2023–2024 Community Impact

Creative Problem Solving Wins Gold

Capping off a nearly perfect year of competition, the Milton Academy Math Team finished first in the New England Math League (NEML) this spring. Devan Agrawal ’25 and Celina Wang ’27 were instrumental in the team’s success. “We had a lot of good mathematicians on our team this year,” shares Devan. “One thing that’s nice about the NEML is that you don’t have to learn a lot of new concepts. You have to practice critical thinking and creative problem solving, and I think Milton Academy students in general already shine with that.”

Milton has a Math Team and a Math Club that overlap. Meetings for Math Club happen weekly, and club members use the time to prepare for contests, discuss fun and interesting problems, play math games, or pop in for extra help. The contests inspire both collaboration and friendly competition among students. “It’s exciting to be able to contribute to the school in this way,” shares Celina. “It’s good practice and always entertaining to see what kinds of problems will come up. It’s taught me that even when something is challenging, I can still work through it.”

Both students are excited and proud to see the development of Milton’s new Farokhzad Mathematics Center, which is due to open in the fall of 2024. “It’s awesome for Milton,” says Devan. “Math is an important subject, and it’s very good that we’re continuing to expand our already strong program.”

A New Perspective on Science

Serhii Malevych ’24 jumped into the Milton Academy experience with both feet. He came to Milton as a Class II student from Ukraine and immediately embraced dorm life, the performing arts, athletics, international travel exchanges, and volunteer opportunities. Excited to embrace another Milton experience, Serhii applied to the SEA Expedition, a two-week offshore oceanographic program based out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Serhii received a scholarship to attend the program through the Roger Hallowell ’28 Memorial Fund. The opportunities provided by the fund made an indelible impact on Serhii. He shares, “I’ve always been passionate about science, chemistry in particular, and the SEA Expedition stood out to me as a way to push my boundaries in the field. I learned so much about oceanography and marine biology.”

This year, donor support opened doors for many students like Serhii to explore their passions and grow as academics and individuals. Serhii will study chemistry at Yale in the fall, and he is grateful to have participated in the SEA Expedition. “My experience opened my mind to new fields of science, and the knowledge and skills I acquired will serve me well throughout college and my future scientific career.”

Exploring Civil Rights History

In February 2023, Dr. Howard Stevenson visited Milton Academy as part of the DEIJ Speaker Series. He discussed promoting racial literacy in education, health, and community institutions. His talk inspired History and Social Sciences faculty members Ann Foster and Vivian WuWong P ’13 ’18 to think about creating a civil rights trip for Upper School students over spring break. Both Vivian and Ann taught a History of Civil Rights course, with Ann primarily teaching U.S. History. Using the support from their endowed teaching chairs, the Philip B. Weld 1904 Faculty Chair and Laurence M. Lombard 1913 Teaching Chair, Ann and Vivian set out to determine the feasibility of such a trip.

In March, Ann, Vivian, and two retired Milton faculty members spent several days exploring civil rights sites and museums in Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama. Highlights included visiting the site where Booker T. Washington delivered his 1895 address to the Cotton States and International Exposition, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, the Legacy Museum, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Ann shares, “We had a truly amazing time; I will be using the materials and information we collected from each of the sites for the Transitional Justice elective and my U.S. History classes.” Vivian added, “From what we saw and experienced, creating a civil rights trip should be achievable, and it will provide a meaningful experience for our students.” Your thoughtful giving provides resources for faculty members like Ann and Vivian to bring their most innovative ideas forward, collaborate, and grow professionally.

Taking on New Challenges

This year, Elizabeth Lillis P ’31 was selected by her peers to serve as the Ellen H. Pratt ’24 Teaching Chair in Science. She shares, “The honor of holding this chair has inspired me to take on new challenges, like teaching an Advanced Biology course alongside an esteemed colleague.” Advanced Biology is a capstone course for Class I students who are invested in learning more about the discipline. The course builds upon concepts from the first year of Biology and emphasizes learning from primary sources such as scientific journal articles. Elizabeth’s learning curve was invigorating. She notes, “While I digested sophisticated research to be ready to help students learn, I also learned many new lab techniques that expanded my knowledge base. I often felt like a student as I tackled something for the first time, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the ways this second-year course material builds upon the first year.”

In addition to building her skill and knowledge base, Elizabeth and her fellow instructor designed new lessons regarding biofuels, mycology, and more. They hoped to refresh and deepen student knowledge about foundational principles while exposing them to pertinent topics. She shares, “I have a sense of responsibility and eager enthusiasm for my learning and my students’ learning.” Your support provides the necessary funding for professional development and classroom resources so that faculty members like Elizabeth can continue to grow and excel at their craft. Thank you.