Great Debate, Peter Gomes, Science Olympians, and Brad's "Commitment to Community"

DA Debate update from its recent tournament at Cary Academy: In JV public forum, Tre Hunt and Ted Arapoglou were undefeated and took 4th place -- they haven't lost a round since November! David Fowler and Tristan Swedish went 3-1 in the same division, and earned honorable mention. Meanwhile, in varsity public forum, Josh Zoffer and Robert Kindman took 3rd place, losing only once in a close decision. In varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, Josh Erb was named "top speaker" and took 3rd place overall. Ben Hattem took 2nd place in dramatic interpretation, showing that DA can excel in the interpretive events as well.

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Next Monday (February 25) we'll enjoy an extended visit from Reverend Professor Peter Gomes. Reverend Professor Gomes is the Chaplain at Harvard's Memorial Church, widely regarded as one of America's greatest preachers. His visit (assembly + C and E period discussions in the Commons + lunchtime Q&A - all of them open to all students and teachers) fits perfectly into our efforts with character education. To read the News & Notes article about Reverend Gomes's visit, click here. To see him in a recent interview with Charlie Rose, click here.

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Science Olympians go for gold. DA's S.O. varsity team recently finished 4th of 18 teams at regionals and will advance to the State competition (April 4th and 5th).

JV
o Luca Harrell (1st place Sounds of Music)--ask him about his guitar!
o Mike Ronco (1st place Sounds of Music)
o Jon Powers
o Steve Benson
o Kala Viswanathan
o JW Hwang
o Peter Davoust
o Eddie Liu (1st place Remote Sensing)
o Andrew Annex (1st place Remote Sensing, 2nd place Rocks and Minerals)
o Collin Burks
o Soph Tsang (2nd place: Food Science, Oceanography and Rocks and MInerals)
o Charlotte Dunn (2nd place Oceanography)

Varsity
o Noah Steege (1st place Electric Car)
o Ben Cox (1st place Electric Car, 6th Experimental Design)
o Nick Cariello
o Carmen Augustine
o Wei Leong (3rd place Forensics)
o Gargi Bansal (3rd place Forensics)
o Sean Sketch (2nd place Chem Lab, 5th Food Science, 6th Experimental Design)
o Caroline Bodager (1st in Remote Sensing)
o Jim Mallernee (7th place Astronomy, 3rd Fermi Questions, 3rd Physics Lab)
o Caitlin Burk (2nd place Chem Lab, 3rd Fermi Questions)
o Johnathan Martin (2nd place Ornithopter, 3rd Rocks and Minerals)
o Alexis Noel (4th in Junkyard Challenge)
o Victoria Vaughn (6th place Exp. Design, 4th in Junkyard Challenge)
o Raj Sundar (6th place Health Science)
o Salil Saxena (5th place Food Science, 6th place Health Science)
o Tyler Carroll (5th place Bottle Rocket, 7th Astronomy, 3rd Physics Lab)
o Lise Williams (1st place Remote Sensing, 3rd Rocks and Minerals)
o John Lindsey (5th place Bottle Rocket)

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Bradley Joseph Waffa, DA class of '04, is the January 2008 winner of the Pearigen Award for Commitment to Community at Sewanee, The University of the South. A biology major, Brad hopes to become a veterinarian who specializes in parasitological and zoonotic disease; but his immediate post-graduate plans include completing a research project on box turtles that he began last semester on the Mountain. Brad has co-authored and co-presented with Sewanee faculty on a variety of biological studies, including an article in a 2005 edition of Southeastern Biology. Outside of the classroom, Brad has contributed to the community in the following ways: AP & Proctor in Cannon Hall, 3 year Residential Computing Consultant (RCC), Order of the Gownsmen, Sewanee Men Against Rape, Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC), Sewanee Health Professions Society, College Libertarians of the University of the South, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Sewanee Cycling Team, Sewanee Equestrian Team, and SOP trip-leader. Brad is also a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. Eric Hartman, dean of students, said the following about Brad’s leadership, “I discovered that Brad was more than an accomplished student leader when immediately following a tedious racial incident that culminated in a mandatory residence hall meeting, he began to challenge the group’s silence. It became clear that his peers seek his insight and advice in mediating complicated situations. Moreover, his leadership has transformed the facility and the experience from an environment entrenched with abusive tendencies to one of good humor and mature citizenship.” Congratulations Brad!