Feb 13, 2020
Straus Library will be filled with song this Friday night as the annual Gospel Explosion unfolds with performances and praise.
Gospel Explosion started when Lami Olatunji ’10 approached Gospel Choir Director Lori Dow with the idea of celebrating gospel music in coordination with Black History Month. Over the years, the program has evolved, with some events featuring performances by outside groups, and others featuring combinations of Milton’s musical ensembles. Last year, Milton’s chamber singers and orchestra musicians collaborated on some pieces.
“Every single year, the program changes,” Lori explains. “We’ve had great parent participation and support, and we’ve had alumni come back to perform with us. It’s always been about more than just Milton’s Gospel Choir. It’s about taking this love of gospel music and sharing it with the whole community.”
Feb 12, 2020
When Maxwell Seelig ’22 auditioned for his role of Theodore “Laurie” Laurence in the Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Little Women: The Broadway Musical, he was worried that his self-described clumsiness would make him a bad fit. After all, actors like Christian Bale and Timothée Chalamet have portrayed Laurie as a suave and worldly member of nineteenth-century society.
“I was one of the youngest people there, and there were actors from the Boston Conservatory auditioning, there were professionals from New York auditioning, and so I thought ‘This has been fun. I will not be getting this part,’” Max says. “But they told me they were looking specifically for a kind of quirky, awkward teenage energy.”
Jan 31, 2020
In a sunny room at the top of Warren Hall, students gather around the Harkness table to discuss Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Teacher Abby Cacho reads two passages from the novel, then the students write reflections on what they’ve heard. Water for tea warms in an electric kettle, and Sade provides some background music.
Big questions emerge from the reflections, sparking thoughtful debates: “In a relationship with God, or in a relationship with another person, where do we draw the line between commitment and submission?” one student asks.
Another continues the thought, asking,“Is there ever a relationship completely devoid of a power dynamic?”
Jan 22, 2020
“How would you engage in your life if you knew you were wonderful just as you are?” Dr. Adia Gooden asked Milton students. “I want you to think about what you would have the courage to do if you knew you were worthy.”
Dr. Gooden, a licensed clinical psychologist, visited campus as this year’s Talbot Speaker. She is the director of community programs and outcome measurement at the Family Institute at Northwestern University. She spoke with students about the issues of imposter syndrome and low self-worth, things that make even the highest achievers feel as if they are unworthy in their day-to-day lives.
Dec 6, 2019
Raúl the Third, an illustrator, author and painter, found his first artistic inspiration in a library.
Born Raúl González in El Paso, Texas, the artist explained that his mother—frustrated with staying in a tiny apartment with three young boys—dragged the family to a public library. Mr. González recalled two sensations he would love forever: air conditioning and the smell of books.
He and his mother got to know the librarians, who would recommend books that helped them learn English. One time, a librarian asked Mr. González to describe a book.
“She said, ‘If you can’t tell me what your favorite part was, why don’t you draw it for me?’” he recalled in a talk with visual arts students during the Nesto Gallery assembly. “From that point on, every time I read a book, I created an illustration for it.”
Nov 20, 2019
When an act of legislation ends legal discrimination, it does not automatically end oppression or abuses of power, scholar and activist Jamal Grant told students.
“It’s not enough to change bad laws and bad leaders,” said Mr. Grant, who spoke at an assembly hosted by the student clubs SIMA (Students Interested in Middle Eastern Affairs) and Amnesty International. “We have to change the systems that keep bad leadership in power.”
Nov 15, 2019
Spreading out across the 20-acre grounds of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, students from visual arts faculty member Martin McDermott’s Advanced Sculpture class studied and sketched works by renowned modern and contemporary artists.
Nov 13, 2019
Nick Morton ’02 was a few weeks into his senior year at Milton when the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, stirred in him the need to serve. Before graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve—and began a lifelong military career.
Now an Army Captain, Nick was the 2019 Veterans Day speaker.
“We spent the days and months trying to process what had happened” after the terrorist attacks in 2001, he said. “I can’t speak to what my classmates felt at that time, but for me, it began to synthesize this sense that I wanted to become part of something bigger than myself. I started wondering if I had something to give, if I could be of value.”
Nov 11, 2019
Two minor characters from one of the most well-known tragedies in theater history take the comedy spotlight in this year’s fall play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. The 1966 Tom Stoppard play follows the story of the title characters, messengers from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, who are bewildered by the events around them.
“The entire play is from their point of view, and tries to explain who they are, but they don’t even know,” says performing arts faculty member Darlene Anastas, who is directing the show. “They don’t get their names straight. They know they’ve been sent for, but they don’t know why. You ponder life and death with the characters, but it’s really very funny.”
Oct 27, 2019
Heather Sugrue, who this summer became the new Upper School academic dean, has witnessed two decades of Milton Academy as a math teacher, house head, and most recently, math department chair. She replaces Jackie Bonenfant, whose role has transitioned to dean of academic initiatives. In a recent interview, Heather discussed the joy of teaching math, her excitement for her new position, and what makes Milton students so special.
Oct 24, 2019
It’s one thing to learn how a bill becomes a law. It’s another thing entirely to step into the shoes of a lawmaker.
American Government and Politics students spent Tuesday morning at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston, where they shed their student personas and became U.S. senators, poised to act on a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
“It’s helpful for them to have hands-on experience with the process,” said Perin Gokce, the history and social sciences faculty member who arranged the trip. “It gives them a better understanding of all of the competing demands that senators grapple with before they go into a vote: their party’s interests, their state’s interests, and their personal viewpoints.”
Oct 1, 2019
Strings players from Milton’s Chamber Orchestra watched members of A Far Cry, the Grammy-nominated string ensemble, play a few measures of a Haydn minuet before a pause in the action. One musician suggested a slight change to the speed of the melody while others nodded in agreement. Another chimed in with a reminder about the dynamics of a section. They started again, the adjustments made.
“The unique thing about A Far Cry is that they don’t use a conductor,” said Milton’s music department chair, Adrian Anantawan. “They’re a fully democratic orchestra and they make decisions as a group. The leadership is shared.”
Sep 27, 2019
For Yoshi Makishima ’11, animating a story is a way to put your stamp on every aspect of it. The animator is a director, writer, designer, and actor, making choices that affect everything from characters’ personalities to the overall tone of a film.
Yoshi’s short film, “Night,” was an official selection at this summer’s San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival. She submitted the four-minute piece after completing it for a class at the Harvard Extension School.
Sep 24, 2019
It’s National Punctuation Day, and this sentence is missing its marks:
I learned heed this warning future employees how bosses who are desperate to fill positions convince staff who have expressed no interest in those positions to do the job anyway
The sentence is part of a past sophomore English test, challenging Milton students to insert the correct symbols that create the appropriate pauses and attribution in a long paragraph, without under- or over-punctuating. It’s deceptively simple, but those with a heavy hand may be surprised to learn that the sentence is missing just one comma and two em dashes: “I learned—heed this warning, future employees—how bosses who are desperate to fill positions convince staff who have expressed no interest in those positions to do the job anyway.”
Sep 13, 2019
When Benjamin Botvinick ’21 and Zack Ankner ’20 traveled to Montreal for McGill University’s McHacks hackathon last year, they knew their competition was strong.
“We went in knowing we wanted to come up with something good and be really competitive, but we were going up against students from MIT, Harvard, and these other great universities,” Zack says.
To their surprise, their project SurfChat, a Google extension that allows people to chat with other visitors using the same website in real time, earned them an Amazon award and the boys offers to intern at the commerce giant. They couldn’t accept the offer, though—they’re too young.
Sep 5, 2019
Rapper and singer Jidenna Mobisson ’03 returned to campus as part of an expanded Transition Program, serving as the keynote speaker for new students of color and international students, and as a panelist in a conversation with their parents. The events preceded programming throughout Labor Day weekend for all students new to Milton.
“It’s the first day. I know you feel a little bit nervous, but I want to say congratulations to each and every one of you,” he said. “I sat in the same seats you’re sitting in right now, with students who were just like you. Some of the people here that you don’t know yet will be your best friends for life.”
May 16, 2019
The last thing Malcha Gutmann said to her children was, “I will be back soon. Rita, promise me you will take care of the baby.” The baby, Sylvia Ruth Gutmann, shared the story of her life as one of the Hidden Children of the Holocaust with Milton students this week.
“Hitler wanted me to die,” Sylvia said during an assembly sponsored by the Jewish Student Union. “But Mama wanted me to live. And live I do. And every time I have the opportunity to talk, I have the honor of talking about my parents. I save their lives, too.”
May 14, 2019
Milton’s student vocalists are accustomed to taking the stage, but singing at the home of the Boston Red Sox may be a first. On Sunday, May 19, a group of Milton Academy singers will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the 1:05 p.m. Red Sox vs. Houston Astros game at Fenway Park. Join Milton parents, alumni, faculty and staff and friends to cheer on our singers, then take in the game. For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit www.www.milton.edu/events.
Apr 26, 2019
A celebration of Milton students’ skills and talents will be on display at tonight’s Science & Art Night, starting with the annual Science Symposium in the lobby of the Pritzker Science Center.
“This is the life of the Milton student,” said Julie Seplaki, chair of the science department . “They’re skillful and talented scientists, artists,musicians and actors. Science and arts always had events on the same night, but this is the first year we’ve brought the two together as a way to recognize our students’ varied talents.”
The symposium, which runs from 5:15 to 7 p.m., features research projects by students in advanced science courses, with topics in environmental science, physics, chemistry and biology.
Apr 25, 2019
Censorship of politically unpopular ideas on college campuses runs afoul of the free exchange of ideas, Max Nikitas ‘13 told Milton students at this year’s Conservative Club assembly.
Max, a government contractor in the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), said that limiting students’ exposure to opinions they may find objectionable is counter to the purpose of academia. Campuses should instead be places for thoughtful debate and examination of several points of view, he said.
Apr 24, 2019
Capping a year filled with resounding successes—including three high placements in a national tournament—Milton’s robotics team travels to the VEX Robotics World Championship this week. Five students: Tony Tao (II), Christy Zheng (I), Avery Miller (II), Alexander Shih (I) and Dima Zayaruzny (III) are competing in the world championship in Louisville, Kentucky, from April 24–27.
Milton’s competitors have approached each match with positive attitudes, realistic about their chances against seasoned teams with more time to practice and work on their robots, Alexander said. That mindset has helped make their wins even more special.
Apr 23, 2019
When performing surgery with limited resources, doctors have to rely on their education, centuries of surgical best practices, and an ability to improvise, Dr. David Shaye told honors biology students during an in-house field trip.
“Your education, from beginning to end, is like a collection of Legos,” said Dr. Shaye, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. “You’re picking up little pieces along the way, and throughout your life, you’ll figure out ways to put them together.”
Apr 17, 2019
Authenticity is crucial to good leadership, activist and civil rights attorney Mónica Ramírez advised Milton students.
“The only people who are experts on an issue in this world are the people who have lived the issue. My advice for you is to be exactly who you are,” said Ms. Ramírez, this year’s Margaret A. Johnson speaker. “To know exactly who you are in this exact moment is enough. If you lead with who you are, you will be on the right road.”
Apr 9, 2019
Young people can take action against climate change in their everyday lives, and Milton’s student environmentalists are hard at work to encourage earth-friendly practices on and off campus.
Actions as simple as being conscious of recycling and composting, turning off unused lights, and taking shorter showers can have a multiplier effect on students, says Ariane DesRosiers (I), co-head of the Lorax environmental group and the Gardening Club, green proctor in Hallowell House, and a leader on the Independent School Sustainability Coalition (ISSC), a network of students at more than 25 independent schools in New England working to make their campuses greener.
Apr 3, 2019
Sixty-five million people around the world are displaced from their homes and on the move—the largest number of migrants in human history, humanitarian Cate Brown told students. They are refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced or stateless people who have uprooted their lives or been forced from home because of political oppression, violence, resource scarcity, and economic struggle, among other reasons.
The statistics around migration are overwhelming, Ms. Brown explained, and reflect the enormity of a crisis affecting every continent on earth, but they can distract from the human impact of migration. The average displacement time for a migrant is 17 years, and more than half of the world’s migrants are children.
Mar 6, 2019
“The most difficult part is always the beginning,” novelist Kamila Shamsie told Milton students. “You have to create a whole world out of nothing.”
Ms. Shamsie, this semester’s Bingham Visiting Reader, read passages from her 2017 novel, Home Fire, and spoke with students about her process when she writes fiction. Once the world of a novel is established, making connections between the characters that advance the plot becomes a “fun technical challenge,” she explained.
Feb 28, 2019
“I did not come here to give you a prescription. This is what happened in my life and career,” photographer Abelardo Morell told Milton visual arts students. “You will find your own way to do what you are meant to do.”
Mr. Morell visited Milton as a Melissa Dilworth Gold visiting artist. He spent several days on campus meeting with students and demonstrating his work and technique.
Feb 14, 2019
Students often hear about drug addiction and alcoholism through the lens of a person who has permanently damaged their life, but young people should be thinking about the initial decisions that can start dangerous habits, said motivational speaker and former professional basketball player Chris Herren.
“I think we put too much focus on the worst day, and we don’t talk enough about the first day,” said Mr. Herren, who spoke to Milton students as this year’s Talbot Speaker.
Feb 5, 2019
Students who celebrate the Lunar New Year gathered in Hathaway House on this unusually warm February day to make dumplings, play games and spend time with one another. Joining them were the nine students and their chaperone who arrived from Shanghai, China last week as part of Milton’s new China exchange program. The students attend the No. 2 High School of East China Normal University and are staying with student host families for their two-week visit.
This exchange program was organized by Shimin Zhou, a modern languages faculty member. So far on their visit, the students have visited Boston sites such as the JFK Presidential Library, the Institute of Contemporary Art and Faneuil Hall. They also toured the campuses of Boston College and Harvard, had lunch at Mr. Bland’s home and spent time attending classes with their student hosts.
Jan 16, 2019
Even during powerful waves of self-doubt, Soerny Cruz ’12 found people in her corner. They were educators and social justice leaders who encouraged her toward a career in service.
“There were times when I didn’t believe in myself, but my community never gave up on me,” Ms. Cruz told students. “Because of that, I’ve been able to get to a place in my life where I can come back to Milton Academy and be proud of what I’m telling you about my work.”
Jan 14, 2019
All three of the robots designed by Milton’s robotics team have qualified for national and state tournaments, with resounding wins at a Bristol Community College tournament. Milton robotics won the tournament overall and received four out of five awards.
The robotics team made it to at least the semifinals of every tournament they participated in this fall, a testament to their teamwork and collaborative spirit. Students are split into three teams, each competing with its own robot.
Jan 9, 2019
“What is the reach of who ‘we the people’ are in the United States Constitution?” Civil rights leader Robert P. Moses asked Milton students. “What does it mean to be among ‘we the people?’ What does it mean to be a citizen of this country?”
The meaning of that phrase in the constitution’s preamble has shifted over the years, beginning with white, male property owners at the founding of the U.S., eventually expanding to include women and minorities, and constricting with immigration restrictions, Dr. Moses said.
Dec 6, 2018
On Friday evening, the Milton Academy chamber orchestra will join the roster of musicians and other performers who fill Boston’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace with sound and entertainment, and it’s all for a good cause.
The students are performing to raise money to buy musical instruments and equipment for students at Boston’s Dr. William Henderson Inclusion School, including mallets and iPads that will help students of all abilities produce musical sounds. The event is one piece of a partnership that Milton music department chair Adrian Anantawan hopes will expand opportunities for disabled and typically developing student musicians to make art together.
Dec 3, 2018
The legal distinction of whiteness as a race did not exist anywhere in the world until 1681, when colonial American lawmakers sought to outlaw marriages between European people and others, sociologist Jacqueline Battalora told Upper School students.
This was, essentially, “the invention of white people,” said Dr. Battalora, who visited Milton as the Henry R. Heyburn guest lecturer.
Previously, people were grouped by their nation of origin, Dr. Battalora explained. But once anti-miscegenation laws preventing marriage between white people and nonwhite people were established further, legal segregation drove division among racial groups, creating an atmosphere and legacy of racism and discrimination the effects of which still resonate today.
Nov 16, 2018
Viewing art “involves very close looking, but also being open to a variety of ideas,” author and art critic Jed Perl told students. Mr. Perl was on campus as the Melissa Dilworth Gold Visiting Artist. On Tuesday night, Mr. Perl spoke to faculty, parents and alumni at Milton’s “Evening with the Arts,” an event dedicated to Kay Herzog, former English department chair and a champion of the arts at Milton.
During the Visual Arts Assembly, Mr. Perl showed students various works by artists such as Picasso, Corot and Mondrian. He discussed the process of “looking at something with your eyes and then figuring out what you are looking at. There is a back and forth between looking at it and making sense of it.”
Nov 15, 2018
Students can make a difference even before they reach voting age, by committing to hold their representatives accountable, said Jill Ashton, executive director of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.
“Build a relationship with your elected officials,” she encouraged students. “Know who represents you at all levels of government. Your state representative may remember what it was like to be a high school student, but they have no idea what it’s like to be a high school student in 2018. Your experiences and perspective are unique and significant.”
Nov 13, 2018
Students who listen to others, instead of fighting to command the spotlight, are building critical leadership skills—sometimes without knowing it—Army Brigadier General Richard F. Johnson P’19 told Milton students during the Veterans Day assembly.
“When I was your age, I didn’t realize that I had the potential to lead; I didn’t really understand how to model leadership,” Brig. Gen. Johnson said. “If you want to be a leader, you can do that by being a good follower: being a strong leader at times and a team member at others. Generally, the leader listens. They allow other people to express their opinions, they absorb those opinions, and that allows them to form their own.”
Oct 24, 2018
Understanding the differences between gender and sex is key to creating a more welcoming and inclusive world, said Jennifer Bryan, a nationally recognized expert in gender and sexuality diversity.
Sex is biological, assigned at birth according to a baby’s anatomy, while gender refers to certain cultural or social attributes, Dr. Bryan said. Both exist on spectrums: a person’s gender may be male, female, some combination of both, fluid, or neither; biologically, people are born with reproductive systems, hormones and genetics that indicate male or female sex, or some combination of both.
Oct 3, 2018
As China grows in economic power, an understanding of history provides context for the cultural, environmental and trade shifts ahead for the world, said Michael A. Szonyi, this year’s Hong Kong Distinguished Lecturer.
Professor Szonyi is the director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and professor of Chinese studies at Harvard University. During his visit to Milton, he described the global reach of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s massive trade plan, as the “largest infrastructure project in human history, by a factor of many.” Current growth rates put China on track to surpass the United States in economic power within the next few decades, Professor Szonyi told students.
Aug 21, 2018
Milton’s performing arts department has announced its fall productions. In addition to the Class IV Follies, students in Classes I–III will present The Addams Family and Antigone during the fall semester.
The Addams Family is a musical comedy and Antigone, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles, will be presented as a 1212 Play. The 1212 play is a Milton tradition, offering an intimate theater experience, typically involving small casts, minimal technical demands, and often challenging material for the performers and the audience.
Aug 7, 2018
Twenty-one Upper School students traveled to New Mexico with the Community Engagement Program this summer, where they visited Navajo Nation and participated in service projects including working at a local food bank and doing repair work at their host mission, as well as at elders’ homes.
This was the School’s first service trip to New Mexico. The students stayed at the Elim Haven Mission and divided their time between local service opportunities and the Summer Youth Organization, a nonprofit camp co-founded by Milton alumna Claire Opel ’06.
May 22, 2018
Qualifying among the country’s most competitive math students, Lawrence Kim (IV) recently represented Milton in the highly selective United States of America Junior Mathematics Olympiad (USAJMO).
Lawrence qualified for the USAJMO by scoring high in a series of math competitions. He then sat for the nine-hour USAJMO over a two-day period, where he competed against fewer than 250 other students from the United States and Canada. The test consisted of six questions, for which Lawrence had to present essay-style mathematical arguments, and required him to work in a testing room away from all electronics and outside influences.
May 18, 2018
Sharing research on topics ranging from the impact of transcendentalism on both the abolition and women’s rights movements to the Iran-Contra affair in the 1980s, 13 student winners of the Bisbee Prize gathered for a discussion and celebration with history department faculty. The students were selected by their teachers for outstanding research on their United States History papers.
May 9, 2018
Over more than three decades as a sports journalist, the Boston Herald’s Danny Ventura has covered high school matches, college championships and history-making professional sports events, and athletes at every level have left lasting impressions on him, he told Milton students.
“It’s not just about the big stars,” said Mr. Ventura, who was invited to speak at this year’s Athletics assembly. “There are just so many millions of stories in sports.”
Apr 25, 2018
Climate change affects more than ecosystems and air quality—it directly impacts communities of color and lower-income families more significantly than wealthier, white communities, climate activist Wilhemina Agbemakplido told Milton students.
Worldwide, the people most affected by deforestation and marine pollution are those with little or no access to resources to supplement what they’ve lost, said Ms. Agbemakplido. Because they rely on the land, or on fishing, to live, the destruction of natural resources is forcing them away from their homes.
Apr 19, 2018
Jordan Hattar’s interest in international humanitarian causes formed in eighth grade. By the time he graduated from high school, he was ready to go to work, he told Milton students.
But all of the aid missions and nonprofits he contacted responded the same way: You’re not ready. Come back after college. Mr. Hattar persisted, eventually connecting with Deng Jongkuch, one of the “Lost Boys” of South Sudan, who agreed to take him there to help build a medical clinic and distribute mosquito nets.
Apr 17, 2018
Gun control has been the “third rail” of American politics for decades, stirring such passionate argument and deep division that compromise on gun-safety measures sometimes seems impossible, gun-control activist Brina Milikowsky ‘96 told Upper School students.
But once you move past messaging from politicians and powerful lobbyists, there is much greater hope for agreement among Americans on both sides of the issue, says Brina, who recently worked as chief strategy officer for Everytown for Gun Safety, and is now a political consultant. She was invited by students to speak about gun control after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Apr 4, 2018
When political leaders prioritize their party over the needs of the country, they can’t develop solutions to serious problems, Navy veteran and former Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez told Milton students.
The United States faces great challenges, from the debates over gun control and immigration, to complex foreign policy problems, and division down party lines will prevent meaningful resolution, says Mr. Gomez, who visited campus as this year’s Conservative Club speaker.
“All these issues need strong leadership, and that’s not going to come from Washington, D.C.,” said Mr. Gomez, who said he’s encouraged by the unity and organization young people have shown since February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “All of these issues and their solutions will be driven by your generation.”
Mar 29, 2018
Born into “the most hated family in America,” Megan Phelps-Roper grew up believing that she was working to save people from eternal damnation with her church’s extremist messages. By the age of 5, she was on the picket lines with the Westboro Baptist Church, protesting everything from plays to military funerals with profane signs and slogans.
Ms. Phelps-Roper, who left the Westboro Baptist Church—and most of her family—in 2012, told Milton students that meeting people on social media who thoughtfully challenged her church’s narrow and contradictory interpretation of the Bible helped her walk away from hate. Ms. Phelps-Roper visited Milton as this year’s Class of 1952 Religious Understanding Speaker.
Feb 28, 2018
The United States is home to five percent of the world’s population, but comprises 25 percent of the world’s prison population. And while Massachusetts is often heralded as a haven for progressivism, its ratio of black to white inmates is higher than the national average, said Rahsaan D. Hall, the Racial Justice Program Director for the ACLU of Massachusetts.
Mr. Hall visited campus as the Onyx Assembly speaker in recognition of Black History Month. A former prosecutor, Mr. Hall described policing, courts and the prisons as the “criminal legal system,” as opposed to the criminal justice system.
