STEM Fellowship: The Young Pioneers' of the Field

Hannah Cha ‘25

A photo of this year’s STEM Fellows: JC Chen ’24, Tyler Scaringella ’24, Daniel Guo ’24, Coco Xia ’24, Sua Yoo ’24, Yolanda Zhou ’24, Carey Huang ’25, Sarah Mattson ’24, Jia Anand ’24, Avery Leonard ’24, Tiffany Ahn ’24

St. Mark’s had a standout year in STEM, both within and beyond the community. On April 5th, the St. Mark’s STEM Fellows showcased their outstanding independent study projects at the Massachusetts High School Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF) held at Gillette Stadium. St. Mark’s students competed among over 350 students with approximately 280 projects and achieved remarkable success. 

Jia Anand ’24 won the Sanofi grand prize, earning first place for the highest-scoring project overall: Ginsenosides CK and RK’s Effect on High-Intensity Social Behaviors of Aggression in a Tauopathy Model of Alzheimer’s Disease in Drosophila Melanogaster. Avery Leonard ’24 also received the Alnylam Bioscience Excellence Award with her third highest-scoring project overall, featuring The Influence of Ginger Root Extract on Female Reproductivity in Caenorhabditis Elegans. All fellows represented the school with their exceptional creative and innovative STEM projects.

The Taft STEM Fellowship is a signature program of St. Mark’s that provides students with opportunities for research and real-world exposure to STEM applications. Beyond the school’s advanced-level curriculums, the program encourages students to think outside the realms of information from textbooks and develop intellectual curiosity in their choice of multidisciplinary science studies. The St. Mark’s STEM fellows are selected through an application process. They are expected to develop their research topics, contact mentors, and design their own experiments to compete at the regional and state fairs later in the year. 

While the process of conducting independent research is highly tedious and challenging, STEM Fellows and faculty members state that the program is invaluable in developing hands-on, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills necessary for the future. It takes countless hours of work and effort, but the skills and experiences gained through the STEM Fellowship are truly priceless. 

If you are a student with intellectual curiosity interested in STEM, why not seek answers to your questions through the STEM Fellowship? If you have the passion, the struggles will be worthwhile.

Four St. Mark's Hockey Players Selected For USA Hockey NTDP

By Annabel Zaterka ‘26

On January 20th, St. Mark’s students, alumni, and parents came together in the Gardner Rink to celebrate four St. Mark’s hockey alumni who were selected for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP). Henry Thrun ’19, Sean Farrell ’20, Ian Moore ’21, and Richard Gallant ’25 were honored for this impressive achievement with a special banner and dedication ceremony. 

Richard, who is currently on the U.S. National Under-17 Team, returned to campus for the dedication ceremony and reflected on his time playing for St. Mark's. He mentioned the importance of Coach Carl Corazzini during his time playing for St. Mark’s, as well as the comradery felt among every single player on the hockey team. “The hockey team at St. Mark’s is as tight as it gets. Everyone knows just about everything about each other and it creates bonds and chemistry that last forever. I will definitely take the idea of brotherhood on to my future teams as every good team needs that vibe.” 

Henry Thrun, Sean Farrell, and Ian Moore all played together at Harvard University in 2022. Now, Thrun plays for the San Jose Sharks, Farrell plays for the Montreal Canadiens, and Ian Moore is continuing his career at Harvard. For Coach Corazzini, the caliber of St. Mark’s hockey alumni and these players in particular speak to the culture of the program. “There is the idea that each individual in those locker rooms cares more about each other than they do results. In this environment, everyone can reach their fullest potential because they know they have unconditional support from the entire St. Mark's community.” 

We look forward to continuing to support these athletes in the future!

Winter Athletics Coming to An End

by Feifei Cao ‘27 and Manasa Mahesh ‘27

This winter season, all of St. Mark’s athletics teams have put in tremendous effort, which has been visible throughout all their achievements. Great job, Lions!

On February 10th, Varsity Wrestling competed in the ISL Championships with wins coming from Seedi Sheriff ‘26, who won the ISL Championship in the heavyweight division, Kevin Han ‘26 (4th place finish), DJ Mines-Fisher ‘26 (5th place finish), Bennett Dence ‘27 (5th place finish), and Justin Lu ‘25 (6th place finish). 

Congratulations to Seedi Sheriff ‘26 for winning the ISL Championship in the heavyweight division! 

On February 11th, Varsity Girls Squash captured the NEPSAC Class D Championship after beating Concord Academy in the finals by 5-2!

St. Mark’s has also already taken home multiple wins, including Thirds Boys Basketball winning 29-24, Thirds Boy’s and Girl’s Squash winning 6-2 and 7-2, respectively, and Varsity Boys Squash winning 5-2 against Groton Winter Season Games!

The results from Winter Groton Day tally up to which school takes home the Burnett-Peabody Bowl at the end of the year. After a close competition in the fall, with Groton and St. Marks tying 4-4, we are so close to getting the bowl. Let's go, Lions!

Gray Colloquium with Kevin Maher: Is it Art?

By Hannah Cha ‘25

On Thursday, February 15, St. Mark’s welcomed Kevin Maher, an Emmy-nominated writer, filmmaker, and comedian, as a speaker of this year’s Gray Colloquium series on Artificial Intelligence and Citizenship. Maher’s keynote speech addressed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the modern art industry, aligning with this year’s gray Colloquium theme.

Maher’s speech started with a unique immersive activity among the students and faculty members to collectively define what constitutes art. People each responded differently to various forms of media by either placing their hands on their heads or hips. This session not only captivated the audience’s attention but also sparked a thought-provoking dialogue on the evolving boundaries of art in the era of artificial intelligence.

 During his speech, Maher compared the use of AI in art to regifting a gift. Th metaphor suggested that the utilization of AI in art involves either a lack of understanding or a disinterest in its potential impacts, thus, questioning the authenticity and intentions behind AI-generated works. It challenged the notion of whether AI can truly capture the essence of the productive struggle inherent in traditional art forms.

Maher emphasized art as a medium for personal growth and self-expression. Whether through traditional canvas paintings or short-form videos, the journey of producing art requires dedication to one’s effort and creativity. In the context of AI-generated art, Maher reflected on how technological elements might hinder this productive struggle inherent in human-generated creations.

Kevin Maher ended the speech with a famous quote from George Orwell: “If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.” By quoting Orwell, Maher highlighted the importance of critical thinking in writing processes. He drew attention to the challenges faced by writers and artists in navigating the landscapes of their careers altered by the rise of artificial intelligence. The quote underscored the essential role of articulate writing in fostering independent and meaningful reflection, raising questions about the role of AI in influencing or potentially replacing certain aspects of creative thinking.

Maher’s keynote speech at the Gray Colloquium series provided a deep dive into the intersection between artificial intelligence and the art industry. His humorous, light, yet thought-provoking approach encouraged students to contemplate the applications of AI in everyday life, and how technology might have shaped our understanding of art and citizenship in modern society.

Umoja

By Alice wang ‘26

On Friday, February 23, numerous affinity groups and individuals showcased their talent as part of the annual Umoja celebration, organized by the Pathways Prefects. 

Umoja, the Swahili word for striving for and maintaining unity in the community, is a talent show with a focus on taking pride in and celebrating our different and shared identities. The event provides spaces for celebration, connection, and joy, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity within the St. Mark’s community. 

This year’s Umoja event featured a total of 10 amazing performances, including dance performances by the Dancing Lions, SASS (South Asian Students Society), and ASEA (Association of South-East Asians), a violin performance of Arirang by Henry Wang ‘25, vocal performances by Jimmy Liu ‘24, Delin Liu ‘24, Wendy Wu ‘24, and Alice Wang ‘26, a sword dance by Sherry Mi ‘26, and a video by Los Leones (Latina/o/e/x Students). The Pathway Prefects’ dance compilation of a variety of cultures drew the event to a perfect end.

Putting together such an event took work. Lori Cui ‘25, one of the Pathway Prefects says, “We found it challenging to have a cohesive rehearsal because of the performers’ different schedules for winter sports.” Nevertheless, with the students’ dedication and the support from numerous faculties including Mr. Kent and Mr. Boston, “everything fell in place nicely, allowing us to see a variety of students volunteer and share aspects of their culture with the St. Mark’s community.” 

Umoja was a wonderful opportunity to promote perspective, compassion, and empathy within our community. The insights gained from these experiences will continue to inform our community’s efforts to foster a culture of appreciation, learning, and respect for heritage and contributions moving forward. Umoja is a paramount step for creating an inclusive and equitable environment where all members of our community feel valued, heard, and supported.

The Comedy About A Bank Robbery

BY Vanessa Leung ’25

St. Mark’s theatrical productions of 2023-2024 are soon coming to a close with the Winter Play The Comedy About A Bank Robbery directed by Mr. Christopher Kent, Director of the Theater Department, with the help of stage managers Jacob Cifuentes ’24 and Angel Huang ’25. 

Originally written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shileds of Mischief Theatre, the play takes place in the summer of 1958 in Minneapolis City Bank, where a priceless diamond is entrusted inside.

Mitchell Ruscitti (played by Yejee Hwang ’25), an escaped convict, is determined to steal the gem with the help of Neil Cooper (Vanessa Leung ’25), a loyal sidekick Caprice Freeboys (Katelyn Yang ’24), her mischievous girlfriend, and Sam Monaghan (Diane Kwon ’24) … the maintenance man. To get to the diamond, they go through a series of obstacles including stealing Robin Freeboys’s (David Zhou ’24) identity, confusing Warren Slax’s ( (Rebecca Garland ’24)) memory, lying to Sam’s mother Ruth Monaghan (Abby Hayes ’24), and slipping out of trouble from FBI Officer Randall Shuck (JC Chen ’24). With a messy mix of love triangles, mistaken identities, and secret schemes, who will end up with the diamond? Other integral characters of the play are played by Brannock Zanghi ’24, Jacob Cifuentes ’24, Hannah Cha’25, Henry Wang ’25, Ziad Shawaf ’25, and Emily Ling’23. 

A highly comedic play including lots of laughter and a twist at the end. Here are some reviews about this play: 

“Delivers swag loads of pleasure.” -Sunday Telegraph

“Thrillingly attentive and lung-bustingly funny.” -The Guardian 

“A Fast and Furious comedy caper.” -The Times

“I wept hot tears of hilarity.” - Sunday Times

“Brilliantly Directed.” - Mail on Sunday

The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is a heavy tech involving a broken Murphy Bed, a moving chain fence and fish, an inverted wall, and last but definitely not least, hanging harnesses from the ceiling! Of course, the play couldn’t have been completed without our amazing tech crew and definitely NOT Yejee’s beauty. Many thanks to Andrew Lamprea ’24, Maisie Pierce ’24, Roy Baeck ’24, Andrea Xu ’25, John Cataldo ’25, Ziad Shawaf ’25, Brianna Kivugo ’27, Feifei Cao ’27, and Lily Oh ’27 for their hard work and effort!

Opening night is less than two weeks away, and the cast and crew of the play couldn’t be more excited. Cast member Hannah Cha ’25 expresses her nervousness for the play: “I know that the play is a beast, there’s a lot that we need to figure out in terms of…acting, and the play is [a place] where we need to coordinate a lot with each other in order to make [it] successful, but as nervous I am…I have trust [that] the cast and crew are able to collaborate with each other and make the production good!” 

As rehearsals begin to lengthen and play characters slowly begin to take shape in the black box theater, be sure to watch out for a surprise performance by Mr. Kent, who will be singing an edited Taylor Swift song and giving a small preview in the exciting upcoming The Comedy About a Bank Robbery. 

Get excited! An epic bank robbery fiasco is underway! 

Groton Day - Who won?

Seoyeon Kim ‘26

St. Mark’s Girl’s Varsity Soccer wins 3-1 on their Groton Game

St. Mark’s School and Groton School have long been athletic rivals for over 135 years. On November 11th, 2023, the two schools came together to compete in four fall sports: Field Hockey, Football, Soccer, and Volleyball. (The St. Mark’s cross country team competed against Groton on September 30th, 2023.) All teams participated in the rivalry–from Varsity to Thirds.

On the day, St. Mark’s tied Groton 4-4-1. The JV girls' soccer team set the tone with a resounding 5-2 victory, followed by the Thirds boys' soccer team's impressive 4-1 win. The momentum continued with the Varsity girls' soccer team securing a 3-1 triumph and the Varsity boys' soccer team claiming a hard-fought 2-1 victory. In a closely contested match, the Varsity field hockey team battled to a 1-1 tie, adding another point to our school's tally. Unfortunately, we went into the day down 1-3 (with a win from JV girls’ cross country on September 30th), and hence, the final scoreline resulted in 5-7-1. 

While the raccoon coat remains with Groton this year, the athletes have made great accomplishments and showed resilience and noble sportsmanship this season, defining the true spirit of St. Mark’s athletics.

Evening Chapel!

Jasmine Liu ‘25

Photo taken by St. Mark’s of the evening chapel service on Tuesday, November 14th, 2023.

Since its founding in 1865 as an Episcopal school, St. Mark’s has maintained its community’s spiritual life and diverse traditions through its weekly chapel services. Chapel is a required twice-weekly service designed to address the varying spiritual needs of our close-knit community. This service takes place every Tuesday and Friday morning from 8:00 to 8:30 where the typical ritual commences: students get settled, the community sings a hymn or two, some prayers are read, a student gives a chapel talk, three minutes of silence, birthdays are announced, and finally, the school prayer. 

Yet, once a month on Tuesday, the service is moved to the evening time following an evening seated meal. Thus, students would get the opportunity to sleep in until 8:30 am, or the time their first class starts. However, at 6:00 pm, students would be expected to show up to the dining hall in chapel dress (typically suit for men and dress for women) and sit with their designated advisory group. Following the seated meal, students are prompted into the Belmont Chapel to begin the evening chapel service.

Generally, evening chapel services are formatted slightly differently from the typical chapel services. The event starts when the choir, dressed in white and blue robes, enters the chapel while singing the school’s signature hymn, “Age Quod Agis.” Once the choir settles at the front of the shrine, the service commences and follows a more traditional ceremony, including a special speaker (typically a faculty member) giving a chapel talk. More prayers are read, led by one of the chaplains or acolytes. Somewhere near the middle of the service, the choir sings a hymn they have prepared. However, with respect to traditional chapel norms, students are expected to withhold applause after the performance. At the end of the service, the organ music emanates through the chapel; the choir, with candles in hand, files out of the room with faculty and 6th Form students following suit.

However, there have been many occasions when these evening chapels have veered from their standard format. For instance, last year, during the winter, St. Mark’s held a music chapel where selected students performed music of different genres during the service. Additionally, the community held a poetry chapel in contingency with the school’s poetry week during the spring; acolytes and chosen students read poetry from well-known poets or students at St. Mark’s! More recently, the evening chapel this past Tuesday, November 14th “focused on balance and beauty, loss and gratitude.” After hearing an organ meditation, students created luminaries with one side for reflections on loss and one side with reflections on gratitude, then set all of the luminaries outside on the VI Form Quad.

All in all, whether in the morning or evening, chapel is a service that is meant to celebrate many aspects of the St. Mark’s community that people may overlook in their everyday lives. Thus, this tradition is, no doubt, an integral part of the St. Mark’s experience.

Family Weekend

Jackie Huang ‘24

On the second Friday and Saturday of October, which were October 12th to October 13th, St. Mark's annual Family Weekend occurred. Family weekend is a chance not only for families from out of state or afar to visit, but also for them to better understand St. Marks’ academic curriculum and community life by attending classes, meeting teachers, and participating in many activities. 

Families began arriving on Friday morning, October 13. An official welcome in PFAC kicked off another year, followed by numerous presentations hosted by the Library, The Burgess Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, and College Counseling.

At night, families had the opportunity to see the fruits of many student artists. The opening Reception of the Family Weekend art show featured student work from Studio I, Ceramics I, Sculpture I, Studio II, Ceramics II, Advanced Art, and Advanced Ceramics. The night closed with lovely music at the annual Family Weekend concert performed by the Choir, Jazz Band and Orchestra. Refreshments were also provided in Taft Hall during the showcases.

On Saturday, which many deem the best part of family weekend, parents (and siblings!) followed their children’s academic schedule. They were able to sit in the same classrooms, listen to the content students were learning in the class, and ask questions to the teacher. It was truly fun to see families in students’ seats. The family weekend then closed with athletic home games happening in the same afternoon.

The Family Weekend gave many students an opportunity to enjoy quality time with their families off-campus. Especially for boarding students and international students, many were overjoyed to see their families for the first time since beginning school two months ago. It was truly heartwarming to see the campus filled with laughter, reunions, children, pets and students proudly showcasing their learning, especially for new students this year. Even for the student without visiting family, the Family Long Weekend that followed provided a much-needed break for them.