Cloud Parker ’27 Art competitions outside of school provide students with extended time to learn, refine, and improve their art, often sparking creativity through the hope of achieving recognition or winning. Some common places to submit for students are Scholastic, Sundance, and Foyle Young Poets. Students use these competitions for practical purposes, like building portfolios, strengthening college applications, or simply enjoying the process. Celina Cai ’27 shares, “I had two pieces—a watercolor of a window in a house and a painting of an eye. They started as a class project, but I worked on them weekly with my teacher over…
Author: TECHALERT
Stevie Combs ’25 The Episcopal Academy’s Domino Club recently concluded its fall production of A Wrinkle in Time, a captivating adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved sci-fi novel. Directed by Head of Theater Department Dan Clay, the play showcased a young cast, including underclassmen leads Charlotte Jones ’28 and Sean Reagle ’27. Based on Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel, A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction novel that follows the story of Meg Murray (Jones), a bright but insecure teenager, as she searches for her missing father. Joined by her brother Charles Wallace (Reagle) and her friend Calvin (Reid Lawlor ’26),…
Darian Mihalakis ’27 As you walk through the halls of EA’s Campus Center, paintings, sculptures, mosaics and more add life to the building. But who is responsible for these bright works of art? Many of these works can be attributed to Tatum Schmedlen ’25—a talented artist who utilizes different mediums and focuses for her pieces and excels in uncertainty. Schmedlen’s love for art began her freshman year, when she was introduced to art through EA’s Foundations of Art course. “What really excited me was the chance to explore so many different mediums at once and combine them,” she explains. This…
Darian Mihalakis ’27 As you walk through the halls of EA’s Campus Center, paintings, sculptures, mosaics and more add life to the building. But who is responsible for these bright works of art? Many of these works can be attributed to Tatum Schmedlen ’25—a talented artist who utilizes different mediums and focuses for her pieces and excels in uncertainty. Schmedlen’s love for art began her freshman year, when she was introduced to art through EA’s Foundations of Art course. “What really excited me was the chance to explore so many different mediums at once and combine them,” she explains. This…
Karthik Ramakrishnan ’27 Isabella Winner ’28 At The Episcopal Academy, students have ample opportunities to explore poetry in a variety of settings. Creative Writing Club, Open Mic events, and classroom assignments offer spaces for students to share their work and refine their craft. Julia Workman, Upper School English teacher, encourages students to experiment with poetic styles in a supportive environment. “It’s always fun to have students imitate poems and try writing in a similar style,” she says. “I give them a poem to study, and they take that style and apply it to something they want to write about. It’s…
Mia Favini ’27 Joyce Liu ’27 Originally introduced at the Phillips Exeter Academy by philanthropist Edward Harkness, the Harkness Method is a pedagogical technique that encourages discussion-based learning by having students sit face-to-face around a large, oval table. This method is prevalent in humanities subjects that benefit from open-ended discussions and helps students develop critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills. Yet, some complaints have risen about the convenience and effectiveness of these tables alongside praise. Positives Tony Herman, Upper School English Teacher, believes that the Harkness Table benefits class discussions. “The Harkness Table is the family dinner table. The great…
Mia Favini ’27 Joyce Liu ’27 Originally introduced at the Phillips Exeter Academy by philanthropist Edward Harkness, the Harkness Method is a pedagogical technique that encourages discussion-based learning by having students sit face-to-face around a large, oval table. This method is prevalent in humanities subjects that benefit from open-ended discussions and helps students develop critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills. Yet, some complaints have risen about the convenience and effectiveness of these tables alongside praise. Positives Tony Herman, Upper School English Teacher, believes that the Harkness Table benefits class discussions. “The Harkness Table is the family dinner table. The great…
Penelope McEvilly ’28 Isabella Winner ’28 With the rise of short-form video content on social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, music has often been the backbone of virality. Social media not only helps artists reach a greater audience and introduce people to new music but also allows fans and musicians alike to interact with one another and share creative inspiration among users. However, the rapid, fleeting nature of virality has sparked debates on whether these platforms are causing harm to the artistic value of music. The greatest benefit social media has to offer is its…
Annie Le ’27 Turkey, family gatherings, and thankfulness: these are some of the hallmarks of Thanksgiving, a popular American holiday that brings people together to celebrate their bonds and express gratitude. While the holiday honors and is based on the connection between pilgrims and Indigenous peoples during colonial times, mainstream portrayals of Thanksgiving are often confined to a Eurocentric perspective and can be seen as insensitive and overlook the oppression of Indigenous peoples in the past. As a holiday, Thanksgiving should maintain its modern essence as a celebration of gratitude and joy. However, in education, there should be a more…
Annie Le ’27 Turkey, family gatherings, and thankfulness: these are some of the hallmarks of Thanksgiving, a popular American holiday that brings people together to celebrate their bonds and express gratitude. While the holiday honors and is based on the connection between pilgrims and Indigenous peoples during colonial times, mainstream portrayals of Thanksgiving are often confined to a Eurocentric perspective and can be seen as insensitive and overlook the oppression of Indigenous peoples in the past. As a holiday, Thanksgiving should maintain its modern essence as a celebration of gratitude and joy. However, in education, there should be a more…
Siena Scungio ’27 The holidays are the perfect time to give back and be grateful for the many opportunities we are presented with daily, whether it be by volunteering, donating, or simply acknowledging those who help us. Here at EA, the Episcopal community is prepared to share its jolly spirit through acts of service in the coming months, providing many ways for students and faculty alike to volunteer their time and gifts to those in need. Community service is one of the most important acts you can perform, as it has innumerable benefits for you and others. According to Western…
Maggie Sgaramella ’26 If you found yourself strolling in Center City Philadelphia from October 22nd to November 7th, you may have noticed a 3.5-ton, 8-foot tall screen sitting in the middle of Love Park. You could have even shared a wave and a smile from an Irish lad, 3,257 miles away. On November 3rd, 2024, I did just that. The Philly Portal connected to three different cities in Europe and rotated between them about every three minutes. Philadelphians could see people in Lublin, Poland, Vilnius, Lithuania, and Dublin, Ireland. The portal was originally an art installation by Lithuanian entrepreneur Benediktas…
Jordan Shanahan ’26 For the first time since 2020, freshmen enrollment across the United States has decreased by a staggering five percent, facing its largest decline since COVID-19. In 2020, with a pandemic sweeping across the country, the reason was obvious; however, there is more speculation than definite answers as to why a decrease in enrollment would happen now. Many point to the failures of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the explanation for the decrease in enrollment. Last year, the system delayed the process of sending families’ financial data to schools. Episcopal Academy College Counselor Chrissy Cerenzia…
Daniel Adibi ’26 In October, Dr. Tom Goebeler won the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award after being nominated by EA graduate and University of Chicago student Aryav Dhar ’24. The award recognizes high school teachers who have had a profound impact on a member of the university’s rising freshman class. After committing to Chicago, rising freshman class members have the opportunity to nominate a teacher they had during their time in high school for the award. Regarding the award nomination process, Dhar recounts, “A few weeks after I committed to Chicago, they emailed us and asked us to nominate…
Will Patterson ’27 Kyle Zhang ’27 Ryan Wen ’27 While a few close House races have not been called in the 2024 elections, Americans know now that Donald J. Trump will be the next president of the United States with a House and Senate Republican majority. Among the EA community, expectations for the election results and views on the elections’ implications differ widely, shedding light on the strategic strengths and weaknesses of Trump’s and Harris’s campaigns. Regarding the election results, many EA community members did not anticipate the results, while others were unsurprised. Michael DiMonte ’25, a member of the…
Kayla Kouahou ’28 The University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University are among several institutions currently facing a federal lawsuit. The litigants allege that these schools utilize discriminatory practices to target students who come from divorced or separated households. The lawsuit, filed in late 2023, claims that the use of the College Scholarship Service’s (CSS) Profile unfairly increases students from such families’ cost of attendance when determining financial aid. The plaintiffs—a group of students accusing universities of participating in a “price-fixing scheme”—contend that the CSS Profile’s requirement for both custodial and non-custodial parents to report income can overestimate financial resources. This…
Molly Lo ’27 In a historic move for Philly sports, the 76ers are paying out of pocket to build a $1.3 billion arena at Market East and Fashion District, Pennsylvania. The decision to privately fund the construction of “76 Place” is unusual, with no taxpayer dollars involved in creating the team’s new home. The proposed plan has elicited both criticism and excitement, with varying opinions on how the new arena will impact different aspects of city life, but the plan aims to better the city of Philadelphia and increase revenue and ticket sales for the 76ers organization. Some major benefits…
Grace Holland ’25 The SS United States, an iconic landmark of American history, that has been stationed in Philadelphia since 1996, will soon be towed down the Atlantic coast and sunk to become the largest artificial coral reef. Often referred to as America’s Flagship, the ship has a storied history. Launched in 1952, it became the fastest ocean liner in the world and could carry thousands of troops in addition to serving as a vehicle for luxury travel. The ship carried celebrities and everyday Americans on transatlantic voyages, but it was its ability to carry 14,000 passengers as a naval…
Grace Van der Waag ’26, Audrey Manion ’26 Energetic, speedy, and bubbly, Senior soccer star Maya Bright is an example of stellar leadership, determination, and grit. Kicking off her career at just four years old, her father enrolled her in the Lower Merion Soccer Club. Thirteen years later, Bright has become a crucial asset to the Episcopal Academy Girls Soccer team. Since entering EA in 9th grade, Bright has been on Varsity. “Every Inter-Ac team knows how dangerous she can be at any moment,” states Varsity head coach Andrew Fraggos. Playing the striker position in the extremely competitive Inter-Ac is…
Lance Bowman ’26, Lucas van Binsbergen ’27 Hardworking, dedicated, and optimistic, Eli Engelman ‘24 is acclaimed for his endurance and his determination both on and off the track and course. Co-captain of the Boys’ Cross Country and Track teams, Eli leads by example: he is determined, and motivated, as seen through his academic rigor and success both inside and outside of the classroom. James Farrell, Varsity Cross Country Head Coach, comments, “He’s very conscious of committing to making all the kids on the team better.” He adds, “Eli’s the first guy to cheer everyone on. From the first guy on…