For Tom Ahrensfeld, Trinity-Pawling was the perfect fit. “I was an only child and my parents traveled a lot for business. T-P gave me a ton of brothers, excellent sports, and a great education over four years.” Ahrensfeld made the varsity tennis team as a freshman, coached by Walt Adams and Dave Erdmann. Erdmann also coached Ahrensfeld in JV hockey.
“Our tennis team went undefeated from the middle of my sophomore year straight through my senior season. We were 24-0, a real dynasty. Fortunately, Dave Erdmann kept us focused and our heads straight. He drilled us hard and was a conditioning guru.” The 1973 tennis team was inducted into the Trinity-Pawling Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ahrensfeld and his classmates Jeff Kronemeyer and Dick Hilmer were elected co-captains for their senior year, and Ahrensfeld served as the Erdmann’s proctor on Dunbar dorm. “Over those four years, Dave Erdmann and his wife, Sue, became surrogate parents to me,” Ahrensfeld recalls. “Rarely a day goes by when I don’t think of something Dave said or taught me. It’s amazing how one person can have such a lasting impact on someone.”
When Marlynn and Bill Scully ’57 had the new tennis courts built in 2013, Ahrensfeld realized the adjacent pavilion provided a perfect opportunity to honor the legacy of coaches Walt Adams and Dave Erdmann. Thanks to his generosity, that handsome brick building is now named the Adams Erdmann Tennis Pavilion. At the Friday evening dedication ceremony during Reunion Weekend, Ahrensfeld and his co-captains Dick Hilmer and Jeff Kronemeyer offered heartfelt gratitude for the contributions of their coaches, both of whom are deceased. Sue Erdmann was present and warmly welcomed by the tennis alumni.
Following the ceremony, Ahrensfeld reflected on the depths of his Trinity-Pawling connection. “I’ve always considered Trinity-Pawling home. My dad was one of Phil Smith’s original board members in the mid 1970s, and I have been honored to serve in that same role since 2012 under Arch Smith and now Bill Taylor.” Ahrensfeld returned to campus for his 45th reunion in late September. “We had 21 members of our class show up, which is pretty impressive. It doesn’t matter how many years pass between visits because friendships rekindle quickly. Once a T-P brother, always a brother.”
Over 200 alumni, parents, and friends were welcomed to campus on September 28 and 29 for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. We celebrated our alumni, enjoyed good food, and watched the Trinity-Pawling football team beat Loomis! Classes from 1948-2018 were represented and many people traveled thousands of miles to be on campus for the 2018 Reunion Weekend festivities, including the gentlemen from the Class of 1968, who were celebrating their milestone 50th reunion!
Highlights of the weekend included the Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony and the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction. The Distinguished Alumni Award was developed to recognize an alumnus’ outstanding lifetime service to Trinity-Pawling School. Recipients of the award are members of the alumni community who have an established record of service to the School, and have demonstrated significant achievement in his or her profession. This is the highest award presented by the Alumni Association. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Paul Miller ’63, P’92 and Joseph Callo ’48. We are tremendously thankful to these outstanding men for their commitment to Trinity-Pawling School.
The Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to honor former teams, student-athletes, and coaches who have reflected honor upon Trinity-Pawling by virtue of their outstanding performance and exemplary contributions to their alma mater, community, and profession, and in doing so, reflect the philosophy of a college preparatory education and the ideals of sportsmanship. Congratulations to the Trinity-Pawling Athletic Hall of Fame 2018 inductees William A. Cooper P’75, ’79, C. Stephen Harrington ’68, and the 1976-1977 soccer team.
Another high point of the weekend: the entire student body gathered in Gardiner Theater to listen to a group of esteemed alumni in a candid panel discussion about their Trinity-Pawling experiences. Watch the full discussion, moderated by Eric Drath ’88, which included Paul Miller ’63, Peter Boggs ’68, Mark Horncastle ’88, Chris Cattani ’93, and Headmaster Bill Taylor.
Check out the Homecoming & Reunion photo gallery to see pictures of the weekend events.
Mark your calendar now for next year’s celebration — we’ll do it all again on October 4-5, 2019!
Congratulations to Amy Foster who was awarded the 2018 Arditti Fellowship on Friday, October 12, 2018. This endowed fellowship honors a member of our faculty for “teaching excellence”.
The Arditti Fellowship for Teaching Excellence Award was established in 1995 by Edward Arditti ’51 and his son Ted ’94 as a way to honor our teachers for their distinguished work and dedication. Criteria for consideration include outstanding knowledge of one’s field, commitment to our students and the educational program at Trinity-Pawling, and inclusion of new techniques and information in one’s teaching. Members of the faculty nominate the individual who best exemplifies these qualities.
This honor was bestowed upon Foster by the recommendation of her colleagues — the highest form of professional praise. These are some of their comments in support of her nomination:
“Amy’s classroom lacks the confines of a traditional classroom. It is everywhere. Similarly, Amy’s students are high school learners as well as lifelong learners. She is a champion teacher, challenging her students to learn and adapt to the rapidly changing world around her. She is creative, professionally persistent, and visionary.”
“Amy is a tireless source of help for all of the boys who come to see her in the library. From Noodle Tools to password issues, she helps facilitate every boy’s educational experience. Additionally, Amy is tireless in supporting the faculty with numerous messages regarding professional development, wellness, mentoring, and general support. Amy is truly at the heart of the community both pastorally and academically. Amy is very deserving of this award.”
Thank you, Amy, for your extraordinary dedication to the School!
How much can you accomplish in 60 seconds? A lot, if you’re Miles Martin ’16! Currently a junior at Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, Martin takes a full load of classes, is the captain of the track team, started the Black Student Union on campus, worked with local school students as a youth empowerment mentor and post-high school counselor, and oh, on the side is running a start-up with his dad and cousin — Martin Mabasa LLC. A full plate, for sure, but Martin takes it in stride.
“Because of the jam-packed schedule at Trinity-Pawling, I learned quickly that I needed to manage my time, and also how much I could fit into those hours. I thought it was important to be a part of as many aspects of the School as possible, to repay the investment that was made in me,” comments Martin.
A recipient of the Duncan A. Pyle ’86 Memorial Scholarship during the four years he was here, Martin excelled at all of those activities he pursued, and truly made a lasting impact on the campus. While at Trinity-Pawling, he served in roles as varied as the editor of the Phoenix to prefect to captain of the soccer team. Similar to his visionary work at Sewanee, he and classmate Harrison Dunne-Polite ’15 started the Student Diversity group on campus in 2014.
All of his hard work is certainly paying off. During his time in college to date, Martin has received two important accolades: last fall, he was inducted into the Order of the Gown, an academic honor society at Sewanee, and more recently he was given the Charles Pollard Marks Memorial Scholarship. This award honors an outstanding junior man exemplifying integrity, leadership, and scholarship.
“I’m so very grateful for everything I experienced at Trinity-Pawling. I’ll never forget Mr. Carpiniello telling me that you don’t want to be on the wrong side of a lesson — such important advice. I learned a great deal from my time with Mr. McDougal and Mrs. Pearson too,” Martin reminisces.
Although still so young, we think Martin has a lot figured out. Bring on the next 60 seconds!
In the world of live theater, a crucial part of any performance happens behind the scenes, both before the production opens and during its run. Building the set, designing the lights, planning the sound cues, and creating the special effects—it’s all just the beginning! Once a production hits the stage, the tech crewmembers work together to keep each performance running smoothly and safely, from the moment the curtain rises to the very last cue.
Christian Keyes ’19 knows this firsthand. He joined the Theater Department tech crew last fall, during his first year at Trinity-Pawling. The first project he tackled with fellow crewmembers was building a door for the set of Almost, Maine, the School’s fall production last year. It was his family business, Keyes said, that led him to join the crew in the first place. “My grandfather owns a construction business, so I thought, with my previous experience of building, why not help out?” he began. “I also have an interest in electronics and lighting, which led me to my station at the lighting board.”
Harvey, this year’s fall play, marks Keye’s fourth production on the tech crew. Rehearsals are in full swing—which means the work behind the scenes has kicked into high gear. “The most challenging part of being on tech crew is all of the preparation,” Keyes shared. “Building, planning, and putting it all together so that the audience can truly enjoy everyone’s hard work.”
For Theater Director Kent Burnham, Keyes and the entire tech crew are the unsung heroes of the Theater Department. “The tech crew is integral to making a play come to life,” shared Burnham. “They physically create the imaginative concepts and pie-in-the-sky ideas of the director. They are the collaborative tissue — the nuts and bolts — that create the world of the play. I look to Christian and his team for help at every turn of the process.”
When putting together a production, Keyes and his fellow crewmembers find it exciting to see their work enhance the action on stage. After all, the show would not be complete without the lights, set, and sound. When Keyes is at his station behind the lighting board, he most enjoys experiencing the moment when the production really comes to life. And it’s his team’s hard work behind the scenes, he said, that makes the performance that much more captivating. “I believe the audience can gain a greater understanding of the storyline and the actors through the set, light, and sound cues,” he shared. “I’m really looking forward to seeing my team in action on opening night.”
Harvey will take the stage in Gardiner Theater on November 9, 10, and 11.
“I was able to choose a project I’m passionate about. I think that’s the most rewarding part of Senior Independent Projects,” began Robby Phillips ’19, junior prefect at Trinity-Pawling. “It’s easy to be involved with something I truly care about.”
Phillips embarked on his SIP process in the spring of his junior year. His topic: local politics. Phillips’ SIP began as an internship on Antonio Delgado’s congressional campaign for New York District 19, which includes his hometown of Pawling. “I’ve always been passionate about current issues and I pay close attention to politics at both the local and national levels,” Phillips explained. “I’ve wanted to get involved for a while, and since I can’t vote yet, I thought this was the perfect way.”
Since May, Phillips has worked under campaign field directors, canvassing for the congressional campaign and helping to organize groups of campaign volunteers. The work, he said, picked up just before the primaries in June and he’s seeing it get even busier now with Election Day less than a month away.
“I’ve learned so much about the way a campaign is run and all the work that goes into it,” Phillips shared. “Many people don’t realize how much work and manpower it takes 24/7.” Learning about his hometown, he said, was also quite rewarding, with opportunities to meet new people and see things from a new perspective.
“I’d say one of the more challenging parts of my project was figuring out how to communicate with people,” he explained. “People are not always informed or receptive, especially when it comes to politics. Figuring out how to connect with them, and show how crucial it is to participate and vote, that was a learning experience.”
Phillips presented his final SIP to classmates and a panel of faculty members on Tuesday, October 16. One of his main takeaways, he explained, is the importance of civic engagement, particularly for young people. “Such a low percentage of young people actually go to the polls and vote each election,” Phillips stated. “We have to change that and I’m inclined to be a part of that change.”
While his official presentation may be complete, Phillips’ project is ongoing—and his excitement is building as Election Day grows nearer. “No matter what, it’s a great feeling to know I’m participating and making a difference in some way,” he concluded. “As for my project’s success…we’ll have to see what happens on Election Day.”
Come and experience Trinity-Pawling School at our Preview Day on Saturday, November 10, 2018!
Active, engaged, and out of their seats — this is how boys at Trinity-Pawling experience learning. If you know a boy that would thrive in this environment, invite him to join us on campus to learn about our distinctive programs and how they bolster the way boys learn best: by doing.
Families will have the opportunity to meet the experts in boys’ education, and see how we guide our students to become young men of integrity, ready to rise to the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Pass this invitation on or REGISTER to attend at www.trinitypawling.org/previewday
Alumni, share your good news with your Trinity-Pawling classmates and friends! Please send in your Class Notes for the Spring 2019 Trinity-Pawling Magazine. The submission deadline is December 19, 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 news online at www.trinitypawling.org/classnotes
Questions? Email us at alumni@trinitypawling.org
Although the season is not filled with victories, the cross-country team is running some of its best times in years. Led by Captain Nick Grande ’19 the team has improved with each outing. Tommy Howell ’20, Jimmy Nolan ’21, Toby Berner ’21, and Jack Long ’21 have filled out the top five for the Pride in each of the harriers’ races.
A very young varsity soccer team has started the season playing some of the top teams in the country. This difficult schedule has not fared well for the Pride. Each game, the squad displays improvement in all areas of their game. Captains Mark Trainor ’19 and Jack Haims ’19 have worked hard to keep the team’s spirits positive. Coach Clougher hopes that as the team continues to improve, victories will follow in the second half of the season.
JV, third, and fourth soccer are all playing with young, inexperienced teams and their records reflect as much, yet the players show determination to keep improving with every game.
Varsity football has started the season with two wins and two losses. The victories came over Loomis Chaffee and Williston Northampton; the defeats came at the hands of Avon Old Farms and Taft. Donté Williams ’20 has taken over at quarterback and he has done a wonderful job guiding the offense. Zack Conlan ’19 has been terrific on both sides of the ball with impressive runs on offense and some important stops on defense. Aleksi Olavuo ’19 and Christian Keyes ’19 have contributed on the defensive side of the ball. The team is looking forward to the second half of the season with contests against Hotchkiss, Salisbury, Brunswick, and Kent.
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Mary Grace Chapman knows a little something about school spirit. Having attended Auburn University and Florida State, she experienced two colleges filled with passion and pride. Chapman joined the Trinity-Pawling faculty this fall as a teacher of upper level mathematics; she also serves as Director of Student Activities, a role she relishes.
“I’m a people person and love networking. My goal is to create opportunities beyond dances for our T-P boys to positively interact with girls from Ethel Walker, Miss Porter’s, Westover, or Miss Hall’s and to develop those friendships for four years.”
On October 28, Chapman will take five boys to Miss Hall’s to attend a summit on consent, facilitated by Mike Domitrz, the founder of the Date Safe Project. The students and adults will discuss current events, healthy relationships, and consent. The summit will be attended by students from Salisbury, South Kent, and Miss Porter’s.
Chapman strives to plan fun and engaging events that encourage students to stay on campus during the weekends. To accomplish this, she has spent the fall term listening to students and welcoming their ideas for activities. “One of the seniors asked me to plan a trip to the Yankees wild card game. I arranged for a group of seniors to go and we had a great time. Since then, they’ve been giving me lots of good ideas and helpful feedback. They trust that I’m here for them and will work with them.”
Beyond dances, students have taken restaurant trips, traveled to a Mets game, and the Yankees wild card game. They have gone bowling and attended a bonfire at a peer school with other girls’ schools. “And on a Saturday evening in Gardiner Theater, we screened the UFC fight featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. A new sophomore sparked that suggestion. More than 40 boys from all classes and social groups, domestic and international, attended that event and had a great time, with lots of cheering.” Chapman has planned to take interested students to see some Giants, Jets, and Rangers games as well.
In addition to her work as Director of Student Activities, Chapman also serves as the team statistician for varsity football. Between that and doing duty in a dorm of upperclassmen, she has developed a strong connection with a wide range of students. “I challenged them to get involved and they’re beginning to step up. Their involvement will set the tone for the underclassmen to follow.”