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2022 Class Notes

1990s

Sara Hanna ’91, a professional photographer in Atlanta, GA, had her work recently featured in Simply Buckhead magazine. Sara’s work has been featured in national magazines and she shared her expertise with the Harley community on a Zoom call in August of 2020.

Dr. Jennifer Rubenstein ’92, associate professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, recently published an article, “Small Money Donating As Democratic Politics,” through the Cambridge University Press. The article touches on the significance of small money donations to political causes and how they might be a source of democratic potential. Click here to learn more.

The Empire Tennis Academy led by Jason Speirs ’99 was named organization of the year.

From the United States Tennis Association website:

“The Empire Tennis Academy, led by Jason Speirs in Rochester N.Y., has been named USTA Eastern’s 2020 Member Organization of the Year for its eclectic variety of programming and overall commitment to service within the Rochester community.

“The organization—which consists of eight courts (three indoor, five outdoor) and is located on the campus of the Harley School in Rochester—has been owned and operated by Speirs (above, far right) since 2016. It was a homecoming of sorts for Speirs. The Rochester native grew up playing tennis at the very same facility, when it was known as the Dave Strebel Tennis Academy; then-owner Strebel became a great, lifelong mentor and was instrumental in helping Speirs gain admission to the private school that shared an address with his business. Speirs eventually left Rochester to attend Assumption University in Massachusetts, and then upon graduation moved down to New York City, where he found a job as a hitter at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. He spent 12 years moving up the ranks at Roosevelt, eventually ascending to its Director of Tennis. Then, just when he was starting to think about the future, he received an offer he ultimately couldn’t refuse.”

Update on Empire Tennis Academy: (https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/eastern/2020-usta-eastern-organization-of-the-year-recipient.html.).

THE LATEST ISSUE

Alumni Stories

In Memoriam: Leonard Opdycke

In Memoriam: Leonard Opdycke

Above: Yearbook dedication from the Class of 1964 Leonard Opdycke, Harley English teacher and Head of Middle School...

Alumni News: Maddie Laitz ’12

Alumni News: Maddie Laitz ’12

“It’s fun to learn!” --A theme for Maddie Laitz ’12 since her days at Harley The year 2022 was a big one for Maddie...

Alumni News: Dez Morrow ’17

Alumni News: Dez Morrow ’17

It was serendipity that brought Dez Morrow ’17 to the Harley School in 2010. Dez was a student at the Urban Choice...

Students may create independent studies with supervising teachers throughout their Upper School experience or, during Grade 12, they can design Capstone projects—intensive collaborations with Harley faculty and off-campus mentors—involving rigorous academic study and culminating in public presentations. They are empowered to create their own curriculum, set goals, and work on time management skills in order to accomplish their objectives.

Independent Studies run the gamut from The Psychology of Sports to Furniture Design to The Neuroimaging of Alzheimer’s Disease. Capstones, meanwhile, are as diverse as the students who pursue them: Fictional Rochester, Autobiographical Art, Biomimicry Education, Organic Fuel, and Rochester Refugees. 

Indicative of Upper School curiosity and creativity, pursuits such as these distinguish our graduates in college. Through deep dives of this sort, Harley students master more than speaking, writing, and computing: they learn to communicate, advocate, collaborate, organize, listen, and empathize. 

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Letter from the Head of School

Letter from the Editor

Features

Central Work that Matters

Affinity Group Forms

Climate Crisis Curriculum

Citizen Scientists

Joy Moss: Storytelling Roots

In Every Issue

Class Notes

Diane Donniger Award

By the Numbers

From the Archives

What’s (Who’s) New at Harley

Divisional Highlights

Alumni Profile: Vandebroek

Alumni Profiles: Keller

HAC Athletics

2021 Lives of Great Purpose Awards

1000 Words

Commencement 2022

Reunion 2022

In Memoriam

Retirements and Fond Farewells