A young coach, at the outset of his career, wrote to several successful college coaches seeking advice on how to be an effective coach. One of those coaches was John Wooden who, at the time, was in the midst of an unprecedented decade of coaching achievement that included 10 straight national championships at UCLA.
Coach Wooden took the time to write back to the young coach and he emphasized the importance of “The Fundamentals.” From this advice, the young coach developed a mantra that characterized his coaching for the next 30 years and helped to create several league championships: Defense, Desire, Discipline, and Determination. From these fundamental principles, a coaching and playing philosophy was constructed.
John Wooden once remarked, “the most important key to achieving great success is to decide upon your goal and launch, get started, take action, move.” This proved to be sage advice for the young coach who built his teams and an athletic program around the fundamentals of hard work, discipline, determination, and a positive attitude.
Such are not only the fundamental tenets of a successful athletic program; they are the fundamentals of integrity and sound leadership. Whether it be in the classroom, on the athletic field, or in the dormitory, Trinity-Pawling teaches young men how to value hard work, discipline, determination, and a positive attitude. Importantly, these same tenets are cornerstones of the Senior Leadership Program, the School’s deliberate focus on leadership development that has been the mainstay of each junior’s spring term since 1992. Its signature component, the Ropes Course, focuses on these cornerstones while teaching boys how to work together, support one another, and respect the potential of their leadership as seniors in the coming year.
Trinity-Pawling’s mission statement challenges the School to prepare young men to be contributing members of society amidst the challenges of an ever-changing world. While aspects of the world are, indeed, changing, some of the ways to prepare young men to meet these challenges do not. Fundamentals remain critically important amidst times of change.
A young coach, at the outset of his career, sought advice about how to be successful amidst change. A legendary coach, already successful, took the time to respond to Coach Miles Hubbard. The result was a legendary career that reinforced the foundation of a School dedicated to nurturing character and teaching leadership in young men.
During his junior year at The Lawrenceville School, Bert Bonner was struggling academically. His comprehension suffered as the reading matter and volume intensified, and Lawrenceville in the 1960s wasn’t equipped to diagnose his dyslexia. Fortunately, Bonner was spending his summer at Long Lake Lodge in Maine, a camp run by Jack Karpoe. “I attended Long Lake to get some academic help. After Lawrenceville suggested I find a new school, my parents called Mr. Karpoe. He said, ‘Bert should come to T-P next year.’”
“Trinity-Pawling saved my life. I had been floundering at my previous school and pretty depressed. T-P turned me around, taught me how to cope, and provided me the tools to learn and the will to succeed. Paul Miller was my junior year roommate, and we’re still good friends. Years later, we traveled the world together as he raced cars; I was happy to be his go-fer.”
Bonner roomed with prefect Chris Doyle his senior year. Five years later, Matt Dann tapped the duo to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Trinity Schools Corporation as T-P’s leadership transitioned from Dann to Phil Smith. “It’s hard to fathom now, but there we were, a pair of 22-year olds, sitting on this prestigious Board with New York’s elite financiers and power brokers. It was a real eye-opener to be among people like that. We just listened and kept our mouths shut!”
Bonner spent his career in real estate development and property management, inheriting his father’s business acumen and work ethic. He retired to Florida in 1998. “After playing golf for the first 21 days, I realized there had to be something more meaningful. So I started to tutor adults and do other volunteer work. Another friend and I bought recession foreclosures and flipped or rented them. We just sold our final property last week, so now I have officially retired… again.” Although Bonner no longer skis, he keeps active with golf and singing in three different groups.
Bonner is proud of how Trinity-Pawling has evolved over the decades and continues to support the School. He notes that there are three ways to contribute to a school or organization: work, wisdom, or wealth. “My parents established the Bonner Foundation and dedicated their estates to support college scholarships and help churches that feed the poor and hungry. Growing up surrounded by these values clearly impacted me. Patty and I have committed our own estates to education, medical institutions, and literacy. Trinity-Pawling is at the top of that list. It’s been a good ride, and Patty and I feel fortunate to be able to give back to a school that gave me so much.”
Hard work. Dedication. Persistence. Pivoting with the times. All concepts that Headmaster Taylor highlights when speaking of the traits of a 21st-century leader, and coincidentally, all characteristics that are embraced and made manifest in the career of Nick Fernandez ’98. Nick is the founder and owner of Servex-US, a 14-year old company that helps businesses and manufacturers digitize their products into electronic catalogs and market them through use of electronic space planning, digital renderings and, most recently, virtual reality.
“The business grew out of my background in furniture manufacturing. My family has been in that industry for 50 years and I spent a year after college working in all facets of it. I noticed the inordinate amount of time that was wasted going back and forth on space planning issues, and I saw an opportunity to innovate,” Nick comments. The result was a novel, graphic design-based company that in the beginning only had two employees — Nick and a designer.
“There was a lot of trial and error over the years, and just pure grit and grind. I was working 15-hour days, making 150 cold calls each day seeking clients! The recession hit us hard and I had to lay off half of my employees. Luckily, we had started the process of diversifying into areas other than space planning and design.”
This new direction would prove profitable: Nick and his team began landing many accounts designing digital renderings and creating eCatalogs for manufacturers in various industries around the globe. Since 2008, the company has grown to employ 40 people worldwide, with Nick overseeing operations from his office in Manhattan. Their most recent pivot is into the world of virtual reality, utilizing that technology to help companies plan (or show off!) spaces.
“I made the decision early-on that failure was not an option,” Nick said. “Once you set your mind upon success, the right people, opportunities, and experiences come into your life.”
When asked how his time at Trinity-Pawling helped shape his future, Nick comments, “At Trinity-Pawling, I learned how to learn. I struggled with dyslexia growing up, but the School helped me focus and set me on a path to achieve. Additionally, the opportunity to interact with faculty, staff, and students in a structured educational setting laid the groundwork for my ability to communicate effectively with both clients and employees, and to land accounts!”
If the past 14 years are any indication, Nick and Servex-US are poised to experience a lot more of that success!
It’s no secret that friends at Trinity-Pawling become brothers for life. Zach Silva ’10, Tony Lai ’10, and Paul Huenke ’09 can certainly attest to that. The alumni trio recently reunited in Guangzhou, China for Lai’s wedding, where Silva and Huenke proudly stood beside him as his groomsmen. For Silva, the experience was unforgettable.
Silva, Lai, and Huenke first met during the 2007-2008 Trinity-Pawling school year, sharing various classes, sports, and extra-curriculars. Silva and Lai also grew close over the shorter holiday breaks. “Since it was difficult at times for Tony to go all the way home, he would spend those shorter vacations at home with my family,” Silva explained. “He would cook some of the best dishes for us!”
After graduating in 2010, Silva traveled to China with Lai to visit his family in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Little did he know at the time, it would not be all that long before he returned to Guangzhou with his Trinity-Pawling brothers.
Just last month, Silva and Huenke traded their Trinity-Pawling blue blazers for traditional groomsmen robes, as they stood beside Tony and his bride, Yeshen, on their wedding day. “I felt so honored to be chosen as a part of Tony’s wedding party! It was my first time ever in the role of groomsman,” shared Silva. “Tony presented all of us with traditional black robes and ornate fans with personalized inscriptions, both of which have become two of my most treasured items.”
The wedding celebrations gave the three young men a chance to reconnect in person and reminisce on their days in the Pride, where it all started. “Every chance I get to reconnect with a T-P brother is special,” stated Silva. “It reminds me of how supportive the T-P brotherhood really is and always will be, regardless of how long it may be in between visits.” Even better, the trio was able to share words of wisdom with Lai’s younger brother, Scott, who will be starting at Trinity-Pawling this fall. The brotherhood lives on.
On Saturday, April 14th, more than a dozen Trinity-Pawling students enjoyed supporting Special Olympics of New York-Hudson Valley Region’s Regional West time trials at Woodbury-Monroe High School in Woodbury, NY. Trinity-Pawling students staffed events such as shot put, long jump, and turbo javelin toss, and were commended for their helpfulness, friendliness, and support of the athletes.
Since 1968, Special Olympics has transformed lives through the joy of sport and is the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities with more than 4.9 million athletes in 172 countries — and over a million volunteers.
School Chaplain Fr. Michael Robinson, a longtime Special Olympics volunteer is eager to share his love of Special Olympics and grow Trinity-Pawling’s relationship with the organization. “What better way to spend a day than sharing our love of sports with some of the greatest athletes and teammates anywhere. Our student-athletes have a lot to give, but they’ll get a hundred times more in return. Special Olympians are an inspiration!”
An even larger group of volunteers will be supporting the Regional Spring Games at West Point Military Academy on May 5th, and plans are in the works for even deeper engagement during the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.
This year, Trinity-Pawling’s students hail from 15 states and 16 countries. For some, it takes over 24 hours of international travel to go home or return to campus after a school break. Coordinating this extensive and international travel for students is not for the faint of heart. Faculty member, Michele Carlin, knows this firsthand. Carlin, a long-time member of Trinity-Pawling’s math department, has been a key player in student travel for the past 5 years.
“When you consider that some of the youngest of our boys come from the other side of the world—and realize their parents are entrusting us with their safety—it goes without saying that it is our responsibility to ensure safe and secure travel for them every time,” shared Carlin.
Carlin works closely with a local, reliable limousine service to coordinate airport transportation for each student traveling to and from campus. She keeps detailed spreadsheets with each student’s verified flight information, departure times, and pick-up/drop-off locations. “Until the date of departure or arrival, I manage any schedule changes and make sure the boys know too.” And that, surprisingly, is just the beginning!
“On the date of departure, I ensure the boys are on time and ready to go with repeated emails and REMIND messages,” she shared. “And of course, there’s many face-to-face reminders when I pass them in the halls of Dann and requests to their dorm parents for wake-up calls.” Returning flights can be even more complicated due to the timing of the customs processes and other airport delays. “Anna’s Airport Limousine Service is essential to this process,” she explained. “Not only do they provide our students with background checked drivers, well-maintained, inspected vehicles, and fully insured, door-to-door service, but they’re also very patient with the process and go above and beyond when getting our boys where they need to be. I couldn’t do it without them.”
Despite the many obstacles that can arise with travel—many of which cannot be planned for—Carlin makes the process as smooth and seamless as possible for each boy. During this year’s March Break, for instance, the first of 3 Nor’easters hit the East Coast. Over 60 students’ flights were changed within 48-hours. A bit chaotic, of course, but Carlin tackled each plan one-by-one, with the constant support of Josh Collins ’95, Dean of Students and Dutch Keel, Dean of Residential Life. Within 5 days, every boy’s trip was successfully re-booked and they were on their way home, safe and sound.
“The idea of safe, secure, and insured, guaranteed door-to-door travel for our boys, some as young as 14, is something any parent would hope for,” Carlin concluded. “This is my contribution to our community and I truly enjoy coordinating this aspect of student life on campus!”
Trinity-Pawling’s very own 6’7” living legend Robert “Stretch” Gardiner ’40 has thrown down a challenge: gather a team of 1,000 donors in 3 short weeks to unlock his gift of $100,000!
A tall order? Yes, but we know you’re up for it!
To step up to the competition, make your gift now.
- Online: www.trinitypawling.org/stretch
- Phone: 845-855-4830
- Venmo: @TrinityPawlingSchool
Did you know?
Robert “Stretch” Gardiner ’40 and his family have been a part of Trinity-Pawling’s entire 111-year history! Stretch served as Board President, led 2 capital campaigns, and gave the School its Library and Theater/Arts Center. Over the years, he has truly “stretched” for Trinity-Pawling…now he’s asking YOU to join him!
Don’t miss Trinity-Pawling Drama Society’s performance of one of, if not THE greatest, Shakespeare comedy—A Midsummer Night’s Dream!
Join us for performances on May 17th, 18th, and 19th at 7:00 PM in Gardiner Theater.
We are thrilled that Trinity-Pawling’s 14th Annual Golf Outing will be held, once again, at the exclusive private golf course Morefar Back O’Beyond in Brewster, NY.
Join us on July 17th for an all-day golf experience! Your fee includes 3 meals, an open bar, and generous prizes. Space is limited to 72 golfers, so register now to secure your spot!
AWARDS:
Longest Drive
Closest to the Pin
Prizes for 1st and 2nd place foursomes!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
8:00 AM – Registration and Breakfast at the Clubhouse
10:00 AM – Shotgun Start (lunch on the Course)
4:00 PM – BBQ and Awards
GOLFER FEES:
$750 Individual
$600 Young Alumni (Class years 2006-2017)
$2,700 Foursome
SPONSORSHIPS:
$600 Faculty Member
$600 Young Alumnus
$250 Tee (sign included)
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Trinity-Pawling Fund and the Miles H. Hubbard, Jr. ’57 Scholarship Fund. This scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to boys with exceptional athletic ability. Miles Hubbard ’57, P’82 served Trinity-Pawling as a teacher, coach, and athletic director for 37 years.
Questions? Reach out!
Janet Hubbard P’07
jhubbard@trinitypawling.org
845-855-4830.
Alumni, share your good news with your Trinity-Pawling friends! Please send in your Class Notes for the Fall 2018 Trinity-Pawling Magazine. The submission deadline is June 10, 2018!
Have you recently gotten married, entered retirement, welcomed a new baby into the family, embarked on a great trip, received a promotion at work, or won a community award? Let us know!
You can submit your good news online.
Questions? Contact Janet Hubbard P’07 by email: jhubbard@trinitypawling.org or by phone: 845-855-4830.
Experiential learning is a pillar of Trinity-Pawling School. It allows students to dive in, learn by doing, think critically, and solve real-world problems. This is particularly true for juniors participating in the Global Collaborative Challenge (GCC), a project in which students collaborate to tackle relevant global issues and are then challenged to fine-tune their presentation skills and showcase their findings to a faculty panel.
This year’s Global Collaborative Challenge groups addressed a wide range of real-world topics, from healthcare and mass pollution to the evolution of the media. Has the evolution of news made it less about news and more about ratings? Is an unbiased press, if that is possible, essential to the health of a democracy? Juniors Marcus Beato, Brett Ginac, Leo Jiang, Tim Wang, and Jack Zhang set out to develop their answers, guided by Slade Mead, Director of College Placement.
In their presentation, this group highlighted the shift that the news industry has experienced with the growth of the Internet. They explored the concept of ratings, competition between media outlets, and the transformation of information that may occur, simply to draw in more viewers. The students focused on the fundamental right to know the truth—but considered where that right falls on a political priority list. Over the weeks, Beato, Ginac, Jiang, Wang, and Zhang researched and assembled these concepts into a smooth and organized 12-minute presentation.
“This group’s performance was top-notch,” shared Mead, following the final GCC presentations. “What impressed me most was how truly polished their presentation was. The slides were beautifully scripted, the cadence was great, and the material flowed seamlessly. From the first to the twelfth minute, the presentation was a clean and articulate powerhouse.”
What’s one important takeaway for the students on this Global Collaborative Challenge team? If you ask Mead, it’s more than the real-world thinking. “Yes, the group learned about the current news industry, but more importantly, they learned how to work as a team, put forth a quality presentation, and literally think on their feet—especially when asked questions by the faculty panel,” he explained. “Those skills are essential.”
The varsity lacrosse team has started the season with three wins and one loss. The team had an impressive win over Loomis Chaffee, but struggled against a talented Salisbury squad. CJ Mezzatesta ’20 and Thomas Harkin ’18 have shared time in goal, while Marc Welch ’18, Jack Gump ’18, Will DePalma ’18, Ben Webster ’19, and Ridge Driscoll ’18 have anchored the defense. Brett Ginac ’19, Blake Erdmann ’18, and Brenden Lundy ’18 have provided the offensive punch. Scott Stensrud ’19 has been effective all over the field.
The varsity baseball team is off to a good start with two wins and one loss. Victories have come against Westminster and Kent, with the loss coming in their first game against Loomis. The team has several new faces who have contributed to their success. Post-graduates Alex Kohlhagen, Ryan Smith and Marc Maestri have all pitched well and Jaz Burton has produced at the plate. The team looks forward to challenging for the Colonial League Championship.
Varsity tennis began the season with a win and a loss. William Yau ’18 has been impressive at the start of the season.
The track team traveled to Westminster for a meet on Saturday with a young, inexperienced team. Throwers were the highlight of the day for the Pride. Aaron Armitage ’21, Aleksi Olavuo ’19, Eddie Gonzalez ’19, JJ Flaccavento ’20, Nate Miller ’18 and Chiz Umunakwe ’18 all performed well at the meet. Chiz also did a terrific job in some of the running events.
Golf competed for the first time on Saturday at Hotchkiss. Kyle Miller ’18 and Max Levine ’20 played the best golf for the Pride as they defeated Canterbury in one of the matches.