Spring 2011 Bancroft Bulletin

BANCROFTBulletin Spring/Summer 2011Spring/Summer 2011

Tuned into Steve Magnante ’82

Windows on Bancroft

1 Freshman physics at work as Celeste N.tests her egg drop device designed to protectthe egg from breaking after a 5.0 meter drop.

2 Varsity girls basketball has made a come-backin recent years with the 2010-2011 girlsreaching the EIL Division BTournament finals.

3 US French exchange traveled to Paris andMeaux where seven students enjoyed touringFrance and living with host families.

4 Kindergarten students celebrate 100 days ofschool on February 28th.

5 Carol Ryan's 4th grade physical educationclasses ended theirWinter Olympic Gameswith a closing ceremony and passed theOlympic flag to next year's competitors—the3rd graders.

6 Urinetown: The Musical cast members performduring rehearsal night at the HarringtonTheatre.

1 2 3

4

5

6

BANCROFT SCHOOL

Director of Institutional AdvancementLiz Siladi

Editor-In-Chief / Director of Marketingand Communications

Matthew Barone

Editor / Assistant Director of AlumniRelations and Communications

Lynn St. Germain

Director of DevelopmentLaurie Bowater

Administrative AssistantsLydia Barter, Catherine Hanssen

DesignLinda Dagnello

Editorial AssistantDeena S. Madnick

ContributorsRuss Campbell, Priyanka D.,

Matt Robinson, Robin Silverman

Bancroft Bulletin is published biannuallyby Bancroft School, 110 Shore Drive,Worcester, MA 01605-3198. Issues are

published fall/winter and spring/summerand mailed to all known alumni of

Bancroft School as part of the beneXt oftheir having attended the School.

Bancroft Bulletin provides a medium forthe exchange of views concerning

Bancroft School affairs; news about theSchool and its alumni; and editorial

content that relates to the shared anddiverse experiences and interests of

Bancroft alumni.

Cover Photo:Steve Magnante '82 broadcasting for SPEEDTV

3 iPad pilot launched...NYTimes visits Bancroft...College Acceptances...LS Art HistoryFirst ChampionshipWin for BoysBasketball...Student Spotlight:Caitlin Howland.

8 Standing TallConfidence is built day-by-daythroughout the Bancroft K-12experience. Students, faculty, andalumni reap benefits in many ways.

12 Matchbox Cars—and aBancroft Education—FuelCar Enthusiast's CareerA look at Steve Magnante's '82climb from Bancroft to writer andbroadcaster.

16 2011 Award RecipientsL.Victoria PowersLucinda Reed Sanders ’71Amol Sharma ’96

17 Alumni News

3

12

16

8

BANCROFT Bulletin | Spring/Summer 2011

Contents

Dear Bancroft Friends:

It is hard to express in writing the excitement that has gripped this campusover the last several months.

This edition of the Bulletin will, I trust, convey some of that enthusiasm as wecontinue to live our mission of developing a diverse community of life-longlearners, teachers of others, and citizens of the globe. In this setting, excellenceabounds.

Bancroft’s senior class boasts Xve National Merit Xnalists and Xve commendedstudents—representing 20% of the senior class. And their college acceptances sofar have reYected our seniors’ remarkable talents and potential.

Our athletic teams have also met with much success, with our boys varsity soccer team making theNEPSAC Xnals. And we witnessed Bancroft’s Xrst ever varsity basketball team clinch the NEPSACchampionship. And who can forget another victorious season for our girls varsity volleyball team. Theyare now well beyond the state record of consecutive victories, ending this season once again undefeated,making it 162 matches in a row.

And Bancroft’s science program achieved national recognition for its Advanced Placement Program.For many years, science department chair Joan Carlson has served as a grader, consultant, and teacherfor the Advanced Placement biology examination. Her commitment led Bancroft students to be featuredas the lead story in the New York Times Education Supplement for their efforts in spearheading a new labconnected with the A.P. biology examination revision that is in process.

Looking toward the future of technology integration in the classroom, selected Upper and MiddleSchoolers as well as faculty and administrators are conducting a pilot program employing Apple iPadsfor their class work. The result of a generous gift from eClinicalWorks, LLC, this pilot programsupplements the hundreds of desktops and laptops we have available to Bancroft students, K throughgrade 12.

Enjoy reading this issue of the Bulletin. There’s so much to celebrate this year, and I look forwardto your feedback and continuing reYections.

Scott R. ReisingerHeadmaster

Photos

:Rus

sCa

mpb

ell

3

In its Xrst phase that began in January of this year,the Apple iPad Pilot includes 13 Upper Schoolstudents, 13 Middle School students, 11 faculty

members from both divisions, and four administrators.Each person selected received an iPad for use throughoutthe rest of this academic year as well as the opportunityto acquire educational iPad apps that they feel willimprove their learning and usage. The ultimate objectiveis to answer a number of critical questions about how thedevice can enhance and support learning.

“We believe that iPads will provide students andteachers with an enhanced educational experience thatstimulates individualized learning,” says Scott Reisinger,headmaster. “Bancroft is at the forefront of technologicaladvances. While there is still ample time for the pilot torun its course, indications from faculty and studentssuggest that the iPad has the potential to revolutionizethe way students learn.”

The project was made possible by a generous giftfrom eClinicalWorks LLC of Westborough, MA whodonated $30,000. “We are pleased to be supporting such aground-breaking educational initiative as proposed by theBancroft School’s leadership,” says Girish Navani,president of eClinicalWorks. “The iPad is an impressiveimprovement in mobile computing with the possibility ofgreatly enhancing student learning.”

Faculty and students will not only be asked to con-tribute their opinions on the device’s usefulness withregards to access to course texts, note-taking, cloud Xlestorage and sharing, research resources, organizationalaids, and increased communication, but also in settinggoals for their own expectations.

“The iPad offers far less intrusion in the classroomthan a laptop,” says Elisa Heinricher, pilot coordinatorand computer science teacher. “With the loss of a raisedlaptop screen the iPad’s Yat design has removed a barrierbetween teacher and student.”

“It certainly is more convenient,” says Tommy P.,a senior. “My backpack weighs a lot less without text-books now that they are all accessible through my iPad.I’m also able to easily record lectures for other studentswho missed class or refer to them on my own as arefresher prior to exams.”

Students and teachers will be encouraged to discovernew applications and best practice usage that they feelenhance the learning and instruction experience. “Earlyresults indicate that the iPad pushes students, in particular,toward individualized learning to the point where theyfeel comfortable discovering new solutions through theuse of the device,” says Heinricher.

Another senior participating in the program, UdayA., feels the device encourages constant learning throughsheer accessibility. “It is always on and connected. I havefound it enormously useful in my math class for visualiz-ing graphs of functions to the point that my friends arenow asking to borrow it.”

As part of the thoughtful exploration of the device’sbeneXts, participants will utilize a discussion board toshare their thoughts on the uses and management of theiPad, providing real-time feedback. Over the summer of2011 a full analysis of the pilot program will be completedfor review by administrators in consideration of imple-menting a permanent program.

Bancroft Launches iPad Pilot InitiativeProgram made possible by agenerous gift from eClinicalWorks LLCof Westborough, MA

NewsFeatures

4

News Features

Latin Book Projects

TheUpper School Latin II classes completedtheir Latin Book Projects, which not onlyincluded writing and illustrating original books

in Latin with English translations, but also taping, sewing,and binding the books. When the books were Xnished,Latin students visited both of Bancroft’s Xrst grade class-rooms to share their stories with these younger learners.

The Latin book project coincides with the Xrstgrade’s study of the Middle Ages, in which Latin was stillspoken. The Xrst graders were paired up with their olderLatin peers to listen to the Latin versions of the storiesand to read the English translations afterwards. Each Xrstgrader had the opportunity to hear and read four to Xvecreations.

“It was a wonderful chance for the Xrst graders tolisten to the language which was spoken during the time

Mrs. Carlson and A.P.biology go hand-in-hand.For the last 32 years she

has helped to lead Bancroft’s compre-hensive science department andinspired hundreds of Upper Schoolstudents along the way.

As a specialist in her Xeld recog-nized nationally, Joan Carlson alsocontributes to the College Board’s

effort to train teachers and design theAdvanced Placement exams forbiology. In fact, early this year her twoA.P. biology classes at Bancroft piloteda new lab for the College Board thatwill be used in a few years nationally.The new labs being tested are morein line with Bancroft’s existing K-12science program and philosophy—providing more creative analyticalthinking than the existing labs offer.

New York Times reporterChristopher Drew interviewedCarlson for more than four hoursover a number of days in preparationfor the special feature. “In many waysthis was a crash course in A.P. biologyfor the Times writer,” says Carlson.“He had a number of provocativequestions for me and the students heinterviewed. He was especiallyimpressed by the intellect and conX-dence of our students. You could hearthe excitement in his voice when hetold me that the editors at the Times

decided to make Bancroft the coverstory for their Education Life sectionof the newspaper. Apparently theyliked the story too!”

Excerpt from the NYTimes article:

The goal [of these changes in theexam] is to clear students’ mindsto focus on bigger concepts andstimulate more analytic thinking.In biology, a host of more creative,hands-on experiments are intendedto help students think more likescientists.

Caroline Brown, a senior whostages the school’s plays, connectedthe lab to her passion for theater.She borrowed green, sky blue and“Broadway pink” Xlters from theplayhouse to test how differentshades of light affected photosynthesisin sunken spinach leaves. The pinksurprised her by narrowly edging outthe blue in triggering photosynthesis.

period that they are studying, and an equally valuableexperience for the Upper School students,” says LatinTeacher Robin Silverman. “The older students werethrilled to share their books with a very appreciative andenthusiastic audience.”

College Board and NYTimes Call Upon Bancroft’s

5Full Sail UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGustavus Adolphus CollegeUniversity of Hartford (3)Harvard UniversityHigh Point University (2)Hofstra University (2)College of the Holy Cross (11)Indiana University (3)Ithaca College (2)Johns Hopkins University (2)Johnson and Wales University (2)La Salle UniversityLehigh University (2)Loyola University New Orleans (2)Macalester CollegeMaine College of ArtUMASS-Amherst (16)Mass College of Art and DesignMass College of Pharmacy andHealth Sciences (2)

Merrimack CollegeUniversity of Michigan (2)University of MinnesotaUniversity of New Hampshire (3)New York University (2)Northeastern University (9)Northwestern University (2)Norwich UniversityOklahoma State UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania (3)Penn State UniversityUniversity of PittsburghPolytechnic Institute of NYUPrinceton University (2)

Bancroft Seniors CelebrateCollege Acceptances

Plugging into College Ashas been the trend in the last few years, a large number of Bancroftseniors decided to apply to college early this year through early decision,early action, and rolling admission programs. The college-counseling

experience at Bancroft is a multi-year process involving a strong partnershipbetween the student, parent, and counseling staff.

“Matching the interests and skills of the student with the characteristics ofeach college is a key priority during this process,” says Jackie Lefebvre, Director ofCollege Counseling. “We are proud of the achievements each of these students hasmade at Bancroft to gain admission into the colleges of their choice.”

This year students from the senior class have received a wide range of highereducation opportunities across the United State and their plans for future studiesare just as varied.

Academy of Art UniversityUniversity of AlabamaAnna Maria College (2)Assumption College (3)Babson CollegeBecker CollegeBennington CollegeBentley University (2)Boston College (8)Boston University (8)Bowdoin CollegeBrandeis University (4)Brown University (5)Bryant University (2)Carleton CollegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCase Western Reserve (6)Champlain CollegeUniversity of Chicago (4)Clark University (5)Colgate UniversityColumbia University (2)Connecticut College (2)Cornell University (2)University of Connecticut (2)Dartmouth College (2)University of Delaware (2)Duke UniversityEckerd CollegeEmerson CollegeEmory University (3)FairXeld University (3)Fisher CollegeFlorida Institute of TechnologyFordham University (7)Framingham State University

To view the article in its entiretyvisit www.nytimes.com using thesearch tab for the past 12 months andkeywords “Rethinking AdvancedPlacement.”

Joan Carlson has announced herretirement from Bancroft at theconclusion of the 2010 – 2011academic year ending June 30.According to Joan, she plans to stayinvolved in the College Board A.P.Biology program training teachers,spending more time with herhusband and grandchildren, andenjoying time at their second homein Maine. Joan intends to participatewith the transition of her futurereplacement and potentially evenreturn to Bancroft for a few classesthroughout the year. Says Joan,“I’ve made so many close friends atBancroft over the years that stayingin touch and connected is a must.”Do you have a Joan Carlson memory to share?Blog about it at bancroftschool.org/carlson

Science Labs

Principia CollegeProvidence College (3)Quinnipiac University (6)Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (3)University of Rhode IslandUniversity of RochesterRochester Institute of TechnologyRoger Williams University (3)Salve Regina UniversitySeton Hall UniversitySimmons CollegeSkidmore College (2)Smith CollegeSouthwestern UniversitySt. Catherine University—St. PaulSt. Olaf College (2)Stanford UniversityStonehill CollegeSUNY BinghamtonTrinity College (5)Trinity University (Texas)Tufts University (5)Tulane UniversityUnion College (2)University of Vermont (8)University of VirginiaVillanova UniversityWellesley College (2)Wentworth Institute ofTechnology (2)Wesleyan University (2)Western New England CollegeWheaton College (3)University of WisconsinWorcester Polytechnic Institute (8)Yale University (2)

6

News Features

First Championship Win for Boys Basketball

Thiswinter Xfth grade students,under the direction of artteacher Mary Edwards and

Lower School Librarian Lisa Leach,created mosaic portraits through aninnovative art history project titledPortrait of an Artist. A Lower Schoolannual project that takes on newaspects each year, this effort combinesthe Modern Library Association’sstandards for library research withcreative artistic exploration to givestudents a greater understanding ofart history. The assignment requiresstudents to demonstrate criticalthinking skills, limit the scope ofinquiry, understand the importanceof planning, and prioritize facts.

This year students began by work-ing individually to research a promi-nent Xgure in American or Mexicanart history as they used subscriptiondatabases, biographical texts, and artperiodicals. In the art room, studentsworked collaboratively to identifyshades and tones, create facial features

and arrange details to build the likenessof their artist. Students used informa-tion they had learned to inspire abackground in which the uniquenessof the artist comes through. This isdemonstrated in the mosaic of WilliamH. Johnson (r) that contains picturesof the African-American communityhe frequently based his work on.

Students worked both individu-ally and collaboratively on commontasks—they divided responsibilitiesand were responsible for critiquingtheir own work. Through the creationof these mosaics, Edwards says,“Students synthesize the informationthey have learned to help them un-derstand the artists’ intentions aboutwhy they speciXcally created the wayhe or she did.”

“I’m looking for students to drawinferences from text to form conclu-sions, make critical judgments, andcreate unique interpretations,” saysLeach. “Two valuable constructs thatMary and I focus on are spatial ordering

and higher-order cognition. Spatialordering includes understanding infor-mation that is presented visually,generating projects that are visual,and organizing materials and spaces.Principles of higher order cognitioninclude understanding concepts;evaluating ideas, opinions, and facts;generating original ideas; and applyinglogical approaches to complex problems.

The culminating point of the pro-ject took place when students proudlypresented their artist and mosaicportraits to the wider community ata Lower School assembly.

Lower School Art History Project

TheBancroft Bulldogs boys basketball teamdefeated the #1 seeded Wooster School andclaimed their Xrst-ever victory in the NEPSAC

(New England Preparatory School Athletic Council)Boys Basketball Class D Championship. This was theBulldogs second appearance in the Xnals.

The 10-member team consisting of Xve seniors,three juniors, and two sophomores, under the coachingleadership of Mark O’Brien and John Duggan ’77,brought a lot of energy to each game. Although they arenot physically overpowering, teammates worked together

utilizing their speed and athleticism to disrupt theiropponents’ offense. Senior Dalton J., team captain whowas named tournament MVP, scored a game high of 25points leading Bancroft to a 57-41 victory over their top-seeded opponent. Melvin K., junior captain, played 32minutes of lock down defense and scored 8 points. BryceTurner, junior captain, scored 12 points.

According to O’Brien, who has coached the Bulldogsfor 20 years, “these players went through the classic evolu-tion of a team, experiencing losses at the beginning of theseason, but rebounding through self-reYection, respect,and learning to trust each other along with their coaches.They possessed a lot of passion in this year’s tournament,right through to the championship game, which provedthe essential element.”

O’Brien, was named EIL Basketball Coach of the yearfor the 2010-2011 season. The conference includes histori-cally-strong athletic programs at Pingree School andHamden Hall Country Day School among others, regionally.With 19 interscholastic sports teams and 80 seasons as leaguechampions, Bancroft offers students athletic opportunitiesthat exceed other area college preparatory schools.

7

1

Caitlin H.:

MS Student

with

Dance Passion

Headmaster Elected to3-Year Term at NEASC

STUDENT SPOTL I GHT

Scott Reisinger has been electedto the 20-member Commissionfor Independent Schools of the

New England Association of Schools andColleges (NEASC). The organizationprovides accreditation services for morethan 2,000 public and private institutionsin the six state region—Pre-K throughuniversity. Emanating from high qualitystandards, NEASC accreditation usesself-reYection, peer review, and bestpractices as integral components of itsassessment process. NEASC consists ofsix Commissions, each of which sets thestandards for a particular segment of theeducational community.

The Commission on IndependentSchools accredits a wide range of privateschools in the six states of New England.Schools served include traditionalboarding and day preparatory schools,private elementary schools, schoolsserving students with special needs, andreligiously-afXliated schools of manyfaiths. Currently the Commission is work-ing with over 600 schools in variousstages of the accreditation process. Eachof these schools is accredited using thesame protocols and materials assuringthat the school is faithful to its mission,conducts its programs appropriately tomeet its goals and fulXlls the standardsestablished by the Commission onIndependent Schools.

In addition to NEASC, Reisingercurrently serves as president of the Boardof Directors of the Associationof Independent Schools of New England,and is immediate past president of theWorcester Historical Museum. He is alsoan elected member of the AmericanAntiquarian Society and has recentlylectured on various subjects associatedwith the Civil War.

PPilot Amelia Earhart once said, “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”Bancroft seventh grader Caitlin H. certainly embodies this spirit ofadventure. Five to six days a week, Caitlin studies classical ballet

and aerial silks with teacher Joanna Duncan of the Dance ArtistClassical Coaching School. Her aerial training consists of a foundation ofclassical ballet and acrobatic work suspended in the air. Caitlin playedseveral roles including the Snowflake in the Hybrid Movement Company’sproduction of Clara’s Dream, a Nutcracker Story at the Hanover Theatre inWorcester. Caitlin started taking ballet and tap classes at age three andbegan classical ballet training at age ten. She was inspired to take on aerialtraining at age eleven during a summer intensive workshop prepared by herteacher, Ms. Duncan. The program features breakdancing, hand balancing,classical, contemporary, and aerial ballet.

Caitlin has acquired a unique hobby and now puts in about sixteen hoursof practice every week. Although she spends a significant amount of timedancing, Caitlin says that dance has taught her a great deal about herschool work. “Dance is really detailed, which has helped me in the classroomat Bancroft.” She has learned to pay close attention to details and not to“rush through problems,” but rather to take her time and think about them.

At the same time, Caitlin says that dance has taught her to maintain apositive outlook on life. Although it can often be difficult, she says, dancemakes “stress and worry go away” and teaches her to remainrelaxed and positive in academic settings.

For those wishing to see Caitlin in action, she is taking part in a studentproduction at Worcester Technical High School on June 19 and the BostonCollege production of Christmas Reflections in December 2011.

— Priyanka D. ’11

8

Confidence built day-by-dayBY MATT ROBINSON

SStanding Tall

9

While many students do not even look at complextexts like the works of Shakespeare until high school,Bancroft students not only explore but perform theseplays much earlier on. In fact, Datta says, today’s fourthgraders not only present performances of Twelfth Night

and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, they also perform suchstories as Goldilocks and the Three Bears…in French!

In addition to drama, many Bancroft students alsotake advantage of the school’s strong arts and musicprograms as means of self-expression and development.

“Students are validated and encouraged,” Datta says.“They come to recognize their strengths and share theirtalents and accomplishments with others in a nurturingand encouraging environment.”

Though these skills may Xrst be developed within themore comfortable conXnes of the Bancroft community,many students are soon ready to show their stuff to theoutside world. From the Xfth grade theatrical productionand numerous Xeld trips to a four-day trip to LeadershipSchool at Camp Kieve before the transition to Middle

continued on page 10

Ask any Bancroft gradu-ate and they will rattleoff a long, long list ofbeneXts they garneredwhile a student at their

beloved school. Top among these,however, would be the all-importantelement of conXdence. From the Xrsttime students hold a Yag in the audito-rium as kindergartners until their sen-ior research projects, a Bancrofteducation gives students not only theknowledge and skills to succeed, butalso the conXdence to use what theyhave learned to make their own livesand the lives of others better.

According to Lower School Head Jyoti Datta,conXdence is a “mindset” that Bancroft students havefrom their earliest days. But, of what exactly does thisconXdence consist?

“ConXdence is being able to stand up and hold yourown in front of classmates, teachers, older and youngerpeers, and adults,” Datta suggests.

And while it is hoped that all children grow up in anenvironment in which such attributes can be developed,Datta says that Bancroft is especially adept at supporting it.“Our students feel comfortable with who they are and con-Xdent to be able to learn and own their learning,” she says,citing the Lower School as “an environment where peoplecare for students and care about what they have to say.”

While many educators talk about supporting theirstudents in developing conXdence, Datta and her team ofteachers in the Lower School have the students speak forthemselves.

“Starting in Kindergarten,” Datta notes, “each childhas an opportunity to be up on stage during our weeklyassembly leading the school in saying the Pledge ofAllegiance.” Many students also publicly share what theyare learning or doing in their classes with parents, teachers,and peers. Such opportunities give students a chance totake risks and enter unfamiliar and potentially uncom-fortable situations with support. “Public speaking isencouraged from a very young age, and they learn toembrace this with enthusiasm and excitement, instead offear,” Datta says.

“Students are validated and encouraged,”Datta says. “They come to recognize their

strengths and share their talents andaccomplishments with others in a

nurturing and encouraging environment.”

Photos: (Opposite page) Zachary D. (l) andAndrew H. (r) pose on stage for theSpeech Team. (Above (l)) LS student holds the flag at Assembly. (Above (r))LS Head Jyoti Datta observes work of the Kindergarten during a class visit.

School, Bancroft students spread their wings far soonerthan many other students.

In fact, public speaking begins early on in a Bancroftcareer and continues right through to graduation. In theMiddle School Jane Merritt, a member of the eighth gradeteam, views the Eighth Grade Forum as another keyelement in the Bancroft system of conXdence-building.

According to Merritt, conXdence involves “a feelingof self-assurance that a student gets when they believe intheir own abilities or qualities.” And just as they haveplenty of opportunities to show and share in LowerSchool, there are many Middle School milestones thatcontinue to bolster their conXdence. From Speak Out insixth grade (during which students present research proj-ects) to the seventh grade Science Fair to Eighth GradeForum (in which students must prepare and present afour-minute talk utilizing PowerPoint on a subject oftheir choice) and the World Fair (for which eighthgraders research, prepare, and present a talk throughPowerPoint about literature and current events in variouscountries), the path through Bancroft’s Middle School isvirtually paved with opportunities to show what studentsknow and to feel good about doing so. “Each year theprojects require students to work more independently andto present to larger groups.”

Much of this progress takes time and encouragementfrom teachers and peers. “Speak Out completely changedme in front of an audience,” says seventh grader Carleigh O.“The teachers helped me to prepare and face my fears. Theygave me constructive criticism and encouraged me to

prepare by speaking in front of an audience before the realthing. The preparation and support that I received at Ban-croft didn’t exist at my previous school.”

Even Middle School Assemblies are completelystudent-run and feature book reviews, vocabulary-basedskits and other public speaking segments that are preparedand presented by the students for the students. “Studentswho choose to do so may also use the Assembly to show-case a particular talent they have,” Merritt says, recallingsuch diverse offerings as pianists, jugglers, and a studentrock band.

As Bancroft students progress through the programthey are continuously supported. The Upper Schoolexperience is no different. As at the beginning of theircareers, opportunities for public speaking and presentationfoster such personality elements and get soon-to-begraduates ready to present themselves to colleges and theworld.

Though conXdence building is a key element of theBancroft experience from start to Xnish, Upper Schoolinstructor and speech team coach Chris Sheldon observesthat it is never explicitly discussed. It just is.

“I don't think you could say Bancroft has a ‘system’ ofconXdence building,” Sheldon suggests. “I think instillingconXdence is what we all try to do in our classrooms andextracurricular activities, and that makes it integral.”

By providing students with appropriate challengesand the support to overcome them, the Bancroft systemallows and encourages students to Xnd and develop theirown sense of conXdence.

10

continued from page 9

Photos: (Clockwise from (l))Seniors and US Faculty poseafter a day of team building inMaine. Fourth grader speaks toLS assembly about her projecton the Monarchs; Eighth graderpresents her Forum project tothe MS Assembly; LS studentsplay the recorder during Fridaymorning assembly.

11

Karen Fuller’s advanced Latin students each prepare,lecture, and assess one class as an assignment. “They mustcome into this exercise not only knowing the material,but possessing the certainty that they can lead their peersthrough 45 minutes of class time,” says Fuller. “Studentstypically leave this teaching experience with both astronger belief in their abilities as well as a renewed respectfor the profession.”

As Sheldon works directly with the speech team (ateam that has qualiXed for one of the national tournamentsfor the past six state champions, and nine runners-up), hemay get to see some of the more conXdent Bancroftstudents. However, he says, many come to him with otherskills and strengths that also contribute to their publicspeaking.

“A lot of the students who come to the team alreadyhave some conXdence,” Sheldon admits, “and certainlythe team gives them an opportunity to shine in a way thatthey might not otherwise have. However, all students onthe team, from those that win awards at Nationals tothose who have just started, bring talents.”

Speaking of talents, many Bancroft students havebeen able to use the skills and talents fostered and devel-oped at the school in their post-Bancroft careers. WilmaCespedes-Rivera ’05 graduated from Bancroft and is nowa successful actor in New York.

“ConXdence is an energy that needs to develop withtime,” Cespedes-Rivera suggests, “and I must say that myconXdence in my craft began at Bancroft.” In fact,Cespedes-Rivera credits the talented team at Bancroftwith lighting the “small wick of conXdence that was inme back then and fanning the Yame into the conXdentconYagration it is now.”

“It is hard to say that I was truly conXdent in highschool,” she admits, “but Bancroft gave me the tools Ineeded to begin to develop my conXdence. Whether itwas in the speech team, bringing home awards, or thefact that when I got to college I knew what the rightformat of writing a paper was—Bancroft truly did guideme in the right direction.”

As a member of the speech team and the theaterprogram, Cespeda-Rivera took full advantage of the op-portunities to develop herself at Bancroft.

“My passion for acting grew far more at Bancroftthan it ever would have at a public school,” says Cespeda-Rivera, who notes that she still keeps in touch withMr. Sheldon and does what she can to support the nextgeneration of speech stars. “I only hope that those programsare still helping students today.”

Don’t worry, Wilma—They are!

Matt Robinson is an educator and journalist in Boston, MA

Photos: (Clockwise from upper (l)) USFaculty member Chris Sheldon speaksto students on campus; Third graderscollaborate on a quilt project for theunit on slavery; Carleigh O. presentsto an audience during Speak Out; MSFaculty member Jane Merritt assistshistory students in the Garfield Library;Wilma Cespedes-Rivera ’05 (c)performs in "Girls Night: The Musical"

12

Beginning in 1964 and lasting until 1972, the majorAmerican auto makers were engaged in a race tocreate the most powerful road cars in automotive

history. Driven by millions of fun-seeking baby boomers whosought excitement behind the wheel, the resulting vehicleshave come to be known as muscle cars. Despite the strains ofthe Vietnam War and unprecedented social upheaval, everypassing year saw further increases in muscle car performanceand a steadily growing market for these ever quicker and fastermachines. Cars like the Pontiac GTO, Dodge Hemi Charger,Shelby GT500 Mustang, Chevrolet Chevelle SS454, andOldsmobile 442 were among “the tire-smoking machinery”rolling off assembly lines everyday. If you wanted to hit 150mph, do 0-to-60 in under 7 seconds and be the envy of yourfriends, all you needed to do was sign on the dotted line.

Another 1964 arrival was Steve Magnante ’82. As a childgrowing up during the sixties, Steve arrived too late to partici-pate in the muscle car era. But that didn’t stop him fromcatching the fever soon after. He says, “In 1974, I was about10 years old when my mother surprised me and my olderbrother David ’81 (a practicing Indiana eye surgeon today)

with a selection of Matchbox cars after school.” Though theMatchbox cars were quite small, their brightly painted surfacesand realistic features ignited Steve’s interest in cars of all sizes.

Within a year, Steve had graduated to larger plastic scalemodel kits that had to be assembled and painted. “I lovedhow I could mix parts from different model kits to get customeffects.” Around this same time, Steve discovered a stack offorgotten old car magazines in a friend’s garage. “Looking atthose faded issues of Hot Rod, Car Craft, Super Stock andMotor Trend, was like being transported back in time.”Though the magazines were only about ten years old whenSteve discovered them in 1977, the nation’s values hadchanged thanks to an energy crisis, the formation of OPEC,and greater sensitivity to preserving the environment. Highpowered muscle cars were no longer in fashion as people grav-itated toward Honda Civics and VW Rabbits. “I was crushedby the knowledge I had missed the muscle car era and got myvery Xrst bittersweet taste of nostalgia.”

By 1978, Steve was ready for middle school and thoughhe started the seventh grade at Quaboag Regional HighSchool in Warren, MA, his parents quickly transferred him to

M

By Matthew Barone

13

Bancroft after only a few weeks. Academics at Bancroftdidn’t come easy, but Steve had caring teachers to ensurehe focused his energy and interest on school. In particular,he has very fond memories of Mrs. Marion Howe and herWordly Wise vocabulary work books, former HeadmasterWyatt GarXeld’s weekly admonition to “Keep your witsabout you,” history teacher Mr. Dennis Trocchio’s challeng-ing Xve-page “source analyses,” Mrs. Maureen Gray’skindness and patience in English class, and Mr. CharlieAleksiewicz’ sense of humor for allowing Steve to get plentyof playing time despite the fact that he wasn’t the best socceror baseball player on the Xeld.

“Steve was a Xne young man who everyone saw as ateam player both on and off the Xeld,” said Aleksiewicz whocoached and taught Magnante at Bancroft and is still work-ing at the School. “He was so determined to do his best inall endeavors from math to sports. Back then, as it still istoday, making sure the kids had fun while playing on theXelds or courts was most important.”

Steve happily recalls “talking shop” with mathteacher Mr. Kevin Cabana. “We used to respectfullycall him Captain Cab, and he drove a pale blue Mustangcoupe—one of the brand new FOX body Mustangs thatreplaced the ugly Mustang II in 1979. He was the one whoXrst expressed to me how virtually everything occurs incycles. From sine waves, to weather, to automotive trends,it’s all a series of ups and downs.”

Mr. Cabana was absolutely correct—as the currentresurgence of factory muscle cars like the 2011 Dodge HemiCharger, Chevy Camaro SS, Mustang 5.0 and CorvetteZR1 (just to name a few)prove. Steve says, “Of course,this new crop of factory musclebeneXts from features like elec-tronic fuel injection, cylinderde-activation, overdrive trans-missions, enhanced aerody-namics, and other technologiesthat allow them to ‘be irrespon-sible…responsibly.’ What elsecan you call a car like the newDodge Hemi Challenger R/T?It delivers almost 400 horse-power but can give 25 mpg ifdriven gently. And the dirtytailpipe emissions are also much

reduced for environmental preservation. That was unheardof back in the Sixties.”

Living so far from school and being too young to driveforced Steve to have two sets of friends—the weekendfriends from West BrookXeld and the Bancroft kids fromthe school week. For Steve it was a challenge to balancethe two different peer groups. “On weekends I’d be runningaround in the Xelds on snowmobiles with my crazy friends.But on Monday morning I returned to civilization atBancroft.” Still, Steve recalls great times with fellowBancroft class of ’82 pals like David Epstein, Wayne Reiss,Bill Sharpe and Jon Herring. “In particular, Eppy (Epstein)and Fish Man (Herring) and I used to like walking theteacher parking lot to check out the cool cars. Englishteacher Ms. Elizabeth Tsang had a ’70 Barracuda 3-speedstick, Mr. Fenigsohn drove a 455 powered Buick Century,and one of the ofXce ladies (I forget her name) drove a paleyellow ’68 Corvette. Pretty cool stuff at the time.”

By 1982, Steve, readyfor college, was accepted to nearby ClarkUniversity. “I must admit, I found the work load at Clark tobe about the same as what I’d experienced at Bancroft.Handling two to three hours of homework each night atBancroft gave me the skills to cope with the course load atClark,” says Steve. At Clark, he came out of his shell: “Iwasn’t a shy kid in high school, but I certainly wasn’t themost popular kid on campus. I held my own, growing more

conXdence with age.”After graduation from Clark

University in 1986, Stevedecided to head for Los Angelesto “act or write for Hot RodMagazine. I knew it would be adream to contribute to themagazine I’d read for most of myyoung life.” But the move wouldtake time. A national recessionseverely limited opportunities forfreshly minted BA’s in the lateeighties. Steve kept a steadyincome by working as a manage-ment trainee for CVS Pharmaciesand working as a mechanic

Fuel One Muscle Car Enthusiast’s Career

Photos: (Opposite) Steve launches his Wilshire Shaker altered wheelbase '63Chevy Nova off the line at Lebanon Valley Dragway in NY. (Above) Steve inspectsa 426 MAXWedge engine prior to testing horsepower using a dynamometerthat it rests on.

atchbox Cars—and a Bancroft Education—

before leaving for California in1991.

The trip out west was a leap offaith. “I was willing to intern andwork for nothing in exchange forexperience and good contacts inthe industry,” says Steve. “I feltreally strongly that if you couldmake yourself indispensible, do thejobs nobody else wanted—with asmile—and perform beyond expec-tations, you could go anywhere.”His Xrst magazine experience wasat Chrysler Power Magazine whereSteve earned $100 a week. “I hadsaved enough money to live for ayear, but I also started a weekendbusiness selling vintage car maga-zines at outdoor swap meets inLong Beach, Pomona, and San Diego to the legions of SouthernCalifornia car fanatics.” Combined, Steve managed to stay verybusy for three years. “I like to say that success attracts success,and I quickly found that as soon as other magazines saw myname in print, they came knocking to see if I was available forsome freelance contributions.” So Steve began contributingtechnical stories, car features, and interviews to magazines likeMopar Action, Popular Mechanics and Drag Racing Monthly.

Meanwhile, Steve was taking acting classes from DavidLeGrant in Studio City, CA; and while he mingled with thelikes of Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), TobeyMaguire (Spiderman) and Brittany Murphy (Clueless), his on-screen credits were limited to non-union extra work. “I played‘gunman number 4’ in the Keenan Ivory Wayans Xlm DirtyLow Down Shame, a guy in an unemployment line in thePenny Marshall feature Xlm Renaissance Man and a bartenderin Brian Singer’s Xrst feature Xlm The Usual Suspects. Theparts were non-speaking bits and you’ll need to use the freeze-frame on your TV remote to see me in these roles. It was funbut it taught me you can throw a rock in Hollywood and hitan extra. Then that rock will bounce off another extra. Butthe acting classes went a long way toward further breaking meout of my shell.”

So Steve stuck to what he knew best, automotive journal-ism for car magazines. In 1998, Ro McGonegal, the editor atHot Rod Magazine read some of Steve’s work in anotherpublication and asked to meet with the budding writer. Theytalked about shared experiences on the east coast and theirfavorite cars when Ro explained that Hot Rod needed a newtechnical editor to develop stories and report on them eachmonth in the magazine. “It was like getting a writing gig onthe Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Hot Rod Magazine has been incontinuous monthly circulation since 1948, and I’d beenhired on as a full time staffer. That was the biggest careeropportunity I had so far and I wanted to prove myself in thebig league. It was so incredible. I still pinch myself when Iremember that day.”

At Hot Rod Steve gained accessto top-secret automotive develop-ment facilities where major car-makers develop and perfectconcept vehicles many years priorto their sales Yoor debut. Behindthe locked gates of the GM Mesa,AZ Desert Proving Grounds,Chrysler’s Auburn Hills, MI designcenter, and Ford’s Dearborn, MItest track Steve was able to breakthe veil of secrecy on numerous“future products” as well as manydead ends that never got past thebarbed wire fences that surroundthese compounds. “At GM, I wasshown several engineering devel-opment mules like a twin-engined1985 Chevy Citation X-11, IROC-

Z Camaros with 4-wheel steering, and various V8, V12 andeven V16 engine programs that never reached the show roomYoor. At the time, these experimental cars were old news. Ionce asked my guide ‘What are you working on today?’ andhe replied, ‘come back in 10 years.’ It is always a thrill when-ever I’m invited to go behind the curtain in Detroit.”

Steve spent seven years at Hot Rod (1998 – 2005) beforeleaving to pursue TV host work. “The acting classes and myknowledge of cars meshed perfectly one day when Hot Rodpublisher Jim Savas explained to us guys on staff that we wereabout to be the new cast on Hot Rod Magazine TV, whichaired weekly on Speed Channel at the time. While some ofthe camera-shy staffers reacted in horror, Steve saw it as agreat opportunity to merge his two interests. “I always sayyou’ll get farther ahead in any game if you are willing to workfor free. No, the publisher didn’t offer any additional compen-sation for the TV work, but I didn’t care. Frankly, I’d havepaid to be on the show.”

Steve quickly carved out a niche by taking the cameracrew (and home viewer) into the junk yard and swap meet insearch of salvageable speed parts that could be purchasedcheap for big performance gains. “Ratings showed that viewerspreferred junkyard scrounging missions to the thinly veiledinfomercials most automotive programming reverts to andHot Rod TV became a hit.” And no, Steve never got paidextra for his TV efforts. But they were instrumental in settingthe stage for what came next.

“The producers at Speed Channel (now known as SPEEDTV) saw my work on Hot Rod TV and sought me out inMarch of 2005 to do live commentary from the stage of theBarrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Palm Beach, Florida.”The Barrett-Jackson auction series was begun in 1971 and hasgrown to become the most inYuential event in the world forcar collectors. Millions of viewers tune in from all over theworld to watch as many as 2,500 collector and special interestcars and trucks change owners in auctions that last betweenthree and six days.

14

2010 B-J special charity portions of their events helped raise over $7 million.

15

“I work with a seasoned team of broadcasters. We haveBob Varsha and Matt Stone (Executive Editor of Motor TrendMagazine) in the control booth while Rick DeBruhl (regularNBC newscaster from Phoenix), Mike Joy (the voice ofNASCAR on Fox) and Englishman Justin Bell (“FormulaOne” race driver), and I describe each vehicle as it crossedthe block before the bidding gets started. “For four minutes wegive each car a voice and try to bring the home viewer downon stage with our observations about each car and its sale.”

Since these are mainly collectors items, the average saleprice tends to be well over the $30,000 mark though Stevestood feet away as a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Supersnake soldfor $5.5 million at the 2007 Scottsdale show. “You neverknow what any particular car will sell for. That’s what makesit so exciting. The amazing thing is that many of the buyersand sellers are from the same baby boom generation thatmade these muscle cars famous in the Xrst place. The showsalso attract celebrities like Jay Leno, Alice Cooper,and Jerry Seinfeld, as well as auto industryleaders like Lee Iacocca andBob Lutz.

“The auction stage is noplace for guess work,” saysSteve. “It’s live TV so theSPEED.COM web site willerupt with critics if any one ofus Yubs the facts. Thanks toBancroft, I make meticulous notesabout things nobody could remem-ber without prompting.”

Steve’s work in Florida led to amulti-year contract to provide liveauction commentary at each of thefour Barrett-Jackson Collector Carevents that are staged each year includ-ing, Scottsdale, AZ in January, PalmBeach, FL in April, Orange County, CAin June, and Xnally to Las Vegas, NV inOctober for the fourth and Xnal show ofeach year.

In addition to the quartet of Barrett-Jacksonauctions Steve does each year, he’s also hosted severalepisodes of “Classic Car Restoration” for the DIYChannel, a pilot episode of a show called “RidesReunited” on the History Channel, and written twobooks (How To Build Altered Wheelbase Cars andRusted Muscle—both available online).

All this made for a hectic lifestyle. A few yearsago, Steve moved back home to a slower-pacedNew England life where he met and married hiswife Carmen in a civil service (they plan to havea big bash in Sturbridge, MA this summer).Home is now in a comfortable country-styleVictorian with a ten car garage that houses hisautomotive children. “I had each car packedand transported from L.A. to my new place in

North BrookXeld since California cars are completely rustfree. These are my babies,” says Steve.

Careful maneuvering is required when you enter Steve’spristinely-kept auto-nursery. There is an ’81 Ford Fairmontsedan with an altered wheelbase, straight axle, and Kinsler-in-jected 4.6 liter Mach 1 crate motor in one bay. For thosewithout the vocabulary to fully understand that description, itmeans zero to 60 in 5 seconds and quarter mile times in thelow-twelves. Further down the nursery, he has an unrestoredone-owner 1966 Plymouth Barracuda; a ’67 Dodge Dart witha 687 horsepower Hemi (the same H-word Steve used to mis-chievously scribble on Bancroft desks as a student); a 1954Plymouth Savoy formerly owned by three nuns and storedsince 1978; a white altered wheelbase ’63 Dodge Dart with426 Max Wedge power; and another altered wheelbase car,

the “Wilshire Shaker” ’63 Nova —a Hot Rod Magazineproject car. Others in the stable include a two-owner ’84Mustang GT convertible, a ’76 Dodge half-ton pickupwith factory 440 big block power, and a few lesser dailytransportation machines.

His counsel to beginning car collectors is to“Xll your library before you Xll your garage,” mean-ing do your homework before committing to amajor investment. Almost 30 years after departingBancroft, Steve’s advice to the current studentbody is “to always remain dependable to yourfriends and employers and to never burn abridge. With each career move I departed ongood terms, which has a lot to do with mecontinuing to write for magazines like HotRod and doing the Barrett-Jackson broad-casts for SPEED TV. It took a lot to gethere, but I’m my own boss living in abeautifully-quiet part of the country.”

In a matter of hours after complet-ing this interview, Magnante took to

the highway for a 24-hour adventure toOcala, FL to inter-view drag racing leg-end and pioneer BigDaddy Don Garlits foran upcoming featurestory in Car CraftMagazine. When he’sdone gathering photosand notes, he’ll continueon to the sleepy Xshingtown of Nokomis for awell-deserved splash in theAtlantic. “Follow yourbliss,” he exclaims with con-Xdence, “I did, and love it!”Interested in reaching

Steve? You can do so [email protected].

Photos: (Above (l)) Cover of Steve's recently published automotive book; (Above (r)) 1982 Bancroft yearbook page detailing senior, Steve Magnante.

16

L. Victoria PowersMilton P. Higgins ’18 Award forDistinguished Service to Bancroft School

Retiring from Bancroft this June after 38 years ofemployment, Vickie Powers began her service to theBancroft community in 1973 as the school receptionist,where she was a sought-after resource for students,parents and faculty alike. In that role, she supportedstudents and faculty, took care of the calendar andcoordinated events for the Headmaster and the Parent-Faculty Association. Recognizing her deep commitmentto the Bancroft community, in1994 she was promotedto the role of Bancroft's Special Events Coordinator.Since then she has facilitated hundreds of division andall-school events and assemblies, concerts and perform-ances, Commencements and closing events, as well as awide range of activities and projects while serving asthe formal staff liaison to the Parent-Faculty Association.She has also served on a number of internal committeesover the years including the Enrollment ManagementCommittee, the Centennial Steering Committee,various NEASC accreditation committees and the FacultyStaff Council.

Over her 38-year career at Bancroft, Vickie has hada hand in supporting just about every aspect of Bancroftlife while serving as a confidante, advisor and mentorto several generations of students, and assisting faculty,parents and visitors with a warm smile accompanied bythe words “Can I help you?” Indeed, her philosophythat whatever is done at Bancroft large or small reflectson our community as a whole, and therefore should bedone with care, has been the hallmark of her serviceand highlights her deep commitment to and love forour School. In 2003 she was recognized for her com-mitment to Bancroft by her colleagues and presentedwith the Isa Bayon Bowl for Mentoring. During the raretime when she was not at Bancroft, Vickie served onthe first formal Board of Directors at Abby’s House inWorcester for eight years and as an overnight volunteerstaffer for14 years. She has served as a Deacon andTrustee of the First Congregational Church in Auburnand was the first woman to serve communion in thatchurch. Vickie and her husband, Paul, have two daugh-ters and four grandchildren. Residents of Paxton, theyalso get away to Dennisport as often as they can andthey enjoy traveling together and spending time withfamily and friends.

Lucinda Reed Sanders ’71The Esther Forbes (1907) Award forDistinguished Professional Achievement

Lucinda Reed Sanders is CEO and Partner atOLIN, a 76-person landscape architecture,urban design and planning firm with studios inPhiladelphia and Los Angeles.

With an emphasis on achieving placesof social purpose and ecological sensitivity,Lucinda’s restorative landscapes combine herexpertise in urbanism with her interests andtalents in social and natural systems, philosophyand art. Her societal and environmentalpassions are imbued throughout a wide rangeof projects, including public parks, urbanplazas, master plans, and institutional, academicand corporate landscapes. Recent workincludes HemisFair Park Master Plan in SanAntonio; Presidio Main Parade Grounds andRincon Park in San Francisco; Mill River Parkand Greenway in Stamford, Connecticut; andComcast Center Plaza and Central DelawareRiverfront Master Plan in Philadelphia.

Elected as a 2010 Fellow of the AmericanSociety of Landscape Architects, Lucinda andher fellow partners were the 2008 recipients ofthe Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt NationalDesign Award for Landscape Design. She serveson the Board and Executive Committee of theLandscape Architecture Foundation, theAdvisory Board of the Lady Bird Johnson Wild-flower Center, and the Editorial Board ofLandscape Journal.

Lucinda attended Bancroft from1958 to1971 and is a1975 graduate of Wells College.She first studied landscape architecture atRutgers University and went on to earn aMaster’s degree in landscape architecture fromthe University of Pennsylvania where she iscurrently an adjunct professor of landscapearchitecture.

Amol Sharma ’96The Young Alumni Achievement Award

Amol Sharma is an India correspondent forThe Wall Street Journal. Based in New Delhi,he writes about Indian business and politicaleconomy, with a special focus on fast-grow-ing sectors such as energy, technology,media, aviation, defense and infrastructure.He also reports on issues related to povertyand economic development.

Amol attended Bancroft for 12 years andgraduated in 1996. Though he initiallywanted to pursue a career in medicine, hecredits his Upper School English teachersfor sparking his interest in writing. At TuftsUniversity, Amol studied political scienceand worked on the student newspaper.After graduating in 2000, he briefly triedInternet consulting, before pursuing acareer in journalism. After serving as aresearcher at CNN and a freelance writer hewas awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in2002, which he undertook in India. Duringthat time, he filed stories on politics,technology and economic development forthe San Francisco Chronicle and theChristian Science Monitor. When hereturned to the U.S. in 2003, Amol becamea reporter for Congressional Quarterly inWashington, D.C., covering politics andlegislative affairs. He joined The Wall StreetJournal in 2006, spending several yearscovering the U.S. telecommunicationssector out of New York. Appointed IndiaCorrespondent in 2009, he has coveredsuch stories as President Barack Obama’svisit in November 2010, nascent peace talksbetween India and Pakistan, various tradebattles between the U.S. and India, and arecent series of corruption scandals inIndia’s ruling Congress Party.

2011 AWARD RECIPIENTS

17

AlumniAlice Goff Deering ’32January 28, 2011 in Worcester, MA at 98Mrs. Deering graduated from Bancroft andBecker Junior College and then SimmonsCollege. She worked at Norton Companyprior to raising her family and was involvedin various volunteer activities throughouther life. She leaves her children and grand-children.

Bulkeley Smith ’39June 11, 2010 in Mystic, CT at 89Mr. Smith attended Bancroft from 1926-1930. He interrupted his studies at YaleUniversity to volunteer for service in WWII.He returned to school earning his B.A., M.A.and Ph.D. from Yale University. He wasChairman of the Sociology Department atMt. Holyoke College and retired in 1983. Heis survived by his wife of 63 years, childrenand grandchildren.

Polly Priest Greene ’51January 8, 2011 in Miami, FL at 78Mrs. Greene attended Bancroft until 1949and then graduated from Dana Hall andGarland College. She married, had twochildren and settled in Chicago where shebecame involved in that city’s cultural eventsas well as social services. After a divorce, shemarried again and had twins. She is survivedby her husband William Greene, childrenand many friends including Sally GoochPaynter ’51 who wrote a tribute to her friendfound on page 17.

Elizabeth Forsberg Peterson ’54December 11, 2010 in Lebanon, NH at 75Mrs. Peterson graduated from Bancroft in1954. After marrying she moved to RhodeIsland and raised a family. In 1970, Mrs.Peterson worked as a secretary to the Head-master at Moses Brown School in Providenceuntil she retired in 1983. She and her hus-band moved to Warren, VT and wintered inSkidaway Island, GA. She is survived by herhusband of 56 years, and their children andgrandchildren.

Judith Hastings Otis ’62June 21, 2010 in Orleans, MA at 66Mrs. Otis graduated from Bancroft in 1962and then fromWilliam Smith College in NYand Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.Together with her husband she served inministry for the past 23 years at the FirstLight Church of Cape Cod. She is survivedby her husband of 45 years, their children,grandchildren, and siblings, Daphne HastingsWilcox ’61, William Hastings ’65, andBradford Hastings ’68.

Hillary Bath ’72January 7, 2011 in Worcester, MA at 56Ms. Bath attended Bancroft from 1963 untilshe graduated in 1972. She then attendedNasson College in Maine. She worked atWorcester’s State Mutual for many years. Sheloved to sing, play the guitar and bango, andoften accompanied the Street Theatre Pro-gram. Hillary is survived by her parents JohnBath and Mary (Givan) Bath ’50, siblings,and extended family.

Kimberley Lane Godard ’78February 27, 2011 in Clinton, MA at 50Mrs. Godard attended Bancroft from 1972-1975 before graduating from Dana Hall. Sheworked for many years at the Fallon Clinic inWorcester, and then the Perkins School inLancaster, MA. Her husband of 26 years,Robert Godard, died in 2004. She is survivedby her family including brothers CorbinLane ’76, and Prescott Lane ’80.

Douglas Goff ’87March 14, 2011 in New Orleans, LA at 41Mr. Goff attended Bancroft from 1980 untilgraduating in 1987. He then graduated fromEmory University and earned his JD fromTulane University Law School. Mr. Goffpracticed law in New Orleans for the past 20years. He leaves his daughter and former wife,and siblings, Michael Goff ’84, and AllisonGoff Sharpe ’90.

Extended CommunityRichard P. TrainaMarch 8, 2011 in Charlton, MA at 73Mr. Traina, together with his wife Polly,was the 2006 recipient of the Robert W.Stoddard ’23 Award for OutstandingCommunity Service. Mr. Traina served asthe seventh President of Clark Universitythrough a period of remarkable growth.Through his leadership and vision, Clarkestablished an extensive partnership with itsMain South neighbors which brought newvitality and opportunity to the area. He wasa Trustee or member of the Board at severalorganizations including the George I. AldenTrust, Worcester Area Chamber ofCommerce, and the Alliance for Education.He is survived by his wife Polly, their childrenand grandchildren.

In Memoriam

After graduating from Bancroft in 2001, Eric Wellman earned a degree in Broadcast

Journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse

University. Presently the regional host of Morning Edition on WCPN 90.3 FM in

Cleveland, Ohio, Eric’s work has been broadcast on the BBC in London, the CBC in

Canada, and NPR. Recipient of numerous news and journalism awards, Eric also

teaches broadcast programming at Baldwin Wallace College and conducts

workshops on media communications. “In my profession as a broadcaster and com-

municator, I owe so much to the faculty at Bancroft who, across the disciplines,

taught me to be a great writer,” he said. “Beyond academics, they helped prepare

each student to become an engaged citizen, for college and a lifetime of success.

There is no question that I could not have the career I have now were it not for

Bancroft. Giving to the Annual Fund each year is, in part, a way for me to saythank you to my teachers who were uniformly amazing. They not only knew me as

a student, but as a person, and stayed in touch long after I had left.”

Join Eric and honor great teaching by participating in the Annual Fund.visit us at: bancroftschool.org/givingTHE ANNUAL FUND

Informed.

8 Freshman Emma K. plays on the J.V.Volleyball team.

9 Music teacher Matthew Glenn conducts theMiddle School Band at the MSWinter Concert.

10 Third grader Abigail S. sews a quilt squareas part of her lesson on slavery.

11 Middle School students enjoy the sun whilewalking to Assembly.

12 Teacher Lisa Kunhardt with her fifth gradestudents.

13 Senior Ronald R. waves as he enters therecently renovated US hallway.

14 Drama teacher Margaret McCandless and musicteacher Paul Kelly perform at LS Assembly.

15 Science lab guest, cardiologist Dr. MaureenMaher, meets with interested students for aconversational lunch followed by lab lectureon the heart.

16 LS student at recess after a heavy snow storm(one of many this 2010-11 season).

8 9

10 11 12

13 14

15 16

110 Shore DriveWorcester, MA 01605-3198

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Photos: The art department hosted its first US travel abroad trip in 16 years. Their nine day art expedition included Paris, Milan, San Gimignano, Siena, Florence, and Rome.