The Devon Dialogueproudly publishing for five decadesDevon Preparatory SchoolVolume IV, Issue IV | May 2013

Into the Fire We Go!Devon Prep puts on another incredible performance. See Page 2.

Rolling TideDevon Prep’s varsity baseball team makes it to district playoffs. See Below.

Honorable MentionFifty-nine students are inducted into Devon Prep’s chapter of the National Honor Society.page 2.

Drone WarfareThe launch of the X-47B drone ush-ers in a new age of drone develop-ment and may lead to a techno-logical arms race. page 7.

Why Host Exchange Students?Fiore Schena ‘14

Ma ny fa mi l ies say t hey ca n’t host excha nge s tudents because “We a ren’t a good host fa mi ly” or “we have never hosted before .” People assu me t hat t hey must be outgoing , t hat t hey need to be a fa mi ly t hat t ravels a lot , or t hat t hey must be a fa mi ly t hat goes to museu ms, events , a nd ac t iv it ies a l l t he t i me. T he l i s t of “why we a re not a good fa mi ly” goes on, but most of t hese preconcept ions si mply a re not accu rate . Is it n ice to have a new person a rou nd for a whi le? Of cou rse , because it i s f u n to sha re you r c it y, you r s tate , or you r cou nt r y ’s beaut i f u l places .

T he t r ut h i s t here i s no t y pica l A mer ica n host fa mi ly. Devon fa mi l ies a re not d i f ferent , especia l ly w it h t he Devon Di f ference on t hei r s ide . A l l fa mi l ies have a mi x of what t hey consider to be t he norm. T hey have dogs or cats , la rge homes or sma l l ones . T he s tudents v isit ing w i l l have a l ready been in formed of t hese t h ings a nd w i l l be more t ha n happy to s tay w it h you a nd you r respec t ive fa mi ly. Ma ny fa mi l ies a re worr ied t hat t hey w i l l have to br ing t hei r excha nge s tudents ever y where a nd w i l l a lways have to enter ta in t hem. However, t he fac t rema ins t hat hav ing

a new person a rou nd is plent y of f u n. T he students a re more t ha n happy to

be coming to ou r cou nt r y a nd w i l l be ver y accommodat ing. Ma ny w i l l t r y to get to k now you bet ter a nd f ind out a bit about t he su rrou nd ing a rea . In t he end , t houg h, t hey a re here to go to school , lea rn about ou r cou nt r y, l ive w it h a fa mi ly, a nd lea rn what l i fe i s l i ke for a n A mer ica n teen. Most of t hei r t i me w i l l be spent at Devon Prep or a not her school , a nd by t he end of t hei r t i me w it h you r fa mi ly, you w i l l have come to enjoy t hei r compa ny a nd w ish for t hei r retu rn soon to you r house a nd to you r school .

T he key to host ing a s tudent i s not who you r fa mi ly i s composed of, but who you a re as people . Good host fa mi l ies a re people who wa nt to sha re t hei r ow n cu ltu re a nd commu nit y, a nd lea rn about someone else ’s . Good host pa rents look to g ive t hei r fa mi l ies a g l i mpse of t he world a nd int roduce t hem to new customs a nd cu ltu res . Host ing i s a g reat way to accompl ish t h is a nd at t he sa me t i me to g ra nt t he abi l it y to you ng foreig ners to come to ou r cou nt r y a nd ex per ience it for t hemselves .

Tide Rolls into District Playoffs

CJ Kohlbrenner ‘14

The Devon Prep Tide came out swinging and strong this baseball season. Led by seniors Justin Wright ’13 and Ben Jonik ’13, as well as helped by seniors Ian McConnell ’13, Brian Koskinen ’13, and Patrick Kinsella ’13, the Devon Prep varsity baseball team had a successful season, ending up with a record of 10-3 in the Bicentennial League. The team’s successful season was a result of its powerful players. Zach Schellenger ’14 was named MVP of the league. Zach had a terrific season as pitcher for the Tide. Sean Phelan ’15 was another strong pitcher for Devon Prep. Both Zach and Sean contributed significantly at the plate as well. Sophomore Pat Rohr ’15 and freshman John McSurdy ’16 also got the job done when called to the mound. Happily for the future, this year’s team was largely composed of underclassmen with five sophomores and two freshmen. The team’s defense was bolstered by catcher Dom Hardaway ’15, Chris Bauers ’14 in centerfield, and infielders Eric DePietro ’15 and Matt Bevilacqua ’16. Grant Latran ’14 and CJ Kohlbrenner were valuable assets at whatever position they played. Bob Watters ’14 and Tyler Klicka ’15 contributed to the team in a wide variety of circumstances. This year the team welcomed a new coach to the staff – Mr Patrick Kane. Coach Pat Kane was a great addition, and he came to the team with a lot of baseball knowledge and experience. The team worked very hard this season and finished up the season before heading into district play with two games against Malvern Prep and The Haverford School. The entire team’s hard work and efforts have contributed to an overall great season. As the year closes, the team will head into the district playoffs hoping to emerge victorious……Roll Tide!

Zack Schellenger ’14 was recently named MVP of the Bicentennial League.

Middle School RecitalTim Crowe ‘13

This year our music teacher Ms. Michelle Te-deschi created a new event: the first ever Middle School Recital. Students from grades six through eight showcased their musical talent at this fantas-tic recital. Starting off the recital on a strong note was Brendan McGrath ’18 who played a wonder-ful piece called “Midnight Rhapsody” by Melody Bober on the piano. Next up was Connor Ryan ’17, who played a beautiful tune called “Journey of the Heart” on the piano. Sam McLaughlin ’17 followed with the classic Beatles song “Black-bird” on his guitar which sounded like Paul Mc-Cartney himself had performed it. Then the first sixth grader to perform, J.T. Tiglao ’19, played a great rendition of the song “River Flows in You” by Yiruma. Next up was Alex Nawn ’17, playing the song “Cripple Creek,” an old Appalachian folk song, on his viola, a difficult instrument to play. The next song was “Paradise” by the popu-lar band Coldplay, as performed by Seamus Slat-tery ’19 on the piano. Then, the president of the middle school, Ben Lubker ’17, performed another timeless Beatles song: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.” Next came the first group performance, which in-cluded Chris Rufo ’18 on guitar, Jacob Snyder ’18 on vocals, and Gus Thompson ’18 on vocals and guitar. The trio nicely performed the song “Boule-vard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day. The next student to perform was Matt O’Brien ’18, on pia-no who played an elegant song called “Midnight Sonata.” Then James Costello ’18 performed the first exclusively vocal performance called “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. Gus Thomp-son made another performance, but this time solo performing “Limelight” by Rush on his gui-tar. Then Matt Siracusa ’18, performed “Your It,” on his alto saxophone, in a style reminiscent of a Louis Armstrong number. After that came Jacob Pabia ’18 playing “Prelude in C Sharp Major” on the piano. Paul Malikkal followed by playing a rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” on his ukulele. Last came a voice quartet comprised of Justin Chambers ’18, Caelan Coyne ’18, Chase D’Amico ’18, and Matt O’Brien. They performed the bright song “Paula the Koala.”

The first Middle School Recital was an amazing success thanks to all the brave and exceedingly talented students who performed and Ms. Tede-schi who did a terrific job organizing this show. It would not have been possible without her hard work and dedication. Let us all hope that this will be a new tradition at Devon that will continue on

Dialogue NewsThe Pimpernel Leaves His Mark

Patrick Shields ‘14To say that the Devon Prep’s musical theatre

program puts on a good show would be an un-derstatement. Since 1996, Devon has put on some truly incredible musicals, including Les Misera-bles, Phantom of the Opera, and for the second time in a decade, The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Pimpernel is an exciting tale of adventure, romance, and secrecy set in England and revo-lutionary France, during the tumultuous pe-riod known as the Reign of Terror. The hero, Percy Blakeney, played by Brian Kozak ’13, is an English aristocrat who takes on the identity of masked vigilante the Scarlet Pimpernel to rescue innocents from the jaws of the French and their queen, Madame Guillotine. The antagonist of the play, Citizen Chauvelin, played by Justin Barker ’13, is an agent of the French Republic charged with catching the Pimpernel. Between the two of them stands Marguerite St. Just, wife to Percy but former lover of Chauvelin. Heather McCo-nnell from Downingtown East and Lily Flash-ner from Mount St. Joseph were double-casted in the role of Marguerite, just as Bishop Shana-han’s Abigail Gorman and Country Day School of the Sacred Heart’s Gabrielle Gaeto were both casted as Marie Grosholtz, and Michael LaBella ’13 and CJ Nave ’15 were double-casted as Mar-guerite’s brother Armand St. Just, who joins Per-cy to fight the French. Also joining Percy in his task are some of his noble friends, the bounders, who were portrayed by Tim Crowe ’13, Patrick

Shields, Andrew Loper ’15, Eddie McGinley ’16, Joe Teti ’15, and Kevin Fulmer ’13.

The whole cast put in a tremendous amount of work to pull off four phenomenal and energetic shows from Thursday March 14th to Saturday March 16th. Just as important to the production as the students were the team of adult directors, including music director Doctor Valentin Radu and his wife Donna, who were essential to the musical element of the show, and Stage Direc-tor Paul Recupero, who supervised all of the acting and staging. Technical Director Barbara Medina, along with her stage crew, proved to be just as important to the show’s success as the cast. Gail Oldfield, former Rockette and dance choreographer, taught all of the dancing in the show, while fight director David Barker choreo-graphed an impressive sword fight between Per-cy and Chauvelin.

Everyone involved put in a huge amount of ef-fort, and the end result was another spectacular musical at Devon Prep. The cast of The Scarlet Pimpernel came together to create something outstanding, and their feelings of camaraderie could surely be felt by everyone in the audience at the end of each performance, with the clos-ing number Into the Fire: “Never hold back your step for a moment! Never doubt that your cour-age will grow! Hold your head even higher and into the fire we go! Into fire, onward ho!”

A History of SummerMichael Lawrence ‘14

Here in the United States, we enjoy one of the longest summer breaks in the world. While most countries typically give less than two months of break between academic years, students in the States receive three months of break to unwind, let their brains atrophy, and well, do whatever they want! Summer vacation is one our greatest pastimes and is a testament to American indi-vidualism. High schoolers don’t need to be in school to learn; in fact, summer gives students an opportunity to expand their knowledge in other fields and learn the value of labor by tak-ing summer jobs. This freedom does not exist in other countries which put extreme emphasis on

academia. For example, in Japan, most students are schooled for 240 to 250 days, as compared to our 180 days (or even less in private schools). Whom do we have to thank for the gift of our extended summer?

Most people think that summer vacation is rooted in rural America. Farmers needed their children home to work on the farms during the summer. This is a misconception; in reality summer is a less labor-intensive season in farm-ing than spring (planting time) and fall (harvest time). Summer vacation is actually rooted in urban America. Summers in cities were brutal before the invention of air conditioning and the

use of sewer systems and paved roads. Students were not able to focus and schools were exceed-ingly uncomfortable. The educational reformer Horace Mann postulated that over schooling could cause mental problems and insanity in students and proposed a long break to remedy the problem. It was only natural that the break would be placed during the hottest months when city schools had uncomfortable environ-ments.

So this summer, we should give thanks to educational reformer Horace Mann who pro-posed our system of extended vacation during the summer and kept us all from going insane.

A Concert to RememberMichael Horbowy ‘14

On Thursday, Apri l 25, the seniors bid their farewel l to the Devon Music Society during their per formance at the nineteenth annua l Spring Concer t . A l l of the concer ts are a resu lt of the t ireless work of Dr. Va lent in and Mrs. Donna Radu who put their hear ts and souls into ensuring an excel lent per for-mance year a f ter year. In addit ion, Miss Barbara Medina coordinates the events for the Devon Music Society, and Mrs. Liz Lubker and Mrs. Janice Rufo deser ve much pra ise for a l l they did with com-municat ion and set up over the course of the year. As Michael Horbow y ’14 sa id, “Without them, none of the group’s achievements would be possible. The Devon Music Society would l ike to take this opportunity to thank each of them.”

The majority of the show is comprised of the performances by three main mu-sica l groups: Chora l Tide, R ip Tide, and Jazz Band. Chora l Tide performed a l l-t ime favorites such as “Putt in’ on the R itz” and “Daddy Sang Bass.” R ip Tide dazzled the audience with “Dona Nobis

Pacem,” and Jazz Band put on a stel-lar presentat ion of the “New York, New York ” instrumenta l .

Beyond the group ef for ts f rom the Tides and Band, there were a lso sev-era l solo performances, notably “Hard to Say I ’m Sorr y” and “Forever Young” performed by CJ Nave ’15 and Brian Ko-zak ’13 respect ively. Both of these ta l-ented indiv idua ls not only sang, but a lso played their instruments with CJ on the piano and Brian on the guitar. There were a lso two pieces f rom this year’s musica l The Scarlet Pimpernel : “Fa l-con in the Dive” sung by Just in Barker and “Into the Fire” sung by Brian Kozak and his “Bounders.” As a lways, the solo-ists amazed the audience with the most memorable acts .

This year, the seniors ga ined the t i-t le by performing “Landsl ide” by Stev ie Nicks to say goodbye to Devon. The song choice was appropriate and the perfor-mance itsel f was simply remarkable. This is a t ru ly ta lented group whose absence wi l l def initely be not iced next year.

NHS InductionPatrick Shields ‘14, Co-Deputy Editor-in-Chief

ElectOn T hu rsday, Ma rch 21, f i f t y-n ine

s tudents were inducted into t he Devon Prep chapter of t he Nat iona l Honor So-ciet y. T his g reat honor i s g iven to t hose s tudents who embody t he qua l it ies of schola rsh ip, leadersh ip, ser v ice , a nd cha rac ter. T his yea r, fou r of t hese s tu-dents were seniors , n ine were ju niors , a nd for t y-si x were sophomores , t he s ta r t ing g rade for induct ion.

Aside f rom si mply being s tudents of g reat schola rsh ip, leadersh ip, ser v ice , a nd cha rac ter, t he ta ng ible requ ire-ments for t he Nat iona l Honor Societ y include a GPA of 3 .00 or above for t hree semesters as wel l a s exa mples of leader-sh ip a nd ser v ice w it h in t hei r commu-nit ies . T his prest ig ious orga nizat ion is not si mply a n honor rol l , but pays t r ibute to s tudents who a re wel l-rou nd-ed ind iv idua ls , inside a nd outside of school .

T he ac tua l ceremony bega n w it h a Mass celebrated by Fat her Ja mes Shea ’66 a nd concelebrated by Fat her Jav ier Renter ia , Fat her Ba lta za r Sa nchez , a nd Fat her R icha rd Wy z yk iew icz ’61 . A f ter t he Mass , t he induct ion bega n. Fou r seniors , A ntonio Musca rel la ’13 , Rya n Sha nnon ’13 , Tom Seykora ’13 , a nd Kev-in Fu l mer ’13 , each br ief ly spoke about t he fou r qua l it ies of t he Nat iona l Hon-or Societ y. Fol low ing t h is , t he new in-ductees were each ca l led up a nd g iven t hei r awa rds , a s wel l a s roses to be pre-sented to t hei r pa rents .

A l l cu rrent members of t he NHS, new inductees included , shou ld be proud of t hei r ach ievements . Students in t he NHS a re a pa r t of a g roup of t he most excel lent s tudents in t he cou nt r y.

On Track for GreatnessJames O’Shea ‘14 and Jackson Misko ‘14

T he Devon Prep Track a nd Field Tea m has had a not her successf u l sea-son, cont r ibut ing to t he t rad it ion of excel lence t hat was establ ished by pre-v ious generat ions . T he Tide placed in t he top ten at t he Bicentennia l Cha m-pionships a nd sent eig ht at h letes to t he Dist r ic t Cha mpionship. In add it ion, t he tea m more t ha n doubled it s point tota l compa red to last yea r. Senior Tom Seykora broke t he school record for t he 800 meters w it h a t i me of 1 :57.75 . T he tea m a lso sent r u nners to d ist r ic t s in-c lud ing sophomore Lucas Watson ’15 a nd ju niors Jack Rot h ’14 a nd Ja mes O’Shea ’14 .

A f ter coaching for h is f i rs t f u l l yea r, Mr. Dave Eva ns was more t hat pleased w it h t he season’s outcome. Senior cap-ta in Tom Seykora ’13 sa id , “I was re-a l ly i mpressed by how t he tea m u ni f ied du r ing t he late mont hs of t he season. We were able to pu l l t hroug h because we a l l re l ied on each ot her.” T he tea m is t he s t rongest it has been for some t i me a nd nex t yea r w i l l prove to be even st ronger.

A Superb Scientific SymposiumChris McAlee ’17

On April 17, the Devon Forensics Team, accompanied by Ms. Annette Loutrel and Mr. R. Roger Mecouch, attended Penn State’s Fo-rensic Science Symposium at Penn State’s main campus. Penn State has the highest-ranked Forensic Science program in the country. The team consisted of Shyamal Patel ‘16, Alexan-dru Damian ‘16, Andrew Barella ‘16, Mitchell Young ‘17, and Chris McAlee.

After a long ride to State College, they ar-rived at the campus and were introduced to the five stations at the symposium: DNA extrac-tion and analysis, resumptive blood testing, and fingerprint and shoe analysis. At the dried blood analysis station, the students were taught the basics on how to take samples from dried blood, as well as what angle it came from and what weapon caused the bleeding. In DNA ex-traction the team learned how to extract DNA from peas by blending them, applying a chemi-cal solution to the liquid peas, and taking the strands out with a pipette.

At the DNA station, they were taught how to find the odds of one person having a certain combination of traits using a computer and a

strand of DNA. At the fingerprint station, the team learned how to lift and dust for finger-prints using various methods. At the shoe print station, they were given a short lecture on the methods of identifying suspects by the shoe prints they left behind.

After visiting each station, the team was shown the two forensics cottages, where simu-lated crime scenes were set up. Teachers would create a fake crime scene, make up a scenario, and hide evidence around the cottage. Foren-sics students would then spend the day trying to solve it with any means possible. One cottage was rather simple, with simply-shaped rooms, bright walls and tile floors, making it easy to spot evidence. The other cottage was far more challenging, with bizarre room shapes, car-peted floors, plenty of nooks and crannies to search in, and ugly colors on the walls, mak-ing evidence, hair and bold stains difficult to notice.

The team had lots of fun learning about the science of justice, happy to go home armed with the new knowledge they had gained at the symposium.

Celebrating the Class of 2013

Vice President Sean Bevan

Dialogue ProfilesThe Devon Dialogue staff sat down with the newly elected members of student council for interviews about their upcoming terms.

James Stanish ‘14, Co-Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect

President Owen PhelanJames Stanish ‘14, Co-Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect

Devon Dialog ue: W hat made you decide to run for of f ice?

Owen Phelan: I rea l ly l i ke Devon. I’ve had t wo brot hers here a nd I t h i n k t hat I w i l l , w it h t he help of Mat t a nd Sea n, be able to ma ke Devon a bet ter place for ever yone who goes here.

DD: W hat do you see as the role of your posit ion? W hat special talents do you bring?

OP: Wel l, I t h i n k a president shou ld be ver y ha ndsome because he needs to be t he face of t he school. On top of t hat I t h i n k leadersh ip a nd a love of Devon a re t he ma i n t h i ngs. T he job of t he president is to get k ids to come to event s a nd get as ma ny k ids at Devon i nvolved as possible. L ast yea r we had t he event s but not t he at tenda nce, so nex t yea r we’re goi ng to work on t he sa me event s wh i le t r y i ng to get a l l of Devon i nvolved a l l t he t i me.

DD: If you could make any change to Devon Prep what would it be?

OP: I wou ld rea l ly l i ke to see ou r at tenda nce ex pa nd. I t h i n k t hat Devon is a fa nt ast ic place a nd shou ld of fer what it has to as ma ny k ids as possible because it ’s a n oppor t u n it y t hat not ma ny people get . I wou ld l i ke to ex pa nd en rol l ment because t hat wou ld g ive more k ids t he oppor t u n it y to ex per ience what t he school is.

DD: How do you see your role in working with classroom representat ives?

OP: I t h i n k t hat it ’s i mpor ta nt to have a good cha i n of com ma nd a nd to get t he word out to as ma ny k ids as possible. For ex a mple, i f Ms. Med i na g ives me a n idea, I ca n tel l t he class president s, t he class president s tel l t he homeroom represent at ives, a nd event ua l ly w it h i n t h ree steps ever ybody i n t he ent i re school k now s. So I tel l f ive or si x people, t hey tel l f ive or si x people, t hey tel l ten people each, a nd t he ent i re school k now s t here’s a g r i l l-out t h is Fr iday or a ta i lgate or somet h i ng l i ke t hat . So I t h i n k my job is basica l ly ma k i ng su re k ids a re get t i ng t he word out a nd hy pi ng st u f f .

DD: At the end of next year what do you want people to remember about your term? W hat do you want your legac y to be?

OP: I wou ld l i ke by t he end of nex t yea r t here to be a rea l sense i n Devon t hat ever ybody was welcome ever y where. I wa nt ever ybody to t h i n k to t hemselves “Dude do you remember t hose P it ga mes? T hose were awesome! Do you remember t he ta i lgate? T hat was g reat ! Yes, we got k icked out, but it was a good t i me”. So I’d l i ke ever ybody to look back on t h is com i ng yea r at Devon a nd say “Wow t he school rea l ly ca me toget her as one ent it y t hat yea r ”.

DD: W hat i s the f irst thing you plan to do when your term beg ins?

OP: I’m goi ng to order a ma rble bust of my sel f ca r ved for Ca lasa nc t ius Ha l l .

DD: W here in Calasanct iu s Hall?

OP: I was t h i n k i ng by t he pia no but I’m not rea l ly su re. We cou ld a l most ma ke a n a lta r to it , but rea l ly a ny where work s. It ’s rea l ly just t hat I wa nt f rom my sold iers just a ma rble stat ue of my sel f .

DD: I think that ’s a good u se of Devon Prep f und s.

OP: Yea h, I def i n itely t h i n k so.

Devon Dialogue: What made you decide to run for office?

Sean Bevan: I really want to be able to improve this school and help out with everything. This year I helped out with everything but next year I’ll have more of a power role and be able to actually run events like Battle of the Bands and SpringFest and actually be able to get my name out there and make a reputation for myself by putting my own spin on things.

DD: What do you see as the role of your position? What special talents do you bring?

SB: I have experience with all the events we currently run so it’ll be easy for Matt, Owen, and me to get the events done and increase attendance. I think we can get those events done and I can run them and then Owen and Matt can focus on the new things.

DD: If you could make any change to Devon Prep what would it be?

SB: I would make the communications, especially among the student body, better because I feel they’re lacking. Sometimes the middle school is out of the loop and people don’t show up to events. I feel that the more people that show up the more we can give back to the student body, and the more free t-shirts and tailgates we can have. We need to get the communication systems up so that we have more attendance by Devon kids at events.

DD: What is the first thing you plan to do when your term begins?

SB: I strongly feel that we should have a high school field day. The first thing I’m going to do is approach Mr. Iezzi and start the workings of getting field day back next year, probably in early October or late September.

DD: At the end of next year what do you want people to remember about your term? What do you want your legacy to be?

SB: I don’t really want an event as a legacy. I just want everyone to see me as someone who helped out with everything and was involved.

Treasurer Matthew McDevittJackson Misko ‘14

Devon Dialogue: What made you decide to run for of f ice?

Matt hew McDev it t: Over t he past few years here at Devon I’ve been ver y act ive in a l l of Devon’s act iv it ies and ever y t hing it has to of fer. I real ly want to g ive back to Devon and play my par t as t reasurer.

DD: What do you see as the role of your position?

MM: I want to get t he money to f inance t hings such as f ree t-shir ts and al l t he dif ferent events we have planned for nex t year and make t hem t he best t hat t hey can be.

DD: If you could make any change to Devon Prep what would it be?

MM: The biggest change I would make is t he involvement of students here at Devon. Ever y tai lgate we have t he same few k ids who show up again and again. I want to branch out to t he middle school and t he upper school and real ly get ever yone involved nex t year. A lso, we have a lot of clot hing at Devon. Nex t year I real ly want to focus on gett ing more qualit y apparel t hat’s reasonably priced.

DD: At the end of next year what do you want people to remember about your term? What do you want your legacy to be?

MM: I would l ike k ids to actual ly remember t he t reasurer.

Valedictorian Ryan Shannon

Valedictorian Antonio Muscarella

Every year, the Devon community selects a valedictorian to represent the best aspects of the Devon way of life. The Valedictorian is the father figure of the Devon student body. This year, the Devon student body shall have three father figures to unite under. One of them, Ryan Shannon ’13, is an embodiment of Devon itself and an exemplary leader and, to the Devon student body, a great friend.

As a perfect example of a “scholar-athlete,” Ryan has pushed the boundaries of his mental as well as physical self. Since grade eight, Ryan has participated in soccer and basketball, bringing a competitive as well as communal environment to the field and court. He has been an active member of campus ministry since ninth grade. Since his junior year, Ryan has

played an important role in both stage crew and Ultimate Frisbee. In addition, he has given back to Devon through the summer camp program since 2010. Ryan was also named Mainline Athlete of the Week in November of 2012. Ryan has been a prolific writer for the Devon Dialogue since grade eleven and has been an integral part of the Academic Challenge Team since grade twelve.

While these accomplishments are highly impressive, the most striking aspect of Ryan is his personality and resolve. Ryan is motivated by a desire for competition, which is expressed in all facets of his life. In athletics, Ryan brings a fighting spirit unmatched by any competitors. In academics, Ryan channels the same fighting spirit, striving to do as well as possible. To Ryan,

life is very similar to a soccer game: “We are all teammates trying to help each other succeed and reach the ultimate goal in life, heaven.”

Ryan’s desire to help others, an aspect of his altruistic personality, is best manifested in his career choice. Ryan desires to study bioengineering so that he can better help society’s growing health problems. As the fall approaches, Ryan will be heading off to Schreyer Honors College of Pennsylvania State University. With Ryan gone, Devon will have lost an important part of its student body. But, Ryan will not be forgotten. There is a Mae West quote that goes “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Ryan has lived through Devon, and shown that once truly is enough.

Andrew Bright ‘14, Editor-in-Chief ElectEvery year, the Devon family is united

under an individual who has striven tirelessly in academics, extracurricular activities, and a Christian way of life and whose feats have inspired those around him to follow in his path. However, this year, we will not have one person to unite under; instead, it is a great honor to have three exemplary young men to lead us as ambassadors of the Devon way of life. Each has worked for the betterment of the school and community, strived to better understand the world in which he lives, and served as a model of Christ in a way that this article could never do justice. One of these individuals is Antonio Muscarella ’13.

Antonio has been a member of the Devon family since sixth grade, earning him a coveted spot in the “7-Year Club.” Throughout his time at Devon, Antonio has become involved in numerous activities. He has participated in Science Olympiad, a local science competition,

since ninth grade. He has been a member of the Academic Challenge Team becoming an integral part of the team and eventually captain in his senior year. Antonio is one of the founding members of the Solar Car Club and has been an active member since tenth grade. He has been involved in both Mathletes and Model United Nations since grade eleven and a member of the Devon Prep Environmental Society since grade twelve. He is also one of the two founding members of the Chemistry Club, a club whose bravado and sense of exploration emulates his own qualities. His literary talent as expressed through the Devon Dialogue has become a welcome facet to the Devon community and has earned him the position of Editor-in-Chief in his senior year.

However, it is not Antonio’s impressive accomplishments that amount to his legacy, but rather his disposition towards life, a disposition

summarized by Leonardo Da Vinci: “the noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.” Antonio believes that knowledge can be one the most powerful forces of good in this world, an idea which he attempts to express in his everyday actions. Antonio is the epitome of a “Renaissance Man.” His wide array of skills and knowledge has been an important aspect of the Devon life and community.

As the year comes to a close, Antonio is preparing to make the leap from the domesticity of the Devon atmosphere to the great beyond. Antonio will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, along with Tom Seykora ’13, another valedictorian. Although Antonio may be gone, he will not be forgotten. He has left an imprint on the Devon community and those around him. Devon wishes him, and the rest of the Class of 2013, luck in their future endeavors. It is up to them to allow the light of Devon to shine on.

Valedictorian Thomas SeykoraJames O’Shea ‘14

Tom Seykora ’13 has always stood out among the best. After being named valedictorian, this year was no different.

First, there’s the obvious. Everyone who’s met Tom knows he’s intelligent, captain of the Academic Challenge Team, a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Commended Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a valedictorian. Tom is a stand-out student. His knowledge advances well beyond the math and science realm that Devon is often noted for; he truly enjoys all of his subjects and excels in each one.

But not so many valedictorians hold athletic records as well. Tom, a devoted track runner, set the school record in the 800 meter run with a blazing time of 1:57.75. His dedication to the sport and the team are unparalleled. As a captain of the cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams, Tom leads by example. Although generally quiet, Tom inspired the team before every cross country meet with a fiery speech.

Tom’s attention to detail makes him an effective leader and contributor to society. Tom is also an Eagle Scout, the highest possible rank in the Boy Scouts. Tom has been a Boy Scout for over seven years, a true testament to his will and resolve to accomplish tasks.

While all of these accomplishments are very impressive to say the least, the most important thing about Tom is his character. Without this, all of the above seems trivial. What’s special about Tom is his outlook on life. He’s concerned about the community and wants to make a greater impact on it. He combines his passions and skills so that they benefit others. Tom is unselfish and puts others first. Most don’t know that he organized an entire track meet

for the blind children at the Overbrook School for the Blind. He truly wants to help others and his passion for what he does is contagious. He’s down-to-earth, unpretentious, and simply put, really just a great guy.

Devon surely won’t be the same with Tom gone. But Tom will continue to impact those around him as a student at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. Overall, Tom is a shining example of the Devon way of life.

Andrew Bright ‘14, Editor-in-Chief Elect

Valedictorians Antonio Muscarella (Left), Thomas Seykora (Middle), and Ryan Shannon (Right)

Dialogue EditorialsThe Importance of APs

Kevin Sheng ‘14So, why did we just spend $89.00 to

take a three hour test? Why spend eight months studying and working nearly non-stop when we’ll just forget everything by the next year? To many of us, these cours-es seem unnecessary and superf luous. We take them only for those magic two letters on our transcript, and that number on our score report. However, contrary to popular belief, these classes we “waste” our time in actually do teach us important things, even if we don’t realize it.

We don’t necessarily take these high school classes to learn the material. In ten years, we’ll hardly be expected to know the stages of embryonic development or the last president during Reconstruction (unless, of course, you want to be a biologist or histori-an). What stays with us are the new ways of thinking and learning (yes, in high school, we learn how to effectively learn). We de-velop new approaches to looking at prob-lems and interpreting passages. Something as basic as algebra, for instance, facilitates a logical approach to thinking and solving problems. We approach problems every day using skills developed by our middle school math courses. AP courses in particular de-velop our ability to understand and deliver arguments. Courses involving the humani-ties teach us how to effectively synthesize data, express a stance, and defend an argu-ment. Traditionally problem-based STEM courses show us how to identify the prob-lem, determine the steps necessary to solv-ing the problem, and execute these steps to come up with a solution. The weight of the free response and essay sections of the exams is a testament to how integral these abilities are to the course. Acquiring these methodologies is the most lasting and sig-nificant result of the AP course.

These high school classes also impact our opportunities in college and our future ca-reers. You should not shy away from math or science just because you plan on becom-ing a liberal arts major and vice versa. Ev-erything we learn is interrelated. You’ll find yourself applying things you learned in hu-man geography to biology, and things you learned in physics to calculus (hint, graphs are important). Everything we learn in high school is a foundation for what we do in col-lege. Things you thought inconsequential in high school will return in college, even in seemingly unrelated subjects. What you learn in the future builds on what you sup-posedly learned in high school. These high school fundamentals are even more impor-tant if you don’t know what you want to do in the future. Not putting in effort to learn and understand this material can only close doors and block opportunities.

There are many reasons you should at-tempt to succeed in both AP courses and regular courses. Each Devon student has his own motivations, but it the end it can only expand your future possibilities and understanding of the world. And, of course, college credits are always nice.

Curtain CallRyan Mattox ‘13, Associate Editor for Entertainment Emeritus

I’ve decided to recount my memories of the dramas here at Devon. Not broad mem-ories or an editorial goodbye, just a story or two. I want to express what Devon was, what the experience was for me.

I began with a role in the drama my first year, The Matchmaker. It was a good role, and anyone would say I did a good job with it. So how did I absolutely ruin that first performance for myself and everyone involved? I took it far too seriously; I say that with no exaggeration. I f lubbed my lines that first night, missing a whole page of them in one of my first scenes. Now, looking back at that night, I have three dra-mas worth of experience to realize I was be-ing stupid. But that night I felt justified in losing my cool at myself and anybody who tried to talk to me. That was the first lesson I learned from the theater at Devon: don’t be so serious all the time, especially when it gets you angry.

This leads right into my second tale, the following year’s drama. Woody Allen, thank you for living. Don’t Drink the Water was the most over the top play I’ve ever been in, and on opening night we were fantastic.

More than that, the very same people who gave me a wide berth just months ago at the spring musical Hot Mikado were chatting with me. These guys and girls would’ve been justified in avoiding me altogether, as I went crazy on them pretty bad the year before. But through Woody Allen’s play, which was all laughs all the time, I learned the second important lesson Devon taught me: first impressions are important, but they aren’t forever. It’s not hard to change someone’s opinion when you open up.

There were other things I’ve learned from the dramas, some just as important as those two lessons. But I won’t write them down, because they’re mine alone. Chang-es I had to make for myself only. They were good lessons and have made me the Ryan Mattox I am today. But those two lessons are for everybody who reads this, whether you need them or not.

Shakespeare, with whom I share a birthday, explains it the best. “All the world’s a stage, women and men are its ac-tors…” I’ve heard this quote all my life and understand it now more than ever. Thanks for everything, Devon Prep.

A New Type of DroneMichael Horbowy ‘14

The X-47B is t he f i rst unmanned a ir-cra f t to ta ke of f f rom an a ircra f t carr ier. The f ighter-jet size plane was launched f rom t he USS George H.W. Bush on Tuesday, May 14 , 2013, whi le in t he At-lant ic Ocean. The abi l it y of drones to ta ke of f f rom ships wi l l be an incred-ibly va luable tool . They wi l l be able to operate around t he world wit hout ot her countr ies permission for a base.

This par t icu lar plane was de-signed speci f ica l ly for ta k ing of f and landing on warships. A lt hough it d id not land on t he deck of t he ship, one of a nava l pi lot ’s most d i f f icu lt cha l lenges , it d id successf u l ly ta ke of f an a ircra f t carr ier. It is not current ly meant for op-erat iona l use, but instead for obta ining v ita l informat ion to help develop t he drone program as it enters into a new phase.

The X-47B is quite advanced for a simple test ing dummy. It can reach an a lt itude of over 40,000 feet as wel l as t ravel more t han 2 ,100 mi les . It cannot t ravel at supersonic speeds, but can get

close to t hem. The a ircra f t is a lso ca-pable of f u l ly autonomous f l ight mean-ing computer programs can control t he drone wit hout outside assistance.

However, as t he program progresses , t here is increased pushback . Many na-t ions say t hat drones cause widespread and unwarranted civ i l ian deat h. Rat her t han debate t his , nava l of f icia ls instead point out t he posit ives , such as constant intel l igence, sur vei l lance, and target ing capabi l it ies .

Crit ics have ra ised concern t hat t he drone program, advanced by t his f l ight , w i l l create f u l ly autonomous and weaponized unmanned vehicles , decreasing human control over launch-ing at tacks. Last year t he Depar tment of Defense stated t hat it w i l l not pursue completely unmanned weapons, for t he near f uture.

A lt hough t he X-47B did not land on t he carr ier, t he Nav y plans to con-duct such a test soon. The X-47B marks a new phase of drone development t hat is bot h promising and controversia l .

The Devon DifferenceAntonio Muscarella ‘13, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

We of the Devon Community often joke about the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the school, qualifying them by the phrase “The Devon Difference.” Whether it be the fact that none of the clocks in the classrooms ever seem to tell the correct time, or the fact that most school deadlines for forms for special events are usually extended to the day of the event in question, “The Devon Difference” seems to accurately convey Devon’s unique customs in a simple three-word adage.

While we may laugh and joke about all of the peculiar things that happen here at Devon, there is truly something about this school quite unlike any other. There is a “Devon Difference” that pervades the community here at Devon Prep, and many of us tend to miss it, even though we are reminded of it every day we come to school. In the main lobby, on the wall right next to the door to the main office, there is a blue framed sign that proclaims the “Devon Difference.” It reads as follows:

“Let it be known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school. The unseen but ever present Teacher in the classes, Model of its faculty, Inspiration of its students.”

This is the Devon Difference. Jesus Christ’s presence permeates these halls and inspires the minds and hearts of everyone in the Devon community. Because of Him, we all come to share in the community of love that is Devon Prep. We all see the presence of our Lord and Savior in each other, and we try to bring out Christ’s love in each other. Whether it is students, faculty, staff, families, or friends, we are all united in one community of Christ’s love.

Truly the teachers of this school follow in Christ’s footsteps. Their patience, kindness, devotion, and sacrifice are as abundant as they are admirable. While we lamented over the extra work that they gave us, our myopic perception of our teachers addled our ability to see the greater picture. Now, as the year comes to a close and we look back, we realize just how incredible our teachers are. They’ve spent countless hours both in and out of the classroom, devoting their lives to our education so that we may succeed. Their dedication and the knowledge they shared with us plays an invaluable role in shaping us into intelligent, confident adults.

And, of course, it isn’t just the teachers that make Devon Prep a special place. Each and every member of our community has played an integral role in bringing us here today: whether it be the administration, with Fr. Shea and Mr. Iezzi devoting countless hours, overseeing all that goes on at Devon; or Mrs. Real and all the office staff, who ensure every aspect of the school is running like clockwork; or Mr. Nattle and the maintenance staff, by whose countless hours of hard work have made Devon Prep into the beautiful place that it is; or Mrs. Kalivas and the kitchen staff who have prepared us delicious food each and every day. All of these people and many others are involved in keeping the “Devon Difference” alive in our school.

Just as Christ is the “Devon Difference” that radiates throughout the school and the student body, so too are the parents of Devon Prep like the Blessed Virgin Mary and her devoted husband St. Joseph. Within this Holy Family is the purest essence of parenthood. Such is the manner in which our parents love us, with an unwavering and infinitely great love. Love, in its purest form, is sacrifice. The perfect example of this is the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord, who loved us so much that He gave his own life to save us. This is love. And this is the manner in which our parents love us. They would do anything for us, and we have already seen how much they have sacrificed to fill our lives with hope and opportunity.

So the next time you hear the phrase “The Devon Difference,” think about what truly makes Devon Prep such a special place. The presence of Jesus Christ fills the hallways and classrooms of the school and the hearts and minds of all the students, teachers, staff, parents, family, and friends that are part of the greater Devon community. We are all united in our Lord Jesus Christ, and we all come to share in His love though the members of the Devon community.

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Elect: Andrew Bright ‘14Co-Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect: Patrick Shields ‘14Co-Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elect: James Stanish ‘14

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus: Antonio Muscarella ‘13Deputy Editor-in-Chief Emeritus: Michael Tolvaisa ‘13Photography Editor Emeritus: Tim Crowe ’13

Faculty Moderator: Mr. Lawrence Theuer Assistant Photography Editor: Rafael Suero ‘13 Associate Editor for News: Patrick Shields ‘14 Associate Editor for Editorials: Sean Melvin ‘13

Associate Editor for Entertainment: Ryan Mattox ‘13 Associate Editor for Sports: Ryan Shannon ‘13 Associate Editor for Interviews & Polls: Kevin Fulmer ‘13

All photos, unless otherwise noted, taken by newspaper staff or Ms. Rose Lombardo, for Devon Preparatory School.

Special thanks to Fr. Shea for his tireless assistance and guidance

© 2012–2013 Devon Prep

College Highlights for the Class of 2013

Total amount of scholarships earned by the Class of 2013: $6,032,984

303 applications from the Class of 2013:3 Early Decision65 Early Action44 Rolling191 Regular Decision

Institutions:Applied to: 112Accepted at: 80Enrolled in: 22

Most popular colleges applied to by the Class of 2013: Drexel University (23) Loyola University Maryland (15) St. Joseph’s University (11) University of Delaware (10)

Institutions with the highest Class of 2013 enrollments: St. Joseph’s University (6) Rochester Institute of Technology (3) Drexel University (3) University of Pennsylvania (2) Penn State University (2) Loyola University Maryland (2) Fordham University (2) Gettysburg College (2)