MERCERSBURG ACADEMY

'Mercersburg Academy' is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:
"[to] prepare young men and women from diverse backgrounds for college and for life in a global community. Students at Mercersburg pursue a rigorous and dynamic curriculum while learning to live together harmoniously in a supportive residential environment. Mercersburg's talented faculty instill in students the value of hard work and the importance of character and community as they teach students to think for themselves, to approach life thoughtfully and creatively, to thrive physically, to act morally, to value the spiritual dimension of human existence, and to serve others.^[1]"

Contents

History

Mercersburg Academy today

Honor Code

Campus Terminology and Jargon

Tuition, Scholarships, Endowment, and Financial Aid

Facilities

Dormitories

Athletics

Notable alumni

References

External links

History

On March 31, 1836, the Pennsylvania General Assembly granted a charter to Marshall College to be located in Mercersburg. Dr. Frederick Augustus Rauch came from Switzerland to be the first president of the college under the sponsorship of the Reformed Church in America. Dr. Rauch served as president from 1836 until 1841. His successor in the position was John Williamson Nevin who served until 1853, when Marshall College joined with Franklin College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to become Franklin & Marshall College. At this time, the preparatory department of Marshall College became known as Marshall Academy which later changed to Marshall Collegiate Institute. In 1865, the name was again changed to Mercersburg College, under whose charter the school continues to operate. The historic tie to the church continues through Mercersburg's membership in the Council for Higher Education of the United Church of Christ.
On April 27, 1893, the Board of Regents elected Dr. William Mann Irvine, who had joined Franklin and Marshall College as an instructor after receiving his Ph.D. in Political Science from Princeton University in 1892, to become the Headmaster at the age of twenty-eight. In July, Dr. Irvine changed the name of the institution to Mercersburg Academy and began his work as the founder of the present-day preparatory school. In the fall of 1893, he opened the school with an enrollment of 40 boys, four instructors and four acres of ground. During Dr. Irvine's tenure, three dormitories, a dining hall, gymnasium, infirmary, administration building and the Chapel were built. A new Main Hall and Annex were built after a fire gutted Old Main in 1927.
After Dr. Irvine's death on June 11, 1928, Dr. Boyd Edwards was elected headmaster, where he remained until he retired in 1941. After his retirement, Dr. Charles S. Tippetts '12 resigned from a deanship at the University of Pittsburgh to become Headmaster, where he remained for twenty years. During this time, Irvine Hall was completed and the James Buchanan cabin was moved onto the campus. His successor was William C. Fowle who came from the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. Headmaster Fowle's tenure saw Tippetts Hall competed, Boone Hall constructed and Ford Dining Hall constructed. In 1969, Mercersburg again became a co-educational school and racial integration became a reality.
In 1972, Walter H Burgin Jr. '53 was appointed the Academy's fifth headmaster. Mr. Burgin had been a member and the Chairman of the mathematics department from 1959 – 1964 and was teaching at Phillips Exeter Academy at the time of his appointment. Mr. Burgin oversaw a comprehensive reshaping of the Academy's academic facilities, the building of Lenfest Hall library and the integration of technology into community and classroom life.
Douglas Hale was appointed head of school in 1997, coming from Baylor School where he had been a teacher, assistant headmaster and headmaster since 1973. Under Mr. Hale, all dormitories have been renovated with new Faculty apartments added, the entire campus has been connected electronically, the Smoyer Tennis Center and the Davenport Squash Center were constructed. In 2005, Boone Hall was razed to begin the construction of the new Burgin Center for the Arts, which opened in the fall of 2006.

Mercersburg Academy today

In its 112th year as a college preparatory school, the growth of Mercersburg is evident in its size and caliber. Now set on 300 acres, Mercersburg is home to 440 students: 233 boys (53%), 207 girls (47%). The school has 83 9th graders; 107 10th graders; 122 11th graders; 130 12th graders; and 4 students participating in a School Year Abroad. Students come from around the world, representing 30 states and 22 countries. Mercersburg's endowment now holds more than $185 million, making it one of the highest endowment-per-student independent schools in the country. Mercersburg's endowment-per-student of $322,355, ranked it tenth among the 50 Schools Reporting the Most Voluntary Support and Endowments Per Student, 2004^[2]. The school's acceptance rate is 24 percent. The school annually receives about 800 applicants for no more than 150 spots ^[3].

Honor Code

Mercersburg Academy holds its students to a strict Honor Code.
"As a member of the Mercersburg Academy community, I hereby agree to honor its standards of integrity, truth, and courage. On my honor, I pledge that I will not lie, cheat, or steal. In all my endeavors, I will work toward building trust by upholding, in spirit and in letter, these community standards." ^[4]
Any form of violation of this honor code may result in dismissal from the institution.

Campus Terminology and Jargon

★ Junior - Mercersburg Academy equivalent term to a high school freshman.

★ Lower Middler - Mercersburg Academy equivalent term to a high school .

★ Upper Middler - Mercersburg Academy equivalent term to a high school junior.

★ Lo-Fo (pronounced “low foe”) - commonly used abbreviation for on-campus student union Lower Ford.

★ So-Co (pronounced “sew-coe”) - commonly used abbreviation for campus girl’s dormitory South Cottage.

★ Southie - commonly used nickname for a South Cottage dormitory resident

★ Swankster - commonly used nickname for a Swank Hall dormitory resident

★ The D.H. - commonly used abbreviation for campus dining facility Ford Hall, or Upper Ford.

★ Front Campus - moniker given to the area of campus stretching from academic building Irvine Hall, to arts building The Burgin Center. Most often used in reference to a group of dormitories, including Main Hall, Swank Hall, South Cottage, and Keil Hall.

★ Back Campus - moniker given to the area of campus stretching from the school Health Center to Ford Hall. Most often used in reference to a group of dormitories, including Tippetts Hall and Fowle Hall.

★ The Burgin - commonly used abbreviation for campus arts facility The Burgin Center for the Arts.

★ APES (pronounced “apes”) - commonly used abbreviation for the upper-level course AP Environmental Science.

★ Prefect - widely considered to be the highest leadership position given to a member of the Senior class. Prefects are in charge of enforcing the dormitory rules in the absence of a faculty member, and acting as a liaison between students in his or her dorm and the dormitory faculty members, usually in disciplinary action. Anywhere from 2 to 4 prefects live on each dormitory floor. The prefect application process begins each spring, and includes an extensive application and several interviews with current prefects and dormitory faculty members, who make the ulitmate selections.

★ Phy-Sci (pronounced “fy-sigh”) - commonly used abbreviation for the introductory-level course Physical Science.

★ Log - the equivalent of a “demerit”. Given at the discretion of a prefect or a faculty member, students may receive a log for violating any dormitory rule.

★ Seven to Seven - disciplinary action given to students who receive three logs in one academic term. To complete a seven to seven, the student must stay in his or her dormitory room from 7pm on a Friday night until 7am the following Saturday morning, attending a mandatory weekend study hall from 8pm until 10pm. The student may not entertain visitors, listen to music, use the computer for entertainment purposes, or talk on the telephone. Upon receiving three seven to sevens in one academic term, a student is referred to the academic dean for further consequences.

★ Room Failure - given at the discretion of a dormitory prefect or a faculty member. Students, as a standard, are expected to maintain a clean room. Rooms are checked each weeknight. Students are expected to have an empty trashcan, a made bed, a clean floor, and an orderly desk. Students who fail to meet these standards are given a room failure by an on-duty prefect or faculty member, and are expected to have a clean room by 10pm that evening.

★ Super Clean - disciplinary action given to students who receive three room failures in one academic term. To complete a Super Clean, the offending student must empty all items, besides for furniture, from his or her dormitory room on a Saturday or Sunday. Once checked by an on-duty faculty member, the student is free to move all items back into his or her room. Upon receiving three Super Cleans in one academic term, a student is referred to the academic dean for further consequences.

★ CRC - commonly used abbreviation for the Conduct Review Committee, an elected group of students and faculty members sworn to secercy who weigh severe disciplinary cases among students thay may warrant expulsion. Most often called upon in cases of Honor Code violation. The CRC may recommend any range of outcomes, from the dropping of any charges, to expulsion. The Head of School, however, has the final word in such matters, and may choose to override the decision of the CRC.

Tuition, Scholarships, Endowment, and Financial Aid

Base tuition for the 2007–2008 school year is $39,100 for boarding students and $30,200 for day students. 44 percent of Academy students receive financial aid. The average financial aid grant is $22,000. Merit scholarships are offered, including the Lenfest Scholarship, funded by H. F. Lenfest '49, awarded yearly to 12 local students from families of modest financial income ^[5], the Regents Merit Scholarship, a selective “full-ride” scholarship decided by a student’s academic promise. ^[6], and the Legacy Scholarship, also established by H. F. Lenfest, awarded to a student whose parents or grandparents are alumni of the school ^[7]. The school’s current financial endowment is $185 million. ^[8].

Facilities

As of the 2006-2007 academic year, Mercersburg Academy's facilities consists of 7 dormitories (3 male, 4 female) and 3 main academic buildings. In the mid to late 1990s, all dormitories were remodeled and outfitted with air conditioning as well as phonelines and Internet access. Nolde Gymnasium, built in 1912, has seen numerous expansions over the years. The Davenport Squash Center opened in 2005. The Burgin Center for the Arts opened in 2006. Designed by the Polshek Partnership, the facility includes a 600-seat main theater as well as a 120-seat studio theatre. The entire building is 65,500 square feet.

Dormitories

Dormitories located on Front Campus-

★ Main Hall, boys dormitory.

★ Swank Hall, girls dormitory.

★ South Cottage, girls dormitory and historic former Civil War-era hospital.

★ Keil Hall, boys dormitory located above the historic Edwards Room and Rutledge Hall.
Dormitories located on Back Campus-

★ Tippetts Hall, girls dormitory with one floor reserved for 9th graders.

★ Fowle Hall, boys dormitory with one floor reserved for 9th graders.

★ Culbertson House, girls dormitory housing only 10 students.

Athletics

Since 2000, Mercersburg has been a member of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), which includes Blair Academy, The Hill School, Hun School of Princeton, Lawrenceville School and Peddie School. Mercersburg has produced 41 Olympians, 18 of whom were swimmers. There are also numerous Mercersburg alums playing on Division I college athletic teams. During the 2005-06 academic year, the school's football and baseball teams won league titles.

Notable alumni

Mercersburg has produced many outstanding individuals, including 48 Olympians (and nine gold medalists), seven Rhodes Scholars, several Fulbright Scholars, a Nobel Prize winner, two Academy Award winners, two Emmy Award winners, and a Golden Globe winner.
'Medal of Honor recipients'

★ Joel T. Boone '09

★ Eugene B. Fluckey '30

★ Ralph Talbot '16

★ Wilbert W. White Jr. '07
'Nobel Prize recipient'

★ Burton Richter '48 (for physics, 1976).^[9]
'Olympic gold medalists'

★ Robert Leavitt '03

★ Ted Meredith '12

★ Allen Woodring '18

★ Harry Glancy '24

★ Bill Carr '29

★ Charles Moore Jr. '47

★ Richard Saeger '82

★ Betsy Mitchell '83

★ Melvin Stewart '88
'Academy Award winners'

★ James Stewart '28

★ Benicio del Toro '85
'Rhodes Scholars'

★ Robert N. Cunningham Jr. '21

★ Edward F. D'Arms '21

★ Laurence A.L. Scott '24

★ Dudley L. Harley '27

★ James M. Tunnell '28

★ Robert H. Michelet '30

★ Cresson H. Kearney '33
'Others'

★ Stewart H. Appleby '09 - former U.S. congressman from New Jersey ^[10]

★ John Coolidge '24 and Calvin Coolidge II '25 - sons of President Calvin Coolidge^[11]

★ John Payne '32 - actor, ''Miracle on 34th Street''

★ H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest '49 - founder of Suburban Cable (sold to Comcast in 2000) and member of the Forbes 400

★ Dick Thornburgh '50 - former governor of Pennsylvania and United States Attorney General

★ Bill Baldwin '53 - science-fiction author, ''The Helmsman'' series

★ Nicholas F. Taubman '53 - U.S. Ambassador to Romania; former CEO of Advance Auto Parts

★ Dick Cass '64 - president, Baltimore Ravens (National Football League)

★ Dean Taylor '69 - vice president-baseball operations/assistant general manager, Kansas City Royals (Major League Baseball)

★ Jim Irsay '78 - owner, Indianapolis Colts (NFL)

★ William Davies '79 - screenwriter, ''Flushed Away'', ''Twins'', ''Grumpy Old Men''

★ Michael Davies '85 - executive producer, ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', ''Wife Swap''

★ Sean Kanan '85 - actor, ''The Karate Kid, Part III'', ''General Hospital'', ''The Bold and the Beautiful''

★ Vanessa Branch '90 - actress, ''Pirates of the Caribbean'', Orbit Gum commercials; was Miss Vermont 1994

★ Scottland Keefer '04 - author of "The Noble Hobo"

★ Bryan Morgan '07 - plays football at Duke University; appeared in MTV's reality television series ''Two-A-Days'' ^[12].

References

1. Mission Statement, accessed June 28, 2006
2. Voluntary Support of Education (Updated), accessed September 26, 2006
3. FAQs, accessed August 10, 2007
4. Honor Code, accessed August 10, 2007
5. Lenfest Scholarship Programs, accessed August 10, 2007
6. Regents Merit Scholarships, accessed August 10, 2007
7. Legacy Scholarships, accessed August 10, 2007
8. Mercersburg Academy - Boarding School Profile, accessed August 10, 2007
9. Richter, Burton, ''UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography''. Accessed July 11, 2007. "Richter's early education was at Far Rockaway High School in Queens, New York, and the Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania."
10. Stewart Hoffman Appleby biography, United States Congress. Accessed July 11, 2007.
11. Mr. Coolidge's Week, ''Time (magazine)'', June 30, 1924
12. Two-A-Days news Accessed August 10, 2007.

External links

★ School website

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for Mercersburg Academy

★ Profile on BoardingSchoolReview.com

★ Time magazine story on First Lady Coolidge's laying of Irvine Memorial Chapel cornerstone at the Academy