Lower Merion High School
Encyclopedia
Lower Merion High School, is an American public high school
in Ardmore
, a community on the Pennsylvania
Main Line
.
It is the larger of the two high schools in Lower Merion School District
, which serves both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth
. It was ranked among the top 60 U.S. high schools, public or private, by The Wall Street Journal
in 2005. In 2010, 1,378 students attended the school. The athletics teams are known officially as the "Aces," but the football team is called the "Bulldogs".
The Ardmore Avenue School burned in 1900 but was rebuilt, also of stone (photo). In 1911, the high school moved out of the elementary school to new quarters designed and constructed at the present site of 245 E. Montgomery Avenue. Dedicated on December 2, 1911, "Lower Merion Senior High School" was an impressive granite and stone edifice considered to be one of the finest new educational facilities in the state. The 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) property, complete with three stone-arch entrances, landscaped grounds and a football stadium, eventually grew to 23 acres (93,077.8 m²), with the purchase and annexation of the Clarke House. At its opening, twenty-one staff members were employed under principal "Professor" Charles B. Pennypacker. (photo)
In 1922, Ardmore Junior High School was constructed adjacent to the senior high school and in 1926 two new wings were added on either side of the main high school building. These additions doubled the size of the original school, helping to accommodate rapidly increasing enrollment. The present administration building was constructed in 1932 to provide office space and an additional twenty-five classrooms. By 1940, the teaching staff had expanded to 61 under the direction of principal George H. Gilbert. Total student enrollment was 1461 for grades 10–12.
In 1943 an adjoining "technical" building was added along the School House Lane side to house shops for auto repair, metal, print, wood-working and drafting (photo). In 1950 a cafeteria/library wing (photo) designed by the Philadelphia firm of Savory, Scheetz and Gilmour was added near Pennypacker athletic field. That same year the 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) General Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold
athletic fields opened on land located directly across Montgomery Ave. By 1957, the enrollment had grown to 1,663 students and the time had come to build a second high school (Harriton) in Lower Merion Township. The original 1910 building was demolished in 1963 and replaced by an air-conditioned classroom structure designed by H.A. Kuljian and Co.
Due to enrollment increases and to accommodate changing program needs, the District frequently reconfigured spaces in the facility, including the re-opening of classroom and storage space in the former Ardmore Junior High School in the 1990s. (Most of the junior high school had been demolished in 1992 to make way for additional parking). The rooms in the technical building were converted for other uses, including art classes, computer labs and the school's television studio. Original classrooms were re-purposed as spaces for individualized learning support and students with special needs. The central lobby that connected the 1963 and 1932 structures was converted to a college-style help center in 2004.
In 2004, a community advisory committee determined that existing facilities no longer met the standards of the Lower Merion community and recommended that a new school configured for 21st century education be constructed on the same site. The Board and administration authorized construction of a new school in 2007. Demolition of the "Ardmore Annex" along with the natatorium and one of the school's two gyms commenced in the summer of 2008 to make way for construction. The new Lower Merion High School opened in September 2010 and was dedicated during a public ceremony on October 18, 2010. In addition to state-of-the-art classrooms, science laboratories, art classrooms and music rehearsal spaces, the new Lower Merion features a lecture hall with tiered seating, a multi-purpose black box theater, an 850-seat auditorium/theater, a greenhouse for environmental and horticultural studies, high-performance athletic facilities, a swimming pool, a television studio, multi-media production facilities, a music technology lab, an expansive courtyard and a two-story, glass-encased library that serves as the building’s exterior focal point along Montgomery Avenue.
The school also features a planetarium on top of the old building. It was closed after it was declared a fire hazard. It was then temporarily transformed into a staff lounge room. However, the room is currently vacated.
The new school was constructed adjacent to the historic district administration office building (DAO), which is the only “original” structure that remains on the site. A number of measures were approved by the Lower Merion Historic Commission to ensure the school was designed to complement this Class I historic resource. The placement of the new building provides an unobstructed view of the DAO from Montgomery Avenue. The color and size of the masonry used in the new building is reflective of materials of the DAO. Vertical windows and metal spandrel panels echo elements of the DAO’s façade. The scale of the building is also sympathetic to the nearby residential neighborhood. The stone engraving of Ardmore Junior High School's motto, "Enter To Learn, Go Forth To Serve" remains on the front lawn of the high school property, facing Montgomery Avenue. (photo)
, honors and college preparatory classes.
. Classes range in level and difficulty [College Prep (CP) to Advanced Placement (AP)]. Japanese is available to upperclassmen only.
Class "AAAA" State Championships, the most by a PIAA Class "AAAA" school, the most recent of which was in March 2006 under Head Coach Gregg Downer (1990–). In the 2004–05 season, the Aces, despite being the fourth seed out of District I, won the Western bracket and became the lowest seed to ever reach the State Finals. The team was led by the "Big Three," Dan Capkin, Ryan Brooks, and Garret Williamson. In 2006, Lower Merion avenged three previous losses against the Chester Clippers in a rematch at the University of Pennsylvania Palestra
, and ultimately beating the heavily favored Schenley High School
Spartans 60-58 in the championship game. The Aces were led by seniors Ryan Brooks and Garrett Williamson, who graduated from Temple University
and Saint Joseph's University
, respectively, in 2010.
The following year, despite having lost six seniors (including Brooks and Williamson), the Aces advanced to the AAAA Quarterfinals, losing to Simon Gratz High School
. Highlights of that year included finishing with the fewest "points allowed", two blowout wins against Springfield, and Ridley High Schools (both Central League rivals, to whom the team lost to earlier in the season), a buzzer beater win against Chester in overtime on a shot by captain Adam Ellison, another buzzer beater by team superstar sophomore Greg Robbins against Easton High School in States, and holding Souderton High School to only one point in the third quarter.
The Aces' fan section, nicknamed "the dawg pound" (c. 1997), is widely considered as the most involved and dedicated in the area.
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant
led Lower Merion to a State Championship before graduating in 1996, when he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft
and subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
. Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with Los Angeles Lakers, the winner of the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, is a 13-time NBA All-Star and four time All-Star Game MVP, 2-time league scoring leader, won the 2008 NBA MVP Award, the 2009–10 NBA Finals MVP award and scored the second most points in a single-game in NBA history with 81 points on January 22, 2006.
On December 16, 2010, the school held a sold out dedication ceremony for Kobe Bryant, naming the school's new gym after their famous alumnus.
The active players for the Aces at the championships are:
1. Courtney Fenimore (Junior)
2. Kristen Roth (Sophomore)
3. Julie Raezer (Senior
1 Doubles. Andrea Dumitrescu (Senior)/Yuxin Liu (Freshman)
2 Doubles. Leslie Golden (Senior)/ Grace Hollaender (Senior)
The LM boys team also captured the state title in 2006 and successfully repeated history in 2007. The duo of Robby Kay and Courtney Scott, who now have continued on to play at the University of Delaware, won two state championships in their time at Lower Merion. The 2006-2007 Lower Merion Boys Tennis Team had four players that currently play division 1 tennis.
groups at Lower Merion. Both choral groups feature 16 students. Ace Harmony is a co-ed group, while Ace's Angels is all girls. They performed the entire Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, for their January 2007 winter concert. The manager of both groups, Joshua Hunnex, teaches in the music department at Lower Merion. He is also an accomplished singer with an extensive musical background.
to great American soul food classics like Mac 'n Cheese. Club members also watch food-preparation demonstrations done by various teachers at Lower Merion High School as well as guests from the real culinary world. The club provides its members hands on activities in the kitchen and good life skills.
. It is a community service club which has an obligation to perform at least one local and international project each year, as dictated by its international Constitution. Sponsored by the Ardmore Rotary club, LM's chapter has gone on to volunteer at senior citizens centers, paint murals through the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, refurbish houses and parks in West Philadelphia through AchieveAbility, and has raised money for Rotary's Shelter Box program and Interact's BluePack campaign. Unfortunately, the Lower Merion chapter of Interact is no longer in existence.
Aces Update is currently scheduled to resume for the 2007–08 school year on December 17, 2007, after receiving a new Flash Video distribution system, similar to that of popular video sharing sites such as YouTube
and Meta Cafe. This upgrade comes along with others in the studio including new computers used to edit and produce the show. This new system will bring viewers a better viewing experience, such as eliminating buffer times, better video and sound quality, and less bandwidth used.
President: Aniqa Hassan
Vice President: Aziz Kamoun
Secretary: Andrew Pasquier
Treasurer: Danny Kane
Sergeant-at-Arms: Morgan Berman
, Roots of Peace
, and Central Asia Institute
. The gala, held in the spring of each year, serves as the club's main fundraiser. The amount of money the club makes each year is usually around $10,000.
(TSA) chapter, and also competed in the annual mousetrap competitions at Widener University
and in the JETS/TEAMS competition. The 2003–04 school year was the first year the Club attended the National TSA conference, taking home first place trophies in two events. During the 2005–06 school year, Lower Merion's FIRST Robotics team was formed, choosing the team name "Dawgma". This was formed under the supervision of English Teacher Rich Kressly, who worked with Piotrowski to make FIRST a part of the Technology and Engineering Club. During its rookie year, Dawgma competed at the Philadelphia Regional and won the Highest Rookie Seed Award and the Rookie All-Star Award. During the 2006–07 school year, Dawgma competed in the Ramp Riot competition at Wissahickon High School
and the Duel on the Delaware which are both off-season competitions, as well as the Philadelphia Regional where they placed 4th overall, and won the GM Industrial Design Award. Dawgma also competed in the FIRST Robotics 2007 championship where they placed 6th overall in the Galileo Division. The Technology and Engineering Club has become the second largest club at Lower Merion, having over 100 registered members during the 2005–06 year, compared to about 10 members during the 2002–03 year.
team, was created in the 2005–2006 school year with the special efforts of Christian Vanni (Class of 2006). In their first season, Babaganouj fared well, placing 5th in the state and sending a group of players to nationals with the regional youth club team. As of May 2006, they are coached by Christina and Paul Minecci, and are now an official school club. By 2008, Babaganouj fielded three teams: the A team, the B team, coached by Rick Atkins and the girl's team (though girls play on the A and B teams as well), coached by Kathy Rowe and captained by Jenna Perna-Elias and Beah Jacobson. In 2009 and 2010, the Lower Merion girls team won the PA State HS Championships, women's division. The 2010 A team tied for 5th at the State Championships. Lower Merion now graduates high school players to the top College programs in the country, including Tufts, Carleton, Pitt, Brown, and Dartmouth.
Conferences and discusses current international events on a biweekly basis.
It is customary for Seniors to perform a "senior prank" in the month set aside for senior projects. The annual prank takes place at the school, and victimizes the students, administration, and teachers.
Shake Your Booty
At pep rallies, Lower Merion Students, accompanied by the school's pep band, perform the "Shake Your Booty" chant (below). Each of the chants four verses addresses a different class of the high school, usually starting with the freshman class.
Freshmen verse: Sophomores,Juniors, and Seniors: Hey Freshmen!
Freshmen: Hey what?
S, J ,Sr: Hey Freshmen!
Freshmen: Hey what?
S, J, Sr: Shake your booty!
Freshmen: What?
S, J, Sr: Shake your booty!
Two parents filed the lawsuit against the school district on February 11, 2010. The plaintiff was a student at one of the two district high schools. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction
ordering the district to stop its secret webcam monitoring, and ordered the district to pay the plaintiffs' attorney fees.
In July 2010, a Lower Merion High School student filed a parallel second suit. The school was also put on notice of a third parallel suit that a third student intends to bring, for "improper surveillance of the Lower Merion High School student on his school issued laptop", which included taking over 700 webcam shots and screenshots between December 2009 and February 2010.
A U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee held hearings on the issues raised by the schools' secret surveillance, and Senator Arlen Specter introduced draft legislation in the Senate to protect against it in the future. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), U.S. Attorney's Office, and Montgomery County District Attorney all initiated criminal investigations of the matter, which they combined and then closed because they did not find evidence "that would establish beyond a reasonable doubt that anyone involved had criminal intent". The civil lawsuit has a much lower burden of proof, and is unaffected by the decision. Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael McGrath said: "This would appear to be a matter to be resolved in civil court." An investigative report prepared by the law firm Ballard, Spahr LLP–the firm that the Lower Merion School District had hired to defend it–did not find evidence that the system "was used to 'spy' on students", but was unable in many instances to find who had authorized that the system take surreptitious photographs, for what reason, and to find copies of photographs that had been deleted from the school server.
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
in Ardmore
Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Ardmore is a census-designated place in Delaware and Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 12,455 at the 2010 census...
, a community on the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road...
.
It is the larger of the two high schools in Lower Merion School District
Lower Merion School District
Lower Merion School District, or LMSD, is a public school district located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The school district includes residents of both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. Established in 1836, LMSD is one of the oldest districts in Pennsylvania...
, which serves both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth
Narberth, Pennsylvania
Narberth is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,282 at the 2010 census.-History:Narberth is located on a parcel of land originally deeded to Edward Rees , who arrived from Wales in 1682. A portion of this original tract became the farm of Edward R...
. It was ranked among the top 60 U.S. high schools, public or private, by The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
in 2005. In 2010, 1,378 students attended the school. The athletics teams are known officially as the "Aces," but the football team is called the "Bulldogs".
History
In 1894, with the consolidation of the area's three village high schools (Merion Square, Bryn Mawr, and Ardmore), Lower Merion began its first year in a stone building shared with the Ardmore Avenue Elementary School in Ardmore (photo). In 1897, nine students participated in the school's first commencement ceremony. The original high school faculty had seven members, including the principal and superintendent. The curriculum offered only a two-year preparation for either college or industry.The Ardmore Avenue School burned in 1900 but was rebuilt, also of stone (photo). In 1911, the high school moved out of the elementary school to new quarters designed and constructed at the present site of 245 E. Montgomery Avenue. Dedicated on December 2, 1911, "Lower Merion Senior High School" was an impressive granite and stone edifice considered to be one of the finest new educational facilities in the state. The 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) property, complete with three stone-arch entrances, landscaped grounds and a football stadium, eventually grew to 23 acres (93,077.8 m²), with the purchase and annexation of the Clarke House. At its opening, twenty-one staff members were employed under principal "Professor" Charles B. Pennypacker. (photo)
In 1922, Ardmore Junior High School was constructed adjacent to the senior high school and in 1926 two new wings were added on either side of the main high school building. These additions doubled the size of the original school, helping to accommodate rapidly increasing enrollment. The present administration building was constructed in 1932 to provide office space and an additional twenty-five classrooms. By 1940, the teaching staff had expanded to 61 under the direction of principal George H. Gilbert. Total student enrollment was 1461 for grades 10–12.
In 1943 an adjoining "technical" building was added along the School House Lane side to house shops for auto repair, metal, print, wood-working and drafting (photo). In 1950 a cafeteria/library wing (photo) designed by the Philadelphia firm of Savory, Scheetz and Gilmour was added near Pennypacker athletic field. That same year the 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) General Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold
Henry H. Arnold
Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S...
athletic fields opened on land located directly across Montgomery Ave. By 1957, the enrollment had grown to 1,663 students and the time had come to build a second high school (Harriton) in Lower Merion Township. The original 1910 building was demolished in 1963 and replaced by an air-conditioned classroom structure designed by H.A. Kuljian and Co.
Due to enrollment increases and to accommodate changing program needs, the District frequently reconfigured spaces in the facility, including the re-opening of classroom and storage space in the former Ardmore Junior High School in the 1990s. (Most of the junior high school had been demolished in 1992 to make way for additional parking). The rooms in the technical building were converted for other uses, including art classes, computer labs and the school's television studio. Original classrooms were re-purposed as spaces for individualized learning support and students with special needs. The central lobby that connected the 1963 and 1932 structures was converted to a college-style help center in 2004.
In 2004, a community advisory committee determined that existing facilities no longer met the standards of the Lower Merion community and recommended that a new school configured for 21st century education be constructed on the same site. The Board and administration authorized construction of a new school in 2007. Demolition of the "Ardmore Annex" along with the natatorium and one of the school's two gyms commenced in the summer of 2008 to make way for construction. The new Lower Merion High School opened in September 2010 and was dedicated during a public ceremony on October 18, 2010. In addition to state-of-the-art classrooms, science laboratories, art classrooms and music rehearsal spaces, the new Lower Merion features a lecture hall with tiered seating, a multi-purpose black box theater, an 850-seat auditorium/theater, a greenhouse for environmental and horticultural studies, high-performance athletic facilities, a swimming pool, a television studio, multi-media production facilities, a music technology lab, an expansive courtyard and a two-story, glass-encased library that serves as the building’s exterior focal point along Montgomery Avenue.
The school also features a planetarium on top of the old building. It was closed after it was declared a fire hazard. It was then temporarily transformed into a staff lounge room. However, the room is currently vacated.
The new school was constructed adjacent to the historic district administration office building (DAO), which is the only “original” structure that remains on the site. A number of measures were approved by the Lower Merion Historic Commission to ensure the school was designed to complement this Class I historic resource. The placement of the new building provides an unobstructed view of the DAO from Montgomery Avenue. The color and size of the masonry used in the new building is reflective of materials of the DAO. Vertical windows and metal spandrel panels echo elements of the DAO’s façade. The scale of the building is also sympathetic to the nearby residential neighborhood. The stone engraving of Ardmore Junior High School's motto, "Enter To Learn, Go Forth To Serve" remains on the front lawn of the high school property, facing Montgomery Avenue. (photo)
Academics
Lower Merion is often listed among the top public high schools in the country, and graduates many students each year to the top academic colleges in the nation. It offers programs for students with varying needs and interests, including Advanced Placement ProgramAdvanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
, honors and college preparatory classes.
Foreign languages
Lower Merion High School offers three languages for students of all grades, Spanish, French, and/or LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. Classes range in level and difficulty [College Prep (CP) to Advanced Placement (AP)]. Japanese is available to upperclassmen only.
Senior Project
The school's Senior Project program allows second-semester seniors get an idea of the business world, while encouraging them to take on responsibility and consider college majors. By this program, Seniors get out of school in mid-May, whereas for the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors of the school, school lets out in mid-June. They take this month off to work as an intern or research or explore a topic of interest (not for money), and then present a slideshow/video for their parents, teachers, and friends at school.Job-shadowing
Students "job-shadow" as juniors. For job-shadowing, each student gets in contact with a working adult, mindful of areas of personal interest, either prospective of the line of work or just looking for a fun or enlightening experience. A student may job-shadow a friend/neighbor or perhaps someone to whom the student has been referred by suggestion of a teacher or peer. Once the student writes a letter requesting the chosen worker's approval of being "job-shadowed", he or she makes arrangements with the adult concerning the date and time of the job-shadowing. (Students are to arrange to meet on one of four days, Monday through Thursday of a particular week, in the Month of December.) After said arrangements have been made, the student goes to the workplace of the "job-shadowee" and observes and subsequently writes about the type of work which he or she does.Athletics
The Lower Merion Athletics are represented as either the Bulldogs or the Aces. Bulldogs is mainly used for football and Aces is used by mostly rest of the sports.Varsity baseball
The 2007 Lower Merion Baseball team recorded a 12 and 6 record, the second best in 50 years. They have only won one Central League Championship, in 2005. 2007 was a successful year for the Aces. The team was led by Jeff Calvert (Central League All Main Line), Jeff Puklin (Central League All Main Line) with the help of Devlin McConnell, (first team all central league) Elliott Yodh, (second team all central league) Andy Eisenlohr, (second team all central league) Luke Porter, (honorable mention) and Anthony Fulginiti (honorable mention).Varsity basketball
The Lower Merion High School Basketball team (a.k.a. the "Aces") have won six Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic AssociationPennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
Class "AAAA" State Championships, the most by a PIAA Class "AAAA" school, the most recent of which was in March 2006 under Head Coach Gregg Downer (1990–). In the 2004–05 season, the Aces, despite being the fourth seed out of District I, won the Western bracket and became the lowest seed to ever reach the State Finals. The team was led by the "Big Three," Dan Capkin, Ryan Brooks, and Garret Williamson. In 2006, Lower Merion avenged three previous losses against the Chester Clippers in a rematch at the University of Pennsylvania Palestra
Palestra
The Palestra, also known as the Cathedral of College Basketball, is a historic arena and the home gym of the University of Pennsylvania Quakers men's and women's basketball teams, volleyball teams, wrestling team, and Philadelphia Big 5 basketball. Located at 215 South 33rd St...
, and ultimately beating the heavily favored Schenley High School
Schenley High School
Schenley High School is both a public school building and a school program that closed with the graduating class of 2011. Schenley High School is located in the North Oakland neighborhood at the edge of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2008 the school's staff and...
Spartans 60-58 in the championship game. The Aces were led by seniors Ryan Brooks and Garrett Williamson, who graduated from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
, respectively, in 2010.
The following year, despite having lost six seniors (including Brooks and Williamson), the Aces advanced to the AAAA Quarterfinals, losing to Simon Gratz High School
Simon Gratz High School
Simon Gratz High School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. An inner-city school, it is perhaps best-known for its famous alumni . Originally operated as a public school by the School District of Philadelphia, Gratz has been run as a charter school by Mastery Charter...
. Highlights of that year included finishing with the fewest "points allowed", two blowout wins against Springfield, and Ridley High Schools (both Central League rivals, to whom the team lost to earlier in the season), a buzzer beater win against Chester in overtime on a shot by captain Adam Ellison, another buzzer beater by team superstar sophomore Greg Robbins against Easton High School in States, and holding Souderton High School to only one point in the third quarter.
The Aces' fan section, nicknamed "the dawg pound" (c. 1997), is widely considered as the most involved and dedicated in the area.
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
led Lower Merion to a State Championship before graduating in 1996, when he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft
1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association . It was held on June 26, 1996 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the Turner Network Television...
and subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with Los Angeles Lakers, the winner of the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, is a 13-time NBA All-Star and four time All-Star Game MVP, 2-time league scoring leader, won the 2008 NBA MVP Award, the 2009–10 NBA Finals MVP award and scored the second most points in a single-game in NBA history with 81 points on January 22, 2006.
On December 16, 2010, the school held a sold out dedication ceremony for Kobe Bryant, naming the school's new gym after their famous alumnus.
Varsity tennis
The Lower Merion Varsity Tennis Team, under coach Joe Monaco have achieved athletic excellence that could be mostly described as under-celebrated. The Varsity Girls Tennis team captured the PIAA division AAA state champion title in 2005, along with the central league and district title for the past 5 years. This win is bittersweet for the seniors at that time because of the previous 3 losses at the state championship finals. The LM girls team captured the title without dropping one match throughout the states process to end with an astounding 19–0 record. Over the past six season, Lower Merion has been likened to a dynasty, having compiled a team record of 108 wins and 5 (all at state finals) losses.The active players for the Aces at the championships are:
1. Courtney Fenimore (Junior)
2. Kristen Roth (Sophomore)
3. Julie Raezer (Senior
1 Doubles. Andrea Dumitrescu (Senior)/Yuxin Liu (Freshman)
2 Doubles. Leslie Golden (Senior)/ Grace Hollaender (Senior)
The LM boys team also captured the state title in 2006 and successfully repeated history in 2007. The duo of Robby Kay and Courtney Scott, who now have continued on to play at the University of Delaware, won two state championships in their time at Lower Merion. The 2006-2007 Lower Merion Boys Tennis Team had four players that currently play division 1 tennis.
Extracurriculars
Lower Merion offers extracurricular activities, for which many students stay after school as late as 9 p.m..Ace Harmony and Ace's Angels
Ace Harmony and Aces Angels are the two a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
groups at Lower Merion. Both choral groups feature 16 students. Ace Harmony is a co-ed group, while Ace's Angels is all girls. They performed the entire Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, for their January 2007 winter concert. The manager of both groups, Joshua Hunnex, teaches in the music department at Lower Merion. He is also an accomplished singer with an extensive musical background.
buildOn
The Lower Merion chapter of buildOn, an international organization committed to enhancing education and empowering youth throughout the United States and "helping people of developing countries increase their self-reliance through education". Students meet weekly to learn about, and raise awareness for, global issues, and perform community service on the weekends and during some of the meetings. Since the Lower Merion chapter's inception in fall 2007, buildOn has grown to over 100 members and currently raises $1,200 per month to build schools in developing nations. The chapter is currently raising funds for the construction of a school in Malawi. Students from the Lower Merion chapter, along with those at other Philadelphia schools, have the opportunity to apply for the chance to help build one of the schools overseas- last year, students from the Philadelphia area traveled to Malawi, in southern Africa, to construct a school in a rural village and have a meaningful cultural exchange. Meetings are held in the large group instruction room (LGI) on Wednesdays during Academic Advisory.Culinary Arts Club
The culinary arts club (colloquially known as cooking club) is for students at Lower Merion High School who love to make food and learn about culinary history but cannot fit a cooking class into their schedule. Its club members make a wide variety of gourmet food, ranging from oatmeal raisin cookies to traditional Japanese sushiSushi
is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
to great American soul food classics like Mac 'n Cheese. Club members also watch food-preparation demonstrations done by various teachers at Lower Merion High School as well as guests from the real culinary world. The club provides its members hands on activities in the kitchen and good life skills.
Interact
Interact is the high school extension of Rotary InternationalRotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
. It is a community service club which has an obligation to perform at least one local and international project each year, as dictated by its international Constitution. Sponsored by the Ardmore Rotary club, LM's chapter has gone on to volunteer at senior citizens centers, paint murals through the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, refurbish houses and parks in West Philadelphia through AchieveAbility, and has raised money for Rotary's Shelter Box program and Interact's BluePack campaign. Unfortunately, the Lower Merion chapter of Interact is no longer in existence.
LM Programming Club
The LM programming club was created in the 2009–2010 school year, and is still quite incipient. They intend to learn the Scheme, C, and Ruby programming languages. They also plan to analyze such topics as computability theory, data structures, and algorithms.LMSDtv
Was started as a student-run after school club at Lower Merion during the 2004–05 school year. The team worked very hard against scheduling and budget issues to put together and launch a news-type show that ultimately never got very far off the ground. Then in November 2006, with the aid of district funding and teacher training, Lower Merion started broadcasting morning announcements to homerooms through its video system, instead of the traditional PA system. Although the program is no longer run by students, many in the original after- school team keep the show alive for the "Aces Update", broadcasted to the student body and staff by a "Voice of the Aces".Aces Update is currently scheduled to resume for the 2007–08 school year on December 17, 2007, after receiving a new Flash Video distribution system, similar to that of popular video sharing sites such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and Meta Cafe. This upgrade comes along with others in the studio including new computers used to edit and produce the show. This new system will bring viewers a better viewing experience, such as eliminating buffer times, better video and sound quality, and less bandwidth used.
Mock Trial Club
Lower Merion's Mock Trial Club participates in Pennsylvania's mock trial competition as a member of the Montgomery county chapter. When provided with either a civil or criminal case, the club assigns lawyer and witness roles for both sides and prepares for county competitions around February. This past year (2010), LM's mock trial came extremely close to reaching states, ascending to the Montgomery county finals. Noted Mock Trial participants include founding president and winner of two consecutive "Best Lawyer in competition" awards Chris Perna-Elias, as well as Jonathan Eskreis-Winkler who won the "Best Lawyer in Competition" award in 2006 in a trial against Akiba Hebrew Academy.Players
Lower Merion's theater company, Players, is one of the only student-run theater programs in the state. Players staged their first production in the new auditorium in February 2011, "Twelve Angry Jurors".Student Council
The Student Council is a body elected by the Students of Lower Merion High School which serves as the liaison between students and administration in addition to running student events, fundraising, and organizing school spirit. Each advisory selects 2 representatives, and officers are selected in a School-wide election each April. The Officers for the 2011-2012 school year are as follows:President: Aniqa Hassan
Vice President: Aziz Kamoun
Secretary: Andrew Pasquier
Treasurer: Danny Kane
Sergeant-at-Arms: Morgan Berman
SUAVE
Originally named GUAVA (Girls United Against Violence Anywhere), SUAVE is the acronym for Students United Against Violence Everywhere. It was founded in 2002 by a group of girls (Lower Merion students Lauren Falcão, Diana Chang, Ashley Johnson, Pam Rook, and Wendy Shreiner) for a community service project. The club strives to end violence in the world through fundraising and advocating nonviolence. Each year, the club chooses a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization to raise money for. Past years' beneficiaries have included Campaign for Innocent Victims in ConflictCampaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict
Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization and advocacy founded in 2003 by Marla Ruzicka. CIVIC works on behalf of war victims, providing research and advocating policymakers. CIVIC is a part of the Making Amends Campaign.-Foundations:Campaign for...
, Roots of Peace
Roots of Peace
Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization dedicated to the removal of landmines and the subsequent replanting and rebuilding of war-torn regions. Founded in 1997 by Heidi Kuhn, the goal of Roots of Peace is to turn minefields into farmland and support victims of landmine accidents...
, and Central Asia Institute
Central Asia Institute
The Central Asia Institute is an American non-profit organization, co-founded by Greg Mortenson and Jean Hoerni and based in Bozeman, Montana...
. The gala, held in the spring of each year, serves as the club's main fundraiser. The amount of money the club makes each year is usually around $10,000.
Technology and Engineering Club
The Technology and Engineering Club was started by Technology Education teacher Mr. Piotrowski during the 2002–03 school year. The club was primarily a Technology Student AssociationTechnology Student Association
The Technology Student Association is an international Career and Technical Student Organization made up of over 150,000 Middle School and High School Technology Education Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics...
(TSA) chapter, and also competed in the annual mousetrap competitions at Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
and in the JETS/TEAMS competition. The 2003–04 school year was the first year the Club attended the National TSA conference, taking home first place trophies in two events. During the 2005–06 school year, Lower Merion's FIRST Robotics team was formed, choosing the team name "Dawgma". This was formed under the supervision of English Teacher Rich Kressly, who worked with Piotrowski to make FIRST a part of the Technology and Engineering Club. During its rookie year, Dawgma competed at the Philadelphia Regional and won the Highest Rookie Seed Award and the Rookie All-Star Award. During the 2006–07 school year, Dawgma competed in the Ramp Riot competition at Wissahickon High School
Wissahickon High School
Wissahickon High School is the sole public high school of the Wissahickon School District, and is located in Ambler, Pennsylvania, in the United States.-Academics:...
and the Duel on the Delaware which are both off-season competitions, as well as the Philadelphia Regional where they placed 4th overall, and won the GM Industrial Design Award. Dawgma also competed in the FIRST Robotics 2007 championship where they placed 6th overall in the Galileo Division. The Technology and Engineering Club has become the second largest club at Lower Merion, having over 100 registered members during the 2005–06 year, compared to about 10 members during the 2002–03 year.
The Dolphin
The Dolphin is Lower Merion High School's Art & Literature club. Students can send in pieces of art or writing to have them work shopped by the editors and other members when they meet after school. The Dolphin also publishes a magazine at the end of the year containing submitted works from throughout the year chosen by the editors. And on the first meeting of every month Dolphin becomes Acoustic Dolphin, where students can bring in their instruments and songs to play for the club.The Merionite
The Merionite is the official school newspaper of Lower Merion High School. It is completely student-run, from the articles to the layout. The Merionite publishes articles by students about sports, school news, arts and entertainment, and editorials. The Merionite is distributed monthly to students, parents, teachers and subscribers. There is an estimated readership of 4000 per issue.Ultimate
Lower Merion Babaganouj, an open UltimateUltimate (sport)
Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
team, was created in the 2005–2006 school year with the special efforts of Christian Vanni (Class of 2006). In their first season, Babaganouj fared well, placing 5th in the state and sending a group of players to nationals with the regional youth club team. As of May 2006, they are coached by Christina and Paul Minecci, and are now an official school club. By 2008, Babaganouj fielded three teams: the A team, the B team, coached by Rick Atkins and the girl's team (though girls play on the A and B teams as well), coached by Kathy Rowe and captained by Jenna Perna-Elias and Beah Jacobson. In 2009 and 2010, the Lower Merion girls team won the PA State HS Championships, women's division. The 2010 A team tied for 5th at the State Championships. Lower Merion now graduates high school players to the top College programs in the country, including Tufts, Carleton, Pitt, Brown, and Dartmouth.
World Affairs Club
Lower Merion's world affairs club has earned a spot among the nation's top discursive bodies. The club attends Model United NationsModel United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
Conferences and discusses current international events on a biweekly basis.
Student traditions
Senior prankIt is customary for Seniors to perform a "senior prank" in the month set aside for senior projects. The annual prank takes place at the school, and victimizes the students, administration, and teachers.
Shake Your Booty
At pep rallies, Lower Merion Students, accompanied by the school's pep band, perform the "Shake Your Booty" chant (below). Each of the chants four verses addresses a different class of the high school, usually starting with the freshman class.
Freshmen verse: Sophomores,Juniors, and Seniors: Hey Freshmen!
Freshmen: Hey what?
S, J ,Sr: Hey Freshmen!
Freshmen: Hey what?
S, J, Sr: Shake your booty!
Freshmen: What?
S, J, Sr: Shake your booty!
- Pep band plays music, Freshmen dance. S,J, Sr proceed to boo.
Laptop controversy
In the 2010 WebcamGate lawsuit, plaintiffs charged that Lower Merion School District (including Lower Merion High School and Harriton High School) secretly spied on students enrolled at the two high schools by surreptitiously and remotely activating webcams embedded in school-issued laptops the students were using at home, and therefore infringed on their privacy rights. The schools admitted to secretly snapping over 66,000 webshots and screenshots. Those included webcam shots of students in their bedrooms. In October 2010, the school district agreed to pay $610,000 to settle the Robbins and parallel Hasan lawsuits against it.Two parents filed the lawsuit against the school district on February 11, 2010. The plaintiff was a student at one of the two district high schools. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction
Preliminary injunction
A preliminary injunction, in equity, is an injunction entered by a court prior to a final determination of the merits of a legal case, in order to restrain a party from going forward with a course of conduct or compelling a party to continue with a course of conduct until the case has been decided...
ordering the district to stop its secret webcam monitoring, and ordered the district to pay the plaintiffs' attorney fees.
In July 2010, a Lower Merion High School student filed a parallel second suit. The school was also put on notice of a third parallel suit that a third student intends to bring, for "improper surveillance of the Lower Merion High School student on his school issued laptop", which included taking over 700 webcam shots and screenshots between December 2009 and February 2010.
A U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee held hearings on the issues raised by the schools' secret surveillance, and Senator Arlen Specter introduced draft legislation in the Senate to protect against it in the future. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), U.S. Attorney's Office, and Montgomery County District Attorney all initiated criminal investigations of the matter, which they combined and then closed because they did not find evidence "that would establish beyond a reasonable doubt that anyone involved had criminal intent". The civil lawsuit has a much lower burden of proof, and is unaffected by the decision. Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael McGrath said: "This would appear to be a matter to be resolved in civil court." An investigative report prepared by the law firm Ballard, Spahr LLP–the firm that the Lower Merion School District had hired to defend it–did not find evidence that the system "was used to 'spy' on students", but was unable in many instances to find who had authorized that the system take surreptitious photographs, for what reason, and to find copies of photographs that had been deleted from the school server.
Notable alumni
Name (graduation year), significance- Henry Harley "Hap" ArnoldHenry H. ArnoldHenry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S...
(1903), General of the ArmyGeneral of the ArmyGeneral of the Army is a military rank used in some countries to denote a senior military leader, usually a General in command of a nation's Army. It may also be the title given to a General who commands an Army in the field....
and father of the United States Air Force - Alexander HaigAlexander HaigAlexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
(1942), United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
generalGeneral (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
, Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of StateThe United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence... - Julius W. Becton, Jr.Julius W. Becton, Jr.Julius Wesley Becton, Jr. is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General, former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director, and education administrator....
(1944), former Army general, director of the Federal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Emergency Management AgencyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA), and CEO of the Washington, DC, public schools - Frederick Grinnell (biologist)Frederick Grinnell (biologist)Frederick Grinnell is an American cell biologist, also known for his work in bioethics. Currently, he is professor of cell biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He took his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Clark University and Ph.D. in biochemistry at Tufts University...
(1945), cell biologist, bio-ethicist, shortlist 2010 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books - James H. BillingtonJames H. BillingtonLord LeBron James Hadley Billington is an American academic. He is the thirteenth Librarian of the United States Congress.-Early years:...
(1946), current Librarian of Congress - Charles "Chuck" BarrisChuck BarrisCharles Hirsch "Chuck" Barris is an American game show producer, film director and presenter best known for hosting The Gong Show and creating The Dating Game. Barris, a survivor of lung cancer, is also an author and claims to have worked for the CIA.-Early career:Barris was born in Oakland, New...
(1947), writer/producer, host of the Gong Show, subject of the film "Confessions of a Dangerous MindConfessions of a Dangerous MindConfessions of a Dangerous Mind is a 2002 biographical spy film depicting the life of popular game show host and producer Chuck Barris, who claimed to have also been an assassin for the Central Intelligence Agency...
" - Jan Peter ToenniesJan Peter ToenniesProfessor Jan Peter Toennies is an American scientist and former director of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization...
(1948), physicist, former director of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-OrganizationMax Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-OrganizationThe Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organisation in Göttingen, Germany, is a research institute for investigations of complex non-equilibrium systems, particularly in physics and biology.... - Robert FaglesRobert FaglesRobert Fagles was an American professor, poet, and academic, best known for his many translations of ancient Greek classics, especially his acclaimed translations of the epic poems of Homer...
(1951), professor, and poet best known for translating ancient Greek classics - Gerald M. LevinGerald M. LevinGerald M. "Jerry" Levin is an American mass-media businessman. CNBC named him as one of the "Worst American CEOs of All Time".- Early life and education :...
(1956), former chairman and CEO of Time WarnerTime WarnerTime Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc... - Lynn SherrLynn SherrLynn Sherr is an American broadcast journalist and author, best known as a correspondent for the ABC news magazine 20/20....
(1959), ABC News correspondent - J. Russell PeltzJ. Russell PeltzJ Russell Peltz is an American boxing promoter. A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, Peltz is best known for his fight promotions at the Spectrum, the Blue Horizon, and currently at Bally's Atlantic City.- Early life :Peltz became a boxing fan at age...
(1963), Hall of FameHall of FameA hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
boxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
promoter - Nancy MeyersNancy MeyersNancy Jane Meyers is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. She is the writer, producer and director of several big-screen successes, including The Parent Trap , Something's Gotta Give , The Holiday , and It's Complicated...
(1967), Hollywood writer/director/producer. - Marshall HerskovitzMarshall HerskovitzMarshall Schreiber Herskovitz is an American film director, writer and producer, and currently the President Emeritus of the Producers Guild of America. Among his productions are Traffic, The Last Samurai, Blood Diamond, and I Am Sam. Herskovitz has directed two feature films, Jack the Bear and...
(1969), television writer and screenwriter - Howard BensonHoward BensonHoward Benson is a two-time Grammy-nominated music producer and aerospace engineer.-Biography:Howard Benson has a degree in materials engineering from Drexel University and studied composition at the Philadelphia College for Performing Arts. Later he worked for Garrett AiResearch, where he worked...
(1974), Grammy nominated music producer, has worked with Three Days GraceThree Days GraceThree Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After a breakup in late 1997, the band regrouped in the same year under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer...
, My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
, FlyleafFlyleafFlyleaf is an American alternative metal band, formed in the Belton and Temple, Texas regions in 2000. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005....
, Hawthorne HeightsHawthorne HeightsHawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of lead-singer and rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff, lead-guitarist and vocalist Micah Carli, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli...
, etc. - Billy AronsonBilly AronsonBilly Aronson is an American playwright and writer best known for coming up with the original concept of the rock opera Rent . He also came up with additional lyrics for Rent, and he almost completely wrote "Santa Fe"...
(1975), playwright and author - Jim BroganJim Brogan (basketball)James Riley "Jim" Brogan is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for the West Virginia Wesleyan College.He played for the San Diego Clippers in the NBA for 121 games....
(1976), first person from Lower Merion to make the NBA, playing for the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. - Bobbito GarcíaBobbito GarciaRobert "Bobbito" García , also known as Kool Bob Love and formerly known as DJ Cucumberslice, Bobbito The Barber, Make It Happen, Boogie Bob, Soul Food Bob, and Bag of Tricks, is a Puerto Rican DJ, writer, entrepreneur, streetball player/coach/announcer, sneaker connoisseur, and member of the Rock...
(1984), "DJ Cucumberslice" - MirahMirahMirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...
(1992), singer/songwriter on Olympia-based independent label K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers... - Samuel Proof (1992), Starred in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is an American sketch comedy television series, created by and starring Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, which premiered February 11, 2007 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim comedy block and ran until May 2010...
on the Adult SwimAdult SwimAdult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
network. - Jonathan "J.D." Albert (1993), inventor of E InkE InkE Ink is a specific proprietary type of electronic paper manufactured by E Ink Corporation, founded in 1997 based on research started at the MIT Media Lab...
as featured in the Amazon Kindle - Matt SniderMatt SniderMatthew "Matt" Kale Snider is a former American football fullback from the University of Richmond. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Science and Health. The Carolina Panthers offered him an NFL free agent contract in the spring of 1999...
(1994), former NFL player for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... - Aron MagnerAron MagnerAron Magner is a Philadelphia-based musician best known as the keyboardist and founding member of The Disco Biscuits. Magner and The Disco Biscuits have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic-based music to the forefront of the live music scene and, increasingly,...
(1994), keyboard player for the Disco BiscuitsDisco BiscuitsThe Disco Biscuits are a band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania known for their live performances and light shows. The band consists of Allen Aucoin , Marc Brownstein , Jon Gutwillig , and Aron Magner .... - Kobe BryantKobe BryantKobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
(1996), professional NBA player for the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. 13-time NBA All-Star, 13-time All-NBA Selection, 11-time All-Defensive Selection, 5-time NBA Champion, 2-time NBA Scoring Champion, 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Champion, and NBA MVP of the 2007–082007-08 NBA seasonThe 2007–08 NBA season was the 62nd season of the National Basketball Association. The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, and ended on Wednesday, April 16, 2008...
season, 2-time NBA Finals MVP (2009 and 2010). - Scott Barry KaufmanScott Barry KaufmanScott Barry Kaufman is an American psychologist and popular science writer specializing in the development of talent, intelligence, creativity, imagination, and personality...
(1998), psychologist, NYU Professor, popular science writer - Mark GerbanMark GerbanMark Gerban is a former professional rower. He is notable as the first rower in history to represent the State of Palestine at the World Championships.Gerban was born to a Jewish mother and Palestinian father in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(1998), World Championship Rower for the State of Palestine - John ChristmasJohnny ChristmasJohn Christmas is an American lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League and for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse....
(2001), 3-time High School All-American lacrosse player; plays for MLL Boston CannonsBoston CannonsThe Boston Cannons are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They have played in the MLL since the 2001 season. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Eastern Conference. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the...
, NLL Philadelphia WingsPhiladelphia WingsThe Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... - Ilya ZhitomirskiyIlya ZhitomirskiyIlya Zhitomirskiy was a Russian-American software developer and entrepreneur. Zhitomirskiy was a co-founder and developer of the open-source social network DIASPORA* and software service Diaspora.-Early life:...
(2007), founder of Diaspora* social media website.