songs. The competition was fierce; in fact, it was so intense that in the end the judges could not decide on only three final-ists as planned; instead, they chose four: Modern Apollo, Deli Kreeps, The Big Button, and Toolbox. Each of these finalists had the opportunity to play one more song. Modern Apollo had a unique style, Deli Kreeps made quite an impact, and Toolbox had incomparable on-stage charisma and daring wardrobe. In the end, however, The Big Button proved triumphant. They took first place after a cover of “Ants Marching”

the Big Button hits the right note

by Dave Matthews Band. They then played an encore to the eager crowd, during which thousands of blue and gold balloons were dropped from the ceiling and confetti cannons showered the de-lighted audience. It was a thrilling conclusion to the exciting event. Everyone enjoyed them-selves, including the performers. Pat McCann ’12, the saxophone player for The Big Button, re-marked “I had more fun at this Battle of the Bands than at any other gig I have played in.” The event’s success was largely due to the friendly competition, incred-ible audience, and epic stage. The whole event went very smoothly thanks to the tremendous work done by coordinators Ben Senss ’12 and Pat Robbins ’12. Prepara-tions have already begun for next year’s competition, which will hopefully exceed even this year’s tremendous event. Student Coun-cil extends its thanks to all who attended and encourages everyone to support next year’s competi-tion.

olYMpians take hoMe MedalsRoshan Patel ’12, Associate Editor for Sports

This past Feb-ruary, Mr. Mecouch proudly led a group of Devon Prep students into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Science Olympiad Regional Competition, hosted at Cabrini College. The students’ enthu-siasm was marked as they competed against seventy schools from across the region. The competition is open to students in grades six through twelve and features various events for every dis-

cipline, including Anatomy & Physiology, Astronomy, Disease Detectives, and Protein Modeling. Devon performed particularly well this year, as most participants placed within the top twenty in each of their events. Adam Swift ’12 and Ryan O’Shea ’12 were award-ed third place in Dynamic Planet, while Alexandru Damian ’16 and Shyamal Patel ’16, were awarded fourth place in Battery Buggy. Devon Prep’s Science Olympiad team eagerly awaits next year’s competition and aims to further demonstrate its scientific potential.

Ryan Fulmer ’12

With Mr. Marcoon on leave, Mrs. Jennifer Gregory has joined the Devon family for the remainder of the academic year. She now teaches freshman and junior English, senior AP Literature and Composition, and senior Screenwriting. The Dialogue sat down with Mrs. Gregory for an interview.

Devon Dialogue: Where did you grow up?Mrs. Gregory: I grew up on Long Island in New York.DP: Where did you attend high school?JG: I went to Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, NY.DP: What was your favorite subject in school?JG: I enjoyed French, and English—of course.DP: Where did you attend college, and what did you study?JG: I majored in English with a minor in French at Ursinus College.DP: How would you describe yourself?JG: I am a very enthusiastic person.DP: If you could bring one literary character to life, who would it be?JG: I would revive Beauty, from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. The novel is actually written from the horse’s perspective.DP: Do you have any favorite movies?JG: I actually have several favorites: The Godfather, Parts I and II, The Natural, Out of Africa, The Princess Bride, and Good Will Hunting.DP: What are your favorite television shows?JG: Downton Abbey, Nurse Jackie, Mad Men, Men of a Certain Age, Southland, and The Dr. Phil Show.DP: If you could select one person from history and ask them a question to which they must give a truthful reply, whom would you select, and what question would you ask?JG: I would ask Jeanne D’Arc if she really heard voices.DP: What qualities do you think you have that make you a good teacher?JG: I take pride in my spontaneity, flexibility, enthusiasm, and love of books.DP: If you could have dinner with three people, living or deceased, who would they be?JG: I would have dinner with my husband, Paul, my daughter, Tay-lor, and my son, Matthew, who are all alive and well.DP: What type of music do you listen to?JG: I am a fan of Adele, Dave Matthews Band, The Killers, The Strokes, Dawes, and Coldplay.DP: What authors and books do you most enjoy?JG: I have had several favorite authors throughout my life, start-ing with Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House books, then all of Paul Zindel’s works, and later John Irving, especially The World According to Garp. DP: Which characteristics do you most respect in a student?JG: I admire the willingness to work hard toward a goal and the courage to follow a moral code, despite pressure to do otherwise.DP: What is your impression of Devon so far?JG: Devon is a wonderful school! I feel lucky to be here. The stu-dents, faculty, and staff have all gone out of their way to make me feel welcomed and supported. Thank you all!

The Devon community thanks Mrs. Gregory for her assis-tance in the English Department, and wishes her the best of luck.

great gratitude for gregorY

Devon Prep welcomes new English teacher Mrs. Gregory to temporarily replace Mr. Marcoon while on health leave.

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Joe Bilotti ’14 & Mac Lockard ’12, Photography Editor Elect

Father Nelson Henao has been a student favorite ever since he started teaching at Devon Prep in 2008. Sadly, next year Father will be moving on to new challeng-es within the Piarist Order. He has been reassigned to a new position, as a guide for new seminarians in New York. But before he can do this, he must return to Colombia to take special classes to prepare him. Fr. Nelson has been a great inspira-tion to everyone he has taught or been friends with at Devon and will be greatly missed. He is an inspiration to people because of, among several other things, his storied past. Fr. Nelson’s journey toward the priesthood was long and difficult, filled with tribulations. However, with a little help from God, he became the truly amazing person he is today. Fr. Nelson was born in Bogota, Colombia, and came to the United States in 1993. He started to return to the Church in response to a personal crisis. During his time of initial service, a friend of his-a priest-introduced him to the idea of the priesthood, planting a seed that would grow throughout his life. While he was meditating on a retreat, he made the monumental decision to dedicate his life to the Church. Later on, he met a group

“MaY the road rise to Meet You”

of Piarist Fathers in Florida who invited him to begin the discern-ing process in St. John Vianney Seminary. After six long months, he became absolutely certain that he would dedicate his life to the priesthood. Fr. Nelson is consid-ered a “late vocation,” because he made this decision at the age of forty-four. Upon completion of his studies, he went to Colombia to enter his novitiate, a first year of preparation. After a year of delib-eration, he fully committed to the priesthood. Later he returned to the United States as a brother in the Piarist Order. Upon his arrival at Devon Prep, in his own words, “he was welcomed with open arms.” The first semester in particular was difficult for him because he had to start teaching immediately, despite the fact that he was still learning English. On March 27, 2010, he was ordained, presiding over his first Mass on Palm Sunday at Devon with his family and close friends in attendance. Nervous at first, Fr. Nelson turned to the Holy Spirit for guidance. This was the first of many memorable experiences at Devon. Fr. Nelson will keep Devon in his heart as he moves on per-forming the will of God.

Mac Lockard ’12, Photography Editor Elect

On March 19, Devon Prep held its annual Spring Tide fund-raiser. Every year, parents of students and other friends of Devon meet at school to contribute to this fundraiser. This year, however, was differ-ent; the guests were greeted by an unusual host. Upon the guests’ arrival at Devon, they were asked to enter through Calasanctius Hall, a change from years past. Beetle Bailey, an equine member of the Valley Forge Military Academy, greeted all the guests. Why, one might ask, would there be a horse at Devon Prep? One nonplussed observer is quoted as having said, “I knew the state was cutting funding for school buses, but this is ridiculous.” The actual reason behind this noble steed’s visit lies in the night’s theme, the Wild Wild West. The presence of a horse struck many as peculiar, making the ensuing conversations great icebreakers for the night. The guests were encouraged to pose with Beetle Bailey for photos. This was an atypical and entertaining start to an extraordinary night. The festivities of the night took place all over the campus. The main events of the evening, however, took place in the gymnasium. It was there that the silent and live auctions were held. Several lively bid-ders fervently placed claims on the night’s prizes. Alongside the auc-tions in the gymnasium was the nourishment for the night in the form of a western-style buffet. Many students worked as servers, including Dan Lewis ’12 and Justin McNabb ’12. Additional entertainment for the night was provided by a disc jockey and a bluegrass band, made up of Yuri Piro ’11 and his family. This year’s fundraiser differed from events years past, thanks to its informal environment, and went phenomenally well. The planning for this year’s exceptional Spring Tide was led by Mrs. Magnotta and a team of dedicated Devon mothers. All the proceeds from the auction are used for the benefit of the school. This year’s event was a record for Devon, raising over $80,000. Hopefully, next year’s Spring Tide will be as much of a sensation and service to Devon as this year’s was.

Beetle BaileY rides again

Kevin Fulmer ’13 On Friday, March 25, nearly fifty middle school students participated in Devon Prep’s annual Up For a Cause fundraiser. The students raised over $6,200 during this event. The money was donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help support their medical research programs. St. Jude is one of the leading pioneers in treating patients and researching existing cures for various pediatric diseases. In addition, St. Jude also re-fuses to turn away any patient due to inability to pay. This policy is made possible by fundraisers like Up for a Cause. The students were very busy during the entire event, which took place from 7:00 p.m. to midnight in the gym. The participants took turns in the Moon Bounce, which proved irresistible to many. Even Fr. Nelson and some of the other teachers could not resist hopping in for a while. The first event of the evening was three-on-three basketball. This tournament was narrowly won by a team led by Dom Hardaway ’15, who showed his domination on the court. In dodge ball, the champi-onship game came between the eighth grade and a mix of sixth and seventh graders. The students seemed to have boundless amounts of energy and had little trouble staying up the full five hours. There were multiple raffle prizes given away throughout the night. An endless spread of food and drinks was also provided for the at-tendees working up an appetite during the activities. This fundraiser was sponsored and managed by the school’s most active and charitable student organization, the Christian Action Program (CAP). With the end of this year’s Up For a Cause, the middle school students are already looking for-ward to next year’s event and the opportunity to again help those in need.

students saCrifiCe sleep for a Cause

Nate Stauffer ’12, Associate Editor for News

The Devon Prep Class of 2012 recently took a field trip to an unexpected des-tination. They did not visit Philadelphia, Williamsburg, or Washington, D.C.; instead, they went down to Missis-sippi for a morning with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. In reality, they just went to the final performance of People’s Light and Theater Company’s production of Tom Sawyer. Thanks to a generous grant from the Valley Forge Music Trust, the junior class was able to see this dramati-zation of Mark Twain’s clas-sic story. At first, the students were afraid that it was geared toward a younger audience, but it was in fact an enjoyable experience for all.

whitewashing with toM & huCk

“The plot was faithful to the book, and the actors master-fully captured the energy of youth,” commented Conrad Damstra ’12. The set and lighting designs were phe-nomenal and encapsulated the spirit of the old South. After the show, the students par-ticipated in a short question and answer session with the eight actors from the show, which proved to be enlighten-ing. Overall, the experience was an unexpected pleasure. The class gave thanks to Ms. Tiehel for organizing the trip, Valley Forge Music Trust for providing the grant, and People’s Light and Theater Company for allowing the class to attend.

Courtesy of People’s Light and Theater

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devon prep sports

Matt Swatski ’12

Michael Knaus ’13 and Michael McCarthy ’13 are two of the Devon Prep swimmers this year. Despite the humble status of Devon’s squad, it has consistently outperformed other school sports in recent years. This season, Mike Knaus became the second Devon swimmer to reach the state tournament in three years. When asked about the competition, Mike Knaus remarked on the atmosphere, saying, “It was crazy, everyone was cheering—the parents, teammates, and fans. It was fun to be surrounded by so much talent.” He competed in the one-hundred yard backstroke, and received a time of 54.65 seconds, only 2.76 seconds behind the time needed to qualify for All-American. These times did not sim-ply come naturally, as Mike Knaus has practiced every night for three hours year-round. Through all this hard work, he was able to qualify for the state tournament. Only the top thirty-two swimmers in each district are chosen to move on. Both young men have two more exciting years in their high school careers, and Devon Prep fans should be watching eagerly as they attempt to break personal and state records. For Devon swimming, the future has never been brighter.

sophoMore swiMs to states

Kevin Fulmer ’13

Devon Prep’s finest runners, jumpers, and throwers hit the track this season. This time of year is highly anticipated by the track and field team, a tightly knit group of twenty-four. The team is led by Coach Sanborn, who strives to achieve high-level success in all types of competitions. He relies on the team philosophy to carry everyone through the difficult season, “The strength of the wolf is the pack. The strength of the pack is the wolf” Rudyard Kipling once said. Devon has done well in the past couple of years. Some of its athletes have even continued with their running careers into college, including former Devon track star Chris Smith ’10, who now runs for West Point. He and a few of his fellow team members recently set the academy’s relay record for the Indoor 4×4. The Devon team hopes that the success of Devon’s graduates does not stop with him, and that many more athletes achieve suc-cess after Devon. Unfortunately, the Devon team only consists of twenty-four members, half of which are seniors. Next year, the team will need new members to fill the shoes of these college-bound seniors. Students who are willing to try one of the various events in track and field are encouraged to try it next year. Nonetheless, there are several talented members of the team who are still underclass-men; hopefully, they will lead when the time comes. The general spirit during practices is to have fun, work hard, and it will pay off. Starting with a victorious scrimmage against Church Farm School. the “Wolf Pack” hopes to continue with a victorious season. The remainder of the year appears bright, and many hope it will be filled with triumphs. The road traveled so far has been tough, but by keeping a steady pace the team will persevere and emerge victo-rious.

hitting the ground running

Sam Nardi ’12

Baseball is back and so is the Tide of Devon Prep. Coming off a fantastic previous season, there is much for the new team to live up to. Last year the varsity baseball team, coached by Mr. Aq-uilante, ended the regular season with a 17-5 record and beat out New Hope for the Class AA Championship. Led by senior veterans Alex Pachella ’11 and Nick Pancerella ’11, the team is hopeful for yet another championship season. This year’s team has three returning players who were recognized by the Bicentennial Athletic League for their excellence on the field. John LaPrise ’12 was named to the First All-Bicenten-nial All-Star Team, and Alex Pachella and Nick Pancerella were both named to the Second All-Bicentennial All-Star Team. Other key players returning this year are Terence Walsh ’11, Mike Raf-tery ’11, Ed Nevins ’11, Bill Adamiak ’11, and Matt Maloney ’11. The varsity will also look to the success of younger players such as Zach Schellenger ’14, Rich Gallo ’12, Paul Kubat ’12, and Andrew Walsh ’12. The team won its first home game on Thursday, March 31, against Calvary Christian Academy. Other major games for the Devon Prep varsity team include matches against Conestoga, Holy Ghost Prep, and Malvern Prep. On April 7, Alex Pachella threw his first career no-hitter against Phil-Mont Christian in a 7–0 win. Alex pitched seven innings with nine strikeouts and two walks, ending the game with a 5–4–3 double play. Another great game was the extra-inning victory over league rival Christopher Dock. A game winning single by Mike Raftery drove John LaPrise home for a 9–8 win. The team looks forward to another successful season.

varsitY BaseBall looks to repeat

Sam Nardi ’12

Devon Prep’s junior varsity baseball team returns to the field this season, bringing the joy and excitement of America’s pastime to the field. Baseball brings a smile to the face of any fan, and there are not any games more fun than those of Devon Prep’s junior varsity team. The team hopes for another exciting season under the leadership of returning players such as John Kane ’13 and Pat Kinsella ’13. Newcomers such as Grant Latran ’14, CJ Kohlbrenner ’14, and Eric Toddy ’14 portend a bright future for Devon Prep baseball. Mr. Tom Graham returns once again as the head coach of the team along with Mr. Jewitt, the Assistant Junior Varsity Coach. Mr. Graham has done a wonderful job with the JV team telling them to “always consider the elements” when on the field. The players are excited for the season as well. Grant Latran said, “I think that our team is very promising this year with Ian McConnell ’13 and John Kane ’13 leading our team. I think that with the addition of some new freshmen to the team, Devon’s future looks great.” Pat Kinsella said, “There are angels in the outfield this year.” So flap your wings because Devon Prep base-ball is soaring.

angels in the outfield

Michael McCarthy ’13 (left) and Michael Knaus ’13 are two of the highly succesful Devon swimmers. Michael Knaus follows almnus, swimmer Pat Mannion ’09 as the second swimmer from Devon to reach the state tournament in recent years.

Senior slinger, Alex Pachella ’11, continues to lead the Devon Prep baseball team in one of its most sucessful seasons in recent history in his no-hitter against Phil-Mont Christian.

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Matt Swatski ’12

With a new coach, new season, and new attitude, the future of Devon Prep Lacrosse has never looked brighter. The 2011 season promises to be Devon’s best season yet, as this fledgling program of five years is gaining prominence in the region. The team is growing every year, along with interest in the sport throughout the school. The team has six returning seniors, and is poised to continue improving from last year. The squad is prepared to face the challenges of a new season, and hopes to improve the reputation of Devon everywhere it competes. New Head Coach Joe Lore came to Devon Prep with forty-one years of lacrosse experience, including seven years officiating. He previously coached Cherry Hill High School West in New Jersey. New Assistant Coach Pat Filippelli was a four-year varsity starter at Archbishop Carroll High School, and went on to play lacrosse for Dickinson College, from which he graduated in 2010. These coaches have completely reinvigorated the program by standardizing equip-ment and communication and radically changing the style of play in the hope of creating a more adept, organized, and effective lacrosse team. Led by Colin Feeney ’11 and Andrew Fletcher ’11, along with Pat Robbins ’12 and Nick Weis ’12, the team presents an intimidating group of upperclassmen who all possess at least two years of varsity experience. There are new players as well, such as Sean Bevan ’14 and Jake Kampman ’13 who aim to develop their skills, and who will be a foundation for the future of the Devon Lacrosse Team. Over the next few years, this competitive squad hopes to attract more play-ers and eventually field a JV team. But for now, the dawn of a new lacrosse season is a boon to the Devon Prep family. See DevonPrep.com or DevonPrepLAX.home.comcast.net for schedules, news, and events.

netting wins

Matt Kramer ’12, Associate Editor for Editorials

After a rough 2010 season, the tennis team is back and bet-ter than ever. As spring arrived so too did the new tennis season. The team had quite the facelift during the off season. Mr. Aquilante brought Coach John Rubano into the Devon Prep athletic program in the fall. Coach Rubano has been very successful as a coach. In the past, he has coached at Conestoga High School, one of the best programs in the state. During the fall, he coaches at Merion Mercy Academy. With the start of a new season, Coach Rubano used his ex-perience to build a program. One of Coach Rubano’s strategies was to make not only a team but a family. The most interesting facet in his philosophy is a list of team goals. The team convened and de-cided upon seven goals, which it planned to accomplish by the final match. The goals were then written down and brought to each match and practice. One of the team’s goals was to win more than half of its matches. The players also strived to be more consistent and to be a team by displaying sportsmanship and a cooperative work ethic. Needless to say, Coach Rubano’s coaching philosophy had been ac-cepted quickly by the team. “It’s an exciting time for Devon Prep ten-nis. So far, I have been impressed with the player’s buy-in to making the team their number one priority after school. The guys are work-ing hard and have a sense of eagerness for the season to begin,” said Coach Rubano. The team was fortunate enough to keep nearly all of its play-ers from last year. The number of returning players was matched by the number of freshmen ready to challenge the upperclassmen. Patrick Curley ’11 and Zach Schaefer ’13 also became valuable ad-ditions to the Devon Prep team. With eighteen members, the team has great depth and is poised for a strong foundation in a rejuvenated program with a promising future. Greg Angiolillo ’11, the returning top singles player for the team, was selected by his teammates to be captain. Regarding this year’s team, he said, “With our new coach and the new attitude that he has instilled in us, I am sure that we will have a historic year.” Greg’s successes in the last three years serve as an indication of his skills on the court. This year he competed for the top spot in the league. The team’s hard work and determination paid off this year. With six juniors currently on the team, Coach Rubano hopes to push forward until his ultimate goal is achieved, to bring more tennis championship banners to the Devon gymnasium.

tennis aCes the return

Roshan Patel ’12, Associate Editor for Sports

After placing seventh in the 2008 Ultimate Players Associa-tion Pennsylvania State Championships, Devon Prep’s Ultimate Frisbee team has been relatively stagnant. Since then, the school’s enthusiasm for the sport has greatly declined. However, the team has not let this deter them. So far this year, the team has played matches against local schools. This year’s captains, Adam Swift ’12 and Roshan Patel ’12, are taking the Ultimate Frisbee Team to the next level. Mr. Lewis, the team moderator, sees a strong potential in this year’s squad, “They’re a young team, considering that this is a rebuilding year, but I see that there is a lot of ability. The team members have had a few setbacks, but win or lose, their spirit cannot be dampened. As the season continues, I sense that they will improve signifi-cantly.” The spring season is booked solid, with games scheduled almost every weekend against various schools, including Chelten-ham, Downingtown East, Lower Merion, North Penn, Methacton, Haverford, and Cardinal O’Hara. To finish off the season, the team expects to participate in the May 21 City Tournament in Philadel-phia to reestablish Devon Prep’s prominence in the Ultimate Fris-bee world. “We’re aiming to contend for the championship, this year and in the future. Hopefully we’ll place, but no matter what the score, the game is always fun,” remarked Adam Swift during a practice. With the enthusiasm and dedication of this revamped team, success is bound to come. High school students interested in playing for this year’s Ultimate Frisbee team can join any time during the season. See Adam Swift or Roshan Patel for more information.

the ultiMate revaMp

VarsITy baseball WeDnesDay, may 11 - Vs. brIsTol hIgh school

saTurDay, may 14 - Vs. malVern PreP

monDay, may 16 - Vs. chesTnuT hIll acaDemy

FrIDay, may 20 - Vs. conesToga hIgh school

JV baseball

WeDnesDay, may 11 - Vs. brIsTol hIgh school

saTurDay, may 14 - @ malVern PreP

monDay, may 16 - @ chesTnuT hIll acaDemy

TuesDay, may 17 - @ holy ghosT PreP

FrIDay, may 20 - @ conesToga hIgh school

VarsITy lacrosse

FrIDay, may 13 - @ ocTorara hIgh school

monDay, may 16 - @ WooDlynDe school

VarsITy TennIs

WeDnesDay, may 11 - Vs. Delco chrIsTIan

Track anD FIelD

FrIDay, may 13 - league meeT @ holy ghosT PreP

saTurDay, may 14 - league meeT @ holy ghosT PreP

ThursDay, may 19 - DIsTrIcT meeT @ coaTesVIlle

FrIDay, may 20 - DIsTrIcT meeT @ coaTesVIlle

Adam Swift ’12 makes a diving attempt for the disc as it flies through the spring air.

upCoMing sporting events

7

editorials

Ryan O’Shea ’12, Editor-in-Chief Elect

On Friday, March 11, a 9.0 magnitude undersea megathrust earthquake occurred forty-five miles off the eastern coast of Japan. For six minutes, Japanese soil shook with un-precedented violence, moving the entire island nation eight feet, and shifting the axis of the Earth nearly four inches. The massive seafloor displacement resulted in towering tsunamis which, in conjunction with the powerful quake, killed an estimated 30,000 people, uprooted thousands more, and caused an estimated $235 billion in damage. As devastating as the disaster was, recovery operations would soon become the least of Japan’s worries. When the earthquake struck the Fuku-shima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in eastern Japan, its reactors shut down immediately, and emergency generators began pumping water for cooling. Despite being protected by a sea-wall, the plant was hit by a wave that was more than twice as high as the wall was designed to withstand. Fukushima’s reactor basements and generators were flooded, causing a plant-wide power outage that would not be remedied for weeks. Without cooling capacity, the reac-

tors began to overheat. Of the six reactors at the plant, only three were in operation at the time of the earthquake. Reactors one, two, and three soon experienced partial core meltdowns, reaching a temperature hot enough to melt the uranium fuel rods. The Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company tried for days to cool the damaged reactors. Using water cannons, airlifting water via helicopters, and dropping boric acid to absorb free neutrons in the reactors were all attempted solutions. How-ever, as the disaster escalated, radiation levels surrounding the plant became too dangerous for many of the operations to continue. Explo-sions at reactors 1, 3, and 4, and overheated spent fuel rods in reactor 4 further complicated the situation. Radiation leaked into the atmo-sphere and ocean, but thankfully dissipated to mostly safe levels. The communities sur-rounding the plant were evacuated almost immediately, minimizing the civilian impact. Radiation leakages have not been particularly dangerous, though they have had some impact. No workers have yet died as a result of expo-sure at the plant—a feat in itself. The situation is not yet considered to be under control, and

four hundred workers remain on site. The Fukushima disaster has been rated at level seven on the International Nuclear Event Scale, the same as the devastating Chernobyl disaster, and two levels higher than the Three Mile Island event. It was character-ized by an incredible amount of media panic and hysteria. Disasters like these are always sources of great public concern, and support for nuclear research and funding will surely be hindered as a result. Nuclear reactors are highly dangerous, but only when an extraor-dinary situation arises. Plants are regulated by extremely strict safety codes, and almost every major nuclear accident has been the result of human error or, more recently, natural disaster. The number of casualties caused by nuclear ac-cidents per gigawatt of power generated pales in comparison to other power sources, such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Mines collapse, flam-mable fuels explode, and wars are fought over oil fields. Nuclear disasters are indeed tragic, and the emotional collateral may well exceed the physical damage. However, nuclear power remains the safest, most efficient power source available.

fukushiMa Melts down

Joe Geiger ’12, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect

What is best for the Libyan people? Some may argue that President Barack Obama has already taken the appropriate steps in order to protect the citizens of Libya, while others demand further action, wanting an invasion similar to the Iraq War to free the Libyan people from the oppression of Moam-mar Gadhafi. While all these suggestions are justifiable, the best possible plan would be a ground invasion paired with aerial assaults. The United States and the other world powers, particularly the United Kingdom and France, should consider this plan. In addition to mili-tary planning, these nations must remember the safety of the Libyan people, especially as missiles rain down upon cities and govern-ment outposts. On March 19, France began firing Tomahawk missiles at targets near Tripoli. Soon after, the United States and the United Kingdom followed in an attempt to force Gadhafi to surrender. Currently, NATO-led air power funded by main contributors—the Unit-ed States, the United Kingdom and France—is now holding the balance in Libya by firing missiles, in attempts to prevent Gadhafi from overrunning the ongoing two-month revolt. “So long as Gadhafi is in power,” wrote Presi-dent Obama and his French and British coun-terparts, Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron, “NATO must maintain its operations so that civilians remain protected and the pressure of the regime builds.” That is one way to end the

an end to the tYrannY

war: forcing Gadhafi to surrender. However, the new question raised by forcing surrender is the matter of time: How long will it take for Gadhafi to surrender? With time taken into consideration, another question is posed: Will this surrender be cost effective? As of April 15, the Pentagon esti-mate confirms that the United States has spent $608 million—$4 million per day—thus far in Libya. According to the Center for Defense Information, the estimated cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will reach $1.29 trillion by the end of the 2011 fiscal year. For Presi-dent Obama’s plan to be considered fiscally irresponsible, Gadhafi would have to remain in power for over one hundred years. If the conflict lasted this long, it would match the cost of the Iraq war. Clearly, President Obama has taken the fiscally responsible route in Libya. President Obama, though being fiscally responsible, must remember that the Libyan people cannot be forgotten. The Interna-tional Criminal Court (ICC) has evidence that Gadhafi’s government put down protests by killing civilians, even before the uprising in Libya. Protests against the government began on February 15, and quickly escalated to a civil war after Gadhafi’s forced opened fire on protestors. President Obama, following in for-mer President George H. W. Bush’s footsteps during the First Gulf War, has opted against sending ground forces into Libya. The Libyan people continue to suffer as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—led by NATO—fire Tomahawk missiles in attempts

to force Gadhafi to surrender. With everything taken into consider-ation, President Obama has taken the fiscally responsible route by opting against sending ground forces into Libya. However, he must also keep in mind the domestic issues of the United States, namely the alarming budget crisis. While a full-scale invasion remains unnecessary, covert operations against Gadhafi are still an effective way to put down the op-pression against the Libyan people. The lack of ground troops and operations have caused the Libyan people to continue suffering as the United States and other world powers sit on the sidelines while watching “expensive fireworks” explode above the Libyan govern-ment.

http://www.plaidklaus.com/caricatures.html

8

Executive Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus: Greg Bokar ’11Deputy Editor-in-Chief Emeritus: Jordan Kelly ’11Photography Editor Emeritus: Doug McParland ’11

Editor-in-Chief Elect: Ryan O’Shea ’12Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect: Joe Geiger ’12Photography Editor Elect: Mac Lockard ’12

Associate Editor for News Emeritus: Stephen Sloto ’11 Associate Editor for Entertainment Emeritus: Ryan Carson ’11 Associate Editor for Opinions and Interviews Emeritus: Nate Stauffer ’12 Associate Editor for Sports Emeritus: Ryan O’Shea ’12

Associate Editor for News: Nate Stauffer ’12 Associate Editor for Editorials: Matt Kramer ’12Associate Editor for Interviews, Entertainment & Polls: Nick van Schaijik ’12 Associate Editor for Sports: Roshan Patel ’12

Faculty Moderator: Mr. Larry Theuer Assistant Faculty Moderator: Mrs. Liz Eshleman

editorials

The Devon Dialogue is a member of the esteemed Quill and Scroll Society, an interna-tional honor society for exceptional high school journalists.

Alex Teplyakov ’12

Over the past months, the entire nation focused on Wisconsin as a battle raged on. The battle began in February, when Republican Governor Scott Walker proposed a controversial plan that would help fix his state’s $3.6 billion deficit. This included measures that people would expect from a budget bill, such as decreased benefits for public employees and changes to Medicaid. However, what made workers throughout the country boil was the proposal included in the bill to attack the collective bargaining rights of labor unions for employees in the public sector. Collective bargaining is how unions are able to negotiate fair wages, benefits and working conditions. It prevents employers from taking advantage of ordinary, hard-working Americans. Almost immediately after Gov. Walker began his attack on unions, the people of Wisconsin made their move. Tens of thousands of protesters went out into the streets to defend their right to fight for protection from oppression. The public support for unions was overwhelming, yet Gov. Walker turned a blind eye to the people, and proceeded with his partisan agenda. A New York Times/CBS Poll

found that 60% of Americans oppose restricting collective bargaining, and a poll among Wisconsin voters shows that 52% oppose weakening col-lective bargaining rights. The poll also shows that only 39% of Wisconsin voters stated that they support weakening collec-tive bargaining rights, which shows that Gov. Walker was not acting with the support of the people. The determination of Gov. Walker and Wiscon-

sin Republicans caused other states, such as Ohio and Indiana, to also pass legislation to limit the power of unions. To prevent Gov. Walker from passing the anti-union bill, Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate fled the state, which caused a lack of the quorum necessary to pass the bill. This led to a standoff as Gov. Walker called on the Democrats to return to Wisconsin and threatened them with fines and other penalties, while the Democrats called for a compromise. Union leaders even agreed to meet the financial demands of Gov. Walker by accepting the benefit cuts for state employees, but this concession was not enough for him. Suddenly, teachers have become villains in the eyes of people pushing to limit the powers of unions. The average salary of a teacher in Wisconsin is $50,000, and teachers also receive benefits worth about $30,000. How ironic how not too long ago Americans from both parties proclaimed that it is not right to increase taxes on people during a recession, although decreasing benefits is essentially the same thing. It also does not seem right that a teacher who makes $50,000 needs to earn less, while a person who makes $250,000 or more can’t pay a little extra in taxes. Unions have long been essential in protecting rights for ordinary people, who often are unable to speak for themselves. Even Ronald Reagan, who is now considered a champion of the conserva-tive cause, stated that “where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.” However, Gov. Walker tried to turn collective bargaining from an issue of rights into one of finances. He claimed that collective bargaining is a major drain on his state’s bud-get. This assertion would be more believable if Gov. Walker did not later claim that removing collective bargaining rights is not a fiscal measure, and is not subject to the higher quorum standards that fiscal bills have. With this reasoning, Gov. Walker finally managed to pass the bill on March 9. Although unions, and the working class as a whole, faced a defeat in this encounter, this outcome will not be permanent. The people have shown that they support unions and workers, and that they will not allow this to happen again. Remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The greatness of America is the right to protest for rights.”

“dairYland” unions up in arMs

Greg Bokar ’11, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

As the closing words of the fourth and final issue of The Devon Dialogue are written for the 2010-2011 school year, it is ex-tremely clear that the conclusion of a distinct stage of the lives of the senior editors of The Dialogue is approaching. Leaving Devon Prep is a bittersweet experience, which allows those preparing to depart the opportunity to look back on their experiences and truly reflect on what kind of place Devon is in a way that no one else in the community can. On publication day, the esteemed moderator of The Devon Dialogue, Mr. Theuer, brought in the Spring 2011 edition of his high school’s quarterly alumni publication, The Deerfield Maga-zine. With a quick perusal, it becomes immensely clear that the alma mater of the previously mentioned moderator is much like Devon Prep in some ways and much unlike Devon Prep in many more, despite the common title of “prep school.” The magazine is of the quality of a ten-dollar luxury travel magazine that can be found only at a bookstore. It advertises the elite community of Deerfield Academy, a renowned co-ed prep school in Massachu-setts, essentially the urban dictionary definition of “prep school.” With further exploration of the contents of the magazine, it became even more clear that this was not Devon Prep, nor was it what Devon Prep ever strove to be. Touting the things that matter, Devon has shown that a quality prep school education is far more than ornate, gothic style buildings and five hundred dollar sport coats. In reality, Devon proves that a quality education is rooted in an esteemed faculty and a challenging curriculum, not a seven million dollar sports com-plex. It is hard to recognize the true value of a quality education until graduation day looms over the head of any student. There is not a doubt in my mind that as I head to Case Western Reserve University in the fall of 2011, that I will be going forth not with the image of what a prep school education could be, but the experience of what a quality education truly is. It is without a doubt that both inside and outside the classroom, Devon Prep has truly molded its graduating classes to be the men which others strive to be, an embodiment of “the Devon Difference.”

ConCluding words froM the editor

Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin works to stop union control.

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