The Greatest Eights: High Schools and Junior Clubs
by Andy Anderson, Reprinted from Rowing News, Volume 14 Number 4, June 2007

Kent School 1972

For American schoolboy crews, a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta has long been the reward for a stellar season. And every rower who's had his passport stamped has Kent to thank for this tradition. It began in 1927 with headmaster Father Sill taking his boys to England to compete. The early years were productive: Kent won the Thames Cup in 1933, 1938, 1947, and 1950 and has since been among the most frequent American competitors at Henley. In 1964 the focus for foreign schools shifted to the Princess Elizabeth Cup. Eight years later, coach Hart Perry's finest boat won the PE. Perry's oarsmen had swept all of their races that spring.

At the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association regatta in Worcester, they got off to a slow start but powered through the field to win by open water. Their march through the field at Henley was even more dramatic. Three days before the regatta, Kent's five-seat suffered a heart-related incident and collapsed at the dock. Their spare from the junior varsity went into four-seat, and the six-man switched to starboard, a side he hadn't rowed all year. The reshuffled boat rowed mile after mile before finding its rhythm. Thirty strokes to go in the final, Kent was dead even with Canada's Brentwood College. Kent cranked it and won by a canvas.

Kent vs. Hotchkiss - Girls Varsity Tennis

The Kent Girls Varsity Tennis Team defeated the defending Founders League and New England Champions, Hotchkiss, 4-3 today in an epic contest. The undefeated (in the Founder League) Hotchkiss team was comprised of all of their players from last year.

The Kent Girls Varsity includes:

Regan Cherna
Lauren Cameron
Ellie Pardoe
Molly Thompson
Afton Simko
Cristina Soriano
Skylar Shapiro

This was a great day for Kent!!

AT KENT SCHOOL
Monday, Jun. 13, 1927

"You fellows can make beds?" "Yes." "You can sweep floors?" "Absolutely."

"Well, I can cook eggs " said the headmaster of a newborn preparatory school. He was addressing his students. That was in 1906 when the Rev. Frederick Herbert Sill took 18 boys and two faculty members to a farmhouse in the Berkshire Hills of Connecticut and founded Kent School. The beds-floors-eggs incident was the beginning of a student-supervised, student-broom-wielding system which runs the school to this day. Students regulate discipline, keep order in study hall, wait on tables, manage the athletic teams, keep the equipment —from footballs to library books— in order. Wealthy boys and boys of moderate means are treated alike. The system is based solely on. individual merits, with upperclassmen at the helm.

Today Kent School consists of a dozen neat colonial buildings, 250 students, a waiting list which many a 50-year-old school may well envy, and a branch school of 70 boys at South Kent, Conn. Graduates of Kent have distinguished themselves at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Williams, Amherst. For several years, they won the annual scholarship cup at Harvard. In the present Yale senior class, the outstanding athlete and the chairman of the University newspaper are Kent graduates.

Kent has maintained the healthy characteristics of a small school chiefly because of Father Frederick H. Sill, who is headmaster, religious guide, crew coach, pater familias. He is an Episcopalian and so are most of his boys, but he does not proselyte. If the school has a sanctum, it is Father Sill's study with low, slanting roof, often-disturbed shelves of books, a littered desk and several leather chairs. The conversations of this room are the unwritten and authentic chronicle of Kent. Many-times-famed have been the crews of Kent.

Many times Father Sill has said: "I'd like to take my crew to England." A few parents hinted that the publicity of such a trip would be harmful to schoolboy athletes—contrary to Kent's traditions of simplicity. But Father Sill quickly shaped his wish into a plan, and last week sailed with his crew squad for England, student third class on the Berengaria. The Kent crew will enter the Henley Regatta, will also row separate races with Eton and Radley, will visit Oxford and Cambridge.

On Saturday, April 14, a new eight was christened in honor of Headmaster Dick Schell in recognition of his 25 years as headmaster. Purchased with a gift from an anonymous donor for the girls’ crew program, the Richardson W. Schell ’69 was dedicated with over 100 members of the girls’ and boys’ rowing programs and their families in attendance. The ceremony included remarks by coaches Eric Houston ’80 and Jamie Robinson, and readings by girls’ co-captains Emily Reynolds ’07 and Jessica Truelove ’07. Reading a tribute written by the donor, Eric Houston expressed the hope that the young women who row in the new shell “will do so with the same dedication, honor, intensity and integrity that are hallmarks of Father Schell’s years at Kent.”

Spring Break: Habitat for Humanity

Nine students and two faculty members spent the last week of spring break working with Habitat for Humanity on Collegiate Challenge, an alternative break program for high school and college students. Sixth formers Madeleine Casella, Sarah Sperry, and Said Sallah; Fifth formers Louisa Salger, Wahid Merzaiy, Lauren Cameron, Marc Rogers and Kyle Brine, with Megan Tepper-Rasmussen of the Admissions Office and Jeremy Sokolnicki of the Deans Office and Science Department spent the last week of spring break with the Greater Lynchburg, Virginia Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

Our days began with breakfast and devotions on the work site at 7:30, followed quickly by an outline of the days tasks by our construction manager Bob, soon nicknamed ‘Bob the Builder’. The main areas of concern were roofing the house and hanging vinyl siding. Only those students over 18 were allowed on the roof, leaving most of us down on the ground measuring, cutting and hanging siding, J channel, undersill trim and F channel, all words most of us hadn’t heard before this week. The week began at a frigid 28 degrees Monday morning, but by Friday afternoon, the temperature was up to 80, and we were all sporting short sleeves and sunglasses.

While the daily work kept us quite busy, we weren’t too tired to head out for some of Lynchburg’s night life. We had dinner at Cattle Annie’s one night, followed by Country Line Dancing lessons and open dance. We also attended Bull Buckin’ in Boonsboro, where 40 cowboys tried to hang on for eight seconds to earn a qualifying ride for the upcoming championships.

All in all, it was a great week, and we look forward to putting our new skills to work with our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate later this spring.

Kent Students Honored in Regional Music Festivals

Flash Fiction Contest

Kent Students Recognized at Model UN at Columbia

Twelve Kent Students traveled to Columbia University in New York to participate in the Model United Nations. Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. The students debated a variety of issues ranging from the Asian Financial Crisis and the Genocide in Darfur to the conflicts in the New York City Mob in the 1930s and hypothetical terrorism response.

There were approximately 400 students from over twenty schools. These 400 students were assigned to about fifteen committees, and in these committees from three to six people were recognized by Columbia University for their prowess and skills in Model UN.

Of the 12 students sent from Kent School, 9 were recognized for their skills in debate.
These students were given Verbal Commendation: Natasha Benacerraf, Bianca Geigel, Courtney Daukas
These students were given Honorable Mention: Coleman Shear, Nelson Mills, Lucy McGuigan, Eric Todorski
This student was given Best Position Paper: Laurel Hanson
This student was given Best Delegate: Erin Reilly
It takes a lot of work to win at Model UN, and these students put in that time and effort in addition to their schoolwork.

Model UN '06-'07, Laurel Hanson and Seth Feldman, presidents

Scholastic Art Awards

The works of twelve talented student artists were chosen to represent Kent at the Scholastic Art Awards. The competition, hosted annually at the Hartford Art School, is open to all private and public school students and is extremely competitive. Once the artists are chosen for the state exhibit, some of the gold key winners will be sent to the national level exhibit.

The nominees are: Erin Reilly '08 — photography Seth Feldman '07 — photography portfolio Patricia Poekel '07 — digital photography Michael Graae '08 — digital photography Benjamin Hubbard '08 — sculpture portfolio Cristina Soriano '07 — sculpture portfolio Sehee Lee—product design Christine Chung '07— drawing Sierra Carroll '07 — painting Naris Saropala '08 — mixed-media Emily Reynolds '07 — printmaking Mixed media Naris Saropalo

And the winners are: Sierra Carroll—silver medal Erin Reilly—honorable mention Emily Reynolds—honorable mention Naris Saropala—silver medal   Print by Emily Reynolds

Photography by Erin Reilly

Painting by Sierra Carroll

Kent Mathletes Earn Perfect Score

On any given Tuesday, visitors to the fifth floor of Schoolhouse will find members of the Math Club and their advisor, Ben Nadire, engaged in "Mathletics." This week, months of rigorous practice was rewarded with a perfect score in a regional math contest sponsored by the New England Math League. For the first time in Kent history, seven students earned the top score of 30: Andrew Chan '09; Jin Hak Kim '08; Tae-Won (Ted) Kim '08; Seon (Liz) Yang '08; Kyung-Won (Bryan) Lee '08; Yifen (Frank) Hwang '08; and Chonpatin (Bright) Phaiboonpalayoi '07. The contest, in which hundreds of high schools from throughout New England compete, is the third in a series of six.

Dr Nadire is proud of his students' accomplishments. They are having a great season.

This accomplishment follows a string of successes. Last year, Kent students placed eighth out of 90 schools in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute's individual and team competitions; four had perfect scores in the New England Math League contest; 11 students participated in the Harvard-MIT Math Tournament, a daylong competition at Harvard; and a four-student team -- one of five Kent teams -- earned an honorable mention in the High School Mathematics Modeling Contest sponsored by COMAP (the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications) and MAA (the Mathematical Association of America).

Congratulations to our Kent Mathletes! We'll be watching for more great news about these accomplished students as the spring term unfolds.

Headmaster awarded honorary doctorate

Keimyung University conferred upon Richardson W. Schell, Headmaster & Rector of Kent School, the degree of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa, on Friday, December 15, 2006 in Daegu, Korea.

"Fr. Schell has served his alma mater with love and devotion, developing the School to become one of the premier institutions of secondary education in the United States. He has fostered diversity by enabling students from a wide variety of backgrounds to pursue their education and go on to take on leading roles in the development of their communities and nations." -- Keimyung University Graduate Committee

Coach Walton recaps "Jam on the Hill"...

The girls entered the Pomfret School “Jam on the Hill” Girls’ Invitational Basketball Tournament on December 14, 2007. After a long bus ride we arrived at Pomfret ready to go. The girls’ first game was against Westminster at 1:00 PM. The Kent team jumped out to an early lead. At halftime, Kent led 47-14.

Rachelle Coward, a 2008 guard, led all scorers in total points with 20 points in the first half. Shylanda Saunders chipped in 12 points and Sasha Dosenko added 11 points. The entire team had an opportunity to play in this contest.

The next morning at 9:00 am, the ladies faced Wheeler School. Again the girls started out strongly taking a 36-8 halftime lead. Relentless, the girls went on to win the game, 51-23. Sasha led all scorers with 20 points followed by Shylanda with 9 and Rachelle with 8 points.

After watching other teams play during the afternoon, the team was anxious to play against Cushing Academy for the championship. Cushing entered the championship game with a 4-0 win record. This was Kent’s fourth year at the tournament, having lost a close game against Cushing last year. This year Kent was ready and jumped off to a quick lead in the first seven minutes of the game leading 20-2. The intensity of the Kent’s defense was tremendous preventing Cushing from ever recovering. Going into to halftime Kent School was ahead 37-14. The ladies continued their high level of play never allowing Cushing to gain any momentum. Kent went on to win the championship with a final score of 70-33. Sasha and Rachelle both scored 24 points followed by Shylanda with 9 points and 11 assists. Sasha led in rebounds with 10 points. Rachelle shot an astonishing 11 for 12 from the free throw line.

Everyone on the team had an opportunity to experience playing in a championship game and all contributed to the overall success of the tournament.

U.S. Ambassador to Ireland: Mr. Thomas C. Foley

Ambassador Thomas C. Foley, United States Ambassador to Ireland, presented his credentials to the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, at Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin, on October 18, 2006. Thomas C. Foley began his business career at McKinsey & Company and then Citicorp Venture Capital, both in New York City, before venturing out in 1985 to build the NTC Group, a principal investing business.

Since 1985, NTC Group has acquired businesses in a variety of industries including textiles, industrial products, and aviation services. Mr. Foley was Chairman of TB Wood’s Corporation, a NASDAQ company located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Stevens Aviation located in Greenville, South Carolina. He has over twenty years of senior management and principal investing experience.

From August, 2003 through March, 2004, Mr. Foley served in Iraq as the Director of Private Sector Development for the Coalition Provisional Authority. Reporting to Ambassador Bremer, Mr. Foley had responsibility for restarting the economy and boosting growth of private businesses and private sector employment. Mr. Foley’s responsibilities included overseeing Iraq’s 192 state-owned enterprises, developing foreign trade and investment, and advising the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry and Minerals, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Mr. Foley received the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award in June, 2004 for his service in Iraq.

Mr. Foley has served as a Trustee of The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, and the Foley Family Foundation, a charitable trust he formed for supporting educational opportunities for children. Mr. Foley served on visiting committees of Harvard University, the Development Board of Phillips Andover Academy, and two Connecticut State Commissions involving education and children. Mr. Foley holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Foley has a 15-year old son.

First Place, Centennial Poem Contest Winner

Centennial Fear not the autumn, for you shall find life here is simple. Embraced by the memories of a hundred years past, greeted by the warm tradition of those who came before you, you shall discover your purpose. Direct, yet full of possibility, life in Algo’s peaceful shadow shall make clear what was once blinding. Rely not on others, but on yourself, and the gift of enlightenment will be yours. Fear not the summer, for now you are ready. Know that earned accomplishments will carry you far. Celebrate your years in this lovely valley land, as the nostalgia you once admired has inherited you till dawn and darkness are no more. Temperantia, Fiducia, Constantia—100 years Benjamin Louis Seidenstein ‘07	Ben Seidenstein

Ship's Christening Is Also a Special Day for Kent School

Among the large crowd on hand for the Bath Iron Works christening ceremony for its latest Navy destroyer was an enthusiastic Kent contingent, including Headmaster Richardson Schell, who gave the invocation.

Dugan Shipway, President of Bath Iron Works and husband of Kent Trustee Lynn Doe Shipway '66, introduced Father Schell with these words.

Today a special friend of mine, the Reverend Richardson W. Schell, Headmaster and Rector of the Kent School in Kent, Connecticut will serve as our christening chaplain. I have known Dick Schell for nearly 20 years and it is an honor to have him with us today. Let me tell you why:

First he comes from a Navy Family – his grandfather served in the United States Navy, his father Frank C. Schell Jr. was Commanding Officer of a US Navy ship LSM 81 at Okinawa in World War II.

Second, he has been a strong supporter of the Navy through his quarter century as headmaster of Kent School. It is no accident that in recent years his school has sent nearly 30 men and women on to the United States Military Academies – and by my count – 25 of them have entered the Naval Academy – many today at sea – and one who graduated and became the initial crew plank-owner aboard USS Higgins – a Bath Built DDG.

And finally he through example expresses loyalty to his school, his faculty, and to his students – Today that is reflected back toward Dick as nearly 70 Kent School graduates and their families are here for this ceremony.

Dick – welcome to your first BIW Christening.

Nearly 70 members of the Maine Kent family were in attendance, many either retired from Navy service or representing young people currently serving or studying at the Academy.

The Aegis Destroyer Sampson (DDG 102) is named for Admiral William T. Sampson, a hero of the Spanish American war and advocate of Navy technology and education. For more information on the event itself, please visit the Bath Iron Works website. To read the complete story, click on News and Events, then select the Current Issue of BIW News link.