Letitia Chan (I) is one of 15 student writers to win top honors in the 2016 Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award for her poem “Making Glutinous Dumplings with My Mother.” Letitia’s poem was selected from among 10,000 entries submitted by 6,000 students from around the world.

Letitia learned about the competition from her mentor at Adroit Journal’s summer online program, which pairs experienced writers with students. The Foyle Award competition is hosted by The Poetry Society of London. “Making Glutinous Dumplings with My Mother” is a piece Letitia developed in last spring’s Advanced Creative Writing class with Ms. Lisa Baker.

“The poem started with an image of making dumplings with my mother, and I connected that with the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship, particularly when you return home after living away at school,” says Letitia, who is a boarding student from Hong Kong.

This is not the first time that Letitia’s work has received recognition. Last year, her collection of poems earned a first place Bennington College Young Writers Award. She was also runner up last year in the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest, another national competition.

Letitia says that her work has grown more personal over the years. “I’m interested in writing about uncomfortable relationships—how you are as a teenager and how your relationship with your parents can change,” she says. “Some of my real life is reflected in my work, but there are also many parts of my poetry that do not reflect my real life.”

You can read Letitia’s prize-winning poem on The Poetry Society website.

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Seniors

Sugrue Advisory

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Weaving imagination with life experience, poet Terrance Hayes shared his work with Class I and II students as this fall’s Bingham Visiting Writer. His expressive—sometimes playful, sometimes raw—poems broached love, family, race, relationships, masculinity and music. English faculty member Lisa Baker introduced Mr. Hayes as an “influential poet on the current literary scene” whose “poems are music.”

Mr. Hayes began with several poems from Lighthead, for which he won a National Book Award in 2010. His poems traverse a range of styles, from narrative verse to ars poetica lyric form, to experimental poems such as writing in the form of a mathematical puzzle.

“The fun for me is pushing against what I think of as my natural, comfortable voice. That’s most evident in the different kind of poems I write—like a poem that’s all questions and then all answers,” says Mr. Hayes. “I try to push my voice into different registers. But it’s always me. Ultimately, I’m writing all of it, so it’s impossible to get away from your inherent voice entirely.”

Mr. Hayes told students that he tries to avoid writing rituals and prefers to “change it up” with different approaches to his work. His writing involves constant revision, he shared, citing poems that have taken him more than a year to refine. In one such poem, which he read to students, he conflates two personal idols—singer Erykah Badu and writer Gertrude Stein—creating Gertrude Badu, a pretend high school friend full of life advice.

“You can do a lot with a poem, take it in any direction,” says Mr. Hayes. “Poetry isn’t 2 + 2 = 4; it’s more zebra + alligator = Cadillac. And the reader might think, ‘That’s interesting. I’m engaged, and I’m looking closer. I might not understand it, but I can still feel my way through it.’ That’s the way language works, and that’s what drives the construction of my poetry.”

Mr. Hayes was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He earned his B.A. from Coker College and his M.F.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, where he is a member of the English department faculty. How To Be Drawn, his most recent collection of poems, was a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award and the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award; it received the 2016 NAACP Image Award for Poetry. His honors include a Whiting Writers Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a United States Artists Zell Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a MacArthur Fellowship.

Established in 1987 by the Bingham family, the Visiting Writer Series brings esteemed writers, historians and journalists to campus, to speak and work with students and faculty. Recent Bingham Visiting Writers include author Francine Prose; novelists Jeffrey Eugenides, Zadie Smith and Edwidge Danticat; and poets Mark Doty, Li-Young Lee, Martin Espada and Kevin Young.

Watch the Bingham Visiting Writer assembly

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Milton’s fall performing arts schedule features a scandalous trickster, the origin story for a beloved character, and a family comedy that mines the depths of dissatisfaction. First on the schedule is Molière’s Tartuffe, a 17^th-century comedy about a charlatan who fools gullible members of a family into trusting him with charm and false claims of piety. Director and performing arts department chair Peter Parisi chose an English translation that matches the original French play’s rhyming-couplet structure.

“We’ve been doing musicals for the last several years, so we’re mixing it up,” says Peter, who notes that even those who are unfamiliar with Tartuffe will recognize and understand some familiar themes. “There are a lot of elements that make this a very timely choice.” Most of the 16 students involved in the production, who will work in period dress on a period set, have performed before, either at Milton or elsewhere.

Next, the Class IV play, Peter and the Starcatcher, features an ensemble cast, who unravel the back story of Peter Pan and Neverland. The play, directed by performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, is a “big production” filled with magic and humor. “It’s a really beautiful script. It’s funny, it’s poignant, full of nostalgia and wit,” Eleza says. “This cast has been doing a great job. We have a phenomenal group this year.” The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class. Approximately 30 students will comprise the on-stage cast; students who are not on stage contribute to other parts of the production.

Rounding out the fall schedule is this year’s 1212 play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. Written by Christopher Durang, the comedy is a nod to Anton Chekhov and features three siblings coping with the challenges of getting older. The six student cast members are Nick Gistis (III), Matthew Tyler (II), Abigail Foster (III), Clara Wolff (III), Charlotte Moremen (III) and Emma James (II). Evan Jenness (II) is the stage manager and performing arts faculty member Shane Fuller is directing. “There are a lot of emotional layers to these characters,” says Abigail. “We all put a lot of thought into understanding our characters. They’re surprisingly complex.” The 1212 play is a Milton tradition featuring intimate productions with small casts and challenging material.

Tartuffe begins Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 5, at 7 p.m.

Peter and the Starcatcher begins Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m.

Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike begins Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

Reserve tickets online.

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“The change in stereotypes about computer programming and coding is heartening,” says Jessica Wang (II). Last month, Jessica—along with several female classmates and friends—mentored fellow coding enthusiasts during HUBweek’s Girl Hackathon in Boston. The program, which provides middle- and elementary-school girls an introduction to coding, is a signal of forward momentum that Milton faculty member Chris Hales hopes will increase female participation in computer programming.

The Milton students served as team leaders to the younger girls, who used Hopscotch, a kid-friendly programming language, to build simple games. The teams presented their projects at the end of the day. Charlotte Moremen (III) said the younger students’ energy was infectious.

“The most fun part was talking to these little kids who had completely innovative ideas,” Charlotte says. “They hadn’t had any connection to the idea that coding is still a male-dominated field. No one has ever told them that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is not for them.”

Milton has seen a significant increase in the number of female students enrolled in programming classes, with 46 girls participating this year. A decade ago, there might have been one or two girls per class, says Chris. “The old stereotype of programming being male-driven and perhaps socially isolating simply is not the case anymore. Milton students involved in programming are well rounded with wide-ranging interests. I think the younger girls (at the Hackathon) saw, in our students, role models that reflect who they want to be.”

Lyndsey Mugford (III) didn’t think she would be interested in coding until she started taking classes at Milton. “Programming is a great skill set to have, but I never thought it was for me. I think girls can feel left out of the programming world. At the Hackathon, all the girls were really enthusiastic and supportive of one another, and they approached it with the mindset of working together to accomplish a goal.”

“When I was younger, all our mentors who knew how to code were male,” says Jessica. “I think it’s impressive how much of an effort is being made to engage young girls in this world.”

Katie Friis (I), co-head of Milton’s programming club, hopes Milton will host a similar event in the future. “I’ve definitely seen an increase in female participation since I’ve been here. My freshman year, I didn’t know anyone in the program, and now there are several girls in my dorm who take programming classes. I think people are realizing how interesting it is.”

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The Class IV play, Peter and the Starcatcher, features an ensemble cast, who unravel the back story of Peter Pan and Neverland. The play, directed by performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, is a “big production” filled with magic and humor. “It’s a really beautiful script. It’s funny, it’s poignant, full of nostalgia and wit,” Eleza says. “This cast has been doing a great job. We have a phenomenal group this year.”

The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class. Approximately 30 students will comprise the on-stage cast; students who are not on stage contribute to other parts of the production.

Peter and the Starcatcher begins in King Theatre on Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m.

Reserve your free tickets online.

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“For what belief, cause or position would you risk unpopularity? What do you care about?” Rod Skinner, Milton Class of 1972 and director of college counseling, asked students these questions on Wednesday as this year’s Veterans Day speaker. He continued, “If we confront the real tests of our lives without heart, we are lost.”

Rod told the heroic story of his uncle and namesake, Sherrod E. Skinner Jr. ’47, a Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, where he gave his life for his country. Reading a citation from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Rod said the Medal of Honor—the military’s highest award—recognized his uncle’s “indomitable fighting spirit, superb leadership and great personal valor in the face of tremendous odds.”

In October 1952, just days before his 23rd birthday, 2nd Lt. Skinner’s outpost came under fire. Twice, he left the protection of his bunker for supplies and to return fire, suffering injuries both times as the Americans held off the enemy troops for hours. He refused treatment until other men in the outpost received care.

Out of ammunition, cut off from communication and still under fire, 2nd Lt. Skinner ordered his men to feign death as their attackers approached. As the North Korean troops retreated they threw a grenade that landed between 2nd Lt. Skinner and two others. Rod’s uncle sacrificed his life by throwing his body on the grenade, an attempt to save his fellow Marines.

From a young age, Rod has been inspired by his uncle’s “shining light,” he says. As he grew older, he learned more about his uncle’s individual charm and rebellious spirit. He also researched other Medal of Honor recipients and noted that they are often people who acted against orders with tremendous bravery. “They saw the right thing to do, and they would not be denied in their pursuit.

“This insight resonates so powerfully with what my father has said about my uncle. He related my uncle’s bravery directly to ‘Dare to be True.’ Rod was true to himself. Too many of us conduct our lives according to what we think others will think, but Rod did not feel beholden in that way at all.”   

Ending his speech, Rod encouraged students to approach differences with empathy; to celebrate their connectedness to other people; to be sympathetic to the pain that comes from losing a loved one in war; to not live life “at a smug distance,” but to stand bravely for what they believe; and to “first seek to understand, and then move forward.”

Milton’s legacy of honoring veterans through the decades continues with its Korean War Memorial Scholarship, which brings international students to Milton Academy. The scholarship is in memory of Frederick Sprague Barbour ’46, Thomas Amory Hubbard ’47, George Cabot Lee ’47, and 2nd Lt. Skinner.

Emotions ran high in the Fitzgibbons Convocation Center (FCC) Wednesday morning, in response to Rod’s story and the results of the presidential election. Prior to Rod’s speech, Head of School Todd Bland addressed many students’ uncertainty about the future, saying, “The beauty of a School community like Milton’s is that during the best of times we can celebrate with great joy, and during times of challenge, we can discuss those challenges with each other and seek to understand.”

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Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA
Vice Admiral, U.S. Public Health Service
United States Surgeon General

The webcast begins at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29.

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“You can talk yourself out of something really easily,” media artist Deb Todd Wheeler told Milton students Wednesday morning. “Ideas sometimes need a little bit of sideways thinking.”

Ms. Wheeler visited Milton as part of Catalyst Conversations with artist Deborah Davidson, technologist Eric Gunther, and scientist Andrew Berry. Catalyst Conversations, which Ms. Davidson founded, explores a dialogue between art and science. As the world becomes increasingly technology oriented and visual, the connection between art and science has grown, evident in artistic demonstrations of scientific concepts and in the use of science and technology in art.

Artists and scientists both benefit from collaboration to build on ideas, Mr. Berry explained. He said that Charles Darwin’s voyage to the Galapagos Islands did not involve a “eureka moment,” contrary to lore—that his theories took shape after he consulted with a scientist in London. “He failed at his initial venture, but he was still open and still seeking,” Mr. Berry said. “Often, success comes in bringing in other people. The creative process of making art is much like the creative process of working in science.”

Mr. Gunther co-founded the art and technology studio Sosolimited, which uses data and technology to create art. The studio recently created a large-scale kinetic sculpture that mimics the movements of a flock of birds. They also collaborated on creating lighting for the Empire State Building that reflected fan activity on social media. Collaboration can be difficult, he said, describing the challenges that emerged while directing a video for the band OK Go.

“We created a concept, and they liked it, but they wanted to do it in a single shot. We initially thought we couldn’t, and they pushed back,” Mr. Gunther said. “There were some uncomfortable moments, but we worked together, and the piece turned out better for it.”

The speakers encouraged students to pursue ideas for the sake of exploration and play. Ms. Wheeler described a recent project in which she explored the movement of objects underneath the water of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. It wasn’t until she returned to her studio and viewed her photos that she discovered what couldn’t be seen with the naked eye.

“Sometimes it would be magic, and sometimes it would be nothing,” she said. “You can chase the nothings until they turn into something.” Ms. Davidson added, “Allow yourself to suspend disbelief and try to operate in that territory. Discomfort is a really productive place for creative people.”

Wednesday’s assembly was sponsored by Milton’s Nesto Gallery, where Ms. Davidson’s work will be exhibited beginning February 3, 2017.

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Five-time Grammy-winning bassist, Victor Wooten, returns to Milton’s campus on Wednesday, November 30, from 7–8 p.m. to perform a fundraising concert in King Theatre to benefit the jazz program’s 2017 South Africa Tour.

Mr. Wooten first performed at the School in 2014 with his group, Bass Extremes. Music faculty member Bob Sinicrope is excited to welcome him back for this rare solo concert. “Victor Wooten has a new MIDI bass that allows him to produce sounds of different instruments,” says Bob. “This should add a special dimension to this performance.”

Money raised from the event will help support Milton’s eleventh trip to South Africa—creating scholarships for advanced jazz students wanting to join this year’s tour and adding to the $170,000 worth of instruments and materials already donated to school programs in South Africa in previous years.

Click here to reserve tickets.

Milton Academy Jazz 2015 South Africa Tour

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Rounding out Milton’s fall performing arts schedule is this year’s 1212 play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. Written by Christopher Durang, the comedy is a nod to Anton Chekhov and features three siblings coping with the challenges of getting older. The student cast members include Nick Gistis (III), Matthew Tyler (II), Abigail Foster (III), Clara Wolff (III), Charlotte Moremen (III) and Emma James (II). Evan Jenness (II) is the stage manager and performing arts faculty member Shane Fuller is directing.

“There are a lot of emotional layers to these characters,” says Abigail. “We all put a lot of thought into understanding our characters. They’re surprisingly complex.”

The tradition of Milton’s 1212 Plays began over 30 years ago in room 1212 of Warren Hall. The performances evolved from play readings to fully staged productions under the direction of late faculty member Nina Seidenman. When Warren Hall was renovated, and room 1212 became an English classroom, the productions relocated to Wigg Hall. The space may have changed, but the philosophy is the same: intimate productions with small casts, minimal technical demands, and challenging material for both actors and audience.

Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike begins in Wigg Hall on Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

Reserve free tickets online.

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Five-time Grammy-winning bassist, Victor Wooten, returns to Milton’s campus on Monday, December 5, from 7:30–9 p.m. to perform a fundraising concert in King Theatre to benefit the jazz program’s 2017 South Africa Tour.

Mr. Wooten first performed at the School in 2014 with his group, Bass Extremes. Music faculty member Bob Sinicrope is excited to welcome him back for this rare solo concert. “Victor Wooten has a new MIDI bass that allows him to produce sounds of different instruments,” says Bob. “This should add a special dimension to this performance.”

Money raised from the event will help support Milton’s eleventh trip to South Africa—creating scholarships for advanced jazz students wanting to join this year’s tour and adding to the $170,000 worth of instruments and materials already donated to school programs in South Africa in previous years.

Click here to reserve tickets.

Watch a live webcast of the event.

Milton Academy Jazz 2015 South Africa Tour

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Five-time Grammy-award winner, Victor Wooten, returns to Milton for a rare solo fundraising concert to benefit the jazz program’s 2017 South Africa Tour. This webcast begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5.

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“We think history is understanding the facts, but facts aren’t always clear. Historical narratives are shaped by the individuals doing the telling.”

Independent documentary filmmaker and alumna Sarah Colt ’88 spoke with Class I and II students as this year’s Henry R. Heyburn ’39 Lecturer. Ms. Colt shared her process of developing documentaries of historical subjects, specifically the work involved in creating her film “Geronimo,” one part of the PBS American Experience series on Native American history.

After a warning by her filmmaking mentor to steer clear of the project because “native history is too complicated,” Ms. Colt teamed up with co-director Dustinn Craig, a White Mountain Apache filmmaker based in Arizona. Ms. Colt learned quickly that not all Apaches view Geronimo as the venerated hero he’s often portrayed to be, and that Apache culture—which values the collective group—rejects the idea of exalting one individual above others. Together, the pair set about finding a way to tell the story of an historical legend that respected Apache culture, incorporating Apache stories and perspective.

“The filmmaking process involves a lot of gathering—information, images, video, archival content—and then organizing it to tell a coherent story,” says Ms. Colt, who has worked in public television for nearly two decades. “You want the story to unfold dramatically, like a novel. Our challenge with “Geronimo” was telling this story of someone’s life when various people viewed him very differently. His life and legacy still remains contentious.”

Ms. Colt and Mr. Craig traveled to the remote White Mountain Apache reservation and listened to oral histories from tribe elders. “We wanted the film to tell a slightly different story than what had been accepted up until that point,” she says.

At Milton, Ms. Colt said, she enjoyed U.S. History, but her real passion was photography. “I never thought history would be an integral part of my career. Now, as a filmmaker, I get to be a storyteller and put all these pieces of history together like a puzzle, recreating it, documenting it, in interesting ways. Making these films has revealed to me that history is very much alive, and that sometimes the process is almost more important than the final product.”

Before starting her own company in 2008, Ms. Colt worked for David Grubin Productions, where she produced the highly acclaimed biography “RFK” and earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Science, Nature, and Technology for co-producing “The Secret Life of the Brain.” Her credits include the Emmy-nominated biography of Walt Disney and a biography of Henry Ford, both for American Experience; and “A Nation Reborn” and “A New Light” for PBS’s Frontline and the American Experience series God in America. She is now directing and producing a series about the Gilded Age, which will air on PBS in 2018. In 2004, Ms. Colt was awarded an International Reporting Project Fellowship through Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and traveled to Namibia to report on the racial imbalance of land ownership in Southern Africa.

Ms. Colt attended Harvard University where she began her documentary career as a still photographer and earned several prizes for her work, including a Radcliffe Traveling Fellowship that sent her to Zimbabwe for a year.

Ms. Colt spent two days on campus, in U.S. History classes, speaking with students. The Henry R. Heyburn ’39 Lecture was established in 1991 to commemorate Mr. Heyburn’s deep love of history and geography and his dedication to Milton.

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The webcast begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 9.

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The webcast begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 11.

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Photo courtesy of Ann S. Kim / Office of the Surgeon General

On November 29, the United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, spoke with students and faculty as Milton’s 49^th Alumni War Memorial Lecturer. Both in Straus Library, and later in the Fitzgibbons Convocation Center, Vice Admiral Murthy answered students’ questions about his role and about some of the most pressing public health issues facing America.

“I came here today because I believe you, young people, are the best shot we have in this country of overcoming the challenges that we face,” said Dr. Murthy. “It’s easy to think it’s someone else’s job to solve the country’s problems. You have to be that someone. … A leader is someone who has a voice and chooses to use it.”

Dr. Murthy explained that as Surgeon General his primary roles are to oversee the United States Public Health Service—one of the seven uniformed services of the United States—and to communicate the best possible information on health-related issues, so that medical professionals and all Americans can make informed decisions about health care.

Watch the webcast

“At a time when we are inundated with all kinds of news—some of it fake, some of it real—ensuring that people have access to the truth and to scientific information could not be more important,” said Dr. Murthy.

The Surgeon General shared experiences that shaped his career trajectory—some from his childhood memories of his parents’ medical clinic in Miami, where he learned that medicine was not simply about “making diagnoses and writing prescriptions, but about building a relationship of trust and respect between a doctor and a patient.”

An unexpected opportunity his freshman year in college brought a career in health care to the forefront: he and his friends learned of a philanthropist who was looking for a cause. With the philanthropist’s backing, the students developed an HIV peer-education initiative in India; with unlikely success, American students approached convent schools in India and convinced senior nuns to let them talk to their students about sex and HIV. The group was invited to teach at 90% of the schools they approached.

“One of the great things about trying something when you’re young is that you don’t know all the reasons to doubt yourself, or how you might fail,” said Dr. Murthy. “You just try.”

Marshall Sloane (I) and Elina Thadhani (I) joined Dr. Murthy and Head of School Todd Bland on the dais to ask questions of their own. They then invited classmates in the audience to ask questions, which covered a range of topics including mental health; substance abuse; sex education; gun violence; and the opioid epidemic.

Dr. Murthy’s answers included personal perspectives, including that on marijuana legalization: “Science should guide our policy when it comes to marijuana; we don’t yet have enough high quality evidence of marijuana being a safe and effective treatment of medical conditions—the certain standard of evidence that we hold every other medication to… that which helps guide doctors in dosing and other safety measures.” He also cited staggering statistics as food for thought: Almost 21 million Americans suffer from a substance abuse disorder, and only one in 10 get treatment; every $1 invested in substance abuse treatment and prevention saves $4 in health care costs and $7 in criminal justice system costs. Dr. Murthy outlined some successful government programs and policies that address these and other issues, but he made clear that policy was not the most efficient or effective means of creating change—that real and lasting change begins in our communities “from the ground up.”

Dr. Murthy answered questions about the opioid epidemic and heroin addiction, stating the importance of focusing substance abuse prevention programs on youth: “If we can protect young people’s brains throughout adolescence, we have a better shot at keeping them free from substance abuse later in life. And you each have a powerful role in affecting the choices your friends make. I know it’s not always cool to be the voice of reason, but that’s one of the most powerful roles you can play.”

Dr. Murthy spoke of the need for sensible gun laws, education around gun safety, and greater investment in mental health services. “We’ve allowed ourselves to become polarized in our debates on issues that are really important—to get locked into two corners in a battle where nobody wants to move. When we step back, we realize we have many things we agree on in terms of steps that can and should be taken.

“What we need in America is to rebuild our foundation,” he said. “The foundation of our country has become shaky. It’s not built on money, or on the strength of our military; it’s built on the connections between people. When the connections between people are weak, we can’t come together to overcome big challenges, to support important but hard decisions, we can’t even come together to have conversations without dismissing someone’s point of view.”

He posed what he called “the defining question facing our country” to students in the audience, and he reminded them that their generation would be the one to solve the problem: “How do we rebuild the foundation of our country, one that’s informed and guided by the relationships we have with one another—informed by compassion, and a willingness to listen and understand?”

The Alumni War Memorial Foundation was established in 1922 to honor Milton Academy graduates who sacrificed their lives in World War I, and it now honors all those who died in the wars and conflicts that followed. The Foundation supports lectures and informal conferences dealing with the responsibilities and opportunities associated with leadership in a democracy.

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Students in Milton’s Model UN traveled to Brown University this fall for a day of debate and collaboration. At the Model UN Conference, students took the perspective of a country or political figure, engaging with peers from around the country, debating and writing proposals on issues like cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and global social and military threats.

Caleb Rhodes (I), co-head of Model UN, earned Best Delegate for his representation of Lt. Col. Manuel da Costa Braz in the Alvor Agreement of 1975.

“Before this conference, I didn’t know much about Portuguese history and how they controlled Angola until the early 1970s,” says Caleb. “The Alvor Agreement was supposed to unite the different factions within the country after Portugal left. With my character, I had a lot freedom. He was a moderate socialist, and my goal was to create stability between all the competing factions. It was an opportunity to correct history, because in real life the agreement fell apart.”

“I am so proud of these students for all their hard work and for the way they represent themselves and Milton,” says Mark Heath, history faculty member and Model UN advisor. “Now, more than ever, the conference’s focus on collaboration, civil discourse, and empathy provided great opportunities for our students to bring out their best and to see the best in others.”

“We’re really proud of everyone,” says Caleb, whose fellow co-heads are Nathan Strauss (I) and Gabrielle Fernandopulle (I). “Everyone was engaged, learning about their topics, speaking publicly, and collaborating toward a solution.”

Other Milton students recognized at the event include:

Best Delegate:
James Dunn (I) representing Bangladesh in The Disarmament and International Security Committee

Outstanding Delegate:
Alex Chen (II) representing Mexico in the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Commendation:
Jake Griffin (III) representing Vladimir Puchkov, Minister of Emergency Situations in the Russia Cyber Crisis
Bodhi Becker (IV) representing Chad in the African Union 

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This year, the Community Engagement Program has been dedicated to lots of projects involving students, staff and faculty, aimed at helping others. After Hurricane Matthew devastated areas of Haiti in early October, the program raised more than $2,000 for hurricane relief efforts. The donation was divided among four Haiti-based organizations focused on health and education. Milton has a history of contributing to Haitian relief efforts; many staff members have close connections with the country, with family and friends living there.

In November, the Community Engagement Program hosted the annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet, in which 750 people participated in the dining halls during lunch. At the banquet, students, faculty and staff members drew lottery tickets that assigned them to either a high-, middle- or low-income tier. The number of tickets for each income level is based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty. The ticket that each student or adult received indicated whether they would eat a regular meal, rice and beans, or just a bowl of rice. In addition, more than 100 students pledged to eat only rice from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. during that week. Including a contribution from bookstore sales, the School’s donation to Oxfam totaled $2,750 and will be specifically designated to support refugees and projects in Haiti.

For the holiday season, the Community Engagement Program managed a gift drive to fulfill the wishes of 55 children from the Department of Children and Families, from Brookview House (a local family shelter), as well as some requests for homeless families at the Taylor Elementary School. Many student advisory groups purchased gifts or collected money for food baskets. On Tuesday, these food baskets were assembled by Milton’s volunteers, loaded on vans, and shipped to homes in the surrounding areas. The School is also supporting the Milton Residents Fund—which helps families in-need, living in the Town of Milton—by purchasing gifts for the holidays.

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